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International Researchers Affirm the Rigor of IWBI’s 12 Competencies for Measuring Health and Well-Being in Peer-Reviewed Study

Posted on October 9, 2025 by sHq_LoGiNz

NEW YORK, October 9, 2025 /3BL/ – The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) announced today that its pioneering 12 Competencies for Measuring Health and Well-being at the Workplace (12 Competencies) has been peer-reviewed and published in the Journal of Corporate Real Estate. This validation affirms the framework’s scope, rigor and relevance for global organizations to leverage when seeking to track and improve their workplace health and well-being strategies.

The 12 Competencies is a framework that maps out areas of health leadership and offers a comprehensive framework for organizations to evaluate key workplace well-being factors, such as mental health, physical health, social connection and organizational culture. Organized across five interconnected levels—individual, organizational, environmental, community and global—the framework helps companies dimensionalize well-being strategies and identify what they are measuring and where opportunities remain for deeper impact. The 12 Competencies can help companies monitor, track and demonstrate their impact on health, and in turn identify health improvement opportunities while reducing exposure to material risk.

The 12 Competencies, first announced by IWBI in 2022, is the result of an integrated approach to understanding how to measure commitment to and progress in health and well-being, drawing on the expertise of the IWBI’s Research Advisory, the science backed WELL concepts, and industry-leading best practices that IWBI has gathered through its decade-long work with thousands of forward-thinking companies around the world who are elevating workplace health and well-being. Together, these knowledge streams shaped a robust and practical framework designed to move the needle on measuring workplace health and well-being.

“Today’s announcement signifies a major step forward in our mission to provide actionable and science-backed KPIs for organizations focused on improving workplace health and performance,” said Rachel Hodgdon, President and CEO of IWBI. “The peer review of the 12 Competencies and its publication in the Journal of Corporate Real Estate validate the framework’s relevance and effectiveness in transforming workplaces.”

Industry experts advocating for workplace health and well-being are celebrating the growing momentum around this important shift. “In my decades-long experience helping global organizations advance workplace health and well-being, I’ve seen how challenging it can be to measure what truly matters for employees,” said Despina Katskakis, Global Chair Strategic Consulting, Cushman & Wakefield. “The 12 Competencies provide a practical framework that helps companies align measurement and strategy across diverse workplaces, turning good intentions into meaningful outcomes.”

Eleven esteemed researchers participated in the independent peer review article, including academic scholars from seven top universities in the United States, Canada, Australia, Belgium and South Africa, as well as leading experts from the organizational and building health sectors. Their collective expertise and independent validation underscore the strength and credibility of the 12 Competencies.

“Measuring health and well-being is inherently complex. We designed the 12 Competencies to turn that complexity into clarity—and to solve a problem that so many companies face when measuring health and performance. In doing so, we help companies align their investments, reporting and people outcomes across five levels of impact,” said author Dr. Whitney Austin Gray, Senior Vice President of Research at IWBI.

“Validating a company’s investment in people is critical. Leading certification systems around the world provide strategies, but it is challenging to know if these systems comprehensively measure health, or only a portion of health, such as environmental health versus organizational health. The 12 Competencies show how to track, measure and manage how you’re measuring health,” added author Dr. Christhina Candido, Professor and International Advisory Board Member.

In the article, the authors say, “The 12 Competencies identified five interconnected levels known to impact health and well-being, within which 12 competencies are nested. Each competency is broad enough to enable benchmarking. Detailed domains and dimensions help organizations understand what to measure and track for health and well-being and can adapt as research evolves. The framework addresses industry gaps by connecting leading and lagging indicators to allow for a more systemic approach to measuring health and well-being.”

“Too often, organizations don’t know what to measure when it comes to employee health and well-being—or how those metrics connect to performance, thriving and social impact,” said Angela Loder, Executive Director of Greening the City in Denver, Co., and the lead author of the article. “The 12 Competencies framework changes that. It’s an adaptive, evidence-based tool that shows leaders where they’re strong, where they need to improve and how to prove the impact of their investments in health and well-being.”

Leading the charge to operationalize the 12 Competencies, IWBI plans to incorporate the framework in its WELL Standard and program offerings, helping to support organizations’ in leveraging them to measure their multi-tiered investment in health.

