Los Angeles Stadium & Entertainment District at Hollywood Park
IN THIS ISSUE:
Cova Partners, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Women’s Career Paths . . . . . . . .1
Local Hire Spotlight . . . . . . . . . . 2
Fun Facts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Roadmap to Success . . . . . . . . . . 3
Resources for Women . . . . . . . . 4
Upcoming Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Contact Information . . . . . . . . . . 4
NEWSLETTER u SPRING 2018
Celebrating National Women’s History Month
LUCK FAVORS THE PREPARED!
“ We help our clients meet the demands of working on large-scale projects and understand the nuances involved in filling the gaps between primes and subcontractors .”
—VanessaDeLaRosa,Partner
Ifevertheword“audacity”wasmeanttodefineasetofnew-kid-on-the-blockentrepreneurs,VanessaDeLaRosaandCorinneBabcockpersonifyit.Focusedanddeliberate,thesetwowomentookasmart,nicheidea,navigatedthetraditionalbarrierstoentry,and,injustoneyearafterhangingtheirshingle,landedtheirfirstcontractwithSMESteelontheLAStadium&EntertainmentDistrictatHollywoodPark(LASED).Itgoeswithoutsayingthatthisispioneering,butwomendefyingoddsinbusinessisnothingnew.ThoughthefirstforCovaPartners,LLC,preparationforthisopportunityhadbegunthreeyearsprior.
In2014VanessaDeLaRosaandCorinneBabcockwereworkingtogetheratalargeconstructioncompanywithverydifferentroles.VanessaworkedontheconstructionmanagementteamandCorinnewasstrictlyfocusedonrealestatedevelopmentdeals.Aswithmanywomen,thepulltowardgreaterflexibilityandprospectsforcareeradvancementgrewastheylearnedmoreandbecamemoreconfidentintheirskillsanduniqueexpertise.
By2016,thesetwobrightyoungindividualsforgedaheadtoformCovaPartners,LLC,aprofessionalservicesfirmofferingcomplianceandadministrativeservicestofirst-tiersubcontractors.Theyalsoteamwithownersanddeveloperstoprovideproject/constructionmanagementservices.Theirscopeistargetedandwelldefined,akeytocommunicatingtheiraddedvalueforanypotentialclient.
VanessaDeLaRosaandCorinneBabcockofCovaPartners,LLContheLAStadium&EntertainmentDistrictatHollywoodParkconstructionsite.
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COVA PARTNERS, LLC
PROMISING CAREER PATHS FOR WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION
TheLosAngelesStadium&EntertainmentDistrictatHollywoodParkhasthedistinctionofbeingthelargestprivate-sectorconstructionprojectinthecountryandtheTurnerAECOM/HuntJVteamisproudtoboastthatwomenarerepresentedinallmajorconstructiontradesonthisproject:laborers,consultants,contractedbusinessowners,executives,inspectors.Weareproudtosalutethewomenworkingonoursiteandthemillionsworkingthroughouttheconstructionindustry.
In1987,theU.S.CongressdesignatedMarchasNationalWomen’sHistory
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LOCAL HIRE SPOTLIGHT: FEMALE CRAFT
CRYSTAL RAMIREZ, CARPENTER APPRENTICE: KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!KiewithasastrongrelationshipwiththeBridgingOutstandingOpportunitieswithTradeswomenSkills(BOOTS)program,bringingwomenontheLASEDworkforce.
InApril2017,CarpenterTrainingInstructor,LisetteCruzintroducedTanyaStukes(KiewitDiversity&WorkforceDevelopmentManager)toCrystalRamirezatasmallwomen’soutreachgatheringatKiewit’sofficeatLASED.CrystalwaslaterinvitedtoKiewit’stargetedoutreacheventforlocalresidentsandinterviewedwithtwosuperintendents.Shestoodoutamongthesevenapprenticecandidates.Crystalwasanexcellentcommunicatoranddisplayeddriveandagenuineenthusiasmabouthercareer.Hercan-doattitudelandedheraspotontheprecastcrewjustonemonthlater,inMay2017.Shehasbeenworkingandgrowingeversince,risingfromaleveloneapprenticetoaproudlevelthree.
“ She’s quick! And not afraid of any task! She keeps up with us and is reliable—works with me side by side,” says mentor Pete Razzo .
CrystalisagraduateofWomeninNontraditionalEmploymentRoles(WINTER)andBOOTSprogramsandpriortojoiningKiewit,workedattheWilshireGrandprojectdoingfinishingwork.OntheLASEDproject,Crystalandtheprecastteamarebuildingtheroofsupportsegmentsthatwillstackupto150feet.Theyshape,stripandsettheforms.Theprocessisnewforeveryoneandshelovesthatthey’repioneers—alllearningtogether.
