Deep Dive: Employee Resource Groups @ FXCollaborative

Thursday, January 21 from 10 - 11:30 PM PDT 

FXCollaborative established their formal Employee Resource Group (ERG) program in 2013 with the goals of promoting inclusion, supporting professional growth, and leading outreach initiatives to increase education and diversity. ERGs are voluntary, employee-led, and firm-recognized affinity groups for women, the LGBTQ+ community, and people of color. Ranging in size, with differing levels of financial and resource support from the office, they provide a more democratic forum for conversation, and a platform for initiatives promoting justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI). 

In this Deep Dive webinar, Shannon, Teyana, Chelsea, and Martin will share lessons learned from FXCollaborative’s ERG journey, insights into the structure and elements of their program, and thoughts on where their work is headed in the future.

Featured Guests

Shannon Rodriguez, Human Resources Director

Shannon Rodriguez joined FXCollaborative in 2005 and is the firm’s Human Resource Director.  She was promoted to Associate in 2014, Senior Associate in 2016 and to her current role in 2019.  With over 15 years of experience, she is responsible for performance management, mentoring and training programs, employee relations, recruiting, staffing, and benefits administration.

Shannon is also responsible for the firm’s internship program providing opportunities to students from diverse backgrounds and has been instrumental in helping to establish FXCollaborative’s diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and is an advocate for all employees. She holds a Legal Studies degree from John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

Teyana Chin, Senior Associate, Office Manager, Co-Founder of FXMosaic 

Teyana has been with FXCollaborative for over 15 years. Along with her responsibilities as Office Manager and co-founder of FXMosaic, Teyana is instrumental in programs that provide professional education and training to design fi rm personnel. Thanks to her ability to articulate a vision—as well as provide effective guidance and management of resources—Teyana is often invited to speak at inner city schools to inform, inspire, and support teens in reaching their life goals.

Teyana holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from Brooklyn College.

Chelsea Crisafulli, Architect, Co-Chair of FXWomxn

Chelsea Crisafulli, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, is an architect at FXCollaborative and co-chair of FXWomxn, the firm’s employee resource group focused on supporting professional growth and leadership development for womxn by promoting the voice and perspective of womxn within FXCollaborative. Chelsea has experience with a wide range of typologies. She thrives on constraints as a way to formulate her design approach, and values the multidisciplinary nature of our workplace as a way to broaden our design thinking.

Chelsea holds a Master of Architecture degree from Parsons the New School for Design, and is a registered architect in New York.

Martin Scott, Architect, Co-Chair of FXOne

Martin is an architect with over nine years of experience on hospitality, exhibition, educational, commercial, residential, and planning projects, with significant experience throughout all phases of work—from conception to construction completion. Martin earned his Bachelor of Design in Architecture and Master of Architecture from Deakin University in Australia and is a registered architect in the United Kingdom.

Hailing from rural Tasmania, Martin was raised on a country farm among nature, and considers his roots to be forever tied to that place. Martin’s connection to the natural world is displayed in his understanding of nature’s significance in architecture as he designs with respect to the surrounding context, what was there before, and what ties it to the site. His international background and work on four continents allows him to recognize the huge role that culture and diversity play in influencing architecture across different regions and disciplines, which results in a richer, continuously-evolving architecture.