Month: March 2024

AUSTIN, Minn., March 1, 2024 /3BL/ – Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL), a Fortune 500 global branded food company, announced Katie Clark has been appointed to the role of senior vice president and chief communications officer.

In this role, Clark will oversee the company’s global communications, including external media relations, internal communications, global impact communications and corporate reputation. Clark will report directly to Jim Snee, chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer at Hormel Foods.

“I am delighted Katie is joining us at Hormel Foods. She is an impressive leader with well-rounded communications experience across several industries, and her perspective will be an asset to our company,” Snee said. “I look forward to working closely with her to continue our company’s journey to make a difference for our customers, team members, consumers, shareholders and the communities where we live and work.”

Clark brings more than two decades of communications experience from various industries, including CPG, retail and healthcare. Recently, she was named a 2024 “Top Woman in Communications” by Ragan Communications and PR Daily.

About Katie Clark

Prior to joining Hormel Foods, Clark served as vice president of communications for Mattress Firm, the nation’s largest mattress retailer with more than 2,300 stores across the United States. She joined the company in 2020, leading internal communications, public relations, media relations, crisis and issues management, executive communications and social impact.

Before joining Mattress Firm, Clark spent seven years at PepsiCo in various leadership roles spanning both internal and external communications. Her last role at PepsiCo was director of communications for PepsiCo Beverages North America, a $21 billion beverage business. In that role, she led external communications, including corporate reputation, issues management, proactive and reactive earned media and thought leadership. She also served as director of global internal communications, director of public relations for the Tropicana brand and senior manager of internal and executive communications for the Quaker Oats brand. Before joining PepsiCo, Clark spent a decade at Blue Cross and Blue Shield in communications and marketing roles.

Clark earned her master’s in business administration from the University of Phoenix and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Virginia Tech.

GRI made a significant impact at GreenBiz’24 with its thought-provoking workshop on sustainability in the agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sectors. The event, which included a dynamic panel discussion moderated by Forum for the Future, provided a platform for experts from Tyson Foods, General Mills, BSR, AgroAmerica, and the Accountability Framework initiative (Afi), to delve into the critical role of sustainability reporting in addressing the challenges faced by these sectors.

Agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing play pivotal roles in global food security and economic development, employing over 2.5 billion people worldwide. However, these sectors can also cause significant issues, including biodiversity loss, all the while contributing to climate change and exploitive labor practices. Recognizing the multifaceted impact of agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing activities, GRI has been at the forefront of developing comprehensive sustainability reporting standards tailored specifically for these industries. The GRI 13 Sector Standard on Agriculture, Aquaculture, and Fishing, in effect for reporting as of January 1st 2024, stands as a groundbreaking standard, setting clear expectations for organizations to disclose their shared and distinct impacts within the sectors.

During the workshop, Andres Machado, Standards Relations at GRI North America, emphasized the interconnectedness of agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing production with biodiversity, soils, and ecosystems. Machado highlighted that implementing sustainable practices across these sectors is essential for ensuring food security and promoting global development.

Reflecting on the benefits of GRI 13 Sector Standard, Javier Aguirre, Chief Sustainability Officer at Agroamerica, emphasized its transparency and commitment to sustainable production. “Tools such as GRI 13 offer immense benefits. Our commitment extends beyond mere responsibility; we strive for transparency, aiming to contribute to sustainable production efforts,” he remarked.

Dr. Sally Uren, CEO of Forum for the Future, delivered impactful closing remarks, encapsulating the essence of the discussion in one word: DATA. Emphasizing the principles of effective reporting, she underscored the critical importance of data, alignment, trust, and accountability in driving meaningful change within sustainability practices.

The event provided a unique platform for industry stakeholders to engage in meaningful discussions, explore challenges, and learn about the latest developments in sustainability reporting, including the launch of GRI 101: Biodiversity Standard 2024 and revisions to Energy and Climate Change Standards.

The workshop yielded pivotal insights into sustainable practices within agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing sectors, culminating in the following key points:

Urgency of sustainability in Agriculture, Aquaculture, and Fishing: the event highlighted the critical importance of addressing sustainability challenges in the sectors, considering their significant impact on food security, biodiversity, and livelihoods.Collaboration and partnership opportunities: panelists highlighted opportunities for collaboration, emphasizing that no single company can address sustainability challenges alone. Collaboration among stakeholders and leveraging of multiple standards and frameworks are crucial for driving progress.Accountability and trust: participants underscored the importance of building trust within the value chain and among stakeholders in order to foster sustainable practices.

Each year, the Baker Tilly Foundation provides grants of $10,000 to not-for-profits nominated by Baker Tilly team members. Learn more about two organizations that received Baker Tilly Wishes grants this year.

A greenhouse for Milwaukeeans 

Situated on a busy thoroughfare on the north side of Milwaukee is Hope Street, a sanctuary for those struggling with addiction and homelessness. The organization fulfills its mission of being a “greenhouse” for people by providing subsidized housing, fellowship and education. To better serve its residents and the surrounding neighborhood, Hope Street also operates Shechem, a pay-what-you-can community center offering a gym, café, classrooms and more.

Jackie Magennis, Baker Tilly Vantagen account specialist, prepares homemade meals and leads educational programs for Hope Street residents each week.

“Whenever I enter Hope Street, a sense of calm and togetherness washes over me,” Jackie said. “Because of how often I visit, I see the residents as family.”

Jackie has witnessed how a safe place like Hope Street can be transformative. While attending the funeral of one of Hope Street’s previous residents, a family member shared with Jackie a message of gratitude.

“Her words were, ‘Hope Street saved my son,’” Jackie said. “She thanked me and explained how Hope Street helped her son rekindle their relationship.”

The $10,000 Baker Tilly Wishes grant will add to Hope Street’s Acorn Fund, which helps cover membership fees for its residents.

Ending the poverty cycle in Salt Lake County

Marketing Associate Sidney Bruner’s advice for finding new places to volunteer? Google it.

That’s how she found Circles Salt Lake, a community-funded initiative to help families achieve financial stability. After volunteering as a tutor and Special Olympics swim coach in Columbus, Ohio, Sidney moved to Salt Lake City and sought a new avenue to pursue her passion for stewardship. Circles Salt Lake was exactly what she was looking for.

“I love connecting with our community – we have a weekly dinner where we share what’s new and good in our lives. It’s such a positive and welcoming experience,” Sidney said.

A holistic approach for families

Circles’ approach to helping families lift themselves out of poverty starts with building social capital. Each participant is paired with an ally that provides them with access to networks, resources and opportunities. Mentorship, courses on financial literacy, and connections to resources like transportation, healthcare and job opportunities are offered to parents, while children learn about emotional intelligence, goal setting, communication, art and science.

As a youth programming volunteer, Sidney enjoys watching children flourish through weekly activities.

“My favorite moment was when we had a snowball fight with rolled-up socks in the classroom – everyone was laughing and having fun,” Sidney said. “Laughter is a huge part of childhood, and I’m glad I can add joy to these kids’ lives.”

The $10,000 grant will help the organization expand its reach further across Salt Lake County.

Find the full list of recipients here.