The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) has honored minority-owned design and build firm KAI Enterprises for championing a diverse workforce and inclusive environment with its 2021 Diversity & Inclusion Excellence Award in the Mid-Size Contractor Category. KAI CEO Michael Kennedy, Jr. accepted the award at the organization’s national convention on Sept. 23 in Orlando, FL.
“KAI is and has been an advocate for creating inclusive communities. The company clearly dedicated to increasing diversity in their staff and workforce. KAI’s D&I efforts are a part of their core values and can be seen in their corporate processes,” according to statements from the D&I Awards judges. “It is exciting to see companies like KAI continue to embrace and implement D&I efforts as not the ‘right thing to do’ but rather as a key element for the organization’s success.”
The AGC Diversity & Inclusion Excellence awards honor AGC members that are champions in advancing diversity and fostering a culture of inclusion within their workforce, supply chain and in the communities they serve. By showcasing and recognizing best practices from companies that are developing and delivering diversity and inclusion initiatives with demonstrable success, award winners have the opportunity to share their track record of achievement and commitment. The AGD D & I judge award applicants on corporate commitment, workforce diversity and business diversity.
KAI’s leadership
KAI continues to be a leader in the industry. The company takes a proactive role in initiating and accomplishing diversity goals and participation in the workplace. Quality, diversity and providing opportunities for everyone is part of the culture at KAI and formalized in the company’s policies and best practices.
“We believe that diverse perspectives and backgrounds bring strength to our work in both our daily operations and our final product,” said KAI CEO Michael Kennedy, Jr. “As a minority-owned firm, we feel it’s important to advocate for inclusive communities, and we are committed to diversity in our workforce, clients and projects. Establishing a firm grounded on diversity is where the core of KAI’s foundation stands.”
Headquartered in St. Louis, KAI is a 100% Minority-Owned Business Enterprise (MBE) certified through the State of Missouri and the City of St. Louis/St. Louis Airport Authority. KAI also maintains certification with the largest nationally recognized certifying organization, the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC).
Year after year, KAI has successfully maintained a much higher than industry standard when it comes to workforce diversity. KAI communicates the goal to every hiring manager to be cognizant and intentional while searching for diverse talent.
Diversity
KAI’s in-house workforce diversity goes well beyond ownership: 49% of KAI’s current staff represents women and minorities. KAI has initiated several employment advertising campaigns in local publications that specifically target potential MBE/DBE/SDVE/WBE employees. KAI also has a strong outreach program to identify minority-owned and woman-owned businesses that they can collaborate with on projects, and KAI participates in organizations and events that focus on minority inclusion in the construction industry.
“Diversity and inclusion are integrated into our job responsibilities because KAI feels that it is our duty to be the ambassador of diversity. We thrive on encouraging diversity and inclusion into our job functions,” said Kennedy. “We appreciate the AGC for honoring our diversity efforts.”
About KAI Enterprises
KAI Enterprises is a national design and build firm. The company provides delivery-oriented building solutions with a diverse portfolio of experience. It also provides in-house multi-discipline professionals and expertise in both design and construction delivery. Founded in 1980, KAI has since grown into one of the largest minority-owned firms in the AEC industry. For 40 years, KAI has been instrumental in transforming communities. It does this through its expertise in residential, commercial, K-12 and also higher education. It has also been instrumental in healthcare, science and technology, aviation, mobility, sports and entertainment, government, water and community-focused projects. Additionally, KAI Enterprises consists of four distinct business units. These include KAI Design, KAI Engineering, KAI Build and also KAI 360 Construction Services. To learn more about KAI, you can also visit www.kai-db.com.
