Bid Credit Program Events


May 2025
ABC (Associated Builders & Contractors) Afterhours Networking Event
Craft’d restaurant - Plainfield, IL
Thursday, May 1, 2025

This event was a monthly ABC member meeting combined with an afterhours networking even held from 5-7pm at the restaurant Craft’d in Plainfield, IL.  There were a few awards given to members who recruited new ABC members, along with featured ABCIL General Contractor ECI Construction Services.  ABC also provided several delicious Craft’d appetizers to go along with the meeting and evening of networking.


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April 2025
Graduate Public Service Interns (GPSI) Graduation Breakfast and Final Send Off from OIW
UIS Student Union Ballroom​
April 22, 2025


This past year the Office of Illinois Works team was lucky enough to have three interns, Rajshree Hivare, Vinay Ramachandramurthy and Favour Udeh from UIS.  These interns all participated in the GPSI (Graduate Public Service Intern) program.  They joined the OIW team at the beginning of the school year, September 2025 and completed their year with us on May 7, 2025, as they all prepare to graduate. 

Rajshree Hivare came to us with her Bachelor of Engineering, Computer Engineering and Master of Engineering, Computer Science degrees from Mumbai, India.  She will be graduating with her MS in Management Information Systems.  During the year, Raj focused on assisting the Pre-Apprenticeship program Grant Managers with data collection, analysis, and compliance. 

Vinay Ramachandramurthy came to us with his Bachelor of Engineering from Bengaluru, India.  He will be graduating with his MS in Management Information Systems.  During the year, Vinay helped multiple departments within OIW utilizing his computer and networking skills to assist with platform updates.  He also worked with the Career Services team to help them launch a new platform to track all ILWPP graduates. 

Favour Udeh came to us with his BS in Computer Science from the University of Benin in Nigeria.  He will be graduating with this MS in Management Information Systems.  During the year, Favour worked directly with the OIW Deputy Director, Norman Ruano, and multiple special projects. 

All of them contributed tremendously to our OIW programs during this past year and they will all be missed.  They were honored at the UIS GPSI Graduation Breakfast which was held at the UIS Student Union Ballroom on April 22, 2025.  During the breakfast interns from multiple state agencies were recognized along with their supervisors.  Our own, Norman Ruano was nominated as an outstanding supervisor. 

To the right are our interns being honored at the graduates’ breakfast, Vinay Ramachandramurthy, Rebecca Bailey – Senior Bid Credit Program Manager, and Favour Udeh at the UIS Graduation Breakfast.

Below are our interns on their last day with us as they embark on their new adventures.  From left to right, Favour Udeh, Vinay Ramachandramurthy, Kathryn Macdonna, Rebecca Bailey, Blake Young, Raj Hivare, Monica Pruitt, Rosalia Boccardi and Heather Harrison.​​​

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UCA (Underground Contractors Association) 2025 Spring Showcase
Venuti’s Italian Restaurant & Banquet Hall - Addison, IL
Tuesday, April 15, 2025


​The Bid Credit Team was invited to attend the UCA 2025 Spring Showcase.  This event was hosted by the Underground Contractors’ Association (UCA) at Venuti’s Italian Restaurant & Banquet Hall in Addison, IL.  The venue alone was quite exquisite!  The Bid Credit Program received an invitation as “Honored Guest.”   A formal banquet-style dinner, awards ceremony, and grand prize raffle were the featured events at this year’s event.

The showcase was also preceded by an educational seminar that ran from 4-5pm, with presentations by the Cook County Department of Transportation & Highways and the Grand Prairie Water Commission.  There was a total of 43 exhibitor booths at the showcase, which was held from 5-6:30pm, followed by a dinner from 6:30-8pm.  Over 200 attendees were represented by 90 different companies and affiliate organizations.

