Since JE Dunn’s founding more than 100 years ago, our employees have given their time, money, and talents to community support through volunteerism, philanthropic giving, board service, and more. As our company expanded nationally and our industry’s workforce aged, we’ve witnessed a growing need to educate the next generation about construction careers and industry opportunities — and that’s where Building the Future came into the picture.
“The Dunn family and our employees have established an incredible legacy of philanthropy and community impact over the past century. As we looked to the future, we saw a unique opportunity to create meaningful pathways for employees to engage in their local communities — while also investing in our future workforce,” said Nancy Phelps, Community Impact Director.
Since its launch in 2022, JE Dunn’s Building the Future initiative has generated awareness for the many types of careers available in construction. Through partnerships with local schools and educational nonprofits, Building the Future provides K-12 students in our markets with hands-on engagement in different aspects of the construction industry. It also generates connections between our employees and students in their communities.
“The goal was to create a pipeline to engage young people and give them a pathway into our industry through directed, targeted engagement opportunities,” said Christina Chandler, Community Impact Education Manager.
Building the Future advances JE Dunn’s Community Impact goals by partnering with both client and non-client school districts, supporting local nonprofits, and building workforce pipelines for students and adults.
“We’re trying to make sure our communities broadly understand the opportunities that exist within this industry,” Chandler said.
Not only is it important to show kids the variety of fulfilling careers that are possible in construction, but also to educate their parents.
“Instead of only pushing students into a few career paths like doctor, lawyer, or engineer, we need parents to see this industry as a prosperous option — something their students might actually enjoy,” Chandler said.
While the program primarily aims to develop our future construction workforce, it also provides our employees with community connection and volunteering possibilities.
“Guidance in discovering their interests, building confidence, and supporting positive energy is something all students deserve,” said Rich Fischbach, Risk Analyst and regular Building the Future volunteer. “Building the Future provides me the opportunity to serve that cause in small ways that I find incredibly fulfilling.”
As JE Dunn continues to grow, so does the need for employee volunteers to bolster Building the Future.
“Wherever you are, no matter what office you’re in, young people want to hear from you. They need to hear from you,” said Chandler. “We need you to share, engage, get in front of students, let them know what a great company JE Dunn is, and tell them how amazing our industry is. Share your story so that they see themselves here also.”
To learn more about Building the Future and get involved, visit the Connect page or contact Christina Chandler.
