2022 Diverse Business of the Year Award
On Wednesday, January 18th, at the Associated General Contractors of Minnesota 2023 Construction Summit, J. Benson Construction was awarded the AGC of MN Diverse Business of the Year Award!
Our company works to be a partner and collaborator with others in the construction industry. Oftentimes, WMBE firms may take the position that it is “US” v. “THEM”. Sometimes the “THEM” is the large general contractors, other times the “THEM” could be other WMBE firms. The J. Benson approach, from the beginning, has been to build partnerships and invest in relationships with general and specialty contractors of all types - diverse and non-diverse. We believe that there is enough work for all of us, and that we can do better-together. We continue to work hard to create opportunities for our business, but also to create connections and opportunities for other diverse firms (our competitors).
J. Benson Construction is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive culture in the office and in the field. What that means for us, is that the importance of diversity and the reasons behind it, are discussed frequently. We also create a safe place for people to ask questions and give feedback; we have found that open, honest, and frequent communication have been the best tools to change and improve our culture. In addition to communication, action and accountability have been key in building a better, more inclusive culture. We recognize that it is a marathon, not a sprint, and that it takes time to implement change; we continue to invest the time and effort to create a more diverse and inclusive culture.
Our commitment to diversity has allowed all employees to feel like they have a voice and has positively impacted overall company morale. It has also been a process that has involved some challenges and friction, but ultimately has led to a more pleasant working environment for all of our staff and has created a more welcoming environment for new hires. Since our work in creating a more diverse workplace, we have seen a dramatic reduction in employee turnover.
Winning the AGC Diverse Business of the Year Award was an affirmation that all of the hard work our team has been doing for the last few years is beginning to pay off, and it has served as an inspiration for our office and field staff as something we can proudly point to as we look to become a destination workplace. Increasingly, winning this award has shown our team, and prospective employees, that J. Benson Construction is doing something valuable and important.
“As a small business owner, there are many sleepless nights, and moments of self-doubt; winning this award helps alleviate much of the internal questioning.” – Paul Edlund, CEO
We would like to extend special thank you to some of our most valuable friends and partners, who were able to share the stage, and celebrate this amazing moment together:
Cavonte Johnson, at United Properties
Zae Sellers, with Mortenson
Stefan Michno with Kraus-Anderson
Robert Harper, MPP with Meda - Metropolitan Economic Development Association
Russ Hagen from Data Recognition Corporation.
We can’t thank you enough for your willingness to make a connection, build a relationship and create opportunities for us at J. Benson Construction.
Thank you to the Associated General Contractors of Minnesota for recognizing our efforts by granting us with the Diverse Business of the Year Award.
Check it out on LinkedIn here