b'WORKPLACE DIVERSITYSome contractors act as if diversifying is a burden.But what weve found is that, with greater diversity,everyone starts to feel welcome. Maurice RahmingThat circumstance comes about in light ofSeveralyearsago,Rahmingbranchedoutthe SAIF board of directors in 2014. SAIF is growing numbers of municipal, state, federalfromdiversifyinghiscompanysrankstoOregons not-for-profit workers compensa-andevenprivateconstructioncontractshelping other contractors do the same. tion insurance company.stipulatingdemographicpercentagesofIBEW48spre-apprenticeship,hesaid, workers reflective of local populations. Rahming worked with Multnomah County hasofferedavirtualgatewayforenablingto set up a county-wide legal summit on Dis-Because you cant just hire people off thecontractorstomeetmunicipalandstateadvantaged Business Enterprise use. In addi-street, because these are skilled jobs and itdemographic requirements. tion to being in the National Association of takes years of training, it can be a challengeBesidesallowingpeopletolearnabout to fill these positions, Bachman said. Minority Contractors Hall of Fame, he serves whethertheywanttojointheindustry,aschairoftheMetropolitanAlliancefor Forthatreason,Quinncoordinateswithwhether its work they might enjoy, the pre- Workforce Equity, chair of United Oregon schools and community colleges to operateapprentice program includes CPR and fork- Action,vicepresidentofPortlandYouth IBEWspre-apprenticeshipprograms.Shelift training, Rahming said. That training alsocoordinatesIBEW48srecruitmentqualifies pre-apprentices as material handlersBuilders board of directors, board member efforts with Oregon Tradeswomen, an organ- and gives them highly valued work-site skills.forWorksystemsInc.,boardmemberfor ization called Girls Build, job fairs and otherWeve also found many who come throughProfessionalBusinessDevelopmentGroup local organizations. these programs are very hard workers. and as a member of the City of Portlands Besides workplace culture, company imageryThosehiredalsostandabetterchanceofDevelopment Review advisory committee.canalsoimpactdiversificationefforts.passingtests,qualifyingandbeingmoreONeillalsohasservedontheOregon Because many people dont know about thesuccessful in the apprentice training becauseWorkforce Investment Board, as treasurer for apprenticeship process, they first learn abouttheyremotivatedtomakemoremoney,Oregon Tradeswomen and on the board of thefieldbysearchingforemploymentonhe said. Wayfinding Academy.contractor websites, Quinn said. RahmingcommendedIBEW48srecruit-Advertising is a powerful tool, she said. Itmentefforts,buthemakesapracticeofBeyond networking with local organizations, can draw minorities and women, or it canurgingindividualNECAcontractorstoONeill Construction Group formed a part-portray an existing status quo that discour- networkwithlocalminorityandwomennership with Walsh Construction in 2011 to agesdiversification.Asawoman,ifIsaworganizations and enterprises to get the wordshare resources and competencies.only images of white males in the industry,out about opportunities in the industry. Giventhesuccesshehaswitnessedwith I would be hesitant about entering the field. Thanks to Rahmings and ONeills network- diversification, Rahming sees no limit to the Meanwhile, the need to replace and grow theing efforts, their company has grown from achange others can achieve in the industry.workforce continues to ramp up, fueled bytwo-person electrical enterprise to a general the transition to renewable sources of energycontracting firm employing six to 70 work- Some contractors act as if diversifying is a and retiring baby boomers. ers.ONeillConstructionGroupprovidesburden, he said. But what weve found is What contractor can afford to go withoutelectrical, masonry, carpentry and construc- that,withgreaterdiversity,everyonestarts five to 20 per cent of their workforce? Rah- tion management services. to feel welcome. Theres a level of acceptance ming said. Beyond diversification being theHaving worked as a journeyman electrician,for everyone, and the job site is generally a right thing to do, contractors are beginningforeman and general foreman, Rahming washappier place to work. People find it easier to to realize competitive advantages. appointed by Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber towork together and get more done.www.ecao.org20'