JULIE Inc. Wins First Place Award for Forest Preserve District Partnership

JULIE Inc. representatives accept a Best Friend of Illinois Parks award during an Illinois Association of Park Districts banquet on Friday in Wheeling. The award was for the company’s partnership with the Forest Preserve District of Will County. From left to right are: Cindy Harn, the District’s director of public programs and education; Renee Gauchat, the District’s volunteer supervisor; Barb Huff, JULIE’s public relations manager; Kevin Chmura, JULIE’s director of public relations; and Marcy DeMauro, the District’s executive director. Submitted by the Forest Preserve District of Will County.

JULIE Inc., a corporate sponsor for many Forest Preserve District of Will County events, was honored with a first place Best Friend of Illinois Parks award from the Illinois Association of Park Districts at its Best of the Best Gala on Friday, Oct. 24, in Wheeling.

“We are grateful to JULIE and its employees for their continued support of Forest Preserve programs and activities,” said Don Gould, president of the District’s Board of Commissioners. “They are a great partner and very deserving of this award.”

Joliet-based JULIE (Joint Utility Locating Information for Excavators) provides Illinois professional excavators, homeowners and underground utility owners with a one-call message handling and delivery service committed to protecting underground utilities and the safety of people working or living near them.

“As a not-for-profit organization celebrating 40 years of damage prevention this year, we are very proud and excited to receive the Best Friend of Illinois Parks award,” said Kevin Chmura, director of public relations for JULIE. “Our proactive outreach and safety program with the Forest Preserve District of Will County is a critical step in preventing damage to underground utilities in the state of Illinois. This successful partnership allows us to educate and inform homeowners and contractors about our mission and the importance of calling JULIE before any type of digging project.”

The partnership between the Forest Preserve and JULIE began in 2010 when the company sponsored a community volunteer workday in April to help publicize National Safe Digging Month, which reminds homeowners and professional excavators to call JULIE at 8-1-1 before digging. This call and service is free of charge.

JULIE expanded its partnership with the Forest Preserve two years ago when it became a District-wide sponsor of Forest Preserve special events. JULIE has contributed a total of $10,500 to the District for these family programs. This generous support has assisted the District in hosting “Ride the Rock” bike ride and festival, “Music at McKinley Outdoor Concert and Car Show,” “Goodenow Grove Fall Fest” and “Cruise the Creek” bike ride and festival – all free of charge to the public.

JULIE was founded in Will County in 1974 by the owners and operators of underground facilities as a means of preventing injuries and reducing damages to those facilities. The company expanded in 1980 to include the entire state of Illinois, excluding the city of Chicago. JULIE typically receives and processes more than 1 million locate requests on an annual basis. JULIE employs 95 people during peak season and 75 people year-round.