KANSAS CITY, Missouri — Burns & McDonnell, a 100% employee-owned engineering, architecture and construction firm, partnered with Evergy and Ralph G. Moore & Associates (RGMA) to provide training and mentorship to help advance small and diverse businesses that do work in our communities.

On Monday, Aug. 8, Burns & McDonnell hosted its second annual Empowering Diverse Partnerships Symposium (EDP), in which attendees heard from guest speakers and panelists and had the opportunity to connect with industry leaders.

Speaker sessions focused on topics ranging from taking advantage of opportunities from infrastructure funding programs to gaining equitable access to resources and strengthening financial literacy. A robust panel discussion on navigating projects successfully with economic inclusion centered around two large infrastructure projects: the Kansas City Smart Sewer Program in Kansas City, Missouri, and Clean Water Shreveport in Shreveport, Louisiana.

“Our firm supports these business diversity programs so we can provide training and the opportunity for conversations and connections that will allow small and diverse companies to grow and thrive,” says Tammy Martin, business diversity program director at Burns & McDonnell. “This collaboration with Evergy and RGMA will support business development and help drive change within the industries we serve.”

Over the last five years, Burns & McDonnell has had a total business diversity spend of $2.2 billion and has worked with over 2,700 small and diverse businesses globally.

On Tuesday, Aug. 9, Burns & McDonnell and Evergy recognized nearly 40 small and diverse businesses that graduated from Accelerate, a six-month supplier diversity business development program that launched in March.

“Our inaugural Accelerate program provided a valuable opportunity for mentorship, since each participant was partnered with a sponsor from Evergy or Burns & McDonnell,” says Valerie Coyazo, lead supplier diversity manager at Evergy. “Contributing to the success of our diverse suppliers is vital to us.”

Ralph Moore, president and founder of RGMA, led the Accelerate training, which focused on helping participants develop skills to become more competitive in the construction industry, to increase the volume of work their firm is capable of winning in open competition, and to improve their firm’s financial strength and capacity.

“Redefining supplier diversity through training and development expands the pool of outstanding diverse suppliers that contribute to shareholder value for major corporations like Burns & McDonnell while contributing to healthy and stable communities,” Moore says.

Planning for next year’s EDP symposium and Accelerate program is already underway.

About Burns & McDonnell

Burns & McDonnell is a family of companies bringing together an unmatched team of more than 13,500 engineers, construction and craft professionals, architects, planners, technologists, and scientists to design and build our critical infrastructure. With an integrated construction and design mindset, we offer full-service capabilities. Founded in 1898 and working from 70 offices globally, Burns & McDonnell is 100% employee-owned. Learn how we are designed to build.

About Evergy

Evergy, Inc. (NASDAQ: EVRG), serves 1.7 million customers in Kansas and Missouri. Evergy’s mission is to empower a better future. Our focus remains on producing, transmitting and delivering reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy for the benefit of our stakeholders. Today, about half of Evergy’s power comes from carbon-free sources, creating more reliable energy with less impact to the environment. We value innovation and adaptability to give our customers better ways to manage their energy use, to create a safe, diverse and inclusive workplace for our employees, and to add value for our investors. Headquartered in Kansas City, our employees are active members of the communities we serve. For more information about Evergy, visit us at http://investors.evergy.com.

About RGMA

Ralph G. Moore & Associates (RGMA) was founded in 1979 and is an internationally recognized leader in developing and enhancing corporate supplier diversity programs. RGMA has over four decades of change management experience focused on integrating supplier diversity into various corporate cultures. This wealth of experience has positioned RGMA as the consultant of choice for corporations, government agencies, and non-profit institutions. Read about RGMA’s service offerings.