Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) Vice President Barbara McGowan received the Millennium Builder’s Executive Leadership Award presented by Rev. Larry Bullock, president/founder of the Suburban Minority Contractors Association (SMCA).
Commissioner McGowan shared the honor with Kristi Lafleur, Executive Director of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority. Seven other outstanding business and community leaders were also recognized during the 2012 SMCA Millennium Builder’s Awards Banquet held at the Belvedere Banquet and Events Center in Elk Grove Village earlier this month.
Other award recipients included: CEO John Wilson, Penn Construction Services, LLC, Millennium Builder’s Minority Contractor of the Year Award; President Ulice Payne, Addison-Clifton, LLC, Millennium Builder’s Executive Leadership Award; State Senator Terry Link, Millennium Builder’s Legislative Award; Daphne Sligh – Turner Construction, Millennium Builder’s Visionary Award; State Representative LaShawn Ford, 8th District, State of Illinois, Millennium Builder’s Legislative Award; Commissioner and Rev. Tyrone Crider, Regional Transportation Authority, Millennium Builder’s Legacy Award; President Michael Rodriguez, Waukegan Public School Board of Education, Millennium Builder’s Visionary Award.
Attorney Ulice Payne, Jr. Managing Member, Addison-Clifton, LLC, was the keynote speaker, and Kennedy Center performer P.J. Perrian provided musical entertainment.
“I’m extremely grateful for this wonderful honor,” said Commissioner McGowan. “I am strongly committed to doing all that I can to assist the minority-owned and women-owned businesses in Cook County. They are working hard to improve their communities and making an impact on the lives of thousands of people.”
Established in 1990, the SMCA is a non-profit professional trade association of minority-owned and women-owned businesses in Chicago. The mission of the organization is to provide advocacy services, training, and assistance to minority contractors seeking to conduct business in the greater Chicagoland area. SMCA is an assist agency for Cook County, the City of Chicago Department of Purchasing, the MWRD, Illinois Department of Transportation, and several private enterprises.
SMCA membership benefits include procurement opportunities for suburban contractors; educational, technical and consulting assistance; access to architectural drawings/specifications for public and private projects; man-power employee training; placement services for unemployed/ under-employed minority suburban residents; insurance, bonding, estimates, financing and contract administration services; assistance in preparing documentation for MBE/WBE/DBE certification; and networking opportunities at regularly scheduled meetings.
Additional information about the SMCA can be obtained by calling the Rev. Larry Bullock at (847) 708-1957.
Our water environment…Take it personally!
