Author: sHq_LoGiNz

Originally published on Aflac Newsroom

With graduation in the rearview mirror and the summer season winding down, we have a wave of new professionals entering the workforce. Whether you’re one of these new grads settling into the beginning of your career or a seasoned professional starting a new chapter, you’ll probably be peppered with advice like, “build your network,” “focus on solutions, not problems,” and “always be eager to learn.” These are all true, but something not discussed often enough — and something you can start working toward on day one — is this:

Make sure your name is being said for the right reasons.

What does that mean, and how do you build that reputation? Well, you can boil it down to three key actions:

1. Be the person who your managers and your colleagues can count on, their go-to person on a specific topic or skillset. Maybe you’re exceptional at budgets and spreadsheets, or perhaps you’re a great writer or public speaker — and never underestimate the power of a stunning presentation deck. Whatever that talent may be, find what you’re good at and jump on opportunities to show what you’re capable of — your leadership will take notice. Over time, you’ll continue honing those skills and, eventually, you’ll become a trusted voice at the table.
2. Be willing to take on new challenges. It’s amazing what can happen when you keep an open mind. For example, I’m a lawyer, but in the middle of my career, I was asked to move outside of the legal function, which is where I had spent my entire career. Honestly, it was pretty scary. As a lawyer, I was trained to manage work and advocate for causes. Lawyers aren’t typically trained to manage and lead people and company culture, but when Aflac Chairman and CEO Dan Amos asked me to take over the chief human resources officer role, I said yes. Through that experience, I learned more about the business and the people who make it run than I ever would have if I had stayed in my comfort zone. Now that I’m back in the general counsel role, I’m able to bring a more unique and well-rounded perspective that helps me better balance the needs of my team and the business.
3. Be vocal but know your stuff. The great thing about a new beginning is that you bring to the table fresh ideas or thoughts on how to improve things. Speaking up shows initiative, but don’t let yourself get caught off guard — be sure you can back it up with details on why a particular action is needed, how it will benefit your team and the business, and what is needed to make it happen.

Wherever you are in your professional journey — whether you’re just starting your first job or making a career shift — I offer you many congratulations, and I hope, like I did, you enjoy all of the excitement these new challenges and experiences will bring.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not a solicitation for insurance. Aflac includes Aflac and/or Aflac New York and/or Continental American Insurance Company and/or Continental American Life Insurance Company.

Aflac WWHQ | 1932 Wynnton Road | Columbus, GA 31999

Z2500817 Exp. 9/26

September 9, 2025 /3BL/ – Direct Relief today announced the four recipients of the 2025 Organon Community Health Awards, an initiative that supports community-based solutions to improve reproductive health outcomes in underserved areas across the United States.

Each awardee will receive $200,000 over two years to implement programs that expand contraceptive access and education, particularly in regions where healthcare access is limited or unavailable.

“These awards represent Direct Relief’s commitment to strengthening local health systems through targeted support for community-driven solutions,” said Paulina Ospina, Director of Programs at Direct Relief. “Each recipient demonstrates innovation in breaking down barriers that prevent individuals from accessing the contraceptive care they need, while empowering local healthcare providers with essential resources.”

Nearly half (45%) of pregnancies in the U.S. are unintended, with the highest rates among low-income individuals, people of color, and young adults aged 15-24. The awards support clinics playing a crucial role in bridging the gap in access to care.

2025 Award Recipients

• Port Ministries Free Health Clinic – Chicago, Illinois: Port Ministries will expand access to reproductive health services to its patients by increasing clinic hours, integrating contraceptive counseling into primary care visits, and enhancing bilingual sexual health education.
• Wellness Pointe – Longview, Texas: Wellness Pointe will add staff focused on providing personalized contraceptive counseling across seven counties in East Texas. It will also support community health workers providing education and working to reduce obstacles to care faced by their patients.
• Healthcare Network of Southwest Florida – Immokalee, Florida: Funding will help the organization deliver culturally competent, multilingual contraceptive counseling through community health workers, mobile health units, and educational materials tailored to Hispanic and Haitian communities in Collier County.
• Newark Community Health Centers – Newark, New Jersey: Newark Community Health Centers will expand services with existing NCHC staff to provide equitable access to contraception, improve reproductive health education, and reduce disparities in reproductive healthcare for men and women aged 14-50 within the service area.

“Through our collaboration with Direct Relief, we are proud to support these community-specific initiatives, which help drive access and education in the reproductive health space for some of the most vulnerable in the United States,” said Doral Fredericks, Head of Medical Affairs and Outcomes Research at Organon. “Expanding education and care for women and girls of reproductive age is fundamental to providing the tools they need to take charge of their health.”

