E&I Cooperative Services Presents 10th Annual Business Partners Award

Jericho, N.Y. – E&I Cooperative Services (E&I) presented their annual Business Partner Awards during the National Association of Educational Procurement (NAEP) Annual Meeting held in Orlando, Fla., on Apr. 10. These awards, now in their tenth consecutive year, are presented annually to business partners who demonstrate extraordinary dedication and commitment to the membership community.

Nominees were identified by a team of E&I representatives and were evaluated based on criteria including: contract utilization, member purchases, dedication to new member acquisition, programs and level of service provided to members, and member satisfaction. The winners were as follows:

  • The Foundation Partner Award was presented to PPG Paints in recognition of their diligence in building and maintaining a strong, dependable relationship with E&I for over 10 years.
  • The Best in Class Sales Support Award was presented to Concur, whose sales force has demonstrated an outstanding level of engagement with the Cooperative’s membership and with E&I representatives.
  • The Best in Class Member Responsiveness Award was presented to B&H Photo Video in recognition of their outstanding commitment to customer service and support.
  • Steelcase, Inc. was honored as this year’s Partner of the Year in recognition of their strong business growth, customer & product service, responsiveness, and assistance. Steelcase has excelled in providing expertise and solutions to procurement professionals and has worked with E&I on new member recruitment initiatives and other acts of excellence.

“Our ultimate goal is to provide our members with value beyond lower costs,” said Tom Fitzgerald, CEO of E&I. “These business partners have shown outstanding commitment to their E&I contracts and a proactive approach to our membership. They help E&I to achieve our goal, and—in the end—that is what distinguishes us as a top-rate purchasing cooperative.” To learn more, visit www.eandi.org.

About E&I Cooperative Services
E&I is the only member-owned, not-for-profit purchasing cooperative solely focused on serving education and related facilities. E&I delivers expertise, solutions, and services through a diverse portfolio of competitively awarded contracts and consulting services. By leveraging the knowledge and purchasing power of its nationwide membership, E&I helps higher education and K-12 institutions reduce costs, optimize supply chain efficiencies, and save time on the RFP process. The Cooperative’s member-driven competitive solicitation process has been validated by the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP) as complying with generally accepted procurement standards.

Featured

  • University of Kentucky Reopens Scovell Hall

    The University of Kentucky recently reopened Scovell Hall, part of the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (CAFE), following comprehensive renovations to the 120-year-old facility in Lexington, Ky., according to a news release.

  • Opportunity by Design Framework

    Opportunity by Design

    Educational improvement efforts often focus on curriculum, instruction, assessment, professional development, and intervention systems while treating the physical school building as background. But school design is not a passive backdrop to learning — it is a structural lever for equity.

  • Wold Completes Geothermal Projects at Two Minnesota Schools

    Wold Architects & Engineers recently announced that it has completed two geothermal expansion projects for Mounds View Public Schools in Shoreview, Minn., according to a news release. The work at Highview Middle School and Irondale High School serves the district’s long-term goal of reducing energy costs and dependency on non-renewable fuel sources, as well as improving building performance.

  • Spaces4Learning Announces 2026 Product Award Winners

    Spaces4Learning has just announced the winners of the 2026 Product Awards! The award program spotlights outstanding product development achievements of manufacturers and suppliers whose products or services are considered to be particularly noteworthy in their ability to enhance K–12 and higher-education learning environments.