Since its 2022 launch during a landmark event at Nasdaq focused on embedding health into corporate strategy, the 12 Competencies are now positioned to provide organizations with a clear, actionable guide to evaluating and strengthening their social sustainability efforts. The competencies include:

Health and well-being
Thriving
Performance, energy & motivation
Employee effectiveness
Organizational performance
Organizational culture & engagement
Risk management
Environment of care & support
Ambient environmental quality
Occupant & market perceptions of indoor environmental quality
Community & stakeholder engagement
Environmental, social and governance (ESG) transparency & reporting

The publication of the 12 Competencies is another important step in IWBI’s mission to support and equip organizations with the tools to advance and validate healthier, more resilient workplaces.

Authors of the peer-reviewed paper include:
Angela Loder, PhD, Greening the City, Denver, Colorado, USA; and formerly IWBI
Christhina Candido, PhD, Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
Sergio Altomonte, PhD, Architecture et Climat, Louvain Research Institute for Landscape, Architecture, Built Environment, Université Catholique de Louvain, Belgium
Whitney Austin Gray, PhD, IWBI, Washington, DC, USA
Casey Lindberg, PhD, Department of Environmental Design, University of Colorado Boulder, USA
Susan Sung Eun Chung, PhD, PhD, HKS Inc., Dallas, Texas, USA
Ina Rothmann, PhD, WorkWell Research Unit – Afriforte, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
Avis Devine, PhD, Schulich School of Business, York University, Toronto, Canada
Yoko Kawai, PhD, Yale School of Architecture, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
Usha Satish, PhD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, USA
Sally Augustin, PhD, Design with Science, La Grange Park, Illinois, USA

For more information on the 12 Competencies, visit IWBI’s original announcement here.

About the International WELL Building Institute
The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) is a public benefit corporation and the global authority for transforming health and well-being in buildings, organizations and communities. In pursuit of its public-health mission, IWBI mobilizes its community through the development and administration of the WELL Building Standard (WELL), WELL for residential, WELL Community Standard, its WELL ratings and management of the WELL AP credential. IWBI also translates research into practice, develops educational resources and advocates for policies that promote people-first places for everyone, everywhere. More information on WELL can be found here.
International WELL Building Institute, IWBI, the WELL Building Standard, WELL v2, WELL Certified, WELL AP, WELL EP, WELL Score, The WELL Conference, We Are WELL, the WELL Community Standard, WELL Health-Safety Rated, WELL Performance Rated, WELL Equity Rated, WELL Equity, WELL Coworking Rated, WELL Residence, Works with WELL, WELL and others, and their related logos are trademarks or certification marks of International WELL Building Institute pbc in the United States and other countries.

Media Contact: media@wellcertified.com

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Dr. Sanusi Umar Launches The Bumpinator, a Digital Docuseries Tackling Complex Skin and Hair Conditions Others Could Not

Posted on October 9, 2025 by sHq_LoGiNz

MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif., Oct. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Dr. Sanusi Umar, the lead MD at Dr. U Hair and Skin Clinic has launched a new digital docuseries – The Bumpinator. The series brings real patients and real solutions to screen, showing how complex skin and hair disorders once thought untreatable can be resolved through innovation, science, and compassion.

The official trailer for The Bumpinator premiered October 7 on Dr. Sanusi Umar’s YouTube channel. The series follows real patients with severe skin, scalp, and hair conditions and reveals the science and creativity behind their transformations. The full premiere arrives October 23 on YouTube, with each episode running 15 to 25 minutes.

“At The Bumpinator, we show what happens when insight meets the right tools. Hope is not a plan. We show the plan,” said Dr. Umar.

Unlike spectacle-driven medical content, The Bumpinator focuses on reasoning, precision, and lasting results. Viewers see Dr. Umar use his patented UGraft Zeus hair-extraction system, Athena tension suture guards, and advanced phytoactive formulations to treat cases of keloids, acne keloidalis nuchae, folliculitis decalvans, dissecting cellulitis, botched hair surgeries, and extreme hair loss.

Dr. Umar’s research has been published in leading journals including JAMA Dermatology, Dermatologic Surgery, JAAD, Dermatologic Therapy, and Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, with selected works available on the Research & Publications page of his website.

“People arrive after years of setbacks,” said Dr. Umar. “We show what happens when careful thought and innovation come together.”

Many of the conditions featured in The Bumpinator occur across all populations but are more common in some groups, including African American and Hispanic patients. By showing cases from many backgrounds, the series highlights how advanced and inclusive care can close long-standing gaps in outcomes.

“These are human stories first,” Dr. Umar said. “Our patients reflect the world’s diversity, and our goal is always the same—to restore confidence through knowledge and innovation.”

