Month: May 2023

With support from Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery, Texas City Independent School District broke ground on its new state-of-the-art robotics center.In 2022, Marathon announced a multi-year investment to help the school system purchase equipment and supplies to support the new center.The school system, which serves nearly 8,000 students, will use the STEM-focused center to advance its programming in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

With a ceremonial flip of the dirt, the future home to Texas City Independent School District’s (TCISD) award-winning robotics club is underway. The groundbreaking event, held on April 10, gave way to the much-anticipated center.

In the spring of 2022, Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery committed a multi-year investment in the project through TCISD’s Foundation for the Future, which collaborates with the community and the school district to generate and distribute resources to enrich, maintain and expand TCISD programs.

“This will be a first-of-its-kind of facility here in Texas City, and our partnership with Marathon helped make this day possible,” said Dr. Melissa Duarte, TCISD Superintendent of Schools.

The state-of-the-art facility aims to broaden robotics education across the school system, which serves nearly 8,000 students in La Marque and Texas City and will provide greater access to STEM-focused careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

“Together we succeed,” said Dave Leaver, Vice President of Refining at the Galveston Bay refinery, as he kicked off his remarks at the groundbreaking ceremony. “Does that sound familiar? It’s TCISD’s vision, and today we’re seeing this vision become a reality through our shared desire to enhance robotics education for our community’s youth.”

Leaver added that Marathon’s gift, which will go toward the purchase of robotics equipment and materials at the facility, will not only support the school’s vision of advancing its robotics programming but will also provide new opportunities that support today’s students becoming tomorrow’s leaders.

“Because of this, Marathon is proud to support this important initiative, and we are thankful for our partnership and to be a part of this milestone at TCISD,” Leaver said.

Construction of the facility, with its official name, TCISD Marathon STEM/Robotics Center, is scheduled for completion by the end of the year.

PHILADELPHIA, May 4, 2023 /3BL Media/ – Aramark (NYSE: ARMK), a global provider of hospitality, facilities, and uniform services in 19 countries, today announced it was ranked number 40 on DiversityInc’s 2023 Top 50 Companies for Diversity list, up five spots from last year’s ranking. This is the seventh consecutive year Aramark appeared on the Top 50 list. For the first time, the company was also ranked on the Top Companies for Supplier Diversity list, at number 20.

Aramark’s commitment to people is a core component of the company’s environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) platform, Be Well. Do Well., focused on positively impacting people and the planet. Aramark’s “people” priority is to facilitate access to opportunities that will improve the well-being of the company’s employees, consumers, and communities in its supply chain. This includes engaging employees by prioritizing inclusion, engagement, growth, and safety.

As reported in its 2022 Be Well. Do Well. Progress Report, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is an essential part of Aramark’s culture, and a key area of focus in all aspects of the business. Centered around a shared purpose, Aramark’s ability to foster an equal and inclusive culture is vital to meeting the needs of its employees, customers, and the communities Aramark serves. The company’s priorities are expanding diversity across management roles, developing its people, and supporting business growth.

“Aramark is rooted in service, focused on people and our planet, so recognition from DiversityInc, makes us proud of our progress as well as focused on where we need to improve.” said Fenimore Fisher, Vice President of DEI at Aramark. “Aligning these with our business strategy of overall growth, drives sustainable action. Valuing our more than 200,000 employees around the world, supporting communities, and partnering with our diverse suppliers are not just part of an obligation, they are engrained in our values.”

This is the first time Aramark is being recognized for it’s supplier diversity efforts by DiversityInc. Supplier diversity is not only a key supply chain and DEI initiative for Aramark, it is a business imperative that delivers success for the company’s clients, consumers, and communities.

“We are committed to continuously developing an innovative and inclusive supply chain and are proud to partner with a broad network of small organizations and businesses owned and operated by minorities, women, and other diverse populations,” said Natily Santos, VP of Responsible Sourcing at Aramark. “This recognition by DiversityInc validates our customized approach to our supplier diversity efforts and our goal of creating a supplier base that reflects our values of equity and inclusion and the communities we serve.”

“Since 2001, the DiversityInc Top 50 survey has become the external validator for large U.S. employers committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion,” said Carolynn Johnson, CEO of DiversityInc. “These rankings represent evidence-based, superior human capital outcomes that are achieved only by data transparency and an unwavering commitment to workplace fairness for everyone.”

Aramark’s diversity efforts have been well recognized this year, as the company was named to Newsweek’s list of America’s Most Responsible Companies 2023 and also recognized as a Top 50 Employer by CAREERS & the disABLED Magazine, for the ninth consecutive year.

To view the entire Top 50 list and specialty lists, visit https://www.fair360.com/top-50-list/2023/ or follow the conversation at #DITop50.

About Be Well. Do Well.

Introduced in 2019, Be Well. Do Well. is Aramark’s ESG platform and directly connects to the company’s mission: Because we’re rooted in service, we do great things for our people, our partners, our communities, and our planet. Be Well. Do Well. outlines the company’s goal to make a positive impact on people and planet by working to reduce inequity, support and grow local communities, and protect the planet. Learn more at https://www.aramark.com/environmental-social-governance.

