Since 1976, February has been set aside to recognize the significant contributions of Black people to the history of the United States. It’s an opportunity for all Americans to learn about the African American leaders whose work and lives impacted our culture in a myriad of ways across all sectors of society. Black History Month gives us an opportunity to celebrate and reflect on our collective past and inspires us to create possibilities for a brighter future.
This year’s theme, African Americans and Labor, focuses on the important ways that work – whether in skilled or labor-intensive roles, voluntary or otherwise – has been a central part of the Black experience. From the agricultural labor of enslaved Africans to the assembly lines of American manufacturing to the African Americans who are titans of their industries in 2025, Black labor has been foundational to the forming of a global economy and continues to be an integral part of economic growth, both in the U.S. and the world. This year’s theme celebrates Black work, in all its forms, for how it has and continues to shape history and influence culture.
At IEI, this theme resonates with us, as an African American majority-owned firm, we know that our success is part of the long legacy of Black labor. We honor that history with our commitment to diversity on our board, Strategic Leadership Team, and in our overall workforce, as well as our focus on delivering projects that transform and connect the communities we cherish. From the foundational work of enslaved Africans who helped build America’s infrastructure to Black professionals advocating for better opportunities and equality, our firm stands on the shoulders of those who fought and continue to fight for equality in all industries.
As an engineering firm, we’re especially focused on honoring the contributions of African American engineers and inventors, from pioneers and trailblazers, like George Washington Carver, whose agricultural innovations transformed farming, to Garrett Morgan, whose inventions, including the traffic signal, shaped modern safety practices to the talented engineers on IEI’s team who continue the legacy of Black innovation and impact the cities where we work. They continue to push boundaries and make lasting impacts on our communities.
Join us in reflecting on the achievements of Black labor and in working alongside us to continue advancing progress for the next generation.
For more information about Black History Month, visit www.blackhistorymonth.gov.
December 7, 2024, is the 80th anniversary of the signing of the Convention on International Civil Aviation, also known as the Chicago Convention by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Titan CEO and headline sponsor Wipfli LLP are pleased to announce Michael Sutton, PE, CEO, Infrastructure Engineering Inc as a 2025 Chicago Titan 100 honoree. The Titan 100 program recognizes Chicago’s Top 100 CEOs & C-level executives. They are the area’s most accomplished business leaders in their industry, demonstrating exceptional leadership, vision, and passion. Collectively, the 2025 Chicago Titan 100 honorees oversee companies generating more than $70 billion in combined revenues, with an average revenue per company of $100 million and a workforce of over 439,000 employees.