Athena Engineering Awarded SCMSDC Minority Supplier of the Year

LONG BEACH, CALIF. – JULY 25, 2018 – The Southern California Minority Supplier Development Council (SCMSDC) awarded Athena Engineering, Inc. the Class II Minority Supplier of the Year Award at the Hyatt Regency Long Beach on July 25, 2018. The nomination for the award was by The Walt Disney Company, a long-time client of Athena Engineering.

Widely regarded as the most prestigious honor that can be given to a certified minority business enterprise, the SOTY Awards are determined by a panel of procurement and supplier diversity leaders who represent SCMSDC’s corporate membership. That membership includes, among others, The Walt Disney Company. American Honda, Southern California Edison, Southern California Gas Company, NBCUniversal, Amgen, Sony Pictures and AEG. MBEs currently working with member corporations are nominated by corporate representatives and compete in the local competition for the Supplier of the Year award in four major categories.

“The Supplier of the Year Awards celebrate the unique relationships that develop between our MBEs and corporate members,” said Virginia Gomez, president and CEO of SCMSDC. “It reinforces the value these relationships bring and the positive impact they have on both of their businesses.”

Jannie Chiera, CEO and President of Athena Engineering, told the audience of over 500 people after receiving the award, “Thank you to our wonderful client Disney, the Council, and my team. As a first-time nominee, I was just honored to be nominated, but never imagined we’d win. This is for all the hard work, late nights, and long days. Thank you to the amazing people I’m honored to work with – this is for you.”

In addition to Athena Engineering, other minority owned firms took home top honors from the SCMSDC. Integritas Resources Inc. received the SCMSDC Class I Supplier of the Year award of 2018, nominated by The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. The SOTY Award for Class III nominees was awarded to Muse Communications, nominated by American Honda Motor Co., Inc.  Finally, the Class IV SOTY Awardee was Hal Hays Construction Inc. nominated by Southern California Edison.

All award winners, including Athena Engineering, will now move to the Regional Supplier of the Year competition and then on to the National Supplier of the Year Competition, held on October 17, 2018 at the National Minority Supplier Development Council annual conference in Austin, TX.

Click here for a full list of the nominated businesses

About Athena Engineering, Inc.

Athena Engineering, Inc. is a building systems contractor that helps commercial, industrial, and institutional clients find comfort in their environments and gives them the tools to maintain it. Our in-house Mechanical HVAC construction and Building Automation divisions specialize in notoriously complicated environments like hospitals, laboratories, infrastructure, utility, and operational facilities. Founded in 1984 by Richard and Jannie Chiera, our family of team members now numbers over 40 people. Learn more about us .

About the Southern California Minority Supplier Development Council (SCMSDC)

SCMSDC is Southern California’s preeminent corporate membership organization committed to supplier diversity and the success of minority businesses. As one of 23 affiliates of the National Minority Supplier Development Council, SCMSDC is a critically important part of the network, providing a vital connection and local touch point that bring together the mutually beneficial interests of both certified minority businesses and the corporations who collaborate with them.