Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is becoming integrated into many companies and organizations as of this writing, with many people of color put into leadership roles. It is rare to read an article that doesn’t mention DE&I, and it does feel encouraging.
Some industries, however, are still very homogeneous (read, white and male), and the construction industry is among them. The National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC) strives to change that. Founded in Oakland, California in 1969, NAMC is the oldest minority construction trade association in the United States. The association represents the interests of millions of skilled minority workers across the country. Through a network of local chapters and in collaboration with strategic and corporate partnerships, NAMC assists members with building capacity by providing access to opportunity, advocacy, and contractor development training.
The new Northern Ohio Chapter (NOH) was started in 2019 by AKA Team President & CEO, Ariane Kirkpatrick, who serves as board president. Like many CEOs, Ariane’s path to success was riddled with challenges. Even though she took many classes and courses in construction, her attempts to get jobs in the industry were futile. Instead of giving up, she started her own construction company. More than 12 years later, her construction company encompasses several divisions, including construction management, waterproofing, commercial cleaning, and a special projects division. “I really thought I couldn’t do it. I attempted to get jobs in construction and wasn’t taken seriously. Doing my own thing – entrepreneurship – became the path for me,” she says.
NAMC NOH hopes to help forge an easier path for others to gain entry into the industry. It hosted several virtual Level Up sessions that have been well-received, as well as gaining several partnerships with organizations such as Youth Opportunities Unlimited (Y.O.U.), The Real Black Friday, and Friendly Inn Settlement. They are particularly proud of the collaboration with Y.O.U. in the administration of CREEW – Construction Readiness Empowering Equitable Workforce, a program for young adults to gain real-world skills in construction.
Aria Johnson is the chief diversity officer for The AKA Team, and membership coordinator for NAMC
NOH. Aria believes that “if we focus our efforts on training, educating, and developing our Black and Brown businesses and community leaders, we can continue to ensure equitable change and better opportunity for each other.” Johnson is passionate in her field of DE&I, stating that, “The only way we can ensure that these majority firms don’t use the ‘not enough minorities in the field’ excuse, is to ensure we keep exposing our people to those unique specialties lacking color and continue to grow our abilities and strengths in the construction industry.”
NAMC NOH Executive Director Hilton Smith agrees: “Our goal is to work in collaboration with others who support diversity and inclusion efforts,” he says. “We also find ways for contractors to fit into large projects and complete jobs successfully.”
NAMC NOH’s area of coverage includes Toledo, Cleveland, Akron, Canton and Youngstown/Warren. Contributions allow the organization to provide education, training and staffing.