WASHINGTON, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Conn Maciel Carey LLP (CMC), a boutique law firm with national practices in workplace safety and labor and employment, has launched the Employers Heat Illness OSHA Rulemaking Coalition to give employers a voice in OSHA’s rulemaking process and push…
Month: June 2023
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are not just words but values that are exemplified through our culture at Cadence. In the DEI@Cadence blog series, you’ll find a community where employees share their perspectives and experiences. By providing a glimpse of their personal stories, we celebrate our One Cadence—One Team culture and the importance of sustaining it as we learn from diverse perspectives.
The question of how and where to start your career is always on the minds of university students who either have recently graduated or are looking to join the corporate world while pursuing their degree. The internship program run by the Cadence Cork office in collaboration with various universities in Ireland provides an excellent opportunity for such students. I was elated to be selected as a Technical Communications intern in the Custom IC and PCB group (CPG) back in March along with 19 other interns who joined other teams.
We are the third batch of interns at the Cork office. Within the short period I have spent here, I can confidently say that there couldn’t have been a better way for me to begin my career. I have gained first-hand information about how a world-class company operates, learned the skills required to be successful in my role, and interacted with a talented pool of employees who come from diverse cultures and backgrounds. In addition, I got the opportunity to live the much-talked-about Cadence culture of work-life balance and experience many fun activities. In this blog, I aim to cover my top five reasons why Cadence is a great place to work!
A Warm Welcome from the Cadence Team!
First impressions are vital when shaping an opinion of a new job. The customer and business focus of the company appealed strongly to me, along with the friendly and inclusive culture of the Cork office. This culture was evident from the start. It all began with a friendly chat with the Senior Recruiter for Cadence Ireland, Ben Woods, who clearly explained what I could expect from the internship role at Cadence. The interview process that followed made me feel comfortable at each stage, and as a result, I could answer all questions without any reservations. The interview was more along the lines of determining what I’m passionate about; and, seeing if I’d be a good fit for the role. On my joining day, it was so exciting to meet all the other interns, and the Cadence Ireland HR team along with site leadership team members. I could see that HR and the site leadership team were as excited as we were, and we all felt privileged to be part of the fantastic Cadence Cork team!
The Global Scale of Cadence
I didn’t know much about the electronic design automation (EDA) industry before joining Cadence, so it was surprising to learn about the company’s global scale and its crucial role in the semiconductor technology sector. I’ve gathered that lots of the technology we use every day – our mobile phones, smart appliances, and cars – have chips that have been created using Cadence software and that Cadence has played a pivotal role in enabling design companies (our customers) to develop innovative technology worldwide. In the words of our CEO, Anirudh Devgan, “Almost any chip in the world is designed with some form of Cadence software.” Amazing, isn’t it?
I’ve also found out about the breadth of operations at Cadence, with there being an office in many countries across the globe, and I have been lucky to have gotten the chance to work with experts at other locations.
Induction Sessions – Starting the Learning Journey
Starting a new job can be overwhelming, so the quality and rigor of induction sessions play an important role in assisting new hires to smoothly transition into the role and feel settled. The meticulously planned induction sessions helped me get acquainted with the team, understand key processes, and learn the ropes of the job. As the director of the CPG Technical Communications team in Cork, Ashok Appu, says, “Be a sponge and try to absorb as much as you can to make the most out of the internship”. He also always encourages me to ask questions if I am unclear about anything. As a part of the CPG Technical Communications team, I’ve learned that our day-to-day work requires close collaboration with the research and development (R&D), product engineering, product validation, and configuration management teams to ensure that our world-class EDA products and their features are documented in a way that our customers can use them in the best possible way.
Healthy Work-Life Balance
At Cadence, we follow the hybrid work model, which I believe is a great way to offer work-from-home flexibility to employees when needed without losing out on the real in-person office experience. Cadence employees get 10 additional days off, popularly known as global recharge days, per year as well. These usually fall on a Friday or Monday, resulting in an extended weekend. The best part about these refresh days is that all Cadence offices globally switch off to allow employees to spend quality time with their families or pursue out-of-work interests without the fear of returning to a mailbox full of pending tasks. After spending some time in the Cork office, I also realized that everyone genuinely enjoys being here! The modern office space is a joy to work in, and there are plenty of fun spaces, such as the Xbox room and the pool table, to take a refreshing break when you need one. Not to mention the fun events organized regularly to allow employees to interact with each other in an informal setup. These are only a few examples of how the employee-first approach followed at Cadence ensures a healthy work-life balance.
