Month: September 2024

MIDLAND, Mich., September 9, 2024 /3BL/ – Dow (NYSE: DOW) has received a top score on the Disability Equality Index® and is recognized as one of the “2024 Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion.” This is the eighth consecutive year Dow has received this recognition. The index is the world’s most comprehensive benchmarking tool for the Fortune 1000 scope companies to measure disability workplace inclusion inside their organizations and assess performance across industry sectors.

Now in its tenth year, the Disability Equality Index was created by a diverse group of business leaders, policy experts, and disability advocates, in partnership with Disability:IN and The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), to help businesses make a positive impact on the unemployment/underemployment of people with disabilities. Today the index is acknowledged as the most robust disability inclusion assessment tool in business.

In 2024, 542 corporations, including 71 Fortune 100 and 220 Fortune 500 utilized the Disability Equality Index to benchmark their disability inclusion efforts.

“We are humbled to once again be recognized as a top performer on the Disability Equality Index” said John Sampson, executive sponsor for Dow’s Disability Employee Network and senior vice president of operations, manufacturing and engineering. “This recognition shows Dow’s commitment to an inclusive culture where individuals of every ability contribute, and where collectively all employees drive value. At Dow, we firmly believe that people with disabilities are an invaluable pool of talent that help move the Company forward.”

Dow recognizes that its employees are the driving force behind its advancement, value creation, and commitment to stakeholders. Globally, people with disabilities represent over one billion people. Disability is a natural part of the human experience, and it crosses lines of age, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and religion. That is why in addition to Dow’s inclusive policies and programs, the Company offers an employee resource group, the Disability Employee Network (DEN), with its purpose to drive inclusion, equitable opportunity, and accessibility so that individuals of every ability can thrive.

Visit Dow’s website for additional information on the Company’s commitment to inclusion and diversity and to explore the Company’s 2023 INtersections Progress Report.

About the Disability Equality Index®

The Disability Equality Index has become the leading independent, third-party resource for the annual benchmarking of corporate disability inclusion policies and programs and is now trusted by more than 70% of the United States Fortune 100 and nearly half of the Fortune 500. Such companies must increasingly consider how emerging global reporting directives and stakeholder expectations surrounding social and corporate governance factors impact their operational, cultural, reputational, and financial performance.

The Disability Equality Index is an objective, reflective, forward-thinking, and confidential disability rating tool designed to assist business in advancing inclusion practices. It is a comprehensive benchmark that helps companies build a roadmap of measurable, tangible actions across five scored categories: Culture & Leadership, Enterprise-Wide Access, Employment Practices, Community Engagement, and Supplier Diversity. Participating companies receive a score, on a scale of zero (0) to 100, with those scoring 80 or higher earning the distinction of “Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion” for the benchmark year.

Findings from a two-year Global Disability Equality Index pilot informed the launch of a scored benchmark that opened in 2024 to seven new countries in addition to the United States. These include: Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Japan, the Philippines, and the United Kingdom. Now in its 10th year, the Disability Equality Index has grown nearly 7x since 2015, expanding from 80 companies in its first year to 542 in 2024. Collectively, the 2024 edition received 753 submissions spanning the eight benchmarked countries.

About Dow

Dow (NYSE: DOW) is one of the world’s leading materials science companies, serving customers in high-growth markets such as packaging, infrastructure, mobility, and consumer applications. Our global breadth, asset integration and scale, focused innovation, leading business positions and commitment to sustainability enable us to achieve profitable growth and help deliver a sustainable future. We operate manufacturing sites in 31 countries and employ approximately 35,900 people. Dow delivered sales of approximately $45 billion in 2023. References to Dow or the Company mean Dow Inc. and its subsidiaries. Learn more about us and our ambition to be the most innovative, customer-centric, inclusive, and sustainable materials science company in the world by visiting www.dow.com.

For further information, please contact:

Sarah Young
Dow
syoung3@dow.com

Matthew Borst, Contributor 

Imagine the energy grid as the body’s circulatory system, pumping blood (energy) throughout the body to the parts that require it to remain functioning. Network communications is the nervous system, sending signals back and forth to ensure those same parts are functioning correctly. Those two systems are tied together, ensuring that the energy grid is transmitting and receiving power, identifying any losses, and communicating in real-time to ensure smooth operation. Integrating communications is critical to grid modernization as this shift is reshaping how the world generates, distributes, and consumes electricity.

