TOLEDO, Ohio, November 10, 2025 — In recognition of National STEM Day, SSOE Group’s six Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) deliver tangible impact by exemplifying SSOE’s Diversity Commitment, “Diverse in Thought, United in Action.”
Formed in 2023 and expanded in 2024, SSOE’s ERGs were designed to celebrate individuality and amplify the unique contributions of employees across gender, culture, faith, orientation, and career stage. Today, one in seven employees actively participates in an ERG, making inclusion a cornerstone of SSOE’s culture. The firm’s current ERGs include:
- BLACC – (est. 2023), an acronym for Black Leaders and Collaborative Changemakers
- PRIDE – (est. 2023), an acronym for People Respecting Identities, Diversity, and Equality
- SWAN – (est. 2023), an acronym for SSOE Women and Allies Network
- ¡HoLA! – (est. 2024), an acronym for Hispanic and Latin Allies
- HYPE – (est. 2024), an acronym for Helping Young Professionals Excel
- The Interfaith Alliance – (est. 2024) connect individuals across various religious and faith-based and spiritual spectrums
While each ERG champions belonging in their own way, this year they united around a shared foundation: STEM. For the first time, all six ERGs collaborated toward one initiative, pooling their resources to collectively contribute $10,000 to Building Blocks 2 Success (BB2S), a Portland-based nonprofit dedicated to opening doors to STEM education for underrepresented youth.
“Belonging is built by design,” said Candice Harrison, Director of Inclusion and Community Impact. “Our ERGs demonstrate that the same collaboration and creativity we apply to the built environment can be intentionally mirrored to build equitable environments—where inclusion is something you can see, touch, and build on.”
SSOE’s contribution will enable BB2S to support multiple students in hands-on STEM programs, mentorship, and career pathways, creating opportunities that transcend barriers of background, identity, or circumstance and inspire a future in science, technology, engineering, and math.
“Innovation is advancing across every industry, but especially STEM fields. Underrepresented youth deserve access to that future,” said Antonio Jackson, Executive Director of Building Blocks 2 Success. “It is with the help of SSOE, BB2S can include underrepresented youth in the future, not just as witnesses of innovation; but as contributors and leaders of it.”
A Stitch in Time Saves Nine
BB2S is based on the premise that exposure to STEM education better positions students for higher wage and high demand occupations thus leading to economic prosperity and contributing to the vibrancy of communities of color across Portland. Just as BB2S, the firm nurtures inclusion at a societal level through our lifecycle approach, addressing inclusion at every stage, from education to employment.
“This year, we enhanced our company vision: Imagining and creating the future with our clients, colleagues, and communities. It’s not just a statement on the wall; it’s a proactive effort,” said Vince DiPofi, SSOE’s CEO. “The choices we make today, how we design, who we include, where we invest, are already shaping tomorrow. The future isn’t ahead of us; it’s built in. This ERG-led initiative reflects that exactly. Creating access for youth to imagine their futures in STEM is the kind of built inclusion and intention we bring to the future.”
