About Us Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

A Committment to Inclusion

We want to change the construction industry to be more diverse and inclusive, offering an equal opportunity for all individuals to excel in their careers.

The JEDI Team

Sam Clark, Robert Lalonde, Jen Huebel, Elma Balic, Charles Wesley, Lyn Hewitt, Dan Korte, Janice Suchan, Traci Brower, Zack Reed, Casey Schick, Mohamad Chaer (Not Pictured: Aaron Kozak, Paul Clark, & Ellen Shirreffs)

Our Diversity Statement

We commit to build a better future for our employees, clients and partners by managing projects that positively impact our environment and the communities we live in. Every day, we pledge to confront our past and take actions to dismantle systemic racism, injustice and inequity within our organization from within our offices to on our jobsites. We will not tolerate racist, sexist, homophobic, agist or ableist behaviors. We will study and educate ourselves on the reality of systems that have caused great harm to historically marginalized communities of color, including Black, Brown, and Indigenous people. We pledge to create equity in pay, equity in leadership, and an inclusive space for everyone to be their authentic selves.

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Justice, Equity
Diversity and
Inclusion (JEDI)

Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, (JEDI) are the principles we live by that ensure all stakeholders are treated with respect and given opportunities to participate in the company's decision-making processes. In practice, this means Clark Construction Company is committed to create a culture that values diversity and promotes inclusivity.

Justice

Justice means addressing and remedying any existing inequalities or injustices that may have resulted from past discrimination or exclusionary practices. Promoting justice at Clark is an ongoing process that requires constant attention and effort. It involves creating policies and practices that are fair and inclusive, and regularly reviewing and updating these policies to ensure that they are effective in promoting equality and combating discrimination. It also involves actively listening to and addressing the concerns of underrepresented groups and working to create a culture of respect and inclusion.

Equity

Equity involves ensuring that all employees have the resources and support they need to succeed and advance. This may involve providing additional support or accommodations to certain groups of employees who have historically been disadvantaged or marginalized, such as people with disabilities or members of underrepresented racial or ethnic groups. Promoting equity at Clark involves identifying and addressing any barriers or disparities that may prevent certain groups of employees from fully participating and achieving success.

Diversity

Diversity refers to the qualities that make individuals unique, such as race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, physical ability, neurodiversity, religious and political beliefs, socioeconomic background, and educational level. In the context of JEDI work, diversity is often understood to refer to the range of ways in which people differ. Our aim is to increase diversity within our company, and to foster an inclusive environment that is welcoming and respectful of all individuals, regardless of their differences.

Inclusion

Inclusion for us at Clark is about creating an environment where all individuals feel valued, supported, and able to fully participate in the company’s success. By actively promoting inclusion, we can create a culture of belonging and engagement for all individuals, regardless of their background or identity, where every individual can be their authentic selves and have a voice at the table.

JEDI Initiatives

Walking the Talk

Our JEDI Committee annually updates a strategic plan to set aggressive goals. Here are just a few of the recent initiatives we’ve committed to.

WMFDP TRAINING PROGRAM

The WMFDP program educates Clark’s white male leaders at all levels to develop allyship and awareness of privilege. We send leaders through this program on an annual basis.

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EQUAL PAY

We stand by our salary policies and put procedures in place that ensure equal pay between men and women. We’re currently pursuing a certification through an international organization with anticipated completion in 2023.

CONSTRUCTION INCLUSION WEEK

Clark commits a full week every October and appoints an internal committee to guide a robust curriculum for the entire company.

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SUPPORTING JEDI EDUCATION

We’ve created a library and share resources and reading materials, and encourage focus group discussions. We have advanced JEDI training available, including third-party certificate programs.

W@W

W@W or Women@Work is our employee resource group that provides women additional training, support, mentoring, and camaraderie to navigate our male-dominated industry.

JEDI SCHOLARSHIP

We have created the Clark JEDI Scholarship to financially support and mentor through internship opportunities for students from historically underrepresented demographics in construction management and engineering.

WOMEN’S EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

On a yearly basis, we send several emerging female leaders to Executive Leadership training to build confidence, leadership skills, provide networking opportunties, and how to be an inclusive leader.

ACE MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

Clark is one of the founding members of the Capital Region Chapter of the ACE Mentorship Program. Clark is also heavily involved with the Southeast Michigan Chapter of ACE, included board level and volunteer participation. ACE is a free, award-winning, afterschool program designed to attract high school students into pursuing careers in the Architecture, Construction and Engineering industry, including skilled trades.

AGC DEI LEADERSHIP

To continue our work and bring change to the Construction industry as a whole, Sam Clark, President/CEO, and Janice Suchan, VP Marketing and Business Development, have taken roles on the Michigan AGC DEI Committee. Sam Clark also serves as the Chairman for the national AGC DEI Committee.

JOBSITE & WORKPLACE CHANGE

We’ve made changes to our onsite portable toilet policy: 1 toilet for every 10 workers; 1 separate toilet for women. We’ve also purchased PPE specifically designed for women.

SUPPLIER DIVERSITY PROGRAM

Our company actively solicits diverse subcontractors and suppliers for every project we manage. In addition, we take a carefully focused approach to crafting bid packages that are scaled and directed at smaller businesses to encourage bidding. We advertise our bid packages with the appropriate agencies and publications to help us reach an audience that reflects the communities where we build.

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

Two years ago, we formed a strategic partnership with White Construction, a SBE/MBE construction company based in Detroit, Michigan, to expand our commitment to Supplier Diversity. We have created a strategic long term Joint Venture.

ACCOUNTABILITY

On an annual basis we evaluate our team through the Crain’s Cool Places engagement survey as well as planning with our DEI consultant, BW3, Black Women Wise Women, led by Dr. Cheryl Hall-Russell, to help us further our JEDI strategic goals within our company.

PARADIGM FOR PARITY

In alignment with our initiatives, Sam Clark, our President and CEO has signed the Paradigm for Parity pledge to support and strategize the advancement of women into leadership roles within the organization. Currently, we are 17% BIPOC-owned with a 30% female senior leadership team with commitment to 50% by 2030.

JEDI FOCUSED POLICIES

Our policies, including unlimited PTO and parental leave (maternal and paternal) allow our employees to focus on family and be present for key events outside of work. We understand that the disruption to career path and effects of parental leave can be most damaging to the careers of women. We take care to ensure upward mobility for all to ensure both personal and professional goals are achievable.

JEDI TEAM

Contact Us

We are open to talking more with your organization about what we’ve been doing and we’d love to help.

Janice Suchan, AIA

Vice President of Marketing
& Business Development /
JEDI Committee Lead

Contact Janice

Sam Clark

President & CEO /
AGC National DEI Committee
Chairman

Contact Sam
Play

Project Engineer Casey Schick
discusses her experience with
Clark’s JEDI Committee

The JEDI Committee has given me the knowledge and the courage to speak up when things are not as they should be.”

Casey Schick
Project Engineer