GRAEF Culture and Community Council
A letter from Pat Kressin, President
At GRAEF, our strength lies in our people and the culture we build together. The GRAEF Culture and Community Council plays a vital role in shaping that culture and ensuring our values are reflected in everything we do.
The Council exists to champion a workplace where every team member feels a true sense of purpose, respect, and connection. It’s about fostering meaningful relationships, celebrating our shared values, and supporting one another as we grow together.
As a firm in the people business, we know that creating an environment where individuals feel valued and supported is essential, not just for our success but for the well-being of the communities we serve. That’s why the Council is aligned with our 4Ps: People, Purpose, Profit, and Planet, helping us stay intentional about the kind of workplace and broader impact we’re building—one that is collaborative and rooted in respect.
Giving back to our community and celebrating our people is part of our DNA. Through initiatives like BeGRAEF and VTO, the Council reinforces our commitment to engagement, service, and the values that define who we are as a firm.
Our commitment to culture and community is not a checkbox or a trend. It’s a reflection of who we are and who we aim to be. The GRAEF Culture and Community Council is an essential part of that journey, and I’m proud of the energy, ideas, and leadership it brings to GRAEF.
Together, we are building a stronger, more connected community for today and for the future.
Pat Kressin, PLA LEED AP
GRAEF President
Meet the GRAEF Culture and Community Council
The Council serves as a strategic partner to leadership, a catalyst for meaningful conversations, and a champion of continuous growth. Our aim is to ensure that culture, belonging, and community engagement remain central to our workforce, workplace, and marketplace.
Brent Pitcher
Brent Pitcher
Infrastructure Group Leader
Favorite quote: "We want a culture that is inclusive of everyone and where everyone who joins feels that they have opportunities to succeed and grow." – Nellie Borrero
Carrie Warner
Senior Human Resources Business Partner
Carrie Warner
Senior Human Resources Business Partner
Favorite quote: "Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better." – Maya Angelou
Why I love being on the Council: As an employee who's worked at GRAEF for over two decades, I care about fostering an environment where everyone feels they belong. Everyone at GRAEF, whether it be a candidate, employee or client should feel not only welcomed, but also included. Our Council is passionate about this initiative and I've enjoyed working towards this goal and learning a lot.
Tammy Pearce
Structural Designer, Business Development Associate
Tammy Pearce
Structural Designer, Business Development Associate
Favorite quote: "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out all fear."
Why I love being on the Council: I joined the Council because I am committed to seeing this firm become the best place to work for every person that would want to, no matter gender, race or religion.
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Yusuf Ali
Yusuf Ali
Field Technician
Favorite quote: "Grief can be the garden of compassion. If you keep your heart open through everything, your pain can become your greatest ally in your life’s search for love and wisdom." – Rumi
Why I love being on the Council: I love the council because it aligns with my values. It's one of the safest spaces for me at GRAEF. We are always looking at ways to be inclusive and to allow for more cultural expression. I love my fellow council members and their dedication to diversifying the work place.
Meron Asnake
Meron Asnake
Transportation Designer
Favorite quote: "My Grace is sufficient for your weakness."
Why I love being on the Council: I am excited to be part of a team that is dedicated in creating diverse and inclusive culture within our company, so every employee feels seen, heard, and supported.
Alex Motl
Alex Motl
Traffic Engineer
Favorite quote: “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” – Viktor E Frankl
Why I love being on the Council: Serving on the Council supports my personal commitment to listening, learning, and then acting to strengthen and promote diversity and inclusivity within both my company and my community. I truly believe that bringing people of all different backgrounds together results in a more creative, engaged, and empathic society.
Leaf Erickson
Civil Designer
Leaf Erickson
Civil Designer
Favorite quote: "Grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, the courage to change the things we can, and the wisdom to know the difference."
Why I love being on the Council: It is meaningful work.
Violet LaPlant
Structural Engineer
Violet LaPlant
Structural Engineer
Favorite quote: “The more I hold myself close and fully embrace who I am, the more I thrive.” – Elliot Page
Why I love being on the Council: I’ve personally experienced the love and support GRAEF has for minority groups, and I want everyone else to have the opportunity experience that regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, or religion. Being on the council gives me that opportunity to make the firm a more welcoming place for all to feel valid in who they are.
The Mission in Action
Parental Leave
GRAEF has adopted an enhanced parental leave policy which gives parents additional flexibility and time to bond with their new child and adjust to their new family situation during this critical phase of parenthood. This policy provides a family-friendly, equitable and inclusive workspace which cultivates an atmosphere where employees can thrive professionally without sacrificing essential family obligations.
Fireside Chats
Fireside chats are a casual conversation among employees. The informal, small group setting offers a safe place for each person to feel comfortable sharing personal experiences so that others may learn from these stories, juxtaposed to their own. Each chat is hosted by a different person, creating a unique conversation in each session.
Hack-a-thons
In GRAEF’s hack-a-thons, a group of individuals work together to solve a problem and reimagine the way we do things as a firm. No idea is a bad idea in the facilitated and structured way of solving problems using multiple perspectives, experiences, and inputs.
Volunteer Time Off
GRAEF is committed to making a positive difference in the communities where we live and work. We actively encourage our employees to get involved and lend their time and talents to causes that enrich the quality of life in these communities. Through our Volunteer Time Off (VTO) policy, all benefit-eligible employees receive dedicated paid time each year to volunteer with schools, nonprofit organizations, or community programs—whether personally meaningful or part of GRAEF-sponsored initiatives.
Firm-wide Training
Working with external consultants, GRAEF offers interpersonal training to employees.
GRAEF Foundation
The mission of the GRAEF Foundation is to support the future of Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) based careers, and to promote charitable endeavors related to engineering, planning, and design.
The GRAEF Foundation annually awards college scholarships to Engineering majors. It promotes diversity in the real estate business by its funding of scholarships to a professional development program aimed at minorities. The Foundation has also funded software for charitable firms designing and constructing infrastructure projects in underprivileged communities overseas. This is currently done at five universities. The Foundation also funds college design programs and competitions.
Blog
Read our featured blogs highlighting the efforts of our council.
