Construction Allies in Action

Construction Allies in Action Advocating for underrepresented contractors and empowering them to create generational wealth! 🏗️
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From the very first year CAIA started accepting donations back in 2021 through our current funding year, Gerald R. Ford ...
08/12/2026

From the very first year CAIA started accepting donations back in 2021 through our current funding year, Gerald R. Ford International Airport has been right by our side as a dedicated Construction Ally.

They don't just talk about community impact — they actively create it. GRR consistently lives out the belief that our regional airport belongs to everyone, and so should the opportunities to build it. From sharing project bids with our network and following up on outcomes, to continually refining procurement processes so local contractors can compete, GRR walks the walk.

Looking back through our photos from the last six years, we noticed something pretty consistent: almost every airport photo features GRR’s own Tom Cizauskas! 😂

We truly couldn't celebrate six years of airport partnership without recognizing Tom. Beyond being our primary GRR connection and a deeply valued CAIA Board Member, he is a constant champion for inclusive contracting. Whether he’s sharing upcoming airport projects at our ProjectReady events, speaking on Gala panels, or representing GRR at C2E2 year after year, Tom always shows up for our trade community.

Thank you to Gerald R. Ford International Airport (and Tom!) for six incredible years of advocacy, leadership, and partnership in West Michigan!

✨ SAVE THE DATE ✨The Construction Allies in Action Gala is back!Mark your calendars for Thursday, November 5th (6:00 PM ...
08/11/2026

✨ SAVE THE DATE ✨

The Construction Allies in Action Gala is back!

Mark your calendars for Thursday, November 5th (6:00 PM – 8:00 PM) as we bring together our board, partners, and network of contractors for an evening of purposeful connection, celebration, and industry impact.

Together, we’re building a stronger, more equitable construction community — and this night is all about honoring the people, partnerships, and progress making real change possible over great food and drinks!

✨ Sponsorship opportunities will be available soon.
✨ Table and individual ticket sales will launch shortly after.

For now, block November 5th on your calendar, tag an industry ally or team member who needs to be in this room, and keep an eye on our official Gala page for updates: https://constructionallies.org/gala/

08/06/2026

Todd McLemore LLC has been painting commercial, industrial, and residential spaces for 20+ years in Michigan, bringing high-quality craftsmanship to every project.

But they kept hitting the natural limits of manual, paper-and-pencil operations. They were stuck on manual estimating processes, a lack of structured management systems, and the classic "owner-operator bottleneck" where every daily task and decision relied entirely on Todd.

Construction Allies in Action assessed his business using our ProjectReady scoring system, to identify areas of opportunity and strategically match Todd with mentors to support capacity, connections, customers, and capital.

Over the program-year, capacity advisors helped Todd organize his day-to-day operations and create a clear, structured plan to manage his time and delegate tasks.

He refined his market positioning with his customer advisor, and got support creating social media profiles and updating his website to include project experience.

The team at Urban League of West Michigan worked to submit a request through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation — and secured a grant for Todd to continue building a sustainable business.

In the connections corner, mentors put his business in front of local decision-makers, matching his newly structured operations with steady regional project pipelines to support continued growth.

By introducing modern digital systems and opening doors through strategic relationships, mentors helped a skilled tradesman step out of the daily administrative grind and into the structured role of a business executive.

Todd said it best himself —
"Foundations Plus is a game-changing program that works.

Not only does it work, the program leaders really care about your progress in each area.

Their mentorship helped create vision and clear direction for my business."

Own a construction business that's ready to build generational wealth? Schedule a ProjectReady assessment to get your baseline and see if you qualify for the next cohort of Foundations Plus, beginning in 2027.

👉 Learn more about Foundations Plus: https://constructionallies.org/foundations-plus/

The 2026 Foundations Plus program wrapped last week with a graduation celebration highlighting our 2026 cohort, their me...
07/29/2026

The 2026 Foundations Plus program wrapped last week with a graduation celebration highlighting our 2026 cohort, their mentors, and the partners who help scale local underrepresented-owned construction businesses!

Congratulations to our graduates 🎓
Angello Cruz | A G L / Building Fixing Maintaining
Aldo Colorado | Do It All Painting LLC / Colorado Construction LLC
Ange Kramo | Ako Fiber & Excavating
Camille Reed | CCS
Allison Castillo | Ultimate Caulking LLC
Santa Matias | United Freedom Painting
Todd McLemore | Todd McLemore LLC

Thank you to the mentors and advisors that helped this cohort grow:
Aashna Cross, MBA | Jermale Eddie | Kyle Siegert | Laura Dodde | Mark Tucker, SHRM-CP | Marvin Martin | Matthew R. Robles, MBA | Megan Steenwyk, MBA | Roger Freeman, MBA, CPM | Shonda James | Jason Radmacher | Linda M. Otterbridge

A very special thank you to Elizabeth Bovard Strong, who served as Portfolio Manager, keeping the participants and advisors connected, supported, and accountable.

Thank you to our event sponsor: Invictus Builders
Thank you to RDV Philanthropy for their support of our program and continued belief in our mission!

Interested in the next cohort? Complete a ProjectReady assessment before October 1st to see if you qualify!

👉 Request a ProjectReady assessment: https://forms.lessannoyingcrm.com/view/4055538913146097144917620467132

📸: Lee Purches

06/30/2026

📣 Calling all Trade Partners and Subcontractors!

You're invited to Wolverine's Trade Partner Meet & Greet on July 15th at Bell's Eccentric Cafe in Kalamazoo at 3:30pm.

