Month: September 2024

See how Cintas’ First Aid & Safety training gave a CEO the skills she needed to take quick action and save a young girl’s life. When a child began choking at the Chicago airport, Jeff Ruby Culinary Entertainment CEO Britney Ruby Miller relied on the life-saving techniques from her Cintas First Aid & Safety training, showing the real-world impact of being prepared and educated for emergencies.

MilliporeSigma, the U.S. and Canada Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, has won a 2024 Green Power Leadership Award from the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The company was honored for its commitment to renewable energy and advancing the green power market nationwide through innovative and impactful initiatives supporting sustainable operations.

Making progress towards its goal to achieve climate neutrality across its entire value chain by 2040, covering Scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas emissions, judges recognized recent MilliporeSigma accomplishments, including:

Matching 100% of its U.S. electricity consumption with renewable energy through a 68-megawatt (MW) offtake by participating in one of the largest buyer-organized aggregation deals in the world—a 12-year, off-site, virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) with Enel Green Power.Installing 7,000 solar panels across approximately 11 acres of land on MilliporeSigma’s Sheboygan, Wisconsin campus in partnership with We Energies. The solar panels add 2.25 MW to the grid, producing enough energy to power nearly 700 homes.Building a 5.9 MW biomass central heat plant at its site in Jaffrey, New Hampshire, which uses renewable woodchips for 100% of its heating needs, replacing the use of 400,000 gallons of oil annually.

Since 2009, MilliporeSigma has installed a combined 2.28 MW of owned on-site solar at several locations globally, including the U.S., India, Germany and France. Additionally, in 2023, it signed two VPPAs in Europe that are expected to match 100% of its European electricity needs starting in 2026. Also, in 2023, MilliporeSigma’s two manufacturing sites in China signed 10-year purchase power agreements that will match 80% of the sites’ electricity with renewables.

Looking ahead, MilliporeSigma is not slowing down its sustainability efforts. The company is installing two solar photovoltaic systems in the U.S.—one in Visalia, California, which is anticipated to cover 100% of the site’s electric consumption, and one at its Milwaukee, Wisconsin warehouse.

Further, MilliporeSigma plans to invest approximately $100 million in site sustainability improvements by 2030 through EDISON—its energy- and water-efficiency program. In 2023, EDISON completed more than 60 projects globally, avoiding 35,000 megawatt hours of energy, preventing 7,000 tons of CO2 emissions, and conserving more than 30,000 cubic meters of water.

To learn more about how MilliporeSigma is reducing environmental impact across its value chain through renewable electricity efforts, supplier engagement, and more, please visit its Sustainable Operations webpage.

View the complete list of this year’s EPA Green Power Leadership awards on the EPA’s website.

By Candace Higginbotham

Auburn University Rural Studio has had much to celebrate so far in 2024.

It commemorated its 30th anniversary earlier this year and announced it had received grant funding to create affordable housing to aid tornado recovery efforts in Selma, Alabama. Regions provided matching funds for the Selma affordable housing initiative and has been working alongside Rural Studio for much of its three-decade history.

Rural Studio: Citizen Architects

In 1993, Auburn University architecture faculty members Samuel Mockbee and D.K. Ruth cofounded Rural Studio, a design-build architectural education program headquartered two and half hours from campus in Hale County, Alabama. The program, part of the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture, was built around the concept of community service learning and aligns with the university’s mission as a land-grant institution.

The program encourages students to use their skills to better their communities – to become citizen architects. Rural Studio and its projects have been featured in thousands of publications, honored with prestigious awards, and have been shown in museum exhibits across the world.

But more importantly to faculty leaders and students – and communities throughout the South –Rural Studio has built more than 220 projects in Alabama’s Black Belt and educated more than 1,200 students about sustainable, healthful rural living through both housing and the vital systems that ensure communities thrive.

Regions is proud of our long history with Auburn University’s Rural Studio, and we continue to support their innovative work to solve the unique challenges of providing attainable, sustainable homes for people in rural areas. 

