Distinguished Business Partner of the Year: CED
For MaKayla DiBenedetto, division recruiter at Consolidated Electrical Distributors (CED), winning the 2024-25 Distinguished Business Partner of the Year award was a milestone in her career. It was also a testament to the deliberate, consistent work CED does to prepare College of Business students for success.
“It’s meaningful to know that the small impacts CED makes that we might not feel right away, from mentoring, sponsorships, workshops and classroom visits, really make a difference,” said DiBenedetto, who has led CED’s recruitment efforts in the region since 2021. “Our impact is leading to future success within our organization and success for any student who works with us and impacts their communities.”
Established in 2003, the College of Business’s Distinguished Business Partner of the Year award honors companies that have demonstrated exceptional collaboration with Oregon State University that benefits students, the workforce and communities.
“For more than five years, CED has actively and eagerly engaged in the College of Business, sponsoring core programs and initiatives that help all of our students while hiring and retaining many of them,” said Kate Papinsick, assistant director of advancement — engagement and strategy.
With more than 700 locations in 48 states, CED is one of the largest wholesale distributors of electrical equipment and supplies in the country.
“We distribute the material that allows electricity to work and enhance our lives every day,” DiBenedetto said. “CED materials are around you when you plug something in or turn on a light. We supplied the gear for the Reser stadium rebuild. It’s great to see the impact we make in homes, in industry and with utility companies.”
CED has built a robust recruitment program in the region. Still, the College of Business is a special place for them to go, something Brian Shepherd, division manager at CED, explained to a meeting with his peers in the spring.
“When you’re trying to find schools that you want to build a successful partnership with, you find the ones that are passionate about creating opportunities for their students,” Shepherd said. “We’ve worked with other schools in the Pacific Northwest, and the employer relations team and Career Success Center at OSU are so engaged and helpful. We appreciate any and every opportunity to work with them.”
DiBenedetto is eager to further strengthen CED’s relationship with the College of Business.
“We’re continuing to develop new ideas when it comes to workshops and making sure they’re targeted to the needs of the students we’re talking to,” she said. “Recruitment is always evolving, especially with AI. CED is a customer-centric, human-centric business. Being in person with students will always be very important to us.”
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