Candice Harrison (she / her)
Director, DEI
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Diverse in Thought, United in Action
Our Commitment
Together, we are on a journey.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is a commitment to create a culture that encourages growth at all levels. By building trust and valuing team results, this becomes a strategic advantage that benefits us all.
Our people are our greatest asset, and collaboration is our greatest tool. Everyone has something to offer and by tapping into their unique insights we optimize and generate innovative ideas and solutions to complex problems.
The tenacious pursuit of embracing diversity, pledging equity, and intentional inclusion will lead us to an environment in which all people feel respected and safe bringing their whole selves to work.
Making Strides
We’ve already come a long way on the path to greater diversity, equity, and inclusion at SSOE. Some of our notable milestones include:
- 100% of our employees participate in DEI and ethics training.
- We’ve increased the number of women in leadership roles by over 20% in 5 years.
- We appointed the first woman President and Chair of the Board in 2020.
- We hired our first Corporate Director of DEI in 2022.
- In 2022, a DEI committee was added to SSOE’s Board of Directors. This committee is led by a woman who is an external member of the board.
- We formed our first Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) in 2023.
- We observe Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a holiday and day of community service for our staff.
- SSOE participates in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring our Heroes Corporate Fellowship Program, and currently employs more than 65
veterans across our firm.
Being Resourceful
We’re dedicated to ensuring every employee is listened to, valued for their individuality, and recognized for their distinct contributions. Conversely, we know it’s human nature to want to form connections collectively with those who share similar experiences. SSOE’s ERGs are voluntary, employee-led groups that offer opportunities to network internally, attract a diverse employee base, provide the inclusion of ideas and solutions, and create opportunities for mentoring and career development.
ERGs are an integral component of our commitment to creating an internal culture that encourages growth at all levels, builds trust, and pursues intentional inclusion. These groups are typically centered around supporting underrepresented communities or shared perspectives.
Our ERGs
BLACC
BLACC (est. 2023), an acronym for Black Leaders and Collaborative Changemakers, represents the interests of Black / African Americans by collaborating with other ERGs and partnering closely with Human Resources. BLACC fosters a supportive network that’s open to all who support the Black / African American experience at SSOE.
PRIDE
PRIDE (est. 2023), an acronym for People Respecting Identities, Diversity, and Equality, is an inclusive community of *LGBTQIA+ people and allies whose vision is to promote a positive and inclusive work environment and community while providing opportunities for education, networking, collaboration, and career development.
SWAN
SWAN (est. 2023), an acronym for SSOE Women and Allies Network, empowers women and allies by offering robust avenues for professional and personal growth. Through a suite of programs, resources, and a supportive community, our Women’s ERG aims to cultivate development and opportunities. The group is dedicated to highlighting the unique challenges faced by women and equipping our community with the tools to support their female colleagues effectively.
¡HoLA!
¡HoLA! (est. 2024), an acronym for Hispanic and Latin Allies, is committed to empowering our Hispanic / Latin colleagues and providing them with a safe space to express and share the richness of their unique cultures throughout SSOE. ¡HoLA! aims to break down invisible barriers and foster cross-cultural connections by organizing workshops, cultural showcases, and various programs and activities that increase cultural exchange.
The Interfaith Alliance
The Interfaith Alliance ERG (est. 2024) is dedicated to uniting individuals across various religious and faith-based and spiritual spectrums to foster understanding, education, and inclusivity. It serves as a welcoming forum that honors all faith identities, ensuring every unique voice is heard and cherished without bias toward any single belief system.
HYPE
The Helping Young Professionals Excel, or HYPE ERG (est. 2024) provides a platform for our next-gen leaders to drive transformational change with their fresh perspectives. The aim of this group is to elevate and motivate our young professionals through strategic alliances and knowledge exchange, propelling our firm into the future while establishing a collaborative space where the enthusiasm of young professionals and the seasoned expertise of mentors converge.
