Author: sHq_LoGiNz

Originally published on U.S. Bank company blog

Bryan Bernloehr runs a precision parts shop of more than 30 employees in Lakeville

Bryan Bernloehr was fresh out of high school when he founded Quality Contour, a precision machine shop that specializes in custom parts for industries from aerospace to medical devices.

“I started in my dad’s garage in 1980,” said Bernloehr, whose business is capable of machining and fabricating parts for a variety of industries out of everything from aluminum to plastics. “Back then, I was racing motorcross, and I was just trying to make enough to keep racing – but we’ve grown from there.”

Bernloehr calls it a slow growth over the last 45 years, adding positions and capabilities as the market called for it. He’s grown from a team of one out of his dad’s garage to a team of more than 30 in a facility in Lakeville, Minnesota.

“We’ve had little to no turnover over that time,” Bernloehr said. “I had my first guy retire and he was here for 35 years, but there’s more coming soon.”

That means opportunities to hire seasoned machinists in the next five to 10 years to operate complex equipment that they use to build prototypes and to create small runs of parts. Regardless of the size of the order, all of it needs specialized equipment, Bernloehr said.

That’s where U.S. Bank came in. For more than 40 years, U.S. Bank Equipment Finance has offered customized solutions specifically for businesses to finance equipment, from PCs to marine vessels. Part of U.S. Bank Equipment Finance, Manufacturing Vendor Services specializes in financing manufacturing equipment, including metal cutting or fabrication, plastics, woodworking, glass, and stone packaging or processing industries. The Manufacturing Vendor Services team has helped finance one to two pieces of equipment every year for Quality Contour over the last decade, with equipment costing upwards of a few hundred grand.

“I’ve known Bryan about 12 years or so, and he’s poured his soul into his business.”

– Tim Bruns, a U.S. Bank Business Banking relationship manager

“We’re doing more replacing and upgrading of machines,” Bernloehr said, noting that his shop has about 30 machines operated by his team. “We try to replace them every five to six years because of the wear and tear on the machine. Replacing them eliminates time wasted on repairs or troubleshooting – and it’s also a bonus for our employees.”

Tim Bruns, a U.S. Bank Business Banking relationship manager, supports Bernloehr and Quality Contour.

“I’ve known Bryan about 12 years or so, and he’s poured his soul into his business,” Bruns said. “To be able to support the continued growth of the company by providing the financing for new pieces of equipment is something we’re proud to do.”

Bernloehr, too, is proud of the company he’s built and the legacy that he’s leaving behind for his son, Cole.

“He’s doing a little more and a little more, slowly taking over the whole business,” Bernloehr said when asked about the future of Quality Contour. “No plans to sell, but we are looking to keep this place one where people continue to be happy working here.”

Originally published on 3M News Center

Wendy Bauer, Group President of 3M’s Transportation and Electronics Business Group (TEBG), is recognized as one of the 2025 Automotive News 100 Leading Women.

Every five years, Automotive News celebrates the exceptional women who are shaping the future of the automotive industry. Wendy was recognized on the previous list in 2020 and has received other esteemed industry awards, including being named one of the Top-25 Women in Automotive by Automobilewoche in Europe (2024) and a Software-Defined Vehicle Innovator Leader by MotorTrend (2023).

As Wendy celebrates this remarkable achievement and approaches her first anniversary with 3M, she sat down to share her journey and perspectives on growth and leadership—including strategies for women looking to advance in their careers.

Can you share some key moments from your career journey that have shaped you as a leader?

I’ve come to like the term “crucible moments” or “crucible mode,” which is something everyone experiences in their career in some form. In those moments, you felt like you were going to break, but you learned something that made you better than you were before.

As a 20-year-old engineering co-op student, I worked as a skilled trade supervisor in a union factory. Despite the challenges and feeling overwhelmed, I persevered. Initially, I had little to offer the experienced employees, but over time, I understood that the experience was meant to teach me how to navigate and lead in a difficult environment. It was a valuable training experience that I didn’t give up on.

To me, a great leader knows when such situations will arise, and they might have been through similar experiences themselves. They know that they could guide you through them, but if they did, you wouldn’t learn. Reflecting on my career, I realize I worked for leaders who knew the pitfalls but allowed me to navigate them, making me better in the process.

