Celebrating McKinstry’s 2024 Impact Award Recipients
The McKinstry Impact Awards recognize employees nominated by leadership and their peers who have made significant environmental and social responsibility contributions inside and outside McKinstry. Impact Award recipients have an opportunity to direct a $5,000 gift from the McKinstry Charitable Foundation to an organization that is important to them and aligns with our philanthropic priorities, as well as participate in community activities with our executives next calendar year.
2024 Impact Award Honorees
Maya Combs-Hurtado, Lead Building Energy Engineer, Technical Services
On top of her consistent dedication to serving students in STEM learning sessions with compelling projects that she often develops herself, Maya has also managed two underserved high school interns each summer for the past two years through a local nonprofit. Maya exemplifies McKinstry’s commitment to lift up future generations through her dedication to increasing access and opportunity to career-connected learning pathways that intentionally serve girls, students of color and other under-represented students in the Mountain Region. She also supports our vendor diversity initiatives in Colorado and participates actively with several McKinstry Alliances.
In addition to STEM-focused community service and mentorship, Maya frequently helps organize events that build community and connection for her colleagues.
“Maya has played a pivotal role in transforming McKinstry’s K-12 STEM engagement efforts into innovative student experiences that open doors for young people to explore career pathways in STEM, driving inclusivity across the industry,” said Greg Spalding, regional director, Technical Services.
“Faith is always focused on the needs of her team above all other responsibilities. She is respected within our supplier and manufacture network as an honest, fair and thoughtful leader,” said Brian Fisher, director of Supply Chain. “She genuinely embraces and advances our social impact goals – not because she has to but because she believes in doing the right thing.”
Over her two-year tenure at McKinstry, Faith has been a champion and supporter of key social and environmental initiatives. She supported the development of a McKinstry supply chain code of conduct, participates in our embodied carbon working group, influences our suppliers to take action to decarbonize and has taken leadership roles to promote vendor diversity including serving on our Vendor Diversity advisory council and advising a supplier in our ScaleUp program. Faith also led the project to launch McKinstry Gear Stop, paying close attention to ensuring our company store is stocked with brands and products that align with our values.
You’ll often find Faith at local DEI-focused industry events including regularly participating in women in mechanical engineering activities through the Mechanical Contractors Association of Western Washington.
Jennifer Koch, Senior Director of Operations, Service
Over her 30+ years with McKinstry, Jennifer has shown extensive and unwavering dedication to our DEI work, contributing her ideas and leadership for initiatives such as our ScaleUp diverse business accelerator program and the Heavy Metal Summer Experience through which she contributes her time as a volunteer, mentor and coach.
Jennifer frequently participates in mock interviews with students of the ANEW pre-apprenticeship program, helping underrepresented students prepare for the registered apprenticeship application process. She not only helped create the Project W field kits that support women’s health in the field, but she also rolled up her sleeves to help assemble and distribute kits earlier this year.
A demonstrated leader who’s played a key role in Service’s growth and success, Jennifer has consulted on sustainable refrigerant strategies and supported route optimization efforts for the mobile service fleet as part of our decarbonization efforts.
“Jennifer’s consistent support, whether through coaching underrepresented community members with ANEW, representing Women in Construction, or everyday mentoring, underscores her commitment to equity and inclusion,” said Leon Menard, senior director, Service. “Jennifer’s efforts in the Heavy Metal Summer Experience, as well as her recent board appointment to MCAWW further highlight her impactful contributions to creating opportunities for all in the skilled trades. I am grateful for her continued partnership and leadership.”
