Month: September 2023

RALEIGH, N.C., September 6, 2023 /3BL/ – To support carbon-conscious enterprise customers in their sustainability journeys, Lenovo is offering a Reduced Carbon Transport Service, a distinct offering that gives enterprises the option to lower their carbon impact when IT devices are air shipped. Through Reduced Carbon Transport Service, customers can purchase Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) credits and attribute the resulting emissions reduction benefit to their IT purchase, achieving a minimum of 70 percent CO2 emissions reduction1.

A cleaner substitute for conventional jet fuel, SAF has potential2 in reducing CO2 emissions from airfreight transportation and enables organizations to realize targets for Scope 3 emissions. The Greenhouse Gas Protocol defines Scope 3 emissions—which account for 70 percent of the average corporate total emissions3—as those that occur outside a company’s walls, including emissions tied to the purchase and disposal of products. While less than 10 percent of organizations accurately measure their Scope 3 emissions4, Lenovo’s Reduced Carbon Transport Service provides customers a tangible way to reduce emissions from airfreight. Customers receive a confirmation of emissions reduction that can be used for reporting against their own Scope 3 targets, ensuring greater transparency throughout the process.

“We’re embedding sustainability deeper into the technology value chain with innovations like Reduced Carbon Transport so that customers have a pathway to more sustainable IT decision-making,” said Claudia Contreras, Executive Director of Global Sustainability Services for Lenovo. “At Lenovo, we are committed to more than just our own Net-Zero vision. Net-Zero is achieved through a collection of sustainable choices. We are happy to be the trusted business partner and solution provider that helps customers achieve both digital transformation and sustainability success.”

Enterprise customers across North America, EMEA, and Asia Pacific have the option to add Reduced Carbon Transport Service to their device purchases. As part of its service-led transformation, Lenovo continues to innovate by delivering solutions that help customers meet their own sustainability goals. In addition to its new Reduced Carbon Transport Service, Lenovo is enabling customers to meet their climate action goals and implement more circular and responsible IT practices with several sustainability focused services including Lenovo CO2 Offset Service and Asset Recovery Services.

Reduced Carbon Transport Service is the latest offering from Lenovo’s Solutions and Services Group (SSG) which brings together all of Lenovo’s IT solutions and services across PC, infrastructure and smart verticals including support, managed, project and solution service offerings. With a network of over 20,000 technicians across 180 markets, SSG helps customers transform their businesses on a global and local scale by delivering practical innovation to strengthen their competitive advantage. Lenovo TruScale customers can deploy services on a “subscription” basis, using only what they need and curbing waste.

Learn more about Lenovo’s Sustainability Solutions.

1 Approximate percentage LCA GHG reduction versus fossil jet based on feedstock used in SAF such as waste and residue lipids, oilseed bearing trees on low-ILUC degraded land or as a rotational oil cover crops. Indirect CO2 emissions reduction benefit is obtained through the purchase of Sustainable Aviation Fuel credits. 
2 https://www.icao.int/environmental-protection/pages/SAF.aspx 
3 https://www.bloomberg.com/professional/blog/closing-the-scope-3-ghg-emissions-data-gap-2/ 
4https://www.bcg.com (Boston Consulting Group) per https://www.terrascope.com/blog/overcoming-challenges-in-understanding-and-quantifying-scope-3-emissions-for-large-enterprises

About Lenovo 
Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) is a US$62 billion revenue global technology powerhouse, ranked #217 in the Fortune Global 500, employing 77,000 people around the world, and serving millions of customers every day in 180 markets. Focused on a bold vision to deliver smarter technology for all, Lenovo has built on its success as the world’s largest PC company by further expanding into growth areas that fuel the advancement of ‘New IT’ technologies (client, edge, cloud, network, and intelligence) including server, storage, mobile, software, solutions, and services. This transformation together with Lenovo’s world-changing innovation is building a more inclusive, trustworthy, and smarter future for everyone, everywhere. To find out more visit https://www.lenovo.com, and read about the latest news via our StoryHub.

Originally published on U.S. Bank company blog

Lisa Gutierrez is a Nor Cal resident to the core, but her passion for communities across the country in her day-to-day work is second to none.

“I love my job because of the lives and communities we get to transform with our financing,” said Gutierrez, who serves as the director of business development, affordable housing, for U.S. Bancorp Impact Finance.

Lisa earned her degree from California State University Sacramento in communications and public relations in 2001 and never dreamed she would be where she is today, leading a team of 12 and developing affordable housing projects that serve individuals earning 60% or below the annual median household income in a particular area.

Gutierrez started out working at a local U.S. Bank branch in Folsom, California, during college and has since grown her career in the banking industry living and working in the town where she was raised, Sacramento.

“In 2006, I took a position in our commercial real estate group to underwrite retail, hospitality, office and the full realm of product types. But, on my first day, I was handed a small book entitled, “How to Finance Multi-Family Housing with Tax Exempt Bonds,” because our community lending group needed help. I have not looked back in 17 years.”

