2022 Colorado Construction Diversity Summit

This half-day event on April 1, 2022 will focus on how everyone in the construction industry – from leadership to site managers – can help their companies build thriving, diverse teams.

Join your colleagues and ƷSMӰƬ faculty, staff and students for discussions on how to attract, retain and optimize the top talent your company is looking for. You’ll get the chance to:

  • Learn new communication strategies and skills
  • Recognize the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion on your jobsite
  • Better understand the challenges current students and recent graduates joining the construction workforce navigate

We look forward to seeing you!

This event is being held in alignment with ƷSMӰƬ's COVID-19 regulations. For the latest information, visit the campus COVID-19 site.

Summit Schedule

A conference in the Glenn Miller Ballroom
All sessions will be held in the on the ƷSMӰƬ campus.

  • 8 a.m. – Check-in
  • 8:30 a.m. – Welcome and introductions
  • 9 a.m. - Noon – Breakout sessions
  • Noon - 2 p.m. – Lunch, keynote speaker and closing

Beverages and light snacks will be provided throughout the morning.

Breakout Sessions

  • Session 1 - Sharing our Stories: Student and Recent Graduate Panel - Hear personal experiences and stories from CU students and graduates. Share your own stories and explore ways to appreciate everyone’s uniqueness and leverage these assets for better relationships and bigger results.
  • Session 2 - Valuing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Enhancing Company Culture - Have an interactive discussion with your peers to define DEI and why it matters (from job site to the entire industry); reflect on where you are on the DEI journey and decide how you will cultivate an inclusive environment in your day to day decisions and actions. 
  • Session 3 - Applying an Equity Lens: Communication Framework that Supports Retention and Engagement - Learn essential practices for meaningful conversations that support everyone in speaking up, delving into differences, and respecting everyone's contribution; put your learning into practice with relevant diversity, equity, and inclusion scenarios.

Meet Our Keynote Speaker

Michael J. Garner, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Metropolitan Transportation Authority, State of New York

Michael Garner
Michael J. Garner, MBA, is a champion of the diversity market, making it his personal and professional mission to create a more diverse business industry. By creating new programming at the MTA, Garner and his teams have been responsible for more than $17.3 billion in payments made to New York State/City Minority and Women-owned Businesses.

Since his arrival at MTA in 2009, Garner and his team have designed and implemented workforce strategies which have increased ethnic minority and women hires by 20%, which has further diversified the MTA’s 70,000 plus employee workforce.

In addition, Garner is an advisor on Minority, Women, and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise matters to various U.S. cities and states, including Buffalo, Chicago, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and the State of New Jersey. Garner’s innovative programming has ensured access to government contracts for communities of color.  As a result, those communities now have access to job creation, home ownership, better educational opportunities, and health care options.

Additional Speakers

Sage Hobbs

Sage has a passion for maximizing human potential and cultivating collaborative organizational cultures which has led to over 20 years of experience working in both the public and not-for-profit sectors, as well as global companies.

Her specialty is relational leadership and communication, enabling leaders and team members to create positive relationships and organizational cultures that ensure greater success and satisfaction. Sage holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Colorado Denver and a Bachelor’s Degree with honors from the University of Pennsylvania. With extensive study of diversity, equity, and inclusion, Sage brings an equity lens to all of her work. She’s comfortable facilitating uncomfortable conversations in order to support the growth and impact that her clients seek. Sage has quick ability to identify underlying challenges of an organization, which supports leaders and teams to make an even bigger impact in their communities, organizations, and the broader world. She’s also a mom of two, a cancer survivor, and a “retired” school counselor.

Amy Moreno-Sherwood

Amy is the Director of Inclusive Culture in the College of Engineering and Applied Science at ƷSMӰƬ, where she leads teaching, coaching and consulting around inclusion and equity programs and workplace practices.

She joined ƷSMӰƬ in 2010 from Iowa State University. Amy is a first-generation college student and earned degrees in Animal Science, Cultural Anthropology and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. In 2006, Amy participated in a study abroad experience studying various aspects of biological life in Australia in which her research area of focus centered on the experience of Aboriginal Australians. Amy has served as a residence hall director, senior training and development specialist and diversity and inclusion education program manager on campus before accepting the inaugural role of Director of Inclusive Culture.