Cadence Celebrates Diversity!
Last but not least, another thing that was evident soon after I joined was the focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at Cadence. Given my literature background, it was interesting and inspiring the find out about the impact of language and communication through the Words Matter Initiative and our DEI@Cadence blog series. I strongly believe that a diverse workplace can provide employees with a sense of belonging and bring out the best in them. Organizations like our Black Inclusion Group (BIG), Latinx Inclusion Group (Cadencia), LGBT+ Inclusion Group, Women at Cadence Inclusion Group (WIN), and Veterans Inclusion Group, as well as our new inclusion groups for Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) employees, neurodivergent employees and employees with disabilities (Abilities), and Indian employees, are a testament to Cadence’s commitment to developing an inclusive environment. This is undoubtedly one of the crucial elements that contribute to the friendly and welcoming atmosphere at Cadence. It is a privilege to work in a company that values diversity of thought, culture, and background.
Interns Then, Full-Time Employees Now…
The completion of the internship period sometimes marks the beginning of full-time employment at Cadence, too! So, lastly, I’d like to share comments from the previous batch of interns, who are now full-time employees at Cadence Cork.
As you can tell from my initial observations and those of the other interns, it has been an absolute pleasure being a part of Cadence Cork for the last month. I want to express my gratitude to everyone in the office for making the interns feel so welcome. I’m sure that my six-month term here will be full of learning and fun, and I’m looking forward to it!
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On May 1, 2023, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced a new National Emphasis Program (NEP) focusing on the reduction of fall-related injuries and fatalities for people working at heights in all industries. OSHA issues citations regarding fall protection more frequently than any other violation in construction industry inspections and falls from elevation accounted for 13% of all workplace deaths in 2021.
All construction inspections conducted by OSHA will be conducted according to the NEP instructions found here.
In addition, this NEP targets the following general industry activities:
Roof top mechanical work/maintenanceUtility line work/maintenance (electrical, cable)Arborist/tree trimmingHoliday light installationRoad sign maintenance/billboardsPower washing buildings (not connected to painting)Gutter cleaningChimney cleaningWindow cleaningCommunication Towers
If an OSHA investigator observes an employee working at height for any other non-construction activity not listed above, they may request approval from their area office manager to initiate an inspection under this NEP.
OSHA Inspection Process Under New NEP
Inspections under the new NEP will begin after a 90-day outreach period; which is usually accomplished by a letter being sent out to all industries with North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) or Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes targeted by the emphasis program. Outreach activities under this NEP will be continued quarterly thereafter and may include seminars, promotional materials, and the on-site consultation program.
Under the direction of this NEP, OSHA will assign an employee to travel through a selected geographic area to make a list of ongoing construction activities, regardless of observed hazards. The list will include street address, type of construction activity, and any other relevant observations, at a minimum. Other items, if available, such as the identity of the employer and hazards observed will be recorded. A master list will be generated with each establishment listed in the order they were observed and then a random number generator will be applied to determine which entities will be inspected under this NEP.
Key Changes to Fall Protection Enforcement
The major change that this NEP implements compared to prior OSHA enforcement of fall protection is that now targeted inspections will be conducted at construction sites or select generally industry sites without an OSHA investigator observing a case of imminent danger or a reported complaint, injury, or fatality related to fall protection.
In addition, an OSHA investigator may initiate an inspection if they observe an employee working at height under any condition, with approval from their office area director. If the OSHA investigator is unable to immediately begin an inspection after observing a fall hazard, they can provide the area office with a referral where they will be evaluated by the area director, and if appropriate, be assigned to another investigator.
Like all inspections, the OSHA investigator must focus on the scope for which the inspection was initiated, in this case, fall protection. However, the scope may be expanded based on injury and illness records, plain view hazards, or employee interviews.
Understanding NEPs and How They Impact Your Operations
OSHA identifies hazards and high-hazard industries based on inspection data, injury and illness data, NIOSH reports, peer-reviewed literature, and analysis of inspection findings. These NEPs are applied to industries with SIC/NAICS codes that traditionally have the hazards. Currently, there are 11 NEPS, as follows:
Combustible DustFall ProtectionHazardous MachineryHeatHexavalent ChromiumLeadPrimary Metal IndustriesProcess Safety ManagementShipbreakingSilica, CrystallineTrenching and Excavation
Review documentation on these NEPs here.
