By Sarah Windsor, Quality Director
I would like to take this opportunity to share our sustainability journey, highlight its importance to our vision at Ames, and describe the collective progress we have made this year.
Why is sustainability important to Ames?
Integrating sustainable practices into our business demonstrates our commitment to our employees and community by promoting healthier living and working environments. By minimizing our environmental impact, conserving natural resources, and reducing pollution, we not only protect the planet but also enhance our reputation.
This commitment strengthens our relationships with clients, fostering loyalty and trust as we deliver results aligned with their values. Our clients will actively seek out contractors who not only comply with regulatory standards but lead the industry with innovative solutions that benefit future generations.
Ames’ sustainability mission
Our company mission statement encompasses all aspects of our sustainability program, so there was no need to develop a separate statement for sustainability. Our mission statement, “To provide construction solutions in harmony with nature so our people, clients, partners, and communities flourish,” is succinct and incorporates our three key pillars.
Our sustainability journey: Three pillars
Our sustainability journey began with identifying the three key pillars vital to Ames’ success: People, Environment, and Community.
People: Our greatest asset is our team. Our success depends on every member of the Ames team coming together to deliver quality projects to our clients. The objective of this pillar is to discover and recruit diverse talent and provide a safe and inclusive workplace that encourages retention.
Environment: Environmental stewardship has been part of our DNA since the inception of Ames, beginning with our soil conservation projects. Our tagline, “Working in Harmony with Nature,” reflects our commitment to protecting our natural resources for future generations. This pillar will focus on promoting the responsible use of resources in all aspects of the work we build.
Community: Giving back to our communities has been ingrained in our culture and is what fosters the feeling of family at Ames. Whether through donations, community outreach, educational programs, or volunteering, Ames strives to leave the community better than when we arrived. The objectives of this pillar will center around improving the quality of life for the people who live and work in the diverse markets and communities we serve.
Task force team and 2024 goals
A task force was formed in January to develop objectives and baseline data for our three pillars. Throughout the year, the team has been actively engaged in the following goals for 2024:
People
- Establish a baseline of current employee diversity across Ames and benchmark against peer companies. Determine a diversity goal for 2025.
- Create an Employee Resource Group (ERG) for military employees, providing a safe and inclusive environment for all military team members and their allies.
Environment
- Develop a baseline for corporate-level greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, including natural gas, electricity, gas and diesel fuel, heating oil, and welding gas. Set a GHG emission reduction goal for 2025.
- Establish a baseline for water usage at our office and shop locations, assessing opportunities for reduction. Define project(s) and reduction goal for 2025.
Community
- Create a volunteer program that allows employees to track volunteer hours and participate in company-organized volunteer opportunities.
- Develop a donation matching program to increase our outreach in the communities we serve.
We are confident these initiatives will have a positive impact on our team, our environment, and the communities we serve. Each sub team will share more details on their individual goals as they are ready for implementation.
Please reach out to any task force team member if you would like to learn more or participate on a specific project. Working together as One Ames, we can make a difference and demonstrate our commitment to sustainability.
Thank you for your continued dedication to position Ames as a leader in our industry!
Ames Construction Sustainability Task Force
Champions: Curtis Bilow, Brent Wilber
People sub team: Jaime Miller, Teia Ryan
Environment sub team: Chris Ennes, Doug Eischens
Community sub team: Amie Kraus, Zach Huhmann
Task Force chair: Sarah Windsor