Month: August 2023

DAVIDSON, N.C., August 30, 2023 /3BL/ – Calhoun Community College, the largest two-year institution in The Alabama Community College System, and Trane® – by Trane Technologies, a global climate innovator, celebrate the opening of Calhoun Community College’s new building automation system lab. The lab is designed to give students hands-on experience that will help them bridge the gap between classroom instruction and the needs of employers.

The immersive learning environment was designed to support the building automation system curriculum provided through the National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3). Students will use the latest Trane controls and equipment to understand how a sophisticated building automation system works and gain practical experience using the data-driven technology to better control facility comfort and energy efficiency.

“The lab is just one way Calhoun Community College is fulfilling its commitment to provide students with a gateway to a better career, better pay, and a better life, said Dr. Jimmy Hodges, president, Calhoun Community College. “Our new building automation system lab offers our students a unique opportunity to learn using the latest HVAC technology and ensure that they are well-prepared to excel in the workforce.”

The need for skilled labor remains high across the United States and specialized roles like HVAC technicians are experiencing exceptional demand. Filling the talent pipeline with highly skilled technicians who understand the latest systems and controls is critical to maintaining and optimizing HVAC systems. Students completing the coursework will be eligible to test for five Building Automation System NC3 Certifications which demonstrate skills achievement.

“Trane is committed to uplifting and preparing people for in-demand careers in the HVAC industry – that includes working with leading organizations like Calhoun Community College and NC3 to create effective learning environments that prepare students for real-world applications,” said Brian Thorstad, Alabama area general manager, Trane. “We are proud to support Calhoun’s new building automation system lab, which will help advance career and technical education in the community and further develop the next generation of building automation system experts.”

“With the new lab and curriculum, Calhoun Community College is demonstrating their extraordinary commitment to their community, and the nation, by delivering world class education and skills sets that benefit everyone,” said Roger Tadajewski, executive director, NC3. “We are proud to be able to make a difference in the next generation of skilled workers together with Calhoun and Trane.”

Students can begin enrolling in the new building automation system curriculum in November. For more information or to enroll, click here: https://calhoun.edu/technologies/.

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About Calhoun Community College 
The largest of the two-year institutions comprising The Alabama Community College System, Calhoun is an open-admission, community-based, state-supported, coeducational, comprehensive community college dedicated to providing affordable, high-quality and accessible education to individuals in its four-county service area. Offering more than 100 associate degree and career/certificate programs, Calhoun serves approximately 10,000 students at its 110-acre Decatur campus; its Huntsville/Cummings Research Park site; and Alabama Center for the Arts in downtown Decatur. The college’s faculty and staff are well qualified and remain current in their areas of expertise. Over 80 percent of the full-time faculty possess at least a master’s degree, and approximately 15 percent hold the doctorate. For over 75 years, Calhoun has been an active member of North Alabama. Graduates of the college permeate the community, and many of them have gone on to complete baccalaureate degrees at other institutions in the area, or have entered the work force after successfully completing programs of study and training.

About NC3 
NC3 was established to help build a workforce prepared to meet the needs of today’s and tomorrow’s industries by connecting employers and educational institutions in synergistic partnerships that foster effective training, elevation of skilled careers, and employment opportunities. Learn more at www.nc3.net.

About Trane 
Trane – by Trane Technologies (NYSE: TT), a global climate innovator – creates comfortable, energy efficient indoor environments for commercial and residential applications. For more information, please visit www.trane.com or www.tranetechnologies.com.

About Trane Technologies 
Trane Technologies is a global climate innovator. Through our strategic brands Trane® and Thermo King®, and our portfolio of environmentally responsible products and services, we bring efficient and sustainable climate solutions to buildings, homes and transportation. Visit tranetechnologies.com.

ST. PAUL, Minn., August 30, 2023 /3BL/ – The Minnesota Occupational Safety and Health Administration formally honored Cintas Corporation’s (Nasdaq: CTAS) Rental Division Location in St. Paul, MN, as a Minnesota Star certified location during Monday’s ceremony at the location.

