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

  • URI Cuts Underwater Ribbon on New Ocean Robotics Laboratory

    The University of Rhode Island recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new Ocean Robotics Laboratory at its Narragansett Bay Campus, according to a news release. Two students used a remotely operated vehicle to cut an underwater ribbon in a 30-by-20-foot test tank.

  • Missouri Child Development Center Completes $2.3M Expansion

    The Urban Sprouts Child Development Center in St. Louis, Mo., recently announced the completion of a $2.3-million expansion and adaptive reuse project, according to a news release. The new space includes a retail café, outdoor learning space, and a support office building.

  • Houston-Area High School Receives Best Project Award from ENR

    Tomball West High School near Houston, Texas, recently received a K–12 Education Best Project Award in Engineering News-Record’s 2026 Texas & Southeast Best Projects Awards, according to a press release. The new facility was completed in May and opened its doors to students for the fall 2026 semester.

  • St. Lucie County, Fla., Breaks Ground on New K–8 School

    St. Lucie Public Schools in St. Lucie County, Fla., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new K–8 school, according to a news release. The district partnered with Spiezle Architectural Group, Inc., for the design of the upcoming Ft. Pierce K–8 School, which comprises six buildings covering 215,000 square feet.