BOSTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / October 31, 2022 / NEI General Contracting, an award-winning general contracting firm, announced today that Andre Barbour, Diversity and Inclusion Director, has been selected as one of the Boston Business Journal’s 2022 40 Under 40 honorees. Every year, the Boston Business Journal (BBJ) recognizes 40 young professionals under the age of 40 who are making a difference in their businesses and communities. Selected by the BBJ’s advisory board from over 400 nominations based on his career accomplishments, focus on success, and commitment to community, Andre was recognized at an awards gala on Thursday, October 20, 2022, at the Boston Park Plaza.
As the Diversity and Inclusion Director at NEI, Andre is the face of and driving force behind NEI’s workforce diversity and inclusion initiatives. His goal is to maximize 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.
“The ability to foster new and established relationships to create access and opportunities for diverse businesses and workers in the construction industry motivates me every day,” said Andre. “Community engagement and relationships are an important part of my role. Building long term relationships with diverse businesses and workers is essential to building a more equitable industry.”
His 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 Andre’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.
One of Andre’s proudest accomplishments, done under the auspices of NEI, is the development and launch of the Workforce Opportunity Resource Center (WORC²), which opened on December 8, 2021, at 2103 Washington Street in Boston’s Roxbury neighborhood. Designed to engage minority-owned subcontractors and the local workforce, WORC² offers free “one-stop shopping” resources and technical support to promote worker development, business capacity building, and growth in the local construction community.
“We make every effort to enhance diverse business and workforce utilization which allows us to participate more fully in the community and economic development interests of our clients and the communities where they do business. We couldn’t do this without Andre’s efforts,” said Josef Rettman, president at NEI.
Andre maintains a constant presence in many Boston Neighborhoods. Attending events, volunteering his time to assist and support efforts of other organizations and consistently being there in the community whenever he is needed.
Andre Barbour of NEI GC with Carolyn Jones, Market President & President, Boston Business Journal
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. Providing 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, diligence, and building for good, we have opened the door to over 20,000 newly homed and hopeful families, giving them a chance for a better quality of life. We’re building for good because everyone deserves a good home. We’re building for good because that’s the right way to do it. For more information, please visit www.neigc.com.
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SOURCE: NEI General Contracting
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