About Dr. Sanusi Umar
Dr. Sanusi Umar, MD, FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist, hair-restoration surgeon, inventor, and educator. He leads Dr. U Hair and Skin Clinic, serves on faculty at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, founded the Hair Peace Foundation, and organizes the Los Angeles Hair Restoration Courses (LAHRC). His expertise has been featured on Dr. Pimple Popper, Good Morning America, The New York Times, and MSNBC.

Media Contact:
Yen Mai
Dr. U Hair and Skin Clinic
Email: yen@dru.com

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SOURCE Dr. U Hair and Skin Clinic

Bon Bon Bum® and Tajín® Launch Flavor-Packed Lollipops with a Zesty-Sweet Kick

Posted on October 9, 2025 by sHq_LoGiNz

Two fan-favorite brands team up to deliver a bold new candy experience

HOUSTON, Oct. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Bon Bon Bum®, the iconic bubblegum-filled lollipop from Colombina, and Tajín®, the beloved chile-lime seasoning, have joined forces for an unforgettable flavor mashup.

Branded as “The Mix That Hits,” the new Bon Bon Bum® x Tajín® lollipops fuse juicy watermelon and tropical passion fruit with Tajín’s signature chile-lime zest — creating a sweet, tangy, and interactive snack. Each gum-filled pop comes with its own pouch of Tajín, inviting fans to dip, lick, and repeat for a two-in-one treat that’s perfect for parties, piñatas, or sharing.

“This collaboration is about flavor innovation and cultural celebration,” said Mauricio Escobar, VP of Marketing at Colombina. “By pairing our iconic lollipops with Tajín’s bold seasoning, we’re creating a playful and unforgettable candy experience.”

Haydeé Fernández, Director of Alliances at Tajín USA, added: “Our fans love Tajín on fruit, drinks, and candy. This partnership celebrates that creativity and invites everyone to enjoy lollipops in a fresh, fun new way and partaking in a ritual introduced by our fans on social media.”

The Bon Bon Bum® x Tajín® 20 count packs are available now at select retailers nationwide and online for $11.99. Fans are encouraged to share their dip-and-lick creations using #MyWayToTajinIt and tagging both brands: @TajinUSA & @BonBonBumUS.

About Tajín

Industrias Tajín® is a market leader in both Mexico and the United States in chile products, in addition to being one of the most important brands in producing and commercializing products derived from chile worldwide. Today, it has a presence in more than 65 countries around the world. Tajín was founded in 1985, surprising consumers with the perfect blend of mild chile peppers, lime, and sea salt. In 1993, Tajín made its first export to the United States, and Tajín International Corporation was established in Houston, TX, from where all commercial activity of the brand in the U.S. is managed. The brand arrived in Central American and European markets in 2006. For more information visit www.tajín.com.

About Colombina
Colombina S.A. is a global leading company in food production, with 95 years of experience providing its customers around the world with the best products under a comprehensive and transparent management model. It is focused on the manufacturing and commercialization of food in 20 categories, under leading and recognized brands of high perceived value, accessible to everyone.

Bon Bon Bum, launched in the 1970s in Colombia, has become a global icon, selling over 2 billion units annually in more than 70 countries, and successfully expanding into new categories such as ice cream, chewy candy, and gummies.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bon-bon-bum-and-tajin-launch-flavor-packed-lollipops-with-a-zesty-sweet-kick-302580121.html

SOURCE Tajín USA

Always Best Care Senior Services Launches Studio City Location with Local Social Worker at the Helm

Posted on October 9, 2025 by sHq_LoGiNz

Amy Balian brings experience and heartfelt mission to seniors in the greater Los Angeles community

STUDIO CITY, Calif., Oct. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Always Best Care Senior Services, one of the leading senior care franchise systems in the United States, is pleased to announce the opening of a new location in Studio City, California. Owned and operated by franchisee Amy Balian, this new office, located at 4400 Coldwater Canyon Ave., Suite 125, provides quality in-home care and senior living referral services to the aging population in the greater Los Angeles area.

“I am thrilled to bring Always Best Care to the Studio City and North Hollywood area,” said Balian. “This is a community I know well, and I recognized a real need for quality senior care here. With so many medical clinics, nursing facilities, and referral sources in the area, I believe we can make a meaningful impact by supporting seniors and their families with compassion and professionalism. My goal is to provide exceptional care while positively impacting my community.”