Deanna Grady (she / her)
DEI Specialist
Zulema Lopez (she / her)
¡HoLA! ERG Co-Lead
Emanuel Arredondo Gutierrez (he / him)
¡HoLA! ERG Co-Lead
Ron Vass
Interfaith Alliance ERG Lead
Brandon Monford (he / him)
BLACC ERG Lead
José Carlos Arnal de la Peña (he / him)
PRIDE ERG Lead
Rachel Mason (she / her)
SWAN ERG Lead
Adrienne Taylor, PE (she / her)
SWAN ERG Technical Sub-Group Lead
Belén Hernández (she / her)
SWAN ERG México Subgroup Lead
Adrienne Stauth (she / they)
HYPE ERG Lead
Betsy Hurner (she / her)
BLACC ERG Executive Sponsor
Vince DiPofi, PE (he / him)
PRIDE ERG Executive Sponsor
Robin Whitney, PE (she / her)
SWAN ERG Executive Sponsor
Brad Rowe (he / him)
¡HoLA! ERG Executive Sponsor
Matt Oberts (he / him)
HYPE ERG Executive Sponsor
Meet our DEI Champions
Our DEI Champions are leading the way toward a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture at SSOE. Comprised of our Director of DEI, ERG leaders, and Executive Sponsors, this team was built to be representative of SSOE’s employee population and to have the level of executive involvement required to underscore our commitment and enable forward progress. Our DEI Champions are primarily focused on:
- Advancing a culture of DEI at SSOE through the lens of industry and global best practices
- Listening to the unique needs of our employees and creating internal avenues of support
- Holding us accountable for our corporate commitment to DEI and measuring our progress
An ERG Executive Sponsor is a senior-level executive who supports and champions an ERG. They provide strategic advice to the ERG to align their goals with the organizational goals and build support for the activities of the network. They are responsible for ensuring that ERGs have access to senior leadership to demonstrate their value and secure support. They also have the key role of providing mission-driven guidance to ERGs to ensure they continue to serve the overall purpose of the organization.
Narrowing the Divide (One Step at a Time)
There’s no quick or easy solution for building a diverse workplace. Through our time, talents, and contributions, we’ve been nurturing DEI at a societal level to begin building a stronger workforce that is truly reflective of the diversity of our population.
We’re deeply invested in community and university partnerships that work to prepare students from all walks of life for successful careers in the STEM / STEAM fields. At the talent acquisition level, we actively seek to hire individuals with diverse backgrounds who are historically underrepresented or marginalized in our industry. Through this lifecycle approach, we aim to advance DEI in the architecture, engineering, construction, and adjacent industries for many generations to come.
SSOE actively engages students at the high school / pre-college level to provide them exposure to STEM / STEAM careers
Every year SSOE hosts dozens of high school students as part of Engineers Week’s “Engineer for a Day” program
SSOE is partnering with the University of Toledo to support diversity in STEM careers through a multi-year gift to the College of Engineering
SSOE supports students attending historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) through our annual scholarship program
A Look Inside SSOE
There is no quick or easy solution for building a diverse workplace.
Gender Demographics
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
% of SSOE Employee Population that
is an Underrepresented Minority
Partnering for Progress
SSOE is a member or corporate partner of several DEI organizations, further enhancing the commitment to serve and represent our communities.
- Ohio Diversity Council
- Catalyst
- CEO Action
- National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)
- National Organization of Minority Engineers (NOMA)
- Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
Constructing a More Inclusive Community
In 2023, we launched our DEI Podcast Series: A Blueprint for Equity. We invite you to join us as we explore the challenges and celebrate the small victories in pursuit of a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive future. Listen on our website or download wherever you get your podcasts.
Featured News
Equal Opportunity & Disability Accessibility Statement
SSOE is an equal opportunity employer and provides fair and equal treatment to all individuals, employees, and applicants for employment, regardless of race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, disability, genetic information, military / veteran status, or any other protected group status under federal, state, or local law. SSOE complies with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 and related laws. SSOE does not make employment decisions based upon any protected status under applicable federal, state, or local law.
Applicants with a disability, who require a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, may email their request to hrassist@ssoe.com for assistance. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodations will be made on a case-by-case basis.
EEO/M/F/Veteran/Disability
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