Grid modernization is focused on transforming the current electrical energy infrastructure to meet the demands of the 21st century and beyond. This change of the grid and energy industry is complex and ongoing. Collaboration between utilities, technology companies, policymakers, and consumers is essential to overcome the challenges and seize the opportunities presented by grid modernization. Key to this transition will be the integration of multiple technologies into the energy grid, including advanced network communications.

History of communications with the energy grid

The first electrical grids were primarily analog systems, with the only communications available being analog signals being sent over phone lines or dedicated circuits. This severely limited the monitoring and control functionality of the grid, but changed with the introduction of digital computer systems in the 1970s. Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems emerged to provide centralized control using digital signals to collect data from remote locations. SCADA continued to develop throughout the late 20th century, incorporating more advanced data analysis and control algorithms, but they remained primarily closed systems with limited connectivity to external networks.

The concept of the smart grid emerged in the early 2000s, driven by the need for greater system efficiency, reliability, and early integration of renewable energy sources. Utilities began to invest in high-speed communication networks to connect their entire grid infrastructure. The deployment of smart meters began to enable two-way communication between utilities and customers. Energy providers analyzed this new wave of data collected from the grid to improve system operations, optimize energy usage, and enhance grid resilience.

Grid modernization is taking network communications integration to another level to further improve the advancements in grid monitoring and control. The energy grid has evolved into a complex cyber-physical system, where physical components are tightly integrated with digital systems. More devices are connected to the grid than ever before, and with that comes increased demand for network stability and security. Being able to communicate throughout this complex energy grid is critical to system advancement moving forward.

Advanced network communications in grid modernization

Network communications is driving grid transformation. Some of the latest advancements include:

5G and Long-Term Evolution (LTE) private networks: 5G offers significantly improved data transfer speeds and reduced latency, essential for real-time grid operations monitoring and control. LTE-based private networks are dedicated networks that provide secure and reliable communication for critical grid infrastructure, especially in remote areas.Advanced metering infrastructure (AMI): AMI systems enable bidirectional communication and energy flow between end users and the grid, allowing utilities to remotely control devices and gather more detailed usage data. AMI is also enabling the integration of renewable and distributed energy resources (DER) into the grid—helping optimize system output and balancing grid load.Fiber optic networks: Fiber optics provide high-capacity, low-latency communication, which is essential for handling the large volumes of real-time data generated by smart grid devices for faster responses to outages, load balancing, and grid restoration efforts. Fiber optic cables also improve network resilience as they are less susceptible to electromagnetic interference (EMI) and physical damage.Internet-of-things (IoT) and edge computing: IoT devices and edge computing enable real-time data collection and analysis at the network edge, improving grid efficiency and responsiveness. By analyzing data from grid sensors, utilities can predict equipment failures and optimize maintenance schedules.Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML): Complex AI and ML algorithms are being used to optimize grid operations, improve energy efficiency, and enhance grid resilience. These technologies help utilities manage electricity requirements by analyzing customer consumption patterns and improve system-wide demand planning.

Network communications provide the necessary infrastructure for the grid to become more intelligent, responsive, and sustainable. Real-time monitoring enables utilities to implement demand response programs and promote energy efficiency through real-time analysis and customer engagement.

Benefits and challenges of communications for grid modernization

More advanced network communications is critical in transforming the traditional power grid into a smarter, more resilient, and energy-efficient system. Grid modernization brings numerous benefits to the system and end users alike. Grid reliability and resilience will improve through real-time monitoring, identifying potential issues before they escalate into outages and faster power restoration once an outage occurs. Utilities can also manage load fluctuations more efficiently by communicating with customers to reduce energy consumption.

Another major benefit of communications for grid modernization is enhanced system efficiency and sustainability. Optimizing energy distribution enables efficient allocation of power based on real-time demand and supply conditions. DER usage facilitates the seamless integration of renewable energy sources and energy storage systems into the grid. Other benefits include reduced operational costs, increased revenue opportunities with new business models, and economic growth through the development and deployment of new technologies. The most visible benefit will be an enhanced customer experience through improved grid stability, real-time communication on power outages and restoration efforts, and customer empowerment with energy management tools.

