Month: April 2023

Energized by Edison

As Southern California Edison expands the electric grid to support a clean energy future, a wide range of interconnected resources — utility-scale solar, wind and geothermal projects, large energy storage facilities and climate change-resilient distribution networks — will be needed to accomplish the goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045. 

That presents a daunting cybersecurity challenge. As those interconnected networks multiply the digital attack surface, criminals bent on exploiting vulnerabilities for political or financial gain are also expanding their capabilities. The nightmare scenario of a cyberattack on the electric grid sparking an economic catastrophe is not merely a theoretical risk. 

“A single significant cyber event has the potential to trigger widespread cascading failures spanning multiple sectors across the country,” said Pedro Pizarro, Edison International president and CEO, at this month’s CERAWeek energy industry conference. “Without power, our country’s communications, water and transportation systems risk degrading or failing completely.”

Pizarro told CERAWeek attendees that Edison International fended off almost a billion unauthorized attempts to access the company’s networks last year. A companywide “defense-in-depth” strategy is being used to deflect those attemptsand stop cybercriminals “making it past the first moat” and gaining insider-like access to proprietary networks. 

“Cybersecurity is no longer a single team or department. Every Edison employee plus our contractors are part of our cybersecurity team,” Pizarro said. “We all train, demonstrate and continuously improve our cyberdefense skills — identifying phishing attempts, reporting malicious cyber activity and protecting critical data.” 

Appearing with Pizarro was Jen Easterly, director of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. She said the biggest threat facing the nation’s utility industry comes not from Russia, which is bogged down in a war with Ukraine, but rather from China. 

“Russia is the hurricane, and China is climate change,” Easterly said.

Easterly and Pizarro agreed that securing critical infrastructure will require cooperation from all stakeholders, including energy companies working together to share threat information and defensive practices, as well as working with the government to build relationships before a potential crisis occurs. 

Pizarro said Edison is striving to be a leader in creating resilient networks to support the grid, which undercuts the goals of those who may try to attack it. “We ask ourselves every day: ‘are we doing enough to defend against adversaries that may want to disrupt power flow? Are we doing enough to stop the cybercriminals who may want to exploit our customer or employee data?’” 

Pizarro added that “the electric power industry is the backbone of other critical infrastructure sectors. Our resilience challenge is about protecting critical infrastructure and meeting our climate goals by building consumer confidence in a secure, clean energy future.” 

To learn more about Edison’s clean energy initiatives, visit edison.com/clean-energy.

PITTSBURGH, Pa., April 27, 2023 /3BL Media/ – PNC Bank is proud to announce its 13th annual Women in Business Week, a collection of in-person meetings, events and virtual webinars May 8-12, featuring women who are leading the way and changing the game in their industries. The annual event – a focal point in PNC’s year-round commitment to women – is intended to provide women financial decision-makers with insights applicable to the many financial roles they may play, from business owners and household “CFOs” to corporate executives.

Virtual programs complement dozens of in-person events hosted by PNC Bank regional presidents coast to coast, with this year’s lineup featuring engaging and informative speakers, including Wendy Yuengling Baker, chief administrative officer of America’s oldest brewery; Alison Levine, Mount Everest expedition captain; Julie Uhrman, co-founder and president, Angel City FC; and more.

“This year’s Women in Business Week events were inspired by the women gamechangers who continue to leave a lasting impact on industries such as sports, education, outdoor adventure and more,” says Beth Marcello, head of PNC’s Women’s Business Development. “Our Women in Business Week speakers will offer their motivating experiences and insights on a variety of topics relevant to financial decision-makers today through a number of lenses, from the game of women’s soccer to educating children about money management.”

Women in Business Week is just one example of PNC’s commitment to continually engage, enlighten, attract and retain women financial decision-makers as clients and employees. The bank has supported women financial decision-makers for more than 20 years, and its Women’s Business Development practice was officially established in 2000 to reflect its recognition of the increasing impact of women as decision-makers and influencers. In 2021, PNC established Project 257®: Accelerating Women’s Financial Equality to help close the 257-year economic gender gap identified by the World Economic Forum’s 2020 Global Gender Gap Report.

On the frontlines of PNC’s Women’s Business Development work is a national network of more than 4,800 PNC-Certified Women’s Business Advocates, men and women specially trained as allies who women can rely on and trust as they navigate life’s financial challenges and opportunities. PNC also supports numerous organizations, such as Coralus (formerly SheEO), which mentor and advocate for women.

Through these efforts and its national main street bank approach, PNC Bank strives to bring women together through interesting and informative programming throughout its regional market footprint and by focusing on financial wellness and empowerment for customers and non-customers alike. To learn more about PNC’s women’s business advocacy, visit pnc.com/women. Women in Business Week events are free and open to the public. Registration is available at pnc.com/businesswebcasts.

VIRTUAL WOMEN IN BUSINESS WEEK EVENTS 
Monday, May 8 
1 pm ET: On Tap: The New Faces of Leadership at America’s Oldest Brewery 
Learn how the family’s sixth generation — all women — are leading Yuengling into a third century.

Wendy Yuengling Baker, chief administrative officer, D.G. Yuengling & Son, Inc.Moderator: Peter J. Danchak, regional president, Northeast Pennsylvania, PNC Bank

Tuesday, May 9 
1 pm ET: Women Leading the Way 
An energizing panel discussion with women who are game changers in their industries.

SaLisa L. Berrien, founder and CEO of COI EnergyKaren Hanlon, COO, Highmark HealthCaroline O’Connor, president of Business Operations, Florida MarlinsLisa Purcell, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s executive vice president, External AffairsModerator: Laura Gamble, regional president of Greater Maryland, Northeast Territory executive, PNC Bank

Wednesday, May 10 
1 pm ET: Conquering Mountains and Breaking Barriers: A Conversation with Alison Levine 
Join Levine as she takes you on a journey through challenges and triumphs in business and life.

Alison Levine, First American Women’s Everest Expedition team captainModerator: AnnaMaria Vitelli, executive vice president, head of PNC Private Bank Hawthorn

Thursday, May 11 
1 pm ET: Chalk Talk with Julie Uhrman 
Learn how Angel City is transforming the game of soccer into a movement for financial equality.

Julie Uhrman, co-founder and president, Angel City FCModerator: Todd Wilson, regional president, Los Angeles Metropolitan Area, PNC Bank

Friday, May 12 
1 pm ET: How to Talk to Kids About Money 
Financial literacy for every stage of the game, from pre-K through college.

Emily Bouchard, head of Hawthorn Institute for Family Success, PNC Private Bank HawthornJeanine Fahnestock, senior vice president, deputy executive director, PNC Grow Up Great®Melodie “MJ” Roach, financial advisor, PNC BankNatalie S. Talpas, senior vice president, head of Retail Digital and Emerging Payments Strategy, PNC BankModerator: Amanda Agati, chief investment officer, PNC Asset Management Group

PNC Bank, National Association, is a member of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC). PNC is one of the largest diversified financial services institutions in the United States, organized around its customers and communities for strong relationships and local delivery of retail and business banking including a full range of lending products; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management and asset management. For information about PNC, visit www.pnc.com.

CONTACT:

Christina Figg 
(214) 871-1259 
christina.figg@pnc.com

SOURCE PNC Bank