Since joining 3M, what have been some of your key learnings and how is that reflected in your leadership?

At 3M, the culture is centered around innovation and engineering, like other leading companies in the field. These core elements push us forward, but can also spark a lot of questions: How much do we lean into learning what we don’t know? How do we take risks that make us uncomfortable? How do we challenge the status quo?

To answer these questions, and do what hasn’t been done before, our teams need to be creative, open-minded, and agile. Within the Transportation and Electronics Business Group, these capabilities are paired with a bold North Star I’ve set to inspire customer obsession, risk-taking, and ownership of results.

I believe in setting ambitious goals that inspire both the organization and stakeholders, and I understand the importance of aligning resources with strategic priorities while continuously building the capabilities needed to achieve long-term success. As we transform alongside the industries we serve, this will always stay top of mind.

How do you engage your teams to ensure there are equal opportunities for growth?

In a room with leaders, be aware of who is speaking and who is not. Everyone likes to share opinions, but sometimes the opinion of someone without lived experience on a topic may not be the most valuable. Be in tune with the topics and who is speaking to identify gaps in input that you need to help facilitate. Facilitate conversations with other voices, especially if they may not be offering their input or are uncomfortable doing so.

I also believe in taking a skills-based approach. Focus on the skills and experiences people bring to the table, not just their titles or positions. It’s about identifying the job that needs to be done and finding the best person with the right skills to do it. This approach often leads to different and more effective solutions, and it also helps to build a more inclusive and high-performing team.

What advice would you give for those looking to take the next step in their career?

I use the phrase: “always take a bet on yourself.” It’s not about what you know, but about what you can figure out. When you have an opportunity, someone is asking for volunteers, or you’re thinking about applying for a job, it’s easy to be your harshest critic and list all the reasons why you shouldn’t do something. Instead, flip the script and acknowledge why you’re qualified and what you bring to the table.

This mindset helps you realize that you can get there. Be bold about what you want and believe you can achieve based on your strengths and experiences. In turn, you must be intentional in seeking opportunities to complement what you’ve learned.

The world is abundant with opportunities and remarkable growth prospects are presented to us every day.

Originally published on PSEG ENERGIZE!

Boys & Girls Clubs are a crucial part of communities throughout New Jersey. Not only do they provide safe and reliable childcare for parents, with transportation to and from school and educational and recreational after-school and summer camp programs, they also serve as centers for tutoring, college preparation, career readiness, healthy meals and a sense of security and belonging. And during extenuating situations – like the pandemic or extreme weather events – Boys and Girls Clubs have also served as emergency food distribution centers and heating and cooling shelters.

Given all that these clubs do, every penny counts. Finding ways to lower costs means more services, more staff and more families served.

Championing savings in Paterson and Passaic

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Paterson and Passaic (BGCPP) serve more than 1,400 kids each day. With two 36,000 square-foot facilities, the busy and dynamic clubs operate as a community hub for public activities and a second home for many children.

Each year, over 500,000 healthy meals and snacks are served and over 200,000 hours of academic support is provided. And, for each dollar invested into BGCPP, $9.60 in economic benefits are returned to the community.

To help stretch dollars for even greater impact, the Paterson location of BGCPP requested a free energy assessment by our partner, Donnelly Energy, in 2023. The assessment found aging HVAC units, a 24-year-old boiler system and outdated lighting were contributing to high utility costs.

By leveraging our Direct Install Program, which provides an 80% incentive for projects upfront, BGCPP was able to upgrade seven inefficient HVAC units, the boiler and the facility’s inadequate lighting. The move to become more energy efficient has created an estimated cost savings of $300,000, according to club leadership.

While the project cost was $434,839, the program’s incentive covered $311,650, meaning that total cost for BGCPP was only $123,189.

“Energy savings like this aren’t just numbers on a bill – they directly support our kids and programs,” said Jane He, Chief Development Officer of the Boys & Girls Club of Paterson and Passaic. “Through PSE&G’s Direct Install Program, we were able to make essential upgrades at a fraction of the cost.”

As a result, BGCPP saves an estimated $1,277 per month on energy bills, which goes a long way to support club members. The cost savings can be attributed to various programs, such as the club’s Saturday Academic Tutoring Program, which is led by certified teachers and offered at no charge to any child in Paterson or Passaic, regardless of club membership. This $1,277 monthly savings translates into 20 children being able to participate in academic tutoring for five hours a week and receive a healthy snack and lunch.

