The Acumen - March 2024

and public projects. Our team inspects the construction works, ensuring that everything is done according to the plan and meets the required standards. As part of our mandate, our team visited different construction projects within Denver and compared the work being done on the ground to approved drawings and specifications. We prepared our inspection reports containing the findings and corrective actions. Through our inspections, we have provided valuable assessments of both private and public construction works. The final reports, which are shared with the clients, have enabled them to remain compliant and understand where to make improvements. Through our informed inspections, therefore, we pride ourselves on enabling the successful completion of different construction and installation projects. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives Smoky Hill Engineering LLC understands the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion. This is because the company collaborates with different clients and stakeholders; therefore, being aware of these matters is not only a requirement but obligatory. We are in a field where we interact with new faces every day, and to succeed, we need to strike a balance with every party that does business with us. Also, the company recognizes that diversity and inclusion are ethical imperatives and essential drivers of innovation, creativity, and organizational success. One way through which Smoky Hill Engineering LLC has demonstrated diversity, equity, and inclusion is through the hiring process. The company seeks different skills, qualifications, disciplines, and communities to ensure that its workforce reflects the community it is serving. This has permitted the creation of a working environment where every worker feels valued, respected, and empowered to succeed. Also, the company closely works with partners and organizations that promote diversity and equality in the engineering industry. Through participating in forums that support diversity-focused events and community outreach programs, the company has cultivated its niche in this matter. From a broader perspective, the engineering industry can apply different strategies to ensure

compliance with diversity, equity, and inclusion principles. Understanding these approaches is essential, especially in the current era, where there is a high level of labor integration. These intentional tactics would help companies in the engineering field address systemic barriers and allow workers to thrive: • Putting an inclusive hiring process in place. Employers in the engineering industry can ensure inclusivity and diversity in recruitment by blindly screening resumes and reaching out to underserved communities to apply for jobs. Also, they can partner with schools, colleges, and universities to have a wider pool of candidates. • Providing training on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Providing employees with such training gives them knowledge of cultural diversity, inclusive leadership, and unconscious bias. The program creates an inclusive corporate culture that respects everybody. • Creating inclusive policies. Reviewing the organization’s policies is elemental in achieving equality and inclusivity. An organization can consider implementing flexible working hours and also consider issues of workers with disabilities. • Fostering communication and collaboration. Engineering companies should eliminate the barriers to communication by embracing open communication and consultations. This makes everyone feel part of the company and appreciated for their work. • Continuous engagement in community outreach programs. Being actively involved in community programs focused on diversity and inclusion portrays a company as responsible, cultivating a positive image in the community. This can be achieved through sponsoring educational programs for underserved people and maybe participating in mentorship events. The list is not exhaustive, but it shows a glimpse of how the engineering industry can become active in dealing with issues of diversity, equity, and inclusivity. As such, a company can come up with an innovative strategy that is localized to

48 The Acumen

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