While advanced network communications offer significant benefits for grid modernization, several challenges remain. Technological challenges include system interoperability to ensure seamless usage between devices from various manufacturers. The increased number of devices connected to the power grid also presents security concerns, while handling the increasing volume of data generated by smart grid devices and ensuring low latency remain a work in progress. These communications systems require high investment to install and upgrade into the current network, which may demand a strong return on investment and lead to new pricing models for capital recovery.

The largest hurdles for these advanced communications may be regulatory and customer acceptance. Standardizing communication protocols and data formats while complying with data privacy laws and regulations will be an evolving process. While customers may see the advantage of real-time communication on power outages, they have been resistant to changes in pricing models based on time-of-day energy usage. Addressing these challenges requires collaboration between utilities, technology providers, regulators, standards developers, and customers.

The Road Ahead

The transformation of the grid and energy industry is complex and ongoing. The full potential of advanced network communications for grid modernization can be realized by investing in infrastructure upgrades, developing innovative technologies, and prioritizing cybersecurity. This will ensure the world can create a more resilient, efficient, and sustainable energy grid for the future. Like the nervous system in the body, constant communication is critical to ensuring the body, and energy grid, is functioning properly and optimally.

In the next blog post of the grid modernization series, we will explore energy storage. Bookmark this post and check back again next month for a link to the next blog post. Access the previous blog post on grid modernization.

ALSIP, Ill., September 9, 2024 /3BL/ – Griffith Foods is excited to announce the expansion of the global sustainability team with the addition of two new positions. Kimberly Schaub and Bernard Hayman are talented additions to the organization and their work is crucial for advancing the company’s 2030 Aspirations.

Griffith Foods is on a transformative journey to innovate and lead in sustainability. By 2030, the company is dedicated to significantly improving the future with a regenerative mindset and singular sustainable business strategy. The Griffith Foods 2030 Aspirations focus on three key areas to drive positive impact:

1. Partnering to Create Sustainable Food System Networks: Griffith Foods aims to build sustainable food systems that restore nature and improve livelihoods. This includes collaborating with customers, suppliers, and external stakeholders to scale regenerative agriculture and achieve net-zero supply chains.

2. Developing a Nutritious and Sustainable Portfolio: The goal at Griffith Foods is to create products that positively impact people and the planet. The company will achieve this by offering raw materials and developing blends that meet high standards for nutrition and sustainability, enhancing product profiles for customers.

3. Creating New Markets and Serving the Underserved: Griffith Foods strives to develop nutritious, affordable, and accessible products for underserved markets. By leveraging the company’s expertise, Griffith Foods will open new market segments and promote health through consumer-preferred, affordable products.

With Griffith Foods’ unique position in the value chain, the company is positioned to act as a catalyst for positive change, specifically in the areas outlined in the 2030 Aspirations.

Kimberly Schaub:

Kimberly is stepping into a newly created role of Global Sustainability Business Development Director with direct experience as a prior Director of Business Development at Griffith Foods for Consumer Packaged Goods. In this position, Kimberly is training the Griffith Foods sales, marketing, and culinary teams in sustainability, working to deepen their understanding so they can help develop our customers’ portfolios with planet-friendly products. Kimberly earned her Masters of Business Administration in Sustainable Innovation at the University of Victoria and combines the education with her experiences in the US Air Force, nutrition science, culinary, and food product development to bring a unique perspective to Griffith Foods’ business development. Passionate about the innovation process and sustainability, Kimberly hosts the PeasOnMoss podcast for research chefs and serves as a board member for the Quillisascut Farm Education Fund, a farm school for culinary professionals.

Bernard Hayman:

Bernard will lead the global integrated strategy and delivery of Griffith Foods Sustainable Food System Networks in service of delivering our 2030 Aspirations. He will be building an integrated approach to deliver our Aspiration, including net-zero emissions, regenerative agriculture, water stewardship, and small-scale farmer work. Prior to joining Griffith Foods, Bernard was the Global Head of Impact, Measurement, and Learning at Purpose, a global impact agency. Bernard is a Fulbright Scholar and has his Bachelors of Arts with High Honors in International Relations and Global Studies from the University of Texas, Austin, and a Master of Arts in Geography from The Ohio State University.

