Red Team Go Builds Equity Into the Foundation of Infrastructure

Associated Press

08-04-2025

04/08/2025, Woodinville, Washington // PRODIGY: Feature Story //
When it comes to architecture, engineering, and construction (A/E/C), equity has often been viewed as a requirement, rather than something that is the vehicle for building better infrastructure and communities. That is why Red Team Go (RTG) has been flipping the script for almost 15 years now. At its helm, founder Danica Mason blends in her industry knowledge with social advocacy into the consultancy firm.
At the core of the company's mission are federal and state mandates that require a portion of public project spending to go toward diverse small businesses: those owned by women, minorities, veterans, and other underrepresented groups. Yet, these targets are often only met by the required amount and rarely exceeded, due to systematic hurdles, limited outreach, and fears around risk and cost. That's where RTG steps in.
'Our job is to bridge the gap between prime contractors and the small, certified businesses that can help meet diversity goals,' Danica says. 'We make the introductions, break down the work packages to a manageable size, and help everyone meet business objectives while fulfilling civil rights obligations.'
This, for Danica, is more than about compliance; it's about transformation for these small owners. An analysis by the American Independent Business Alliance translates how every dollar spent with a small business circulates three times over within the community. Danica emphasizes, 'We're here to build capacity and create generational change. That's what equity should look like in real time.'
Danica understands the stakes personally. As a woman-owned small business herself, she knows firsthand how difficult it can be to break into the industry—and how crucial those first opportunities are. 'RTG grew only through word of mouth for over a decade. We didn't even put up a website for those first ten years,' she shares. The consultancy firm built trust by delivering well. That trust allowed the company to grow, hire, and pay it forward.
Danica Mason, founder of Red Team Go
RTG's track record of exceeding diversity targets speaks for itself. On one design-build project with just a 2% Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goal, the firm helped push utilization to nearly 14%. On a highway project with a 26% goal across multiple categories, RTG achieved a commendable 49% utilization. Danica shares that on the $700 million highway program, RTG helped connect more than 160 certified diverse businesses, generating nearly $180 million in spending, an impact that reaches far beyond any construction site.
Danica understands that risk management is key: large firms often face higher costs and logistical challenges when working with smaller subcontractors. 'You're adding more overhead, more management needs, and sometimes unknown performance levels. Our job is to ensure that those small businesses are ready, capable, and supported—so prime businesses feel confident bringing them in.'
The firm doesn't just work with private contractors. RTG also partners directly with public agencies—transportation departments, cities, and federal bodies—to facilitate utilization and compliance during project delivery. Their services span team development, SOQ and proposal management, branding, grant writing, and, critically, inclusion program administration.
Their involvement with organizations like BuildIT, the only LGBT industry Association focused on sustainable growth for certified LGBT-owned businesses and allies, further illustrates RTG's commitment to equity as both a business strategy and a value system.
RTG's founder Danica believes that equity in A/E/C isn't just the right thing to do; it's the smart thing. 'When you diversify your team, suppliers, and subs, you strengthen your project. And you strengthen the communities you're building in.'
RTG's model is simple but powerful: create opportunity, deliver quality, and grow capacity. They don't take on work they can't deliver on. Every member of the team specializes in their role. That selectivity, combined with deep industry knowledge, is what's allowed RTG to scale successfully while staying true to its mission.
Looking ahead, Mason envisions RTG playing an even bigger role in reshaping how inclusion is built into infrastructure from the ground up. 'We've always focused on collaboration,' she says. 'And now we're ready to help others achieve what we've been able to do. When small businesses succeed, communities succeed. That's the future we're building.'
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