Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Walsh wins award for work at Cascade Campus

Photos and story by James Hill

PORTLAND, Ore. – Walsh Construction Co., nominated by Portland Community College, won the Minority Business Opportunity award at the Minority Enterprise Development Week event in early October.In its nomination, PCC noted Walsh’s commitment to incorporating minority-owned business into college construction projects at the Cascade Campus.When accepting the award, Don Geddes, Walsh Construction vice president said that we all live in a diverse community and the workforce should reflect that. He also credited organizations like PCC for making minority-owned business a priority in their construction projects.John Persen, PCC’s MWESB manager for the construction bond, said, "Walsh Construction’s commitment to excellence encompasses building state-of-the-art classroom and administrative facilities; addressing project work force diversity issues; and networking with Minority, Women and Emerging Small Business. Walsh’s efforts at Cascade Campus have produced outstanding MWESB utilization results and are a big part of PCC’s overall success."PCC’s Minority, Women and Emerging Small Business (MWESB) effort has helped minority and women-owned companies as well as apprentices move ahead in construction careers. This outreach program was set up through the 2000 construction bond. The program networks with key organizations and businesses in the community to help spread contract money to underrepresented workers and companies. With this initiative, PCC has allocated $11 million to date in contract money toward women, minority or emerging small businesses for the construction projects. Minority and females make up nearly one-third of all apprentices being used at PCC work sites.