You're Invited!

During the show, stop by our JM booth 701 to meet the rest of the JM team or join us for the Monday education session with our very own Owner Services Marketing Manager, Melissa Walker.

3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.

The Business Case for Challenging the Status Quo and Improving Employee Culture

Classification

BPD 

Article

This course has been approved for 1 IIBEC Continuing Education Hour

Session Description

Advocates of diversity equity and inclusion principles understand that diverse workplaces have the opportunity to increase productivity and innovation, reduce employee turnover, and foster the ability to connect with a larger customer base. These concepts are well supported by research, but business leaders and diversity advocates are still promoting a version that is far too simple. Just increasing the number of traditionally underrepresented people does not automatically produce benefits. Instead, business leaders need to move beyond thinking of diversity as a simple quota. Progressive and forward-thinking owners and leaders should be committed to actionable items that lead to authentic change. This presentation will touch on diversity, equity, and inclusion but will mainly focus on how and who building enclosure consultants can implement to create an inclusive culture that has benefits for all.

This presentation will be based on the most current DEI research and supplemented with practical information and examples by IIBEC members who have used DEI principles in their offices and/or companies. It will also include specific action items and tangible resources that participants can download and start using right away, including a demonstration of REAL Roofing—a DEI education course that has been custom-made for the roofing industry. 

Learning Objectives

• Define and explain the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Evaluate the most current forward-thinking research on diversity, equity, and inclusion practices.
• Use proper terminology and vernacular when discussing diversity, equity, and inclusion issues.
• Identify actionable items and resources to incorporate into business practices and employee handbooks.

Speakers

Melissa Walker Johns Manville  Denver, CO Melissa Walker is the owner services marketing manager for the Roofing Systems division at Johns Manville (JM). Walker started with JM in the Performance Material Group in 1998, shortly after joining the Roofing Division. In 2001 she briefly left Johns Manville and moved to Miami, Florida, taking a position with Apache Products (now Dyplast). Returning to Denver in 2005 brought her back to the Roofing division at JM. In her career with the company, she has held various positions of increasing scope and responsibility, including customer service advocate and lead, pricing administrator, account management leader, and product management. Walker earned a bachelor of fine arts from Metropolitan State College and a master of business administration with an emphasis in operational management from Regis University, both in Colorado.

Ellen Thorp National Women in Roofing | Denver, CO Ellen Thorp knows that powerful things happen when people who share a common interest come together for advocacy, education, and communication. In addition to providing leadership and advocacy work for other construction-related trade associations, Thorp has grown NWiR to 2000 members, 40 sponsors, and programs that have engaged thousands of people. She has a bachelor’s degree in political science, and a master’s degree in education policy, and has earned the rigorous Certified Association Executive designation. After spending 22 years in Washington, D.C., working for associations and educational institutions, she and her family now live in the Denver area.