Leroy Abrahams, Head of Community Engagement for Regions

And thanks to relationships with community organizations, public and private companies and local, state and federal government agencies, Rural Studio programs have expanded beyond the state to assist individuals and families who may not have otherwise had the opportunity for homeownership.

According to Regions Head of Community Engagement Leroy Abrahams, Regions Bank is pleased to be part of that journey.

“Affordable housing is key focus of our community engagement strategy,” Abrahams said. “Regions’ 15-state retail footprint includes many areas that are several miles from the nearest city, and serving rural communities is an important part of our business.

“Regions is proud of our long history with Auburn University’s Rural Studio, and we continue to support their innovative work to solve the unique challenges of providing attainable, sustainable homes for people in rural areas.”

Front Porch Initiative

Regions’ relationship with Rural Studio began with the 20K Project, a housing affordability research project that began in 2004 when students were tasked with designing a home that costs no more than $20,000 in materials and labor. Innovative plans were developed with a thoughtful approach to space, site and materials.

But it soon became clear to program participants and leaders that building a financially attainable home in under-resourced areas is more complicated than just the cost of building materials and labor. Factors such as insurance, utilities, water and sewage – as well as local economic issues, such as job availability – have a big impact on a family’s ability to pay a monthly mortgage.

Rural Studio’s housing affordability work evolved into a larger research project, called the Front Porch Initiative, involving national partnerships and municipal stakeholders to collaborate on issues around infrastructure and services. Regions was one of those collaborators, providing consultation and know-how to help find financial solutions for potential homeowners. Bank teams, led by now-retired former Community Reinvestment Act Officer and Head of Community Affairs Jon Davies and others, stepped in to make introductions and facilitate conversations between Rural Studio and Fannie Mae, the U.S. government sponsored enterprise that works to expand access to affordable housing.

“It was clear to us early on that Regions and Auburn’s Rural Studio had similar objectives when it comes to ensuring that everyone has access to high quality, affordable housing,” said Paul Carruthers, a Regions Community Development manager who introduced the program to the bank. “We were pleased to provide financial support and technical assistance in those early days to help expand their reach.”

The 20K Project was a critical point in the evolution of Rural Studio’s work. Many of those home plans are still being used today.

“The initial capacity-building grant from Regions contributed to our early growth,” said Rusty Smith, Associate Director of Rural Studio. “And the technical expertise and thought partnership the bank provided helped build our relationships with Fannie Mae and other organizations – that was a real game-changer. That’s when we started recognizing the program’s potential.”

Growing Community Partnerships

Regions was also instrumental in helping Rural Studio expand its scope and make an impact on communities outside Hale County.

In 2021, Regions and Rural Studio Front Porch Initiative worked with Affordable Housing Resources (AHR) in Nashville to bring four Rural Studio-designed homes to Nashville’s Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood.

What made this project noteworthy is that, thanks to Nashville’s zoning laws, two homes could be constructed on one lot. This innovative use of land and construction made homeownership possible in a housing market where property costs have skyrocketed, pricing out many potential residents.

In 2022, Front Porch Initiative began working with Chipola Area Habitat for Humanity on a build in Marianna, Florida, to aid in recovery efforts from Hurricane Michael, a Category 5 hurricane that hit the Florida panhandle a few years before. The team provided designs that meet efficiency standards and are built to sustain hurricane-force winds.

To reduce the financial burden for Habitat for Humanity and to free up capital to make additional community investments, Regions bankers worked with Fannie Mae to pilot a lending arrangement in which the bank would originate the mortgage loan and then sell the loan to Fannie Mae. The program also included a unique feature that allowed the sweat equity built into the houses to be valued as a contribution to the downpayment.

“We were so happy to be a part of the Chipola project,” said Lara Smith, manager of Regions Mortgage Investor Management. “Building those four homes was important to the families and the impacted community. But it’s especially meaningful that we created unique financial solutions – sustainable support – that will continue to help more families in the future.”