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March 2025
Illinois PHCC Expo
Drury Lane Conference Center, Oakbrook Terrace
Friday, March 21, 2025

The BCP Team attended the expo this year to network with plumbers and plumbing contractors from across the State.  The expo provided a great opportunity to view new plumbing products, for the attendees to talk to manufactures, learn new techniques, and network with other plumbers and contractors.  The morning allows for attendees to take their 4-hour continuing education class for their 2025 plumbing license renewal.  The highlight of the day is the trade show from noon to 5pm.  The trade show was busting at the seams with over 160 booths.  These booths highlighting the latest products, tools, trucks, and technologies.  The day completed with an after-EXPO party which included prizes and free food.​

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Tradeswomen Take Over Springfield
Illinois State Capital
March 5, 2025


The BCP Team attended the Tradeswomen Take Over Springfield event hosted by CISCO on March 5, 2025, at the Illinois State Capital.  Despite women representing nearly 50% of the workforce, they make up less than 5% of those working in the construction and building trades.  The event focused on this inequality, asking to reaffirm the State’s commitment to expanding workforce opportunities for all individuals wishing to pursue a career in the building trades.

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23rd Annual Construction & Safety Conference Expo 2025
Drury Lane Theatre & Events - Oakbrook Terrace, IL
March 3-4, 2025​


The Bid Credit Team had the opportunity to attend the 23rd Annual Construction & Safety Conference Expo 2025 on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. This event was co-hosted by ASA (Association of Subcontractors & Affiliates) Chicago and the Chicagoland Construction Safety Council at the Drury Lane Theatre & Events in Oakbrook Terrace, IL.  This two-day conference was a well-attended with 134 exhibitors and an estimated 1,000 people in attendance. Safety sessions provided by the Construction Safety Council were available on both days. The conference concluded with a networking Exhibitors After Party, which included live entertainment.


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February 2025
Greater Peoria Contractors & Supplies Association (GPCSA) 3rd Annual S.T.R.I.V.E. (Services, Technology, Relationships, Innovation, Value, Education) Conference
CAT Edwards Demonstration & Learning Center – Edwards, IL – February 21, 2025

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The ILW Bid Credit Program Team attended the 3rd Annual S.T.R.I.V.E. Conference hosted by the GPCSA on Friday, February 21, 2025.  This year’s conference was held at the new CAT Edwards Demonstration & Learning Center in Edwards, IL.  One of only three around the world, this Caterpillar location allowed participants t​o get up close and personal with the latest Cat® equipment in the demonstration and training arena.  Learning sessions available focused on three distinct tracts in the construction trades sector:  Health & Safety, Business Development, and Innovations & Workforce Development.  The event was well attended with about 500 participants and over 20 vendors.

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Bid Credit Program Monitor Katy MacDonna
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Bid Cr​​edit Program Monitor Rosa Boccardi​



PWC (Professional Women in Construction) Winter Social
The Dalcy, Chicago, IL - Thursday, February 6, 2025

This bi-annual social event was hosted by the Professional Women in Construction of Chicago at the Dalcy in Chicago, IL.  The event was sold out and allowed for networking of women in all facets of the construction industry (architecture, legal, suppliers, realtors, insurance, contractors, etc.)  During the evening, Rebecca Bailey, Senior Bid Credit Program Manager, was able to make connections with many of the PWC members including one of the founding partners.  The attendees included PWC sponsors, colleagues, and other industry professionals.  We were treated to delicious appetizers and drinks by The Dalcy at their beautiful facility.  They also had a portion of the evening that allowed for anyone attending a PWC event for the first time to go to a specific location so the members should come up and introduce themselves.  The PWC strives for their events to be a place of connection, support, and advancement for women and diversity in the construction industry.  This event checked all those boxes for them.

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PWC President, Sara Urizar addressing the attendees.​
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PWC President, Sara Urizar addressing the attendees.
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Shown here are the PWC Board of Directors from Left to Right:  Kendall Lettinga, Chair of Leadership Committee and Board Member, Ta Juana Tang, Board Member, Rose McClure, Secretary, Amy Mayer, Assistant Treasurer, Shaylyn Cullen, Board Member, Sara Urizar, President, Kasie Mathena, Vice-President and Heidi McClenahan, Board Member.