The Minnesota Star program was created by Minnesota OSHA to recognize stand-out worksites that have comprehensive, successful safety and health management systems. Companies that have earned a Minnesota Star designation have achieved injury and illness rates at or below the national average of their respective industries and have established strong workplace hazard control programs. 

>> Media Use Assets (available on Dropbox) https://cint.as/47ORb37

During the presentation, Erik Kielley, Northern Plains Group Vice President, accepted the honor on his team’s behalf.

“Achieving the VPP Star Status is an exciting achievement for the Cintas St. Paul, MN operation,” Kielley said. “Their tireless efforts and commitment to safety excellence have created this important moment.  The amazing team of professionals found at this operation truly realizes there is nothing more important than the health and safety of each partner.  I am humbled by their example and truly grateful to be working for a company that always puts partner safety first.”

MNOSHA established Minnesota Star to promote effective and cooperative worksite safety and health in both private industry and government worksites.

Achieving MN Star certification is rigorous. Businesses must demonstrate that management and employees work cooperatively – and proactively – to prevent workplace accidents by implementing a comprehensive safety and health management system and maintaining injury and illness rates below national Bureau of Labor Statistics averages for their respective industries. 

This program is MNOSHA’s official recognition of the outstanding efforts of employers and employees who have achieved exemplary occupational safety and health. To remain in the program, participants must be re-evaluated every three to five years. 

Cintas’ commitment to OSHA’s VPP Star program has set a new standard for U.S. companies. As of August 2023, 127 Cintas facilities in the United States are VPP Star certified, a total that far outpaces every other American company.

“The most important requirement for earning this distinction is that the location management team and the front-line partners must work together toward the common goal of eliminating workplace injuries and illnesses,” said Stephen Jenkins, Cintas Director of Health & Safety, whose department oversees the company’s VPP certification process. “Without this critical element, a company will not qualify for this recognition. We’re incredibly proud of our employee-partners’ dedication to working collaboratively to maintain safe and healthy worksites throughout our company.”

About Cintas Corporation
Cintas Corporation helps more than one million businesses of all types and sizes get Ready™ to open their doors with confidence every day by providing products and services that help keep their customers’ facilities and employees clean, safe, and looking their best. With offerings including uniforms, mats, mops, towels, restroom supplies, workplace water services, first aid and safety products, eye-wash stations, safety training, fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems and alarm service, Cintas helps customers get Ready for the Workday®. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Cintas is a publicly held Fortune 500 company traded over the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol CTAS and is a component of both the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index and Nasdaq-100 Index.

Media Contact:
Michelle Goret, Cintas Vice President of Corporate Affairs | goretm@cintas.com, 513-972-4155

HOUSTON, August 30, 2023 /3BL/ – Green Mountain Energy customers prioritized protecting the environment in 2022 by choosing renewable energy and carbon offset products to prevent more than 8.7 billion pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) from entering the atmosphere.

To illustrate the impact, that’s the equivalent of planting 1 million trees, taking 1.1 million cars off the road, or 25 million households turning their lights off for a year. Since 1997, Green Mountain Energy customers have collectively avoided 107 billion pounds of carbon dioxide, the equivalent of planting more than 12.8 million trees.

“Green Mountain Energy customers use the power of customer choice to change the way power is made and reduce their carbon footprint,” said Mark Parsons, vice president and general manager of Green Mountain Energy. “We are confident our customers will continue to light the path to a brighter future as they seek to live sustainably across all parts of their lives.”

Green Mountain Energy also advances sustainability through its charitable program, Sun Club®. Sun Club collaborates with nonprofit organizations on projects that focus on renewable energy, energy efficiency, resource conservation, and environmental stewardship.

