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BOULDER, CO – Out Boulder County will award JVA, Inc. the 2022 Corporate Changemaker Award in recognition of their full commitment to LGBTQ inclusion demonstrated by their work on employment policies and to creating a welcoming and affirming workplace culture. Tom Soell, one of the firm’s principals, and Shane White, project engineer, will accept the award at the 2022 Gayla on Saturday, October 8, 2022 at the St. Julien Hotel Terrace in Boulder.

“JVA, Inc. is deeply committed to LGBTQ equality and inclusion and it shows in their practices as an employer and commitment as a responsible community member. They are a rarity in the corporate and engineering sector,” said Mardi Moore, Executive Director of Out Boulder County. “Many LGBTQ people feel unsafe at work making openly affirming and inclusive employers like JVA, Inc. critical.”

According to a report released by the Williams Institute in September of 2021 one in ten LGBT workers experienced discrimination in the workplace in the prior year, LGBT employees of color were more likely to report being denied jobs and verbal harassment, and many LGBT employees reported engaging in “covering” behaviors to avoid harassment and discrimination at work.

JVA, Inc. is an engaged and active corporate community leader who participates in community efforts to support LGBTQ people in the Boulder Community and beyond. In addition to Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) representing Young Professionals and their Women’s Innovation Network, JVA, Inc. recently established a LGBTQ ERG that recognizes and enhances diversity and inclusivity for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Non-Binary communities and allies. This group contributes to JVA’s corporate commitment to being a workplace where gender expression, gender identity and sexual orientation is respected and celebrated. The firm has offered training on pronoun usage, suggested books to read to employees, and shared relevant resources with all staff. During Pride month this year, each of their offices celebrated. Tom Soell, one of the firm’s Principals, participated on the panel for the 2022 Out Boulder County ERG Mixer. They are also an annual proud sponsor of Out Boulder County and Pridefest, members of the firm represented JVA at a booth to show support and network with the Boulder LGBTQ+ community.
Prior Corporate Changemaker Award winners are Seagate Technology (2019), Capital One (2020), and Medtronic (2021).

About JVA, Inc.

JVA, Inc. is a 140-person consulting structural, civil and environmental engineering firm headquartered in Boulder, Colorado with offices in Denver, Fort Collins, Winter Park and Glenwood Springs. JVA has a 66-year history of engineering experience serving architects and owners on building projects, site development and water/wastewater projects throughout the Rocky Mountain area and nationwide. JVA, Inc. was awarded a National Council of Structural Engineers Associations (NCSEA) 2021 Excellence in Structural Engineering Award for the Sperry Chalet Reconstruction.

More information about JVA, Inc. can be found here.

About Out Boulder County’s Gayla

For over 25 years Boulder County has been the location for The GAYLA, formerly known as The Open Door Fund Dinner. The evening brings together hundreds of local community members, government officials and non-profit and corporate partners to fundraise to support the services and programs that Out Boulder County provides to the LGBTQ+ community in Boulder and beyond. This year’s Gayla will include remarks on mental health and addiction  from songwriter and performer, Paul Williams. Paul Williams has won an Oscar, three Grammy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards and been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

More information about the 2022 Gayla can be found here.

Resources for Journalists

The Williams Institute Report on LGBT People’s Experiences of Workplace Discrimination and Harassment can be found here.

About Out Boulder County

Working independently and in collaboration, we facilitate connection, advocacy, education, research and programs to ensure LGBTQ+ people and communities thrive in Boulder County and beyond.www.outboulder.org