Regional Ethics Advisors Foster Integrity and Accountability at Manson
- J.Anthony Tedpahogo
- Jul 8
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 13
Ever since the formation of Manson’s formal ethics program in 2012, Regional Ethics Advisors (“REAs”) have played key roles in advancing and promoting our values-based culture to employees, business partners, and subcontractors.
Manson’s REA group serves a variety of functions—operating as a local resource and advocating for ethical conduct across the company.
REAs Strive to Do the Right Thing
The foundation of Manson’s Ethics and Business Responsibility Program draws from the organization’s early days as a family-owned company and its current Code of Ethics, emphasizing respect, fairness, accountability, and doing the right thing even when it’s not the easiest path.
The program is overseen by Corporate Ethics & Compliance Officer John Heckel and supported by the Ethics and Compliance Committee, which monitors industry-wide, ethics-related policies and procedures and works to incorporate them at Manson.
The REA group, consisting of six members from different regions, is a vital part of the program. The current group is comprised of Jeff Garcia (Seattle), Conner Long (Richmond), Cesar Canales (Long Beach), Connor Tennant (Jacksonville - Construction), Zach Chester (Jacksonville - Dredging), and Scot Badeaux (Houma).
These members are not enforcers or investigators, but facilitators who serve as local resources who promote ethical awareness and help employees navigate gray areas.
Their role is to ensure that ethics is not just in a booklet gathering dust on the shelf, but that we incorporate ethics into our daily conversations.
Having ethics advisors in each region helps them to serve as accessible, trusted points of contact for ethical questions.
The group’s responsibilities include:
Facilitating discussions about the Code of Ethics at staff, project, and safety meetings.
Encouraging employees to speak up about concerns and guiding them to the appropriate resources, such as Manson's Ethics Hotline or Human Resources Department.
Promoting awareness of ethical risks, including accepting gifts from vendors and similar quid pro quo situations. REAs help employees make decisions that align with Manson’s values.
Collaborating with other REAs and the Ethics Officer to share insights and ensure consistent messaging across the company.
“REAs are a good soundboard for employees who have any ethical concerns, whether they take place in the office or out on a project site,” explains Project Manager Jeff Garcia. “We encourage people to reach out and talk about their concerns, no matter how small or big.”
A Culture Rooted in Responsibility
As with any industry, networking and building relationships are essential to business operations. Whether it is treating project teams to a casual business lunch or sending gift baskets to construction offices during the holidays, these situations can be ethically complex.
“The most common ethics problem that people face is usually around Christmas time when vendors send gift baskets to employees,” says Project Engineer Cesar Canales. “Accepting the gift can initiate that idea of quid pro quo, which can be interpreted as doing something for someone and expecting something in return such as choosing a subcontractor for the next job.”
Accepting gifts is just one of many ethical issues that REAs are equipped to address. Their expertise in the organization’s stance on weighing accountability, honesty, and fairness in business allows them to properly educate and encourage employees to make the correct decision.
Becoming an REA
REAs are appointed based on their ability to think critically, act fairly, and embody Manson’s ethical standards. Appointments are typically rotational in a two-year period, with area managers recommending candidates to fill REA rotations. Once selected, REAs are given governing documents including the Code of Ethics handbook and the Ethics and Responsibility manual for educational purposes. REAs meet quarterly with John Heckel to discuss ethics topics, lessons learned, and to share feedback from employees. In addition to contributing to the Code of Ethics, REAs participate in live ethics training in their respective areas.
Empowering the Workforce
In addition to the REAs, Manson provides a range of tools to support ethical decision-making, including the Ethics Hotline (877-472-2110), the Code of Ethics, and health and wellness resources like the Employee Assistance Program (“EAP”), Canopy.
“Most ethical situations are easy, but some are not,” Zach says. “The right answers aren’t always clear either, but Manson’s ethics program and the REA group are available to help employees do the right thing.”