By Voice & Viewpoint
Staff Writer
Published 07.03.2014 Edition
Photos courtesy of the Black Contractors Association
The Coalition of Construction Industry Leaders Summit and Think Tank was called on June 26, 2014 by the National Black Contractors Association, whose thirty plus year history has been one of successful relationship building, garnering greater opportunities for America’s construction industry marketplace. This year’s construction industry leadership summit was held in San Diego, California at the national headquarters of the Black Contractors Association. The NBCA Summit focused on addressing today’s concerns for equality in the San Diego construction industry’s workplace. The summit was called to bring solutions to the age old question on inequality and under-utilization of African Americans, Asians, Native Americans and Women on San Diego’s City funded construction industry projects. It also focused on exclusionary practices based on gender and race by private contractors using public funds; which they may or may not be aware of this reality.
This year’s group of committed leaders came to focus on solutions for parity in the construction industry, and made it clear that they were not here to talk about the problems and point fingers. They used the opportunity to talk about solutions and recommendations. The focus of this year’s summit addressed the well documented tracking of gender and race by the City of San Diego’s workforce utilization on city projects. This is required by the City for its private construction industry contractors who are using taxpayer dollars on its projects. National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC) Hall of Fame 2014 honoree Mr. Wendell Stemley, owner of Black IPO, a national builder and construction management firm, stated that the expectation of prime contractors and public agencies is that when an African American wins a bid or is called to participate, he or she will bring other African Americans, along with other races. “This is why you are called on, to support the needs of diversity businesses’ hiring opportunities, as well as diversity hiring on construction jobs,” he said. Mr. Stemley’s sobering message to the panel of industry leaders was that you do not help the mission of diversity if you are a Latino firm and all you hire are Latinos; or African Americans, whites or other groups just hiring their own race. That is nothing more than exclusionary practice, and the solution is to track your workforce by gender and race and do what is right for all taxpayers.
One of the highlights of the Coalition of Construction Industry Leaders Summit was Swinerton Builders Vice president of diversity, Mrs. Charles “Rick” Moore, whose historic perspectives of the twenty plus year history with the Black Contractors Association of San Diego, and the many construction projects that BCA members and workers have done over the years with Swinerton. It was at a NAMC hosted event in San Diego where BCA, as an affiliate chapter, co-hosted the conference, and is also where BCA and Swinerton met on common ground. Swinerton needed minority Black contractors and laborers, and BCA members needed projects and construction jobs. “A relationship evolved from that conference, which is why we still support BCA,” stated Rick Moore, Vice President Swinerton Builders on diversity. “BCA’s relationship with Swinerton has proven beneficial, which is why today we are presenting the BCA with this ($5,000.00) five thousand dollar check in support of its BCA YouthBuild program.” YouthBuild is a BCA youth program that helps get youths 18 to 24 into the construction industry. And as a pre-apprenticeship program it also assists them into getting a high school diploma or GED. Swinerton’s local Vice President Mark E. Payne, Division Manager stated that its pre-qualification requirements are how we get contractors in the loop, and that Swinerton donates about $200,000 a year locally in the San Diego construction industry market, and we need good contractors.
Christopher Manis the new Vice Chancellor of the San Diego Community College District, said that they are about 25% from wrapping up its $1.6 billion bond project, and that the District is technology driven, therefore, the way to do business with the district is go online so they know you are there, “It’s the future.” He also stated, “Relationships and trust are important, as to who you are and what you do.” He continued, “I had the opportunity to meet Mr. Hameed before coming to this event as he invited me to this summit. He pointed out a tool that the city used to track workforce diversity and it’s something that I will have the District look at. It is the assumption by most public agencies and contractors that workforce diversity doesn’t have to be tracked and that minority means all minorities, which does not give a clear picture on race and gender based participation where most companies have all one group of so-called minorities and fewer or none of the others. It was recommended for the District to host a “Doing business with the District today” at the NBCA”.
The leadership of the National Black Contractors Association met days before the Summit with key staff members from Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer’s office, whose mission of “One San Diego,” for jobs and economic development conveyed his commitment to solutions and relationship building for a greater San Diego. In a recently released first Video of “One San Diego,” he talks about fairness and equality for all San Diegans, with jobs and small business opportunities as one of his missions.
The Coalition of Contractors Industry Leaders was comprised of more than just construction leaders, as the need for diversity in hiring is greater than just construction. Stacy Breaux, a small business owner of Stanley Breaux Bail Bonds & Notary and a new board member of the Southeastern San Diego Diamond Business Improvement District, pointed to this fact. “If you are going to get youth interested in your industry, you have to introduce a young person to the industry as young as 8 to 10 year olds. That is when you can get their attention, by exposing them at an early age. Regarding business development you must do research and know your markets as things are changing. Networking and meeting people in your industry will go a long way in your success. This diverse group of community leaders and business owners address today’s needs for partnering on solutions and opportunities,” she said. “Our Asian Business Association uses technology and is more on the professional business side,” exclaims Mr. Robert Ito, Chairman of ABA and BCA contractor member of Aqual Corp, whose partner is owner Mr. Rick MacAfee. Robert Ito also went on to suggest the formation of a “Coalition of Contractors Industry Leaders,” to bring all of the stakeholders to the table as a solution where all recommendations can be considered.
This Coalition of Construction Industry Leaders Summit on “Parity” brought out all perspectives of business leaders. Mr. Jerry Robinson, the new president of the Central Area Black Chamber of Commerce stated “We are into goods and services as providers of supplier diversity, and we support the mission of the NBCA in contracting and construction jobs.” As the new president of the CACC, Jerry is not letting the grass grow under his feet, as he is everywhere promoting his mission. The atmosphere of the Summit was warm and filled with enthusiasm for future solutions on relationship building for all communities, and as Cassandra Caesar from Black Business Network urged, it spoke to the power of business networking and getting your name out there.
Summit Panelists
Ø Min. Hugh Muhammad; Summit Moderator, business owner of RBW Security and Board Member of Diamond BID and Member of NBCA
Ø Wendell R. Stemley, President National Association of Minority Contractors “Mid California Chapter – NAMC Hall of Fame 2014” and owner of BLK IPO Construction Management
Ø Cassandra Caesar – Independent Marketer “Black Business Network”
Ø Rick Moore, Vice President Swinerton Builders on Diversity and Corp affiliate of NBCA
Ø President Mark E. Payne, President Vice local Division Manager of Swinerton Builders
Ø Christopher Manis, New Vice Chancellor – Facilities Management San Diego Community College District
Ø Stacy Breaux, Business Owner and board member of the Southeastern San Diego Diamond Business Improvement District
Ø Robert P. Ito, Owner of Ito, Girard & Associates and Chair, Board of Directors of Asian Business Association
Ø Jerry Robinson, President of the Central Area Black Chamber of Commerce
Solutions on Parity
1.) Build a Coalition of Construction Industry leaders and stakeholders to address today’s issues.
2.) Promote workforce development to 8 and 10 year olds in the schools.
3.) Establish an inner-city Employment Resource Center “ERC” to track unskilled/skilled workers and create a job development program for diversity hiring and establish a “Labor Boot Camp” for training and I think I want to do construction.
4.) Relationship building for greater opportunities in the workforce and contractor opportunity.
5.) Promote the use of Workforce Utilization Report to help the industry in support of workforce diversity and true forecast of its needs.
