TOLEDO, Ohio, October 18, 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 CEO, Vince DiPofi, PE, will participate in a panel discussion at the 2024 HeForShe Forum. The event will take place at the Huntington Center Aquarium in Toledo, Ohio where the firm’s flagship office resides.
DiPofi will join Rodney Eason, Vice President of Talent and Human Resources at Erie Home, and Chuck Stocking, Chairman of Principle Business Enterprises, to present “Allyship in Action” on Monday, October 21st at 12:00 p.m. (EST). This powerful conversation, moderated by Julia Hage, Director of Mission Advancement for Anne Grady Services, will discuss how men can champion gender equality by amplifying voices, breaking down barriers, and creating meaningful change through active allyship.
DiPofi commented on his involvement, sharing, “As the CEO of SSOE, I am deeply honored to participate in the HeForShe event. It is crucial for men, especially those in a leadership role, to stand up and support gender equality, not just in words but through our actions. At SSOE, we prioritize creating an inclusive environment where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Personally, I’m committed to the growth of technical women within our industry and our firm, as I believe that diverse perspectives and backgrounds drive innovation and success. Together, we can build a more equitable future for all.”
DEI at SSOE
Diversity, equity, and inclusion is a core value at SSOE. In 2022, DiPofi hired Candice Harrison as DEI Director to have a dedicated leader focused 100% on DEI efforts. With the support of SSOE’s Board of Directors and various levels of management, Harrison has had numerous accomplishments over the last two years. She’s been pivotal in the establishment of six active Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) across the firm’s employee network.
At SSOE, ERGs are voluntary, employee-led groups that offers opportunities to network internally, attract a diverse employee base, provide the inclusion of ideas and solutions, and create opportunities for mentoring and career development. These groups are typically centered around supporting underrepresented communities or shared perspectives.
Commenting on the growth and impact of the firm’s ERGs, Deanna Grady, SSOE’s DEI Specialist, stated, “Our ERGs are pivotal to our DEI success, fostering vibrant employee engagement and inclusive communities. They’re integral to our commitment to cultivating an internal culture that encourages growth at all levels, builds trust, and champions intentional inclusion. SWAN, an acronym for ‘SSOE Women and Allies Network’ is our largest ERG with nearly 90 members and represents almost half of our ERG participants. SWAN members not only enrich our internal culture for women colleagues but also extend their technical expertise and outreach to our communities and various professional organizations.”
Grady continues, “Vince has been a steadfast supporter of SWAN and its initiatives, championing equitable leadership representation and the advancement of women within the organization, making him the perfect panelist for this Allyship in Action discussion.”
The Importance of HeForShe
Created by UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality, and the Empowerment of Women, the HeForShe solidarity movement for gender equality provides a systematic approach and targeted platform where a global audience can engage and become change agents for the achievement of gender equality in our lifetime.
Against a global backdrop of receding rights for women and girls, HeForShe gathers political, business, global development, and social justice leaders to commit to accelerating progress on gender equality in their companies, campuses, communities and countries. While UN Women recently reported that, at the current rate of progress, it may take close to 300 years to achieve full gender equality, HeForShe urges men to do their part in accelerating equality in whatever capacity they can.
To learn more about HeForShe, click here.