And she has flourished since. Recently, Gutierrez received a phone call from the executive director of the California Housing Consortium (CHC), Ray Pearl, to let her know she is the recipient of a 2023 Hall of Fame Award in the private sector.

“Hall of Fame feels like something you get inducted to at the end of an esteemed career, so receiving this honor now is so exciting,” she said. “I am humbled to be recognized by the folks I work alongside with every day to create more affordable homes in California and advocate for policy within this state and beyond. Our industry is a fierce group of competitors, vying for the attention of our clients, competing for public funding awards, or an RFP to win the development rights of a specific project, but we are amazing collaborators when it comes to advocating for new housing policy and sharing new and innovative ways to build and finance more housing.”

The California Housing Hall of Fame Awards honor leaders who have taken a role in advancing affordable housing development, financing and advocacy. Pearl and Gutierrez have worked together for several years, including in her recent role serving on the organization’s board.

“CHC is proud to honor Lisa as one of the recipients of this year’s California Housing Hall of Fame Awards,” said Pearl. “Lisa was nominated this year because she has become one of the state’s go-to experts on affordable housing and impact financing, while also helping modernize our industry by promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in all the work we do. Her deep knowledge of tax credit and lending programs is helping connect affordable housing providers across California with the critical resources they need to build safe, affordable homes for the state’s most vulnerable households. Millions of Californians are depending on CHC and our members to produce a lot more affordable housing in every community, and leaders like Lisa are helping ensure affordable housing providers have all the tools to do the job.”

According to California Housing Partnership, California is facing a shortfall of 1.2 million homes affordable to the state’s lowest-income households.

“The work that Impact Finance is doing in California is key,” said Gutierrez. “On average, 40% or more of the dollars we lend and invest nationwide annually for affordable housing are deployed right here in California.”

Gutierrez’ award comes at a time when U.S. Bank has made a material commitment in California and is building continued relationships with the clients from the bank’s recent acquisition of Union Bank.

“Although this is an individual award, it truly represents our company’s commitment to the market, affordable housing, and the support they have afforded me to not only carry on day-to-day duties but be a community leader in this space.”

When she’s not talking about affordable housing, Gutierrez loves spending time with her family, including their Labradoodle Duke. They enjoy traveling, live music, and Gutierrez is a devout Peloton enthusiast, a passion she discovered during the pandemic.

Gutierrez’s career spans financing a Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) development serving the LGBTQ+ community, one of the first of its kind in the nation, to financing housing of varying resident income levels, from the unhoused to workforce housing for teachers and public service providers to veterans.

“I have had the privilege of being a part of adding thousands of affordable homes in the communities we serve, and that is the real reward,” she said.

September 6, 2023 /3BL/ – The Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR) announces its HACR Inclusión Gala Corporate Honoree along with three exemplary corporate leaders, receiving Corporate Director of the Year Honoree, Executive of the Year Honoree and Inclusión Champion Honoree. The honorees will be recognized at the non-profit organization’s inaugural HACR Inclusión Gala in Times Square, New York City on October 11.

The HACR Inclusión Gala takes place during Hispanic Heritage Month and celebrates Hispanic excellence in driving inclusion in the corporate sector. The three individual honorees are Monica C. Lozano, a board member on three corporate boards: Apple, Bank of America, and Target Corporation; Cesar Conde, Chairman of NBCUniversal News Group; and Yvonne Garcia, Chief of Staff to Chairman and CEO, Global Head of Internal Communications, and Global Head of the CEO Experience Program, State Street.

“We’re delighted to honor those who exemplify outstanding achievement in driving Hispanic inclusion in Corporate America,” said HACR President and CEO, Cid Wilson. “All have made strides in the communities they serve and have set high standards for themselves and their companies. We couldn’t be prouder.”

The event will feature fine dining and entertainment in the city’s most iconic location as well as a ceremony honoring outstanding achievement in the following categories:

Corporate Honoree – PwC

The Corporate Honoree is a company that has prioritized Latino/Hispanic inclusion through its demonstrated support. PwC, a leading professional services firm, is making significant strides in advancing inclusion through its longstanding commitment as part of the firm’s strategy and involvement as a co-founder of the CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion initiative. The initiative is the largest CEO-driven business commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion in the workplace with a roster of more than 2,400 CEOs who have pledged to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in their workplaces through a commitment to four key actions:

Creating a culture of trust and openness for dialogue on diversity and inclusion issuesProviding and expanding unconscious bias education and trainingSharing best practices and lessons learned from diversity and inclusion initiativesDeveloping and sharing strategic diversity and inclusion plans with their boards of directors

Corporate Director of the Year Honoree – Monica C. Lozano, Board Director for Apple, Bank of America, and Target Corporation

The Corporate Director of the Year Honoree is a Hispanic board director who has not only demonstrated exemplary service as a director, but who has generously shared their journey both publicly and privately with other high-potential Hispanic corporate leaders to increase the ranks of Latinos on corporate boards.

