New York, NY – Dave Caraballoso, vice-president of the NYC District Council of Carpenters [NYCDCC], stressed the ongoing importance of elevating “all voices” at this year’s New York Build Expo.
“As a Latino leader of a union, I know how important it is to elevate all voices,” Caraballoso told Javits Center attendees earlier this month. “New York City is a place where individuals from all walks of life come to live out their dreams and build better lives. That diversity is our city’s and our union’s greatest strength. I’m proud of the union carpenter’s leadership in paving pathways to careers in construction for everyone. Prioritizing diversity and inclusion on and off the jobsite is critical to building a state-of-the-art skyline and a better future for New York.”
Caraballoso, a lifelong New Yorker with Cuban and Puerto Rican roots, joined other industry professionals on a panel looking at the importance of providing safe jobs and strong benefits to all.
The NYCDCC has a long history of promoting diversity and inclusion for New York City’s unionized construction industry. Comprised of over 20,000 members across nine Locals, they are committed to promoting the importance of unions, securing fair wages, safe working conditions, and high-quality benefits. NYCDCC creates opportunities for women, people of color, and those in underserved communities by offering six different apprenticeship programs that pave the way to successful trade careers.
The Building Expo panel featured five other construction professionals who addressed a wide variety of topics concerning diversity in the industry. They included, Marjorie St. Elin, Inclusion and Equity Regional Manager at the Turner Construction Company; Kavitha Matthew, Global Diversity Officer at Kohn Pedersen Fox; Stephanie Pennington, LeChase Construction’s Corporate Diversity Manager; Roland Murphy, US Disability Chamber of Commerce president and Jermaine Huell, National Diversity Manager at STV.
The NYC Building Expo is an annual event at the Javits Center that features over 250 exhibits and 300 different speakers. Each year, it features the country’s largest meeting of Women in Construction and programming dedicated to diversity and inclusion. Attendees from the Tri-state area and beyond come to network and gain the latest industry insights from construction, design, and real estate.
