Elevations

Winter 2024

A national JE Dunn Construction employee publication

managing editor
Keli Schneider
editor

Becky Storm

Brooklyn Manning

Madison Parry

On The Level

by: Gordon Lansford

From the CEO

With JE Dunn’s Centennial in full swing, I hope you all feel the extra sense of excitement and pride that I do as we celebrate 100 years in business. This is an incredible milestone that not a lot of companies achieve, and it’s largely thanks to your dedication that we have reached it.

In case you haven’t spent much time on our Centennial microsite yet to see all the great stories, click here to check it out. So much inspiration comes from hearing these JE Dunn stories, and I know they will motivate us for many years to come. Our strong legacy of excellence and integrity is something we should all be proud of.

In this edition of Elevations, you can learn more about the meaningful DE&I work being done, see how our Human Resources Business Partners can help in a variety of ways, understand how indirect procurement can benefit you, and more. I encourage you to read these stories and share your feedback and ideas. We are always looking for ways to improve, and your input is valuable.

Thanks for all you do every day and for being part of the JE Dunn team. I appreciate your commitment and passion, and I look forward to celebrating a great Centennial year with you.

100 Years. 100 Stories.

Kisha Bausby
Senior Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Manager
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I have really grown to just love construction.

KISHA’S STORY

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Derek Wenger
General Superintendent
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I’ve always had the support of an awesome team behind me, or with me, to do what is right.

DEREK’S STORY

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Tim Dunn
Chairman
Chief Investment Officer
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It’s bigger than just business. It’s about the impact you make.

TIM’S STORY

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Iana Stuart
National Aviation Market Leader
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I know JE Dunn has the staying power to be here beyond the next 100 years. We are incredibly committed to our people, to our clients, and to our communities, and the future is really bright.

IANA’S STORY

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Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

By: V. Mishaune Sawyer, Esq.
Senior Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Manager

Senior Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Manager, V. Mishaune Sawyer, Esq., is hard at work supporting JE Dunn’s internal retention programs and increasing external supplier diversity. In this column, Sawyer explains how JE Dunn has launched the Healthcare Minority Contractor Development Learning Series, an offshoot of our standard Minority Contractor Development Program. She also speaks to the importance of expanding opportunities to historically underserved students through National Diversity Scholarships and intentional recruitment. Click below to read about some of JE Dunn’s efforts to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion for all.

1+5 With Alok Patel

Project Director
Advanced Facilities Group
1. WHAT IS SOMETHING NO ONE ELSE KNOWS ABOUT YOU?

Very few people know that I own and enjoy riding a Harley.

2. IF YOU COULD HAVE LUNCH WITH ANYONE — LIVING OR DECEASED — WHO WOULD IT BE, AND WHY?

I would love to have one more meal with my mother, who passed away in 2020. I want to tell her how grateful I am for everything she and my father have done for me, plus I am a big fan of her food. Outside the family, it would be Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (“Iron Man of India”), who successfully integrated 565 princely states into the Union of India.

3. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE VACATION, AND WHY?

Favorite vacation was to visit The Wave in northern Arizona in 2012. It is one of the most remote parks in the U.S. To maintain the privacy and wilderness of the area, the National Park Service allows only 20 people to visit the park on a single day, filling the spots by lottery system; more than 2,000 people globally sign up for the lottery daily. It felt super lucky when four of us won the lottery on a first trial while only five spots were left. This park is incredible and unique. Look it up — you will get the idea.

4. WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY DOING THAT YOU REALLY ENJOY?

Since February 2022, I have been part of the largest project at JE Dunn. This assignment has given me an incredible opportunity to work with 100+ team members (with different personalities and diverse backgrounds) under one roof. It has been a challenging journey from being a manager to become a leader, but this challenge keeps me going every day, and history says I do my best learning when I am thrown in the fire.

5. WHAT’S YOUR CLAIM TO FAME?

When I was in an undergrad school, I led a group project which entailed preparing a master plan to restore a 572-year-old historical lake and surrounding heritage sites. As part of the final challenge of the competition, we were asked to present the plan to city officials. This presentation was published in a local newspaper and ultimately influenced the final design of Lakefront Development.

Articles

Regional Updates

Throughout our 26 JE Dunn offices, building, giving, and people are at the heart of what we do. Click below to see more of the great things happening throughout our regions.