MZI Group Wins ComEd Supplier Diversity Award 1 00:00:11,712 --> 00:00:14,648 Arthur Zayas Miller, president and CEO of MZI Group. 2 00:00:14,648 --> 00:00:17,751 MZI Group is an electrical, utility, mechanical contractor 3 00:00:17,751 --> 00:00:19,219 based out of Chicago, 4 00:00:19,219 --> 00:00:22,689 working in downtown markets, utility markets. 5 00:00:22,689 --> 00:00:24,458 We also have a mechanical division. 6 00:00:24,458 --> 00:00:29,596 It started off as just building, developing three-flats, real estate, 7 00:00:29,596 --> 00:00:31,131 and then it turned into, 8 00:00:31,131 --> 00:00:34,067 the next thing we're doing is electrical and mechanical. 9 00:00:34,067 --> 00:00:36,336 Then in about 2007, 10 00:00:36,336 --> 00:00:39,740 I was introduced to a gentleman at ComEd 11 00:00:39,740 --> 00:00:43,076 that said that there may be some opportunities there. 12 00:00:43,076 --> 00:00:46,647 When ComEd decided to do the infrastructure, 13 00:00:46,647 --> 00:00:49,983 we've gotten so much experience that now we're following the work. 14 00:00:49,983 --> 00:00:52,286 So diversity for our company, 15 00:00:52,286 --> 00:00:56,256 I'm very proud of, in particular, a project that we just completed, 16 00:00:56,256 --> 00:00:58,892 retrofitting all the Cook County jails. 17 00:00:58,892 --> 00:01:05,399 And on that job where we had over 30 IBW electricians, 18 00:01:05,399 --> 00:01:07,467 85 percent were minorities. 19 00:01:07,467 --> 00:01:09,836 Our lawyers are a Hispanic firm, 20 00:01:09,836 --> 00:01:13,206 our accounting is a Hispanic woman-owned firm, 21 00:01:13,206 --> 00:01:15,676 we buy from diverse supply houses. 22 00:01:15,676 --> 00:01:16,677 So I think it's a big thing 23 00:01:16,677 --> 00:01:19,680 that as a firm that's given an opportunity by ComEd, 24 00:01:19,680 --> 00:01:22,349 that we're making sure that we're going back 25 00:01:22,349 --> 00:01:24,618 and giving back to the communities, 26 00:01:24,618 --> 00:01:27,254 hiring from within the communities that we're serving. 27 00:01:27,254 --> 00:01:29,656 A lot of corporations in the private sector, 28 00:01:29,656 --> 00:01:31,892 they have goals, but they're just goals. 29 00:01:31,892 --> 00:01:34,328 ComEd reinforces them, which is a great thing 30 00:01:34,328 --> 00:01:37,130 because that's what allowed us to get to where we're at. 31 00:01:37,130 --> 00:01:37,764 They're real. 32 00:01:37,764 --> 00:01:41,301 They're out here helping smaller businesses 33 00:01:41,301 --> 00:01:44,104 and making sure that they can be successful and smart.