Negocios Now

www.negociosnow.com 22 Diciembre 2015 NegociosNow NegociosNow Photo Courtesy Member companies of Illinois Utilities Business Diversity Council have spent nearly $830 million with diverse businesses. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel C HICAGO – The recently formed Illinois Utilities Business Diversity Council (IUBDC) held its inaugural event centered on creating strategies to increase business opportunities for diverse suppliers through closer collaboration, technical develop- ment and sharing of best practices. More than 20 diverse busi- nesses participated in the half- day event that kicked off with a luncheon discussion between the suppliers and Illinois advocacy groups, including Rhonda Carter, president and CEO, Mid-States Minority Supplier Diversity Cou- ncil; Omar Duque, president and CEO, Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; Vincent Gilbert, regio- nal V.P., Illinois Black Chamber of Commerce; Georgia Marsh, chief development officer, Women's Business Development Center; Sheila Hill-Morgan, president and CEO, Chicago Minority Supplier Diversity Council; Jorge Perez, exe- cutive director, Hispanic American Construction Industry Association and John Scifers, president, Elite Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business Network, Illinois Chapter. The day's activities also inclu- ded panel discussions providing information about best practices, navigating diverse supplier pro- cesses and creating awareness of opportunities for suppliers to work together. It concluded with a net- working event where the diverse business participants mingled with company representatives, advoca- cy leaders and panel participants. "Through our commitment to the IUBDC, we will enhance our individual business diversity efforts, make a greater impact in Newly Formed Illinois Utility Business Diversity Council Focuses on Increasing Partnerships with Diverse Businesses in Illinois fueling our state's economy, and honor the core values of each of our companies," said Melvin D. Williams, president of Nicor Gas and chair of the board of directors of the IUBDC. Board members also include: Anne Pramaggiore, president and CEO, ComEd; Bruce Hauk, president of Illinois Ame- rican Water, Richard Mark, presi- dent of Ameren Illinois and Charles Matthews, president of Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas. By Clemente Nicado S .C. Johnson will join The Kraft Heinz Company and Oscar Mayer as business's relocating to Chicago over the next few years to stay competitive in the global marketplace. "This is our 39th headquarters moving in the last four years," Mayor Rahm Emmanuel said. "Two years in a row we've been the number one city for corporate relocations." Other companies that are currently in the process of relo- cating their headquarters to Chi- cago include Motorola Solutions and food giant ConAgra Foods. These large corporation relo- cations are part of a larger trend, in which companies are either moving offices downtown from the suburbs or have created sate- llite offices. These relocations aid in recruiting younger employees and staying competitive in the global marketplace. EMMANUEL: "WE ARE THE CAPITAL FOR FOOD COMPANIES IN THE US" S.C. Johnson announced earlier this month that it would be reloca- ting 175 jobs from Racine to Chi- cago within the next 12 months to two years. The move will give the company an opportunity to appeal to a broader world-class talent pool and to diversity its business locations. Kraft Heinz, the parent com- pany of Oscar Mayer, also has plans to relocate some of its busi- ness to the Windy City. The com- pany will keep a headquarters in Chicago but will look to move Oscar Mayer and its U.S. meats business unit from Madison, WI to Chicago sometime next year. "It's not accidental," Emmanuel said. "As more and more com- panies move their headquarters, other businesses that service The Illinois Utilities Business Diversity Council members inclu- de Ameren Illinois, ComEd, Illinois American Water, Nicor Gas, Nor- th Shore Gas and Peoples Gas. In 2015, these companies have spent nearly $830 million with diverse businesses. "Certified diverse-owned suppliers bring different pers- pectives and insights and help us drive innovation and create solu- tions to meet the changing needs and interests of customers," said Anne Pramaggiore, president and CEO of ComEd. "Expanding our network of diverse suppliers, ven- dors and service providers is key to our overall effort to establish diversity as a business imperative, core value and moral obligation. ComEd is proud to be a member of the IUBDC and we look forward to continuing to bring programs and forums like today's event to advance the effectiveness of busi- ness diversity initiatives in Illinois." them, that offer them supplies, they also want to set up offices and operations and this gives you a multiplier effect." S.C. Johnson and Kraft Heinz will soon join The Wrigley Com- pany, Vienna Beef Inc., Tropica- na, and many other companies that have called Chicago home for over 50 years. "From our talent to our trans- portation, S.C. Johnson sees the same fundamental strengths that so many other companies see in Chicago," Emmanuel said in a statement. "Which is why they are making this long-term inves- tment here. I look forward to wat- ching them continue to grow and create jobs in the City of Chicago." Illinois Utilities Host Think Tank Forum for Diverse Supplier Business

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