Month: September 2026
Verizon
At a glance
- More time for what matters: Mannequin Madness owner Judi Henderson estimates that using AI tools gives her back 20% more time through increased productivity.
- AI at work: Henderson uses AI to automate tasks, respond to customers, create website images and blog content, and prepare for vendors.
- Skills to adapt and grow: Verizon’s free courses and events helped Henderson strengthen her AI, digital marketing and social media skills to reach customers and run her business more efficiently.
Judi Henderson has “always been curious about the next, newest thing.” That’s how she found herself buying a single mannequin in 1999 for an art project—and ended up an entrepreneur.
Henderson, 69, is the owner of Mannequin Madness, a thriving mannequin sales, rental and recycling business in Oakland, California. The business has grown thanks in part to her willingness to keep learning about new technology, from digital marketing and social media to practical AI tools for small businesses. Verizon’s free skill-development programs have helped her build those skills and put them to work in her business.
Henderson’s experience illustrates the kind of practical skill-building the Verizon Small Business AI Accelerator aims to provide to small-business owners over the course of the 12-week immersive program. Small-business owners can explore Verizon’s free AI courses and resources to discover new ways to put AI to work.
How digital skills helped this small business reach more customers
When Henderson launched Mannequin Madness, the internet was still relatively new and social media didn’t exist as a marketing tool. Learning to embrace new technology became essential to reaching customers beyond her local market.
“When I first got into the business, many of my competitors were slow to embrace technology. They are no longer around,” Henderson says. “[Embracing technology] allowed me to reach a much broader audience. I couldn’t survive on my local customers only.”
Mannequin Madness is a specialized business. On a day-to-day basis, Henderson might be loaning her mannequins, typically recycled from department stores, to fashion students and luxury stores or providing them for events. Sometimes her warehouse is rented for photo or video shoots, too.
Free online courses and events through Verizon Small Business Digital Ready have helped Henderson sharpen her digital marketing skills, including determining which social media platforms are most strategic for her business. “[They] allowed me to really zero in on where’s the best place for me to spend my time and money,” Henderson says.
How this small-business owner uses AI tools for her website and content creation
With inspiration from Verizon’s skill development courses, Henderson has embraced AI as a tool for business. “I, like many business owners, felt a little scared of AI,” she says. “But I decided to be curious to find out what was there.”
Now, she uses AI tools to generate images for her website, automate tasks, respond to customers, prepare for vendors and create content for her blog. She estimates using AI gives her back 20% more time in productivity alone.
AI is my new friend. It’s just like having another staff member.
“AI is my new friend. It’s just like having another staff member and it’s available 24/7,” Henderson says. “And I’m pretty sure if I had not initially taken some of those courses on AI in the program, I would not be embracing it with as much gusto as I am now.”
Beyond learning new skills, Henderson has also made sure her business stays connected with the right technology. She’s a Verizon Business customer, using mobile devices, a tablet and a smartwatch to manage her growing operations. “They upgraded my equipment with signing up for a [promotional business] package,” Henderson says. “So I now have an updated phone, especially great for taking photos, which are critical for my business.”
Practical AI learning for what comes next
As the retail landscape changes, Henderson is dedicated to changing with it. “AI [feels] like a whole new world, and I like that it gets me excited,” she says. “I feel like I could be on the cutting edge of something and that is appealing to me.”
That appetite for learning also motivated Henderson to take advantage of Verizon’s live coaching events, as well as one-on-one reviews with small-business experts. She appreciated seeing people of all ages and races taking part. “You can see people who kind of look like you, who are giving you advice. I like that,” she says.
“I’m amazed that something that’s free has so much value,” Henderson says. “Verizon gives us the tools we need, making sure small businesses are not left behind.”
Discover free AI courses and resources designed to help small-business owners put AI to work.
An individual user’s experience may vary and results are not guaranteed.
NEW YORK, September 8, 2026 /3BL/ – Governance & Accountability Institute, Inc. (G&A), a leader in corporate sustainability consulting and research, today announced Resilient Leadership, an executive webinar hosted in collaboration with S&P Global, to be held Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at 12:00 PM EDT. Registration is now open at ga-institute.com/webinars/resilient-leadership.
The session, convening on the eve of New York Climate Week, brings together North American companies to explore how sustainability is being embedded into business strategy, risk management, and long-term value creation. Whether an organization is preparing for its first participation in S&P Global’s Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA) or refining a long-established program, the webinar will offer practical, actionable insight from long-term CSA participants.
As market expectations continue to evolve, companies face growing pressure to understand their most material sustainability risks, manage complex impacts, respond to stakeholder expectations, and identify opportunities that strengthen resilience. Attendees will hear directly from leaders at companies with 25 years of experience responding to the CSA, on how they leverage sustainability insights, benchmark against peers, and translate performance data into strategic action.