Balian brings a strong background in social work and community care to her new role with Always Best Care. She earned her BA in Psychology and a Master’s in Social Work (MSW), later working as a medical social worker contracting with home health, hospice, and nursing facilities. For the past eight years, she has successfully run her own agency, conducting assessments and follow-up visits for individuals with physical and mental disabilities.

Balian’s sister will also play a key role in the agency’s operations as the office operations manager, ensuring the business runs smoothly and that clients and families receive the highest level of support.

“We are excited to have Amy join the Always Best Care family,” said Jake Brown, President and CEO of Always Best Care. “Her deep experience as a social worker, coupled with her success as a small business owner, makes her an excellent fit to serve the seniors and families of Studio City and North Hollywood. We look forward to seeing the positive difference she and her team will make in their community.”

By working with case managers, social workers, discharge planners, doctors, and families, Always Best Care franchise owners provide affordable, comprehensive solutions that can be specifically matched to meet a client’s particular physical or social needs. The hallmark services of Always Best Care include non-medical in-home care and senior living referral services, with skilled home health care in some limited markets.

For more information about Always Best Care of Studio City, or to schedule a care consultation, please call 818-572-2799 or visit www.alwaysbestcareStudioCity.com.

About Always Best Care

Founded in 1996, Always Best Care Senior Services is based on the belief that having the right people for the right level of care means peace of mind for the client and family. Always Best Care has been assisting seniors with a wide range of conditions and personal needs for over 29 years and currently provides thousands of hours of care every year. Franchise opportunities are available to individuals interested in leveraging the company’s clear strategy and proven track record for delivering affordable, dependable service to seniors in their local areas.

Always Best Care also offers exclusive programs such as Complimentary Always in Touch, Balance Tracking System, remote patient monitoring and a 24/7 Virtual Care. For more information regarding Always Best Care’s solutions, visit www.alwaysbestcare.com

CONTACT:
Tammy Delgado
954-829-9189
tdelgado@tidehouseagency.com

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SOURCE Always Best Care

Ed Burke of Dennis K. Burke, Inc. Receives the AltWheels Green Fleet Award for Leadership in Biodiesel

Posted on October 9, 2025 by sHq_LoGiNz

MELROSE, Mass., Oct. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — AltWheels has named Ed Burke, Chairman of the Board of Dennis K. Burke, Inc., the 2025 recipient of the AltWheels Green Fleet Award, honoring his trailblazing leadership in biodiesel.

For more than two decades, Ed Burke has been at the forefront of clean fuel innovation in Massachusetts. Long before “renewable” became a household word, Ed was opening doors that would change how fleets, universities, and even the federal government thought about energy.

In the early 2000s, he worked hand-in-hand with Harvard University, piloting some of the first biodiesel programs in the region. Recognizing the need for standardization, Ed also played a critical role in the development of an ASTM specification for biodiesel, helping to set national benchmarks for quality and performance.

“Ed was the foundation that gave us the opportunity to use biodiesel,” said David Harris, Jr, Director of Harvard University Transit and Fleet Management. “His energy and enthusiasm for this fuel, the support provided by Dennis K Burke, Inc, and our joint efforts with the National Biodiesel Board, were instrumental in the adoption of biodiesel in Boston and the region.”

His family’s service station in Chelsea, MA became the birthplace of new fuels in the state, becoming the first retailer of both biodiesel and E-85 ethanol. In fact, it was from that very station that the EPA announced its groundbreaking Nonroad, Locomotive, and Marine (NLRM) regulations, underscoring Burke’s reputation as a trusted partner in progress.

Ed didn’t stop there—he carried his vision all the way to Washington, testifying before the U.S. Senate on the importance of E-85 regulations and infrastructure, giving a voice to early adopters and ensuring policymakers heard from those on the ground leading the transition.

Through his longstanding involvement with AltWheels, Ed Burke has helped cultivate a community of innovators, from fleet managers to clean energy advocates, always pushing the conversation forward. His leadership at Dennis K. Burke, Inc. reflects the same balance of tradition and innovation: a company rooted in service yet unafraid to pioneer the fuels and technologies of the future.

Ed Burke was honored at the AltWheels Fleet Day on October 6^th, 2025 at the 22^nd Anniversary AltWheels Fleet Day in Norwood MA, where leaders across the energy and transportation sectors again gathered to celebrate innovation and progress toward a cleaner future.

