Making Valuable Connections

Networking is key for businesses, especially small businesses to gain customers and build relationships in the community. Events like the Joint Utilities Reception are advantageous for companies to make valuable connections.

Louisville Water served as the lead host for this year’s program held on April 10, which included Louisville MSD, LG&E, and Louisville Metro Government. The annual event gives small businesses including minority-owned and women-owned (MWBE) companies a chance to connect with us on opportunities to work together.

Vice President and Chief Engineer Larry Bryant highlighted the great work Louisville Water is doing in our community and the success we’ve seen with our Small Business Equity (SBE) program.

“The networking opportunities with different firms as well as with the utility companies and really kind of getting insider knowledge on what the utilities have on the horizon,” is what draws Neal Crawford of Qk4, Inc. to the event every year.

For companies looking to introduce themselves and share what services they offer, the Joint Utilities Reception offers a window of opportunity.

Being in a room with key decision makers at four high-profile entities is highly beneficial for Amanda Schoonover with Lynn Imaging, a printing vendor that also provides construction software and bid distribution applications.

“It’s a very niche kind of industry and it’s important that people talk to each other,” Schoonover said, adding she had, “Some really good conversations with the attendees talking about projects or just talking with a host, folks who are here, who are nice enough to be out, taking time out of their day to talk about projects and what the opportunities can be to work together.”

Louisville Water looks forward to collaborating with more small businesses in 2025. The SBE program spent roughly $28.6 million last year on construction and professional services. Nearly 35% of that or $9.9 million involved MWBEs.