Spotlight: Turner Construction
BUILDING BELONGING: INSIDE TURNER CONSTRUCTION'S PRIDE ERG & SUPPLIER DIVERSITY WORK
At Turner Construction’s Kansas City office, inclusion isn’t just a value statement;
it’s part of how the company builds. From its Pride Employee Resource Group (ERG) to a supplier
diversity program that opens doors for minority- and LGBTQ+-owned businesses, Turner is redefining what
representation looks like in the construction industry.
“The Pride ERG is allowing every employee to be their whole selves,” said Jillian Linn,
cost analyst and co-lead of Turner’s Pride ERG in Kansas City. “We try to make it
comfortable for everyone. We advocate for the LGBTQ+ community so that they are welcome to be their best
selves at work.”
That’s what drew Linn to leadership within the group soon after joining Turner a decade ago.
Raised in Oklahoma and new to construction when she moved to Kansas City, she saw the ERG as a way to
model acceptance and allyship.
“I came from a place where it wasn’t necessarily OK, so I wanted to show people that you
can come from these places and you can become an ally,” she said, “because I understand
where those conservative values come from, I can help bridge that gap.”
Empowering Pride from Within
Turner’s Pride ERG is one of more than 120 such groups nationally across the company, an
expansive network that connects thousands of employees through shared identity, advocacy and community.
In Kansas City, the group helps shape workplace culture and serves as a visible reminder that
authenticity is an asset.
Linn said the company’s national leadership has long understood the importance of
representation.
“ERGs came from the top down,” she said. “Pride was one of the first ERGs that the
company had. Turner is trying to bring in more minorities, women and the LGBTQ+ community to make the
workplace more diverse. That is a big drive for Turner specifically. With these diverse backgrounds, we
try to make sure everyone feels included.”
The Pride ERG also helps create understanding through structured education.
“We do an ally training that the company created on a national level,” Linn said. “We
present it twice a year, inviting Turner employees as well as our trade partners. It helps bridge the
gap between what people are used to on a job site and the diversity we’re bringing into those
communities.”
Expanding Opportunity Beyond the Jobsite
That same philosophy of inclusion is embedded in Turner’s supplier diversity strategy. The
company works intentionally to expand opportunities for small, minority- and LGBTQ+-owned businesses,
whether those firms provide construction services, materials or other vital site support.
“We try to use as many diverse vendors as possible,” Linn said.
Turner Construction is helping to grow that network through education and mentorship.
“We have a construction school of management one night a week that goes over each different
department in a construction company,” Linn said. “Out of that, we’ve brought in
businesses that now partner with us on our job sites.”
She added that the extra effort extends well beyond traditional trade partners.
“It’s a really great experience,” Linn said. “A lot of food vendors,
cleaning companies — it’s not limited to people working on the actual job
site.”
Through its longstanding partnership with the Mid-America LGBT Chamber of Commerce, Turner also
strengthens ties with local businesses and community leaders.
“We love the Chamber because we try to use as many locally owned businesses as we can that are
LGBTQ+ owned or allied,” Linn said. “We try to work with vendors and locations that are part
of the Chamber. We like that the Chamber highlights these businesses and that we can go and support
them.”
Linn said Turner’s inclusive culture empowers employees to take initiative and direct the
company’s community engagement in ways that feel authentic.
“Turner is a really great company to work for, and it’s really great that we have this
opportunity to have these ERGs and to be able to support people and the community,” she said.
“If there’s a cause we want to support, we can get sponsorships. It’s a really great
setup that encourages people to go out and give into a community. And that’s not something you
always get in a company, and especially a construction company.”
For Chamber members, Turner’s approach offers a practical model for inclusion that’s
actionable, not abstract. It’s about leadership support, clear expectations on jobsites,
mentorship for small businesses and space for employees to lead with purpose.
As Linn puts it, inclusion at Turner isn’t about compliance, it’s about connection. When
people can bring their full selves to work, she said, “we build stronger teams, better
partnerships and a more welcoming industry for everyone.”
To learn more about Turner Construction’s Kansas City office, visit www.turnerconstruction.com/locations/kansas-city.
“The Pride ERG is allowing every employee to be their whole selves...We advocate for the LGBTQ+
community so that they are welcome to be their best selves at work.”
– Jillian Linn, cost analyst and co-lead of Turner Construction’s Kansas City Pride
Employee Resource Group
