Volunteering and contributions toward community health, livability, and well-being

As community volunteers, DEA professionals love to share their passion, expertise, and guidance with students, developing professionals, and future professionals. This includes bringing projects into K-12 and university classrooms, which allows students to better understand the practical aspects of engineering.

We also regularly donate to many worthy charities, scholarships, and sponsorships. Donations occur at the corporate, regional, and office levels.

Placemaking = Inspiring livable places

At DEA, “placemaking” is the innovative, collaborative, and integrative process that yields responsive and inspiring design solutions. Placemaking embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion through processes that begin with listening and understanding the needs and aspirations of our clients, project stakeholders, and communities. Placemaking is the essence of stewardship; it is the creation of livable environments that sustain, connect, and inspire.

Living our core purpose

Our project work delivers sustainable solutions in the areas of energy, water, transportation and community development. Our services help clients and communities provide clean, renewable energy and minimize carbon emissions; conserve limited water resources while benefiting water quality; minimize automobile use and improve transportation system efficiencies; generate less material waste; provide local economic development; and save money. 

Sustainability within DEA encompasses our purchases, operations, the tracking of our carbon footprint (GHG), and commute options.

Highlights:

• 110 percent of DEA’s electricity usage is offset through the purchase of Renewable Energy Credits
• 9/80 work schedule means the majority of employees have every other Friday off, reducing the amount of employee commuting
• Commute trip reduction programs and subsidized public transportation passes in some offices
• “Guaranteed Ride Home” program for people who commute by transit, bike or on foot, so they know they have a ride home in case of a family emergency
• Our cleaning contractors use “green certified” cleaning products
• Contracting for one tree planted for every 8,000 pages printed

Maintaining a company culture where diversity, equity, and inclusion are fundamental

DEA has a robust Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Plan.

Our employees emphasized these qualities when they participated in the creation of our three-, five-, and ten-year strategies for the future. Championed by DEA’s Chairman and CEO, DEA leaders are vocal advocates and guide the firm’s efforts in implementing recommendations put forth by DEA’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.

DEA’s employee experience reflects the firm’s emphasis: diverse recruiting practices, recurring evaluation of policies and procedures, regular review of job classifications, and an annual review of compensation including firm-wide calibration of performance. These actions are part of DEA’s multi-prong approach, which creates a diverse, welcoming culture and maintains fair and equitable work and compensation practices.

Helping students from underrepresented populations in the U.S. who are pursuing A/E-related degrees

In addition to direct support in the form of volunteering in classrooms or donating to educational providers, DEA provides direct educational support in the form of scholarships. DEA awards scholarships to women and students from underrepresented populations in the U.S. who are pursuing A/E-related degrees.