Steph Ekeren Named Top Women in Construction Finalist
On January 31, 2024, Finance & Commerce announced its finalists for their 2024 Top Women in Construction awards. Knutson is proud to announce that Steph Ekeren, Human Resources Manager, is a finalist for the Unsung Hero category.
An annual celebration, the Top Women in Construction awards is a recognition for women considered outstanding in terms of their contributions and dedication to their profession, communities, and society at large. Women are nominated by peers and supporters, and the limited number of finalists for each category are chosen by an outside panel of judges.
Ekeren’s nomination highlighted the palpable shift in Knutson’s HR processes and initiatives since she joined the team in August 2022, with the general contractor establishing multiple programs that seek to educate about employment opportunities in the construction industry as well as set up professionals for long-term success at Knutson and beyond. Ekeren also has a vested interest in promoting and advocating for diverse groups in the industry and supports this by personally partaking in several committees, groups, programs, volunteer efforts, and more. She is dedicated to expanding Knutson’s talent pipeline and refining the company’s practices, approaches, and training efforts to be more inclusive and supportive, while maintaining visibility around the presence of women in traditionally male-dominated industries.
“Steph works incredibly hard to establish credibility and trust with our workforce,” said Casey Sarver, Vice President of Human Resources at Knutson. “She has been successful at inviting leaders from the field to proactively engage with her on people challenges and issues, which is changing the dynamics of how everyone – most notably, women in the field – will feel a greater sense of belonging and support. She leads with understanding and empathy while maintaining business alignment to help deliver the best outcomes for everyone.”
Winners in each Top Women in Construction category will be announced at the Celebration of Women in Construction gala event at Quincy Hall in NE Minneapolis on Saturday, March 9.
Please join us in congratulating Steph on this honor!