In addition to NEPs, there are regional Local Emphasis Programs (LEPs); for example, Region 1 (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, and VT) have the following LEPs:
NoisePowered Industrial TrucksCranes in ConstructionFall HazardsTree and Landscape OperationsResidential Construction
A full list of LEPs can be found here.
State plans may also adopt the NEPs and LEPs; a review of their adoption would need to be conducted through the individual state’s Department of Labor.
Generally, each OSHA office will take the industries in their area that apply to each emphasis program and apply a random number generator to populate their inspection list for the year. Each emphasis program has a different number of required inspections for the year which can be found within the enforcement document.
If the office gets through the first round of inspections, they may then select another batch of industries for inspection using the random number generator. Most enforcement programs have a list of the SIC/NAICS codes they cover in their appendix section.
Why Are NEPs Important?
It is important for industries to know if they fall under a NEP or LEP because that will potentially open them up to another avenue for an OSHA inspection. The emphasis programs do not frequently change from year to year so once a company initially determines if they fall under any applicable NEPs or LEPs they can reasonably expect that those emphasis programs will continue in the following years.
Another benefit of reviewing the emphasis programs is that a company can target its safety efforts to help reduce risk of injury in identified, high-hazard areas and processes.
Getting a handle on the National Emphasis Program updates can be tricky. Luckily, our Health and Safety experts are here to help. Reach out to our team today for help preparing for your next OSHA visit.
About Antea Group
Antea®Group is an environment, health, safety, and sustainability consulting firm. By combining strategic thinking with technical expertise, we do more than effectively solve client challenges; we deliver sustainable results for a better future. We work in partnership with and advise many of the world’s most sustainable companies to address ESG-business challenges in a way that fits their pace and unique objectives. Our consultants equip organizations to better understand threats, capture opportunities and find their position of strength. Lastly, we maintain a global perspective on ESG issues through not only our work with multinational clients, but also through our sister organizations in Europe, Asia, and Latin America and as a founding member of the Inogen Alliance. Learn more at us.anteagroup.com.
Join PNC Diversity & Inclusion for a special LGBTQ+ Pride Month event featuring Wade Davis, VP of Inclusion & Product at Netflix, Former NFL Player and Corporate Inclusion Advisor & Educator. Wade will inspire us to be courageous enough to speak up, explain how new media is disrupting the status quo, and share transformative solutions to build an inclusive culture within our communities.
Presenter
Wade Davis
VP of Inclusion Strategy for Product at Netflix, Former NFL Player, Corporate Inclusion Advisor & Educator
Wade Davis is a former NFL player turned thought leader, public speaker and writer. Currently, Wade is the Vice President of Inclusion Strategy for Product at Netflix. He has previously consulted for companies such as Google, Procter & Gamble and Viacom.
Wade Davis is also a Global Champion for Innovation for UN Women, and serves on the boards of MeTooInternational, the Ms. Foundation for Women, the MAD Foundation, Promundo and the Peace Studio. Wade works to engage, educate and help men understand what actions to take toward gender equality. Wade was the NFL’s first LGBTQ Inclusion consultant and has consulted for various professional sports leagues. He also consults with entertainment industry leaders such as Fox, Viacom and NBC.
A former national surrogate for President Obama, Wade has been an Adjunct Professor at NYU and Rutgers. He received an honorary degree from Northeastern University and is currently working on his first book.
Opening Remarks
J. Reymundo Ocañas
EVP, Director of Community Development Banking
Rey Ocañas is responsible for PNC’s team dedicated to improving low- and moderate-income communities across the bank’s footprint using innovative financial transactions, the delivery of programs supporting families and neighborhoods and through strategic grantmaking coast to coast.
He leads the teams producing Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) eligible community development lending and investment across PNC markets, with a primary focus on commercial and residential real estate, community development financial institutions and opportunity zone financing.
Rey is responsible for the launch and delivery of PNC’s $88 Billion Community Benefits Plan announced March 2021 that will provide $47 billion in residential mortgage and home equity loans; $26.5 billion in loans to small businesses; $14.5 billion in community development loans, including at least $400 million for community development financial institutions; and $500 million in charitable giving, sponsorships and philanthropic grants. This Plan also includes a $1.5 Billion commitment to address systemic racism through the deployment of capital and programs that provide economic opportunity for communities of color across the U.S.
