Rosendin

 A benefit for East Valley food banks earlier this month is part of one local company’s desire to signal its presence as a committed community partner.

“While we’re undoubtedly part of a big national company, we’re hugely committed to our local community and always want to play a role in it,” said Brandon Stephens, senior vice president and Southwest Division chief of the Tempe campus of Rosendin Electric.

“Thinking locally is just one of the ways we’ve enhanced our reputation as a key innovator in our industry.”

Hosted by Rosendin and event partners United Food Bank and Feeding America, the benefit was held at Rosendin’s Tempe headquarters at 375 W. Drivers Way in south Tempe.

“This is a great annual event that is part of the ABA’s (Arizona Builders Alliance For Charitable Networking Events) outreach with different contributors each time,” Stephens said, “and we’re proud to have our first time hosting it.”

Prior to the event, he asked that those attending bring such food items as packaged spaghetti products, cereals, dried fruit, nuts, peanut butter, and canned goods, to be donated toward helping area food banks distribute goods to the approximately 14 percent of Maricopa County residents who have trouble meeting their nutritional needs.

“The ABA’s role in these events can’t be overestimated,” said Stephens, “and the organization not only helps professionals in our industry network and get to know each other and hear about new things—it helps us do something that’s needed in our community.”

Other Tempe companies participating in the event included Willis Towers Watson, W&W Structural, Inc., Tepcon Construction, and Arizona Lighting Sales.

Stephens said his company nowadays puts innovation first and foremost, with research developments best described as “highest of the high-tech.

“We’re not only just electrical contractors, electrical engineers, and preconstruction providers,” says Stephens. “We’re way ahead, way at the forefront of cutting- edge technology–like Virtual Reality—and have dedicated huge amounts of company resources to it—whole buildings, whole labs, whole teams of technicians.”