AGC of Missouri (AGCMO) received the Diversity and Inclusion Excellence Award for AGC Chapter of the Year at the 2019 AGC Convention in Denver, Colorado. Pictured from left: Len Toenjes,AGCMO; Frank Wilson, BFW Contractors; Monica Bailey, McCarthy Building Companies; Steve Lewis, AGCMO; Eddie Stewart, president – AGC of America; Becky Spurgeon, Interface Construction; Bill Wagner, S. M. Wilson & Co.; and Kim Waller, Willis Towers Watson.
AGC Honors Missouri Chapter for Diversity & Inclusion Excellence By American DBE Staff
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he Associated General Contractors of America recognized the Diversity and Inclusion accomplishments of local chapters and members at its 100th annual conference, held April 1-4, 2019, in Denver, Colorado. AGC presented “Diversity and Inclusion Excellence” awards to the Missouri chapter and five companies during a general session for conference attendees with the goal of promoting diversity and inclusion in the organization by recognizing excellence. 2019 marked the second year AGC has recognized members for this purpose at the annual conference. The awards program is led by AGC’s Diversity and Inclusion Steering Committee and was created in 2017 to champion best practices, provide education, and promote the engagement of AGC members in creating greater opportunities for diverse individuals. The committee reviewed nominations from across the country prior to selecting the award winners recognized at the conference. “These awards recognize firms that have established outstanding programs that
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have helped make the construction industry a more diverse, inclusive, and better sector in which to work," said Eddie Stewart, AGC president and president/CEO of Caddell Construction in Montgomery, Alabama. “By making our industry more diverse, we can solve a lot of our workforce challenges, and become a better, safer and stronger industry.” AGC of Missouri (AGCMO) received the Chapter Award for implementing several initiatives to support diverse companies and workers in the Missouri construction market. AGCMO is the only construction industry association in Missouri with a dedicated executive serving as the subject matter expert on diversity and inclusion. The AGC of St. Louis, which later merged with AGCMO, was also the first of 92 chapters of AGC of America to hire a Vice President to create an Inclusion Department. This department now facilitates the AGCMO Diversity Committee, whose members secure construction services and contractors, suppliers, and service providers that perform those services.
AGCMO was recognized for its outreach into the Missouri minority- and woman-owned business community through the support of several local organizations by direct participation and sponsorships. One organization supported by AGCMo is the Regional Union Construction Center (RUCC). The organization’s mission is to increase the capacity and long-term viability of emerging minority- and women-owned union construction firms in the St. Louis area. AGCMO financially supports and serves on the RUCC Board of Directors. AGCMO members also serve on the advisory boards of companies that participate in the RUCC program. Steve Lewis, AGCMO vice president said “The program is a tremendous success and companies in the program have experienced significant growth in revenue and profit.” AGCMO is an investor and also represented on the board of directors and Technical Assistance Committee of the Contractor Loan Fund, a $10.6 million private equity fund that provides financing for minority- and womenowned businesses. “AGC of Missouri’s commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
