Despite his exemplary safety resume—which includes being named Webcor’s corporate safety director after an intense months-long search—Chris Jones can’t help but feel a relentless pressure to prove himself.
In honor of Black History Month, the Communications Department is partnering with The Collective, Webcor's Black employee resource group (ERG, open to ALL Webcorians), to share CONNECT articles that highlight their members, activities, and goals for 2026.
"If I make one mistake, everyone who looks like me will be judged based on my failure."
"Are people wondering if I got this job because they needed to hire a Black person?"
"I can't sound like a victim, even if I have a valid reason."
"Do I really belong here?"
Nearly three decades into Chris Jones' career, these internal battles haven't quieted. Despite his exemplary safety resume—which includes being named Webcor's corporate safety director after an intense months-long search—he can't help but feel a relentless pressure to prove himself.
Since joining Webcor last September, however, Chris is beginning to feel a little lighter. Within days of starting his new role, he joined The Collective, our Black ERG led by HR Specialist Dante Robinson, Outreach and Partnerships Manager Sharla Sullivan, and Assistant Quality Manager Melanie Walker.
"Having a space at work where I can connect with those who share my background is refreshing," he says. "The Collective gives me hope and a space for important conversations around shared struggles and experiences."
For Chris, simply having the option to join an ERG was a new concept—none of the companies for which he'd previously worked had supported them.
Connecting With The Collective’s Allies
Before he’d even joined The Collective—or Webcor, for that matter—Chris was drawn to the strong sense of allyship within the group.
While interviewing for his current role, Chris spoke to one of The Collective’s original ally members: Sr. Director, Insurance and Risk Management Andy Stoelting, who gave Chris an overview of the ERG and encouraged him to get involved if he joined Webcor.
Listening to Andy speak so highly of The Collective, as well as to the fervent support of other Collective allies in meetings he’s attended since, has ignited a new sense of optimism in Chris.
“Truthfully, I’m shocked to see this level of support,” he says. “Knowing I have like-minded coworkers intent on making Webcor a better place to work for ALL has been extremely rewarding.
“Our conversations have the power to heal those mental battles that have followed me my entire career. Because of The Collective, I’m finally hopeful that I can overcome them.”
He’s just getting started, but already, his experience has affirmed that Webcor’s exactly where he needs to be. The company’s support of ERGs has fueled his motivation to not only lead as impactfully as he can, but to promote Webcor as an exceptional place to work.
“Although there’s no ‘perfect’ company, to me, Webcor’s ERGs put it one step closer to perfection,” he says. “The freedom, focus on real conversations/issues, and sense of community from The Collective have made my ERG experience more impactful than I ever expected.”
Cultivating a More Inclusive Culture With The Collective
Now that he’s settled into Webcor, Chris is eager to help put the group’s long-term plans into action.
“I want to partner with our executive leaders on The Collective’s initiatives and share our vision with them,” he says. “I also want to keep building meaningful relationships with Webcorians—nothing combats assumptions and judgment like genuine connection.”
Chris knows he’s not alone in his determination to effect transformative change at Webcor. He’s continually inspired by his fellow Collective members and leaders—particularly Dante, who’s led the majority of The Collective’s meetings since Chris joined.
“I’d like to publicly give Dante his ‘flowers,’” he says. “He’s done an excellent job at leading, managing, and representing The Collective. I look forward to partnering with him and the rest of the group on fostering a more inclusive culture at Webcor!”
When we signed on for the wayfinding project at LAX, designers found themselves staring down a new challenge: building a font from scratch.
LAWA has engaged Webcor–Gensler to deliver design-build wayfinding upgrades across LAX’s 3.8-million-square-foot campus in preparation for the 2028 Olympics. The scope includes enhancements to both static and digital signage, implemented in phases across all terminals, parking garages, APM stations, and the airfield. The Wayfinding Enhancement Program also encompasses a comprehensive update to LAWA’s Wayfinding Standards, aligned with a full terminal and gate renumbering initiative to establish consistent, airport-wide naming and numbering in support of a world-class passenger experience.
According to Webcor Sr. Design Manager Aileen Santos-Redman, the signage at LAX has relied on a hodgepodge collection of Helvetica – including some "fake" versions that have crept into the system over the years – for decades. While Helvetica is a workhorse of the design world, it lacks a certain soul. As part of a broader effort to bring "LA" back into LAX, the project team realized that a world-class gateway deserves its own distinct voice.
It’s easy to think a font is just a decorative choice. In a high-stress environment like an international airport, wayfinding is a critical utility. The fact is, the old signage wasn't cutting it.
“The goal was to create something that felt authentically Los Angeles while solving some major legibility issues,” says April Chang, project manager who was on the team when the initiative first took flight.
The team partnered with Dalton Maag, a renowned typeface design studio in London, to develop a unique LAX wayfinding font.
How do you distill the essence of Los Angeles into a set of characters? You look at history. The designers drew inspiration from iconic local landmarks, including the Beverly Hills Hotel's typography.
