The Associated General Contractors of Missouri (AGCMO) will hold its inaugural Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Leadership Summit from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wed., March 5 at the Anheuser Busch Auditorium in the Chaifetz School of Business on the Saint Louis University campus.
Construction industry leaders, business owners and diversity advocates will gather to provide conversations and actionable insights into creating inclusive environments in the construction industry.
A 3 p.m. networking reception will provide participants with an opportunity to exchange ideas and make new industry connections.
“This conference promises to be a transformative event that champions progress, equity and collaboration,” said Terron White, AGCMO’s vice president of diversity and inclusion. “Our goal is that attendees will leave the conference at the end of the day with actionable strategies, new ideas and approaches, and a broad network of industry contacts that will help spur business growth.”
Xavier Scruggs, a retired Major League Baseball player and DEI consultant for the St. Louis Cardinals from 2021-2022, will deliver the keynote address: “From the Diamond to the Jobsite: A Team Approach to Diversity and Inclusion.” It will highlight his insight into the power of inclusion, leadership and intentional change-making in sports and business.
A Construction DEI Leadership Panel will feature leaders from the construction sector while two Supplier Diversity Panels will explore best practices and success stories within the industry.
An M/W/DBE (minority, women and disadvantaged business enterprise) Business Owner Panel will explore how owners navigate industry challenges, secure contracts and foster business growth.
In addition, non-construction business leaders will discuss DEI Best Practices, highlighting proven methods for implementing DEI and demonstrating how to embed DEI principals into organizational culture and processes.
Participating institutions and organizations will include Washington University, Ameren, Bayer, BJC, Mercy, KAI Enterprises, JE Dunn Construction, McCown Gordon and Tarlton Corporation.
The event is free but requires advance registration at https://www.agcmo.org/
Sponsorships are also available at various levels. For information, contact Terron White at (314) 480-3180 or email at twhite@agcmo.org.
“Our industry has made significant strides over the years, but there still are tremendous career and entrepreneurial opportunities for growth,” added Leonard Toenjes, CAE, AGCMO president.
“We hope people will take advantage of this opportunity to strengthen supplier and subcontractor diversity, and to discover potential new partnerships to move their businesses forward.”