Frank Wilson, MCM, GCPM, CM-BIM
CEO
BFW Contractors
St. Louis
Albany State University, Bachelors, Business Management
Washington University – Master’s,Construction Management
Graduate Certificate in Project Management
Associated General Contractors of America – Founding Chairman of the National Diversity and Inclusion Steering Committee
Project Delivery Forum Steering Committee
Training Education and Development Steering Committee
– AGC of Missouri – Diversity Committee
– Rainbow Village – Board of Directors
– National Society of Black Engineers
In short, what do you do?
I own BFW Contractors, we are a multi-disciplined contractor that specializes in construction management, demolition, general labor services, and construction / education consulting. I also serve as an Adjunct Professor at the Washington University / UMSL Joint Engineering Program. Here I teach two courses, both are required courses. I cover the subjects of construction management, project delivery, ethics, leadership vs, management, safety, construction law, emotional intelligence, diversity, and holistic engineering self-awareness strategy and development exploration to civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering students.
What is your perspective on progress in MBE/WBE participation and workforce inclusion in the construction industry?
To be completely honest, it has been slow moving. There are numerous factors that attribute to the unfortunate reality that the construction industry has great room for improvement on its diversity and inclusion strategy and initiatives on both the business enterprise and workforce development sectors. It is easy for us to point the finger as to an exact cause of these deficits, but in truth we need more people to step up on all sides. Presently, the construction industry is in a state of work force crisis. Nationally there is an 80 percent attrition rate of the construction industries work force, with our aging infrastructure, conjoined with the ever increasing aging population of our largest demographic the Baby Boomers…the demands for new construction and development expansion is ever increasing. With this type of loss and demand the deficit created for the industry is overwhelming. The need to increase the industries work force and business enterprise diversity in no longer just an issue of morality for the industry, it is an absolute imperative. The construction industry needs more and more people to enter its ranks to ensure its survival. This is why I teach, this is why I have started my business, this is why I am so involved in the industry.
How did you become interested in a career in engineering? Did you have a mentor or receive any helpful guidance?
I am a graduate of a program call the Construction Prep Center. It was a construction pre-apprenticeship program that was created to increase opportunities for minorities and women in the St. Louis construction industry. While there, I discovered that I had a passion and knack for construction. I was introduced to numerous pathways and people that have helped to guide my steps as I move forward with my career in the construction industry. I do not necessarily have a singular mentor to speak of, but I had the numerous examples of those who came before me to laying symbolic bread crumbs for me to follow. As a result, I humbly give thanks to the examples set by companies like Kwame Building Group, ML Johnson Construction, ABNA Engineering, BAM Contracting, Simms Building Group, Interface Construction, and KAI to name a few.