About Aramark

Aramark (NYSE: ARMK) proudly serves the world’s leading educational institutions, Fortune 500 companies, world champion sports teams, prominent healthcare providers, iconic destinations and cultural attractions, and numerous municipalities in 19 countries around the world with food, facilities, and uniform services. Because our culture is rooted in service, our employees strive to do great things for each other, our partners, our communities, and the planet. Aramark has been recognized on FORTUNE’s list of “World’s Most Admired Companies,” DiversityInc’s “Top 50 Companies for Diversity” and “Top Companies for Supplier Diversity,” Newsweek’s list of “America’s Most Responsible Companies 2023,” the HRC’s “Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality,” and scored 100% on the Disability Equality Index. Learn more at www.aramark.com and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

KeyBank announced Seth Keirns has been named Market President in Northern Indiana. In this role, he will help grow KeyBank’s community and business presence in the region while continuing to serve as Commercial Banking Leader in Northern Indiana. Keirns reports to Julie Overton, KeyBank’s Commercial Banking Leader in Indiana. 

A focus of his new role will be working with community partners to coordinate KeyBank’s investments and activities in Northern Indiana. He will partner with KeyBank Corporate Responsibility Officer Yvonne Harrington to drive community engagement among the entire Northern Indiana KeyBank team. Since 2017, KeyBank has made community investments supporting low to moderate income individuals and neighborhoods totaling more than $93 million in Northern Indiana. This involves lending for affordable housing, small businesses, mortgage and home improvements as well as transformative philanthropy.

Keirns joined KeyBank in January 2023 as Market President in Fort Wayne, Indiana and has nearly 20 years in banking experience including time spent in finance, credit review, internal audit, relationship management, and private wealth.  Previously, he was an Executive Director of middle market banking for JPMorgan Chase in Fort Wayne. Keirns also spent time with Tower Bank & Trust Company and First Financial Bank. Prior to entering the banking industry, he worked in public accounting as a CPA for a big four accounting firm.

Active in the community, Keirns serves as a board member for Boys and Girls Club of Northeast Indiana and on the finance committee for Greater Fort Wayne Inc. He volunteers for Junior Achievement and Big Brothers Big Sisters, and also serves on the finance council at St John the Baptist Parish. Keirns earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from Indiana University. He also completed the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin. 

“Seth’s reputation and deep connections in Northern Indiana will be an important asset for our bankers and colleagues, positioning us for continued growth and community engagement,” said Overton. “We are thrilled to expand his title from Fort Wayne Market President to Northern Indiana Market President and are excited about the work he will do to enhance KeyBank’s already strong position in the region.”

Learn more about KeyBank’s commitment to helping clients and communities thrive

 

Originally published on U.S. Bank company blog

U.S. Bank has launched a new Business Diversity Lending Program that provides credit and financing to help women-, minority-, and veteran-owned businesses grow and thrive.

The program expands opportunity for a vital portion of the business community and aligns with U.S. Bank Access Commitment™, a long-term approach focused on helping communities of color build wealth. To learn more about the Business Diversity Lending Program, we talked with Mary Miklethun, Head of Business Segment Strategy Coordination & Support at U.S. Bank.

How did the U.S. Bank Business Diversity Lending program get its start?

The U.S. Bank Business Diversity Lending Program is a type of special purpose credit program, or SPCP, permitted by the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA). These programs are specifically designed to improve access to capital for members of economically disadvantaged classes.

Last year, U.S. Bank acquired MUFG Union Bank, which was a pioneer in implementing a Special Purpose Credit Program 30 years ago. Now we are expanding this Business Diversity Lending Program to U.S. Bank customers. It’s a great example of how both banks are learning from each other to enhance the experience for all of our customers.

How does the Business Diversity Lending program work?

The program is an overlay to our traditional loans and lines of credit, allowing for modified credit guidelines that enable more business owners to access the capital they need to run their business. Through the program, women-, minority- and veteran-owned businesses are eligible for reduced credit score and decreased cash flow coverage requirements on most conventional lending products up to $2.5 million. Small businesses are eligible if they are at least fifty-one percent owned and operated by one or more individuals who self-identify as a woman, minority, and/or veteran.

Where is this program available?

The program is available throughout U.S. Bank’s retail footprint. Both new and existing customers are eligible for the program.

How do businesses apply?

Businesses can apply in-person with a banker or online. Customers go through a self-identification process for program eligibility at the time of application.

What other steps is U.S. Bank taking to support diverse businesses?

In 2021, we announced U.S. Bank Access Commitment, our long-term approach to help build wealth, close the racial wealth gap, redefine how we serve diverse communities and provide more opportunities for diverse employees. As part of this commitment, we launched our Access Business initiative that same year to support diverse businesses, starting with the Black community.

In nine cities, we have hired Business Access Advisers (BAA), who provide information, connections and resources to help diverse small business owners sustain and grow their businesses. We plan to expand the team this year, including resources to extend our reach into Hispanic communities. Our BAAs are all knowledgeable about the Business Diversity Lending Program and can help customers interested in applying.