Since its founding in 2002, Sun Club has donated more than $13 million to 156 nonprofit organizations across Texas and the Northeast. In 2022 alone, Sun Club donated $1.4 million to fund 13 projects. These projects are estimated to have generated 21 million kWh of solar electricity; avoided more than 4 million pounds carbon dioxide; captured 15 million gallons of rainwater; and grew 264,000 pounds of produce. To learn more about supporting Green Mountain Energy and Sun Club or to apply for a Sun Club grant, visit greenmountain.com/sunclub.

Green Mountain offers a variety of options for customers to harness the power of the sun to sustainably meet their energy needs. For example, the Renewable Rewards Solar Credit plan allows residents to get the most out of their solar panel system. Excess electricity generated by the panels flows into the grid, and in exchange, customers receive a Green Mountain Energy bill credit for 100% of the excess energy produced by the solar system.

Customers who sign up for the Solar All Nighter for EVs Plus plan can fuel their electric vehicles with 100% renewable energy, powering their electric vehicles at home during low-cost hours of the day to reduce their carbon footprint using emissions-free electricity.

Green Mountain Energy has helped communities light up with hope for a greener future since 1997. This commitment to clean energy is reflected in our new brand campaign “Light the Future.” Watch the campaign video here, and meet the new firefly brand ambassador Lucy as she will continue to glow across the company’s website, social media channels, and more.

To learn more about how to take the next step toward sustainability with renewable energy plans, visit greenmountainenergy.com.

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About Green Mountain Energy Company

Green Mountain Energy is the nation’s longest serving renewable energy retailer, on a mission to change the way power is made since 1997. Green Mountain offers consumers and businesses the choice of cleaner electricity products from renewable sources, as well as a variety of carbon offset products and sustainable solutions for businesses. Collectively, Green Mountain customers have helped avoid more than 107 billion pounds of carbon dioxide emissions to date. Green Mountain is lighting the path to a brighter future by supporting the sustainable projects of nonprofits through our charitable program, Green Mountain Energy Sun Club. To learn more about Green Mountain, visit greenmountainenergy.com.

Media Contact:

Estefanía Joy
713-537-5735
media@greenmountain.com
Twitter: @GreenMtnEnergy

Fifth Third Bank, in collaboration with The Urban League’s Financial Empowerment Center, is proud to present the next discussion in its Wealth Building Wednesdays (WBW) series, “Generational Wealth in Action!” today, August 30, 2023, during Black Philanthropy Month. Wealth Building Wednesdays is designed to bring financial literacy tools to the public and is being held at the new Holloman Center for Social Justice in Avondale, Ohio. 

This powerful conversation on generational wealth journeys will be moderated by Marya Rutherford Long, vice president and community impact manager at Fifth Third, and will feature Association of Fundraising Professionals’ 2023 Philanthropist of the Year Gail Holloman, her daughter Jamia Gamble, who leads the 7 Principles Foundation as President & CEO, and Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio Board of Trustees Chair Barbara Turner. Panelists will share their stories of building generational wealth, answer questions, and offer practical guidance on achieving financial goals. 

This event is free and open to the public, but you must register at https://tinyurl.com/ulgsowbw. 

Doors open at 4:45 p.m. Lite bites and refreshments will be available.

About Fifth Third

Fifth Third is a bank that’s as long on innovation as it is on history. Since 1858, we’ve been helping individuals, families, businesses and communities grow through smart financial services that improve lives. Our list of firsts is extensive, and it’s one that continues to expand as we explore the intersection of tech-driven innovation, dedicated people and focused community impact. Fifth Third is one of the few U.S.-based banks to have been named among Ethisphere’s World’s Most Ethical Companies® for several years. With a commitment to taking care of our customers, employees, communities and shareholders, our goal is not only to be the nation’s highest performing regional bank, but to be the bank people most value and trust.

Fifth Third Bank, National Association is a federally chartered institution. Fifth Third Bancorp is the indirect parent company of Fifth Third Bank, and its common stock is traded on the NASDAQ® Global Select Market under the symbol “FITB.” Investor information and press releases can be viewed at  www.53.com.