Crystalisverygratefultobepartofsuchaniconicprojectandappreciatestherecognitionshe’sreceivedfromhersupervisorsfordoingagreatjob.
SAFETY HIGHLIGHT:CrystalisamemberofKiewit’sCraftVoicesinSafety(CVIS)team.Shewasselectedbecausesheistrusted,approachableandareliableresourceforherpeers.TheCVISteamservesasaliaisonbetweencraftandmanagementtoensureallissues,needsandconcernsareelevatedandresolvedinatimelymanner.Congratulations,Crystal,forbeingagreatsafetystewardandleaderontheproject!
CrystalRamirez(right)onthejobwithhermentorPeteRazzo
FUN FACTS
BeginninginOctober,sitesuperintendentshaveupdatedattendeesatourmonthlycommunitymeetingsabouterectingstructuralsteel.Herearesomeofthefunfactswelearned:
Thereare:
�120millionpoundsofsteelintheseatingbowl,thestructureisnowvisiblefromthestreet.
�Four440-toncranes,soheavythatanengineeringroadhadtobebuilttosupportthem.
�Theupperconcourserises140feetabovetheeventlevel.
�“Connectors”areindividualswhowalkthehighbeams,receivethebeamsandhelpbolttheminplace.
�Amassivecrane,oneofonlythreeintheworld,isexpectedtoarriveinpieceson4018-wheelertrucksandwillbeusedtosettheroof.
Month.Everyyearsince,wepausetocelebratethecontributionsandachievementsofAmericanwomeninourschools,communitiesandworkplaces.Perseveringagainstalloddstoobtainequalrights,equalaccessandequalpay,womenareshatteringtheso-calledglassceilingineveryknownindustrysector.AccordingtotheU.S.BureauofLaborStatistics,womennowmakeup9.1percentoftheconstructionindustryintheUnitedStates.
Withcareeropportunitiesincreasingeachyear,thesightofwomenwearinghardhatsandsteel-toedboots,directingcranesandheavyequipmentisnowverycommon.Thoughwomenstillfacebarriers,manyfactorsmakethiscareerpathveryattractiveandattainable.
PROMISING CAREER PATHS continued
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YOUR ROADMAP TO SUCCESS
AtTurner,wearecommittedtocultivatingthemostqualifiedandwell-balancednetworkofsmallbusinessesintheindustry.OurTurnerSchoolofConstructionManagementoffersaroadmaptosuccessinconstructionmanagementwithmanygraduates,includingagreatnumberofwomen-ownedbusinesses,workingonmajorprojectsacrossthecountry.Allgraduatescompletetheprogramwithin-depthknowledgeoftherequirementsforcontractingonaTurnerConstructionproject,aswellasthechallengesinvolved.Thetrainingcurriculuminstructsparticipantsonthefundamentalsofestimatingandkeyconceptsofconstructionmanagement,includingeffectivemethodsforlocating,obtaining,managingandschedulingwork.Finally,graduateslearnthevalueoflocatingandutilizingindustryresources.
2018 TRAINING PROGRAM DATES
�BeginsTuesday,April3rd;endsThursday,May17thLAStadium&EntertainmentDistrictatHollywoodPark1000SouthPrairieAvenue,Inglewood,CA90301
�Register:https://2018-tscm-session-one.eventbrite.com
SponsoredbyUnionBank,thisprogramispresentedinpartnershipwithLAWA,USCMinorityBusinessDevelopmentAgencyBusinessCenter,Metro,NAMC.
In2017,aftersuccessfullycompletingtheseven-weekTurnerSchoolofConstructionManagementTrainingprogram,VanessawasinvitedtoattendaTHJVoutreacheventandmetarepresentativefromSMESteelwhobroughtCovaPartners,LLCintoserveastheirM/W/DBEpartnerontheLASEDproject.
WHY M/DBE? TheTHJVteamhasadopteddiversityandinclusiongoalstoensureminority,womenanddisadvantagedbusinessesreceiveaccesstocontractsonthisproject.Oneofthebestwaystoseizeopportunitiesasasmallbusinessowneristoobtainallcertificationsforwhichyouqualify.InthecaseofCovaPartners,theyhavealltheircertificationscovered.So,whenSMESteelwaslookingforaM/DBEpartnertofulfilltheircontractobligationswithTHJV,CovaPartnersLLCwasabletohelpmeettherequirementswhileofferingtheiruniquescopeofservices.Itwasawin-win!
