Introduction

Since 2008, Sustainable Pittsburgh has hosted a network for sustainability practitioners to come together and share resources and best practices. The network is designed for professionals who currently contribute to carrying out sustainability operations and initiatives or have a desire to bring sustainability efforts to their company. These practitioners are the backbone for implementing sustainable practices within their organizations.

The latest gathering of the practitioners took place on October, 16, 2024. The meeting opened with a welcome from Martin Eddy Harvey of Sustainable Pittsburgh, who thanked Turner Construction for hosting and outlined the day’s agenda. Martin explained the role of the Sustainability Practitioners Network and highlighted how this network intersects with others like CEOs for Sustainability, creating an ecosystem where strategic leaders and practitioners can collaborate and share knowledge to drive sustainability efforts across the region.

Samantha Chan, who serves on the leadership committee of the Practitioner’s Network and is Assistant Director of Sustainability for the Office of Sustainability at the University of Pittsburgh, followed with a brief history of the network, emphasizing its role as a hub for sustainability professionals across sectors in the Pittsburgh region. She highlighted the new Network Directory, a tool for fostering collaboration, and shared details on upcoming events, before setting the stage for the presentations from Turner Construction and BEAM Collaborative.

Speakers (in order of appearance):

Turner Construction (featuring Kayla Reddington and Patriece Thompson)

Turner Construction’s presentation began with Patriece, Director of Community and Citizenship in the Pittsburgh office, who provided a detailed overview of Turner’s efforts to engage local and diverse suppliers. She highlighted the Turner School of Construction Management, which has supported 30,000 graduates since 1969 and facilitated contracts worth $33 billion. Turner sets a goal of 20% Underutilized Business Enterprise (UBE) participation in their projects, using initiatives like the mentor-protégé program to foster growth for minority and women-owned businesses. Patriece also discussed Turner’s workforce development partnerships with organizations like the Trade Institute of Pittsburgh and Reimagine Reentry, aimed at creating a more diverse construction workforce and providing opportunities to historically underrepresented groups.

Kayla, Turner’s Regional Sustainability Manager in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, followed with a comprehensive look at Turner’s sustainability initiatives, focusing on their commitment to reducing embodied carbon, improving energy efficiency, and enhancing supply chain transparency. She discussed the Design for Freedom Project, which addresses forced labor in materials sourcing, and highlighted Turner’s focus on health transparency in materials, avoiding chemicals of concern, and adhering to certifications like Red List and Mindful Materials. With over 45 trade partners and 1,000+ manufacturers across 400+ material categories, Turner continues to prioritize responsible sourcing while navigating the complexities of large-scale sustainability efforts. Attendees found particular value in the presentation, as evidenced by the lively back-and-forth discussion that followed, where Kayla and Patriece addressed a wide range of questions, offering deeper insights into Turner’s strategies and practices. This dynamic exchange underscored the practical relevance of Turner’s approach to sustainability and diversity in the construction industry.

BEAM Collaborative (featuring Joel Burstein)

BEAM Collaborative’s session, led by Joel Burstein, provided an overview of how BEAM helps organizations align with strategic sustainability and diversity goals. Joel introduced the concept of sustainability in a business context and shared important data, including the fact that every dollar invested in local businesses can generate nearly two dollars in regional economic benefits. He also highlighted a critical gap in local procurement, pointing out that only a tiny percentage of purchasing in the Pittsburgh area goes toward Black-owned businesses. Joel focused on the challenges small and diverse businesses face, such as scaling to meet demand and dispelling misconceptions about their cost and capacity. He stressed the importance of breaking down these myths, fostering open and honest dialogue, and finding ways to support these businesses as they grow.

After the presentation, Joel facilitated interactive group discussions where participants identified their own procurement needs and explored the challenges of sourcing from local or diverse suppliers. The discussions were framed around real-world procurement challenges: what services participants were struggling to find vendors for and how to categorize those needs in terms of urgency and importance. Participants also worked through the complexity and value of their needs, identifying high-priority areas and discussing how to overcome the roadblocks to working with diverse vendors. Joel emphasized that if participants were having trouble finding local and diverse businesses, BEAM could assist with resources like their directory of over 900 Black-owned businesses in Pittsburgh. The session wrapped up with a focus on practical steps, such as timely payments and fostering strong relationships, to help small businesses scale sustainably and contribute to regional economic growth.

Conclusion

The event concluded with a shared commitment to advancing sustainability through collaborative supply chain innovation. Attendees gained valuable insights from Turner Construction and BEAM Collaborative, and the interactive discussions highlighted practical strategies to support local, diverse businesses. The next opportunity to connect will be at the CEOs for Sustainability C-Suite Summit on November 14th, featuring a Practitioners Networking Breakfast from 8-9 AM. We look forward to continuing these important conversations and building momentum toward a more sustainable and inclusive region.