Established by and for employees, JE Dunn’s employee resource groups (ERGs) are essential to fostering the organization’s cornerstone of Best People + Right Culture. By celebrating each employee’s unique identity, ERGs deepen JE Dunn’s commitment to a more diverse and inclusive workplace. In addition to offering guest speakers and community impact initiatives, JE Dunn’s ERGs aim to provide employees an opportunity to make a lasting difference across the organization, beyond any single event or activity.
JE Dunn employees have access to an increasing number of ERGs that support the company’s women (Moment Connection), Black (BUiLD), veterans (VALOR), and Latino and Hispanic employees (SOMOS).
“Employee Resource Groups are the backbone of our commitment to inclusivity and belonging. They amplify diverse voices, cultivate connections, and drive our collective success by leveraging the strength of our differences,” says Christy Paoli, JE Dunn’s Chief People Officer.
To increase this sense of belonging among employees, JE Dunn is championing the expansion of these programs, with ERG membership and participation growing 75% over the past three years. Each ERG fosters inclusivity by actively welcoming and supporting not only the intended employee population but also allies throughout the organization.
ERGs help promote employee connection, networking, personal and professional development with the goal of supporting our culture of inclusion through relationship building and partnerships.
While ERGs serve diverse groups, they maintain importance throughout the entire company. JE Dunn’s executive leadership team takes an active part in ERG events, and employees cite this participation as a highlight, feeling support from their leaders. JE Dunn President and Chief Executive Officer Gordon Lansford echoed the impact and importance of these groups for “cultivating spaces for crucial conversations where we can recognize our differences and similarities, support each other, and learn from one another.”
Additionally, the impact of JE Dunn’s ERGs extends beyond the borders of its offices and jobsites. In fact, community engagement is a central component to the groups’ goals. By participating in more than 300 events per year and collaborating with local nonprofits, these ERGs model JE Dunn’s pillar of community impact and the proud representation of diversity. When members of JE Dunn’s ERGs are seen out in their communities, it shows that there is a place for everyone in the construction industry.
