Jostin Construction named to Skanska’s national Excellence in Construction Leadership Program

By Peggy Cook

Communications Manager

Skanska USA Building

CINCINNATI – Cincinnati-based Jostin Construction has been named to Skanska USA Building’s Excellence in Construction Leadership Program (ECLP), an executive-level program that promotes diversity and inclusion within the construction industry supply chain.

Following the launch of its Excellence in Construction Leadership Program (ECLP) earlier this year, Skanska, a leading global construction and development firm, recently held its inaugural ECLP workshop and networking event. ECLP is a nomination-based program that brings Skanska’s leadership team members together with executives from the diverse businesses in our communities throughout the U.S. The open-ended program is designed to facilitate ongoing access, knowledge-sharing and mutually beneficial relationships between Skanska and our diverse business partners – particularly those who have the potential to strengthen our strategic connections with customers and community stakeholders.

While many other construction companies have adopted regional programs to support diverse businesses, Skanska’s ECLP is the first of its kind to focus specifically on nationwide, peer-to-peer relationships with trade partners.

Jostin Construction is a Cincinnati-based, full-service construction company specializing in construction management, general contracting, and self-performed pump, place, finish and total package concrete construction. They were founded in 1998 by Albert and Liza Smitherman. Joshua Smitherman serves as the firm’s Business Development Manager, and joined the two-day ECLP workshop and networking event.

“I feel grateful, inspired, and energized to apply the lessons learned over the past two days through Skanska’s inaugural Excellence in Construction Leadership Program. Meeting my fellow MBE and WBE ECLP cohort members and hearing about their business growth and perseverance nationwide has driven me to continue striving for excellence,” said Josh Smitherman. “I am deeply thankful to the Skanska Supplier Diversity team for creating such a practical, immersive, and impactful experience. Your hard work ensured every moment was valuable, and your unwavering commitment to our success was truly felt by all.”

Jostin has worked with Skanska on several high-profile projects, including St. Elizabeth Dearborn Cancer Center, Medpace 300, and the UC Blood Cancer Healing Center.

“There is power in commitment, and we’ve seen what commitment to supplier diversity and inclusion can do in a partnership,” says Ashleigh DuBois, Supplier Diversity Manager with Skanska USA Building. “By bringing together executives from various backgrounds, we are creating a platform that promotes collaboration, innovation, and growth. Our community is better because of our partnerships, increasing our excitement for what the future brings. 

ECLP attendees included participants from each region who have been nominated and selected by Skanska’s general managers, account managers, business developers, and local Supplier Diversity team members based on their company values, leadership potential, success in the local market, relationships with clients, and connections with community stakeholders. Since 2007, over 800 companies have engaged in Skanska’s capacity building programs and the participating firms have collectively exceeded $740M in contracts on Skanska projects.  

“The Excellence in Leadership Program at Skanska is not just about honing individual skills; it’s about cultivating leaders who recognize the significance of forging meaningful relationships with our diverse business partners and enhancing industry-wide collaboration,” said Chris Hopper, Executive Vice President and General Manager for Skanska USA Building in Ohio. “We are delighted to have Jostin Construction, a valued partner, as part of the ECLP program and look forward to continuing to strengthen our partnership.”

For more information on ECLP and Supplier Diversity at Skanska, visit Supplier Diversity at Skanska. 

Skanska uses knowledge and foresight to shape the way people live, work, and connect. More than 135 years in the making, we’re one of the world’s largest development and construction companies. We operate in select markets throughout the Nordics, Europe and the United States. Skanska in the U.S. is headquartered in New York City with 28 offices around the country. In 2023, construction in the U.S. generated $7.1 billion in revenue, and as a developer in the U.S., Skanska has invested a total value of $4.6 billion in commercial and multi-family projects. Together with our customers and the collective expertise of our 6,500 teammates in the U.S. and 27,000 globally, we create innovative and sustainable solutions that support healthy living beyond our lifetime.

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