Formed in September 2022, Everybody Builds Philadelphia is a coalition of contractors, developers, labor and trade groups, and corporations working to improve the diversity of workers in Philadelphia’s construction industry. 

Developers, labor and trade groups, and corporations that are working together to diversify Philadelphia’s construction industry. 

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2020, about 5.1% of construction workers in the United States were Black, and about 10% were women. Meanwhile, about 12.5% of employed Hispanics worked in the construction industry. 

To achieve its goals of diversifying the region’s construction industry, Everybody Builds’ approach is aided in four key areas: 

• Analysis and Opportunity Assessment: to provide insights and access to the over $10 billion in new construction expected to take place in the region over the next decade. 
• Contractor Cohorts: recruit and pre-qualify high-potential diverse contractors and subcontractors, determine their capacity building needs to compete for upcoming projects, and establish partnerships.
• Insights and Market Opportunities: identify upcoming projects and establish voluntary pledges to hire participating, pre-qualified diverse contractors. 
• Workforce Programs: share project insights with union and workforce partners and collaboratively identify partnership opportunities to support diverse talent recruitment, retention, and success. 

Everybody Builds will also work with existing Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Union Pre-apprenticeship programs, including Sam Staten Sr. Pre-Apprenticeship Program (SSSPAP) and Carpenters’ Apprentice Ready Program (CARP) to increase the skilled diverse workforce in the construction industry. 

A Latina at the Helm

Recently, the coalition appointed Andreina Perez Hein as its new executive director. 

In the role, she is responsible for leading and managing the organization, overseeing the organization’s administrative and programmatic functions, and developing organizational programming, budget, and staffing.

“I bring my long-standing track-record of serving underrepresented communities combined with my expertise in the construction industry to together build this organization and achieve our mission,” said Perez Hein in a statement.   

The Latina executive brings over two decades of experience in the nonprofit and construction industries to her latest role. Her expertise includes strategic planning, business development, marketing, project management, and research. 

Prior to joining Everybody Builds, Perez Hein most recently served as the Chief Development & Stakeholder Relations Officer for Congreso de Latinos Unidos. 

Her work, however, in the nonprofit sector began early in her career conducting education research and outreach to Latino families in North Carolina for 7 years, encompassing roles with RTI International and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, respectively. 

For Perez Hein, her interest in hands-on building began during a middle school shop class. That interest would eventually catapult her into a career in the construction industry. 

She’d go on to serve as the senior project engineer on an all-woman-led construction team before transferring to over other North Carolina-based construction companies.

About a decade ago, Perez Hein moved to Philadelphia, where 7 of her years in the region were spent as vice president of business development and marketing for C. Erickson & Sons, Inc. 

As she continued learning the trade and gaining more expertise, she developed a track record for successfully cultivating new client relationships, securing business opportunities, and managing construction and marketing teams to carry out projects and achieve aggressive goals. 

A Passionate Advocate

Perez Hein has also displayed a longtime interest in advocating for underserved communities. It's an endeavor inspired by her own upbringing and childhood experiences as a first-generation Latina who came to the United States as an immigrant.

A native Spanish speaker, she learned English as a second language and eventually graduated at the top of her class, earning a bachelor's degree from the University of Miami and then a master’s degree from the University of North Carolina. 

Perez Hein is a member of the Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) chapter of Greater Philadelphia, and has served on CREW’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion Advocacy Group and Strategic Planning Task Forces. 

Her passion and advocacy are both certain to follow her in the new role with Everybody Builds.

“With a sector-wide approach and an unprecedented collaboration, the time is ripe for us to bring change to our City and industry. Ultimately, we have the collective power to help underrepresented communities in Philadelphia rise and thrive through the built environment and transform the landscape of where we live, work, and play,” said Perez Hein. 

Everybody Builds Philadelphia has a number of collaborative partners, including CHOP, Drexel University, the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, the Economy League of Philadelphia, the General Building Contractors Association, The Bellwether District, Jefferson University, Wexford Commercial Construction, and several others.