March 30, 2026 /3BL/ – Medtronic, a global leader in healthcare technology, is proud to announce its inclusion in Fast Company’s World’s Most Innovative Companies list of 2026. The company earned a spot for its BrainSense™ Adaptive DBS therapy for people with Parkinson’s, which was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last year.

“Medtronic is proof that massive companies can still be innovative. It may be the largest medical device firm in the world, but it continues to invest heavily in the AI, robotics and data-driven platforms needed to extend its reach well beyond traditional hardware,” Fast Company wrote.

There are over 10 million people living with Parkinson’s disease globally,1 and while there is no cure, deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been transforming lives for more than 30 years. Medtronic recently enhanced its Percept™ DBS neurostimulators with exclusive BrainSense™ Adaptive technologyfor people with Parkinson’s. This feature personalizes therapy based on a patient’s brain activity in real time – minimizing the need for patients to manually adjust stimulation2. Approximately more than 2,000 people worldwide have received aDBS therapy since its approval3.

“Being recognized by Fast Company as one of the most innovative companies in medical devices is powerful recognition of the work our teams are doing to transform Parkinson’s care,” said Paolo Di Vincenzo, president of the Neuromodulation business, part of the Neuroscience portfolio at Medtronic. “With BrainSense™ Adaptive DBS, we are moving beyond traditional DBS to a responsive, personalized approach that advances therapy for patients and pushes the field of Brain Modulation forward.”

Medtronic spent more than twenty years developing a complete, sensing-enabled DBS system leveraging exclusive BrainSense™ technology to detect, capture, and classify different brain signals. This advancement put Medtronic at the forefront of incorporating therapeutic brain-computer interface (BCI) technology into DBS therapy and BrainSense™ Adaptive DBS presents the largest commercial launch of BCI technology – ever.

“Our list of the Most Innovative Companies is about spotlighting organizations that don’t just adapt to change – they drive it,” said Brendan Vaughan, editor-in-chief of Fast Company. “The companies we honor this year are redefining what leadership looks like in 2026, pairing bold ideas with measurable impact and turning breakthrough innovation into real-world value. They are setting the pace for their industries and offering a blueprint for what sustained innovation can achieve.”

About Medtronic

Bold thinking. Bolder actions. We are Medtronic. Medtronic plc, headquartered in Galway, Ireland, is the leading global healthcare technology company that boldly attacks the most challenging health problems facing humanity by searching out and finding solutions. Our Mission — to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life — unites a global team of 95,000+ passionate people across more than 150 countries. Our technologies and therapies treat 70 health conditions and include cardiac devices, surgical robotics, insulin pumps, surgical tools, patient monitoring systems, and more. Powered by our diverse knowledge, insatiable curiosity, and desire to help all those who need it, we deliver innovative technologies that transform the lives of two people every second, every hour, every day. Expect more from us as we empower insight-driven care, experiences that put people first, and better outcomes for our world. In everything we do, we are engineering the extraordinary. For more information on Medtronic, visit www.Medtronic.com and follow Medtronic on LinkedIn.

The sensing feature of the Percept™ PC and Percept™ RC system is intended for use in patients receiving DBS where chronically recorded bioelectric data may provide useful, objective information regarding patient clinical status.

About Fast Company

Fast Company is the only media brand fully dedicated to the vital intersection of business, innovation, and design, engaging the most influential leaders, companies, and thinkers on the future of business. Headquartered in New York City, Fast Company is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with fellow business publication Inc. For more information, please visit fastcompany.com.

References

  1. Luo, Y., Qiao, L., Li, M., Wen, X., Zhang, W., & Li, X. (2025). Global, regional, national epidemiology and trends of Parkinson’s disease from 1990 to 2021: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Frontiers in aging neuroscience, 16, 1498756.
  2. Stanslaski S, Summers RLS, Tonder L, et al. Sensing data and methodology from the Adaptive DBS Algorithm for Personalized Therapy in Parkinson’s Disease (ADAPT-PD) clinical trial. NPJ Parkinsons Dis. 2024;10(1):174.
  3. Medtronic data on file.