A Model for Cross-Sector Collaboration

The Organon Community Health Awards reflect Direct Relief’s approach to leveraging cross-industry partnerships for humanitarian impact. The collaboration between Organon, a global independent healthcare company focused on women’s health, and Direct Relief, demonstrates how donated resources and expertise can be matched with urgent health needs.

To help customers meet their sustainability goals, Kimberly-Clark Professional can now collect qualifying used dispensers¹ to help make cement for building materials.

ROSWELL, Ga., Sept. 9, 2025 /3BL/ – Kimberly-Clark Professional™ today announced the launch of its Thrive™ sustainability service that helps businesses reduce waste, track lifecycle progress and make a measurable environmental impact.

Core to the service is a first-of-its-kind program² that helps customers in North America upgrade their restrooms while diverting used qualifying dispensers¹ from landfills. Kimberly-Clark Professional set out to remove the barriers for customers who might have concerns about disposing of the old equipment they will no longer need.

Through the Thrive™ Dispenser Service, Kimberly-Clark Professional team members will collect qualifying used plastic dispensers¹ directly at customer sites and prepare them for shipment. Once ready, customers simply send them to one of Kimberly-Clark Professional’s trusted sustainability partner facilities for processing.

To further support waste diversion, customers can even leave dry, leftover paper products inside the dispensers. Once received, the dispensers are sorted, shredded and transformed into an alternative fuel source, a substitute for fossil fuel, used in the production of cement and building materials.

This streamlined process makes it easy for facilities to contribute to landfill diversion and sustainability goals without disrupting operations.

“Our customers are looking for practical, measurable ways to meet their sustainability goals,” said Susan Gambardella, President of Kimberly-Clark Professional. “Thrive offers a solution that’s easy to implement and makes a tangible, positive impact toward waste reduction.”

The Thrive™ service is available to commercial customers in the U.S. and Canada that replace 100 or more eligible dispensers at a facility. Kimberly-Clark Professional coordinates the installation of new Scott^®, Kleenex^®, or ICON™ dispensers to replace the old units. Thrive offers a fully traceable service to help businesses quantify, track and report landfill diversion metrics. Customers even receive an Environmental Impact Achievement Certificate to showcase their sustainability efforts to employees and guests.

Facility managers interested in learning more can contact their Kimberly-Clark Professional sales representative or visit Thrive™ Sustainability Services | Kimberly-Clark Professional.

1: Qualified products are eligible for landfill diversion so long as after use they are non-hazardous as classified by federal, state and local regulations.
2: Based on publicly available information as of August 2025.

About Kimberly-Clark Professional 
Kimberly-Clark Professional partners with business to achieve their goals while enhancing the well-being of their employees and guests with quality hygiene and personal care solutions. Key brands in this away-from-home segment include Kleenex, Cottonelle, Scott and WypAll. To see how Kimberly-Clark Professional is helping businesses create a better clean, together, please visit the Kimberly-Clark Professional website. 

SOURCE Kimberly-Clark Professional

View original content here.

LINCOLN, Neb., September 9, 2025 /3BL/ – In partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation, Clayton has supported the planting of 5 million trees in U.S. forestlands of greatest need. The 5 millionth tree planting marks a major milestone in the partnership that originally began in 2022.

To celebrate the occasion, a White Oak tree sourced from SiteOne Plant Nursery was planted in Maryville, Tenn. at the Clayton headquarters, during a ceremony featuring remarks from Kevin Clayton, Clayton CEO, and Dan Lambe, Arbor Day Foundation CEO.

“Five million trees is more than a milestone for Clayton — it’s a legacy,” said Dan Lambe. “Our team is proud to work alongside bold, forward-thinking corporate leaders that understand the importance of restoring forests that will serve people and nature for decades to come.”

“At Clayton, we are committed to being a force for good by investing in the communities we live in and the planet we all share,” said Kevin Clayton. “This important milestone shows how collaboration and authentic partnerships can help us scale impact with trusted organizations like the Arbor Day Foundation.”

Clayton has helped restore more than 12,000 acres of land across the United States with lasting conservation commitments predominantly on public lands, as well as private conservation easements and in forests managed by non-governmental organizations. These projects were strategically designed to support ecosystems and communities by protecting drinking water supply, preventing soil erosion, providing habitat for wildlife and creating natural buffers against extreme weather events.

