Building strong business relationships can have many benefits. Recently, USA member Xcel Energy received the Corporate Partner Award for demonstrating its commitment to maintaining relationships with a broad base of suppliers.

The award, given by the National Association of Minority Contractors-Midwest Chapter, acknowledges Xcel Energy for its contract with minority supplier Shaw-Lundquist to build a 77,000-square foot administration building at the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant.

Shaw Lundquist is one of the largest minority-owned general contractors in the upper Midwest and the largest Asian American-owned general contractor in the nation. The corporation has more than 37 years of experience working on complex and critical projects.

“We understand the importance of developing and strengthening business relationships with diversity suppliers and are privileged to partner with Shaw-Lundquist on the Prairie Island building,” said Aziz Khanifar, vice president, Engineering, Fuel and Supply Chain Management. “We have a unique opportunity to work with a minority contractor who has a strong reputation for working on complex and critical projects.”

The Corporate Partner Award was presented at the National Association of Minority Contractor’s annual awards gala and fundraiser. Hector Martinez, supplier diversity specialist, accepted the award on behalf of Xcel Energy in the presence of 200 local community and business leaders at the December event. The National Association of Minority Contractors-Upper Midwest is a chapter of the National Association of Minority Contractors, a nonprofit trade association of minority contractors.

From left to right are Tim Johnson, Hector Martinez, James Watt and Aziz Khanifar.