Page 66 - CCD Magazine-Spring 2019

Michael Gifford
Author Michael Gifford is President and CEO of the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Colorado.
In 2018 AGC approved a new strategic plan that included a focused effort to improve diversity within the AGC organization, and in the industry as well. There were two main reasons the AGC Board added the Diversity Initiative:
1. It would make our organization stronger.
2. We need diverse small businesses to meet Denver’s
MWBE goals over the next 5 years.
AGC has formed a Diversity Committee that has been growing every month since January 2018. Committee members include small and large businesses, as well as other diversity focused organizations and government entities. The committee has focused on effective networking and company matching efforts. Those efforts include traditional networking events, and new efforts to introduce small and diverse businesses to larger general contractors in a way that helps both parties.
For example, the committee was able to introduce
Roger Bartlett from Affordable Concrete to GH Phipps Construction Companies, who hosted Roger at their offices to discuss future projects and opportunities. As a result, in just a short amount of time, Affordable Concrete has 3 contracts for work and a chance to do more.
AGC is also cognizant that the City & County of Denver, DEN, and National Western Center have $5-7B+ in projects over the next few years. With a 30%+or- goal possible on these projects, we need to be able to contract for up to $2.1B in MWBE contracts. So the Diversity Committee is also discussing ways to build the capacity and capability of these small businesses to perform the work.
One way we are increasing capacity is to help MWBE firms hire new employees. AGC and our Construction Education Foundation are doing this by hosting MWBE
certified firms at our monthly Construction Careers Now Hiring Fairs. This gives MWBE firms a chance to hire a new graduate of our pre-apprenticeship program.
Inside AGC Colorado AGC Advances Diversity
Initiative to Benefit Industry
by Michael Gifford
66 | Colorado Construction & Design
The effort is working. AGC’s MWBE membership has grown from 12 firms in 2018- to 33 firms in 2019 and we are bringing on more firms every month.
To get involved in the AGC’s Diversity Committee (open to AGC member firms and stakeholder organizations) contact us at 303-388-2422 or polly@agccolorado.org.