From left representing KAI Build: Lynnette Bryant, Gyasi Haynes, Alison Magee, Shannon Fogerty and Rusty Ellis
St. Louis, MO, -- KAI Build is proud to announce that it has been named the 2021 Breaking Barriers Contractor of the Year by the Missouri Women in Trades (MOWIT) organization.
KAI accepted the award during MOWIT’s Blue Collar Black Tie Awards
Gala honoring and celebrating women in the trades on Sept. 17 at the Sheet
Metal Workers Local 36 Grand Hall in St. Louis.
“KAI Build strives to give women
opportunities to achieve higher levels of construction leadership through our
hiring process and programs,” said KAI Build’s Director of Project Management Gyasi
Haynes.
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| Gyasi Haynes |
“Our culture and our goal is to be the most diverse organization the construction industry has ever seen. "
"We are excited to have such great
women working at KAI who are leading the way for other women and minorities. We
are grateful for all our women team members and all that they do to be a part
of the mission and vision of KAI.”
Founded in 2008, MOWIT works to expand
opportunities for women to enter and succeed in apprenticeship and careers in
the construction and building trades in the greater St. Louis area.
MOWIT works with employers, unions,
educational organizations and other entities to increase women’s equal
employment and working conditions.
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| Rochelle Bonty |
The Breaking Barriers Contractor of the Year award is given to the nominee who can demonstrate programs, initiatives and efforts that have supported women entering and succeeding in these programs. Nominations were open to contractors that are signatory with any of the St. Louis area unions listed in the St. Louis Construction Cooperative’s Construction Careers handbook.
Generic File Photo
KAI Build, which is a member of The St.
Louis – Kansas City Carpenters Regional Council, has a workforce that includes
20 percent women, with 25 percent of women in leadership roles. KAI also
reported a 20 percent increase in female workforce participation in the last
year.
“Nothing beats their intentional
programs to hire and support women, while going the extra mile to hire women
for supervisory positions.
"They have shown themselves as
excellent, honorable, diligent and committed to the woman mandate,” said MOWIT
Board Member Rochelle Bonty.
CONTACT:
jennifer Beidle
314-607-9459
jennifer@jbeidlepr.com
