Burns & McDonnell and its Strategic Partners share a 2026 ChicagoMSDC milestone that shows how intentional relationships create mutual growth.
At an awards ceremony, recognition can look like a single moment: a name called and an award presented in a room full of people who understand what it took to get there. At the 2026 Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council (ChicagoMSDC) Sharing Success Awards, that moment reflected years of partnership.
Burns & McDonnell was recognized as the council’s Corporation of the Year. Three Strategic Partners were also recognized as Suppliers of the Year at the event: CSI3000, Professional Environmental Engineers (PE Engineers), and Momentum365. Together, the honors highlight how intentional investment in supplier relationships creates opportunities for people and businesses to grow together.
“Receiving this recognition alongside our partners says everything about how we approach these relationships. We don’t invest in our Strategic Partners because it looks good. We invest because we believe that when they grow, we all grow. This recognition belongs to all of us.”
— Greg Salinas, Great Lakes Region diverse business manager at Burns & McDonnell
The work behind the awards is measured in access, mentorship, project exposure, advocacy and the steady exchange of knowledge between Burns & McDonnell and its Strategic Partners.
Through its Strategic Partners Program, Burns & McDonnell builds relationships with qualified businesses while benefiting from the capabilities and perspectives they bring. The program has supported more than 2,300 partnerships benefiting communities in 50 states and Washington, D.C., along with international relationships. This commitment has yielded meaningful results: Six of the program’s graduated partners have won external awards alongside Burns & McDonnell, recognizing years of intentional partnership development.
ChicagoMSDC’s mission centers on creating connections between small businesses and corporate partners. For Burns & McDonnell, those connections become long-term relationships built on trust, collaboration and shared success.
The Accelerate program, sponsored by Burns & McDonnell and Evergy, helps participating businesses build industry connections, gain project exposure and strengthen their operations through mentorship and business development coaching. The result is stronger partnerships and greater readiness for future opportunities.
Among ChicagoMSDC honorees are three Accelerate alumni who show what shared growth can look like: Rey Rivera, president of CSI 3000, Filippe Cade, president and CEO of PE Engineers, and Michael Cabrera, president and CEO of Momentum365. Each brings a different business and project perspective to the same shared pattern of growth.
Rivera represents one path from supplier development to recognition. ChicagoMSDC recognized CSI3000 for its work as a prime supplier in Chicagoland, including construction and remediation. For Rivera, the Accelerate experience connects the recognition to the practical work of building a business that can serve clients in the field.
“Being recognized as a Supplier of the Year is a milestone we could not have reached alone. The Accelerate Program gave us the tools, connections and confidence to grow in ways we had not imagined. Burns & McDonnell's commitment to supplier development is real, and the results speak for themselves.”
— Rey Rivera, President of CSI 3000
Cade’s story follows a similar pattern, with ChicagoMSDC describes PE Engineers as a reliable strategic partner to clients in environmental sciences.
“Burns & McDonnell did not just open a door for us. They walked through it with us. The mentorship, access and advocacy we have received through the Strategic Partners Program have changed how we operate and what we are capable of. This award reflects years of building something together.”
— Filippe Cade, President and CEO of Professional Environmental Engineers
Cabrera’s story reflects the importance of trust, communication and long-term partnership in creating sustainable growth opportunities.
“Our relationship with Burns & McDonnell reflects what can happen when a supplier partnership is built with intention. The opportunity is meaningful, but so is the trust, communication and follow-through that make the work successful for everyone involved.”
— Michael Cabrera, President and CEO, Momentum365
The ChicagoMSDC honors reflect the power of partnerships built with intention. Recognition for Burns & McDonnell alongside CSI3000, PE Engineers and Momentum365 demonstrates how collaboration, trust and shared opportunity can create lasting value for businesses, clients and communities. Together, these awards represent the success that is possible when growth is pursued collectively.