Through its partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation, Clayton plants one new tree to replace every tree estimated to be used in its building projects. In addition to its work in reforestation, Clayton has deepened its commitment to sustainability by investing in renewable energy, installing 2.12 megawatts of solar capacity at various facilities and diverting over 123 million pounds of waste from landfills annually through ISO® 14001:2015 waste reduction efforts in Clayton home building and supply facilities last year alone.

The Arbor Day Foundation has helped plant more than 500 million trees around the world since 1972. Visit arborday.org to learn more about why reforestation is a critical part of shaping a better future for the planet.

About Clayton

Founded in 1956, Clayton is committed to opening doors to a better life through homeownership. Clayton is a leading single-family, values-driven home builder dedicated to attainable housing, sustainable practices, and creating a world-class experience for customers and team members. The company’s portfolio includes a comprehensive range of site-built, modern manufactured, Tiny, CrossMod® and modular housing. In 2024, Clayton built more than 60,000 homes across the country. For more information, visit claytonhomes.com.

CrossMod is a registered certification mark of the Manufactured Housing Institute.

ISO is a registered trademark of the International Organization for Standardization.

About the Arbor Day Foundation

The Arbor Day Foundation is a global nonprofit inspiring people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. They foster a growing community of more than 1 million leaders, innovators, planters, and supporters united by their bold belief that a more hopeful future can be shaped through the power of trees. For more than 50 years, they’ve answered critical need with action, planting more than half a billion trees alongside their partners.

And this is only the beginning.

The Arbor Day Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit pursuing a future where all life flourishes through the power of trees. Learn more at arborday.org.

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Originally published on DICK’S Sporting Goods Sideline Report

Three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt once tried to move his family into a DICK’S House of Sport (HOS). Now, he’s done it! Sort of.

“Click on me for the play-by-play as your personal tour guide,” says an avatar of Watt in DICK’S Sporting Goods Virtual HOS.

Virtual HOS is an immersive digital journey via DICKS.com that explores the unparalleled and exciting experience that is HOS. The DICK’S Sporting Goods’ eCommerce, Visual and Marketing teams partnered with Napster, an innovative technology and entertainment company specializing in the development of cutting-edge, AI-powered 3D immersive experiences, to bring all the excitement and energy of a 100,000 square-foot brick-and-mortar store into an online experience for athletes nationwide to explore, even if a physical HOS isn’t in their market just yet.

“Napster’s partnership with DICK’S Sporting Goods demonstrates how immersive experiences can create authentic connections between brands and consumers, turning digital discovery into meaningful engagement,” said John Acunto, co-founder and CEO of Napster Corp.

The idea for Virtual HOS came about two years ago to build awareness to the HOS concept. Now, it’s grown into a true extension of the physical store featuring our elevated product assortment, showcasing our in-store experiences and incorporating elements like J.J.’s presence.

Watt, who has been synonymous with HOS since becoming a brand ambassador in March 2024, guides athletes through the virtual store while highlighting everything that makes HOS unique: the Climbing Wall, the Golf Pro Shop with TrackMan™ simulators, the HitTrax™ multi-sport cages that can be used for baseball, softball, soccer, lacrosse and hockey, the Field and more!

“I love House of Sport and having the chance to experience it without even stepping foot in a store is next level,” said Watt. “Imagine being able to explore every facet of the ultimate destination for sports from anywhere. It’s a real game changer and I’m thrilled to be a part of it.”

Another standout feature of Virtual HOS is that it’s both shoppable and schedulable. Athletes can add featured products directly to their DICKS.com cart for a seamless shopping journey. They can also book services or reserve time slots for activities that interest them like sports camps, fitness classes or even birthday parties! Click here to explore Virtual HOS for yourself!

There are currently 23 DICK’S HOS locations across the country with 12 more opening their doors by the end of 2025. DICK’S plans to have at least 75 HOS stores open by 2027. HOS offers athletes a multi-sport experience inside and outside the store and elite customer service with skilled teammates (employees) and enhanced technology. You can find the store nearest to you here.

Written by Hilary Totin

Classmates Will Brown and Alexis Adeboyejo figured they would stay in touch after college, but not quite like this.

“Friends, yes. Colleagues at the same company, no, didn’t expect that,” Adeboyejo laughed.

Brown and Adeboyejo came to Medtronic straight out of Harding University in Arkansas, part of a wave of new recruits training for careers that until now didn’t exist at Medtronic: cardiac mapping.

