Boston — May 31, 2006 — Shawmut Design and Construction recently announced the promotion of Susan Ehrlich-Kedmi to Vice President of People Strategies, from her former position as director. Susan will continue to play an integral role in the sourcing, selecting and hiring of top construction professionals, as the company is dedicated to developing its employees, emphasizing the importance of training, leadership and diversity.
“Due to Susan’s hard work and dedication to employees, she has increased referral hiring from 5 to 60 percent and has brought down voluntary employee turnover to 9 percent, a relatively low figure for the construction industry,” said Thomas E. Goemaat, Shawmut’s President and CEO. “Her promotion marks the growth of our People Strategies Team, which is now a dedicated group of 12 employees.”
Shawmut’s People Strategies Team is unique. It has transcended a typical human relations department into a team that conceptualizes, implements and drives the human systems that have helped the company approach $575 million in revenue. The Team is focused on three key areas: Leadership Development, Diversity, and Employee Training.
Shawmut’s Leadership Development System is designed to infuse leadership and responsibility at all levels of the organization, ensuring a continuity of solid business practices, innovation, and integrity among the firm’s current and future leaders. Its Diversity Initiative, which includes networking groups, training classes and diversity assessment surveys, drives employee recognition, understanding and appreciation of diversity within the company and with our clients. Through Shawmut University, the company’s training program, employees have access to 200 classes in 15 learning areas. Last year, employees logged an impressive 11,500 hours of training.
Over her past six years at Shawmut, Susan has worked to ensure the company’s corporate mission – to provide exemplary customer service while completing even the most difficult projects – is instilled in each of its employees. Now in her role as Vice President, Susan will work closely with executives to see that Shawmut’s commitment to employee success continues.
“My promotion reinforces the value Shawmut places on its employees,” said Ehrlich-Kedmi. “Though the People Strategies Team has always been involved with the senior leadership of the company, we now have a seat at the executive table where we can continue to stress the importance of hiring, developing and retaining the best employees.”