Contacts:
Naomi Rodiles
Public Relations 
+1-612-427-5521

Ingrid Goldberg
Investor Relations
+1-763-505-2696

AUSTIN, Texas, March 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Texas Healthcare & Bioscience Institute (THBI), the statewide public policy voice of the healthcare and bioscience industry, today released a comprehensive report outlining a strategic vision for strengthening Texas’ life sciences and biotechnology ecosystem. “Texas Life Sciences: Driving Innovation, Patient Care & Economic Growthhighlights the state’s rapid growth in bioscience employment, research investment, and innovation while offering actionable recommendations to sustain long-term leadership in the industry.

Hosted by THBI, Texas Life Sciences Summit kicks off Tuesday, March 31 and runs through April 1 in Austin, Texas.

Texas has emerged as one of the nation’s leading bioscience hubs, leveraging its extensive research infrastructure, expanding workforce, and business-friendly environment. According to the report, the state’s bioscience industry employed 129,245 individuals across 9,212 establishments in 2023, representing 21.6% employment growth since 2019.

The report highlights the scale and momentum of the Texas bioscience sector:

  • $4.6 billion in bioscience-related academic research and development expenditures in 2022, ranking third nationally

  • $1.8 billion in NIH funding awarded to Texas institutions in 2023, a 34% increase since 2019

  • $8.7 billion in venture capital investment raised by Texas bioscience companies between 2019 and 2023, ranking fifth nationally

  • Nearly 8,000 bioscience-related patents attributed to Texas inventors between 2019 and 2023, ranking ninth nationally

The report also outlines several policy and ecosystem recommendations designed to strengthen Texas’ leadership in life sciences and biotechnology, and calls for deeper collaboration between government, academia, and industry to modernize research infrastructure, accelerate commercialization of discoveries, and expand access to emerging technologies.

As the statewide organization representing the life science and biotechnology industry, THBI aims to use this report as a roadmap for policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, and educators to collaborate in strengthening Texas’ global competitiveness. By fostering innovation, supporting workforce development, and enhancing research and manufacturing capacity, Texas can continue to drive advancements in healthcare, biotechnology, and economic growth for decades to come.

The full report can be found at https://www.thbi.com/industry-reports.

The report is being released in conjunction with the annual Texas Life Sciences Summit, hosted by the Texas Healthcare and Bioscience Institute, which kicks off Tuesday, March 31 and runs through April 1 in Austin. The Summit convenes leaders from across the healthcare, biotechnology, research, and policy communities to explore the trends, investments, and innovations shaping the future of life sciences in Texas. The report serves as a timely foundation for these discussions, offering data-driven insights and strategic recommendations to inform collaboration and accelerate growth across the state’s ecosystem. Media wishing to attend the Summit should contact media@crosswindpr.com.

About the Texas Healthcare and Bioscience Institute
The Texas Healthcare and Bioscience Institute (THBI) is the Texas public policy voice for the healthcare and bioscience industry. The Texas life sciences industry is committed to expanding the boundaries of science by discovering, developing, and delivering innovative and needed medications to patients. It is the patient that is the ultimate beneficiary of such advances. The membership of THBI is dedicated to creating an environment where such discoveries flourish and thrive. For more information on THBI and upcoming events celebrating its 30th anniversary, please visit www.thbi.com or contact info@thbi.com.

Media Contact:
Thomas Graham
CEO | Crosswind
media@crosswindpr.com
512-537-1414

Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/texas-healthcare-and-bioscience-institute-releases-strategic-vision-to-advance-the-texas-life-sciences-ecosystem-302728946.html

SOURCE Texas Healthcare and Bioscience Institute

AUSTIN, Texas, March 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Texas Healthcare & Bioscience Institute (THBI), the statewide public policy voice of the healthcare and bioscience industry, today released a comprehensive report outlining a strategic vision for strengthening Texas’ life sciences and biotechnology ecosystem. “Texas Life Sciences: Driving Innovation, Patient Care & Economic Growthhighlights the state’s rapid growth in bioscience employment, research investment, and innovation while offering actionable recommendations to sustain long-term leadership in the industry.

Hosted by THBI, Texas Life Sciences Summit kicks off Tuesday, March 31 and runs through April 1 in Austin, Texas.

Texas has emerged as one of the nation’s leading bioscience hubs, leveraging its extensive research infrastructure, expanding workforce, and business-friendly environment. According to the report, the state’s bioscience industry employed 129,245 individuals across 9,212 establishments in 2023, representing 21.6% employment growth since 2019.

The report highlights the scale and momentum of the Texas bioscience sector:

  • $4.6 billion in bioscience-related academic research and development expenditures in 2022, ranking third nationally

  • $1.8 billion in NIH funding awarded to Texas institutions in 2023, a 34% increase since 2019

  • $8.7 billion in venture capital investment raised by Texas bioscience companies between 2019 and 2023, ranking fifth nationally

  • Nearly 8,000 bioscience-related patents attributed to Texas inventors between 2019 and 2023, ranking ninth nationally

The report also outlines several policy and ecosystem recommendations designed to strengthen Texas’ leadership in life sciences and biotechnology, and calls for deeper collaboration between government, academia, and industry to modernize research infrastructure, accelerate commercialization of discoveries, and expand access to emerging technologies.

As the statewide organization representing the life science and biotechnology industry, THBI aims to use this report as a roadmap for policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, and educators to collaborate in strengthening Texas’ global competitiveness. By fostering innovation, supporting workforce development, and enhancing research and manufacturing capacity, Texas can continue to drive advancements in healthcare, biotechnology, and economic growth for decades to come.

The full report can be found at https://www.thbi.com/industry-reports.

The report is being released in conjunction with the annual Texas Life Sciences Summit, hosted by the Texas Healthcare and Bioscience Institute, which kicks off Tuesday, March 31 and runs through April 1 in Austin. The Summit convenes leaders from across the healthcare, biotechnology, research, and policy communities to explore the trends, investments, and innovations shaping the future of life sciences in Texas. The report serves as a timely foundation for these discussions, offering data-driven insights and strategic recommendations to inform collaboration and accelerate growth across the state’s ecosystem. Media wishing to attend the Summit should contact media@crosswindpr.com.

About the Texas Healthcare and Bioscience Institute
The Texas Healthcare and Bioscience Institute (THBI) is the Texas public policy voice for the healthcare and bioscience industry. The Texas life sciences industry is committed to expanding the boundaries of science by discovering, developing, and delivering innovative and needed medications to patients. It is the patient that is the ultimate beneficiary of such advances. The membership of THBI is dedicated to creating an environment where such discoveries flourish and thrive. For more information on THBI and upcoming events celebrating its 30th anniversary, please visit www.thbi.com or contact info@thbi.com.

Media Contact:
Thomas Graham
CEO | Crosswind
media@crosswindpr.com
512-537-1414

Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/texas-healthcare-and-bioscience-institute-releases-strategic-vision-to-advance-the-texas-life-sciences-ecosystem-302728946.html

SOURCE Texas Healthcare and Bioscience Institute

The article outlines how layered planting supports year-round beauty, plant health, and balanced garden design.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., March 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — How can homeowners design a landscape that stays visually appealing throughout the year while supporting plant health and the surrounding environment? HelloNation has published a HelloNation article that provides the answer, featuring insights from Landscaping Expert Jeremy Windemuller of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The HelloNation article explains that successful landscape design begins with structure, starting with trees as the foundation. Trees create vertical interest, define space, and provide shade that influences the rest of the garden. The article notes that selecting species suited to site conditions is essential, as proper placement supports long-term growth and reduces maintenance challenges.

The article describes how shrubs form the next layer in a well-balanced landscape. Positioned between trees and ground-level plantings, shrubs help create visual continuity while adding seasonal color and texture. Flowering shrubs extend visual interest across the growing season, while evergreen varieties maintain structure during colder months.

Perennials are presented as a key element for maintaining seasonal variety. The article explains that choosing plants with staggered bloom times helps ensure that color and texture shift naturally from spring through fall. It also emphasizes grouping plants with similar light and soil needs, which improves plant health and simplifies care routines.

The article’s landscaping expert insights highlight the importance of matching plant choices to specific garden conditions. Sunny areas benefit from drought-tolerant groupings, while shaded spaces require plants suited to cooler, moister environments. This approach supports stronger growth and reduces the need for constant intervention.

The article further explains that annual flowers and groundcovers complete the layered design. These elements fill visual gaps and provide additional color and texture near ground level. Groundcovers also serve practical roles, including moisture retention, weed suppression, and erosion control, which contribute to overall landscape stability.

Beyond plant selection, the article emphasizes thoughtful arrangement. It explains that placing taller elements toward the back and shorter plants toward the front creates depth and improves visibility. This layered approach ensures that each plant receives sufficient light while contributing to a cohesive design.

Seasonal planning is another central focus. The article describes how different plant types contribute to year-round appeal, from early spring blooms to summer color, autumn foliage, and winter structure. Evergreens and ornamental grasses help maintain visual interest even when other plants are dormant.

The HelloNation article also highlights environmental benefits. Layered planting supports biodiversity by providing habitat for birds and pollinators. Trees and shrubs offer shelter, while flowering plants provide nectar sources. Groundcovers protect soil health, creating a more resilient and sustainable ecosystem.

The Landscaping Expert perspectives presented in the article reinforce the idea that effective garden design combines both aesthetic and practical considerations. By focusing on plant compatibility, layered structure, and seasonal variation, homeowners can create landscapes that remain functional and visually engaging over time.

The article concludes that mixing shrubs, trees, and flowers effectively requires careful planning and an understanding of how different plant layers interact. A well-designed landscape supports both long-term beauty and ecological balance, making it a valuable investment for homeowners.

Mixing Shrubs, Trees, and Flowers Effectively features insights from Jeremy Windemuller, Landscaping Expert of Grand Rapids, Michigan, in HelloNation.

About HelloNation
HelloNation is a premier media platform that connects readers with trusted professionals and businesses across various industries. Through its innovative “edvertising” approach that blends educational content with storytelling, HelloNation delivers expert-driven, good-news articles that inform, inspire, and empower. Covering topics from home improvement and health to business strategy and lifestyle, HelloNation highlights leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities.

Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/in-hellonation-landscaping-expert-jeremy-windemuller-explains-mixing-shrubs-trees-and-flowers-effectively-302727446.html

SOURCE HelloNation

The article outlines how layered planting supports year-round beauty, plant health, and balanced garden design.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., March 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — How can homeowners design a landscape that stays visually appealing throughout the year while supporting plant health and the surrounding environment? HelloNation has published a HelloNation article that provides the answer, featuring insights from Landscaping Expert Jeremy Windemuller of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The HelloNation article explains that successful landscape design begins with structure, starting with trees as the foundation. Trees create vertical interest, define space, and provide shade that influences the rest of the garden. The article notes that selecting species suited to site conditions is essential, as proper placement supports long-term growth and reduces maintenance challenges.

The article describes how shrubs form the next layer in a well-balanced landscape. Positioned between trees and ground-level plantings, shrubs help create visual continuity while adding seasonal color and texture. Flowering shrubs extend visual interest across the growing season, while evergreen varieties maintain structure during colder months.

Perennials are presented as a key element for maintaining seasonal variety. The article explains that choosing plants with staggered bloom times helps ensure that color and texture shift naturally from spring through fall. It also emphasizes grouping plants with similar light and soil needs, which improves plant health and simplifies care routines.

The article’s landscaping expert insights highlight the importance of matching plant choices to specific garden conditions. Sunny areas benefit from drought-tolerant groupings, while shaded spaces require plants suited to cooler, moister environments. This approach supports stronger growth and reduces the need for constant intervention.

The article further explains that annual flowers and groundcovers complete the layered design. These elements fill visual gaps and provide additional color and texture near ground level. Groundcovers also serve practical roles, including moisture retention, weed suppression, and erosion control, which contribute to overall landscape stability.

Beyond plant selection, the article emphasizes thoughtful arrangement. It explains that placing taller elements toward the back and shorter plants toward the front creates depth and improves visibility. This layered approach ensures that each plant receives sufficient light while contributing to a cohesive design.

Seasonal planning is another central focus. The article describes how different plant types contribute to year-round appeal, from early spring blooms to summer color, autumn foliage, and winter structure. Evergreens and ornamental grasses help maintain visual interest even when other plants are dormant.

The HelloNation article also highlights environmental benefits. Layered planting supports biodiversity by providing habitat for birds and pollinators. Trees and shrubs offer shelter, while flowering plants provide nectar sources. Groundcovers protect soil health, creating a more resilient and sustainable ecosystem.

The Landscaping Expert perspectives presented in the article reinforce the idea that effective garden design combines both aesthetic and practical considerations. By focusing on plant compatibility, layered structure, and seasonal variation, homeowners can create landscapes that remain functional and visually engaging over time.

The article concludes that mixing shrubs, trees, and flowers effectively requires careful planning and an understanding of how different plant layers interact. A well-designed landscape supports both long-term beauty and ecological balance, making it a valuable investment for homeowners.

Mixing Shrubs, Trees, and Flowers Effectively features insights from Jeremy Windemuller, Landscaping Expert of Grand Rapids, Michigan, in HelloNation.

About HelloNation
HelloNation is a premier media platform that connects readers with trusted professionals and businesses across various industries. Through its innovative “edvertising” approach that blends educational content with storytelling, HelloNation delivers expert-driven, good-news articles that inform, inspire, and empower. Covering topics from home improvement and health to business strategy and lifestyle, HelloNation highlights leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities.

Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/in-hellonation-landscaping-expert-jeremy-windemuller-explains-mixing-shrubs-trees-and-flowers-effectively-302727446.html

SOURCE HelloNation

(PRNewsfoto/American Water)

BEL AIR, Md., March 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Maryland American Water today announced the company, together with the American Water Charitable Foundation, provided $196,000 to support 54 organizations in 2025.

“At Maryland American Water, our work extends beyond providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable water services to our customers,” said Maryland American Water President Laura Runkle. “Together with the American Water Charitable Foundation, we’re committed to supporting organizations that make our communities a better place to live and operate.”

In addition, Maryland American Water employees engaged in philanthropy, raising $14,175 and volunteering 55 hours to local nonprofit organizations through the Foundation’s Employee Volunteer and Matching Gift Program.

“The American Water Charitable Foundation is proud to partner with eligible nonprofit partners to support impactful initiatives and projects across Maryland,” said Carrie Williams, President, American Water Charitable Foundation. “Our charitable focus to Keep Communities Flowing empowers our employees to get involved and our communities to learn how every drop counts.”

Maryland-based organizations supported by the American Water Charitable Foundation in 2025 include:

  • Anne Arundel Watershed Stewards Academy
  • Alzheimer’s Association
  • Bel Air Middle School & Bel Air Middle School PTA, Inc.
  • Chrysalis House, Inc.
  • Chesapeake Conservancy, Inc.
  • Greater Bel Air Community Foundation, Inc.
  • Harford Community Action Agency
  • Maryland Association for Environmental & Outdoor Education, Inc.
  • Nature Worx
  • The Rockfield Foundation, Inc.
  • The United Way of Central Maryland, Inc.
  • Voices of Hope
  • Winter Wonderland, Inc.

The American Water Charitable Foundation’s Keep Communities Flowing Grant Program focuses on three pillars of giving: Water, People, and Communities. Since 2012, the Foundation has invested more than $25 million in funding through grants and matching gifts to support eligible organizations in communities served by American Water.  

To learn more about Maryland American Water’s community involvement, read the company’s 2025 Community Impact Report.

About Maryland American Water
Maryland American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, provides safe, clean, reliable and affordable water services to approximately 24,000 people. For more information, visit www.amwater.com/mdaw/ and join Maryland American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X.

About the American Water Charitable Foundation
The American Water Charitable Foundation, a philanthropic non-profit organization established by American Water (NYSE: AWK), focuses on three pillars of giving: Water, People, and Communities. Since 2012, the Foundation has invested more than $25 million in funding through grants and matching gifts to support eligible organizations in communities served by American Water. The Foundation is funded by American Water shareholders and has no impact on customer rates. For more information, visit amwater.com/awcf.

Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/maryland-american-water-and-the-american-water-charitable-foundation-provide-196-000-to-support-communities-in-2025–302728882.html

SOURCE American Water

ATLANTA, March 30, 2026 /3BL/ – Georgia-Pacific announced that effective immediately, David Duncan, executive vice president of Georgia-Pacific’s consumer products group, has been named president and CEO. Mark Luetters, who currently serves as executive vice president of Koch, Inc., with responsibility overseeing several Koch companies, had temporarily served as president and CEO of Georgia-Pacific since 2025.

David Duncan

David Duncan, executive vice president of Georgia-Pacific’s consumer products group, has been named president and CEO. He’s been with the company since 2018 in leadership roles and has 28 years of experience at Koch companies.

David joined the company in 2018 as executive vice president of the Georgia-Pacific building products business, before moving into the consumer products leader role in 2019. Prior to joining Georgia-Pacific, he served as president of performance solutions at INVISTA. With more than 28 years of experience at Koch companies, David has held a variety of roles including managing director for Koch Ventures and Koch Equity Development, chief financial officer for Koch Minerals, and various roles at INVISTA.

Vivek Joshi, currently president of the consumer tissue, towel and napkins (TTN) business, will become executive vice president of the consumer products business. Vivek joined GP in 2002 as a marketing manager for the Dixie® Foodservice food wrap business. Throughout his career with the company, he has been a part of significant investments across the consumer products business and has helped improve performance in many of our consumer-facing brands such as Angel Soft®, Brawny®, Dixie®, Sparkle®, Quilted Northern® and Vanity Fair®. Vivek has held numerous roles within the consumer business during the past 23 years, including vice president of innovation and business development, senior vice president of marketing effectiveness, vice president and general manager of the Dixie® business and senior vice president and general manager of the tissue business. 

Vivek Joshi

Vivek Joshi, president of the consumer tissue, towel and napkins business, will become executive vice president of the consumer products business. Vivek joined Georgia-Pacific in 2002 as a marketing manager for the Dixie® Foodservice food wrap business.
 

“I’m honored and grateful for the opportunity to lead an organization full of talented and dedicated people who work together across Georgia-Pacific to deliver results every day,” said Duncan. “I also want to congratulate Vivek on his new role. He has been a strong leader within our consumer products business for many years, and I’m excited to continue working closely with him as he steps into this expanded responsibility.”

View original content here.

BOSTON, March 30, 2026 /3BL/ – The Village Works has achieved the first WELL Coworking Rating in the U.S. for a flexible workspace. This WELL achievement, awarded by The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) and The Instant Group, demonstrates health focused design and operational strategies have been implemented to meet the evidence-based standard to advance wellbeing for flexible workspace users. The Village Works received the designation for its 769 Centre Street location.

They join an esteemed group of flexible workspace operators globally who have achieved the WELL Coworking Rating for some of their workspaces. In 2025, Industrious secured the WELL rating for its UK portfolio; And-Co was the first to achieve the rating in Canada, for their Vancouver location; and KMC, Awfis Space Solutions, and WORQ achieved the rating in Asia for portions of their portfolios.

The Village Works is a neighborhood workspace in Boston created with the vision of providing a welcoming, healthful, and high-performance work environment where members want to show up to work every day. Founded by a team of designers, The Village Works serves the modern needs of individual hybrid workers and teams, startups, and small businesses alike. It has a second location in Brookline, Mass.

Melissa Tapper Goldman, Co-Founder, The Village Works, said, “We created The Village Works as a human-centered coworking space. Being the first WELL Coworking Rated space in the U.S. validates our hard work and leadership over the last 10 years. We set out to build an inspiring, welcoming space that supports the whole person. Whether it’s pruning plants in support of our biophilia program or managing natural light with strategies that change season to season, the rating process affirmed what our team invests in every day. As designers and operators whose values align naturally with WELL, it also updated our knowledge of best practices, and we discovered new avenues to embody our commitments—truly a mutual win.”

The WELL Coworking Rating is derived from the researched-backed health strategies in the WELL Building Standard and includes nearly 50 features spanning all 10 concepts in WELL, such as air and water quality, light, thermal comfort, movement and nourishment. The rating serves to validate and showcase how coworking and flexible workspaces meet evidence-based health and well-being measures, whilst also being integrated with The Instant Group’s platform to help occupiers make informed workspace decisions based on health and well-being. Prospective coworking and flexible workspace users will be able to search for the new rating and its associated data as they access more than 350,000 flexible workplaces on Instant’s digital platforms.

Sam Pickering, Managing Director of Consulting, at The Instant Group, said, “We are thrilled to recognize the first U.S. workspace that has obtained the WELL Coworking Rating. It was a pleasure collaborating with The Village Works to help them deliver their customers an exceptional place to come to work that demonstrates their commitment to health and wellness. We are excited to team with other providers in the U.S. to bring healthy flexible workspaces to many more cities.”

“As more people rely on flexible workspaces, it’s critical these environments support the health and well-being of the people who use them,” said Rachel Hodgdon, president and CEO of IWBI. “The first WELL Coworking Rated space in the U.S., the Village Works demonstrates how design choices that prioritize people’s health add tremendous value to these ‘third’ spaces.”

About The Village Works

The Village Works offers community coworking and design. Over 10 years, The Village Works (TVW) has developed beautiful, inspiring spaces that support modern workers and vibrant neighborhoods. Based in a commitment to the well-being of individuals, organizations, and the broader community, TVW offers access to high-quality spaces through flexible workspace membership, engaging meeting sites, locus for events and tactical convening, and traditional offices. With workplaces, styles, and needs in rapid change, The Village Works embraces adaptability and continuous improvement of the work environment. thevillageworks.com thevillageworks.com

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

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.

###

Genius Tracker™ system completes IEEE 693 high-performance level earthquake testing at UC Berkeley’s PEER Lab

NORWALK, Conn., March 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — GameChange Solar, a leading global supplier of solar tracker and fixed-tilt racking technology, announced the successful completion of the industry’s first full-scale seismic shake table testing program for its Genius Tracker™ system at UC Berkeley’s Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research (PEER) Center. The testing was conducted in accordance with IEEE 693 seismic design standards, simulating extreme earthquake conditions representative of high-risk regions such as the New Madrid Seismic Zone. This testing represents one of the most intense credible seismic scenarios for a U.S. solar installation.

A full-scale tracker system with mounted PV modules was subjected to progressively increasing seismic inputs, including broadband excitation and high-performance-level testing up to 2.5g spectral acceleration.

The system demonstrated strong performance across multiple configurations and test intensities:

  • No structural damage to key components, including torque tubes, bearings, posts, and actuators.
  • Seismic design features, including GameChange’s proprietary Lateral Capture System, engaged as intended and effectively redistributed loads during testing.
  • No module microcracking or meaningful power loss, with degradation under 1% of the PV modules used during the testing
  • Full system functionality was maintained by the tracker motor after testing.

“As solar expands into seismic-risk regions like California, Chile, and the New Madrid Fault Zone, the industry has had negligible real-world data on how modern utility scale trackers and modules perform in an earthquake,” said Scott Van Pelt, Chief Engineer at GameChange Solar. “This test changes that. We now have conclusive evidence that a solar tracking system, such as GameChange’s Genius Tracker, can be designed to withstand the forces associated with a meaningful earthquake.”

The results of this testing are covered in the White Paper “Seismic Shake Table Testing of Single Axis Solar Trackers,” which is available upon request from GameChange Solar’s website. Furthermore, this testing was presented as part of a pv magazine webinar, on how shake table testing shows earthquake resilience of solar trackers, which aired on March 18th and available here.

A seismic failure at a solar plant could mean widespread module damage, costly repairs, months of lost generation, and potentially dangerous conditions for O&M personnel. By establishing an empirical performance baseline now, GCS is enabling project developers, asset owners, and insurers to make more informed decisions about seismic risk and provide a credible engineering foundation for sites in high-hazard zones.

Independent validation by the Renewable Energy Test Center (RETC) in Fremont, CA confirmed the system remained in good physical and operating condition following the test campaign.

These results demonstrate that the Genius Tracker system is engineered to deliver reliability, and performance in high seismic environments, supporting solar deployment in some of the world’s most demanding conditions.

About GameChange Solar

GameChange Solar is one of the top three global providers of solar tracker solutions used in utility-scale and ground-mounted distributed generation solar projects around the world. We have delivered over 58 GW of solar tracker and fixed tilt systems that combine fast installation, bankable quality, and unbeatable value through superior engineering, innovative design, and high-volume manufacturing. Our products enable solar panels at power plants to follow the sun’s movement across the sky and optimize plant performance while protecting the array from damaging weather conditions.

For more information about GameChange Solar and its solar tracking solutions, visit www.gamechangesolar.com.

Media Contact

Lisa Andrews

Director of Marketing, GameChange Solar

lisa.andrews@gamechangesolar.com

Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gamechange-solar-announces-successful-industry-first-full-scale-seismic-testing-of-single-axis-solar-trackers-302728801.html

SOURCE GameChange Solar

This article is authored by Mauro Atalla, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology and Sustainability Officer, Trane Technologies and Chris Kuehn, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Trane Technologies

As a global business community, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to lead. Technology is transforming the economy to be defined by data and energy, and it’s up to us to keep sustainability at the center. To help our community meet this moment, we’ve collaborated with leaders from global brands and industry-leading companies to create the ROI of Sustainability Playbook, a project that highlights the many ways that sustainability creates business value.

Contributors to the playbook include sustainability and technology leaders from Colgate-Palmolive, McDonald’s, Prologis, Turner Construction, BrainBox AI and Clever Carbon. In the playbook, you’ll find a series of insights from these leaders, each with real-world examples that inspire action. The innovators who contributed to this piece are redefining what “business as usual” looks like to build what comes next, and we are grateful for their insights and perspectives.

A pivotal moment in the energy transition

At the center of this shift, sustainability and technology leaders are redefining how businesses grow and compete, leveraging sustainability as a core business strategy that drives growth, with returns that include cost reduction, reduced energy waste, better risk mitigation, increased revenues and strengthened resilience.

The winners in this landscape will leverage sustainability as a performance advantage, generating returns holistically across the value chain. Leaders in diverse industries are already aligning finance, operations and supply chains around sustainability outcomes. In parallel, companies are harnessing digital technology as a growth engine, while AI and connected systems are supercharging climate-smart strategies across sectors and functions.

At its core, sustainability is about making things last while building organizations, systems and communities that can thrive in the future. It’s about developing technologies that reduce energy use and waste, lower costs and power performance. It encompasses designing for the long term, using resources wisely, reducing risk and increasing resilience while creating business value — setting the stage for continued growth.

“The winners in this landscape will leverage sustainability as a performance advantage, generating returns holistically across the value chain.”

Mauro J. Atalla
Senior Vice President and Chief Technology and Sustainability Officer, Trane Technologies

Climate innovation and business performance

At Trane Technologies, we have been demonstrating the ROI of sustainability since we were launched as a pure play climate innovator in 2020, and we’re proud to lead through this transformation. At the heart of it is our relentless investment in technology and our purpose to challenge what’s possible for a sustainable world. Another important piece is partnerships — working with our customers, our suppliers, our industry community — to find new ways to reduce energy and cost across the value chain.

The stories highlighted in this playbook demonstrate that sustainability is not a side project or a trade-off. It is a practical strategy for sustained business success, helping companies perform better both today and for generations to come. Thank you to our contributors – for their leadership, innovation and collaboration. As you explore the insights and perspectives in the playbook, we hope they spark new ideas for how sustainability can create value across your own organization. We invite you to join us as we shape a more sustainable future together.

“We’re proud to lead through this transformation. At the heart of it is our relentless investment in technology and our purpose to challenge what’s possible for a sustainable world.”

Chris Kuehn
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Trane Technologies

Discover the ROI of Sustainability Playbook