Before joining the bank in 2009, Rey held positions with BBVA (merged with PNC), Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Bank of America, the Texas Association of Community Development Corporations and the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
Moderator
Nicholas C. Ashburn, CSRIC
Vice President, Head of Responsible Investing
Nick Ashburn is the Head of Responsible Investing (RI) for the Asset Management Group (AMG). In this role, Nick leads the investment, operational, and product strategy for RI, which includes providing RI investment solutions for individuals, families, and institutions; advancing the firm’s research and analytical capabilities on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) topics; and developing content and brand awareness for RI at PNC.
Prior to joining PNC, Nick led impact investing research and education at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and was a host on SiriusXM’s Business Radio channel. He has held teaching positions at the University of Texas-Austin and the University of Pennsylvania, and he was a Fulbright Fellow in Austria. He has also worked in community development venture capital, the nonprofit sector, and strategy consulting.
Nick holds a master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor’s degree from Belmont University. He is also a Chartered SRI Counselor® through the College for Financial Planning® and speaks German.
Nick serves as a voting member of the AMG Proxy Voting committee and actively participates in the CIO’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council.
Closing Remarks
Emma Loftus
Executive Vice President, Head of Treasury Management
Emma Loftus is executive vice president and head of Treasury Management for PNC Bank. With a longstanding record of delivering value and customized business solutions to clients across all market segments, Emma is focused on building a culture of innovation and establishing strategic priorities to position PNC as an industry-leading provider.
Before joining PNC in 2019, Emma served as Managing Director and Head of Global Payments for JP Morgan. She has held key product management and operations management positions in the payables, receivables and foreign exchange businesses at JP Morgan, Citi and Deutsche Bank.
Emma is a recognized leader in treasury management and an active industry participant. She is a former director of SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) and a former member of the Clearing House Payco Board and Federal Reserve Payments Risk Committee.
Emma is Co-Sponsor of the PNC Proud Employee Business Resource Group (EBRG). In her appointed role with PNC Proud, she intends to support her group through listening, advocacy, and empowerment.
Emma holds a BA from Duke University and an MBA from the Stern School of Business at New York University.
In 2022, Paramount Global strengthened their commitment to social impact and used their power as a global content creator for good. This included a heavy emphasis on essential, strategic partnerships to help foster the commitment to social impact and using power as a global content creator for good.
To celebrate the collective social impact ahead of Community Day 2023 on June 14th, view the infographic linked below created to highlight some of this past year’s milestones. It is underscored that none of these initiatives would be possible without dedicated community partners and passioned employees devoting their resources to causes they care about.
Written by Nasdaq in partnership with Daryl Kennedy from Piva Capital
Climate tech startups are proving very attractive to investors. Venture capital (“VC”) funds with an explicit decarbonization focus announced $10 billion of new capital raised in 2022, contributing to a total $63 billion of new dry powder for climate solutions across all private equity asset classes. [1] Despite tough market conditions in 2022, venture deals for climate-focused companies totaled over $26 billion in 2022 – more than double the average amount raised by any other vertical. [2] In addition, the largest IPO to date in 2023 happens to be climate-focused solar technology company Nextracker, which made its public market debut on February 9 with a $638 million IPO. [3]
Investors—especially VCs—are not only focusing on climate tech, but also adding responsible investing practices focused on environmental, social, and governance (“ESG”) considerations to their toolkit. Pitchbook’s annual Sustainable Investment Survey found that the percent of general partners (“GPs”) who have fully integrated sustainable investment principles throughout their portfolio rose from less than 40% in 2021 to over 45% in 2022. 45% of VC respondents said they were most focused on the positive environmental impacts of investments over other aspects of ESG, compared to 35% of their non-VC counterparts. This emphasis suggests VCs in particular see enabled emissions reductions of their portfolio companies as a key element of fund value creation and strategy.
The intersection of these two trends, climate tech startup investment and venture capital responsible investment focus, poses an interesting question: How can VC-backed climate tech companies work together with their investors to advance responsible business practices? Startups already addressing climate change through their core products and services should consider:
ESG integration: Understand how VCs incorporate non-financial considerations into their investment processes and address these considerations in your business early on.Impact measurement: Quantify metrics—especially carbon impact—to powerfully tell your business story. Enabled emissions reduction often correlates directly with revenue generation.IPO preparation: As early as practical, thoughtfully integrate sustainability information into operations to optimize exit valuation when going public.