The discussion will also highlight how leading companies use the CSA process not only as an annual disclosure exercise, but as a strategic tool to continuously evaluate and improve performance. Drawing on the experience of long-term participants, panelists will examine how the CSA process has evolved over more than 25 years and how companies use its insights to inform decision-making, engage stakeholders, and better position themselves in a changing sustainability landscape. The session will close with a forward-looking conversation on the key sustainability trends shaping global markets.
What Attendees Will Gain
- Insights into how leading companies embed sustainability into business strategy, governance, and risk management
- Details on how organizations identify material sustainability risks, manage impacts, and uncover opportunities for resilience
- Practical examples of how companies use the CSA process to benchmark performance, improve data quality, engage internal teams, and support continuous improvement
- Peer insights from companies with 25 years of CSA participation and long-standing experience as sustainability leaders
- A forward-looking view of global sustainability trends influencing markets, investors, regulation, and corporate strategy
Confirmed Discussion Leaders
- Louis D. Coppola, CEO, G&A Institute
- Robert Dornau, Head of Corporate Solutions and Engagement S&P Global Energy Sustainable1
- Mike Wallace, Strategic Advisor, Corporate Solutions & Engagement, S&P Global
- Maureen Mazurek, Chief Sustainability and EHS Officer, BD – Becton, Dickinson and Company
Additional speakers to be announced.
To register, visit ga-institute.com/webinars/resilient-leadership.
ABOUT GOVERNANCE & ACCOUNTABILITY INSTITUTE, INC. (www.ga-institute.com)
Founded in 2006, Governance & Accountability Institute, Inc. (G&A) is a sustainability consulting and research firm headquartered in New York City. G&A helps corporate and investor clients recognize, understand, and develop winning strategies for sustainability and ESG issues to address stakeholder and shareholder concerns. G&A’s proprietary, comprehensive full-suite process for sustainability reporting is designed to help organizations achieve sustainability leadership in their industry and sector and maximize return on investment for sustainability initiatives.
CONTACT:
Louis D. Coppola
Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder
Governance & Accountability Institute, Inc.
Tel 646.430.8230 ext 14
Email: lcoppola@ga-institute.com
Twenty-five years ago on September 11, 2001, amid dust, ash and immense destruction, first responders from across New York City charged directly into danger without hesitation, displaying unimaginable courage, sacrifice and service. At Motorola Solutions, that dedication inspires the company’s mission to help people be their best in the moments that matter. The Motorola Solutions Foundation reflects this commitment by partnering with organizations that support first responders, their families and the communities they serve.
Turning memory into impact
To mark the 25th anniversary of 9/11, employee volunteers across major Motorola Solutions U.S. hubs – including Chicago, Dallas, Washington, D.C. and Nashville – are uniting to preserve the memory of that day and give back to local communities. On September 11, employees will join 50,000 volunteers across 50 U.S. cities for the 9/11 Day Meal Packing event, helping prepare 18 million meals for Americans facing food insecurity. More than 200 Motorola Solutions employees have participated the past eight years – an embodiment of their deep passion for service and their steadfast commitment to driving meaningful change where it matters most.
A tribute to service
Giving back in honor of 9/11 extends beyond a single charitable effort; it stands as a living tribute to the selflessness displayed 25 years ago. By supporting local communities, our volunteers transform remembrance into compassion, ensuring this legacy of service becomes a driving force for good.
Discover how the passionate people of Motorola Solutions are transforming lives and helping communities across the globe.
In this bonus episode of Rethinking EHS, host Beatrice Bizzaro (HPC Italy, Inogen Alliance Global Water Working Group Lead) is joined by C. Rajadurai from Cholamandalam MS Risk Services (India) to examine three challenges affecting industrial facilities: recurring river flooding, extreme rainfall, and water scarcity. Through three practical case studies, the conversation explores how modelling, asset-level assessment, stormwater management, groundwater recharge, and water-source diversification can reduce disruption and strengthen long-term business continuity.
Listen Now
Time Stamps
- 0:00 Introduction: Water-Related Climate Risks
- 1:32 Meet C. Rajadurai
- 1:45 Case Study 1: Recurring River Flooding
- 2:16 Reservoir Releases, Tides & Flood Risk
- 5:25 Protecting Critical Equipment
- 7:39 Case Study 2: Extreme Rainfall
- 8:29 Rainfall Thresholds & Infrastructure Resilience
- 10:42 Assessing Stormwater Network Capacity
- 12:34 Stormwater Reuse & Groundwater Recharge
- 15:35 Case Study 3: Water Scarcity
- 16:16 Diversifying Water Sources
- 18:08 Water Security & Business Continuity
- 18:27 Turning Climate Risk into Engineering Action
- 19:49 Closing Remarks & Global Collaboration
Guest Quotes
C. Rajadurai:
“Source diversification is not only a water management strategy; it is part of business resilience and the business continuity plan.”
