Our Greater Los Angeles group invites you to join a panel of guest speakers who will discuss their firm's LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group (ERG), the steps they took to establish them, and how they got them to where they are today. The inaugural year for our Greater Los Angeles group, panelists will share invaluable insights, tools, and tips for organizing around critical issues in a professional environment. Our panelists, backed by their successes and a few cautionary tales, will help you successfully establish and sustain your company's LGBTQ+ focused ERG. Our panelists represent a wide-spectrum of the industry, ranging in discipline, company size, and varying stages of development for their ERGs. The panel is formatted so that any LGBTQ+ professional in the industry should be able to gain tools and perspectives to assist in your professional development.
NOTE: times shown are meant to be Pacific Time!
Register by Wednesday, November 8
The event will be hosted by Arup in their Downtown Los Angeles office and requires advanced registration no later than Wednesday, November 8. The event will also be broadcast virtually via Microsoft Teams.
Please note, in-person registration is closed and we cannot accept walk-ins. Virtual registration is still open.
The Evening's Agenda
5:30pm-6:00pm :: Arrival, Registration and Networking with light refreshments and snacks
6:00pm-7:00pm :: Panel Discussion and Q&A
7:00pm-onward :: Post-panel Mixer Nearby (location TBD)
About Our Panelists
Abe Carrillo
HDR Inc.
Abe drives inclusion, diversity and equity (IDE) strategy and chairs HDR's IDE Council as their global IDE director. When Abe joined HDR in 2020, he launched the company's first inclusion and diversity initiative, leading the development and implementation of corporate strategies including the launch of eight ERGs, internal communications, and the creation of the company's corporate diversity council and executive steering team led by the CEO. He also established strong internal partnerships, developed metrics, dashboards, and scorecards to provide guidance for strategic planning and accountability. Today, over 20% of HDR employees have joined an ERG.
Ben Anstiss
ARUP
Ben was one of the founders of Connect Out, the Arup ERG for LGBTQ+ individuals and allies, in 2010-2011. For three years, he served as the chair of the KIMEA branch of Connect Out, working closely with other ACE firms to help set up their own ERGs, as well as with other regions of Arup in setting up their own versions of the network. To date, Connect Out is the only Arup ERG to be active in all global regions of the firm, reaching 18,000 employees across hundred of offices in dozens of countries.
Jenn Miller
Henderson Engineers
Jenn is leading efforts at Henderson to create an inclusive working environment throughout the firm. Prior to her time at Henderson, Jenn was the founder and principal consultant of JSM Diversity where she improved not-for-profit endeavors and built strategies around DE&I. Jenn is a South Florida native and a lifelong educator and social justice advocate. She has over a decade of experience in helping human resource departments become more equitable and inclusive. She has a bachelor's degree in Political Science and Global Studies, and is pursuing a master's degree in Social Justice and Human Rights.
Matt Barnard
Degenkolb Engineers
Matt is the executive champion of Degenkolb's new LGBTQ+ ERG. He brings over 20 years of experience providing structural and seismic engineering services in Southern California, and has served as the structural engineer of record for a wide range of project types and markets from new medical centers to various renovations and tenant improvements. Matt is also active in the professional community, and is a past-President of the Structural Engineers Association of Southern California. He was a 2015 National Outstanding Mentor for ACE Mentoring and was a part-time faculty member at CSUF.
About Our Moderator
Mischa Haramia
Henderson Engineers
Mischa has a passion for diversity, equity and inclusion, and is involved with many industry community organizations. Through speaking, presenting, advocating, and volunteering, she hopes to spread awareness of the importance of DEI in all facets of life. She has over 35 years of experience in the AEC industry, focusing the last 23 years on entertainment and sporting venues. In her spare time, she enjoys running, painting, and exploring mountains, the beach, or California's many wineries.
Directions to the Event
Arup is located at 900 Wilshire Boulevard on Floor 20; be sure to use the Office entrance, not the hotel entrance. Check in at reception to get a visitor pass and proceed to floor 20, where the event will be in the lounge. There will be signs in the elevator lobby directing attendees.
For those taking transit, the office is located in the Wilshire Grand Center at Wilshire & Figueroa, directly across from the 7th Street / Metro Center Station.
For those driving, we recommend parking at the Athena Parking at 783 Hope Street. Parking is $10, the garage is a five-minute walk to the office, and is open until 9:00pm.
Still have questions?
Please contact our Greater Los Angeles group chair, Eric Schwartz, at eschwartz@buildoutalliance.org with any questions about the event.
Thank You To Our Host
A special thank you to our host for opening your doors and welcoming our Greater Los Angeles group into your space.
