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Turning great intention into action

September 5, 2017 by Leave a Comment

Turning great intention into action
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Some of the many people who make McKinstry great, pictured at our most-recent New Hire Orientation.

As a woman who has worked many decades in male-dominated environments, I’ve had my share of hurtful experiences. In a previous role at a different company, I remember when my male peers gathered around the conference room table to eat, while two female support staff and I sat on the sidelines with no food because we might be needed to get coffee or copies. I remember overhearing the conversations about not wanting to hire women because ‘they might get pregnant.’ Where it was assumed that we couldn’t be in a powerful decision making position because we would be too hormonal and emotional. Opportunities presented to women were limited, traditional and dead end. And to speak up meant being blackballed, alienated or fired.

Fast forward to today. Thank goodness we are in such a different time and place, where such overt displays of intolerance are no longer acceptable. Yet there is much more to be done. While I feel lucky to be with a company where people are judged on the innovation of their ideas, their commitment to the work, and their dedication to each other and our customers, I know our own diversity and inclusion journey is far from over.

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Filed Under: Big Ideas, Home Tagged With: Culture, Diversity, Inclusion, STEM

Supporting students, STEM and our communities

August 12, 2015 by Leave a Comment

It’s no surprise to educators that providing a strong foundation in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) creates long-term positive benefits for students as they prepare to join the workforce.

In the past 10 years alone, STEM jobs have grown three times faster than non-STEM jobs. A strong workforce, in turn, strengthens local communities. McKinstry believes that the private sector has an important role to play in supporting these advancements in education, and we have a long history of putting that commitment into action in our communities through investments of our time, talents and resources.

We care about the future of today’s students, and we want to see the next generation succeed. That’s why we’re dedicated to creating opportunities for students from all backgrounds. So, what do we do?

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Filed Under: Big Ideas, Occupants & Operators, Technology Tagged With: Community, Education, Great Lakes, Pacific Northwest, STEM

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