Developing our local minority- and women-owned business enterprises (M/WBE’s) is a responsibility that rests on the entire community. Rockford believes in doing our part to help M/WBE’s and other disadvantaged business categories such as HUBzone and small business enterprises (SBE). Therefore, we implemented a corporate-wide Diversity Plan in 2004 to achieve goals for workforce, supplier, and subcontractor diversity. We want to help others in the community, and we intend to continue to lead by example.

Norm Noordeloos, our Senior Vice President of Business Development, has created a mentoring program for emerging subcontractors here in West Michigan. Every Thursday morning, the group meets to discuss upcoming projects, bid strategies, market opportunities, and business development issues such as how to write a proposal, create brochures, or hire appropriate talent. This mentoring program has been in place for several years, with great success for subcontractors such as Taylor Electric and Modern Fire & Security.

George Colvin, one of our superientendents and an active community leader, is involved in a mentorship program with local, urban students to encourage a new generation to pursue a career in construction. Historically, many minorities do not pursue careers in construction management. Rockford is educating local high school students on the rewards of just such a career with classroom and hands-on learning.

Rockford’s President, Mike VanGessel, continues to lead by example, as he serves on the West Michigan Minority Contractors Association’s Board of Directors. Norm Noordeloos serves on the Monthly Minority Group, consisting of representatives from the City of Grand Rapids, Grand Valley State University, Spectrum Health, ABC, AGC, and subcontractors from the Grand Rapids market. In addition, Dan Clappison, Rockford’s Vice President of Operations, serves on the Board of Directors for the Re-Entry Employment Resource Center. From the executives of our company down to the superintendents on-site, our entire staff is proud to be market leaders in internal workforce diversity, M/WBE subcontractor participation, and of our proven track record for workforce diversity on-site for our projects.

Our commitment to workforce and subcontractor diversity is more than just a mission statement. Rockford works to support local disadvantaged businesses along with encouraging workforce diversity – in our offices and on sites.