Month: January 2024

Listen to Derly’s story above and hear the details about how the Koch Accounting Apprenticeship Program helped remove barriers and provide an opportunity to find and develop his talents and skills. Follow “Koch News” on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or Spotify to hear more Koch audio stories.

The Koch Accounting Apprenticeship Program aims to remove barriers for contribution-motivated individuals and provide them with an opportunity to apply their gifts and talents to benefit themselves and society. 

“We’ve realized that we were leaving a lot of people on the sidelines,” says Koch’s Chief Financial Officer Richard Dinkel.

The program, which is now available in Wichita, Atlanta and Dallas, is a collaboration between Koch, WSU Tech and Wichita State University. During the first six months of the accelerated 18-month program, Koch covers the educational expenses for students to learn accounting and tax fundamentals through classwork at WSU Tech. After that, students will be given an opportunity for paid employment with Koch working alongside accountants and tax professionals while finishing their remaining coursework.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for somebody to come in and understand whether or not they have the sort of natural curiosity, aptitudes and ability to be a good professional accountant, but they can do it in a much quicker timeframe,” Richard says.

For 33-year-old Derly Apaza, the program was exactly what he needed to prepare for and find the kind of work he was passionate about.

Derly tried going to college right after high school, but it just wasn’t for him. He loved to learn, but staying on top of homework assignments and traveling to and from the local community college he attended wasn’t enjoyable. So, he stopped going and got a job instead. For a while, life was great.

Eventually, he took a job working at a local health clinic. His curiosity and desire to learn drove him to work his way into the billing and coding departments. He learned that not only did he like working with numbers but he was pretty good at it, too. He wanted to keep learning more and take on a greater responsibility within the clinic’s accounting department, but discovered without more formal education, he’d hit a ceiling, and the clinic wasn’t interested in giving him the kind of jobs he really wanted.

That’s when he discovered Koch’s new Accounting Apprenticeship Program, which launched in late 2021. Rather than looking for degrees and certificates, Koch was looking for people who are willing to ask questions and solve problems, who are energized by continuously trying to improve, and who are willing to learn and help others along the way.

Derly applied for the program and was accepted. He says he never would have felt qualified enough to just apply for a job at Koch, but the program removed that barrier. He can now see a bright future here.

Continuous Development

Even though Derly arrived with a lot of skills and talent, his supervisor, Kate Smith, has continued to work with him to grow his knowledge and skills. Kate built her relationship with Derly through open and honest communication and by setting clear expectations. This included many conversations with Derly about what he’s good at, what he isn’t and what he does and doesn’t like.

“If we have an expectation for everyone to be a lifelong learner and a principled entrepreneur,” Kate says, “then we have to expect that they’re not going to know everything at first. But that if they’re willing to learn and are contribution motivated, they’ll be able to reach that next level of knowledge or expertise.”

By creating the Koch Accounting Apprenticeship Program and removing barriers, Koch hopes to find many more Derlys out there and give them an opportunity to apply their often overlooked gifts and talents to benefit themselves and society – and hopefully inspire other companies and institutions to do the same.

“Perhaps we don’t have the education,” Derly says. “But we have the knowledge and skills and we are capable of doing a lot of jobs that typically might not be open for somebody without a degree.”

Learn more about the program and apply.

Schneider Electric

/3BL/ – Schneider Electric™, the leader in digital transformation of energy management and automation, has announced its participation in the DCs for Bees initiative, in association with Host In Ireland, for the third successive year.

The “Orchards in the Community” initiative accompanies Schneider Electric’s commitment to the DCs for Bees Pollinator Plan, a collective plan of action led by Host In Ireland and executed by 48 partners from across the data centre industry. It aims to save Ireland’s declining bee population and ensure its survival for future generations, along with other endangered species such as flying insects and butterflies.

To help protect bees, increase pollination, and support biodiversity, Schneider Electric is part of 73 companies that have pledged to contribute to the planting of over 3587 mixed fruit orchards across the country of Ireland. As part of the programme, 222 schools and colleges and 171 community groups from tidy towns, retirement homes, community centres, and local sports facilities have received and planted orchards in their communities.

