ST. LOUIS (May 18, 2023) — The Edison Electric Institute (EEI) today announced the winners of its annual Business Diversity Awards. The awards were judged by an esteemed panel of energy industry professionals and recognize companies for their outstanding efforts to advance purchasing opportunities for diverse suppliers, including minority-, women-, veteran-, and LGBTQ-owned businesses, within the investor-owned electric power industry. The winners were selected over a two-year period.

DTE Energy has earned the EEI Business Diversity Excellence Award. This award is presented to an EEI member company that demonstrates stellar contributions in diverse supplier inclusion, development, growth, partnership, sustainability, and economic impact. DTE Energy’s comprehensive approach to supplier diversity helped to distinguish the company from this year’s other competitive entries. Noteworthy features that were clear differentiators included the CEO-signed supplier diversity policy statement and executive-level involvement; the embedded supplier diversity strategy across the enterprise; the formal diverse supplier training that covers how to do business, safety, sustainability, and continuous improvement; the Elevate Mentorship Program, which includes DTE Energy executives among the mentors; and the DTE Supplier Diversity Advisory Council composed of suppliers, area business leaders, and DTE Energy leadership.

DTE Energy has a robust prime suppliers’ program with accountability reinforced by regular reporting. Furthermore, the company has designed and executed diverse supplier symposiums, has mentoring programs, and provides scholarships.

Over the two-year nomination period, DTE Energy’s annual spend with diverse suppliers increased from $600 million in 2021 to roughly $725 million in 2022. This translates to 24 percent of the total procurement spend in 2022.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has earned the EEI Business Diversity Innovation Award. This award is presented to an EEI member company that has implemented and executed innovative supplier diversity practices, as well as proven successes and benefits for diverse suppliers and for the company. PG&E’s innovative practices for which it is being honored include the Technical Assistance Programs (TAPS), which are carefully designed to meet diverse suppliers where they are and to help them reach next-level performance; its approach to 2nd-tier suppliers, which requires regular prime supplier participation and reporting; and its robust outreach to diverse suppliers and support of 18 diverse supplier scholarships in 2022.

Over the two-year nomination period, PG&E’s spending with diverse suppliers increased from $4.01 billion in 2021 to a company record $4.79 billion in 2022. Over those last two years, PG&E’s diverse supplier spend has been more than 38 percent of the company’s total spend. PG&E has spent more than $2 billion with diverse suppliers for 11 consecutive years.

World Wide Technology (WWT) has earned the EEI Prime Leadership Award. This award is presented to a prime supplier that exemplifies leadership in diverse supplier inclusion, outreach, and mentoring in its supply chain. Some impressive aspects that helped distinguish WWT from this competitive award pool include the company’s comprehensive approach to supplier diversity. Also benefitting the diverse business community are WWT’s  development of noteworthy training such as the Technician Apprenticeship Program (TAP), which aims to increase the amount of diverse candidates for IT employment and to address attrition internally; WWT’s All-Star Program, which provides mentorship, access, recognition, and opportunities for WWT’s top diverse suppliers; and the WWT Supplier Diversity Business Impact Committee, which oversees WWT’s supplier diversity business strategy and priorities to accelerate spend growth and partnerships with diverse suppliers.

WWT is a minority-owned company with 7,800 employees across more than 60 countries and annual revenues of $14.5 billion. WWT has a three-prong approach to diversity, including workforce, business impact, and community outreach. WWT serves as the title sponsor for several diversity conferences, supports philanthropic causes, and serves as a mentor to diverse business owners. Internationally, WWT has participated in and sponsored international diverse business events.

During the 2021-2022 nomination period, WWT spent $668 million with diverse businesses. WWT has the distinction of being nominated for prime leadership honors by three EEI member companies: Duke Energy, Entergy Corporation, and OGE Energy Corporation.

LUZCO Technologies, LLC has earned the EEI Diverse Supplier Award. This award is presented to a diverse supplier that performs superior work and that champions diversity, equity, and inclusion. LUZCO Technologies has a track record of providing superior service to its clients, as well as demonstrating flexibility to scale quickly, acquiring experience engineers, and diversifying capabilities.

Another impressive feature that helped distinguish LUZCO Technologies among this competitive award pool hinged on its ability to build a staff that is 67 percent diverse. The company offers support for employees’ professional and personal growth, all while striving to maximize work-life balance. LUZCO Technologies has grown its staff from two to more than 100 employees and now has locations in St. Louis, Kansas City, Mo., and Rochester, N.Y.

“This year’s Business Diversity Award winners have shown outstanding leadership through their efforts to provide an inclusive and diverse supplier network,” said EEI President Tom Kuhn. “The significant and positive impact these companies have on our member companies and the customers and communities they serve is vital. Each is deserving of this recognition, and I congratulate them for leading by example.”