The 2020-2023 AGC of Minnesota Strategic Plan calls for applying financial resources to complement intentional action that moves the association toward fostering a more diverse membership and inclusive culture. The central element to realizing this planning vision has been the hiring and onboarding of Yolanda McIntosh as AGC’s first-ever Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI).

Yolanda has spent the better part of a year talking with AGC members, community and government leaders, and minority-owned, non-AGC-member businesses to better gauge the connective possibilities and implementational challenges this difficult work involves. An important part of her portfolio has been promoting the AGC of America Culture of CARE Pledge to AGC of Minnesota members. The pledge commits employers to building a business culture that values every employee and provides the opportunity for all to feel respected, valued, and heard. One aspect of Yolanda’s important work in this space is covered in this white paper from Holmes Murphy and CSDZ, profiling the crisis of suicide and mental health in the construction industry. Culture of CARE can be a valued tool for employers to actively listen, better understand and connect persons in crisis to mental health resources.

DEI Committee: I am excited to announce creation of the AGC Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee. The DEI Committee is open to all AGC members and will be an interactive forum for best practice sharing, learning, and engaging the association and our partners in the hard work of building a more inclusive construction industry culture.

The first meeting of the DEI Committee is scheduled for Wednesday, September 29, from 2:00PM – 3:30 pm, and will be held via Zoom (members, contact Yolanda for the link if you'd like to attend). The Committee is being co-chaired by Paul Edlund (J. Benson Construction) and Shelly Peterson (Promoting Me). The Committee is expected to meet quarterly. Interested persons are encouraged to attend the first meeting or reach out to Yolanda to be added to the committee participant roster and be notified of future meetings and committee activities.

DEI Leadership Council: The work of the DEI Committee is being guided by the strategic insight and engagement of a DEI Leadership Council. The DEI Leadership Council was created to provide focus and set obtainable goals for AGC’s DEI Committee activity. The Leadership Council is a select group of MBE/WBE leaders that is working to identify best practices and actions that can effectively move the needle on a change-oriented agenda. These ideas and goals will be shared with the DEI Committee for broader discussion, feedback, and implementation/deployment strategies. Some early objectives the DEI Leadership Council has identified include:

I encourage all AGC members to actively engage in this opportunity to help build a more inclusive association. AGC members have long been identified as leaders who turn vision into reality. It is time to step into the reality that diversity is a strength that will serve the needs of our industry for years to come.

The Resource is AGC of Minnesota's podcast focusing on the voices, issues, and information affecting the construction industry. Our first episode is a conversation between AGC CEO Tim Worke and MnDOT Commissioner Margaret Anderson Kelliher.

Listen on our site, or follow us on Soundcloud to receive notifications on our latest episodes!

The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis closely tracks the construction sector, a bellwether for the broader Ninth District economy, which includes Minnesota, the Dakotas, Montana, western Wisconsin, and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. They are currently collecting feedback from firms in the construction sector via their regularly released survey. All responses are anonymous.

Please take this 5-minute survey to help the Minneapolis Fed and President Neel Kashkari better understand current business conditions in the industry and for your firm.

It’s an intricate, dynamic situation when an owner retires from their construction company. With thoughtful planning, you can successfully address many of the complex challenges of transition. Get familiar with the options, and begin thinking about the resources and strategies you’ll need to collect the value you deserve for your company — and leave the legacy you earned. Learn more

By Mike Utz, Principal, CLA Minneapolis

On October 13, AGC will honor the recipients of our annual safety awards, the Skill, Responsibility & Integrity (SRI) Award, and the Lifetime Achievement Award!

Members are invited to nominate individuals for the SRI and Lifetime Achievement Awards here, and for the Jeff Jensen Memorial Construction Safety Excellence Award here.

AGC of Minnesota learned last Friday that Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) has issued the anticipated guidance addressing the Governor’s vaccine and testing mandate for state employees and its impact on contractors doing work with the state. The complete guidance document can be referenced here.

The AGC effort to inform and educate state leaders on the impact a broadly applied mandate would have on contractors was successful in moving MMB to change course and limit the application of the vaccine and testing mandate. The guidance exempts virtually all construction as noted below:

The guidance does not apply the mandate to contractors whose work is performed:

The guidance applies the mandate to work performed:

The guidance further indicates that situational and project by project questions may arise and directs contractors to submit specific questions to: covid19.mmb@state.mn.us. Members should consult the guidance document for specific state level contacts to address questions and resolve project issues.

Finance & Commerce wrote about the issue and AGC's response here.

As companies and organizations move toward more intentional DEI, they need people with a strong foundation: knowledge and practices for having uncomfortable conversations and taking inclusive action. On October 4-6, 2021, Uplifting Impact will be hosting a three-day How to Be an Ally Virtual Summit. The focus of the summit is to provide leaders with the knowledge, self-awareness, and community needed to become an intentional ally!

Contact Erin Olson with questions. For more information, visit the Uplifting Impact website.

Registration for fall Supervisory Training Program (STP) classes is now open! Click the links below for more information and to register.

We can't wait to see you on September 15 at Minnesota Horse & Hunt Club for our annual sporting clays fundraiser! Funds raised are used for scholarships for students pursuing degrees in the construction industry.

please contact Lisa.

Get all the details here!

Join us on October 13 at International Market Square, as we honor the recipients of our annual safety awards, the Skill, Responsibility & Integrity (SRI) Award, and the Lifetime Achievement Award!

Register here.

Join us on December 7 at the Metropolitan Ballroom for our annual holiday reception!

Register here.

More details on attending, exhibiting, and sponsoring here!