Today these orchards provide vital green spaces in Ireland’s cities and towns and with 33% of the countries 99 wild bee species at risk of extinction, the new orchards will provide bees and other biodiverse creatures with vital food as they struggle when emerging from winter.

During the partnership, Schneider Electric has sponsored a total of 500 orchards equating to 2500 trees over the course of three planting years. In 2023 they have sponsored a further 100 orchards consisting of 3 apple trees, a plum tree, and a pear tree in each orchard. 34 orchards have been taken by employees and 66 orchards went to communities who had signed up for the initiative.

Communities who have benefited from the biodiversity benefits of the orchards include Kilmaine Tidy Towns, Monivea Tidy Towns, Gorey Community Schools, Abbeyleix Tidy Towns, Oaktree Court Residence Association, Dromahair Tidy Towns, Holy rosary College and Sustainable Community Area Network Milltown.

“Orchards are a focal point for communities to connect people with nature. Growing orchards in the community helps raise awareness of our connection to our food sources and play an important role in biodiversity and the plight of bees in Ireland,” said Garry Connolly, founder, Host in Ireland. “That spirit of community is alive and well with ‘Orchards in the Community’ as organisations like Schneider Electric come together with biodiversity groups, schools, colleges, Tidy Towns and others across Ireland to tackle challenges like biodiversity loss to save Ireland’s pollinators.”

“We’re proud to once again be partnering with Host Ireland and sponsoring the Orchards in the Community initiative and increase our support for its leading sustainability initiative” said Mark Yeeles, VP, Secure Power Division, Schneider Electric UK and Ireland “Driving sustainable change which can be seen within the community is at the heart of our organisation, and we hope the orchards will create holistic ecosystems which will be beneficial for many years and generations to come”.

To learn more about the DCs for Bees initiative, and Schneider Electric’s work with Host In Ireland, visit the website.

Let’s celebrate Kimberly-Clark Malaysia’s two recent awards! HR Asia selected us as one of the ‘Best Companies to Work for in Asia – Malaysia’ for the 7th time, and we won the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Award. Creating a diverse and inclusive workplace is essential to our success.

About Kimberly-Clark

Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB) and its trusted brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 175 countries. Fueled by ingenuity, creativity, and an understanding of people’s most essential needs, we create products that help individuals experience more of what’s important to them. Our portfolio of brands, including Huggies, Kleenex, Scott, Kotex, Cottonelle, Poise, Depend, Andrex, Pull-Ups, GoodNites, Intimus, Neve, Plenitud, Sweety, Softex, Viva and WypAll, hold No. 1 or No. 2 share positions in approximately 80 countries. We use sustainable practices that support a healthy planet, build strong communities, and ensure our business thrives for decades to come. We are proud to be recognized as one of the world’s most ethical companies by Ethisphere for the fifth year in a row. To keep up with the latest news and to learn more about the company’s 150-year history of innovation, visit kimberly-clark.com.

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MAYS LANDING, N.J., January 25, 2024 /3BL/ – Several Atlantic City Electric employees have been recognized with the company’s highest achievement for volunteerism and community involvement. Veronica Sergiacomi, Jason Skolnick, Ryan Whitman and Saundra Wilson have received the Powering Communities Employee Volunteer Award for their outstanding volunteer work during 2022. As part of the recognition, Atlantic City Electric’s parent company, Exelon, has awarded a combined $20,000 in charitable contributions to the local nonprofits that these four employees support.

This year’s Powering Communities Employee Volunteer Award winners were selected for their contributions to the Emmanuel Cancer Foundation, Linwood Parent Teacher Organization, Operation Safe Haven and Loving Our Cities. Each winner’s charity was provided a $5,000 grant.