C. Rajadurai:
“Climate risk assessment becomes valuable when findings reach engineering drawings and planning teams, translating risk into on-the-ground implementation.”
AEG’s LA Galaxy, in partnership with adidas and Raising Cane’s, hosted pediatric cancer patients from the Jessie Rees Foundation’s Never Ever Give Up (NEGU) initiative at Dignity Health Sports Park for the club’s fourth-annual Kick Childhood Cancer Boot-Making Lab. The event brought together eight NEGU youth out-patients, their families, LA Galaxy first-team players and coaches for a day centered on creativity, connection and support.
Held following first-team training on Sept. 3, the Boot-Making Lab paired each child with LA Galaxy players and coaches to decorate a select set of adidas cleats and shoes. Through custom designs and personal touches, participants transformed the footwear into unique expressions of hope, resilience and individuality.
The event provided NEGU families with an opportunity to engage directly with players and coaches in a welcoming environment while creating lasting memories. Beyond decorating cleats, participants experienced the camaraderie and encouragement that have become hallmarks of the LA Galaxy Foundation’s community programming.
The customized cleats and shoes created during the event will be worn by LA Galaxy players and coaches during training sessions leading up to and during the club’s Sept. 12 match against the Seattle Sounders, helping raise awareness for children battling cancer and honoring the strength of the young participants who designed them.
“The Boot-Making Lab is a powerful reminder of the impact meaningful connections can have on children and families facing difficult circumstances,” said Mariah Rodriguez, Manager of Community Relations and the LA Galaxy Foundation. “Partnering NEGU youth with our players and coaches creates special moments of joy and inspiration. We’re grateful to adidas and Raising Cane’s for helping make these experiences possible and for joining us in supporting children affected by pediatric cancer.”
Through initiatives like the Boot-Making Lab, the LA Galaxy Foundation continues to leverage the power of sport to create positive experiences for local youth while advancing awareness around childhood cancer and the importance of community support.
AEG’s LA Galaxy, in partnership with adidas and Raising Cane’s, hosted pediatric cancer patients from the Jessie Rees Foundation’s Never Ever Give Up (NEGU) initiative at Dignity Health Sports Park for the club’s fourth-annual Kick Childhood Cancer Boot-Making Lab. The event brought together eight NEGU youth out-patients, their families, LA Galaxy first-team players and coaches for a day centered on creativity, connection and support.
Held following first-team training on Sept. 3, the Boot-Making Lab paired each child with LA Galaxy players and coaches to decorate a select set of adidas cleats and shoes. Through custom designs and personal touches, participants transformed the footwear into unique expressions of hope, resilience and individuality.
The event provided NEGU families with an opportunity to engage directly with players and coaches in a welcoming environment while creating lasting memories. Beyond decorating cleats, participants experienced the camaraderie and encouragement that have become hallmarks of the LA Galaxy Foundation’s community programming.
The customized cleats and shoes created during the event will be worn by LA Galaxy players and coaches during training sessions leading up to and during the club’s Sept. 12 match against the Seattle Sounders, helping raise awareness for children battling cancer and honoring the strength of the young participants who designed them.
“The Boot-Making Lab is a powerful reminder of the impact meaningful connections can have on children and families facing difficult circumstances,” said Mariah Rodriguez, Manager of Community Relations and the LA Galaxy Foundation. “Partnering NEGU youth with our players and coaches creates special moments of joy and inspiration. We’re grateful to adidas and Raising Cane’s for helping make these experiences possible and for joining us in supporting children affected by pediatric cancer.”
Through initiatives like the Boot-Making Lab, the LA Galaxy Foundation continues to leverage the power of sport to create positive experiences for local youth while advancing awareness around childhood cancer and the importance of community support.
ANKARA, Turkey, September 8, 2026 /3BL/ – One Tower Business Club, a one-of-a-kind premium business and flexible workspace destination in Turkey, has become the first flexible workspace operator in the country to achieve the WELL Coworking Rating, making Turkey the third country in continental Europe to achieve this rating. This milestone places One Tower Business Club at the forefront of a growing global movement of workspace operators committed to prioritizing health, wellbeing and performance in the workplace. The rating was awarded in August by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) through the WELL Coworking Rating program, administered in partnership with The Instant Group.
The rating assesses operators across more than 50 health-focused features spanning all ten WELL concepts — including air and water quality, lighting, thermal comfort, nutrition and physical fitness — with each submission independently reviewed by IWBI before certification is awarded. In strategic collaboration with Alarnova, and with the valued support of their ecosystem partner WELLS 360°, One Tower Business Club successfully completed the WELL Coworking Rating process, bringing together expertise, guidance and operational commitment throughout the journey.