The font design has been more than just a design exercise; it's a call for better functional aesthetics in our public infrastructure.
The fonts will also apply to maps, which will be tested for the effectiveness of elements such as “You are here,” doors and gates, route lines, and more.
“The whole experience has been enlightening,” Aileen says. “As a traveler, I know signage is something I count on, and I have been critical of wayfinding systems that don’t work well. But getting involved with this was eye-opening in terms of the many elements of font design that I’ve never even thought of.” That includes the colors – which have to work well with the font in both light and dark modes – and associated pictograms (those symbols you see that designate restrooms, taxi stands, bars, and other amenities). Colors must also work well for passengers and employees with color vision impairments.
Aileen is now focused on the practical application of this new tool. While the official name of the font remains under wraps, it is a specialized derivative of the benchmark Interface font, designed for the unique distances and lighting requirements of an airport terminal.
The rollout is a massive undertaking. “We are not just talking about a few signs,” Aileen says. “We’re talking about a systemic update to maps, digital displays, terminal and gate signage, and other physical wayfinding across the entire LAX campus.” This requires ongoing dialogue between builders and design teams to ensure the physical structures accommodate the new visual language.
For example, comprehension studies were conducted among LAX travelers and employees to assess the effectiveness of the proposed pictograms.
The wayfinding project reminds us that every detail matters in the employee and traveler experience. Webcor is helping to build more than just walls and gates; we are building the first impression millions of people have when they land in California.
The move from "off-the-shelf" Helvetica to a bespoke LAX font is a significant shift in how the airport communicates with its passengers and staff. It turns a functional necessity into a branded experience that tells people exactly where they are—Los Angeles—while also tying the LAX campus together as a whole.
Webcor's Sustainability department embeds sustainable practices into daily workflows, from pursuit and preconstruction through project closeout.
by Ava Brasch, Marketing Coordinator
When it comes to sustainability at Webcor, the work goes well beyond recycling bins and green walls. Led by Sr. Sustainability Director Sarah Rege and Sustainability Manager Kavita Karmarkar, the Sustainability department embeds sustainable practices into daily workflows, from pursuit and preconstruction through project closeout.
But what does this look like at the project level? Behind the acronyms and rating systems, the Sustainability group helps project teams evaluate materials, track and reduce carbon emissions, and find new ways to eliminate waste.
"Almost every job we touch has a different sustainability scope," Kavita explains. "Our job is to meet teams where they are and help them move forward."
Setting the Foundation Early
Project teams often first engage with Sustainability during pursuit and preconstruction:
Pursuits
Preconstruction
They also introduce conversations about embodied carbon, lifecycle costs, carbon emissions during construction and California's evolving building codes early, so owners can make informed decisions. This proactive support helps clients see sustainability as an opportunity, not just an added cost.
Handoff, Kickoff, and Construction
Once a project is awarded, the team establishes frameworks for success through sustainability kickoff meetings, designated sustainability champions (often project engineers (PE) or senior (SPE), and Green Team initiatives. Webcor provides funding to support on-site sustainability initiatives like plant walls, reusable bottle drives, composting, and TerraCycle programs.
Kavita works with project teams throughout construction, offering biweekly or monthly check-ins with customized tracking spreadsheets and ready-made templates. "One thing at a time," Kavita says. "That's how we keep teams from feeling overwhelmed."
Those touchpoints cover everything from waste hauling contracts to material submittals (e.g. ensuring they include environmental product declarations and recycled content data)—avoiding the last-minute scramble that could occur at closeout.
Concrete, Carbon, and Innovation
One of the team's most important focus areas is embodied carbon—the emissions associated with building materials.
In new construction, primary structure is the largest contributor with concrete most often the major contributor. With this in mind, concrete is a major target for reductions. The Webcor Concrete Group is deeply experienced in lowering embodied carbon in concrete. They experiment with low-carbon mixes and pilot new technologies with the potential to replace traditional cement in concrete mix design. Sustainability works with the concrete team to integrate these efforts into each projects holistic sustainability goals. The sustainability team translates to clients and design teams how the focus on concrete can be a needle-mover in embodied carbon reductions.
Using tools like EC3 (Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator, which Webcor had a hand in developing), they analyze options and guide smarter choices, positioning us as a leader in greener construction practices.
Delivering Results
As projects near completion, Kavita and Sarah finalize all documentation for certification submission, ensuring teams don't miss critical steps. The team's support is reflected in the results:
"Projects like these show what's possible when sustainability isn't just a checklist," Kavita shared. “Sustainability becomes part of the project’s identity.”
Looking Ahead
Sustainability at Webcor continues to evolve. Last year, we earned a Bronze rating from EcoVadis, and we published our inaugural Sustainability Report in September.
Their biggest goal remains clear: ensuring every Webcor team understands how, when, and why to involve Sustainability early.
"The sooner we're looped in, the more value we can bring,” Sarah says.
