The St. Louis Construction Consortium, which includes local AEC firms ABNA, Alberici, Clayco, KAI Enterprises, KWAME Building Group, McCarthy Building Companies, PARIC, S.M. Wilson, Tarlton and TW Constructors, hosted Supplier Diversity Day on Oct. 16 to support and celebrate the region’s minority- and women-owned businesses. The consortium also honored KWAME Building Group Founder, Chairman & CEO Anthony “Tony” Thompson with its Lifetime Achievement Award at the event.
Held at the Forest Park campus of St. Louis Community College during national Construction Inclusion Week (Oct. 14-18), the networking event provided regional minority- and women-owned businesses with an opportunity to showcase their products and services and connect with consortium members, general contractors, construction managers, architects and owners.
Construction Inclusion Week, launched in 2020, is an annual week-long, industry-wide effort to champion change and cultivate a more inclusive construction industry. Now in its fourth year, the event has grown exponentially with over 5,000 firms registered to participate nationwide.
A founding member of the Consortium, KAI Enterprises CEO Michael B. Kennedy says he supports diversity and inclusion as an integral component of St. Louis’ growth and success and encourages other regional AEC leaders to join the effort.
“Leaders in the construction industry have a unique responsibility to champion supplier diversity, not just as a policy but as a practice embedded in every project. By driving inclusion from the top down, we not only open doors to underrepresented businesses but also strengthen the entire supply chain, foster innovation, and build more resilient communities. True leadership recognizes that diversity is not an option but a strategic imperative that shapes the future of our industry,” said Kennedy.
The event’s Lifetime Achievement Award presented to KWAME Founder Tony Thompson celebrates the exceptional standards of construction excellence, dedication and accomplishment in the St. Louis region over a sustained period of time.
Thompson has led the minority-owned construction management firm for the past three decades and is recognized for his strong commitment to community, equality in education and diversity/inclusion within his company. Equally impressive is the scholarship program he developed within his KWAME Charitable Foundation that has presented over $3 million in endowed scholarships to local universities for first generation and minority students.
Founded in 1991 and headquartered in St. Louis, KWAME is one of the nation’s top pure construction management firms, dedicating 100 percent of its resources to project management services. The employee-owned company provides estimating, scheduling, project planning, value engineering and other project management services as an independent advocate for owners and developers. KWAME also has division offices in Atlanta, Dallas and Seattle.
Photos by Nicole Adewale
