Press Releases

EXTON, Pennsylvania (January 30, 2023) – The American Council of Engineering Companies of Pennsylvania (ACEC/PA) honored Kleinfelder with the 2023 Diamond Award for Diversity & Inclusion. The award recognizes the firm’s commitment to building an inclusive culture and workplace where diverse perspectives and talents foster innovation and employees feel valued, challenged, motivated, and treated fairly.

Kleinfelder’s culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) is emphasized through Spectrum – the company’s internal DE&I program that facilitates communication, awareness, and engagement across the organization to sustain a culture that recruits, develops, advances, and retains talent from all ranges of the people spectrum.  To ensure the program remains an integral component of Kleinfelder’s culture, the Spectrum Committee – a formal committee of 12 Kleinfelder employees from across the company –helps drive DE&I initiatives and holds the company accountable for maintaining an active DE&I program.

“The Spectrum Committee recognizes that every employee at Kleinfelder influences our culture and can be a champion for change,” explained Sr. Program Manager James Killen, who serves as the Spectrum Committee Chair. “By working across the Kleinfelder ecosystem to drive initiatives related to culture, service, education, and retention, we create a foundation for each employee to become leaders in diversity, equity, and inclusion.”

In its announcement of the award, ACEC/PA highlighted several of the initiatives and programs Kleinfelder has implemented to foster greater diversity and inclusivity. Of note is the development of a supplier/vendor diversity program to accurately benchmark and improve use of Historically Underutilized Businesses as well as the addition of formal DE&I educational courses incorporated into employees’ yearly training material.

Kleinfelder was also recognized for implementing recruiting strategies that promote diverse pools of job candidates. Training provided to hiring managers has fostered a shift in mindset from focusing primarily on “culture fit” hires that share many of the qualities of existing employees to considering the value of “culture add” hires, who can bring new ideas and perspectives that enhance a team. Kleinfelder’s participation in SkillBridge – a Department of Defense (DoD) program that connects service members with corporate internships during their last six months of active-duty service – has also broadened the company’s recruiting pool while providing valuable work experience to those who serve our country.

As a member of Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Corporate Partnership Council, Kleinfelder has been commended for being a major supporter of women in STEM fields. The partnership has given Kleinfelder employees an opportunity to help shape the future of women in engineering while also providing access to invaluable career development resources, mentorship, and leadership opportunities.

Noting that it’s a tremendous honor to receive ACEC/PA’s Diamond Award for Diversity & Inclusion, Kleinfelder President and CEO Louis Armstrong commented, “I am incredibly proud of the commitment Kleinfelder has shown to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion. At every level of the organization our employees have embraced shifts in culture and mindset that make us stronger as a collective workforce and create an inclusive environment where all employees are respected and given equal opportunities to fulfill their potential, advance their careers, and thrive personally and professionally.”

Kleinfelder. Bright People. Right Solutions. Founded in 1961, Kleinfelder is a leading engineering, design, construction management, construction materials inspection and testing, and environmental professional services firm.  Kleinfelder employs more than 3,000 professionals and operates from over 100 office locations in the United States, Canada, and Australia.  The company is headquartered in San Diego, California.  Poised for growth, Kleinfelder continues to provide high-quality solutions for our diverse client base.  Visit Kleinfelder.com or follow us on LinkedIn/Kleinfelder.