Hensel Phelps builds opportunities for our community by investing in the local workforce and the businesses that support major public and private programs. Through early outreach, mentorship and structured support, the company helps local firms navigate contracting requirements, grow their capacity and compete confidently while creating pathways for local talent to join and advance on the jobsite.
It is a proven model developed on complex airport programs like Nashville International Airport (BNA) Vision and New Horizon programs and the John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) Next initiative and reinforced further strengthened through projects across East Tennessee and beyond.
Early Outreach and Local Relationships
Small business engagement begins long before contracts are awarded and construction starts. Many qualified local firms have the skills to perform the work but often lack access to information, decision-makers and a clear roadmap for how to participate in large public programs.
That is why Hensel Phelps prioritizes early outreach and relationship-building. At BNA, the team participated in more than 12 career fairs and hosted more than 20 jobsite tours. At BNA and CMH, teams hosted outreach events and weekly office hours, supported by project websites and online portals that connected local firms and community members to opportunities and project information.
At BNA, this approach led to measurable results: Hensel Phelps engaged 119 unique small businesses, created 307 contract opportunities and maintained a workforce that was 67 percent local. The model extends beyond aviation across Tennessee and Alabama, including a Trade Partner Industry Event held annually in Huntsville, Alabama, since 2023. In Oak Ridge, Tennessee, the Stable Isotope Production Facility Center employs a workforce that is 75 percent local, and the team is applying the same approach during preconstruction on the Second Target Station project through two outreach events, with additional outreach underway.
These examples reflect a long-term commitment to partnership, not one-time participation, and strengthen the foundation for project success through community involvement from day one.
Trade Partner Mentorship and Guidance
For many small businesses, the challenge of public contracting is not the work itself but navigating the processes and systems around it. Common barriers include estimating, compliance, financial controls and operational scale. Hensel Phelps’ Trade Partner Outreach programs address this gap through hands-on mentorship and structured support that helps firms build capacity while performing meaningful work.
At BNA, this approach supported businesses such as BRAAV Electric Supply Company, a small minority women-owned business (SMWBE) led by President and CEO Angela Curtis. Through outreach events and small business meetings, BRAAV connected directly with established trade partners and gained opportunities that led to project work. Through the mentor-protégé program, the company also gained insight into estimating practices, inventory management and back-office financial processes.
Similar support was provided to The Cleaning Leaders, an SMWBE contractor that first connected with Hensel Phelps through outreach events focused on bringing small businesses and prime partners together. Beyond access to work, Hensel Phelps provided guidance related to certification and compliance, helping ensure the company was positioned to compete confidently on public contracting opportunities.
Creating Safe, Scalable Growth for Small Businesses
Hensel Phelps structures empower small businesses to participate meaningfully without being overwhelmed. Instead of bundling scopes so large that only major firms can compete, the team creates contract opportunities that match a company’s current capacity, while allowing room to grow.
During the BNA Vision program projects, larger scopes were separated into achievable packages, supporting measurable growth among participating firms. In several cases, companies expanded significantly through this work and later outgrew the small business designation, reflecting a focus on long-term advancement.
Regional Director of Supplier Diversity, James Harper, leading an outreach event at BNA
This same approach was used on the BNA Concourse A Reconstruction project. Hensel Phelps also committed to onboarding 15 new local hires for the program. Among the small businesses supported through this effort was Utopia Building Group, a small business general contractor that managed an enabling scope and coordinated multiple trade partners. Through consistent guidance, regular progress meetings and close coordination, Utopia gained leadership experience on a complex project and built a strong foundation for future growth.
By engaging firms early and supporting them throughout execution, the program helps local partners build momentum that carries forward long after project completion.
Workforce Development Strengthens the Pipeline
Strong small businesses depend on a strong local workforce. Across complex programs, Hensel Phelps emphasizes local hiring, workforce training and partnerships with educational and community organizations to support long-term career pathways.
At BNA, workforce engagement included partnerships with local universities and organizations such as 4:13 Strong and the Urban League of Middle Tennessee. Through a six-week training program, participants received hands-on instruction and safety training led by Hensel Phelps staff and trade partners, preparing them for jobsite expectations.
On the BNA Concourse A Reconstruction project, which is currently under construction, Hensel Phelps will continue workforce training programs with partners The C&F Company and If I Had a Hammer. Planned sessions include jobsite safety and quality training hosted by local businesses and SMWBE firms.
Jobsite Tour with Nashville-based job training and placement program, 4:13 Strong
Local Partnerships, Lasting Impact
Hensel Phelps strengthens local participation by partnering with contractors that bring established regional relationships and insight. This approach supports delivery of large, complex programs while creating long-term opportunities for local trade partners and local workforce development.
At CMH, Hensel Phelps partnered with local general contractor Elford to ensure the community was engaged from the outset. The collaboration resulted in strong local trade partner participation, a largely local workforce and lasting economic impact, including national trade partners establishing permanent operations in the area. The partnership reinforced a core principle of Hensel Phelps’ approach: success is shared and local presence matters.
We entered our partnership with Hensel Phelps with two clear priorities: building a fully integrated project team and ensuring meaningful involvement from our local trade partners. Hensel Phelps has exceeded our expectations on both fronts. Our shared client cannot distinguish which team members represent which company, which is a true testament to the aligned leadership, culture and project vision embraced by both organizations. Additionally, through a highly collaborative approach and a strong commitment to the local trade community, we have successfully blended local trade expertise with the depth and strength of Hensel Phelps’ extensive national resources.
– Chris Conrad, Vice President, Elford, Inc.
Large public and private programs are often seen as symbols of growth for a community. Hensel Phelps believes they should also expand opportunities for the people and businesses already rooted there. By investing in the local workforce and the businesses that support it, the company strengthens the communities it serves while delivering lasting value for clients.
Together, these projects show what is possible when local partnership is treated as a long-term investment, not a one-time outcome.