Monica C. Lozano is the former President and Chief Executive Officer of College Futures Foundation, a position she held for five years until August 2022. College Futures Foundation is a California-based private foundation committed to closing equity gaps in California’s institutions of higher education by supporting underserved students to meet their postsecondary aspirations that provide greater opportunity for social and economic mobility.

Prior to joining College Futures Foundation, Lozano spent thirty years in media, twenty of these as editor, publisher, and Chief Executive Officer of La Opinión, the country’s leading Spanish language daily newspaper. She went on to become CEO and Chair of the Board of the parent company, ImpreMedia, and subsequently Chair of US Hispanic Media, Inc until she retired in 2015. Lozano serves on the Board of Directors of Apple, Bank of America, and Target Corporation as Lead Independent Director. Lozano has received multiple awards and distinctions and has been named one of Fortune Magazine’s 50 Most Influential Latinas. Lozano was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2016.

Executive of the Year Honoree – Cesar Conde, Chairman of NBCUniversal News Group

The Executive of the Year Honoree is an accomplished Hispanic executive who has excelled in their role and risen through the ranks to achieve notable success. The individual demonstrates a commitment to bringing other Hispanic stakeholders along, both within the organization and through service to the community.

Cesar Conde is Chairman of NBCUniversal News Group. In this role, Conde has oversight of NBC News, CNBC, MSNBC, NBC News NOW, Telemundo Enterprises and NBCUniversal Local. Under Conde’s leadership, NBC News Group has increased its position as the most-viewed news organization in America, reaching about seven in 10 American adults each month across its broadcast, cable, streaming, and digital platforms. Shortly after arriving at the News Group in 2020, he announced a bold initiative to build trust among audiences by increasing diversity among team members by gender, race, geography, socio-economic background, and perspective. Central to that initiative is the award-winning NBCU Academy, a journalism training program for university and community college students, which partners with 45 academic institutions serving traditionally underrepresented communities.  
    
Previously, Conde was Chairman of NBCU International Group and Telemundo Enterprises. Prior to NBCU, he was President of Univision Networks. He is credited with transforming the Spanish-language media company into a leading global, multi-platform media brand. HACR is proud to count Conde among the graduates of the HACR Young Hispanic Corporate Achievers™ program in 2007, the first year of the program.

Inclusión Champion Honoree – Yvonne Garcia, Chief of Staff to Chairman and CEO, Global Head of Internal Communications, and Global Head of the CEO Experience Program, State Street.

The Inclusión Champion Honoree demonstrates excellence and high achievement in driving inclusion and belonging throughout their company by their example and commitment to equitable and inclusive practices from within.

Yvonne Garcia, Chief of Staff to Chairman and CEO, Global Head of Internal Communications, and Global Head of the CEO Experience Program, State Street, is responsible for the setting and execution of the Chairman and CEO’s firmwide strategic priorities, the internal communications strategy for State Street, including over 40,000 employees and executive leadership platforms, and the engagement of the firm’s most strategic clients representing over $9B in revenue. Prior to State Street, Garcia served as Director of Marketing and Distribution Strategy for Liberty Mutual and as Vice President for Bank of America’s China Construction Bank Strategic Assistance Program.

She is an active leader of local and national communities. She served as Chairwoman for the largest Latino professional organization in the country, ALPFA. She is also the cofounding Chair of Milagros para Niños, a board at Children’s Hospital in Boston, which has raised more than $20 million in funds for Hispanic children who can’t afford medical care. She has been recognized by Boston Business Journal’s Women Who Mean Business and by Yahoo Finance four years in a row on their top 20 HERoes list, which showcases national leaders who champion women in business and drive change for gender diversity in the workplace. She was recently appointed to the Board of Directors of Reading Cooperative Bank and the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation.

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About the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR):

The Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR) is one of the most influential advocacy organizations in the nation, representing 14 national Hispanic organizations in the United States and Puerto Rico. Founded in 1986, HACR’s mission is to advance the inclusion of Hispanics in Corporate America at a level commensurate with our economic contributions. For more information, visit www.hacr.org.

Tequila has been manufactured for over 250 years. The Cuervo family began commercially distilling tequila in 1758, followed by the Sauza family in 1873. Mexican-made tequila remains unmatched with its artisanship. Yet, modern-day food and beverage reporting requirements, which require process standardization and optimization, are challenging this age-old craft.

Tecno Productos—a Mexico-based machine builder and gold-level member of the Rockwell Automation (NYSE: ROK) PartnerNetwork™—is helping tequila manufacturers meet these requirements while bringing efficiency, sustainability, and compliance to the tequila industry.

For Sauza Tequila, Tecno Productos relies on Rockwell technology to visualize and control the entire tequila production process from recipe and batch management through equipment cleaning. The solution automatically generates reports that meet U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements. In addition to facilitating compliance, the increased visibility and data have led to valuable insights and improvement opportunities.

In just one year, Tecno Productos has helped Sauza Tequila reduce water consumption by 75% and increase production by 16% – that’s an increase of about 107 million liters of tequila.

Automation and artisanship can co-exist. Learn more about how automation can enhance productivity help achieve sustainability goals.