Supporting minority business

Electric Perspectives, Jul/Aug 2001

Last June, Edison Electric Institute (EEI) recognized two electric companies and a utility employee for their outstanding commitments to minority- and womenowned business development programs.

PEPCO was named as the 2001 recipient of the Minority Business Development (MBD) Award, which recognizes a shareholder-owned electric utility for its achievements in advocating outstanding programs and activities to advance purchasing opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses. PEPCO, according to the award committee, was selected for its well-defined and effectively administered program. Over the last year, the utility has increased its spending on commodities, services, and fuel purchased from minority business enterprises. The committee also cited the company's leadership in its methodology for setting and measuring minority business development goals and its innovative approaches to promoting minority business enterprises.

Entergy Corporation won the MBD Committee Chairperson's Award, which focuses on innovative approaches in minority business development. Entergy was honored for its particularly strong efforts in two areas: a significant increase in purchases from minority business enterprises ($250 million in 2000 versus $77 million in 1999); and its adoption of innovative methods for measuring minority- and womenowned business enterprise goals.

The Leadership Award, presented for the first time, went to Norman S. Littles of Detroit Edison Company. Littles, director of supplier diversity and supply chain management, was honored for consistently fostering the development of minority-owned enterprises in traditional and nontraditional areas. During his 11 years with the company, he has created networking opportunities for minorities and broken down barriers frequently faced by minority business enterprises. Through his efforts, several minority- and women-owned business enterprises have become multi-million-dollar companies, making it possible for them to acquire additional market share.

"Each of these recipients has demonstrated the highest level of commitment to supporting and promoting the contributions that minority- and women-owned enterprises make to our industry," said EEI president Thomas R. Kuhn. "A strong and diverse base of utility suppliers is vital to ensuring that the U.S. electric power industry remains among the strongest in the world."