DETROIT, Nov. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- When Gwen Hale, president and CEO of Reagan Mechanical, attended DTE Energy's first faith-based Supplier Immersion Day Summit at Fellowship Chapel in Detroit last December, she had just opened for business, had 10 people and $300,000 in revenue. Nearly a year later, Reagan Mechanical, a provider of process piping, HVAC controls and plumbing services, employs 20 people and is on her way to $8 million in revenue.

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Hale credits Summits such as DTE's faith-based Supplier Immersion Day event in providing opportunities to companies like hers.

"DTE Energy is an innovator in assuring that women-owned, minority-owned and small businesses alike have tangible opportunities to bid on company contracts," said Hale. "As a woman and minority-owned business, contracts from companies such as DTE are integral to assuring my success. I look forward to more events like this in the future."

More than 100 Detroit and minority-based businesses attended the Supplier Immersion Day Summit. The event, which resulted in $2.5 million in minority contracts with DTE, advised business owners on how to do business with DTE, provided mentoring, and equipped business owners with tools to help them save on their energy bills. Working in collaboration with DTE were Rev. Wendell Anthony, pastor of the Fellowship Chapel and president, Detroit Branch NAACP; Bill Ross, president, Booker T. Washington Business Association; Bertram Marks, attorney and pastor, First Community Baptist Church; and Ken Harris, president and CEO, Michigan Black Chamber of Commerce.

"We're pleased with the success of the faith-based immersion day held at our Fellowship Chapel," Rev. Anthony said. "This program is a tremendous success on a number of fronts. I believe that progress begins with a sincere desire to make progress, not just by words, but through deeds."

DTE is pleased as well, according to Tony Tomczak, executive director, DTE Corporate Services and Corporate Procurement Officer. "We have more than tripled our Detroit business-spend over the past five years," Tomczak said. "So far this year, our company has spent $270 million through October with Detroit businesses - much of it as a result of our outreach through numerous supplier events held throughout the year."

DTE continues to invest heavily in Michigan-based suppliers - including Detroit-based and minority-owned businesses, Tomczak said.

About DTE Energy

DTE Energy (NYSE:DTE) is a Detroit-based diversified energy company involved in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services nationwide. Its operating units include an electric utility serving 2.2 million customers in Southeastern Michigan and a natural gas utility serving 1.2 million customers in Michigan. The DTE Energy portfolio includes non-utility energy businesses focused on power and industrial projects, natural gas pipelines, gathering and storage, and energy marketing and trading. As one of Michigan's leading corporate citizens, DTE Energy is a force for growth and prosperity in the 450 Michigan communities it serves in a variety of ways, including philanthropy, volunteerism and economic progress. Information about DTE Energy is available at dteenergy.com, twitter.com/dte_energy and facebook.com/dteenergy.

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SOURCE DTE Energy