Fresh From The Press

EDUCATION, ENGAGEMENT, EMPOWERMENT: THE DEIB ACTION COMMITTEE’S YEAR IN REVIEW

Terrasmart is deeply committed to diversity of all kinds. In 2023, we upleveled our commitment by launching a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Action Committee within the company. A focus on DEIB was already part of our core values, but we saw the need to unite employees across all areas to provide a platform for diverse voices and collaboratively propel our initiatives forward.

The 12-member committee is led by our Talent Acquisition Manager, Annette Poulimenos, and sponsored by President Ed McKiernan. The committee’s goals involve building upon our culture of inclusivity with tangible, actionable, and measurable initiatives that reflect diversity and help make people from all backgrounds feel valued and appreciated.

The committee identified four key focus areas: communication, education, event planning, and community partnership. By promoting open dialogue, providing comprehensive training and education, connecting people through events, and supporting diversity in our communities, we’ve built a strong foundation to amplify our DEIB efforts even further.

While we focus on DEIB internally, we also look externally at diversity in the solar industry. Representation of Asian-Americans and Hispanic/Latino in solar is on par with or greater than workforce participation as a whole, but African-Americans and women are still underrepresented as compared to workforce averages. Percentages are just the tip of the iceberg in DEIB and they don’t reflect the feelings of value or belonging, but they give us a benchmark to measure progress against.

As we honor Black History Month and Women’s History Month back-to-back, we’re taking a moment to review our own DEIB progress. We’re proud to celebrate the committee’s achievements – even as we recognize that supporting DEIB is an ongoing, dynamic endeavor without an end date. Here’s a look at the DEIB Action Committee from Annette herself!

Q&A with Annette Poulimenos

Q: Looking back on your first year leading the DEIB Action Committee – what is your proudest moment?

There have been so many moments that have made me proud this past year! If I had to pick just one, I would have to say it was our initial kickoff meeting. Creating this action committee was a bold new step for the company to take, and I wasn’t sure what to expect. But in that kickoff meeting, it was immediately clear how important DEIB is to so many different people across all levels of the company. The dialogue served as a great reminder of why I initiated this effort, and it continues to inspire me to push for more.

Q: Can you share an example of a DEIB activity that had an impact at Terrasmart?

“Our Quarterly Ally Speaker Series has had the greatest impact at Terrasmart by far. We are still hearing feedback about how much our speakers have helped foster a more inclusive workplace.”

I believe this series has been such a success because we’ve had the benefit of hearing so many new perspectives from underrepresented communities, along with practical advice on steps we can take to continue fostering a culture of diversity.

Our first two Ally Speakers, Christine Carney and Nicole Cameli, really set the bar high for our series and gave us a new perspective on how we can help as allies. Their honest and candid discussion gave us all a greater understanding of what members of LGBTQIA+ community deal with in the workplace and how we can make changes to embrace that community more.

Q: What are your biggest takeaways on how culture evolves as it pertains to DEIB-related initiatives? – what works to connect with diverse audiences?

Diversity is a strength. One of the biggest takeaways on how culture evolves when it embraces DEIB initiatives is that it can be tangibly measured by retention rates and overall happiness levels of employees. The foundation of DEIB is making a workplace a safe and welcoming environment for everyone. Once your employees know the standard set by the company, the culture will follow—and so will success. A workforce that knows this is respected, valued, and will flourish.

Q: What is the most significant outcome of the committee this year?

The most significant outcome of the committee this year has been the education we have been able to provide. At our core, this is our driving force. By highlighting different perspectives, and acknowledging significant historical milestones and accomplishments from underrepresented communities, we can create change agents across the company.

Q: What are some of the initiatives and plans for 2024?

For 2024, our plan is to continue our current efforts and expand into new areas of impact. Our initiatives will be driven by ‘Education, Engagement, and Empowerment’ of our teams regarding DEIB. We’re also in the process of creating new employee resource groups, sharing volunteer and community building opportunities, and expanding our reach of recruitment to ensure diverse talent pools.

As one specific example, we are excited to launch our first Employee Resource Group (ERG) focused on women. The goal of our Women’s ERG is to foster personal and professional growth opportunities through networking, educational workshops, speakers, and open forums.

“In 2024 and beyond, we want to remain true to our name – Action Committee. Everything we do should have the intention of driving a specific action that yields a measurable impact on ourselves, workplace, and communities.”

Q: How do you see the DEIB committee evolving?

I see the DEIB Action Committee having even more impact in the years to come. We are committed to fostering an inclusive sense of belonging throughout the workforce, and with the momentum we have now, I see the pace of impact accelerating in the future.

Terrasmart’s DEIB Series

This is one of a series of ongoing DEIB-themed blogs and updates we’ll be sharing throughout the course of the year. Please see our recent blog on Black History Month and other posts on Diversity in PV Manufacturing and Women’s History Month.