BuildOUT California and our Global Brand BuildIT were absolutely beyond humbled to be a part of the September 19, 2024, Sacramento Regional Builders Exchange (SRBX) Women in Construction Conference produced by the CIEF Foundation where we produced a panel focused on increased engagement with LGBT business, professionals and tradespeople in the construction industry.
Our panel featured:
Melissa Berg, Director of Inclusion, Culture, and Engagement at Dome Construction
Marcy Szarama, President of Destination Enterprises (Founder of BuildIT/BuildOUT California)
Nasim Adeli, Small Underrepresented Business Partnership Manager at the Associated General Contractors of California
Michelle Stoffel, Journeyman Electrician and President of the IBEW Local 340 Women’s Committee
Our Moderator was:
Debi Hertz, Senior Project Manager, Gilbane Building Company (Founder of BuildIT/BuildOUT California
“What a rewarding and inspirational day at the SRBX Women in Construction Conference! Many of the speakers discussed the importance of creating an environment where people feel like they belong and the importance of allyship as we all seek to increase recruitment and retention in the construction industry. Our BuildOUT/Build IT panel on “Fostering a more inclusive and equitable environment for LGBTQ+ in the Construction Industry” was in alignment with those themes with an emphasis on actionable steps everyone can take at their own workplace. I loved seeing attendees snapping the QR codes for resources and grabbing Pride stickers for their hard hats.”
Debi Hertz, CCM, DBIA, LEED AP
Founder BuildOUT/BuildIT
Gilbane, Senior Project Manager
“It was an honor to be a part of the LGBT panel at the Women in Construction Conference sponsored by BuildOUT/BuildIT; we had an inspiring discussion about practical steps toward greater inclusivity of LGBT employees and business owners in the construction industry, and the attendees were very engaged and eager to move the needle. Still, as the conference keynote speaker Turner Sr. VP Lisa Ballantyne noted, women only make up 11% of the construction industry, a number even lower than their involvement in mining, agriculture and manufacturing. So, we have a long way to go to advance women and LGBT participation in construction and it's time for the industry to roll up its sleeves and walk the talk.”
Marcy Szarama
Founder BuildOUT/BuildIT
Destination Enterprises, President and CEO
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