Once again, ABC of Western Washington was awarded a $10,000 Chapter Diversity Initiative Grant from ABC National to assist in its efforts to continue developing a long-term diversity program. The money will be used to support the chapter’s Higher Education Mentor/Protégé Program aimed at increasing participation of women and minorities in the construction industry. Participants in the program can receive scholarships for programs that specialize in the development of business owners of minority-owned businesses.
Leonard Simpson with Len Can Builders was the first ABC/WW Diversity Committee protégé to receive a scholarship from the 2008 Chapter Diversity Initiative Grant. In late June, Len attended the University of Washington Minority Business Executive program (MBEP). The MBEP is an accelerated one-week intensive program designed to assist minority business leaders face current and future business challenges. "Attending the MBE program was a great investment, it offered me a chance to step away from my company and start looking at thebigger picture and see what is affecting my company," said Len. Participants of the program learn to utilize financial tools to make more effective decisions, develop and understand long-term strategic plans for growth and sustainability, marketing more effectively, manage their processes and projects more efficiently and develop their leadership skills.
To be eligible for the diversity grant, ABC of Western Washington satisfied six critical elements in the application process: partnering with local organizations representing minorities or women, maintaining a commitment from leadership, using effective practices, securing additional resources from strategic partners, developing models on effective approaches and measuring results.
The Diversity Committee meets monthly for mentor and protégé meetings. For more information on becoming involved with this committee, please contact Kim Trautman at (425) 646-8000, (800) 640-7789.