VIDEO: Tarlton Wins Chamber “Arcus” Award for “Thinking Beyond Today” Diversity Initiative
Date Posted: February 27, 2020
Posted In: Organizations, Workforce,
Tarlton Corporation was recognized at the St. Louis Regional Chamber’s “Arcus Awards” Thursday night for an innovative approach to diversity and inclusion. The category in which Tarlton was honored was Achievement in Workforce and Talent Development.
Tarlton’s Diversity Manager Rosyln Croft gave the acceptance remarks at the event, which was held at the Hyatt Regency at the Arch. The Tarlton program, dubbed “Thinking Beyond Today,” was a collaborative pilot program launched by Tarlton and BJC Healthcare, embodying a commitment to strengthen the region’s workforce while also promoting diversity and inclusion.
Tarlton and BJC leveraged a major construction project at Christian Hospital’s Northwest HealthCare facility to establish a modular jobsite office as a workforce development facility lot, giving them a space to provide information to high school students and community agencies on careers in construction. The program included a careers resource center housed in a trailer on the site of the Siteman Cancer Center to be built at Christian Northwest.
They sought the help of unions, contractors, schools and community agencies in building this program and making it meaningful to these young kids. The objective of the program was to partner with organizations focused on construction careers to build a network for recruitment, training, and career development. Their facility showcased the potential of careers in union construction trades, highlighting the job training and competitive compensation through real-life interaction and use of technology.
In an initial meeting with stakeholders, Charles Henson, diversity manager for BJC Healthcare Planning Design and Construction, cited the “collective wisdom” of those in the meeting. He said that BJC and Tarlton wanted to tap that knowledge in making the pilot program successful. “A career is a decision made by a 17-year-old,” Henson said.
Tarlton Diversity Manager Roslyn Croft worked with BJC and other partners to maximize the exposure of the on-site facility. The program included programming for schools, community agencies, and the public.
The center was made possible by BJC HealthCare. Its success hinged on the collaborative effort of unions, contractors, schools and agencies. The aim was to showcase the potential of careers in union construction trades, highlighting job training and competitive compensation through real-life interaction and the use of technology.
In conjunction with BJC HealthCare and Christian Hospital, the center also featured career training and opportunities in healthcare.
Union trades supplying materials/speakers included: Laborers 110 and 42, Carpenters, Plumbers and Pipefitters, Painters, Electricians Local 1, Sheet Metal Workers, Roofers, Operators, Cement Masons, Iron Workers, Bricklayers.
Donating time and material were icon Mechanical, Construction Forum STL, St. Louis Construction Cooperative, and United Way of Greater St. Louis.
Construction Forum Also Recognized
Construction Forum STL was also recognized as a finalist at the Arcus awards program in the Public Policy category for its two-year exploration of regional collaboration.