KANSAS CITY, Missouri — The Burns & McDonnell Business Diversity Program hosted its fourth annual Empowering Diverse Partnerships Symposium, bringing together suppliers, clients, community and civic partners for meaningful discussions on impactful partnerships. The event featured a panel discussion with Burns & McDonnell leaders and concluded with the Empowering Diverse Partnerships Partner of the Year Awards, recognizing small and diverse businesses for excellence in project performance and client service.

Supporting small and diverse businesses is not just about fostering industry growth — it’s about strengthening communities. These businesses create jobs, drive economic mobility and bring innovative solutions that enhance local economies. Investing in small and diverse suppliers helps build stronger neighborhoods, create opportunities for underrepresented entrepreneurs and contribute to a more inclusive and resilient future.

“Events like this prove that when we invest in the right partnerships, we don’t just adapt to change — we emerge stronger and more resilient together,” says Tammy Martin, Business Diversity Director at Burns & McDonnell. “We celebrate the power of collaboration. We recognize that the relationships we build aren’t just beneficial — they are essential to the future we are creating.”

During the panel discussion, Burns & McDonnell leaders explored strategies for building meaningful and lasting business relationships. Panelists shared insights on the key traits they seek in suppliers when establishing long-term partnerships, as well as strategies for suppliers to scale their businesses, take on larger projects and build powerful connections that drive lasting success.

The event also honored four outstanding businesses with the Empowering Diverse Partnerships Partner of the Year Award, recognizing their commitment to innovation, safety and project execution.

Here are the companies honored:

• Concast (Zumbrota, Minnesota): Specializes in high-quality precast concrete products for the electrical, utility, wind farm and general construction industries, providing underground solutions for cable routing, substations and industrial piping since 1969.
• Crawford Consulting Services (East Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania): Provides specialized support services throughout the design and construction life cycle, assisting clients with cost, schedule and project management to provide on-time, on-budget delivery while maintaining quality standards.
• Sustainable Design Solutions (Baton Rouge, Louisiana): Specializes in the planning, design and management of civil and environmental infrastructure projects, delivering sustainable and cost-efficient solutions for water, wastewater, coastal, solid waste, transportation and remediation needs.
• Valdes Architecture & Engineering (Lombard, Illinois): Specializes in engineering, architecture and project management, delivering personalized solutions with a focus on technical excellence, efficiency, safety and client satisfaction.

Over the past five years, Burns & McDonnell has invested $2.49 billion in business diversity spend, working with more than 2,500 small and diverse businesses across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom and India. The Empowering Diverse Partnerships Symposium reinforced the firm’s ongoing commitment to building inclusive partnerships that drive meaningful economic and social impact.

About Burns & McDonnell

Working from more than 75 offices around the world, Burns & McDonnell designs and builds critical infrastructure. Our family of companies — driven by engineers, construction professionals, architects, planners, technologists and scientists — delivers projects grounded in safety and a desire to make a difference as we make our clients successful. Founded in 1898, Burns & McDonnell is 100% employee-owned. Learn more.