We intentionally build strong, mutually beneficial relationships with diverse business partners and tradespeople who share our vision and values and are dedicated to meeting the needs of our customers. We take pride in nurturing a diverse network of skilled partners and tradespeople.
We are honored to have received recognition from the following organizations for our efforts and the positive impact we’ve made in the construction industry:
2023 Industry Leadership Award
awarded by the WA Center of Excellence for advancement of
women in the construction trades
2022 Crystal Eagle Leadership Award
for Business Development with MWBE Firms
awarded by Tabor 100
2022 Community Builder Award
awarded by ANCOR Foundation (supporting individuals with disabilities)
2020 Minority Community Engagement Award
awarded by the National Association of Minority Contractors
In the Community
At Cornerstone, we proactively seek subcontractors and suppliers across all backgrounds who prioritize quality and service and are committed to building lasting, relationship-driven partnerships for every project we undertake. Our goal is to foster long-term, mutually beneficial relationships with firms that share our values, helping us deliver high-quality projects to our customers at a fair price. We intentionally structure our procurement process to create opportunities for small, local, minority-owned, and women-owned businesses to thrive and succeed. Through these partnerships, we aim to empower their growth and success long term.
In Our Company Culture
We are passionate about creating teams that reflect the communities in which we build. As such, we recruit team members from a variety of industries, upbringings and backgrounds. This ensures that we are always learning from each other and providing our clients with a well-rounded experience.
Meet Our Outreach and Engagement Team
Vicki Puckett, Director of Outreach and Engagement
A former public school principal, Vicki is responsible for setting the overall vision for Cornerstone’s outreach and engagement initiatives. She is dedicated to offering all businesses in the community an opportunity to participate in Cornerstone-led projects. She also guides our programs that foster youth and community engagement, creating excitement around the facilities we build and raising awareness of the rewarding career opportunities within the construction industry.
Jill Mellecker, Small and Diverse Business Outreach Coordinator
Jill brings more than 10 years of estimating and project engineering experience to our outreach department. This boots-on-the-ground field experience provided her with an understanding of what successful, collaborative relationships with trade partners can accomplish. She designs strategies to ensure that our project teams are incorporating local, minority-owned, women-owned and small businesses, as well as a local workforce on our projects. Once the project breaks ground, she mentors and supports subcontractors throughout the construction lifecycle to ensure a successful long-term partnership.
Growing with Our Local Communities
"Cornerstone General Contractors has changed my life… they have helped my business grow tremendously by teaching me about the bidding and bonding processes. The company is a wonderful example of mentorship, excellence, quality and safety."
— Israel Alvarez, Owner, Washington Best Finishes
For a healthy and sustainable construction industry, it is vital that businesses and tradespeople from all backgrounds enter the field and continuously develop their skills and expertise. We also recognize the importance of ensuring that the people building in our communities reflect the vibrant cultures they serve.
At Cornerstone, we focus on engaging business partners who share our vision and values, and who are committed to helping us develop skilled craftspeople capable of delivering high-quality projects while earning a competitive wage. We are passionate about inspiring the next generation of builders to join the industry, making careers in construction highly desirable and supporting its future growth.
One way we achieve this is by actively seeking small, local and minority/women-owned business enterprises (MWBE) to collaborate with us on our projects. Our approach emphasizes assembling project teams that reflect the unique makeup of each community. We create customized plans for each project — tailored blueprints designed to ensure the inclusion of small, local and disadvantaged businesses. Cornerstone also encourages community involvement and builds meaningful connections with local youth and families.
Our Trusted Partner Ecosystem
Throughout the years, our commitment to fostering a diverse network of skilled subcontractors and suppliers has allowed us to build meaningful partnerships with organizations that support MWBE businesses across the region. These collaborations have been essential in helping us identify opportunities to forge successful partnerships with more MWBE firms, while also providing mentorship to ensure long-term success.
We firmly believe it’s our responsibility to support the next generation of contractors by providing them with the opportunities and resources necessary for a healthy and sustainable industry. By doing so, we help to build a stronger future for the construction industry.
Additional Links
Careers
We are always looking for new team members who are eager to expand their careers in an environment that fosters growth, grit and excellence. Our culture values accountability and accomplishment. We invest in our team and care about one another like family.
Giving Back
Service is at the heart of our role in the communities we serve. With every project, we look for ways to connect with students, families, community members, local businesses and crafts alongside project stakeholders to deliver beyond expectation.