“I tell my friends it’s kind of a cross between video gaming and clinical technology,” Brown laughed. “It’s challenging and interesting and we’re all very excited about it.”

Brown and Adeboyejo both earned masters’ degrees in Cardiac Function and Interventional Technology at Harding. Their next learning challenge is Medtronic mapping school, officially known as Affera Academy.

Affera Academy

Cardiac mappers are experts in the cardiac arrhythmia ablation procedure, which requires technical knowledge of the procedure, cardiac anatomy and physiology, and skill at operating the software. This procedure is used to treat abnormal rhythms (such as atrial fibrillation, or Afib) in the heart. The software maps the electrical voltage and activity of the heart and helps physicians identify areas where the electrical signals are malfunctioning. The software creates brightly colored maps of the heart’s anatomy and its electrical activity, with each color telling the mapper and physician something unique. Watching a mapper in action can be a bit like watching someone play a video game.

“Mappers absolutely need a thorough understanding of not only the software, but also how the heart works and of electrophysiology (EP), which is the study of the heart’s electrical system and treatment of disorders like Afib,” said Troy Bertram, training and education director in the Cardiac Ablation Solutions (CAS) business at Medtronic. “They’re critical advisors to the doctor in the operating room, so if the doctor has a question, the mapper better have the answer.”

Affera Academy is named after the Medtronic Affera Mapping and Ablation System™, approved for use in the United States in 2024. Demand for the new system is so high that it’s creating an urgent need for mappers to operate the software. Hospitals typically rely on the companies that develop the mapping software to provide the mappers to run it. Medtronic is planning to hire hundreds of them—with varying levels of experience—in the coming months.

“Doctors are telling us this system is one of the best things they’ve ever seen in the EP space,” said Rebecca Seidel, president of CAS, as she addressed the new recruits at Affera Academy. “You have an amazing opportunity ahead of you, to use this incredible technology to help serve patients.”

New college graduate recruits need to complete the foundational training through the Medtronic mapper school at what’s called EP University—mainly online classes where they learn about heart function, electrophysiology and the disease states that ablation can treat. They must pass a rigorous test (with a score of 90% or better) to move on to “The Bridge” where they learn how to use ablation devices and mapping systems, including the Affera system. That course is both online and in person, including classroom work and hands-on practice with simulators.

Experienced mappers in high demand

Not all students at Affera Academy are fresh from college—in fact many of the newest mappers are recruits from competitors. Veteran mappers newly hired at Medtronic recently came from Australia, Japan, France, the UK and various locations around the United States to attend in-person training in Minnesota.

“The new Medtronic technology is so efficient and that’s ultimately better for patients,” said Chelsea Polanco, who mapped for 10 years at a competitor before coming to Medtronic. “Affera is changing ablation therapy and it’s exciting to be part of it.”

Kristy Hoghton came from Perth, Australia to train on the Affera platform so she’ll be ready when the first systems arrive in her country. “Part of what I love about mapping is that you’re always learning and you’re always helping patients. With the Affera system, I’m doing both.”

Stepping out of the “shadow”

As they proceed through training, new mappers are paired with a mentor so they can shadow actual procedures. It takes an average of 25 cases under a mentor before a new recruit is certified to map on their own.

“We expect them to do more with every case,” Bertram said. “They should be constantly progressing. And it’s not just technical knowledge. We also need to see how they support and interact with the physician. That’s a huge part of being a good mapper.”

Will Brown is already shadowing cases at the Cleveland Clinic; Alexis Adeboyejo is doing the same in Seattle. “The sheer amount of knowledge that pours out of my mentor and the people I’m working with is amazing. Really, really cool,” he said.

“Initially it’s a little intimidating, working with doctors who have so much more experience than we do,” she said. “But Medtronic really prepares us, both technically and how to relate to the physicians. I’m already more comfortable.”

Both will probably map their first solo cases in 2026, if not sooner. They’ll be cheering each other on.

“Will is calm under pressure, observant and has a way of connecting with people. He’ll be a great mapper,” Adeboyejo said.

“She’s super intelligent and a great communicator,” Brown said. “She’ll be terrific.”

Interested in becoming a Medtronic mapper? Check out our careers page.

See how Medtronic’s David Stalls turned his health issues into a career as a mapper.

Important Safety Information

Risks may include serious complications and injuries to cardiac and other body structures. The Sphere-9™ catheter and Affera™ mapping and ablation system, PulseSelect™ pulsed field ablation system, and Arctic Front Advance™ over-the-wire balloon catheter should only be used under the supervision of a physician that performs cardiac ablation procedures.