Two efforts to enhance Gender And Racial Diversification Excellence were presented with the 2003 GARDE Award, sponsored by the Great Lakes Construction Alliance, at May 13 ceremonies conducted at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit.

In addition, Tom Storey of the Plumbing & Mechanical Contractors of Detroit, received the GLCA's Community Service Award, and Awards of Merit were given to Carrie Harding and Sue Jantschak for establishing support groups for women entering the construction industry.

The two projects were the Compuware Headquarters Project and the Workforce And Career Enhance (WACE) Program of the Detroit Public Schools, which was honored for the second year in a row. The award nominees were judged by an independent panel on their success in increasing the number of minorities and women involved in construction. To be considered, nominees must have achieved and sufficiently documented a significant, proven success record while promoting superior professional practices.

Details on the winners of the 2003 GARDE Award include:

• Compuware Headquarters: Nearing completion in downtown Detroit, the 1.1 million sq. ft., 16 story structure is being built with construction management provided by Walbridge-Aldinger, Detroit. More than 3,000 Compuware employees will work in the new building. Almost 50% of the awarded budget - over $132.1 million - has been awarded under programs promoting MBE and WBE participation, along with Disadvantaged Business and Small Business Enterprise firms.
• WACE Program: With a major renovation and construction effort underway for Detroit Public Schools, the Workforce And Career Enhancement Program is serving as a pre-apprenticeship effort providing students with opportunities for significant work experience. Since its inception in May 2001, 61 students have gone through it, with 99% African American, 1% Hispanic, and 25% female participation. WACE is being provided by the Detroit Public Schools Program Manager Team, LLC, in partnership with Detroit Public Schools A. Philip Randolph Career & Technical Center and the Greater Detroit Building Trades Council. Members of the program management team are AMCM, Barton Malow Co., CTE Engineers, Jomar Building Co., Spillis Candela-DMJM, and W3 Construction.

Community Service Award Winner Tom Storey's service has spanned more than 30 years. He participated in the creation of the original "Detroit Home Town Plan" with the U.S. Department of Labor/Office of Contract Compliance Programs.

In 1999, PMC Detroit, along with the Pipefitters Local 636 and the Plumbers Local 98, joined forces with David Smydra and Regenia Simmons of the Detroit Human Rights Department in a good faith effort to comply with Executive Order No. 22. This agreement centers around providing lifelong careers for minorities, women, and Detroit residents on both private and governmental construction projects in Southeastern Michigan. For more than 36 years, Storey has recruited potential tradespeople from within the City of Detroit, and conducts bi-monthly information sessions with those interested in pursuing a career in the pipe trades.

A 15-year veteran of the construction industry, Merit Award Winner Carrie Harding is an instructor at the Operating Engineers Local 324 Education Center in Howell.

Two years ago, she started a mentoring program to get women starting out in construction industry apprenticeships to meet with seasoned female equipment operators, who average 7-8 years of experience. Through this program, guest speakers have given presentations on women's issues in the construction field, including health care, pensions, and workplace safety.

Merit Award Winner Sue Jantschak, a member of the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters (MRCC), which represents more than 23,000 journeymen carpenters and millwrights across the state from its headquarters in Detroit, has been in the industry for 13 years. She was hired as the MRCC's first female organizer in Michigan. In 1995, Jantschak founded the Michigan Tradeswomen Association, Inc., a non-profit group dedicated to helping women - especially impoverished women-find work in the construction industry. It also serves as a support group for women in a male-dominated industry. At first the meetings started out in Jantschak's kitchen but membership grew so much, they were soon held once a month at Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor.