Henkel’s two business units, Adhesive Technologies and Consumer Brands, are united by the pioneering spirit to reimagine and improve everyday life – today and for generations to come. Building on a strong legacy of more than 145 years, our brands and products play an important role in the lives of millions of people and help to transform entire industries. In this series, Beyond the Brand, you will learn about how Henkel’s top brands are contributing to organizational goals and innovating constantly to serve and succeed on behalf of customers, consumers, and partners.

This edition’s featured brand is Dial® soap. Read on for more about the history, purpose, innovations, sustainability, and pioneering spirit of the team that goes far beyond the Dial® brand.

The History of Dial®

The Dial® brand is an American icon known for its powerful deep cleansing that is gentle on skin. Dial® became a US household name in the 1940’s with the introduction of Dial® antibacterial bar soap. As one of the founding American personal cleansing brands, Dial® introduced the first ever antibacterial liquid hand soap in 1988, and was also the first ever soap in space.

The Purpose of Dial®

As a trusted brand for over 75 years, Dial’s purpose is to deliver clean skin for consumers and their families across the entire North American region.

Innovations from Dial®

Dial® is driven by strong organizational values of sustainability and innovation. This has led to award-winning products, including Dial® Healthy Hydration Body Wash. This innovative product deeply hydrates the top layers of the skin with no greasy feeling, leaving skin feeling soft and nourished. In addition to being dermatologist tested, and free from chemicals like parabens and silicones, this product was formulated with ingredients such as vitamin E, shea butter extract, coconut milk, and hyaluronic acid.

This innovation also honors the Dial® brand’s commitment to sustainability, with body wash packaging that features 100% recycled plastic in ergonomically improved bottles.* Dial® also continues to anchor the brand in its purpose by introducing new innovation in its antibacterial hand soap portfolio with seasonal, limited-edition scents throughout the year.

Sustainability from Dial®

Dial’s partnership with Solidaridad, which celebrated its 10-year anniversary in 2024, is just one way that the brand has worked to establish programs that deliver sustainable value for Henkel’s customers, partners, consumers, and the communities that we serve. The partnership aims to help smallholder farmers in Columbia earn a living wage while connecting them to the supply chain that supports the brand’s products in North America and establishing a traceable and transparent sourcing process for palm and palm kernel oil.

This partnership reaffirms Henkel’s belief that it’s crucial to support current and future generations with the tools to excel and create thriving communities. Younger generations are driven, seeing a difference in their ability to not only have a successful and sustainable farm-based business, but to be innovative entrepreneurs and ensure that their children will have the opportunity to continue cultivating their land for years to come, passing their passion and legacy on for the good of future generations.

The brand is also proud to use 100% post-consumer recycled material in its bottle packaging* as well as to have achieved two GreenCircle certifications**. This includes a Certified Environmental Facts certification for carbon footprint reduction and a Zero Waste to Landfill certification at its West Hazleton, PA manufacturing facility, where Dial® liquid soaps are made. This recognition underscores Henkel’s ongoing commitment to apply the newest standards for transparency in sustainability.

Beyond the Dial® Brand

Beyond its product portfolio, Dial has a strong connection with the communities it serves. As part of Henkel’s multi-year partnership with the United States Soccer Federation, the Dial Clean Sheet Program supports public school teachers and students nationwide through education nonprofit DonorsChoose.

As part of this program, Dial donated an initial $50,000 to DonorsChoose, and for every clean sheet in a U.S. Senior National Team soccer match, Dial® will donate an additional $5,000 for a total contribution of up to $100,000 in the first year.

DID YOU KNOW?

Preventing the opposing team from scoring any goals is what delivers a ‘clean sheet’ match for the winning team. This is a mark of defensive excellence and is a significant achievement for the goalkeeper and the entire team defense.

This initiative contributes to Dial’s longtime goal and brand mission to give educators the tools they need to teach the next generation and foster healthier communities by providing resources that support clean skin and proper hygiene practices. Dial® hopes to engage soccer fans as they cheer on our winning U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Teams while giving back to the teachers who do so much for students around the country.
 

*Excludes cap and pump.
**For all Dial body wash, liquid hand soap (except Himalayan Salt 7.5oz), and foaming hand wash (except Coconut Water Mango 7.5oz)

Pet care leader’s 2024 donations supported the human-animal bond and programs to advance the future of pet health

ST. LOUIS, April 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Nestlé Purina PetCare Company announced today that its total charitable donations in 2024 exceeded $37 million, including $22.9 million in monetary grants and sponsorships and $14.2 million in in-kind contributions of Purina pet food and Tidy Cats litter. Based on Purina’s belief that people and pets are better together, the company’s 2024 contributions focused on bringing and keeping pets and people together, funding academic and educational programs to advance the future of pet health, and supporting the communities where Purina employees live, work and play.

Bringing and Keeping People and Pets Together
In 2024, Purina donated more than $14 million worth of nutritious pet food and cat litter to nonprofit partners that not only care for adoptable pets but also support pet owners who struggle to make ends meet. In addition to providing critical nutrition to shelters and pet owners in need, the company contributed over $14.6 million in grants to organizations that bring people and pets together, and those that support the human-animal bond in times of crisis.

  • Supporting Domestic Abuse Survivors and Pets: Through the Purple Leash Project, a partnership between Purina and nonprofit RedRover to create safe spaces for domestic abuse survivors and their pets, Purina has provided more than 55 grants to help domestic violence shelters across the country become pet friendly so that survivors don’t have to make an impossible choice between their safety and the safety of their pets. Last year’s Purple Leash Project grants totaled over $365,000 and added pet-friendly housing at domestic violence shelters in Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana, Minnesota, New York and Oklahoma.
  • Connecting Veterans with Service Dogs: Through Purina Dog Chow’s Service Dog Salute, the company is working to ensure that every Veteran in need can obtain a PTSD service dog. Since 2018, Dog Chow has donated more than $1.4 million and 50 thousand pounds of Purina Dog Chow to support both the training and care of more service dogs for U.S. military veterans struggling with severe post-traumatic stress. In 2024, Purina spotlighted this important issue with the first-ever “Service Dog Salute” category at the NY Dog Film Festival. Purina donated $5 for every view of the documentary, generating a total of $75,000 for the Association of Service Dog Providers. In addition, Purina gave more than $65,000 in grants to a variety of service dog organizations nationwide.
  • Helping People and Pets During Natural Disasters: In the wake of a natural disaster, such as a hurricane, flood or wildfire, Purina works with Greater Good Charities, a global nonprofit, to support to people and pets in need. Last year, Purina granted nearly $150,000 to fund emergency relief efforts, providing food, medical supplies and hygiene kits to displaced individuals, and helping to transport shelter pets to safety. In addition to monetary donations, Purina worked with several of its US-based manufacturing facilities to ship thousands of pounds of Purina pet food and cat litter to pet shelters and owners in impacted communities.
  • Leveraging the Healing Power of Pets: With reports that 7 out of 10 teens in the U.S. struggle with their mental health, Purina is harnessing the healing power of pets to help match therapy dogs with youth, which can help lower blood pressure, increase self-confidence, and help reduce stress, anxiety and depression. In 2024, Purina provided dozens of grants to schools, pediatric hospitals and service dog organizations to support this mission. At Children’s Hospital Colorado Purina provided a $100,000 grant to enable the expansion of the Medical Dog Team, adding a trained service dog and handler to the hospital’s pediatric behavior health unit.

Investing in the Future of Pet Health
Last year alone, Purina contributed more than $6 million to veterinary universities and pet health-focused organizations, including the AKC Canine Health Foundation, the American Veterinary Medical Foundation and the American Animal Hospital Association. These partnerships aim to improve pet health and wellbeing and provide opportunities for the next generation of veterinarians.

Purina’s investments also extend to further research at key veterinary universities.

  • The Purina Cornell Canine Healthy Aging and Mobility Program (CHAMP) at Cornell University’s School of Veterinary Medicine focuses on advancing science and innovation in the areas of nutrition, healthy aging, rehabilitation and mobility in dogs.
  • The Purina Distinguished Program in Gastrointestinal Health and Wellness at the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine is a five-year program to further research and discover solutions for gastrointestinal conditions, one of the most common health issues in pets.
  • The Purina Young Investigators Award Program at Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences is an endowment funding up to 12 annual grants in perpetuity to students and their faculty mentors to investigate and share scientific advancements.

“Veterinarians play such a pivotal role in caring for our pets,” said Purina Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. Kurt R. Venator. “These investments build on Purina’s decades-long history of supporting veterinary schools and students and our promise to offer exciting scientific and nutritional advances to help our pets live long, healthy lives.”

In 2024, Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets launched the Pro Plan Veterinary Support Mission to help veterinarians fulfill their call to care by removing barriers they often face in practice. As its first act, the mission donated $1 million to the American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF) REACH program, which offers grants to veterinarians so they can provide immediate pet care when owners are experiencing financial hardship.

Building Healthy Communities
With a presence in more than 25 cities across the United States, Purina works to enhance the communities where its employees live and work through nonprofit partnership and community engagement. In 2024, Purina invested over $5 million into its local communities, supporting pet welfare initiatives, community development projects, youth organizations and more.

Purina’s 11,000 US-based associates also volunteered a collective 5,000 hours last year in support of nonprofits that care for pets, people and the planet. The company celebrated its 23rd annual Purina Cares Day of service in May, when associates at its St. Louis, MO headquarters, all 24 manufacturing facilities and seven regional sales offices took the day off work to complete a variety of service projects, including cleaning up local parks, bringing therapy dogs to schools during final exam periods, distributing food to people and pets in need, renovating local pet shelters, and much more.

“Purina Cares Day is a great example of our values and commitment to being a good neighbor in the communities where we live and work,” says Director Community Affairs Kimberly Beardslee. “Our associates look forward to volunteering their time and talents to help make a positive difference in the lives of both pets and people in need.”

Additionally, Purina invested more than $1 million in capital and capacity-building projects through the Nestlé Purina Charitable Trust, which was established by Purina founder William H. Danforth to provide critical support to important causes in Purina communities. Projects ranged from helping Jefferson High School’s Agriculture Department in Jefferson, Wisconsin, provide training equipment for its Companion Animal, Animal Science and Veterinary Science courses.

For more information about Nestlé Purina PetCare Company’s initiatives and partnerships, please visit www.purina.com.

About Purina
Nestlé Purina PetCare creates richer lives for pets and the people who love them. Founded in 1894, Purina has helped dogs and cats live longer, healthier lives by offering scientifically based nutritional innovations.

Purina manufactures some of the world’s most trusted and popular pet care products, including Purina ONE, Pro Plan, Friskies and Tidy Cats. Our more than 11,000 U.S. associates take pride in our trusted pet food, treat and litter brands that feed 46 million dogs and 68 million cats every year. Nearly 500 Purina scientists, veterinarians, and pet care experts ensure our commitment to unsurpassed quality and nutrition.

Over the past five years, Purina has contributed more than $150 million towards organizations that bring, and keep, people and pets together, as well as those that help our communities and environment thrive.

Purina is part of Nestlé, a global leader in Nutrition, Health and Wellness. For more information, visit purina.com or subscribe here to get the latest Purina news.

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SOURCE Nestle Purina PetCare

Over the past year, FedEx teams in Colorado have built a meaningful relationship with Food Bank of the Rockies. From volunteering at the Denver Distribution Center to donating funds, they’ve gone all-in to help feed families. 

“FedEx is a people-first company — we focus on our customers and our communities more than anything else,” shared Kristina Withers, human resources partner for FedEx. “Volunteering with the Food Bank drives home the principles we value most, like committing to do good, and shows our communities we are here to help.”

Food Bank of the Rockies is the largest food bank by geographic area, covering all of Wyoming and 32 counties in Colorado with its fleet of delivery trucks and dedicated drivers. In fact, three FedEx managers recently provided logistics expertise to support the Food Bank of the Rockies. They advised on yard and warehouse management, route optimization, wayfinding for deliveries, and an internal package tracking system.

The FedEx Community Engagement Fund has been crucial in supporting these efforts. With a $20,000 grant to the Food Bank, FedEx helped underwrite the cost of distributing over 60,000 nourishing meals to families in need. With Food Bank of the Rockies distributing enough food for 185,000 meals daily, every donation makes a big impact.

Recently, the FedEx Freight Team tackled a different kind of logistical challenge when they volunteered at the Food Bank. While their usual work involves global logistics, here they got to see the direct impact of their efforts as they packed boxes of food destined for local families. Logistics truly play a pivotal role in feeding our neighbors.

In fact, the FedEx Freight Team holds the record at Food Bank of the Rockies: In one volunteer session, they packaged 24,980 pounds of bulk rice into 3,821 bags for families to use. That’s like helping deliver 23,376 meals to individuals and families facing food insecurity!

Click here to learn about FedEx Cares, our global community engagement program.

Neighbors can reduce their carbon footprint and save on the cost of energy bills by recycling old appliances

JACKSON, Mich., April 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Spring cleaning just got sweeter! Throughout the month of April, Consumers Energy is upping its commitment to a greener Michigan by offering its electric customers an opportunity to save extra on their energy bills while protecting the planet. For a limited time this April, qualifying electric customers can get an additional $20 rebate on top of the existing $50 incentive for recycling a refrigerator or freezer and can get $15 for recycling smaller appliances like AC units, dehumidifiers and compact refrigerators/freezers.

As part of Consumers Energy’s year-round appliance recycling program, any electric customer can recycle their empty appliances in working order. The special $70 refrigerator/freezer promotion runs through April 30.

“This is just one of the many ways you can Count on Us to help you save money,” said Lauren Snyder, Consumers Energy’s vice president of customer experience. “By taking this simple step – out with the old and in with the new, you can take control of your bill and increase savings for you and your family in both the short and long term.”

Old refrigerators use three times the energy of newer ones. Neighbors can save up to $150 a year on their bills according to EnergyStar.gov by taking advantage of the program. Since establishing its appliance recycling program in 2009 over 330,000 large appliances have been recycled. 

With Consumers Energy’s Earth Month promotion, we’ll pick up your working appliance for free, help you save energy, and make spring cleaning a breeze.

“It was very easy to schedule my appointment, and the appliance pickup was completely painless,” one customer said.

Customers wanting to schedule an appliance pick up can call 866-234-0445.

Consumers Energy is also offering 10 upcoming appliance recycling events now through September in areas across the state. For a full list of upcoming appliance recycling opportunities, visit consumersenergy.com/recycle.

In addition to is Appliance Recycling program, Consumers Energy provides customers with the power to reduce energy waste and lower bills through other energy efficiency and demand response programs like the Smart Thermostat program, Home Energy Analysis, and Water Heater rebates.

To find out what other programs or rebates you may qualify for, visit consumersenergy.com/save.

Consumers Energy is Michigan’s largest energy provider, providing natural gas and/or electricity to 6.8 million of the state’s 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties. We are committed to delivering reliable, clean, and affordable energy to our customers 24/7. 

For more information about Consumers Energy, go to ConsumersEnergy.com.

Check out Consumers Energy on Social Media

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/consumersenergymichigan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/consumersenergy
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/consumersenergy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/consumersenergy 

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SOURCE Consumers Energy

Originally published on Aflac Newsroom

Rocket attacks, tear gas, mortar fire, interminable “humps” rucking 50 pounds of gear … Life as a U.S. Marine is not always pleasant. And yet, those years made me more patient, more self-assured, more aware of the needs of others and, oddly, more competent as a business executive working my way up the ladder of a $58 billion Fortune 500 corporation.

As the Marine Corps celebrates its 250th anniversary, I’m appreciating how many crucial business and personal lessons my military service taught me, including don’t shun the grunt work, keep your head up, don’t typecast other people and always sweat the small stuff. Integrity, dependability, courage, decisiveness and, above all, exercising sound judgment are not just words to a Marine — they are the core principles that guide the way we strategize, whether on the battlefield or the boardroom.

Marines are taught to believe that seeking help shows maturity, not weakness, and to understand that what is my responsibility is mine, so we try not to make unforced errors and own them when we do. But there are more enemies than just those on the battlefield, and some can attack without warning.

April is National Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month, yet data found in a recent study of more than 2,000 American consumers on this very subject is alarming. The numbers, while accurate, challenge my confidence that Americans are sweating the small stuff, or the big stuff, for that matter.

For example, 51% of people who have experienced cancer report that they discovered their diagnosis at a regularly scheduled screening or routine medical examination.1

That is a good thing. Because according to the American Cancer Society, with whom my company collaborates to raise awareness for early detection, regular screenings increase the chances of sleuthing certain cancers early, before it has a chance to spread,2 raising the likelihood of a positive outcome for your physical, mental and financial health.

So, that means most Americans are prioritizing their health, right? Well, not so fast, because 90% still admit to putting off important health checkups, including 93% of millennials who admit to delaying screenings beyond the recommended timeframes,3 even as frequent news stories suggest they should be more vigilant.

From a Marine’s perspective, that’s like sleeping through a unit inspection. It’s FUBAR (fouled up beyond all recognition). Either Americans are not getting the message, or other factors, such as logistics, fear and access, are leading them to make counterintuitive decisions that could negatively impact their lifestyles. And since half of Americans cannot afford $1,000 to pay for a health emergency,4 health care costs are a significant factor.

Cancer treatment continues to improve, but the fact remains that incidences of some cancers continue to rise. That’s why, as chair of the newly formed Georgia chapter of the American Cancer Society’s CEOs’ Against Cancer Society program, I intend to encourage business leaders from around the country to march in step against this national problem. We will need teamwork to make it work. So, to start, if you read this article, please share it with a friend. Because 73% of Americans feel thankful or relieved after being urged by a loved one to go to a doctor and get checked.5

We are proud Marines living the heritage of the Corps, standing watch, protecting people we’ve never met. As we celebrate 250 years of duty, commitment, integrity and selfless honor, I have come to find that the battlefield is not the only place to defend Americans. We can and must mount a defense for less visible problems that are often preventable in the first place. So, I ask my fellow Marines, and everyone for that matter … Can I get an “ooh-rah” for a more aware and healthier America?

Virgil Miller, president of Aflac Incorporated and Aflac U.S., and Chair of the Georgia branch of CEOs Against Cancer, is a veteran of Operation Desert Storm and a featured speaker at the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation Gala celebrating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Marine Corps April 26 in Washington, D.C.

1 2025 Wellness Matters Survey

2 American Cancer Society – https://www.cancer.org/cancer/screening.html

3 2025 Wellness Matters Survey

4 2024-2025 Aflac Workforces Report

5 2025 Wellness Matters Survey

This article is for informational purposes only and is not a solicitation for insurance. Information is not intended to provide tax, legal, health or financial advice for any person or for any specific situation.

The information provided by the American Cancer Society (ACS) is for general education only and is not based on personal health information of any individual member. All ACS programs and services described here are independent programs and services of ACS. Aflac does not share any personal health information or personally identifiable information of Aflac members with ACS, and ACS does not endorse or support any particular health plan, company, product or service.

Aflac | Aflac New York | WWHQ | 1932 Wynnton Road | Columbus, GA 31999

Z2500207 
EXP. 4/26

Eastman

Urban life is an ever-changing environment. From the morning commute and work to yoga class and dinner, clothing needs to adapt to the environment wherever the day takes someone. So seamless clothing transitions have become essential to navigate the fast-paced lifestyle of living in a city.

Versatility in every moment

To meet this consumer demand, Eastman introduced “Naia™ on the move” at the 2025 Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Spring Edition expo this March. The fresh take on active, urban fashion redefines adaptability, comfort and versatility while remaining committed to sustainability. It extends the outstanding properties of Eastman Naia™ Renew staple fiber to the light sports sector, offering urban consumers unparalleled comfort and convenience as they move throughout the many environments of their day.

“‘Naia™ on the move’ is not just an innovation in application but a lifestyle concept designed to deliver all-day comfort and ease,” said Chad Doub, global segment leader of staple fibers for Eastman’s textiles division. “Naia™ Renew offers a high-performance fiber that can maintain the body’s microclimate, adjusting to the various temperatures and humidities we all face throughout a typical day in the city.”

At the Intertextile booth, “Naia™ on the move” showcased how versatile fashion meets sustainability. Naia™ Renew staple fiber stands out with its exceptional moisture management, breathability, and a soft and lightweight feel. Its adaptive performance ensures comfort across varying temperatures and humidity levels, making it an ideal choice for commuting, working and light sports activities. It’s also highly durable. Naia™ Renew maintains its softness with reduced pilling and offers excellent shape retention, even after repeated wear and washing.

Booth visitors discovered the latest Naia™ applications in activewear, denim, woven fabrics and home textile fillings — the brand’s most extensive showcase yet. Eastman also highlighted Naia™ Renew staple fiber’s new application in denim, achieving a balance between comfort and sustainability in the material. The versatility of Naia™ was also shown by its use in woven woolen fabrics, ranging from structured shirts to tweed coats. The fiber’s integration into home textile fillings further adds the potential of sustainability into everyday living.

“Our booth’s visitors were impressed by the numerous applications of Naia™ Renew,” Doub said. “We’ve taken Naia™ to the next level. It truly can go ‘on the move’ with you. There’s a Naia™ application for every occasion, and designers around the world see the need for a fiber like this to fit into modern consumers’ busy lifestyles.”

Creating endless possibilities

Naia™ was initially adopted in the Chinese market in 2020. The staple fiber has not only filled a market gap but has also become a key force in helping brands achieve their sustainability goals around the globe. Over the past five years, Naia™ applications have expanded from loungewear to casual T-shirts, knitwear and beyond.

Naia™ Renew is a sustainable circular fiber composed of 60% sustainably sourced wood pulp and 40% GRS-certified recycled* waste materials. Using Eastman’s molecular recycling technology, this process breaks down hard-to-recycle waste material into basic molecules to make new cellulose acetate fibers without compromising quality. This innovation offers a scalable solution to two of the world’s most pressing environmental issues: waste pollution and raw material overconsumption.

*Naia™ Renew recycled content is achieved by allocation of recycled waste material using GRS-certified mass balance process. 

At Covia, innovation is driven by passionate experts who see beyond the ordinary. John Chee exemplifies this spirit, bringing a unique blend of technical ability and commercial insight to the world of mineral-based polymer solutions.

A Multifaceted Journey in Polymer Science

With a career spanning more than three decades, John’s professional path is a testament to depth and versatility. His academic background is as comprehensive as his professional experience – a blend of chemical engineering, polymer science, petroleum science, and mechanical engineering that prepared him for the complex world of material innovations.

John’s professional career began in 1993, when he joined Lotte Chemical as a chemical process engineer working on polyolefin products. While he started in a more technical role, he was also able to excel in research and development, sales, and marketing at Lotte, Dow Chemical, and Imerys. That comprehensive skillset and extensive experience helped set the stage for his current role at Covia.

Merging Technical and Commercial Expertise to Create New Possibilities

John joined Covia in October 2023 as a technical sales and application technology manager for polymers and quickly focused on developing products that can help Covia branch out into new markets and offer more value to existing customers.

“What I’m doing is pulling out new value propositions for our products,” John said. “We’re working on applications that no one’s done before, whether it’s an existing product or a completely new development.”

To bring new ideas to the market, John needs to be able to work with both polymer scientists and customers to identify new products and modify existing ones to offer new value propositions. His aptitude for application and product technology allows him to partner with scientists to modify products and improve their physical and mechanical properties. John also understands market trends, navigates pricing, and works directly with customers to understand their needs and identify new development opportunities.

“Some companies have used certain products for 20-30 years,” John explained. “We can use all of our previous experiences and information to generate fresh ideas that can create a synergistic experience for Covia and our customers.”

Mineral Additive Innovation in Action

One area of opportunity that John is particularly excited about is nepheline syenite, a mineral with extraordinary potential used in Covia’s MINBLOC® HC and HIFILL® N additives. With only one mine in North America, this sustainable material offers unique properties that set it apart from other fillers. Its chemical composition of alumino silicate, potassium, and sodium provides remarkable characteristics for polymer applications.

According to John, nepheline syenite was originally used for its ability to incorporate antiblocking functionality in polymers. Ongoing research and development led to a new value proposition for this silica-deficient mineral – transparency. Nepheline syenite has a very similar refractive index to PVC, nylon, and PET, allowing it to be blended with these polymers and yield products that require a high level of transparency and clarity and other key properties.

“We can compound nepheline syenite to create clear molded products with other physical properties, such as added durability, dimension stability, gas-barrier reinforcement, and other characteristics,” John said.

Looking Forward to the Future of Mineral Additives

As Covia continues to expand its innovative mineral solutions, John Chee has the perfect blend of technical mastery and market insight. His ability to work with scientists and customers to transform complex scientific concepts into practical, marketable solutions plays a key role in growing the company’s mineral-additive solutions.

That future looks even brighter with the addition of the Covia Innovation Center in Concord, North Carolina. The state-of-the-art building will include new equipment and laboratory space where John and scientists can collaborate on cutting-edge applications.

“I’ll be spending a lot of time at the new Innovation Center to work with team members and to generate new data sets for our products,” John explained. “Customers are excited about the samples and ideas we can share, so we’ll be able to try different equipment used throughout various industries and combine all our findings to estimate the performances.”

While John is deeply committed to his work, he also values personal time. An avid golfer who travels frequently for business, he cherishes moments with his family and remains dedicated to continuous education. There’s always more to learn, and John strives to understand more about his work and how he can help drive innovation and provide customers with the solutions they need for greater success.

Learn more about how Covia is expanding sustainable product offerings.

The Ohio affiliate of the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT), in partnership with KeyBank, honored 51 high school students across Ohio at the 2025 Aspirations in Computing awards on Saturday, April 12th in Columbus, Ohio. These students, which included one national winner, were recognized for their leadership and involvement in technology, robotics, and applied science, along with their academic success and plans for post-secondary education.

Two STEM teachers were honored as well with an educator award.

For the past ten years, the Ohio Aspirations in Computing awards have been sponsored by KeyBank. All award recipients along with their families and educators were invited to join this year’s event, which featured a panel of professionals discussing the Tech thru Time. All shared insight into their career paths, education, and personal growth in STEM.

“KeyBank has a long history of supporting students who are interested in pursuing a career in science, technology, engineering, and math,” said Amy Brady, KeyBank Chief Information Officer. “We congratulate this year’s award winners and are proud to recognize the achievements and talents of these outstanding students. They are future problem solvers and the skills they are developing today will help solve the challenges of tomorrow.”

Since 2007, NCWIT has inducted more than 10,000 young women into the Aspirations in Computing community and is helping to usher these women into technology careers. The NCWIT Aspirations in Computing program is a talent development initiative designed to increase female participation in technology careers by providing encouragement, visibility, community, leadership opportunities, scholarships, and internships to aspiring technically inclined young women. NCWIT offers both national and local affiliate competitions to generate support and visibility for women’s participation in communities nationwide.

For information on the national program please visit www.aspirations.org

2025 National Honorable Mentions
Afia Ava – Padua Franciscan High School
Mahee Shah – Hathaway Brown High School 

2025 Ohio Affiliate Award Winners

Student’s Name  School Name
Laasya Acharya William Mason High School
Shivani Arulselvan Padua Franciscan High School
Afia Ava Padua Franciscan High School
Lilah Ball Lakewood High School
Katie Benson Hudson High School
Naisha Chopra North Royalton High School
Ayesha Faruki Mentor High School
Riya Hegde Western Reserve Academy
Maya Houghton Hathaway Brown School
Rebecca Jacob Solon High School
Ava Kohlhaas Lakota East High School
Audrey Malcuit Padua Franciscan High School
Vaishnavi Rachuri Dublin Jerome High School
Sonia Robinson Hathaway Brown School
Mahee Shah Hathaway Brown School
Kathleen Smith Springfield-Clark County
Tori Smith Magnificat High School
Maggie Smith Padua Franciscan High School
Sahana Srikanth William Mason High School
Sosena Tefera Anderson High School
Rachel Tong Olentangy Orange High School
Kaovya Vel Westlake High School
Zaynah Wahab Solon High School

2025 Ohio Affiliate Honorable Mentions

Student’s Name  School Name
Emily Ahmad Centerville High School
Aanvi Dogra Dublin Jerome High School
Mengxin Deng Magnificat High School
Kayleise Travis Magnificat High School
Bohdan Chuprynka North Royalton High School
Sophia Regoli Canal Winchester High School
Gautami Kondekar Dublin Jerome High School
Olivia Scarlatella Felicity-Franklin High School
Yujing Li North Royalton High School
Charlie Clements Stow-Munroe Falls High School
Vidhissha Sharma Solon High School
Sanyu Karathody North Royalton High School
Tiffany Perez Garcia Springfield-clark County
Amritha Kishan Solon High School
Haasini Sanisetty Hathaway Brown School
Harman Kaur Dayton Regional Stem School
Ravia Bhullar Nordonia High School
Sophia Swartwood Padua Franciscan High School
Cailyn Hua Western Reserve Academy

2025 Ohio Affiliate Rising Stars 

Student’s Name  School Name
Siyuan Zhang Solon High School
Giana Trolio Ursuline High School
Maya School Sensabaugh C-TEC Career And Technology Education Centers of Licking County
Riley Wilkerson Ross High School
Kaavya Gulia Solon High School
Anna McCracken Westerville South High School
Alex Tehoke Padua Franciscan High School
Victoria Goss Padua Franciscan High School
Lyla Doucette Brecksville-Broadview Heights High

2025 Ohio Educator Winner 
Jeff Rhodes – North Royalton High School

2025 Ohio Educator Honorable Mention
Greg Sauline – Ursuline High School

About NCWIT
NCWIT widens participation in the technology ecosystem through innovative programs and research.

This thriving community of more than 1,600 change leader organizations spanning K-12, Higher Education, and Industry works to expand access to critical knowledge and opportunities.

NCWIT helps organizations remain globally competitive in science and technology by creating environments where all students and employees thrive.

ABOUT NCWIT ASPIRATIONS IN COMPUTING (AiC)
Aspirations in Computing (AiC) opens pathways into technology from K-12 through career. AiC recognizes and celebrates students’ technical aspirations and abilities, as well as the educators who support them. The program also provides an expansive community network to create opportunities that lead to careers in technology.

About KeyCorp

KeyCorp’s roots trace back nearly 200 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation’s largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $189 billion at March 31, 2025.

Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and approximately 40,000 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank Member FDIC.

Rhonda Crawford– Ohio Affiliate Program Coordinator
Ceylon Allmond– Master of Ceremonies & Planning Committee
Maria Smith– Planning Committee & Host
Navarre Medlock– Planning Committee & Photographer
Jessica Kennedy– Planning Committee & RSVP Table
Shawanay Kirksey – Volunteer & RSVP Table
Matthew Prioletti– Communications Partner

Partners:

Eva Bradshaw – NCWIT Regional Affiliate Program Manager
Serina Shores – Ohio Affiliate Co-Program Coordinator Huntington Bank

Panelists:

Dieynabou Diallo – 2025 Ohio Collegiate Finalist & 3rd year student at OSU
Jay Shaffstall – Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Muskingum University
Ava Scherocman – 2020 Ohio Winner & Computer Science Major at OSU

Logitech Blog

The future doesn’t just happen; it’s designed. And the people designing it? They’re part dreamers, part strategists, part architects, and in some cases, part inventors. Meet an engineer or designer from Logitech, for instance, and you’ll discover a person with big ideas and a mind focused on solving today’s problems with tomorrow’s tools. If it’s not focused on reducing environmental impact or making someone’s life easier, what’s the point?

Design is more than shaping products; it’s shaping lifestyles. Lifestyles today and in the future depend on clean air and water, resources like nutrients and minerals from the soil, and energy to support growth. This Earth Day, and every year, we reflect on the collective responsibility we share to protect our planet and design the future we want. That includes harnessing clean energy that emits little to no carbon pollution, or renewable energy that naturally replenishes itself.

The truth is, designing the future isn’t about predicting fancy gadgets or developing VR robots (although we’re getting close with recent innovations in Gen-AI). It’s about making smarter, more thoughtful choices today. Engineers and designers at Logitech aren’t just sketching ideas and building prototypes for new electronic devices, they are building bridges between where we are today and where we ought to be.

Logitech has long been an advocate for designing a better future. Through its Design for Sustainability mindset, the team is cutting carbon emissions by incorporating recycled plastics in devices across the company. Today, 3 out of every 4 products are made with Next Life Plastics to give a second life to end-of-life electronics. Product packaging avoids single-use plastic whenever possible, and more commonly recyclable paper content is used instead. Recycled fabrics and aluminum produced with renewable energy are used for lower carbon impact. Even manufacturing facilities purchase renewable electricity certificates, because renewable energy plays a critical role in addressing increased greenhouse gas emissions. Think about it – when Logitech designs a keyboard, it’s not just about how it function, but also how it uses less energy, cuts waste, and lasts longer.

Earth Day is a reminder that everyone has a role to play in protecting our environment and designing our future. Here are a few ways to align your actions:

  • Be a Responsible Consumer – Opt for products designed with sustainability in mind. Look for companies, like Logitech, that are transparent about their environmental impact through initiatives like carbon labeling or working hard to reduce its impact.
  • Advocate for Change – Join movements like Earth Action Day or participate in local clean-up drives and tree-planting events. EarthDay.org estimates that 7.5 million pounds of trash will be removed globally this year – will you add to that number?
  • Stay Curious – Invest time in learning about environmental issues. Whether it’s reading fact sheets, exploring renewable energy options, or teaching others about conservation, education is one of the most impactful tools for change.
  • Recycle e-waste – It’s one of the fastest growing waste streams. Recycling end-of-life devices helps conserve resources and energy, boosts local and global economies, creates jobs, and builds community. Find your local recycling solution at Logitech.com

The future isn’t a destination, but a design problem waiting for a brilliant solution. When we work together, there’s no limit to what we can achieve for our planet. Learn more about Logitech’s approach to designing a positive future.

The new flood coverages, backed by an “A+” AM Best rated carrier, dramatically expand limited commercial insurance options in New Orleans, covering any type of economic loss

NEW YORK, April 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Today Floodbase, the world-leading platform for insuring uncovered flood risk, and insurance intermediary Yokahu announced a partnership to offer automated parametric policies, initially bringing much-needed flood coverage options for businesses in New Orleans. In addition to offering rapid liquidity after a major flood event, the coverages represent a financial safety net for any type of economic loss, including categories not traditionally covered, such as business interruption, revenue loss, cleanups and repair, and temporary facilities.

The vast majority of New Orleans businesses are insured against flood loss through the federal National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The NFIP caps commercial payouts at $500,000 – an amount often insufficient for the magnitude of loss – and only covers direct property damage, excluding many other significant flood-based drivers of economic loss. Local businesses, including NOLA’s iconic hospitality sector, are severely exposed during events like Hurricane Ida (2021), which caused over $3 billion dollars‘ worth of business interruption.

The new flood coverages, backed by an “A+” AM Best rated carrier and powered by Floodbase, include multiple predefined options that clients can evaluate with their broker to accommodate different protection needs and budget considerations. Yokahu’s platform facilitates quotes automatically to brokers, making the end-to-end process quick, simple, and transparent through their recently launched cat-risk.com exchange.

The new flood policies work by paying out policyholders automatically once a specific predetermined threshold is met – in the case of New Orleans, once a percentage of the city’s area is covered by flood water – which is continuously monitored by Floodbase. New Orleans is a global tourist destination, but visitors, foot traffic, and hospitality revenue all plummet when the region floods. Valid NFIP claims require on-site damage, leaving second-story or higher-elevation businesses totally uncovered when flooding disrupts Southern Louisiana. Because the new policies’ payouts are determined by the total area of flooding covering the city, they can help any vulnerable business during regional events. Payouts can cover any type of economic loss and can flexibly be deployed as needed by the insured. This type of coverage, known as parametric insurance, offers quicker and more comprehensive protection than any currently available to New Orleans businesses.

New Orleans businesses have gone far too long without adequate flood insurance options, leaving them vulnerable and financially exposed in the event of major floods,” said Bessie Schwarz, Co-Founder & CEO of Floodbase. “We are excited to partner with Yokahu, to empower brokers with instant quotes of new, holistic flood coverages that put businesses in a stronger position to weather the aftermath of a catastrophe.”

“With our new flood coverage options, Yokahu and Floodbase will meet a vital need for New Orleans businesses, including its beloved hospitality sector,” said Tim McCosh, CEO/Founder of Yokahu. “Yokahu is thrilled to bring our insurance capacity and automated, state-of-the-art platform to rapidly quote and payout claims for New Orleans commercial customers. We are delighted to be collaborating with Floodbase and consider this only the beginning of the areas we will cover across the U.S.”

For more information and to explore the new offerings, please reach out to Floodbase or Yokahu.

About Floodbase
Floodbase is a parametric platform for insuring uncovered flood risk. Built on more than a decade of groundbreaking science, we continuously monitor flooding worldwide. Partners rely on us to design and power flood covers for large corporate and public sector clients insuring previously uninsurable economic loss from flooding. Floodbase has become a preferred partner for leading re/insurers including Swiss Re Corporate Solutions, Liberty Mutual Re, and AXA Climate, and also supports FEMA, the UN, The New York Times, and others to identify and respond to major flood events. Follow Floodbase on LinkedIn for more news and insights.

About Yokahu
An approved Coverholder at Lloyd’s and Lloyds Lab Alumni, Yokahu is a parametric insuretech that solely underwrites extreme weather and natural catastrophe risk via parametric (re)insurance. 

Yokahu’s mission is to catalyze and increase risk transfer in protecting communities from natural disasters and extreme weather in a changing climate by providing access to more scalable and accessible solutions.

In the UK, Yokahu and Cat-Risk.com are trading names of McCosh Holdings Ltd. McCosh Holdings Ltd and is an Appointed Representative of ES Risks Limited. ES Risks Limited is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-flood-insurance-coverage-options-available-to-new-orleans-businesses-instantly-quoted-through-yokahu-and-powered-by-floodbase-302437388.html

SOURCE Floodbase

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