Collaborating with local businesses is one way we seek to make a meaningful economic impact in the community. This month, we are excited to feature our partnership with Accent Compliance, a woman-owned small business that provides innovative environmental and safety compliance solutions. Their values align seamlessly with our mission of championing people and doing the right thing. Read more as Jackie Padgett, CEO of Accent Compliance, shares her story with us.
Tell us about Accent Compliance. What is the story behind the business, its mission, and your range of services?
Between 2004 and 2013, the energy industry began to see a decline in qualified inspectors available for new construction projects. A large part of this was due to an increasingly common view that an inspector’s role was temporary rather than a career that offered ongoing education and professional growth opportunities. Because new-build projects have timeframes that typically range from weeks to several years, hiring contract-specific employees for short-term projects made sense to many companies. However, by approaching project staffing with a “staffing agency” mentality, companies began to disincentivize careers in this essential role, which requires a certain level of advanced training and education, and subsequently, we started to notice that the disadvantages of this approach outweighed the benefits and left a gap for both energy companies and professional inspectors.
As a result, Accent Compliance (Accent) was founded in 2014 by a handful of experienced industry professionals who shared a common vision — to create a turnkey company built by inspectors for inspectors. Accent was built on a rock-solid foundation, where the corporate DNA is made up of genuine integrity, understanding, and effective decision making and most importantly, offers every employee the chance to thrive and receive recognition for their outstanding work ethic and accomplishments.
Accent is among the energy industry’s most accomplished and recognized consulting firms — renowned for delivering cutting-edge, unconventional, and innovative solutions. Accent provides a full range of services beyond inspection programs, from preliminary to post-construction activities. Our service offerings include environmental and safety compliance inspection, construction craft, project management, technical advisory, drone services, and multiple training programs.
Accent has emerged as one of the most highly innovative turnkey firms in the United States, acknowledged nationally for developing both environmental and safety compliance solutions that are practical and effective and contribute to reducing inconsistencies on new-build construction projects. Accent’s mission statement is “to provide dedicated consulting professionals while setting new standards that lead to economic and environmental progress for our clients and the communities we serve.”
Running a successful business requires dedication and determination. Can you share some insights into your journey as a business owner and how you have navigated challenges?
My journey has been challenging yet rewarding as a woman business owner in a male-dominated industry. The business landscape can be very demanding and ever evolving. I have learned that it takes a blend of approaches when tackling hurdles in a professional setting. Embracing the role of a learner before assuming the role of a leader and cultivating a robust support system are key elements for success.
My partners and I feel that staying active in the industry, with our “boots on the ground” approach, builds a sustainable model for high employee engagement. Actively advising in day-to-day field operations and watching our decisions play out on a grand scale gives us an overarching perspective that is invaluable as professionals in our industry. Accent’s dedicated team members are the core of my support system. Their willingness to “deliver extreme differentiation in our client experience” inspires me to push boundaries, develop disruptive innovation, and strive for excellence daily.
What does it mean for Port Arthur LNG to partner with Accent Compliance? Collaboration with local businesses is a vital part of community growth. How do you envision our partnership benefiting your business and the community?
We are federally recognized as a Woman-Owned Small Business and Minority Business Enterprise company, which aligns with Sempra Infrastructure’s minority and gender-based hiring goals, which include advancing women in our communities and companies. These efforts foster collaboration with companies like Accent but further highlight Port Arthur LNG’s commitment to supporting and developing women-owned business opportunities. Port Arthur LNG’s efforts to prevent barriers to equal employment are critical in advancing positive outcomes for women and other minorities in our community. Most importantly, these efforts are much appreciated. Working on the Port Arthur LNG project as a local inspection company allows us to deliver quality support, geographical experience, knowledge, and expertise while producing meaningful results and project success. This allows both organizations to heighten opportunities for the local workforce.
What does the Port Arthur LNG project mean to you and the community? How do you perceive the impact of the Port Arthur LNG project on local businesses like Accent Compliance and the broader community?
Being a locally owned firm, the local community holds us to a higher standard. Not only are we invested in the growth of the community, but more importantly, the well-being of our neighbors and the health of our hometown economy. With the Port Arthur LNG project being built in our backyard, we can look through the lens of what works in our area. Moreover, we understand that serious projects lead to serious results, and the progression of environmental compliance is at an all-time high throughout the industry. Despite the complex nature of such conditions, Port Arthur LNG’s commitment to fostering environmental compliance and being fully committed to implementing effective mitigation measures makes it a leader in the evolving landscape of energy projects along the Gulf Coast. Through the development of this project, Accent continues to witness such support firsthand, and we are beyond proud to continue working with Port Arthur LNG and are pleased to be part of the value it brings to the state of Texas and our local community.
Thank you, Jackie Padgett, for sharing your story with us. We look forward to continuing our business relationship with you and your team members. We wish you well in your business endeavors.
Comments are closed.