Stephanie Pennington is the corporate diversity director for LeChase Construction Services, LLC, a firm that ranks among the nation’s top 100 contractors. In that role, she champions internal diversity and inclusion initiatives and works to foster the company’s relationships with a broad range of small and diverse suppliers.
Pennington has nearly 20 years of experience in government, education and private industry. Starting her career in 2001 as a legislative director and special assistant in the 144th Assembly District of New York State, she proceeded to hold positions with Bryant & Stratton College (program director for paralegal studies), Erie 1 BOCES (coordinator of policy services) and the Social Security Administration research initiative BOND (Western NY/Northern PA site office director).
Prior to joining LeChase in 2018, Pennington spent six years as diversity compliance manager for a Buffalo construction firm – building relationships with government agencies, minority/woman-owned businesses, subcontractors and architects.
Pennington earned her J.D., with concentrations in finance and community economic development, from the State University of New York at Buffalo (UB) School of Law. She also has an M.S. in interdisciplinary social sciences from UB and a B.S. in sociology and political science from Syracuse University.
Active in various regional and industry groups, she is an advisor to the New York & New Jersey Minority Supplier Development Council and the Construction Exchange of Buffalo and Western New York’s RISEUP subcommittee. She is also a member of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership’s Diversity and Inclusion Executive Exchange and the National Association of Women in Construction.