📍 Bell's Eccentric Cafe: 355 E Kalamazoo Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49007

Meet the Wolverine Construction team and learn more about upcoming bid opportunities.

Register today! https://forms.monday.com/forms/69bb7a87bce066b7c1ad1f4ad135e16e?r=use1

CAIA is growing!Please join us in welcoming our newest team member, Sarah Chartier, MBA, PMP. Some of our longtime frien...
06/30/2026

CAIA is growing!

Please join us in welcoming our newest team member, Sarah Chartier, MBA, PMP.

Some of our longtime friends in the community might already know Sarah from her time on one of our early boards, and we are so excited to have her with us in this new role.

Sarah Chartier is a passionate conduit and facilitator of system change, drawing on fifteen years of experience in corporate sustainability, supplier development, environmental advocacy, and public speaking. Her approach centers on community, the environment, economic resiliency, and equity, prioritizing relationships, creativity, and collaboration.

Sarah launched her business, Yoop Consulting, in 2023 to be a conduit for sustainable business solutions and has since consulted for state and national organizations as a subject matter expert. She received her MBA in 2020 and her Project Management Professional (PMP) certification in 2018.

Beyond these credentials, her wide-ranging experience includes program management, technical writing, a TEDx speaking engagement, and leadership roles on non-profit boards. In 2022, Crain's Detroit Business named Sarah a “Notable Leader in Sustainability”. In her free time, she enjoys hiking with her beagle, birding, gardening, knitting, reading, and visiting the Farmers Market.

Please help us give Sarah a warm welcome! We are incredibly lucky to have her on the team.

Last night, the energy at Newco Design Build / Blox Design Build Containers was incredible. If you scroll through these ...
06/26/2026

Last night, the energy at Newco Design Build / Blox Design Build Containers was incredible. If you scroll through these photos, you won't see generic corporate networking, you'll see real handshakes and actual opportunities.

We had a packed house of underrepresented trade partners sitting face-to-face with major regional project teams and essential resource providers. This is exactly how we bridge the gap, break down procurement barriers, and build true generational wealth in the Michigan construction industry.

A big thank you to the contractors who polished their capability statements and showed up ready to scale, the project teams and GCs who brought clear data on their upcoming scopes of work with real intent, and the resource partners who lined the room to provide the capital, certifications, and backend support needed to create sustainable businesses.

The future of construction is collaborative, diverse, and driven by the people in this room. Thank you to everyone who made Year 5 of the Contractor Capabilities Exchange Event our biggest and most impactful speed-networking event yet!

1️⃣ week out from C2E2!If you want face-to-face access to major regional project pipelines and the capital to fund them,...
06/18/2026

1️⃣ week out from C2E2!

If you want face-to-face access to major regional project pipelines and the capital to fund them, this is your lineup for next Thursday, June 25th 👇

In structured sessions, you'll meet project teams from Clark Construction Company, First Companies Inc., The Christman Company, The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, Rockford Construction, Owen-Ames-Kimball Co., Orion Construction, Freedom Construction, Linc Up, Newco & Blox Design Build, the The City of Grand Rapids Engineering and Housing Departments, and the Michigan Department of Transportation.

Before and after sessions, and during the 7-8pm networking hour, you can find resources from Urban League of West Michigan, West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, City of Grand Rapids Office of Equity & Engagement, Grand Rapids Chamber, Capital Access Fund Of West Michigan, Huntington National Bank, Disability Advocates of Kent County, West Michigan APEX Accelerator, Downtown Grand Rapids Inc., Literacy Center of West Michigan, SpringGR, Sistas in Development, Grand Rapids Area Black Businesses, Green Home Institute, and MiHER.

Make sure to pre-register and arrive early to check in—the first businesses through the door get assigned to the first 1-on-1 rotation groups. Come prepared with your business cards and copies of your capabilities statement!

Walk-ins are welcome, and late arrivals can browse through the resource section while waiting for the next open slots. DBE, MBE, WBE, MLBE, and minority-affiliated business owners can secure priority access by registering before next Thursday.

👉 Grab your spot: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/contractor-capabilities-exchange-event-c2e2-2

We're excited to welcome The Christman Company as a Construction Ally this year.Their investment is a big reason why our...
06/05/2026

We're excited to welcome The Christman Company as a Construction Ally this year.

Their investment is a big reason why our training and resources stay accessible to emerging and underrepresented trade contractors.

That support gives local business owners the practical tools and network connections they need to stabilize their operations and step up to bid on larger commercial jobs.

The Christman team understands that a more capable, diverse network of trade partners makes the entire construction industry stronger.

Thank you to Christman Co for supporting our mission and investing in the growth of our local trades!

Learn more about getting involved at https://constructionallies.org/get-involved/

This year's C2E2 at Newco & Blox Design Build gives us the perfect layout to bring in a strong lineup of regional GCs an...
06/02/2026

This year's C2E2 at Newco & Blox Design Build gives us the perfect layout to bring in a strong lineup of regional GCs and project owners.

More space means more tables, more conversations, and more direct opportunity to get your business prequalified and on bid lists.

We have plenty of room for trade contractors to sign up, and walk-ins are welcome. Just remember that the rotation schedule favors the prepared!

Check out the event timeline, arrive early to lock in your slot, and bring plenty of printed copies of your capabilities statement.

Claim your spot at the table: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/contractor-capabilities-exchange-event-c2e2-2

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