The National Association of Minority Contractors Wisconsin Chapter (NAMC-WI) celebrated a major milestone Tuesday as it hosted its 10th Annual Construction Industry Forum, honoring a decade of progress in building partnerships, expanding opportunity, and promoting diversity across Wisconsin’s construction sector.
The forum brought together dozens of contractors, corporate partners, and community leaders for a morning of networking, discussion, and recognition. The event’s milestone anniversary also marked a time for reflection — highlighting how far the organization has come in strengthening minority participation in one of the state’s most competitive industries.
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NAMC-WI presented Lifetime Achievement Awards to Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley and Cristy Garcia-Thomas, former chief external affairs officer of Advocate Aurora Health, for their long-standing commitment to supporting equitable opportunities and community growth.
The event also featured remarks from representatives of U.S. Bank, WEC Energy Group, Vantage Data Centers, and the Milwaukee Department of City Development, alongside a series of morning panel discussions featuring construction, finance, and supply chain experts.
This year’s theme, “Relationships,” underscored NAMC-WI’s core mission — building enduring partnerships that open doors for underrepresented contractors.
“The lifetime achievement award recognized those who both show up and provide opportunities to participate,” said Ugo Nwagbaraocha, president of the NAMC-WI board. He emphasized that diversity in investment delivers tangible community and economic returns. “When contractors and companies make major investments such as the Komatsu South Harbor Campus project, the return on investment is tripled when it includes local and diverse business,” he added.
From early advocacy to recent large-scale public and private projects, NAMC-WI’s influence has grown steadily. The organization now serves as a bridge between minority-owned firms and major developers, general contractors, and financial institutions.
On stage, Garcia-Thomas reflected on the organization’s growth and her optimism for the future. She said she was excited about what the future held after the 10th anniversary of the NAMC-WI event. Although Crowley could not attend in person, he shared his gratitude and encouragement through a recorded video message.
One of the day’s most anticipated segments was a set of panels focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) — particularly in light of recent changes under the current federal administration.
In September 2025, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) issued an interim final rule halting the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program, raising concerns about the future of federal support for minority-owned firms. Moderators asked how general contractors and developers would adapt and continue their DEI commitments in Wisconsin without federal mandates.
Panelists and general contractors reaffirmed their commitment to advancing inclusion, emphasizing that private-sector partnerships and local initiatives will continue to drive diverse business participation.
“Even with changes at the federal level, our companies are maintaining diverse business goals for private projects,” one panelist noted. “We’re focused on our community — the local firms that bring value, innovation, and accountability.”
As attendees reflected on a decade of NAMC-WI forums, several contractors shared that their professional partnerships began at the first symposium ten years ago. These stories reinforced the event’s theme — relationships that translate into long-term success and lasting impact.
Aligning with the spirit of the milestone, Nwagbaraocha and other speakers urged attendees to continue cultivating those relationships in the years ahead. With Wisconsin’s construction market expanding and billions in new development planned across the region, leaders said collaboration between public agencies, private developers, and minority contractors will remain vital.
Since its founding, NAMC-WI has grown into a key convener for inclusion in the construction industry, offering advocacy, business development programs, and mentorship to help minority-owned firms scale and compete.
As the organization celebrated its tenth year, its leaders reiterated their commitment to ensuring that diversity and economic equity remain at the forefront of Wisconsin’s construction future.
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Originally reported by Ethan Duran in The Daily Reporter.