In addition, the upgrades have lowered the club’s energy and carbon footprints by estimated annual savings of 64,653 KWH and 8,851 therms, while reducing CO2 output by 90.2 tons each year.¹ That’s the equivalent of:

• Removing 20.1 gasoline-powered passenger vehicles off the roads for one year, or
• Powering 12.4 homes’ energy use for one year, or
• Recycling 7,341 trash bags of waste instead sending them to the landfill, or
• 86.6 acres of U.S. forests sequestering carbon for one year.²

Brightening spaces and lives

Club members are also enjoying new lighting in the Victor Cruz Aquatics Center as part of this effort, where improved visibility has not only enhanced safety but also sparked renewed interest and increased participation.

“As a working mom, I rely on the club every day.

Knowing my kids are learning, swimming and having fun in a safe, welcoming place gives me so much peace of mind. ”

-Ashley, parent of three BGCPP club members

“I used to be nervous around the pool, but now I love swimming,” said Jasmin, age 9, a club member in Paterson. “The lights make it so much brighter, and I can see everything better.”

Today, the Aquatics Center is a hub of activity – hosting swim lessons for 400 children annually, lifeguard training for teens and giving 75 club members the chance to compete in USA Swimming-sanctioned meets. As the city’s only publicly accessible pool, the newly illuminated center now truly shines, supporting vital water safety programs and inspiring young swimmers to dive into new opportunities.

“As a working mom, I rely on the club every day,” shared Ashley, a parent of three club members. “Knowing my kids are learning, swimming and having fun in a safe, welcoming place gives me so much peace of mind. The upgrades to the building really show how much they care about our children.”

Building strong children in Lower Bergen County

Located in one of the most economically challenged communities in New Jersey, the Boys & Girls Club of Lower Bergen County (BGCLBC), is at the forefront of youth development for young people from disadvantaged economic, social and family circumstances – a need that significantly rose in 2024, when the club saw an almost 20% increase in the number of kids being served each day.

At BGCLBC, every penny is stretched for maximum impact – which is why the club’s CEO, Joseph J. Licata, turned to our Direct Install Program three times. In 2024, the club pursued HVAC and lighting upgrades as a result of an energy audit.

“PSE&G’s Direct Install Program has been a true lifeline for our organization,” said Joseph. “It has allowed us to not only upgrade costly and aging equipment but also become better stewards for our environment. It has made our facility more efficient, thus reducing our energy consumption and costs. This ultimately allows us to put more funding into program services instead of overhead costs.”

To further cost saving efforts, in addition to the lighting and HVAC upgrades, the club also added solar panels. Combined, these efforts lowered utility bills by roughly $1,100 a month – helping to lessen the blow of inflation and allow existing services to continue despite rising costs.

Each month, the savings are applied to where they are needed most: Covering the cost of a part-time employee, a cook for the club’s free meals program or more supplies for sports and art activities. Most recently, the savings helped finance an additional bus to transport kids safely to and from school.

Providing a safe and welcoming environment

As a result of participation in our Direct Install Program, the club can bring in fresh air , while maintaining comfortable temperatures throughout their large spaces. Plus, instead of spending time and effort on a bid and evaluation process, our program made the upgrades painless, according to Joseph.

Our program also helped cover the costs associated with replacing 25 light fixtures in the gymnasium. Instead of costing $12,500, the club paid just $68, transforming a once-dim gym into a bright, welcoming space for the community.

Small changes. Big impact.

For organizations like the Boys & Girls Clubs, every dollar saved on energy costs is a dollar that can be reinvested into the lives of the children they serve. By taking advantage of our energy efficiency programs, these clubs are making their buildings more efficient, their spaces more welcoming and their services more accessible.

We’re proud to play a part in helping these vital community hubs continue doing what they do best – empowering the next generation.

If you’re looking to learn more about our energy efficiency business solutions programs, click here.

[1] CO2 savings derived using the New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program’s Large Energy Users Program (LEUP) calculator: https://www.njcleanenergy.com/LEUPDecarb.

[1] Equivalencies are based on conversion factors from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator: https://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gas-equivalencies-calculator.

