Celebrating diversity in small business

Diversity among our employees–whether it be in race, gender, sexual orientation, or other varying attributes–is celebrated at PSEG Long Island. We’re proud to bring together a spectrum of people and perspectives that facilitate learning and growth from each other; all while better serving Long Island and the Rockaways.

That commitment doesn’t stop with just our staff. To encourage diversity among the small business community in our service territory, we hosted a supplier fair for New York State Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises (MWBEs) and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses (SDVOBs) at the Marriott in Uniondale.

The annual fair provides networking opportunities for businesses classified as MWBE or SDVOB to meet with PSEG Long Island and other prospective clients. Attendees also learn how to do business with PSEG Long Island; meet other businesses that currently work with us; and receive information on New York State’s supplier diversity program.

Roughly 30 businesses and 400 participants attended this year’s fair, ranging from professional organizations, to prime vendors and MWBE vendors. Participants included the Nassau County African-American Chamber of Commerce; SUNY Farmingdale Small Business Development Center; Suffolk County Office of Veterans Affairs; Lockheed Martin; Asplundh; and Millhouse Engineering, among others.

Attendees also heard from staples in the Long Island small business community, including PSEG Long Island’s COO and President Dave Daly; Terry Moreland, supplier and diversity manager at PSEG Long Island; Hon. George Maragos, Nassau County’s comptroller; Kenneth Williams, executive director of the division of service-disabled veterans’ business development; Terrance Clark, president and CEO of New York and New Jersey Minority Supplier Development Council; and Barbara Stevik, president of Gerard Packing & Belting Corp.

In 2016, more than 33 percent of our supplier spend–$28 million–was with minority- and women-owned companies. We’re incredibly proud of the relationships we’ve built with these businesses over the last three years, and look forward to continuing through 2017 and beyond.