[1] Climate Tech VC newsletter: New dry powder for a new climate
[2] Data from PitchBook as of January 28, 2023
[3] Bloomberg: Nextracker jumps up to 29 after 638 million US IPO
Eaton named to Newsweek’s Top 100 Global Most Loved Workplaces® list.Great Place To Work® certifies Eaton for dedication to employees and culture.
CLEVELAND, June 6, 2023 /3BL Media/ – Intelligent power management company Eaton (NYSE: ETN) today announced it was named to Newsweek’s 2023 Top 100 Global Most Loved Workplaces® list. In addition, Eaton was Certified™ for the first time by Great Place to Work®, the global authority on workplace culture, employee experience, and leadership behaviors required for market-leading revenue, employee retention and innovation.
The honors are based on independent anonymous surveys administered to employees to assess their job satisfaction. Areas such as inclusion, diversity, equity, belonging, career development and company leadership were identified and analyzed.
“Our designation as a Great Place to Work® and recognition as one of the Top 100 Global Most Loved Workplaces® sets us apart as one of the top companies for employees,” said Ernest Marshall, executive vice president and chief human resources officer. “We know that our people are our greatest asset, and we are always striving to find new ways of working to ensure their safety, health, wellness and success.”
Nancy Cooper, global editor-in-chief of Newsweek, emphasized the significance of a positive culture, stating, “The companies featured on the 2023 Global Most Loved Workplaces® list embody this transformative spirit, proving that when companies prioritize their people, success naturally follows.”
Eaton ranked No. 63 out of 100 companies on Newsweek’s 2023 Top 100 Global Most Loved Workplaces® list and has made Newsweek’s America’s Most Loved Workplaces® list twice, ranking No. 72 in 2022 and No. 74 in 2021. In January, Newsweek also named Eaton one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity and awarded the company with five out of five possible stars.
Great Place To Work® Certification™ is the most definitive “employer-of-choice” recognition that companies aspire to achieve. It is recognized worldwide by employees and employers alike and is the global benchmark for identifying and recognizing outstanding employee experience. Every year, more than 10,000 companies across 60 countries apply to get Great Place To Work-Certified.
Eaton is an intelligent power management company dedicated to improving the quality of life and protecting the environment for people everywhere. We are guided by our commitment to do business right, to operate sustainably and to help our customers manage power ─ today and well into the future. By capitalizing on the global growth trends of electrification and digitalization, we’re accelerating the planet’s transition to renewable energy, helping to solve the world’s most urgent power management challenges, and doing what’s best for our stakeholders and all of society.
Founded in 1911, Eaton is marking its 100th anniversary of being listed on the New York Stock Exchange. We reported revenues of $20.8 billion in 2022 and serve customers in more than 170 countries. For more information, visit www.eaton.com. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Contact:
Drew Horansky
(216) 374-4968
DrewAHoransky@Eaton.com
###
Originally published in GoDaddy’s 2022 Sustainability Report
Innovation
We’re focused on evolving to deliver for our customers.
The world is constantly changing — and so are the needs of the entrepreneurs we serve. At GoDaddy, we’re determined to stay ahead of the curve for our customers by evolving our products through experimentation and innovation.
A Culture of Experimentation
Over the last few years, we’ve made an intentional shift toward a culture of experimentation. Centered on serving our customers, this cultural mindset makes it easier for the entrepreneurs we support to leverage our tools — from elevated commerce and social platforms to website hosting solutions — and propel their businesses forward.
In 2022, we started several new controlled experiments each day. We also initiated the Experimentation Showcase to further our test- and-learn culture. As part of this showcase, teams created experiments to enhance our customers’ experience and submitted them for review. Selected experiments are featured in a live, cross-company showcase.
BUGBASHES
In 2022, we hosted events called Basharama and BasharamaToo to put teams across GoDaddy in our customers’ shoes to experience our products
from their point of view and identify improvement opportunities.
Technological Innovation
In 2022, we developed the GoDaddy Tech Manifesto, which powers our technological innovation and provides the GoDaddy community with a set of technology principles to support our strategy. These principles include simplicity, abstraction, consistency, extensibility, connected data and a commitment to iterate.