“Griffith foods is on a transformational journey toward our ambitious 2030 Aspirations,” said Kim Frankovich, Global Vice President of Sustainability. “I’m excited to have talented colleagues like Kimberly and Bernard join us on our path to be catalysts for sustainable food systems and help us deliver on our purpose to blend care and creativity to nourish the world.”

Griffith Foods

For food companies around the world, Griffith Foods is a global product development partner specializing in high-quality food ingredients. Driven by our purpose to Blend Care and Creativity to Nourish the World™ we are committed to helping our customers create better products – and a better, more sustainable world. Headquartered in Alsip, Illinois, USA, Griffith Foods operates in over 30 countries in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. We specialize in building strong partnerships with our customers to create great food consumers love. Join Griffith Foods in Creating Better Together™ www.griffithfoods.com

Eastman

As one of the few women in her chemical engineering undergraduate class at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, Subhashini Vashisth quickly learned to navigate male-dominated spaces and make sure her voice was heard.  

Now the group leader of polymer synthesis and applications in Eastman, corporate innovation, Vashisth collaborates with scientists, engineers and technicians on polymer-based projects. During her nine years at Eastman, she contributed to process improvement, optimization and initiation of new polymer growth projects. This includes exploring new materials and sustainable options for the specialty fluid business.  

She holds a doctorate in chemical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi. Vashisth’s leadership and research contributions and passionate advocacy for diversity and inclusion earned her the 2023 Technology Rising Star Award at the Women of Color (WOC) STEM Awards. Most recently, she was awarded YWCA Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virgina Tribute to Women Award for STEM for her community service and for encouraging women and girls in STEM.

Here are her answers to a few questions about her career:

What motivated you to pursue a career in STEM and why chemical engineering?

My parents always emphasized the value of education because it’s a tool that prepares one for life and can’t be taken away. My father always said, “Education is the license to a better life.”  

I loved all subjects in school from math to biology to physical education. As an overachiever, when faced with the choice of pursuing either the medical or the engineering field, I wanted to do both. 

In India, students participate in a national-level entrance exam, taken by approximately 600,000 students every year, to secure admission in either medical or engineering programs. However, the exam alone does not guarantee a spot, as getting to choose the desired major is based on exam ranking. Among the top engineering disciplines, including electronics, mechanical and chemical engineering, I choose chemical engineering. 

What does this award mean to you?

Recognition fosters engagement. As women of color in engineering and technology, we have shattered barriers, paving the way for future generations. When your work is acknowledged and appreciated, it can be a powerful psychological motivator. It acts as a catalyst, serves as a source of inspiration and empowers others to carve their own paths with confidence. 

This award has been one of the greatest things that happened to me. It not only acknowledges my contributions but also recognizes and celebrates the unique perspectives and accomplishments of women of color and the impact we’ve made. 

Which organizations are you involved in, and how do you actively contribute to promoting inclusivity and diversity? 

As the former global chair of Catalyst ERG, an Eastman resource group supporting women, I participated in quality initiatives within Eastman and the broader community. This role provided insights into the challenges faced by women in different regions, enabling me to advocate for their needs. 

Outside of work, I oversee the “Lead Undivided” council with Kingsport Chamber of Commerce members, focusing on education and awareness and addressing unconscious biases. Serving on the chamber board allows me to influence community leaders and empower women through programs and connections. I also serve as a scientific advisor for the North American Society of Chemical Reaction Engineering as well as an active member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineering Society (AIChE) with a focus on the Rising Star leadership program for women engineers.

 Community service strengthens and connects us to our community, developing a positive impact on our local area. It fosters empathy and compassion, benefiting both our community and workplaces. That’s why I encourage everyone to get involved in any role, big or small, within the community.

Subhashini Vashisth shared this advice for researchers, scientists and STEM professionals transitioning into leadership roles or seeking employment. 

Focus on enabling and empowering your team to achieve their goals. Understand your responsibilities to avoid micromanaging and instead support your team’s problem-solving abilities. Celebrate the accomplishments of your team members.Advance your personal and professional growth by investing in training, seeking mentors and building a strong network to better support and serve your team.