AGC members are often confronted with the perception that AGC “does not do enough to promote women and minorities.” While it is true that there will always be more to do, it is also true that we have not done the best job of communicating all of the initiatives AGC has undertaken to provide opportunities for women and minorities in the commercial construction industry. To that end, here are some talking points that can be used when faced with the opportunity to educate others about AGC’s commitment to diversity in the industry.

• AGC is a charter sponsor of the Port of Portland’s Mentor-Protégé Program. Since the inception of the program ten years ago, we have provided annual funding for two protégé companies (one is sponsored directly from AGC funds and one is sponsored by AGC union contractors through their CAF). AGC members represent over 90 percent of the mentors in the program. We also provide protégé companies with free membership in AGC while they are involved in the Port’s program. We offer each protégé a scholarship to our annual conference held each year in January. After completion of the Port’s program, protégé companies are offered membership in AGC at significantly reduced dues for four years or until their annual revenues exceed $1 million, whichever comes first. Four of AGC’s 2006 board members are graduates from the Port’s program (all women-owned businesses, two of which are also minority women).
   

• AGC has supported the City of Portland Sheltered Market Program (SMP) since it’s inception. We provide training and networking opportunities to SMP companies through a significantly reduced AGC membership fee. Their membership also allows SMP contractors to participate in AGC sponsored insurance programs, which are designed specifically for commercial contractors. In addition, educational opportunities are offered to SMP companies through the membership of the SMP mananger.
   
• AGC has been an active participant in the Oregon Association for Minority Entrepreneurs (OAME) for several years. In 2002, we formalized our relationship with a “Collaboration Agreement” that outlined a series of issues that OAME contractors were interested in working with AGC to resolve. We have completed working on the issues. Members of AGC’s Construction Industry Opportunity Council meet on a regular basis with OAME Contractor Committee members to discuss issues of common concern and how to resolve them. AGC also offers OAME contractor members the same significantly reduced membership dues as the Sheltered Market Program contractors.
   
• AGC’s Small Business Growth Opportunity (SB-GO) council is a vehicle for women, minority and emerging small business members to meet and discuss issues of concern and how to improve contracting opportunities. The chairwoman of the CIOC is also actively involved as the co-chair for the AGC of America Equal Business Access Committee.
   
• Demographics of AGC membership have changed dramatically over the past decade.
  • Currently, our membership roster includes 87 W/M/ESB companies—8 percent of our membership.
  • 90 members are certified WBE or MBE (or both) contractors.
  • Our 2007 board is 15 percent M/W/ESB, and includes eight women, two of which are minorities, and two minority men—women represent 12 percent and minorities 9 percent of our elected or appointed board members. This has risen from barely two percent ten years ago for women and minority representation on our board.
     
• AGC’s workforce programs have been very successful recruiting women and minorities into the skilled trades. Currently, we administer eight open shop apprenticeship programs in Oregon and SW Washington. We have 212 registered apprentices, approximately 11 percent women and 31 percent minorities (only .5 percent are both women and minority).
   
• AGC is the majority funder for the Oregon Building Congress (OBC), a local non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of construction-related careers among students and educators throughout Oregon and SW Washington. Their mission is “to partner with educators and business to help build a better, more diverse future construction workforce.” OBC fulfills its mission through core programs that teach students the relevancy of their academic subjects, especially math, language arts and environmental sciences through hands-on building; engage academic teachers in how their subjects are applied by construction professionals in their every day work; and inform students, educators and industry representatives about post-secondary training opportunities available and how to best prepare for them. Sustainability plays a major role in all OBC programs. In keeping with construction industry trends in the Pacific Northwest, program participants learn green building philosophies and practices.
   
• AGC union contractors through their Construction Administration Fund (CAF) offer an annual scholarship to an African-American student enrolled in the Oregon State School of Engineering.
   
• In 2002, AGC initiated a “Women In Construction” badge program with the Columbia River Council and the Western Rivers Council of the Girl Scouts of Oregon. Earning the badge requires that girls in the 10-12 year old range learn what it takes to build their own city. It is our goal to take this program statewide over the next few years. We expanded into the Santiam Council in 2005.

Changing faces; facing changes….AGC continues to be the voice and choice of the commercial construction industry!