For Immediate Release Contact: John Varrasi 212-705-8158 [email protected]
A STRONG SHOW OF SUPPORT FOR ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY Kansas City-Based Black & Veatch Is Philanthroper And Growth Company
New York, July 3, 1997 -- When P.J. "Jim" Adam agreed to chair a major fund-raising campaign for ASME International (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) and donate $150,000 of his company's funds, the chief executive of Black & Veatch reached out to a profession that helped propel the Kansas City firm into a leadership position in the engineering and construction industry worldwide.
Black & Veatch employs 6,500 people in more than 90 offices, including over 3,000 employees in the Kansas City metropolitan area. The 82-year-old partnership specializes in engineering and construction.
Adam often points to the contribution of engineers in the total transformation of Black & Veatch from a medium-size design firm to a full-service engineering and construction company with international projects. Since 1990, Black & Veatch has expanded throughout the world and tripled its revenue to $1.4 billion.
"Engineers have helped to shape this company -- but beyond just Black & Veatch, engineers have and will continue to contribute to public safety and the quality of life around the world," said Adam, a mechanical engineer.
His pledge together with generous gifts from other companies and individuals will enable ASME to develop and implement programs to benefit engineers and advance the profession into the 21st century. The goals of the ASME Foundation's World Class...By Design fund-raising campaign are to establish continuing education programs for practicing engineers, foster the participation of engineers in public policy and promote math and science learning among students, particularly at the middle-school level.
"I think it is vitally important that children become literate in science and mathematics at an early age," Adam said. "The quality of life in the future will be shaped by the minds and abilities of the upcoming generations."
Philanthropy is a major and ongoing corporate program at Black & Veatch, and the company is strongly committed to community service in Kansas City and surrounding districts. Each year Black & Veatch pledges money to cultural institutions, research organizations, advocacy groups and health organizations in Kansas City and elsewhere.
The chief executive's ties to the local community are strong. Adam serves as director of The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and University of Kansas Alumni Association, and advisory director of Nation's Bank.
ASME is a 125,000-member organization focused on technical, educational and research issues. ASME conducts one of the world's largest technical publishing operations, holds some 30 technical conferences and 200 professional development courses each year, and sets internationally recognized industrial and manufacturing standards.
RSS