GSR Annual Report 2025
Partners Pillar
4 minute read
4 minute read
Partners Pillar Building Capacity Through Partnership
Partnerships remain central to how we build. As conditions and expectations evolved, we focused on strengthening partner readiness and creating more consistent access for qualified small and diverse businesses through closer coordination with project teams to deliver reliable results.
A CONVERSATION WITH
Patrice Haley, Partners Pillar Leader
If you had to choose one word to sum up our team’s efforts, what would it be?
Intentional. We were deliberate about where we focused and how we supported partners. The goal was to build relationships that extended beyond a single project and contribute to long-term capability.
When you think about the work this year, what stood out most?
What stood out most was the coordination between our project teams and the Partners Pillar team. Teams stayed aligned through preparation, training and open communication during execution. That alignment supported clear expectations and shared accountability, especially where workforce participation expectations were well defined. We prioritized relationships built for longevity, not just individual projects.
What progress were you most proud of?
Progress was most evident in the shift from a singular focus on giving trade partners access to DPR opportunities toward a multifaceted approach that included programming on trade partner readiness and capacity building. That included refining training efforts and formalizing a 30-60-90 check-in process with trade partners and project teams to strengthen communication and address challenges early.
Is there one proof point that strong partnerships made a difference? On several projects, particularly in the Northeast, close coordination between project teams and the Partners Pillar supported both successful pursuit efforts and strong delivery performance. Clear expectations, consistent tracking and early engagement helped reinforce trust with customers and trade partners.
What is the most important thing you want people to know about the team’s work in 2025?
Our work has always been focused and deliberate, and in 2025 we concentrated on long-term impact. Projects often have shorter, defined timelines, but strong partnerships build capability that lasts beyond a single job. We concentrated on preparation, communication, and shared accountability so trade partners and project teams succeed together as one.
Supplier Development By the Numbers
-
with Thomas Harper & Joy Jones
What stands out about working with DPR on this project? When you start working with DPR, you realize you are going to up your game and learn from them, but in the best way possible. It has really been an excellent partnership and has grown into a great relationship.
What made this partnership unique? DPR wanted to make sure the team was not just meeting certifications but also bringing good partners to the table who were truly adding value and that the project could help elevate those organizations. From DPR’s side, it was, How can we help? Can we introduce you to organizations? That was a differentiator.
How did the partnership create opportunities for learning? On a large-scale project, we had team members from different backgrounds and different levels of experience. Working with DPR meant access to training and expertise that helped people grow in their roles and build skills they could carry into future work. It also went both ways. Adams Electric was invited into DPR’s office to provide electrical safety training for DPR teams, including office and management staff. The focus was on helping one another and making sure everyone had the opportunity to get better.
Projects Collaboration in Action
Collaboration showed up most clearly at the project level this past year. Teams invested early in building trust, aligning expectations and working side by side with the Partners Pillar to understand client priorities.
Through structured outreach, clearer performance expectations and direct feedback, the team strengthened trade partner readiness for complex work while expanding access to future opportunities. By prioritizing local hiring and sharing career pathways to the construction industry with adults and youth, teams supported stronger project outcomes and increased economic impact in the communities where we build.
Partner Spotlight: Northeast Region
On several projects across the Northeast, teams responded to client expectations around workforce participation and local impact by aligning early. This included close collaboration with trade partners and workforce organizations, supported by outreach efforts designed to strengthen execution and desired outcomes.
Many teams were navigating these expectations for the first time. Partners Pillar NE Regional Manager Margarita Polanco and NE project team members developed comprehensive workforce development plans built on a foundation of clear communication, shared accountability and hands-on coordination. Collectively, they met client needs while improving access to construction career opportunities for residents. This work reflects how intentional partnership at the project level can support workforce development beyond a single engagement.
PROJECT SPOTLIGHT
Connecticut Children's
This milestone project redefines pediatric care with family-centered spaces, immersive design and advanced treatment capabilities.
Ribbon Cutting: December 2025
- DPR worked closely with the Minority Construction Council, the Connecticut Building Trades Institute and other local organizations to ensure that project opportunities were shared with Hartford-area businesses and residents.