Tornado Recovery in Selma

The Selma affordable housing initiative, announced in April, is the most recent collaboration between Regions and the Auburn Rural Studio. For this project, Rural Studio Front Porch Initiative is partnering with the City of Selma and other state and municipal agencies, using funds from a $500,000 USDA grant and matching contributions from Regions and other organizations, to aid in recovery from a destructive tornado that hit the area early last year.

The program will develop sustainable, affordable and high-performance housing, utilizing vacant and blighted infill lots while also providing training and technical assistance.

Auburn University Assistant Research Professor Mackenzie Stagg, Rural Studio’s project leader in Selma, explained the importance of those three components, saying “Homeownership is a major focus – we want to provide an opportunity for residents to achieve this important milestone.” And it’s critical that the houses can withstand harsh weather conditions, particularly following the terrible tornado that hit the area recently.

We want to enhance both homeowner and community resilience. By building back better on vacant parcels in the disaster-affected neighborhood, we aim to provide needed housing while strengthening the neighborhood and providing opportunities that positively impact the local economy. 

Mackenzie Stagg, Assistant Research Professor at Auburn University

“We want to enhance both homeowner and community resilience. By building back better on vacant parcels in the disaster-affected neighborhood, we aim to provide needed housing while strengthening the neighborhood and providing opportunities that positively impact the local economy.”

Abrahams said that Regions is excited about the new collaboration, especially in Selma, which is an important market for the bank.

“It’s a historic city, vital to the culture of our state and our country,” he said. “By giving local families the opportunity to acquire safe, affordable homes in thriving areas, we’re not just solving a problem today – we’re helping them begin to build generational wealth that will improve the lives of future individuals and communities.”

Going Forward

Regions’ relationship with Auburn University goes well beyond the Rural Studio collaboration, through endowments, scholarships, financial wellness programs and internships.

One of the primary recipients of that support is the Harbert College of Business. In May, the university hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of Auburn in Birmingham, which provides space for the Harbert College of Business and other programs.

The newly refurbished facility is just a few blocks away from Regions Center and will be a hub for teaching, outreach and collaborative work. Regions Head of Corporate Philanthropy and Partnerships Lajuana Bradford attended the opening event and commented on the longstanding community partnership, which will be further enabled by the Birmingham satellite location.

“The Regions Bank-Auburn University relationship is based on shared mission and values, and we have enjoyed many years of working together to make life better for communities across the South,” Bradford said. “We look forward to continuing that work for many years to come.”

Congratulations to the recent recipients of the Independent Electrical Contractors, Inc. – IEC scholarships in Northglenn, Colorado. Wesco Cares contributes to the IEC Foundation Scholarship Fund to support driven, dedicated students in their pursuit of careers in the electrical industry.

The IEC Foundation formed the scholarship fund exclusively for the charitable and educational purpose to award deserving and qualified students who have demonstrated drive, dedication, and leadership in their pursuit of careers in the electrical industry.

The Foundation Scholarship Fund is offered to Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC), students, members, and their immediate families, who plan to pursue post-secondary education in college or state accredited apprenticeship programs.

The Wesco Cares Scholarship Program supports the next generation of tradespeople and fortifies our commitment to the electrical industry. 

Learn more about the scholarship program in partnership with the IEC.

When risk management and compliance are aligned, they create a strong foundation that boosts business resilience and streamlines operations, making it easier for organizations to handle challenges as they arise.

This blog explains what each of these functions does, how they benefit your business, and how you can ensure your risk management and compliance teams are working together to create sustainable growth for your organization.

Understanding Risk Management and Compliance

What is risk management?

Risk management is a two-part process aimed at minimizing and controlling the probability or impact of adverse events. The first step in the process involves identifying, assessing, and prioritizing risks, while the second step is establishing practices and protocols that mitigate those risks.

Risk management is: 

Strategic and forward-looking, seeking to address uncertainties that could impact the achievement of business goals.Proactive, involving risk identification, risk assessment, and risk mitigation strategies.

What is compliance?

Compliance refers to the adherence to laws, regulations, standards, and internal policies that an organization is required to follow. It ensures that business practices meet regulatory and legal requirements as well as industry standards.

