Attracting and Retaining a Diverse Workforce: Exploring Barriers and Strategies

Dawn Mayes served as the Senior Program Manager for Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion at APB Associates. Dawn led this role for the renovations of Progressive Field as well as being a part of the owner’s rep team for the Cleveland Guardians. Her role spans beyond the construction aspect of the project, which includes assisting small businesses, under employed, and unemployed residents with resources to get back into the workforce or to help their businesses accelerate.

Dawn grew up in the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio. She is an Army veteran, an artist, an entrepreneur, a proud Florida A&M University graduate, where she received her Bachelors of Architectural Studies, and an alumna of Kent State University where she received her Masters in Architecture with a Certificate in Urban Design. In early 2022, she was also awarded an Artist Residency for Karamu House’s Resident in the House program. She was recently accepted into CWRU Weatherhead Executive Leadership Development Experience which is an Executive Coaching certification program.