With this solid foundation in place, it makes it easier for our teams to make the right decisions quickly, increasing both the velocity and quality of delivery. These principles build on our existing engineering principles: security, speed of delivery, performance, availability, quality, and embracing inner source and open source communities to foster innovation.
To keep our technology teams working in alignment and to promote transparency and cross-company collaboration, GoDaddy uses Tech Radar, a forward-looking summary of GoDaddy’s global technology strategy. In 2022, we launched the Tech Radar Tuesday series to highlight new technologies and encourage engagement across relevant teams.
Acquisitions
As a part of our constant evolution to meet our customers’ changing needs, GoDaddy made key acquisitions in 2022 to enhance and accelerate our strategic and financial objectives:
About This Report
Unless otherwise noted, the GoDaddy 2022 Sustainability Report outlines our environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategies, activities, progress, metrics and performance for the fiscal year that ended on December 31, 2022. This report references the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards and includes select Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) Standards metrics for the Internet Media and Services sector.
GoDaddy is committed to regular, transparent communication about our sustainability progress, and to that end, we will share updates on an ongoing basis through our website and will continue to publish an annual Sustainability Report.
To learn more, please read our 2022 Sustainability Report.
OVERLAND PARK, Kan., June 6, 2023 /3BL Media/ – From the challenges of chronically aging infrastructure and regulatory and climate change pressures to opportunities such as data’s promise and an infusion of federal funds, the U.S. water sector’s complexities continue to evolve amid pushes for greater sustainability and resilience, the newly released Black & Veatch 2023 Water Report shows.
The report – expert analysis of survey responses from roughly 450 U.S. water industry stakeholders – details a sector still grappling with aging water and sewer infrastructure as its chief concern, followed by challenges of an aging workforce and efforts to hire qualified staff. Money issues – from justifying capital improvement programs to rate requirements and managing capital and operational costs – remain other top concerns, along with regulatory mandates.
Resilience and sustainability remain a prevailing theme, with two-thirds of respondents citing sustainability – what Black & Veatch defines as the need to serve the current generation while safeguarding the needs of future generations – as a critical strategic focus. Along the way, the survey shows promising evidence that the industry continues to wage a digital transformation – a key driver to resilience and sustainability, promoting better decision-making and optimal use of aging assets in a rate-restricted sector.
Headwinds add to the complexities of today’s water industry, from the impacts of climate change to the shifting regulatory landscape that includes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s March announcement of its long-expected National Proposed Drinking Water Rule (NPDWR) to regulate a new category of toxins in drinking water. Worries about cyberattacks also haven’t abated.
But opportunity knocks, certainly on the funding front. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) — or the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), enacted in late 2021 as the largest federal investment in water in U.S. history – commits tens of billions of dollars to the sector. But just slightly more than one-quarter of respondents say their enterprise has applied for or will go after that funding, while more than four in 10 haven’t explored it nor have plans to pursue it.
“Throughout the ecosystem of U.S. water utilities, stakeholders continue to demonstrate agility and forward thinking as part of a “One Water” mindset that all forms of water — from drinking water to wastewater, stormwater, reclaimed water, indirect and direct potable reuse, and groundwater — are a singular resource to be managed sustainably,“ said Mike Orth, president of Black & Veatch’s governments and environment business.
“Headwinds in the form of regulatory uncertainty and climate change impacts accompany vast opportunities, from the full, powerful potential of data – what we call “digital water” – to the infusion of federal funding for an array of infrastructure upgrades illustrate the intensifying complexities and the promise of water,” Orth added. “The time is now to leverage innovation for the broader holistic integration and modernization that these times demand.”
The new report highlights a U.S. water sector – a fragmented industry, with more than 50,000 water utilities and 16,000 wastewater utilities – discovering new ways of doing business by holistically leveraging integrated approaches to both planning and delivering strategic, financial and operational resilience.
