Growing up as a “village kid” in Alabama after losing his mom and dad, Albert G. Edwards learned firsthand, at a young age, the importance of community support and mentorship.
From teachers who believed in his potential to community leaders who offered guidance and encouragement, he was surrounded by individuals who would play a pivotal role in shaping his journey. Their support fueled his ambition and instilled in him a deep sense of appreciation for mentorship and a love for helping others.
In high school, Edwards seized an opportunity to enroll in an engineering mentorship program. The experience proved to be a game-changer. It provided access to seasoned professionals and opened the door for valuable networking opportunities.
While in this program, Edwards honed his skills, expanded his knowledge base and forged connections that would later prove instrumental. One such connection was with Marcus Reese, who 15 years later became his business partner when they started the company Corporate Environmental Risk Management (CERM). Reese passed in 2017.
“If there is one thing I have learned, it’s that if you want to build meaningful, lasting partnerships, you have to be able to demonstrate real long-term value to the other party and be willing to give more than you get,” Edwards says. “People remember that, and in the end, it pays off exponentially.”
By learning from experienced mentors who generously shared their wisdom, Edwards gained the confidence to pursue his ambitions and chart his own path to success. The mentorship program acted as a catalyst for his growth, igniting in him a passion for STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and entrepreneurship that continues to drive his work today.
Fast-forward 30 years and Edwards is now an industrial engineer and the successful owner of a business that provides engineering, environmental and program management services.
As the largest minority-owned engineering firm in Atlanta, CERM boasts a team of 130 employees dedicated to delivering top-tier services and solutions to clients in energy, facilities, federal, transportation and water. Edward’s firm has provided engineering, construction and environmental services for the city of Atlanta, DeKalb County, the city of Mobile, Alabama, the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Greater Orlando Airport Authority, and 12 airports across the southeast, including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
Accelerating Small Business Success
Convinced there is both an art to and power in connecting, Edwards recently enrolled in another critical mentorship program where he is already sowing the benefits. He, along with leaders from 80 other small and diverse-owned businesses, have received a valuable opportunity for mentorship through the Accelerate program, a Burns & McDonnell, Evergy and Ralph G. Moore & Associates venture.
Accelerate is a supplier diversity business development program that provides mentorship and training so that businesses can grow within their communities. During the six-month program, each participant is partnered with a sponsor from Evergy or Burns & McDonnell. Additionally, participants benefit from educational sessions that cover topics ranging from understanding economic viability to developing strategies for structuring deals.
“I have participated in programs at Dartmouth, Harvard and the University of Michigan. But, I have never had an entrenched, incubator-like experience where I could freely experiment with a variety of best practices and be guided on how to successfully incorporate them into my own business ecosystem,” Edwards says.
Accelerate has equipped him with the capacity-building tools needed to help navigate CERM’s 13% projected annual growth for the next five years, including providing proven systems for accounting and large-scale quality control and program management. Accelerate also has enabled Edwards to reciprocate and grow his business by bringing Burns & McDonnell to the table for projects he has learned about through his extensive personal network that his firm could not manage alone.
Full-Circle Mentoring Moment
Inspired by the transformative impact of partnerships and reciprocity in his own life, Edwards is committed to being a part of others’ villages by empowering individuals to achieve their full potential. He is dedicated to creating opportunities for growth by instituting his own mentorship and training initiatives.
“They say a rising tide lifts all boats, and I want to help the tide rise high in Atlanta,” Edwards says.
Due to a steady increase in business — largely driven by organic growth and projects funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act — Edwards is collaborating with Atlanta Technical College and Georgia Piedmont Technical College to provide two-year civil engineering technology and workforce training programs aligned with the transportation sector.
“Advocating for social parity, equity and workforce development in struggling communities is ingrained in my DNA,” Edwards says. “By sharing my knowledge, experience and resources, it makes me proud to be able to create a culture of empowerment and opportunity for others, just as opportunity has been afforded to me through programs like Accelerate, offered by Evergy and Burns & McDonnell.”
This post is part of Together By Design, a business diversity newsletter published by Burns & McDonnell to advance a community of inclusion. This newsletter features stories of great opportunity, leaders who bring out the best in others, innovative approaches, and diverse perspectives that shape the business community and the world at large.