Outside a large ballroom at the Westin Lombard, Julian Rueda and Kevin Hayes greet each other and shake hands.
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The two men work for Naperville-based engineering firms and have known each other about 20 years thanks to the professional events they attend, including the one they were at that day sponsored by the Illinois Tollway Authority.
As part of its Move Illinois capital program and its diversity initiative, the tollway periodically sponsors such events to provide information on opportunities for engineering firms, especially those considered “disadvantaged, minority and women-owned firms” or small and veteran-owned, to bid on upcoming tollway projects.
Up for grabs this year is $1.4 billion in roadway rebuilding, resurfacing and widening projects, including $105.3 million to resurface the Reagan Memorial Tollway/Interstate 88 from U.S. 52 to U.S. 30 and $68 million to begin design work for the Tri-State Tollway/Interstate 294 reconstruction.
The tollway has awarded more than 150 professional services contracts since January 2012, providing contracts to nearly 300 firms, tollway officials said. Of these, more than 100 went to new providers and 60 firms fell under the category of disadvantaged, minority- or female-owned, and small or veteran-owned businesses, officials said.
At this particular event, tollway representatives gave bid details on 10 upcoming construction management and design services contracts for an Interstate 90 rebuilding/widening project and other systemwide improvements.
Among other things, tollway reps gave specific advice on how to avoid being disqualified for improperly submitted or delinquent forms.
Both Rueda and Hayes are old hands procedures as each has done previous work for the tollway.
Born in Colombia, Rueda studied engineering at the University of Illinois and started his firm, Geo Services, 16 years ago in Naperville, the town where he also lives. His geotechnical engineering firm specializes in a very specific branch of civil engineering dedicated to the design of the foundations of bridges, noise walls, culverts and roads.
Kevin Hayes is a vice president for ESI Consultants, which was established in Naperville 13 years ago. “One of our principal owners lives in Naperville, which is one of the reasons why our company is based there,” he said.
With about 50 employees, ESI has done road and bridge design work and provided construction management services for the tollway on parts of interstates 88, 294 and 90. ESI is currently completing site work for the tollway’s maintenance facilities.
Until bids are opened for 2016 projects, neither man knows if their companies will be landing more tollway work in the coming year. But if they do, they – and by connection, Naperville – will be part of the tollway’s projection that their work will create 120,000 jobs and pump $21 billion into the economy.
Cathy Janek is a freelance writer for the Naperville Sun.