Compliance is: 

Focused on ensuring adherence to external and internal rules and regulations, often with a focus on legal and sustainable standards.Reactive and prescriptive, involving routine checks, audits, and adherence to established requirements, guidelines and procedures.

Similarities and differences between risk management and compliance

Both risk management and compliance serve the overarching goal of protecting the organization, though they do so from different perspectives. 

While risk management focuses on safeguarding against uncertainties that could impact business goals, compliance is centered on ensuring adherence to legal and regulatory standards. 

Despite their distinct focuses, both are continuous processes that require ongoing review and adaptation to respond to evolving conditions and requirements.

For a deeper look, see our article on The Value of EHS Risk & Compliance Management Services. 

Strategic Impact of Risk Management

Risk management serves as a strategic guide for organizational leaders and decision-makers, helping them navigate uncertainties with greater clarity. This process minimizes threats and provides data to inform decisions, ensuring actions align with the long-term vision of your organization.

Informed decision-making 

Incorporating risk management into decision-making allows leaders to evaluate challenges and opportunities more holistically. Each decision is weighed against potential risks and rewards, so actions taken are in the best interest of the organization’s future. Risk management supports innovation while maintaining a keen awareness of potential pitfalls. 

Resilient long-term planning 

Effective risk management also strengthens long-term planning. Organizations can anticipate disruptions and develop strategies to address them before they happen. This resilience enables businesses not just to endure in uncertain environments but to transform challenges into growth opportunities, keeping them on a steady path toward achieving their goals.

To explore how EHS risk management can impact global supply chains, read EHS and the Transforming Global Supply Chain: Risk Compliance & Business Continuity. 

Business Benefits of Ensuring Compliance

Compliance plays a fundamental role in companies building a solid foundation of trust and reliability that stakeholders — whether they are customers, partners, or regulators – can depend on. And this isn’t simply a matter of avoiding fines and fees; compliance helps operations run smoothly and predictably, too.

Greater operational efficiency 

Daily activities follow clear guidelines, and established best practices reduce the risk of legal or regulatory setbacks that could disrupt operations. Facing fewer unexpected issues allows teams to focus on their work without the constant worry of regulatory breaches.

Improved brand image 

Beyond the operational benefits, a strong commitment to compliance reflects an organization’s values. It signals a dedication to doing things the right way, creating a brand image built on integrity and accountability.

How Compliance and Risk Management Work Together

Compliance and risk management are deeply intertwined, each reinforcing the other to build a more resilient organization. While compliance ensures adherence to laws and standards, risk management focuses on identifying and mitigating potential threats. Together, they support not just ongoing business activities, but sustainable growth. 

Key intersections between compliance and risk management:

Shared goal of safeguarding the organization: Compliance sets the boundaries, and risk management navigates within those limits, ensuring strategies are both innovative and achievable.Balancing ambition with adherence: Risk management helps weigh new opportunities against potential risks, ensuring that strategic decisions align with compliance requirements.Navigating conflicts: Effective communication between compliance and risk management teams is crucial. Collaboration helps identify strategies that meet business goals while remaining within regulatory constraints.

Balancing compliance and risk management

Striking the right balance between risk and compliance is key to building effective growth strategies. For example, entering a new market might involve navigating unfamiliar regulations. In such cases, risk management evaluates the rewards against the potential legal and regulatory risks, making sure decisions are well informed and take into account all potential impacts.

As stated above, open, collaborative communication between risk management and compliance teams is vital. These practices can help maintain alignment between teams:

Set regular meetings: Hold consistent meetings to discuss updates, address issues, and align strategies.Use integrated reporting systems: Use shared platforms to provide real-time visibility into compliance and risk data.Ensure clear communication channels: Establish dedicated channels for quick and effective information exchange.

In essence, compliance and risk management are two sides of the same coin. When they work in harmony, they contribute to the long-term success of your organization.

Discover how Antea Group’s EHS Auditing and Compliance expertise can help ensure your organization remains compliant and resilient.