Our Commitment
Cornerstone is committed to fostering a responsive and inclusive environment by eliminating barriers to participation, achieving equitable access for all. We’re proud to support small, minority-owned, women‑owned, veteran‑owned, and disadvantaged business enterprises (SBE, MBE, WBE, VBE, and DBE), along with the minority, women, veteran, LGBTQ diversity they represent in the local community.
Subcontractor Outreach
Our firm actively solicits for diversity in subcontractors and suppliers for every project we manage. In fact, we take a carefully focused approach to crafting bid packages that are scaled and directed at smaller businesses to encourage bidding. We advertise our bid packages with the appropriate agencies and publications to help us reach an audience that reflects the communities where we build.
The following are just a few of the methods we use:
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- Maximize bid package opportunities that are below the $300,000 bonding requirement stipulated by the RCW. These may include supply packages for Division 10, 11, and 12 specialty items or subcontractor packages for painting, wall coverings, door installation, and other finish scopes.
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- Unbundle large bid packages so that SBE, MBE, WBE, VBE, and DBE firms can bid on smaller packages.
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- Solicit firms registered with the Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprise (OMWBE), City of Seattle, and other local registries.
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- Advertise bids in the Daily Journal of Commerce, the OMWBE website, Tabor 100, the National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC), Builders Exchange, BuildingConnected, and other regional publications.
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- Reach out to community organizations, contractor groups, assistance offices, and other organizations — such as the Office of Economic Development, NW Mountain Minority Supplier Development Council, and ASTRA Women’s Business Alliance — to help recruit SBE, MBE, WBE, VBE, and DBE firms.
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- Host “open house” events to provide information regarding upcoming bid packages targeted to the SBE, MBE, WBE, VBE, DBE, and local business construction community.
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- Provide mentoring and/or workshop training opportunities to review subcontract bidding requirements, procedures, and the nature of subcontract bid packages, including resources and guidance to register as an SBE, MBE, WBE, VBE, or DBE firm.
If you self-identify or are a certified MWBE and/or DBE subcontractor and wish to partner with us, please take time to fill out the MWBE Outreach form.
Our Trusted Partner Ecosystem
By partnering with organizations that support inclusion and equity in the region—including NAMC, Tabor 100, National Association on Women in Construction (NAWIC), Association of General Contractors (AGC), inclusive of AGC’s Culture of CARE, and others—we provide opportunities to traditionally underutilized firms. In addition, Cornerstone offers mentorship to SBE, MBE, WBE, VBE, and DBE firms, assisting them in gaining access to projects in the public sector. Cornerstone’s Business Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Director, Vicki Puckett, leads our efforts by ensuring our team provides intentional opportunities for inclusion and equity. She promotes these opportunities to capable firms, assists them with acquisition and performance, and offers resources and guidance on how to register as an SBE, MBE, WBE, VBE, or DBE firm.
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