Month: September 2024

In response to local food insufficiency, our Sheridan, Arkansas, team came together to plant a community garden, complete with a watering system and chock full of fruit and veggies galore.

Thanks to garden supply donations from area businesses, the team was able build ten 4’ x 8’ raised beds planted with tomatoes, squash, zucchini, watermelon, and a variety of peppers. Community members in need can pick produce for their families, and anything remaining will be donated to the local food pantry.

Learn more about Kohler’s community impact initiatives.

SAN MATEO, Calif., September 5, 2024 – Franklin Templeton is pleased to announce its receipt of a top score of 100 in the 2024 Disability Equality Index® (DEI), which serves as a comprehensive benchmarking tool that helps companies build a roadmap of measurable, tangible actions they can take to foster disability inclusion. This marks the sixth consecutive year that Franklin Templeton has received the “Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion” distinction.

Regina Curry, Chief Diversity Officer, Franklin Templeton, said, “We are so honored to receive this recognition of our DEI efforts to promote disability inclusion in the workplace. Our commitment to inclusion extends beyond the walls of Franklin Templeton, as we collaborate with peers, clients and organizations to provide equitable access to opportunities.”

Launched as a joint initiative of Disability:IN and the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the Disability Equality Index is the leading independent, third-party resource for the annual benchmarking of corporate disability inclusion policies and programs.

“On the 10th anniversary of the Disability Equality Index, we’re extremely proud of the 542 national and international companies that are taking a proactive role in leading progress towards disability inclusion, setting a benchmark for others to follow. Their dedication to fostering inclusive workplaces not only attracts top talent but also drives innovation and creates sustainable performance in today’s global market. Together, we are creating a future where everyone can contribute and thrive,” said Jill Houghton, President and CEO of Disability:IN.

The 2024 Disability Equality Index measured efforts across five scored categories: Culture & Leadership; Enterprise-Wide Access; Employment Practices (Benefits; Recruitment; Employment, Education, Retention & Advancement; Accommodations); Community Engagement; Supplier Diversity; and Responsible Procurement (Non-Weighted). Participating companies receive a score, on a scale of zero to 100, with those scoring 80 or higher earning the distinction of “Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion” for the benchmark year.

Read more about Franklin Templeton’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion at https://www.franklintempleton.com/about-us/diversity-and-inclusion.

About Franklin Templeton

Franklin Resources, Inc. [NYSE:BEN] is a global investment management organization with subsidiaries operating as Franklin Templeton and serving clients in over 150 countries. Franklin Templeton’s mission is to help clients achieve better outcomes through investment management expertise, wealth management and technology solutions. Through its specialist investment managers, the company offers specialization on a global scale, bringing extensive capabilities in fixed income, equity, alternatives and multi-asset solutions. With more than 1,500 investment professionals, and offices in major financial markets around the world, the California-based company has over 75 years of investment experience and over $1.6 trillion in assets under management as of July 31, 2024. For more information, please visit franklintempleton.com and follow us on LinkedIn, X and Facebook.

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Copyright © 2024. Franklin Templeton. All rights reserved.

Recently, I traveled from my hometown and remote work location in southeast Idaho to participate with fellow Cadence employees in the Silicon Valley Pride Parade. Although I have attended a handful of large-scale Pride events in Seattle, Denver, Boston, and Salt Lake City over the years, I have never marched in one—and I have never attended a Pride with professional colleagues.

Cheers to Cadence for these blissful milestones!

When I graduated from Idaho State years ago, I wanted to move to Silicon Valley, Seattle, or Portland, where I’d be free to live more openly. I am an only child, however, and with my mom only having a few years left to live, it was important that I stay close. I got a great job at a local semiconductor manufacturer and fell in love with mountain biking. As my career grew in a place where the commute between home, office, and the trails was mere minutes, my childhood home in Idaho simply became my home. When my mom passed away, my community and coworkers became my family.

Cadence Culture

In a 20-year career that’s spanned digital test, design, and marketing, I’ve tackled a lot of technical and organizational challenges. Through serendipitous timing and a solid networking connection, I joined Cadence in February of this past year.

To combat the sense of isolation that can develop while working remotely, I’ve joined a couple of Cadence’s Employee Resource Groups and paid keen attention to company communications pertaining to my areas of interest involving the LGBTQ+ community, STEM education and outreach, and volunteer opportunities. In the realms of community involvement and professional engagement, I am deeply motivated by the mantra: Be the kind of adult you needed as a child.

Growing up in somewhat rural Idaho, I would have benefited greatly from seeing other women and LGBTQ+ people succeeding in technical careers, participating in community endeavors, and simply being happy contributors to society. During this past Pride Month in June, I saw that the Cadence Giving Foundation donated to The Trevor Project, an organization dedicated to suicide prevention among LGBTQ+ youth, and that the LGBTQ+ Inclusion Group would be a sponsor of Silicon Valley Pride and take part in San Jose’s downtown Pride Parade. I told my wife we had to go!

Cadence Pride

Employees from across the Cadence organization came out in support. We had representation from engineering, marketing, legal, program management, human resources, and customer support. We had our spouses, friends, kids, and kids’ friends. We had managers, directors, and executives—oh my!

Teens blasted bubbles while we waved and walked. Along with our smiles, we shared umbrellas and sunglasses with paradegoers—all were perfect for the sunny San Jose day.

As we lined up and waited for the parade to start, I made an effort to introduce myself and talk with the young people in attendance because that’s what I craved at their age—to be seen and included, to be treated like I belonged, and to grasp that no matter what my current situation might be, I can always contribute and have a place in this world.

In a nutshell, that’s what Silicon Valley Pride was about this past weekend—including one another, fostering a sense of belonging, and celebrating our unique contributions to this world. With my career changes in this past year entailing remote work along with everything encompassed in a new role at a new company, it’s like those messages were directed right at me.

I love that I got to hear those messages and experience it all as a Cadence employee with other Cadence employees. After enjoying the day and reliving moments through everyone’s festive photos…it’s time to get back to work!