An example of Amy’s work with inclusive education includes designing the curriculum for Making Excellence Inclusive 101 for staff and faculty on campus. Beyond ƷSMӰƬ, Amy is a Co-Founder of  and serves as a faculty member for IDI,LLC. certifying individuals across the country to use the Intercultural Development InventoryTM (IDI). 

Amy Nelson

Amy Nelson (she/her/hers) works full time supporting schools and school leaders with equity-focused school improvement and developing authentic partnerships with families and the community. 

She is a scholar-activist, racial justice advocate, and youth organizer.   Amy is currently pursuing a Doctoral degree in Educational Studies, Innovation and Reform, with a focus on social justice and equity in education.

Amy has over 15 years of experience in education, both in the United States and abroad.  She brings with her a wealth of experience working with culturally and linguistically diverse students and their families.  Her dedication to social justice and equity in education can be seen across many platforms: community involvement, participation on equity-based committees, teaching experience, volunteer work, as well as her research.  Through her research, she aims to amplify voices that are historically marginalized, both within our education systems and in society as a whole.

Maxine E. Pryor

Maxine Pryor is the Founder and President of Maxx Impact Group, a purpose-driven management consulting firm that specializes in DEI solutions for municipalities and prime contractors on transportation and construction mega projects.

Her firm is currently playing a key role in the Denver International Airport Concourse Expansion and Great Hall projects which are valued at over $2.2B. Maxine previously participated on the RTD West Rail Line and North Metro Rail Line projects valued at over $400M. Maxine has performed a lot of behind the scenes work and spent the last few years assisting the City of Denver’s in re-writing both the Construction Ordinance and Goods & Services Ordinance and assisted the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT)with their small business engagements strategies. 

As a chief strategist who serves on several Boards and Advisory Committees, Maxine’s passion for people, process and purpose and has been instrumental in helping to open doors, eliminate barriers and leveling the playing field for contracting opportunities for Small, Minority and Women-Owned businesses and individuals. 

Maxine is a Certified Contract Compliance Administrator through the American Contract Compliance Association (ACCA), National Training Institute (NTI)and has received several awards in recent years for her contributions to economic development for underserved individuals, businesses and communities.

Mike Duwel

Mike is a Vice President for Holder Construction, a national construction services firm with experience nationwide and consistently ranked by Engineering News-Record as one of the nation's leading contractors in construction management.

With more than 20 years spent growing Holder’s western footprint, Mike helps lead more than 80 preconstruction associates. Mike and his teams work closely with owners and designers to support programming, budgeting, and planning efforts on major projects including project inclusion efforts. On these projects, Holder has consistently exceeded the established project goals and worked to truly engage in the community in meaningful ways.

Mike opened Holder’s newest office in Denver two years ago, supporting clients such as the Denver Airport, Charles Schwab, JP Morgan Chase, Time Warner, Raymond James, State Farm, University of Colorado Denver, Visa, and Walmart. The Denver International Airport Concourse Expansion is a prominent project for the City as well as Holder and joint venture partner, FCI. The team is exceeding their obligation of 24% DSBO involvement and are surpassing expectations with  proactive engagement, training, and mentorship.

Mike is passionate about collaborative project delivery and supports the Design Build Institute of America. A graduate of Purdue University’s Civil Engineering program, Mike is on the advisory board for construction programs at Purdue, CalPoly, Colorado State University, and ƷSMӰƬ. 

Monika Celado-Stenger

Monika Celado-Stenger is the President and CEO of Servitech, Inc. She was born and raised in the Dominican Republic and immigrated to Denver, Colorado in 1990. She earned her BA in Psychology from the University of Colorado Denver.

In 2000, she founded Servitech, Inc., an electrical/low-voltage contractor and professional services company participating in projects all over the state of Colorado.

Celado-Stenger is a successful business woman working in a male dominated industry. She understands and has overcome many obstacles that our Denver community faces, as a woman, immigrant, single parent and business owner; her insight is a valuable contribution to the inclusivity and diversity conversation.

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