Illinois Utilities Business Diversity Council

On Dec. 4, the Illinois Utilities Business Diversity Council held its annual networking and awards reception in Chicago. During the event, we honored Marcelyn Love with the Jerry Garland Award for Excellence in Supplier Diversity and recognized recipients of the Emmett Vaughn Scholarship, including Nacional Group. Congratulations to Rebecca B. Losli, PE on a successful year as Board Chairperson, and best wishes to Gil C. Quiniones who will lead the Council in 2025.

The Illinois Utilities Business Diversity Council (IUBDC) is pleased to share that Gil C. Quiniones, CEO and president of ComEd, has been appointed the 2025 Board Chairperson. Under his leadership and guidance we will continue to increase business opportunities for diverse suppliers through closer collaboration among leading Illinois utilities as we embark our 10th year at IUBDC. Thank you to Rebecca B. Losli, PE, president of Illinois American Water, for her service and leadership as the IUBDC Board Chairperson in 2024.

The IUBDC is proud to share more about Kate Kiselyk, Manager of Supplier Inclusion at Nicor Gas. Kate is dedicated to conveying that supplier inclusion is more than just a priority or program - it is a business imperative at both Nicor Gas and Southern Company. Kate firmly believes that top-down support and consistent messaging are essential for supplier inclusion to be genuinely integrated as a deliberate business imperative, rather than merely a procedural task during sourcing.   To enhance supplier inclusion, one of Kate's key strategies is to develop sustainable partnerships as part of the broader supplier inclusion approach. She aims to embed business diversity into the company culture and collaborates closely with stakeholders to identify innovative ways to engage diverse businesses. Kate is driven by the need for societal change, particularly in addressing systemic racism, sexism, biases and inequalities that contribute to the economic wealth gap. She views supplier inclusion as a vital pathway to positively transforming lives.

Yesterday the Illinois Utilities Business Diversity Council hosted its first Supplier Showcase event at the Ameren-Illinois facility in Collinsville. Thank you to the suppliers who participated and took the opportunity to share more about their diverse businesses to representatives from all of IUBDC’s member utilities. A special thanks to Justin Clayborne for joining the afternoon session and offering his expertise on gaining access to capital funding. ABNA Corporation AFE Construction ARCHVIEW SERVICES CERA Solutions CSI 3000 Nacional Group SUPPLIED INDUSTRIAL SOLUTIONS INC Trice Construction Company The Will Group

The IUBDC is pleased to showcase Byron Witherspoon, PMP, CPSD, Director of Supplier Diversity and Supply Chain for Ameren Illinois. Below he shares the success that has been seen through his collaboration with IUBDC. "I appreciate the fact that the people who do this important work reflect the communities we serve," he said when asked what makes him most proud about his job. Witherspoon, an IUBDC Advisory Committee Member since its inception in 2015, helps diverse business leaders plan for growth and be ready to participate in an equitable energy economy. His work alongside his team has contributed to significant increases in the goods and services Ameren Illinois purchases from diverse businesses. In 2023, Ameren Illinois spent $618 million with diverse suppliers, representing 38% of its total spend - an 18% increase over 2022. These investments helped generate an additional $1.2 billion in economic activity that directly supported $383 million in wages and helped to create more than 5,700 jobs. Witherspoon attributes these strong results to the passion and commitment of his team. He also credits Ameren Illinois' partnership with IUBDC as a key to help open doors for diverse companies to participate in the utility supply chain.     "Thanks to this network of like-minded utilities and supplier development professionals in Illinois, together we continue to provide access to opportunities for diverse suppliers all across the state," said Witherspoon. "I look forward to the continued collaboration at the IUBDC and am excited to see what the future holds."

Our member utilities are committed to advancing the success of businesses owned by minorities, women and veterans, and in 2023, a collective spend of $1.7 billion was made on their goods and services, $881.2 million of which were with diverse businesses located in Illinois. This resulted in a positive impact to our local economy, supporting nearly 19,000 jobs and delivering $1.5 million in employee wages. #economicimpact #supplierdiversity Ameren Illinois American Water Aqua ComEd Nicor Gas Peoples Gas North Shore Gas

The IUBDC is pleased to showcase Cherise C. a Supplier Diversity professional at ComEd. Below she shares how her role at ComEd and partnership with IUBDC overlap for a positive impact on diverse suppliers. As the Manager of Diverse Business Empowerment at ComEd, I have oversight of ComEd’s Diverse Business Empowerment Program strategy and execution, which includes partnering with ComEd’s leadership to consult on ComEd's Supplier Diversity Program initiatives to ensure sustainability and execution of the program’s strategy; as well as identifying, advocating, and pursuing opportunities to establish alliances, develop skills, and increase opportunities for diverse suppliers at ComEd. ComEd has a longstanding commitment of providing opportunities for positive economic impact and growth for local and diverse businesses in the communities that we serve, and we are intentional about partnering with national and regional advocacy agencies on synergies related to that commitment. Those relationships include the Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council, the Women's Business Development Council, Chicago United, the Illinois Utilities Business Diversity Council (IUBDC) and others. The IUBDC has been a great resource for identifying and developing diverse suppliers. There is a vast range of experience and networks among IUBDC Supplier Diversity professionals, which creates a space where we can discuss and share best practices, diverse vendors, and events related to Supplier Diversity in the utility industry. I am grateful to be a part of the IUBDC and am fully committed to support the council to accomplish the mission.

Our annual Emmett Vaughn Scholarship, in partnership with the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) brought the unique opportunity for five diverse suppliers to attend the Kellogg Executive Education Program last week at Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management. Congratulations to our 2024 scholarship recipients: Trice Construction Company, Nacional Group, AFE Construction, The Will Group and Flowers Communications Group!

The IUBDC is pleased to showcase Jennifer Morrison a Supplier Diversity professional at Illinois American Water. Below she shares how IUBDC is making an impact on the success of diverse suppliers. Since 2015, the Illinois Utilities Business Diversity Council (IUBDC) has helped suppliers succeed by significantly improving their access to critical industry insights and long-term strategic plans in Illinois’ utility sector.  Through our networking opportunities and scholarship program, the IUBDC has provided unique opportunities for diverse suppliers to align their offerings with the evolving needs of our industry.       Our relationships with national and regional organizations such as the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), the Women Business Diversity Council, and the Illinois Minority Business Development Center, have also helped to open doors and amplify exposure for diverse suppliers in Illinois.    As the Program Director of Supplier Diversity and Community Outreach for Illinois American Water, I am honored to be a part of the IUBDC. We have the unique ability to help diverse suppliers gain a clearer understanding of where they fit within the utility service and product value chain, and we continue to support them on their journey.    

Illinois Utilities Business Diversity Council Board Member Gil C. Quiniones, President and CEO of ComEd, will share his insight and knowledge as the keynote speaker at ETS@Chicago on July 17. See below for the link to register.