The corporate recognition award was presented at the Eagle Awards Ceremony, which recognises the achievements and leadership of local African American businesses and entrepreneurs as well as the diversity initiatives of corporations and organisations.
“Balfour Beatty Construction consistently demonstrates our commitment to the entire construction community by creating opportunities for a diverse workforce within our region,” said Scott Skidelsky, executive vice president for Balfour Beatty Construction in Florida and member of the AACCCF Board of Directors since 2011. “We strive to create an environment in which the richness and diversity each culture brings to Central Florida is recognised and celebrated.”
The company’s Florida division carries out mentoring and capacity-building among minority firms as well as ensuring that it exceeds diversity goals on projects. Under Balfour Beatty Construction’s leadership, the Dr Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, is on-track to achieve a 39% minority/women disadvantage enterprise (M/WDE) participation, far exceeding the goal of 24% originally set for the project. Four minority subcontractor firms have also entered into mentor/protégé relationships on the project. Balfour Beatty Construction has also partnered with five minority firms, each of which plays an integral role in the project and has staff members fully embedded within the project team.
“Balfour Beatty Construction’s performance in the area of minority-owned and/or women-[owned] business contracting and subcontracting has surpassed that of any company that I have ever worked with,” said Janeiro Reginald Coulter, a special projects manager for the city of Orlando.
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