NEW! Empower DEI Program

SUB HEADERIBEW LOCAL 103 AND NECA HEADER EMPOWER DEI

For far too long, the union construction industry has been held back by rampant racism and sexism, barring many of our neighbors from the opportunity of a great, family-sustaining career. This summer, in our ongoing efforts to build a more equitable construction industry and local economy, IBEW Local 103 and NECA Greater Boston contractors announced our newest Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiative, the Empower DEI Program.

After years dedicated to diversifying the ranks of our union membership and apprenticeship programs, IBEW Local 103 and NECA are taking another step in the right direction. Empower DEI is a first-of-its-kind program aimed at increasing the number of minorityowned and women-owned union electrical contracting businesses in Greater Boston by providing the support, resources, and mentorship necessary to thrive in the competitive construction industry.

The Empower DEI Program hopes to spark innovation and entrepreneurial success among participants by providing various forms of support from experienced industry leaders. In addition to giving individuals the foothold to create their own businesses and support their families, the Empower DEI Program will ultimately serve to create lasting, generational wealth by helping even the playing field for communities of color and build a stronger middle class.

Congratulations to IBEW Local 103’s former Business Agent, Kenell Broomstein, who stands as the program’s first participant as the principal of her newly-founded electrical contracting company, KB Mac Inc, a partnership with Sullivan & McLaughlin Companies, Inc.

IBEW Local 103 and NECA Greater Boston are committed to dismantling structural racism and sexism within our industry and beyond. To learn more about the program, visit EmpowerDEI.com.

SUB HEADER IBEW LOCAL 103, NECA HEADER LAUNCH DIVERSITY INITIATIVE

As published in:

By Catherine Carlock | June 29, 2021

Electrical union IBEW Local 103 and the National Electrical Contractors Association are partnering to launch an equity and diversity initiative aimed at growing the number of minority- and women-owned union contractor businesses in Greater Boston.

The program, called Empower DEI, aims to combine advanced electrical contracting training with mentorship, resources and support for NECA contractors and IBEW Local 103 electricians looking to open their own businesses.

The initiative comes at a time when the region’s building boom continues its unprecedented gallop, as well as at a time of greater calls for diversifying a traditionally white male-dominated industry. Indeed, public agencies like the Massachusetts Port Authority have called for increased participation by Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises in responses to their real-estate projects, with other projects like Harvard’s Enterprise Research Campus also calling for greater participation.

“This is an exciting, necessary initiative to empower communities who have been underrepresented in business ownership. A labor-management partnership is the right approach to increase the number of woman and minority-owned contractors in Boston,” said Acting Boston Mayor Kim Janey. “Women and people of color have made this great City what it is. The IBEW 103 & NECA Empower DEI Program creates a pathway to uplift this work and strengthen our communities.” Women and people of color have made this great City what it is. The IBEW 103 & NECA Empower DEI Program creates a pathway to uplift this work and strengthen our communities.”

- Acting Boston Mayor Kim Janey

Kenell Broomstein is the inaugural member of the Empower DEI program. Broomstein was formerly a business agent with IBEW Local 103 before launching her own company, KB Mac, Inc.

John McLaughlin, president of Sullivan & McLaughlin Cos., will mentor Broomstein through the Empower DEI program.