We’re proud to share that “The Adventure Jar,” a children’s book supporting families impacted by metastatic breast cancer (MBC), has received two 2025 Bronze Anvil Awards from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). 

Cancer steals possibility, but at Gilead, we’re committed to providing resources for families with the emotional burden of MBC. Download or order a free hard copy of the book: https://www.expose-mbc.com/support-for-families

Gilead Sciences
Gilead Sciences, Inc. is a research-based biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and commercializes innovative medicines in areas of unmet medical need. The company strives to transform and simplify care for people with life-threatening illnesses around the world. Gilead has operations in more than 35 countries worldwide, with headquarters in Foster City, California. 

Originally published by Gilead Sciences

• Integrated modular data center construction will bring capacity online at speed to meet growing global demand for AI and cloud computing
• Standardized on-site power generation is key to accelerate the development of new data centers 

DUBLIN and BERLIN, June 3, 2025 /3BL/ – Intelligent power management company Eaton, and Siemens Energy, one of the world’s leading energy technology companies, have announced a fast-track approach to building data centers with integrated onsite power. They will address urgent market needs by offering reliable grid-independent energy supplies and standardized modular systems to facilitate swift data center construction and deployment.

The collaboration will enable simultaneous construction of data centers and associated on-site power generation with grid connection and the integration of renewables to meet regional regulatory requirements, if required. This will provide data center owners and developers with choices they don’t have at present to enable them to build and run new data centers.

Siemens Energy’s modular and scalable power plant concept is tailored to the specific needs of data center operators. The standard configuration generates 500 megawatts (MW) of electricity, featuring highly efficient SGT-800 gas turbines, redundancy and additional battery storage systems, ensuring the highest reliability. Based on its modular approach, the size of the plant can be scaled up and down. In the future, it can also operate in a carbon-neutral manner, provided hydrogen is available and part of the data center’s sustainability strategy. The Siemens Energy concept also includes an optional emission-free clean air grid connection to be installed either during construction or as a retrofit. This feature would enable data centers to provide grid services.

Eaton will provide customers with electrical equipment such as medium voltage switchgear, low voltage switchgear, UPS, busways, structural support, racks and containment systems, engineering services and the software offerings needed to protect and enable IT loads from the medium-voltage grid to the chip and help accelerate building and commissioning data centers with skidded and modular designs.

Cyrille Brisson, global segment leader, Data Centers, Eaton, said: “Our approach of letting customers pick the right balance of energy sources is very flexible and construction to start-up time is swift with options to reduce emissions in both the short and long term. Crucially, our approach offers data center owners and developers the opportunity to build capacity and bring it online fast in any location where they have land available that is close to gas, water and fiber.”

Andreas Pistauer, global head of sales, Siemens Energy’s Gas Services Business Area, said: “We offer hyperscalers, co-locators and investors a unique package, enabling them to reduce the time-to-market by up to two years in many places which leads to significant revenue gains. Our power plant design is built with redundancy, eliminating the need for backup diesel generators, and reducing CO₂ emissions by about 50 percent.”

About Eaton

Eaton is an intelligent power management company dedicated to protecting the environment and improving the quality of life for people everywhere. We make products for the data center, utility, industrial, commercial, machine building, residential, aerospace and mobility markets. We are guided by our commitment to do business right, to operate sustainably and to help our customers manage power ─ today and well into the future. By capitalizing on the global growth trends of electrification and digitalization, we’re helping to solve the world’s most urgent power management challenges and building a more sustainable society for people today and generations to come.

Founded in 1911, Eaton has continuously evolved to meet the changing and expanding needs of our stakeholders. With revenues of nearly $25 billion in 2024, the company serves customers in more than 160 countries. For more information, visit www.eaton.com. Follow us on LinkedIn.

About Siemens Energy

Siemens Energy is one of the world’s leading energy technology companies. The company works with its customers and partners on energy systems for the future, thus supporting the transition to a more sustainable world. With its portfolio of products, solutions and services, Siemens Energy covers almost the entire energy value chain – from power and heat generation and transmission to storage. The portfolio includes conventional and renewable energy technology, such as gas and steam turbines, hybrid power plants operated with hydrogen, and power generators and transformers. Its wind power subsidiary Siemens Gamesa makes Siemens Energy a global market leader for renewable energies. An estimated one-sixth of the electricity generated worldwide is based on technologies from Siemens Energy. Siemens Energy employs around 101,000 people worldwide in more than 90 countries and generated revenue of €34.5 billion in fiscal year 2024.

