Building Equality

Building Equality

The American Council of Engineering Companies of Minnesota promotes a culture of inclusion through state and national initiatives.

The American Council of Engineering Companies of Minnesota (ACEC/MN) knows that its members help engineer and design the vital infrastructure that allows society to operate. But they are also invested in building relationships too. As a trade association, one key function of ACEC/MN is connecting people and bringing them together. That mission is lived out in a tangible way through the group’s Women in Engineering professional development series and collaboration on the national ACEC Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Committee.

“Both of these efforts aim to encourage and inspire underrepresented groups within our industry,” said ACEC/ MN executive director Jonathan Curry. “We want all sectors of employees to feel welcome in the engineering industry and know they have a place in our association.”

ACEC/MN is well positioned to take on these tasks. With 125 member organizations and 7,200 consulting engineers across the state, ACEC/MN represents interests in transportation, water resources, energy, construction, natural resources, renewable energy, and more – every aspect of engineering and design that you could imagine. One of the association’s three strategic goals, known as “transformation,” includes embracing and expanding a diverse and capable workforce, which seamlessly aligns with its Women in Engineering initiative.

Held four times a year, ACEC/MN’s Women in Engineering professional development series is popular with its members. Bringing together women of all levels – from entry level through senior c-suite professionals – the initiative offers business development, professional career coaching, inspirational speakers, and the valuable opportunity to network and seek support from peers. Participants share ideas, discuss what they’ve learned, and apply it to their jobs.

Presentation topics for the series have included challenging gender bias in the workplace, focusing on system-level and cultural changes to encourage inclusion, strengthening the workforce, and encouraging employee retention. Although the Women in Engineering professional development series has been hosted virtually through the pandemic, attendance has still been high. The association is planning to move back to in-person events in 2022, which is in line with many of the public sector clients that ACEC/MN member firms work with.

“We have participants that range from high-level executives to new engineers just beginning their careers,” explained John Krapek, ACEC/MN’s education and outreach director. “It’s a group that’s extremely motivated, shows up early to participate, and shares their successes and struggles in the field.”

While ACEC/MN’s Women in Engineering initiative takes place at the state level, the organization is also involved in diversity and inclusion efforts at the national level. It is one of 52 member organizations of the ACEC, which is a federation

based in Washington, DC that represents more than 5,500 engineering firms and 600,000 employees around the country.

As part of a push from local, state, and national government entities and private companies to encourage a diverse workforce, the national ACEC established a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging committee in the past year, of which Curry serves as a member. The committee’s purpose is to encourage ACEC members throughout the U.S. to look within their organizations and determine how they can set up success for underrepresented groups.

“My job on the national committee is to represent all 52-member organizations and bring new ideas and share success stories, like our Women in Engineering professional development series, to focus our efforts and grow and benefit the members,” Curry said. “We want to send the message that underserved markets – like communities of color, immigrants, and women – are welcome and can achieve successful careers.”

Even though ACEC/MN focuses on the engineering industry, diversity and inclusion are issues that affect all associations. The tools that the group is building can be shared with likeminded organizations to make everyone stronger and move forward. Especially as the world grapples with the lingering effects of COVID-19, where careers and entire industries were turned upside down, it’s a way to help people recover and look for new jobs and career paths. It represents the heart of what the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging committee is designed to do.

To learn more about ACEC/MN’s Women in Engineering professional development series and the association’s participation on the national ACEC Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging committee, visit www.acecmn.org.