Located in Ankara’s prestigious One Tower development, One Tower Business Club spans 11,500 m² and combines premium workspace, hospitality and community experiences — including Sign Restaurant and a members-only fitness area developed with wellness partner Technogym — to create an environment where businesses, professionals and entrepreneurs can thrive.
As demand for flexible workspaces continues to grow across Turkey, operators are increasingly looking for ways to differentiate themselves and provide members with more than just a place to work (BKP Research & Consulting, 2025, Rent Office Hub, 2026). The WELL Coworking Rating provides a globally recognized, third-party verified framework that demonstrates a measurable commitment to occupant well-being and performance.
Ann Marie Aguilar, Senior Vice President, EMEA, IWBI, said: “The WELL Coworking Rating helps flexible workspace operators demonstrate their commitment to creating environments that support health, well-being and productivity. We congratulate One Tower Business Club on achieving this important milestone and joining a growing global community of organizations dedicated to enhancing the workplace experience.”
Sam Pickering, Executive Director at The Instant Group, said: “Achieving the WELL Coworking Rating is a powerful statement about One Tower Business Club’s commitment to its members and the future of workplace well-being. As occupiers become increasingly selective about where and how they work, the quality of the workplace experience is becoming a key differentiator. One Tower has demonstrated real leadership by investing in an environment that supports health, comfort and performance, and we are proud to have helped them achieve this milestone.”
Monika Paksoy, Managing Director at One Tower Business Club, said: “Achieving the first WELL Coworking Rating in Turkey is a major milestone for us. Independent IWBI verification confirms that health, well-being, and productivity are built directly into our operational DNA—setting a new benchmark for tomorrow’s workplace. As the operations lead who drove this project from initial concept to official certification, I view this as clear proof of what happens when well-being is treated as an operational discipline, not a marketing campaign.”
The achievement highlights the increasing maturity of Turkey’s flexible workspace market and signals growing interest in internationally recognized standards that help operators demonstrate quality, attract corporate occupiers and build trust with members.
For One Tower Business Club, the achievement further strengthens its position as a leading destination for professionals and businesses seeking a premium workspace experience in Ankara, while contributing to the broader advancement of healthy workplace standards across Turkey.
About One Tower Business Club
One Tower Business Club (OTBC) is a premium business and coworking community located in Ankara, Turkey, offering flexible office, meeting, and business solutions designed for professionals, companies, entrepreneurs, diplomats, and international organizations. Spanning 11,500 m², OTBC brings together private offices, coworking areas, meeting and event spaces, a library, restaurant and lounge areas, a fully equipped Technogym fitness center, and outdoor spaces including an urban garden and terrace. Beyond providing workspace, OTBC aims to create a professional community that supports productivity, wellbeing, collaboration, and meaningful business connections. With a strong focus on well-being, sustainability, accessibility, and user experience, OTBC continues to develop its spaces and services in line with international standards and evolving workplace expectations.
About The Instant Group
The Instant Group has been rethinking workspace since 1999 with over 500 experts working globally across more than 175 countries. Instant’s digital platforms constitute the world’s largest digital marketplace for flexible workspace listing meeting rooms, virtual offices, flexible office space and coworking memberships. Its global team advises on commercial real estate solutions from serviced offices to fully customised managed offices, and consulting services for portfolio and net zero strategies. Instant’s approach enables agility, hybrid working solutions and improved operational resilience for more than 250,000 businesses every year. Clients include Prudential, Booking.com, Shell, Jaguar Land Rover and GSK. Instant has global offices including London, New York, Mexico City, Hong Kong, Singapore and Sydney. www.theinstantgroup.com www.instantoffices.com
About the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI)
The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) is a public benefit corporation and the global authority for transforming health and well-being in buildings, organizations and communities. In pursuit of its public-health mission, IWBI mobilizes its community through the development and administration of the WELL Building Standard (WELL), WELL for residential, WELL Community Standard, its WELL ratings and management of the WELL AP credential. IWBI also translates research into practice, develops educational resources and advocates for policies that promote people-first places for everyone, everywhere. More information on WELL can be found here.
International WELL Building Institute, IWBI, the WELL Building Standard, WELL v2, WELL Certified, WELL AP, WELL EP, WELL Score, The WELL Conference, We Are WELL, the WELL Community Standard, WELL Health-Safety Rated, WELL Performance Rated, WELL Equity Rated, WELL Equity, WELL Coworking Rated, WELL Residence, Works with WELL, WELL and others, and their related logos are trademarks or certification marks of International WELL Building Institute pbc in the United States and other countries.
Media contacts:
The Instant Group: olivia.chatten@incendiumconsulting.com
IWBI: media@wellcertified.com
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