McCarthy Named ACCESS Corporation of Year

At a recent Black History Month Forum held at Forest Park Community College in St. Louis, McCarthy Building Companies, Inc was named the 2009 Corporation of the Year by ACCESS, theAssociation for Construction Careers, Education, and Support Services

"It's an honor to be recognized in this way," said Karl Kloster, retiring president of McCarthy's Midwest Division.  "It's been a long journey with
lots of positives but there is much work ahead.  The addition of Marvin Sanders, an executive-on-loan from the Carpenter's Union, is great progress.
Support from the AGC is also a big plus.  With all this help and support, ACCESS is moving closer to its goals and that is the best reward anyone can
receive."

ACCESS is the evolution of Minority Youth In Construction, a program started by Kloster and Washington University's Director of Supplier Diversity
Programs Sandra Marks more than 10 years ago.  The program, which ran for three years, was aimed at getting middle-school-level minority kids interested in construction as a career. Each year, for six weeks in the summer, 35 children from the Normandy, Wellston and University City areas
took classes in math, computer training and interpersonal skills taught by college graduates and mentors/teachers from various companies.  The children also visited construction firms to learn about career opportunities.

In 2004, Kloster and Marks once again collaborated to form a one-stop information and resource venue for St. Louis minorities interested in
entering the construction industry.  ACCESS supports existing construction industry diversity development programs and builds partnerships with
organizations whose initiatives are aimed at workforce and W/M/DBE development.  McCarthy has been a strong supporter of ACCESS since its
inception.

Kloster, and Monica Bailey, director of Diversity for McCarthy's Central Division, sit on the ACCESS board. The partnership with McCarthy will
continue after Kloster retires in May 2009 as Paul Hartwig, senior vice president of the company's St. Louis Business Unit steps in to take his
place as an ACCESS Board member.

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