Construction Business Review

Crescent Consulting
Turning Diversity & Integrity Construction Compliance into Measurable Gains

Rohan deFreitas, Crescent Consulting | Construction Business Review | Top Construction EEO Compliance Management ServiceRohan deFreitas, Principal and CEO, Luis Segarra, Principal
Effective compliance in construction often means adhering to complex program initiatives, such as meeting diversity goals, fulfilling Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) requirements or ensuring prevailing wage standards. In a highly regulated landscape, project funding and approvals often hinge on these mandates.

Crescent Consulting stands as a guardian at this intersection, ensuring compliance requirements are managed in ways that create real working relationships between its clients and the communities they are building in, turning obligations into opportunities and strengthening projects and communities.

“We plan compliance from the start of every project, setting goals, identifying partners and bringing the workforce together to meet schedules and prevent penalties,” says Rohan Defreitas, Principal and CEO.

Crescent engages with developers, property owners, public agencies, construction management firms and general contractors bound by diversity, EEO and wage requirements. Many of its projects are tied to government funding, agency-related property deals or tax credits that come with specific mandates. It also works with private institutions, including major corporations that set their own inclusion targets on large-scale developments.

It works on a range of projects, including infrastructure, commercial and institutional developments, as well as residential housing with both market-rate and affordable units. The company’s scope of work covers a wide portfolio, including airports, hospitals, educational institutions, retail buildings and office buildings. Every project is supported by compliance services and experienced staff that produce positive outcomes and expand opportunities for the people involved.

Services cover all compliance obligations in construction. Many projects require contractors to meet Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprise (MWBE), Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE), Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Business (SDVOB) participation goals, often set at 30 percent of contract value. It identifies certified firms with the capacity and proven skills to perform the work. Workforce diversity goals, ranging from 35 percent to 60 percent depending on the program, are advanced by engaging Local Unions and recruiting local residents and skilled tradespeople like carpenters, plumbers, electricians and steam fitters.

It also guarantees prevailing wage standards are upheld through rigorous monitoring, while site inspections confirm labor integrity practices, such as subcontractors remaining within the disciplines they are certified to perform. Clients can rest assured that compliance is maintained consistently across the board.

  • We plan compliance from the start of every project, setting goals, identifying partners and bringing the workforce together to meet schedules and prevent penalties.


Crescent’s credibility with agencies and minority and women business networks is second to none, ensuring certified firms are matched to projects with proven reliability. As a result, contractors and developers view compliance as a channel for success rather than a barrier.

In one instance, a contractor, who had initially chosen a competing consultant for a major project, faced slipping deadlines, missed compliance targets and was to be charged penalties from the funding agency. At this crucial juncture, they approached Crescent to bring the project back on track. Drawing on its credibility with the agency, community ties and comprehensive expertise, it restructured contracting opportunities and mobilized workforce programs. The client avoided penalties and surpassed initial diversity and wage goals. This experience left a lasting impression on the client, resulting in Crescent becoming their go-to partner for all undertakings.

Crescent’s expansion policy is rooted in a simple principle— credibility cannot be sacrificed for speed—and the Great Recession provided irrefutable evidence for this. As construction markets collapsed, many firms turned to layoffs. Instead of following the trend, the company kept every employee engaged through creative measures, building loyalty that strengthened it for the road ahead.

Today, growth continues with the same intentional pace. New opportunities are being pursued in Boston, Baltimore, Washington D.C. and Florida and across the West Coast in Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco.

Through two sister divisions, Crescent Energy and Crescent Building Services, the company offers holistic services. Crescent Energy provides specialized energy-related services for the construction sector, while the other delivers painting, carpentry, taping, general labor, staff and administrative engineer support.

Crescent has built its place in the industry by ensuring that commitments are kept and opportunities are shared. By guiding contractors and developers through compliance, it has cemented its position as a trusted partner that transforms obligations into lasting value.