Some other key findings of the report include:
Roughly half of respondents report that their utility has sustainability goals and the means to measure them.Two-thirds cited affordability as their biggest hurdle in achieving sustainability strategies.Roughly four in 10 rated themselves as “very confident” about the resilience of their water supplies. An additional 44 percent of respondents cited “somewhat confident.”Two-thirds of respondents reported positive results when asked to what extent their enterprise’s data or digital solutions strategy is achieving objectives.More than half of respondents stated they are not leveraging data they collect effectively, a slight increase from 49 percent last year.U.S. water utilities are prioritizing investments in water reliability and resilience (61 percent), asset rehabilitation and renewal (56 percent), cybersecurity (50 percent) and regulatory compliance for PFAS (49 percent) as their top investments for their utility or municipality over the next decade.Eight in 10 respondents say cybersecurity is the most important investment in the security of their assets. But only 57 percent believe physical security — a prerequisite for cybersecurity — is the most critical investment.Forty-five percent consider new federal funding programs as too restrictive, up from 27 percent last year. Forty-six percent label them administratively too burdensome, an increase of 9 percent points from 2022.Identical to 2022’s results, half of the respondents reported that consumers had little understanding between the cost of producing safe water and the current rates they pay.More than half of respondents envision investing in additional treatment processes or significant new treatment technologies, though their time horizons vary.
Editor’s Notes:
A free copy of the report is available for download here.
About Black & Veatch
Black & Veatch is a 100-percent employee-owned global engineering, procurement, consulting and construction company with a more than 100-year track record of innovation in sustainable infrastructure. Since 1915, we have helped our clients improve the lives of people around the world by addressing the resilience and reliability of our most important infrastructure assets. Our revenues in 2022 were US$4.3 billion. Follow us on www.bv.com and on social media.
Media Contact Information:
JIM SUHR | +1 913-458-6995 P | SuhrJ@BV.com
24-HOUR MEDIA CONTACT | Media@bv.com
BRIDGEWATER, N.J., June 6, 2023 /3BL Media/ – CRB, a leading global provider of engineering, architecture, construction, and consulting solutions to the life sciences and food and beverage industries, announces its 22nd office opening in Bridgewater, New Jersey. The office becomes CRB’s fifth Northeast location, joining spaces in the Philadelphia, Boston, Washington, D.C., and Toronto, Canada, areas and bringing the company’s innovative project delivery teams and subject matter experts even closer to clients in one of the largest and most influential biopharma clusters in the world.
The office, which adds to 21 existing CRB locations across the U.S., Canada and Europe, is led by Paul Shapiro, CRB’s New Jersey Director and Office Leader with more than 30 years of experience in engineering design, leadership, and project management. Drawing from CRB’s deep bench of internationally recognized industry thought leaders, the New Jersey office positions CRB to capture an even larger share of the Northeast biopharma market. Clients are increasingly seeking integrated project delivery, design, construction, pre-construction and procurement services to scale their products from research and development through to commercial-scale production.
Shapiro is among CRB’s project leaders with deep experience in the company’s ONEsolution™ lean project delivery approach, which leverages the combined expertise and technical excellence of a single project team to align with clients on cost and schedule without sacrificing safety or quality. The approach has been critical to the global COVID-19 response, with several vaccine manufacturers partnering with CRB’s design and construction teams to deliver facilities that could quickly address the world’s urgent vaccine demand.
“Opening in New Jersey keeps us close to new and core clients while providing us direct access to the region’s wealth of engineering, design, construction and architecture talent,” said John Costalas, Vice President for CRB’s Northeast region. “The Northeast U.S. is a global driver of innovative therapies and drugs that are critical in the war on disease, and we’re privileged and excited to support our clients from the New Jersey, New York and Connecticut Tri-State Region.”
With easy access to highways and numerous popular dining and retail options, CRB Bridgewater is convenient for clients and employees and just an hour’s train ride from New York City. The office itself is an expression of CRB core values with an employee-centered collaborative and daylit environment. Significant investment in furnishings and technology will support an in-office experience consistent with CRB’s offices around the globe. Additional building amenities include a fitness center, cafeteria and an outdoor courtyard for client and employee gatherings.
About CRB:
CRB is a leading global provider of sustainable engineering, architecture, construction, and consulting solutions to the life sciences and food and beverage industries. Our innovative ONEsolution™ service provides successful integrated project delivery for clients demanding high-quality solutions — on time and on budget. Across 22 offices in North America and Europe, the company’s nearly 1,800 employees provide world-class, technically preeminent solutions that drive success and positive change for clients and communities. See our work at crbgroup.com, and connect with us on social media here.
CONTACT:
Clarity Quest Marketing:
877-887-7611
Bonnie Quintanilla, bonnie@clarityqst.com
CRB:
816-200-5234
Chris Clark, chris.clark@crbgroup.com