Contact:

Eaton
Angela Swann
Global PR & Policy Communications Manager
angelaswann@eaton.com
mobile +44 7773 198113

Siemens Energy
Sabine Sill
Press Spokesperson Gas Services
sabine.sill@siemens-energy.com
mobile +49 (173) 7196783

ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 3, 2025 /3BL/ – The Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) today announced the launch of its Chemical Platform, which helps companies identify, assess, and manage chemical management risks within their global supply chains.

The RBA Chemical Platform is a chemical data collection, assessment, and reporting platform to identify chemicals of concern within supply chains, evaluate compliance with restricted substance requirements, analyze chemical management risks at facilities, and enable risk-based chemical management due diligence. The platform will enable RBA members and their suppliers to prioritize chemical management risks, mitigate worker exposures to toxic substances, strengthen environmental sustainability, and drive continuous improvement over time.

“Companies face growing expectations to proactively manage and address chemical management risks throughout their supply chains,” said Holly Evans, Senior Vice President, Environmental Policy and Legal Affairs, Responsible Business Alliance. “The RBA Chemical Platform, which is the result of collaborative engagement with members and external stakeholders, will help companies conduct chemical management due diligence on significant risks.”

Key benefits of the RBA Chemical Platform include chemical data collection and reporting, risk scorecards, and chemical screening.

Chemical Data Collection and Reporting: The platform provides a standardized approach for rapid and controlled collection of chemical consumption data, including chemicals in products, manufacturing process chemicals, and more. Facilities can populate their chemical inventories, define their product lines, add chemical product consumption information, assess occupational health risks, and report data to customers and stakeholders.

Risk Scorecards: The platform assigns overall risk scores to each facility based on chemical product usage and control data. Companies can develop customized facility-, company- and supply chain-level risk scorecards to summarize chemical consumption data and qualitative worker exposure risks into overall risk scores. This enables ranking and prioritization of chemical management risks among supply chain facilities for conducting risk-based due diligence.

Chemical Screening: The platform enables companies to screen their facilities’ chemical inventories against numerous chemicals of concern lists to identify and assess conformance with various regulatory requirements, voluntary initiatives, ecolabel criteria, and material restrictions. Users can add their own unique restricted substances lists (RSLs) and manufacturing RSLs (MRSLs) for supply chain facilities to provide assurance against various material restrictions.

The platform enables standardized collection of chemical usage and control data with a centralized chemical product database, an automated Safety Data Sheet (SDS) parsing feature, customizable facility product line configurations, and roundtrip API integration with RBA-Online, the RBA’s online data management system designed to help companies manage and share sustainability data.

Learn more about the Chemical Platform on the RBA website and contact REI@responsiblebusiness.org for additional information.

About the Responsible Business Alliance
The Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) is a mission-driven organization comprised of leading companies dedicated to responsible business conduct in their global supply chains. The RBA has a Code of Conduct and a range of programs, training and assessment tools to support continuous improvement. The organization has a global footprint, with offices in North America, Europe and Asia. The RBA and its Responsible Minerals, Labor and Factory Initiatives have more than 600 members with combined annual revenues of greater than $8 trillion, directly employing over 21.5 million people, with products manufactured in more than 120 countries. For more information, visit responsiblebusiness.org.

Media Contact
Jarrett Bens, Senior Director of Communications
Responsible Business Alliance
Phone: +1 571.858.5721
jbens@responsiblebusiness.org

Jeana Hudnall was 18 weeks pregnant when doctors told her and her husband Harrison that their third child, Manny, would be born with spina bifida. She recalls what the doctor said next that helped them prepare for the difficult medical journey Manny faced after birth.

“The doctor said, ‘He’s going to be a bright light and joy in this world. He is a blessing.’”

As Manny, grew up, those words proved true.

Today, Manny, 15, is one of the most popular teenagers in his hometown in Minnesota where he spends his free time playing basketball and occasionally giving locker-room pep talks to some of his high school sports teams.

With his sense of humor, unwavering optimism, and the support of his loved ones, he continues to create the life of his dreams. In this episode of our series Open Book, Manny shares how spina bifida impacts his life in unseen ways.

Watch the video here.