Champion for Diversity Award' cites company’s 'durable commitment' to multicultural workforce
With a global footprint as an infrastructure solutions leader, Black & Veatch has committed to workplace diversity and inclusion more reflective of the more than 100 countries on six continents in which the company has offices. The 104-year-old engineering, procurement and construction giant now proudly announces that those efforts are being recognized.
During the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce’s annual “Power of Diversity” breakfast, Black & Veatch was named winner of the “Champion of Diversity” award, presented to a regional business “that has made a durable commitment to embracing diversity in their workplace, diversity supplier partnerships, and the community.”
Black & Veatch believes that diverse workplaces foster better decision-making, economic growth and career development – and in April, the company’s top executive formally put the company’s weight behind it. Steve Edwards, Black & Veatch’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, signed the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™ pledge. As part of that initiative, Black & Veatch commits to nurturing a trusting workplace that prizes inclusiveness, enables conversations about D&I, expands education about unconscious bias and examines both best and unsuccessful practices aimed at creating an inclusive work environment.
“We champion that a diverse, inclusive workplace reflects our clients and the world, contributing directly to our success. We accept this award as a testament to that,” Edwards said, noting that research shows that companies with more diverse workforces perform better financially and are more innovative. “But the bottom line is that our emphasis on diversity and inclusion is simply the right thing to do.”
Black & Veatch has taken strong steps to foster D&I, developing training around implicit and unconscious bias, and encouraging and raising participation in employee resource groups (ERGs). The company recently welcomed an intern class that included more women, veterans and people with disabilities and ethnic backgrounds over previous years. When Ingram’s in May named Black & Veatch as one of the publication’s best companies to work for – among other things for its D&I focus – Edwards called the company’s valuing of differences across its workforce its competitive strength.
“The fact that we’re employee-owned can and should give rise to varying voices that make us more innovative, imaginative and competitive,” said Stephanie Hasenbos-Case, Black & Veatch’s Chief Human Resources Officer under whom an internal advisory board is being developed to advise, guide and put into play D&I initiatives that will then be monitored. “We’re bringing out the best in our people by embracing different backgrounds and perspectives, but more work remains.”
Back Row (left to right): Nathan Young, Jason Baker, Scott Roesle, Diane Fischer, George White, Clint Robinson, Nate Castrop, Holly Perkins, Katie Johnson.
Front Row (left to right): Jessica Woolery, Amy Morasch, Roxanne Powers, Stephanie Hasenbos-Case, Ari Copeland, Linseey Johnson, Debra Simpson.
The chamber said the award is given to a business that demonstrates adherence to practices that support the business case for workforce diversity as a strategic initiative by ensuring that the diversification of staff, suppliers and community outreach is a normal part of their organizational practice, policy and culture. Such practices are inclusive regardless of race, national origin, religion, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital or military status.
“We’re thrilled to name Black & Veatch as this year’s `Champion of Diversity,’” said Joe Reardon, the chamber’s president and CEO. “Their commitment to diversity and inclusion is having a positive impact in Greater Kansas City and at their offices worldwide. (Edwards) set the tone from the top down when he signed the CEO Action pledge, but members of the Black & Veatch team are going above and beyond when it comes to offering inclusive health benefits, creating employee resource groups that reflect the company, leading the way in supplier diversity, and overall evolving how they do things on a daily basis."
Editor's Notes:
- Black & Veatch recently received a 100 percent score from the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index, the HRC’s benchmarking tool on corporate policies and practices pertinent to LGBTQ employees.
- Black & Veatch’s D&I efforts have been recognized globally, including being named by Forbes as a top employer for diversity.
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About Black & Veatch
Black & Veatch is an employee-owned, global leader in building critical human infrastructure in Energy, Water, Telecommunications and Government Services. Since 1915, we have helped our clients improve the lives of people in over 100 countries through consulting, engineering, construction, operations and program management. Our revenues in 2018 were US$3.5 billion. Follow us on social media.
