Celebrating Native American Heritage Month

Matt Koepp

Project Manager

How has your Native American heritage influenced the way you approach your work? 

My Native American Navajo heritage is a significant part of who I am and how I view both my work and my community. It has shaped my values, especially the importance of respect, resilience and staying connected to where I come from. My background also reflects a mix of cultures with roots in Mexico, Spain and other parts of Europe. However, I have always remained grounded in my native roots.  I am also grateful to my grandmother for passing down our cultural beliefs and traditions, which has helped me maintain a strong sense of identity and purpose in everything I do, including my work.

What led you to pursue a career in construction, and how has your journey evolved over the years? 

While I was in high school, I enrolled at Riverside Community College to get an early start at building my future. I continued my education through courses at UC Riverside and later Diablo Valley College. Along the way, I followed a family path into the trades and completed a union apprenticeship as a construction boilermaker. 
 
That part of my journey became the foundation of my career and opened the door to continued growth. Over time, I was able to advance within the company, earning certifications as a project manager and Labor Relations Representative, along with a certification in labor negotiation for both Canada and Mexico. Looking back, my path has been shaped by hard work, family influence and pride in my heritage. I hope sharing my story reflects that there are many different paths to success, and that staying connected to your roots can help guide you along the way.  

Sariah Todechine

Sr. Procurement Manager

How has your Native American heritage influenced the way you approach your work? 

My Native American heritage is more than just part of my identity. It is the foundation of my values, my strength and the way I carry myself in everything I do. I was raised to believe that actions speak louder than words, that character is reflected in how we treat others and that success is not only about what we achieve, but also about the difference we make along the way. 
 
As a Native American woman, I carry more than my own ambitions. I carry the strength of my ancestors, the sacrifices of those before me and the responsibility to inspire those who come after me. I strive to honor my heritage by leading with integrity, working with purpose and creating opportunities for others to succeed.   

How do you help pass down knowledge and skills to others? 

I believe knowledge is one of the greatest gifts we can share. When we pass it on, we create opportunities for others to grow, succeed and discover their own potential. 
 
I strive to lead by example, share lessons from my experiences and encourage others to believe in themselves. I want people to know that mistakes are part of growth and that we all start somewhere. 
 
To me, true leadership is not measured by personal success, but by the people we inspire, the knowledge we pass down, and the opportunities we create for the next generation. 

As we celebrate Native American Heritage Month, what is something you wish more people understood about native cultures, communities or experiences? 

We are living cultures built on strength, resilience, faith and traditions that continue through generations. Every tribal nation has its own story, but we share deep pride in who we are and where we come from. Our heritage is not something we leave behind to succeed. It is the foundation that gives us strength to move forward. 
 
Native American Heritage Month is more than honoring our past. It is about recognizing our voices, celebrating our contributions and inspiring future generations to embrace their roots while fearlessly pursuing their dreams. We honor our ancestors not only by remembering where we came from, but by showing how far we can go. 

Matthew Grey

Project Assistant MEP Manager

How has your Native American heritage influenced the way you approach your work? 

My Native American heritage influences how I approach both my work and my life. I am extremely proud to call myself Diné, which means “the people,” and I am grateful for the values and teachings my family and community shared with me while I was growing up. Those teachings remind me to lead with humility, make thoughtful decisions and remember that my actions affect more than just myself.  

Who has had the biggest influence on your professional journey - and what wisdom did they share that continues to guide you? 

My parents impressed upon me that success requires preparation, resilience, hard work and the ability to keep learning and adapting. Their example showed me that you have to be strong enough to persevere when things get difficult. 
 
My grandparents gave me a different, but equally important kind of wisdom. If you have seen Star Wars, you may recognize the kind of wisdom I mean: simple, direct and profound. My grandparents often spoke to me in a way that reminds me of Yoda: “This is the way, grandson. This is how life is, and this is how you must move through it.” 
 
