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Investing in diversity
In addition to these established areas of work, Lindblad is now actively targeting the data center market across the US. Given that the company already carries out underground site work, concrete construction and larger building projects, and that most data center buildings are precast concrete, this move is a natural one and Lindblad has not had to add any new services to its portfolio to enter the market. Data centers also come with substations attached, meaning Lindblad can often perform both the civil underground work for the substation and the full site work, foundations and structural erection for the data center itself. As a general contractor with established connections across electrical and mechanical trades, the transition has required very little adjustment to Lindblad’ s existing structure.
While these projects and contracts are a strong indicator of Lindblad’ s growth, it does not stop there. The company’ s commitment to equality and diversity was also recognized in recent years with Diversity Advocate Awards received in 2022 and 2023, followed by national certification as a Diverse Contractor. Dan explains what that journey has meant for the business.“ Last year, we became a nationally certified diverse business enterprise through the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce, which has been a significant step forward for us. Before that, we were actively involved as a non-diverse company in ensuring that diverse contractors were included in our bids in order to support them. Now, we are able to directly contribute to many of our customers’ diversity spend requirements ourselves. That certification reflects the importance of diversity within our company and the work we have put in to get there.”
That same sense of responsibility extends to the communities in which
Lindblad operates. For example, the company participates in the CONSTRUCT program, which provides people from disadvantaged backgrounds with the training and skills needed to join Chicago’ s labor union and enter the trades.“ We host job shadow days where students visit our offices and job sites, giving them a little firsthand experience of the industry.
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