- 1,006 individual jobs created/workers onsite
- 728,639 hours worked
- 243 workers onsite per day at construction peak
Connecticut Children's Additional Project Facts
This new clinical tower represents a defining milestone for Connecticut Children’s—expanding our ability to deliver advanced, family-centered care while deepening our commitment to Hartford and the region. What makes this project especially meaningful is how it was built: through deep collaboration with an integrated design and construction team that listened, planned transparently, and stayed aligned on what matters most—children, their families, and the community. Impact extends beyond the clinical space.
The project team helped grow opportunity locally, engaging Connecticut-based trade partners, partnering with workforce organizations to expand access to careers in the trades, and opening the jobsite to students to inspire the next generation of builders. We’re proud of what this tower will mean for patients today—and for our community for years to come.”
Reaghan M. Schicker, AIA, ACHA
Director of Planning Design & Construction, Connecticut Children’s
Industry Partnerships and Events Building Relationships Beyond the Jobsite
Our industry involvement is rooted in relationships. We participate in events that bring together builders, suppliers and community partners so we can learn, share knowledge and create pathways for new and growing businesses. Through these connections, we strengthen partnerships and support a supply chain that reflects the communities around our projects.
When we travel for industry events, we look for practical ways to support the host community. When possible, we source materials locally, partner with locally owned food and beverage vendors and make time to learn from local cultural sites.
National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC)
DPR engaged with suppliers and peers through the NMSDC conference marketplace and the Construction Industry Group. The booth featured mocktails and cocktails from locally owned Miami businesses, reflecting a practical way to support the host community.
ACCA National Training Institute (Denver)
We attended ACCA’s National Training Institute in Denver in 2025 to update ACCA certifications and strengthen our approach to supplier development and contract compliance. The training supported the Denver preconstruction team with best practices for administrator-level compliance and master letter requirements.
Hispanic Contractors of Colorado (HCC)
DPR has been a member of Hispanic Contractors of Colorado (HCC) for 10 years and was recognized in 2025 for a decade of partnership and engagement. Throughout the year, we participated in several HCC-hosted events, including the Tradeshow & BBQ, where we sponsored a booth and connected with small trade partners and vendors. Our team members also joined the annual Clay Shooting event and sponsored a table at the Annual Gala, where we extended invites to customers to join.
National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC) – DFW Chapter Golden Shovel Award
In September 2025, the Dallas-Fort Worth team received the Golden Shovel Award from the NAMC DFW Chapter, recognizing DPR as General Contractor of the Year. The award reflects the team’s supplier diversity efforts, including hosting outreach events and engaging new trade partners in support of local healthcare projects.
Looking Ahead Priorities for 2026 & Beyond
As we look ahead, we remain focused on strengthening the relationships and systems that support long-term partnership. Our 2026 priorities build on progress and center on practical actions that prepare trade partners for complex work, reinforce shared accountability and expand opportunity in ways that support strong project delivery and local impact.
Expanding Partner Capacity
We will expand trade partner training and readiness efforts to better prepare firms for increasingly technical and schedule-driven projects. This includes implementing redesigned training programs, clearer onboarding expectations and structured check-ins throughout the project lifecycle. These touchpoints are designed to help partners navigate requirements, address risk early and build the internal systems needed to grow alongside us over time.
Elevating Shared Execution
We will continue aligning early and often with our partners to ensure expectations are clear from the outset. Consistent feedback, open communication and shared accountability will support stronger execution and allow challenges to be addressed before they impact performance. Partnership is built through daily collaboration and disciplined follow-through.
Sustaining Long-Term Partnerships
We will prioritize long-term relationships that extend beyond a single project. By supporting supplier development, workforce pathways and local hiring, we aim to strengthen delivery while expanding economic opportunity in the communities where we build. Enduring partnerships reflect how we work
and who we are.
Explore More of the GSR Annual Report 2025
People
Explore this Pillar ➜
Partners
Explore this Pillar ➜
Philanthropy
Explore this Pillar ➜
Planet
Explore this Pillar ➜
Posted on June 16, 2026
File Download