I feel a strong sense of responsibility to bring what I learned from school and working at McCarthy back to my community and help it grow and prosper in a true and genuine manner. There is still significant work to do to strengthen physical and social infrastructure in Native communities, and I hope to contribute to that progress throughout my career and later in life. 

How do you help pass down knowledge and skills to others? 

I try to be as open and willing to share as possible. I believe real change often comes from the people coming up behind us, so passing down knowledge and skills is one of the most important things we can do. I also try to make sure everyone’s voice is heard. When I am in a conversation, I make a point of remembering and referring back to what people have shared so they know I was listening. To me, teaching is not just about sharing information. It is also about creating an environment where people feel respected, supported and confident enough to grow. 

As we celebrate Native American Heritage Month, what is something you wish more people understood about native cultures, communities or experiences? 

I wish more people understood how diverse native cultures and communities are. Native nations have their own histories, traditions, languages and systems of governance. Even when tribes share certain similarities, each one is distinct. 
 
Also, if you ever have the opportunity to try fry bread, I highly recommend it. While fry bread isn't a traditional native food, its origins are rooted in hardship. It's an example of how Native Americans demonstrated resilience and made the best of difficult circumstances. 

2025 Native American Heritage Month Spotlights

Rayvn Dyer

Project Administrator

How do you bring tradition and innovation together in your work? 

Leading with cultural values means bringing the wisdom of Native traditions into everyday work.  Many Indigenous teachings emphasize the deep interconnectedness between people, land, and spirit an outlook that naturally fosters collaborative leadership, team-based problem solving, and long-term thinking. Stewardship is another core principle, encouraging care for both resources and people, whether you're in construction, tech, or education. Advocating for sustainability and ethical decision-making reflects this mindset.  Storytelling, a powerful Native tradition used to teach and connect, becomes a strategic tool in the workplace, helping to communicate vision, share lessons, and inspire others with purpose and clarity.

What project or design best reflects Native traditions and future innovation to you?

As a Native American from the Duckwater Shoshone Tribe in Duckwater, Nevada, the Arrow Canyon solar project resonates with me as a powerful symbol of how Indigenous tradition and forward-thinking innovation can thrive side by side. Situated on Moapa tribal land, this 1,387-acre clean energy facility produces enough power to serve 76,000 Nevada homes while upholding our shared values of environmental stewardship —preventing more than 632,000 metric tons of CO₂ emissions annually. 

What makes this project especially meaningful is the inclusion of 46 Moapa tribal members in the craft workforce. Through immersive, hands-on training and full participation throughout the project lifecycle, they gained valuable skills and opened pathways to long-term careers in Nevada’s growing solar industry.  Arrow Canyon reflects a future where Native communities are not only protecting the Earth but also leading the way in sustainable innovation empowering generations to come with knowledge, opportunity, and pride. 

Calvin Barton

Project Manager

What project or design best reflects Native traditions and future innovation to you? 

Our renewable energy group, by harnessing the power of the sun and water while preserving our natural resources.  

What advice would you give the next generation of builders?

Take advantage of the opportunities presented to you. Raise your hand and get involved in every possible aspect of our company. Become GREAT!!

Lauren Bulcroft

Project Engineer

How do you bring tradition and innovation together in your work? 

In construction and renewable energy, innovation is built into every project. New developments can change the “how,” but not the “why.” It’s still about responsibility, working together, and taking pride in doing things right. For me, tradition and innovation come together in how I choose to approach the work. Native American culture values community, resourcefulness, and respect for the land. I try to reflect those values by contributing to projects that leave sites better than we found them, whether that’s through cleaner power, community engagement, safer installations, or strong waste management and recycling efforts. 

What advice would you give the next generation of builders? 

Stay curious and don’t be afraid to ask questions. A lot of construction knowledge is passed down directly from the people you work beside. Respect their experience, but also look for smarter and safer ways to do things. We need both innovation and strong work ethic. If you show up ready to learn and support your team, you’ll go far.