In a year that spotlighted both his influence and unwavering dedication to equity, Nate McCoy, president and CEO of the National Association of Minority Contractors’ Oregon chapter (NAMC-Oregon), is receiving two major honors that underscore his legacy of leadership and community impact.
On Dec. 10, McCoy will be recognized as a Daily Journal of Commerce Icon Award honoree for his sustained contributions to Oregon’s construction and business landscape. The following evening, at the 2025 NAMC-Oregon Holiday Celebration, he will receive the Architect of Progress & Champion of Change Award—a distinction that celebrates his decade-long stewardship and his role in reshaping economic opportunity across the region.
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Over more than ten years, McCoy has led NAMC-Oregon through a period of remarkable evolution. Under his leadership, the organization has grown into one of Oregon’s most influential advocates for construction equity, expanding participation for minority-owned firms and forging cross-sector partnerships with public agencies, private developers, general contractors, and community organizations.
His accomplishments reflect not only advocacy but also structural change—helping shape policy, shift procurement norms, and create pathways for small, minority-owned contractors to enter and thrive in complex markets across Oregon and Southwest Washington.
McCoy emphasized that the recognition is shared:
“These honors are not just mine. They reflect the collective effort of our NAMC-Oregon board, team, partners and members,” he said. “Together, we’re building bridges, breaking barriers, and creating an economy where small businesses owned by people of color don’t just survive, they thrive.”
Alongside his role at NAMC-Oregon, McCoy also serves as the interim executive director of the Black Business Association of Oregon (BBAO). In this role, he is leading the organization’s strategic relaunch with a focus on generational wealth, economic mobility, and entrepreneurial sustainability for Black families and youth.
This work is aligned with NAMC-Oregon’s mission and extends McCoy’s influence beyond construction, positioning him as a connector between systems of economic power, small business ecosystems, and community-building efforts.
“We’re not just creating programs. We’re building systems that ensure equity becomes the standard, not the exception,” McCoy said.
McCoy’s commitment to equity is shaped deeply by his own lived experience. A Portland native and member of a legacy Black family, he grew up in Northeast Portland before graduating from Parkrose High School and later earning a degree in architecture from the University of Oregon. Much of his time in the program was spent as the only Black student in the cohort.
“I know what it feels like to be the only one in the room,” McCoy reflected. “That’s why I’m committed to opening doors and building networks, so others don’t have to walk that path alone.”
Prior to joining NAMC-Oregon, McCoy spent seven years in public service with the Portland Housing Bureau and Prosper Portland, managing housing initiatives and community development projects that informed his systems-level understanding of access, inclusion, and economic mobility.
Today he serves on numerous boards and commissions, including:
His leadership continues to influence major regional strategies around procurement, workforce diversity, community investment, and equitable growth.
The DJCO Phenoms & Icons Awards highlight individuals whose contributions shape Oregon’s industries and communities. Likewise, the NAMC-Oregon Architect of Progress & Champion of Change Award honors leaders who model empowerment, opportunity and meaningful transformation.
Cinna’Mon Williams, NAMC-Oregon’s chief operating officer, said McCoy’s leadership has fundamentally shifted the region’s approach to equity:
“Nate leads with integrity, compassion and from the heart,” Williams said. “It’s truly a blessing to witness his work transforming how our region builds, not just in concrete and steel, but in authentic connection, collaboration and with a focus on community.”
NAMC-Oregon will honor McCoy’s achievements during its 2025 Holiday Celebration on Dec. 11 at the Oregon Convention Center. Industry partners, elected officials, small businesses, and community leaders will gather for an evening centered on recognition, storytelling, and collective purpose.
The public is invited to attend and celebrate McCoy’s leadership. More details are available at namc-oregon.org.
As 2025 comes to a close, these dual recognitions reinforce what many across the region already acknowledge: McCoy has redefined what it means to build progress in Oregon. Through advocacy, vision, and a relentless push for access and opportunity, he continues to shape a more equitable future rooted in community, collaboration, and lasting possibility.
Originally reported by NAMC-Oregon in DJC Oregon.
