What do a multibillion-dollar construction management CEO, two seasoned surety industry executives and a nonprofit leadership specialist all have in common? They all have joined a diversity, equity & inclusion-focused nonprofit board to scale national opportunities for minority, women and veteran-owned businesses.
Joseph Jingoli Jr., Ralph Pulver, Denese Thompson and Kathleen Bolduc have joined the board of the Minority Business Development Institute, according to an announcement from its founder, David Cayemitte.
“MBDI is on the cusp of achieving significant growth,” Cayemitte stated. “We are delighted to add these talented professionals to our board as we promote our mission of cultivating project-ready, diversely-owned businesses.”
Jingoli is CEO of Joseph Jingoli & Sons, a leader in the development, construction and oversight of complex, large-scale projects throughout the U.S.
Through a unique DE&I platform, “JINGOLI Competitive Edge,” Jingoli focuses on the hallmarks of education, service, job training and mentorship. The program helps students and adults find meaningful work that leads to careers in the construction field. Competitive Edge ensures that small, minority-owned, women-owned and citizens returning to the workforce all receive equitable opportunities to work and/or pursue careers in their cities.
A tireless advocate for addiction-related causes, Jingoli is the chairman of the F.A.R.M. Team, a workforce rehabilitation program for individuals in recovery, housed on his family-owned farm in Lambertville. He was also the champion of renaming Atlantic City Drug Court to Recovery Court. He also worked with the Legislature to allow returning citizens to work in casinos.
“I see joining MBDI’s board as a way to expand how we channel construction spend into economic development. As MBDI educates contractors and they qualify for bonding, they are positioned to hire workers from their neighborhoods into jobs that pay really well. I’d like to see more minority business owners go from living hand to mouth, to achieving generational wealth and paying it forward,” Jingoli stated. “This isn’t simply altruism, it’s good business.”
Pulver, regional underwriting officer of Travelers Bond, Construction Services, has been a key adviser and regular presence in the MBDI classroom since day one. Pulver serves on the National Association of Surety Bond Producers’ Professional Development and Education Committee, the NASBP’s Virtual Seminar Advisory Board and the NASBP’s Emerging Contractor Committee. As a faculty member for the NASBP’s William Angel Surety School since 1991, he develops and teaches Level II and Level III curriculums. In 2013, the NASBP’s John J. Curtin Jr. Presidents Award was given to Pulver for his distinguished service to the surety industry.
Thompson, Northeast surety leader at USI Insurance Services, has been a surety industry trailblazer for over 40 years. Thompson has shared her expertise with business owners in educational sessions for MBDI and at Manhattan College, Fordham University, Rutgers University, New York Tech, Manhattanville College, Lehman College, SoBro, Nassau County Bar Association, Westchester County ConXpro and the U.S. Military Academy. She serves on several industry association boards and has obtained advanced credentials from the Insurance Institute.
Bolduc offers her deep background in education, not-for-profit leadership and senior-level insurance industry experience to the MBDI board. She is highly skilled in business development as well as transforming culture and organizational design to maximize customer experience and profitability. Bolduc is expert in branding, marketing, communications, relationship building, leadership development, team building, conflict resolution, professional transitions, workforce readiness and cultural competency. She has worked with Manchester Community College to develop its Entrepreneurial Center, and worked directly with the CEO of a major insurance company to write a book that will provide a prescriptive approach to closing the “skills gap.” She developed a strategic philanthropic platform in eight states for a major insurance company, which delivers comprehensive financial mastery program to community college students, and provides paid internship opportunities.