Veronica Sergiacomi, of Cedarville, New Jersey, is a senior performance assessment specialist and is recognized for her work with the Emmanuel Cancer Foundation (ECF) that provides services and support for families facing pediatric cancer. As a member of the Board of Trustees, Sergiacomi performs many duties such as budget decisions, priorities and strategies, steering meetings participant, as well as numerous ECF fundraisers including its 5k run and golf outing.Jason Skolnick, of Linwood, New Jersey, supervisor, meter and installation, is recognized for his work with the Linwood Parent Teacher Organization, dedicated to strengthening the educational and social environment of the Linwood schools. Skolnick used his creativity and carpentry skills to support numerous school events and projects in which he has built and donated backdrops, donut stands and picture frames, while also supporting various school activities and fundraisers.Ryan Whitman, of Lincoln University, Pennsylvania, manager, Smart Energy Network, is recognized for his contributions to Operation Safe Haven, a nonprofit that provides resources and services to veterans and first responders including housing, therapy and coaching. A former combat veteran, Whitman is an advocate for local veterans, seeking out veteran organizations to volunteer with. Whitman has been instrumental in helping enroll local veterans and first responders in Atlantic City Electric workforce development programs.Saundra Wilson, of Williamstown, New Jersey, senior fleet manager, devotes her time fighting hunger in her community through her work with Loving Our Cities, an organization that provides hundreds of local families access to nutritious food. From assisting families in their registration process, to compiling food bank reports that are sent to federal agencies, Wilson consistently and directly supports those in need, embodying the mission of Loving Our Cities.

“Our commitment to the communities we serve, goes well beyond providing safe and reliable energy service,” said Doug Mokoid, region president of Atlantic City Electric. “We are more than energy and the employees recognized today demonstrate our commitment to powering communities through volunteerism. Their impact is making a difference along with hundreds of our employees each year supporting programs they care most about- and I am proud and honored to acknowledge these employees for their ongoing contributions.”

For the 18th year, 20 employees across the Exelon family of companies were recognized for their efforts and their nonprofit partners each received grants from the company, totaling $100,000. An external selection committee, comprised of leaders from the nonprofit community, selected these dedicated individuals for their volunteer efforts. Since its inception, the Powering Communities Employee Volunteer Awards program has recognized more than 300 employees and provided more than $2 million to nonprofit partners.

The Powering Communities program aligns with the company’s purpose of powering a cleaner and brighter future for its customers and communities. Through the program, hundreds of Atlantic City Electric employees volunteer thousands of hours annually to support initiatives they are passionate about and make the communities in which they reside better places to live and work.

In 2022, Atlantic City Electric employees volunteered more than 10,000 hours – which is more than 1,250 workdays – to support 125 different events throughout South Jersey. This volunteerism is on top of approximately $1.2 million Atlantic City Electric contributed to local nonprofits.

Click here to learn more about the 2023 Powering Communities Employee Volunteer Award recipients.

To learn more about Atlantic City Electric, visit The Source, Atlantic City Electric’s online newsroom. Find additional information by visiting atlanticcityelectric.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/AtlanticCityElectric, and on Twitter at twitter.com/AcEleCconnect. Atlantic City Electric’s mobile app is available at atlanticcityelectric.com/MobileApp.

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At this time of the year, we inspire you to give back to your local communities. Recently, Griffith Foods India partnered with Bangalore Food Bank to create and distribute food to those in need. Our culinary team made sandwiches, sweet treats and other goodies and packed them in boxes to serve children from low-income communities.

As part of Griffith Food’s Produce for Hunger initiative, the team also created a ready-to-cook khichdi mix to provide a healthy mix of nutrients to underserved communities. The food packets were distributed by volunteers to homes that support senior citizens, women, children and the disabled. The combined effort represents more than 1 ton of food that fed more than 12,000 people!

This is another example of how Griffith Foods is Creating Better Together.

Griffith Foods

At Griffith Foods, our purpose defines who we are, what we do, and why we exist, highlighting what makes us distinct and authentic in the marketplace. We help our partners meet the evolving needs and desires of consumers in ways that respect and sustain the planet. Our care and creativity mean we’ll find the right mix of global reach and local impact to serve the earth and nourish all of us who call it home.

Our Sustainability Platform of People, Planet, and Performance guides how we behave, conduct business, and treat people, ensuring that everything we do leads to responsible growth for our entire ecosystem.

People 
We take care of our employees and the communities in which we do business.

Planet 
We all share one Earth, and we take environmental action to responsibly care for it.

Performance 
We operate ethically and strategically to create a positive impact for our business and for all of those with whom we interact.

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