COVA PARTNERS’ CERTIFICATIONS�DisadvantagedBusinessEnterprise(DBE)
CaliforniaDepartmentofTransportation;FirmID:44253
�Small(Micro)BusinessEnterprise(SBE)StateofCalifornia,DGS;CertificationID:2004149
�Minority&WomenBusinessEnterprise(MBE/WBE)LosAngelesCounty;CertificationID:85850
�Small,LocalBusiness(SLB)CityofLosAngeles;CertificationID:SLB-3755
ABOUT THE OWNERSCorinneTapiaBabcockoverseesOperationsandBusinessDevelopmentforCova.SheholdsaB.A.fromGeorgetownUniversityandisaLicensedRealEstateBrokerwiththeStateofCalifornia.
VanessaDeLaRosaisresponsibleforCova’sProjectManagementresponsibilities.SheholdsaB.A.fromU.C.SantaBarbaraanM.A.inConstructionManagementfromUniversityofSouthernCaliforniaandisLicensedLEEDAP,BD+C,Green.
WorkingonthisprojecthasexpandedVanessaandCorinne’sknowledgeofconstructionmanagementandalsoclientmanagementimmensely.Theyunderstandtheimportanceoflearningfromthesubcontractorswhilealsoengagingtheothermembersoftheprojectteamtostayinformedandmosteffectivelyrealizeprojectsuccess.
COVA PARTNERS, LLC continued
� � � � � � � � � Visit our website at LAStadiumAtHP .com
covapartners.com
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RESOURCES FOR WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION
WEBSITE LAStadiumAtHP.com
GENERAL PROJECT INFORMATION email:[email protected]
PROJECT CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES email:[email protected]
phone:310-743-5186
JOB OPPORTUNITIES—SOUTH BAY 1-STOP email:[email protected]
phone:310-680-3761
CONTACT INFORMATIONUPCOMING EVENTS
SATURDAY, MARCH 17 • 10 a.m. COMMUNITY UPDATE MEETING FaithfulCentralBibleChurch—TheTabernacle321NorthEucalyptusAvenue,Inglewood,CA90302
THURSDAY, APRIL 19 • 7 p.m. COMMUNITY UPDATE MEETING HolyTrinityEvangelicalLutheranChurch9300SouthCrenshawBoulevard,Inglewood,CA90305
THURSDAY, APRIL 26 • 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. JOBS INFORMATION AND RESOURCE FAIR RogersPark400WestBeachBoulevard,Inglewood,CA90302
NAWICNationalAssociationofWomeninConstructionwww.nawicla.org
NAWICempowerswomenandinfluencesthedirectionoftheconstructionindustry.Itsmissionistounitefortheirmutualbenefits,womenwhoareactivelyemployedinthevariousphasesoftheconstructionindustry.Inaddition,NAWICservesto:�Promotecooperation,fellowship,andabetter
understandingamongmembersoftheAssociation;
�Promoteeducationandcontributetothebettermentoftheconstructionindustry;
�Providemembersanawarenessofthelegislativeprocessandlegislationasitrelatestotheconstructionindustry.
BOOTS BridgingOutstandingOpportunitieswithTradeswomenSkills
TheBOOTSProgramisapre-apprenticeprogramdevelopedforwomentoprovidethehands-ontrainingneededtosucceedinthecarpentrytrade.Themissionistotrain,educateandpreparewomenandyouthfortransformativecareersintheconstructionindustry.
Ifyouareover18yearsofagewithapositive,go-getterattitude,havereliabletransportation,andcancommittoafour-weekclassMondaythroughFridayfrom6:30a.m.to3:00p.m.,thenwhynottryit?Beapartofsomethinggreat!
�Phone562-699-0419;referto“BOOTS”whencalling.
WINTERWomenInNon-TraditionalEmploymentRoleswww.winterwomen.org
TheWINTERprogramhelpswomengrowinhigh-skillcareers,becomepartofaunion,masteratradeandearnalivablewage.Beginningwithathree-daybootcamp,the10-weekAdultTrainingprogramintroducesparticipantstounionsandothernon-traditionalcareers.TheRosietheRiveterYouthBuildprogrameducatesyoungadultsinconstructionandgivesthemtheopportunitytograduatehighschool.
�Women’sResourceandTrainingCenter4741EastCesarE.ChavezAvenueLosAngeles,CA90022213-749-3970
�RosietheRiveterYouthPrograms131NorthGrandStreet,Building630SanPedro,CA90731310-984-6486
�RosietheRiveterYouthPrograms690NorthStudebakerRoadLongBeach,CA90803213-749-3970
