MIAMI —  Following a successful Trades Partnership Series in Boston, Suffolk Construction sought to replicate their efforts in South Florida. To that end, the company recently completed their first Trades Partnership Series in Miami by providing a week-long training program to 15 trade partner firms.

The classes, which covered everything from lean construction principles to risk management, were taught by Suffolk executives and local community leaders. The program concluded with a graduation ceremony attended by all of the instructors and trade partner firms.

“As we conclude our first Trades Partnership Series in Miami, Suffolk Construction is thrilled about the support from partners such as The Beacon Council and Miami-Dade County Small, Business Development Division, said Suffolk Construction’s Director of Diversity Brian McPherson. “Our common goal was to inform and empower our local trade partners and this series undoubtedly supported this mission.”

Suffolk created the program in an effort to assist small, local, disadvantaged, minority, and women-owned trade partner firms in fostering long-term relationships with Suffolk. Provided at no cost to selected participants, the Trades Partnership Series in Miami was offered exclusively to trade partners that have been in business for a minimum of two years and are certified as one of the following: Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE); Minority Business Enterprise (MBE); Women Owned Business Enterprise (WBE); Small Business Enterprise (SBE); Veterans Owned Small Business (VOSB); and/or Service Disabled Veterans Owned Small Business (SDVOSB). “In the last five years alone, Suffolk has awarded over $500 million in projects to DBE, MBE and WBE firms. Hundreds of these contracts have been given to graduates of the Trades Partnership Series which we’ve hosted in Boston over the past four years.  We’re excited to continue this momentum as we bring the program into the South Florida market,” said McPherson

Participants of the Trades Partnership Series learned firsthand about Suffolk’s “build smart” approach to construction management, including how “Lean Construction” principles are applied to projects and innovative, web-based collaboration tools result in an efficient document management process for all project stakeholders.

Renita Holmes is a Lead Developer/ Project Manager/Contract Monitor for OUR Homes and a recent graduate of the Trades Partnership Series in Miami.

“I will use this opportunity to create a smarter and growing business and workforce, with strategies and resource information that keep women in the middle of innovative development and smart growth. The access to resources and direct shot in the arm will close the gaps and open doors,” said Holmes.

Each two-hour course was presented in an interactive format and led by Suffolk executives and local industry experts. Each selected trade partner completing the program’s requirements received a graduation certificate and will have one-on-one access to a Suffolk mentor.