2022 CLIMB PROGRAM GRADUATION

On September 12, 2022, The Dutra Group held a graduation ceremony for its third CLIMB graduating class at the Claremont Hotel in Berkeley, California. CLIMB, Continued Leadership Instruction for Managing Business, is an internal leadership development program that was designed specifically for Dutra in partnership with FMI Consulting. To date, the company has had 50 graduates complete the program. The program has been instrumental in developing our people and training future leaders for the company. It has allowed Dutra to focus on the internal promotion and growth of our employees. To date, all of the company’s vice presidents and nearly all of the division and department managers are CLIMB graduates. A few of the students from the most recent graduating class offered some great insight on their CLIMB experience:

“Flashback! My path to Dutra started as an exploratory part-time position after 14 years in corporate travel. I am so glad I stayed!

Fast forward to my present day at Dutra handling government contracts and supplier diversity. The pinnacle of this journey has been graduating from the company’s CLIMB program! It was such an amazing experience for me. I knew it would be a challenge, and I didn’t realize how much I’d grow during the process. Participating in this program was inspiring and it gave me the opportunity to face some of my biggest fears - public speaking and heights! Yes, I said heights! I can’t thank the company enough for its belief in us. From this experience, I walked away with a true sense of accomplishment and real-world skills to become a fair and effective leader.

Thank you, Dutra!”

– Donna Fraser, Small Business Liaison Officer

“My time in CLIMB was an invaluable experience that accelerated my growth, understanding, knowledge, and connections within The Dutra Group. This program provided me with new tools and insights and has taught me how my role in the company not only affects my team but also how we impact all areas of the business. It also taught us how we can be better communicators and work together towards growing the company while eliminating waste. I was able to meet face-to-face with colleagues across the entire organization, and was given the opportunity to learn from and be heard by Bill and Harry, the executive team, and the board of directors. This type of exposure to the entire organization and its challenges is something for which I am grateful. I have worked for multiple world-class organizations over my career, but none of them granted me this type of training or access to the company’s owners and leaders. On a scale of 10/10 I would recommend CLIMB to any Dutra employee looking for new opportunities, challenges, and a chance to shape your future within The Dutra Group.”

– Lars Bronson, Project Engineer

“CLIMB was a great opportunity to connect in person with other employees from the company, and better understand how the company operates in areas other than the ones I see on a regular basis. I enjoyed the program and would recommend it.”

– Brandon Caudle, Project Manager

“The CLIMB Program demands a lot from the individuals lucky enough to participate, as it should. The program is designed to foster talent, relationships, and a skillset paramount for not only the growth of The Dutra Group but also of the individual. The challenging curriculum requires you to step outside your comfort zone and collaborate with fellow participants, forging bonds necessary to accomplish the demanding tasks set forth. The program empowers the individual providing a greater sense of confidence and camaraderie, strengthening your position and the Dutra family as a whole.”

– Ryan Swink, Project Manager

We are extremely proud of this latest graduating class and their commitment to the program and the company. There are great things ahead for this team!!!