MOKAN Honors BJC

November 2024 - BJC HealthCare was recognized as a Developer of the Year by MOKAN at its annual awards ceremony November 15. Mike Hayes, BJC vice president of Planning, Design & Construction (PD&C), accepted the award. The evening recognized and celebrated the dedication and achievements of those who have made exceptional contributions to advancing workplace diversity and the inclusion of minority and women-owned businesses.  

Yaphett El-Amin, MOKAN executive director, said, “We honor three outstanding developers of the year who have demonstrated an exceptional dedication to diversity in their respective projects. In the broader St. Louis region, BJC HealthCare, with the leadership of Michael Hayes, is recognized for projects including Plaza West Tower (Campus Renewal), The St. Louis Children’s Hospital 4400 acute inpatient floor renovation, the Barnes-Jewish Hospital advanced neurosurgery center iMRIs, and the BJC home infusion pharmacy.”

Hayes said of the honor, “The credit for diverse workforce and contracts on these projects, and what we’ve been able to accomplish, lies with the incredible PD&C team who have worked tirelessly with the design and construction industry to ensure equitable representation and opportunities. I’m both proud and humbled every day by their dedication.”

BJC PD&C formalized its diversity and inclusion program in 2013, recognizing that as a major consumer of design and construction services in the region, BJC had another opportunity to make a difference in the community.  This commitment to being a leader in supporting a strong, viable and sustainable minority and women-owned business enterprise (MBE/WBE) market of health care construction consultants and contractors and an expanded minority/female workforce has continued to grow.

MOKAN’s mission is to collaborate with local government, majority contractors and other stakeholders to build more inclusive business and workforce industries. They also have a pre-apprenticeship program for minorities and women who are underrepresented in the construction industry.