ComEd Pays Tribute to Diverse Businesses at Inaugural Supplier Diversity Awards Event
Published: April 8, 2016
ComEd hosted it’s first-ever Supplier Diversity Awards Luncheon on April 4, at the Bridgeport Art Center located at 1200 W. 35th Street in Chicago. ComEd honored some of its top diverse suppliers for high-quality excellence in helping to a modern 21st Century electric system and grow other diverse businesses in the state of Illinois.
"ComEd is committed to developing diverse local businesses; we believe this is one of the most impactful actions we can take to do our part to reinvigorate our neighborhoods," said Anne Pramaggiore, President and CEO, ComEd. "I want to congratulate the winners of our inaugural supplier diversity awards event and thank all of our suppliers who multiply ComEd's impact through their own commitment to diversity and community empowerment."
The 2016 winners of ComEd’s Inaugural Supplier Diversity Awards are:
Overall Performance for Construction Services
INTREN
Established by Loretta Rosenmayer as Trench-It, Inc. in 1988, INTREN began as a small trenching company built on a passion for community. A woman-owned business funded by a $15,000 loan from a friend and with only four employees, today INTREN is a 1,000 employee company with over 28 years’ experience in working with the nation’s largest utility providers, private contractors and developers, municipalities and cooperatives.
Overall Performance for Materials/Professional Services
Choctaw-Kaul Distribution Company
Choctaw-Kaul Distribution Company is a Native-American owned manufacturer and distributor of electrical, safety and facilities equipment. With over 100 years of manufacturing and distribution expertise, Choctaw-Kaul assists a variety of businesses in the automotive, food processing and utilities sectors, among others.
Rising Star
MZI Group, Inc.
After proudly serving in the United States Army, Arthur Zayas Miller followed his appreciation for construction and love for the community to build MZI Group, Inc. in 1999. Today, MZI Group Inc. is a leader in electrical and mechanical construction, energy infrastructure, utility projects, design build, and facility services. As a minority and veteran-owned business, MZI Group, Inc. is committed to driving community and economic development.
Advocacy Award
Aldridge Electric
Aldridge is ranked as one of the nation's leading civil and electrical contractors. Incorporated in 1952, the family-owned company headquartered in the Chicago area employs a full-time Diversity Manager as part of its 850 employee workforce. Its aggressive diversity spend was 25 percent in 2015; senior leadership is working on a 31 percent goal for 2016.
Community Partnership
Environmental Design International, Inc.
Deborah M. Sawyer established Environmental Design International Inc. (EDI) in 1991 after a proven career as an environmental scientist in the private sector and consultant. EDI has become a front-runner in the field and a proud minority and woman-owned business through its mission of providing the highest quality environmental and engineering services with a commitment to ethics, diversity and improving the quality of life for the community it serves.
President’s Award
Burling Builders, Inc.
In February 2016 Burling Builders, Inc. was named General Contractor of the Year by the Hispanic American Construction Industry Association (HACIA) for their work on the new ComEd Training Center. Burling Builders has grown its organization significantly since working with ComEd. The company recently hired five new employees, including a full-time project manager who lives in the Bridgeport neighborhood where the Chicago Training Center is located. During the life of the Chicago Training Center project, Burling was able to subcontract with local business totaling more than 47,000 man hours worked through local businesses. Burling Builders, Inc. is a member of the Minority Supplier Development Council as well as HACIA.