Diversity Month: A Cause for Celebration at Granite

By Raul Medina

Raul Medina

April is Diversity Month, and at Granite, it’s when we step back and celebrate diversity in our community and the Granite organization. Granite has been widely recognized as a model for diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I), landing on the Forbes List of Best Employers for Diversity. We do a lot well at Granite, but for many of us, the focus on DE&I is what makes our company special.

“By actively supporting a variety of DE&I employee organizations, Granite gives all employees a voice and a safe space to discuss difficult topics, challenge societal stereotypes, and thrive in their own skin. As a DE&I advocate, I feel like I’m given an opportunity here to make real and noticeable change within my community, my company and myself.”

– Jamie Brown, Senior Program Manager, Government Solutions

“Being a part of a company where everyone is welcomed and celebrated is an amazing feeling. Granite is a powerhouse in the telecommunications arena, and we all do what we do very well. But I love how we never lose sight of the specialness of each and every person who contributes to the company’s success. And I also love how we continue to push the DE&I envelope so that everyone will feel respected, welcomed and appreciated.”

– Jose Medina, Director of Network Operations

“As a founder of Granite and a member of RockOUT, our diversity and inclusion efforts are very near and dear to my heart. The strides we make as a company trickle out to our families, our community, our industry and beyond. I’m so proud to watch our leaders – and all of our employees – stand up for themselves and each other. It’s probably my favorite thing about working at Granite.”

– Don MacArthur, Senior Vice President of Strategic Accounts and Customer Escalations

DE&I Champions

Granite’s Rob Hale

Successful DE&I efforts start with passionate leaders. At Granite, it starts at the top. CEO Rob Hale has been a vocal champion for DE&I in our company and our community. He was named to the Boston Business Journal’s 2022 Power 50: Movement Makers List for taking actionable steps to make Boston a place for DE&I. Additionally, Hale was named to the Channel Futures DE&I 101 list recognizing individuals driving DE&I efforts and awareness in the technology channel. Hale joins Granite Director of Marketing Lauren Grenier, who was an honoree on the inaugural Channel Futures DE&I 101 list in 2021.

From the top down, Granite prioritizes diversity and inclusion, which paves the way for Granite teammates to create and participate in DE&I programs and activities.

DE&I Initiatives

A key to the success of Granite’s DE&I efforts is the enthusiastic participation of Granite’s teammates. We’ve formed three key groups that work year-round to plan awareness activities and provide forums for open and thought-provoking discussion. These groups include:

DE&I Results

Granite’s years of dedication to diversity and inclusion have produced some shining moments. Here are just a few:

Raul Medina is a national relationship development manager at Granite Telecommunications. He also serves as chair of the Granite RockOUT employee resource group for the company’s LGBTQA+ employees and co-chair of the Granite Corporate Advancement Networking Diversity Inclusion and Development (CANDID) organization. The goal of both groups is for all Granite teammates to feel welcome and enjoy their work environment. For more information, visit Granite at www.granitenet.com.