COLUMBUS, Ohio, October 8, 2024 – SSOE Group (www.ssoe.com), an internationally ranked architecture and engineering firm and certified Great Place to Work® for seven years, announced today the firm’s Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), Candice Harrison (she / her), will speak on behalf of the American Council of Engineering Companies Ohio Chapter (ACEC Ohio) at the Ohio Transportation Engineering Conference (OTEC). The event will occur at the Columbus Convention Center on October 8th and 9th.
Harrison will join Abraham Carrillo, Global Inclusion Diversity and Equity Director at HDR Engineering, and Greg Riley, President at Shaefer, to present “Empowering Change from Within—How Employee Resource Groups Fuel Innovation and Strengthen Organizational Culture” as part of Session 54: Leadership, Emotional Intelligence and ERGs in Transportation on Wednesday, October 9th at 10:00 a.m. (EST). This session will explore the crucial role of Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) in enhancing recruitment, retention, and fostering an inclusive culture within their organizations.
The Role of ERGs in Empowering Change
ERGs are not just social networks; they are pivotal for career development and corporate innovation, providing leadership opportunities and professional growth for employees.
Commenting on the organizational importance of DEI and ERGs, Harrison stated, “Creating a more equitable environment is certainly about doing the right thing for our diverse employee base and having our pipeline of talent mirror the world in which we live. However, we also can’t deny that it impacts brand reputation, turnover, profitability, productivity, creativity, and innovation. As we look to continue growing our presence in Central Ohio, across the U.S., and globally, we’re including DEI as part of that strategy because our intentional stance has had a profound and positive impact on our culture that we intend to see through. Our Employee Resource Groups continue to be a major part of that success story!”
At SSOE, 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. They are an integral component of the firm’s 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.
SSOE has six active ERGs currently in place across its employee network: Black Leaders and Collaborative Changemakers (BLACC), People Respecting Identities, Diversity, and Equality (PRIDE), SSOE Women and Allies Network (SWAN), Hispanic and Latin Allies (¡HoLA!), the Interfaith Alliance, and Young Professionals. All groups have seen an increase in employee participation year over year and have hosted several special events all are invited to attend.
Innovating Inclusion, Shaping the Future
Candice Harrison joined SSOE in 2022 to support the firm’s vital efforts to help close the gap in the disproportionate number of underrepresented groups in the AEC industry. Reporting directly to the CEO, she spearheads the implementation of the firm’s DEI vision, sets aspirational goals, and conducts thorough assessments of SSOE’s DEI initiatives. Harrison has already made significant strides, including launching the firm’s annual scholarship supporting students in the engineering and architecture fields at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. She also hosts the SSOE-sponsored podcast, A Blueprint for Equity, dedicated to exploring challenges, uncovering opportunities, and celebrating successes surrounding DEI in architecture, engineering, construction, and adjacent industries.
Named the #2 Semiconductor Design Firm in the nation (ENR), SSOE recently expanded its operations in Columbus, Ohio, where it’s had an office presence since 2008, to better support its local client base and the advanced technology growth in the area.
To learn more about OTEC or to register for the event, click here.
