What You Can Do
Use DBE firms for
your projects.
Engage
the community.
Provide mentorship
opportunities
for DBEs.
Since it began the process of redefining its foundational values,
GeoEngineers has examined its internal culture, recruiting
and retention processes, and even how it builds partnerships with
its subcontractors.
But the company doubled down on its commitment to diversity,
equity and inclusion in May 2020, when the world learned of
the death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, while in police
custody in Minneapolis, Minn.
On June 5, GeoEngineers CEO Michael Hutchinson and David
Sauls, chairman of the board, sent a company-wide communication
condemning Floyd’s treatment and asserting the company’s
full commitment to equity and justice for people of color
and cultural minorities. The company’s board held a special
meeting to acknowledge those concepts as priorities, and promised
an increased emphasis on diversity, equity and inclusion
going forward.
“I don’t think any of us expected that corporate message at
that moment,” reflected Carlisle. “But immediately, that bold statement
got a very positive reaction from the employees. To be fair,
there was also some uncertainty. Are we really able to do something
about this? Most employees were interested to know what
came next.”
GeoEngineers responded in July by hiring Potential Unleashed,
a consulting firm that is helping the company assess its current
efforts while developing a more structured diversity, equity and
inclusion program.
“They built out how they were going to help us develop a plan
to determine the actual changes we’d make in the structure,” said
Carlisle. “So far, about 20 leaders and board members have been
trained, and we conducted an anonymous survey of all staff, which
got a very high return rate.”
While the new program is a positive step in the right direction,
Carlisle says it’s not just about checking a box.
“Because we have this culture present at the company, we
thought we couldn’t be silent on it. But we know it is going to take
work and time.”
Positive progress
GeoEngineers is no stranger to the concept of diversity, equity and
inclusion. Back in 2015, the firm founded its Inclusive Contracting
DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION
Form meaningful
relationships with
DBEs.
Ask Inclusive
Contracting
Group for help!
program to improve engagement with women-, minority- and
veteran-owned businesses, disadvantaged business enterprises
(DBEs), and small businesses (certified firms).
“What sparked it was the recognition that our clients were
incorporating certified firm requirements into their requests for
qualifications (RFQs),” said Carlisle. “It was clear that more and
more clients were looking for engagement with disadvantaged
groups. So, we formed the Inclusive Contracting Committee to
strengthen the story we have to tell, about how we are connecting
with these firms.”
In its monthly meetings, the group focuses on how to build
a stronger and more diverse team, whether internal or external.
Over time, GeoEngineers has increasingly engaged with not only
small suppliers, but also DBEs as well as minority-, women- or
veteran-owned businesses.
For 2021, the Inclusive Contracting Committee earmarked a
portion of GeoEngineers’ projected subcontracting work for certified
firms.
“We use a lot of different services, like drilling, surveying, chemical
laboratory work, traffic control, historical research,” elaborated
Carlisle. “We look at how many certified companies we use and
how we can reach out to those we don’t know. That is a big effort
and a heavy lift, because you have to find them.”
In addition, the committee organized webinars for GeoEngineers’
project managers, to teach them about client requirements for
using certified firms. It kept up the internal outreach, helping staff
understand the “good faith effort” that must be shown when a
prime contractor or consultant is allocated federal funds and must
engage with a certain percentage of certified businesses.
“If a firm is putting in a bid, they have to make a good faith
effort to go out and find that much subcontracted work,” said
Carlisle. “We wanted to understand what that effort entailed, so
we could achieve it.”
GeoEngineers has successfully connected with many certified
firms and has sent out information requests to find out what products
and services they provide.
“One of the biggest things for our group is embracing it, shifting
the culture,” she continued. “We’re embracing the whole process
because of the end game. It provides opportunities for firms that
don’t have the same privileges or tenure in the business.”
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