Sundt Construction recently welcomed Jackie Guilfucci to our Building Group, California District to serve as XBE & Diversity Outreach Manage/SBLO. In her
role, she will expand the efforts already in place to evolve California’s diversity program for small businesses. Her two decades of experience in the construction industry and passion for educating and uplifting small business owners lends to her ability to strengthen and expand Sundt’s relationships with qualified vendors and subcontractors across the state.
Could you talk a little bit about your career journey?
My journey in the construction industry began in Florida, where I was trying to rebuild my life for myself and my children. I was given an opportunity to work for a construction company, which helped me get back on my feet. I used this chance to learn about the industry and grow as a person. I realized that every challenge in life is a lesson. Motivated by a thirst for knowledge, I decided to go back to college to expand my knowledge. I even requested my managers to let me be more closely involved in construction projects so that I could better understand how things were built. This is when I developed a passion for working with small businesses and learning about the lack of opportunities in our industry. I have since become an advocate, coach, and mentor, and I am thrilled to be able to focus on this as the diversity outreach manager at Sundt.
What led you to a career at Sundt?
I have always had a strong interest in helping small businesses to grow. I volunteer often to teach classes on construction business development with multiple agencies, offering tools and education to businesses, many of which may be disadvantaged or minority-owned. This is a great way to improve accessibility to jobs and projects, as well as boost their competitiveness and visibility in the industry. As a proud Latina woman in construction, I feel even more strongly that we must empower those who are capable but may not feel like they can make a name for themselves in this industry because they don’t fit a certain mold.
Working at Sundt enables me to work closely with the team and facilitate connections to opportunities on our projects. I am excited and honored to serve in this new role and collaborate with teams across California. I am driven by the passion and successes of the people who are changing lives based on their connections to our industry. The more I delve into my role, the more I realize the impact it has, not only internally but also externally. While my primary focus is supporting the California region, I also provide advisory support to other projects throughout the entire organization when needed.
What are you focused on accomplishing in your first year with Sundt?
In 2023 and beyond, we will be launching a new initiative focused on diversity. My goal is to expand our outreach efforts by establishing a new trades program, partner with local organizations and increase diversity within the small business community. Most importantly, we aim to provide mentorship and create success stories.
Do you have any early success stories to share?
During my time at Sundt, I had the opportunity to coach and mentor a young woman who started her own business. At only 28 years old, she wanted to follow in her father’s footsteps and created a door frame and hardware company. She participated in several Small Business Development Center (SBDC) training sessions that I conducted, which led us to start our coaching process. Through our assistance, she was able to secure a project with Sundt and obtain additional contracts with the VA. Her business launched on July 22, and it has already garnered enough bookings to sustain her for the next two years.
If you’re interested in learning more about partnering with Sundt, visit our Trade Partners page.