Diversity champion oversees NEI's robust support of minority- and women-owned businesses
RANDOLPH, MA / ACCESSWIRE / March 25, 2024 / NEI General Contracting, an award-winning general contracting firm, announced today that Andre Barbour, the company's diversity and inclusion director, has been named to ENR's National Top 20 Under 40 for 2024 as well as their New England "Top Young Professionals" list. Barbour helps to drive the participation of local, emerging women- and minority-owned construction firms on all NEI projects, as well as create an expanded recruitment and workforce development drive to hire workers from the communities where projects are located.
Barbour's efforts to promote equitable workforce utilization in construction has resulted in hundreds of people from local communities being employed on construction projects over the past five years. Since he joined NEI, the company has constructed over $400 million in affordable housing in the city of Boston. With Barbour's dedication and commitment to equity and inclusion, over $170 million (43%) has gone to minority-owned businesses and over $50 million (13%) has gone to women-owned businesses.
The ENR "Top Young Professionals" program recognizes individuals who are not only industry leaders, but also passionate about their communities, bringing energy and innovation to the regions where they live. Barbour will be recognized at ENR's Emerging Leaders Forum, and he will join an impressive roster of twenty A/E/C all-stars who have achieved a great deal at a relatively young age.
"Andre has been a force of nature for our company since joining NEI, and has helped fuel significant opportunities for business owners within historically underserved populations," said Joe Rettman, President, NEI General Contracting. "This latest recognition for Andre comes as no surprise to those of us that work with him, but we are excited for the industry at large to see how impactful his work has been."
Andre is actively involved with many community-based organizations, vocational schools and career training programs and institutions. He actively serves on the City of Boston's Black Men & Boys Commission, is a Chairperson for Building & Property Maintenance Vocation program at Madison Park Vocation Technical High School and has recently been appointed as a Board Member for the Massachusetts Minority Contractors Association.
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About NEI General Contracting
NEI is a privately held company committed to affordable housing with extensive experience in ground-up, moderate rehab, elderly, veteran, historic rehab, historic tax credit and tax credit projects. The company provides a full spectrum of general contracting and construction management services to clients throughout the United States.
NEI has three regional offices, to help better serve its clients: Boston to serve the Northeast, Florida to serve the Southeast, and Texas to serve the Southwest.
Founded in 1998 on the principles of integrity and diligence, we have opened the door to over 24,000 newly homed and hopeful families, giving them a chance for a better quality of life.
For more information, please visit www.neigc.com.
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SOURCE: NEI