Issue link: http://alabamapower.uberflip.com/i/274792
Kevin Selvie's small business got a big boost when he partnered with Alabama Power. E C O N O M I C D E V E L O P M E N T Growing Small Business 1 5 Selvie, owner of K&K Janitorial Services in Mobile, participated in the company's Supplier Diversity Program, which helped him enlarge and re-energize his floor and carpet cleaning business. Through the program, Selvie received contracts to clean carpets and floors in four Mobile-area Alabama Power office buildings. "Working with them let me expand my staff and buy new equipment," he says. Last year, Alabama Power spent about $122 million with minority- or women-owned businesses. Working with organizations such as the Alabama Minority Business Opportunity Center in Birmingham to help identify and certify businesses across Alabama and adjoining states, the company has greatly increased its minority- and women-owned suppliers of goods and services. In addition, the Supplier Diversity Mentoring Program teams Alabama Power employees with small business owners so they can learn how to better work with the company and expand their businesses. Since 2010, some 39 businesses have taken part in the Mentoring Program. Among this year's participants: Cheryl Williams, president and owner of the Coleman Group. The Mobile human resources company provides payroll services, temporary and full-time staffing and temp-to-hire staffing. meredith dale, owner of Creative Marketing and Designs. Based in Birmingham, the firm designs and creates materials for corporate marketing. Karen Ching, owner of Liberty Steel Fabricators. The Flowery Branch, Ga., company manufactures replacement parts for power generation pulp and paper processing and mining equipment. dana tate, president and owner of Tate Contracting and Excavating Inc. The Dora-based company specializes in transmission line construction and erosion control. allen and marK Wingfield, owners of Wingfield Engineering Company. Based in Goodwater, the engineering firm designs and builds custom-made equipment centers, control panels and metal enclosures. All of the business owners say they have benefited from the program, but perhaps Selvie puts it best, "People are really impressed when you say you're associated with Alabama Power."