Several minority-owned contractors participated in a workshop held Friday by the JE Dunn/Rives E. Worrell Co. The all-day workshop, part of the company’s Minority Contractor Business Development (MCBD) Program, focused on leadership and was led by Marvin Carolina, Jr., JE Dunn’s director of supplier diversity.

“Whereas many small business development programs focus solely on tactical skill building topics such as accounting and estimating, key aspects of our minority contractor initiative include education, relationships and contracts,” said Cherelle Cortez, JE Dunn’s diversity manager. “It is our goal to substantially increase interpersonal and business operations skills that are so necessary for sustainability and growth.”

The MCBD Program first began at JE Dunn’s Kansas City headquarters in 2006. The program provides a venue for minority and woman-owned firms in construction-related fields to participate in a year-long training program designed to enhance their business acumen and interpersonal and relationship building skills. Each “class” of business owners is strengthened by a select group of facilitators that provide learning and impart knowledge in key areas of business topics.

Participants chosen for each year-long class have access to a full day of training each month, free of charge. Facilitators are business owners and understand the unique needs and challenges that face small businesses. JE Dunn’s commitment to this endeavor is clear in its continuous expansion of the program and the utilization of MCBD Program graduates.

In addition to learning about leadership, workshop participants also heard a keynote address on accounting and human resources from Stephen Best, director of compensation and benefits, JE Dunn.