2023 Selection for the McCownGordon Mentor Protégé Program
Establishing a mentor-protégé program in the construction industry is a strategic decision that goes beyond our business interests. It helps foster a more inclusive and innovative industry while also promoting social responsibility and community engagement. We’re excited to announce this year’s selection of the McCownGordon Mentor Protégé program with three MWDBE contractors based in Missouri, Kansas and Dallas-Fort Worth.
CJ Industries A certified woman-owned and minority-owned business enterprise, CJ Industries was established in 2013 by Mindy Rocha in Kansas City, KS. They were named the 2019 Kansas Minority Owned Construction Firm of the Year and are listed as on the Top 25 Minority Owned Construction Firms in Kansas City by Ingram’s Magazine.
Global Rock Enterprise, LLC Established in 2019, Global Rock Enterprise, LLC. is a certified minority-owned business enterprise based in Kansas City, MO. They have vast industry familiarity and technical expertise in the areas of electrical data systems and installations, relating to multifamily construction and real estate rehabilitation. They were named 2022 Small Business of the year by the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce.
Picasso Contractors, LLC Picasso LLC. is a certified Minority Owned and Woman Owned Business Enterprise. Based in Dallas, TX, they are a demolition contractor founded in 2015. With a reputation for flexibility and reliability, they are often known as the top demolition contractor in Texas.
McCownGordon is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI) – creating a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone is valued, feels welcomed and has the opportunity and resources to be successful. As part of our DEI strategy, our supplier diversity efforts are essential to supporting underrepresented businesses, which results in stimulating the economy in the same communities where those businesses reside. We are driven to successfully execute supplier diversity efforts that result in maximizing the utilization and capacity of underrepresented businesses/workforce members.
In 2020, the were 738,281 construction firms in the United States. Of those firms, 102,239 were minority-owned and approximately 95,976 were women-owned, all accounting for only 27% of the market. For M/WBE firms to increase their market share, it is imperative to establish platforms that provide resources and opportunities for success.
In April 2023, McCownGordon adopted the City of Kansas City’s framework (which was modeled after State and National standards) and launched an internal mentor protégé program. This program provides guidance, development, and access to business-related networks to M/WBE firms and assists them with moving into non-traditional areas of work and/or competing in the marketplace, resulting in performance enhancement, knowledge and market presence in the construction industry.
The program is designed to be driven by the trade partner based on their needs including management, technical, business development and contracting assistance. After discussing their support needs and goals, McCownGordon will lend its thought-leaders and industry expertise to assist the trade partner in achieving their goals/objectives. Over the course of the agreement, there will be check-ins assessing the the relationship and progress on meeting the goals and objectives.
LaTasha McCall, president and owner of LM2 Construction & Consulting, who participated as McCownGordon’s mentee in 2018-2021 as part of Kansas City’s Mentor Protégé Program said, “I want to commend members of the McCownGordon team for their guidance, counsel, and support, which contributed to enhancing my business and network as a General Contractor.”