Contact:

Kelly Burke
Dennis K. Burke, Inc.
617.840.1914 | kelly.burke@burkeoil.com

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SOURCE Dennis K. Burke Inc.

Eight Ways To Power Your Sustainable Advantage With AI

Posted on October 9, 2025 by sHq_LoGiNz

In New York, business leaders from every corner of the world are uniting to address evolving global challenges and accelerate solutions. Across multiple events and stages, SAP is sharing how its artificial intelligence (AI) edge is helping leading companies shape the future of business by turning environmental, regulatory, and market pressures into opportunities for action.

AI, with already proven applications, can unlock insights to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by 5%-10% by 2030. According to KPMG, over half of sustainability executives say one of their top actions in the next three years is expanding their use of AI to enhance ESG capabilities.

Most businesses have not yet realized AI’s full potential for sustainability. In fact, only 14% of companies are using AI today to reduce carbon emissions. But those ready to do so will gain a decisive advantage that goes beyond emissions reduction. SAP’s ERP-centric approach enables organizations to deliver sustainability outcomes with applications, data, and AI embedded into SAP Business Suite. With sustainability reporting, data processing, automation, and strategic insights, AI can navigate your business through today’s climate challenges and ensure tomorrow’s competitiveness.

Put sustainability at the core of your business with AI-driven solutions

Learn more

Power on, ethically and responsibly

Scaling AI solutions comes with considerable energy and water usage. To ensure net benefit, this needs to be part of return on investment conversations. With robust governance and renewables-backing however, AI is able to reduce more emissions than it generates.

All SAP data centers are powered by 100% renewable energy and any emissions from use of third-party AI systems are calculated and included in the company’s Scope 3 emissions.

Used ethically and responsibly, AI can be the catalyst of your sustainable business transformation. Here are eight ways that businesses use SAP’s AI-powered systems to build their sustainable advantage.

Improve efficiency with automation

1. Compliance information processing

The SAP S/4HANA for product compliance, AI-assisted compliance information processing capability can automatically extract compliance information from updated documents and map the information to compliance requirements.

This can reduce costs in product compliance disclosures, reduce penalties and fines in environmental management, and automate processes to reduce the risk of manual errors.

This helps turn a 50-minute task into a five-minute job and reduce processing and evaluation costs by 90%.

2. Declaration image analysis

With the SAP Green Token, AI-assisted declaration image analysis capability, you can automatically extract data and information from sustainability declarations regardless of format.

This helps cut review time, eliminate manual error risk, and ensure your reports are ready for required external audits.

Without AI, it takes roughly five minutes to review, extract, and post information from declarations. With AI, it’s just 20 seconds.

3. Permit management

SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition, EHS environment management, AI-assisted permit management can read hundreds of pages in seconds, extract the compliance requirements, and propose clear tasks to meet permit requirements.

This AI-assisted capability can save days of permit review and interpretation, remove the need to hire external consultants, and lead up to an 80% reduction in environmental penalties and fines.

Your personal AI carbon consultant

4. Emission factor mapping

With SAP Sustainability Footprint Management, SAP’s AI-enhanced solution, users can calculate product and corporate carbon footprints. Where actual supplier emissions data is given, it can retrieve that information from SAP Sustainability Data Exchange and other systems. When estimates are required, the solution can automatically find the most accurate emissions factors from databases and map those to products.

Audit-ready emission factor mapping can turn a 10-minute manual task into a two-minute verification.

5. Report generation

In the SAP Sustainability Control Tower solution, you can generate comprehensive ESG reports in just a few clicks:

Automatically generate reports that align with internal sustainability strategies and meet external requirements such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).
Take data collection from a half hour to a half minute and report creation and drafting from 30 hours down to just five hours, all the while eliminating confusion and the risk of manual errors.

6. Carbon emissions analysis

From reporting on today to planning for tomorrow, Joule, SAP’s copilot, can take current carbon emissions data and return actionable insights that help reduce emissions and guide corporate sustainability strategies.

By combining financial and carbon data, Joule can create carbon intensity KPIs and can be your ultimate corporate sustainability consultant.

The AI safety officer for your EHS team

7. Safety observation reporting

Complex safety reporting procedures dissuade employees from reporting potential hazards. With the SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition, EHS workplace safety, AI-assisted safety observation reporting capability, basic users can input safety observations in natural language, and the AI model can process that into a formal incident report, prompting the user for any missing details.

This can increase the likelihood that employees report safety hazards and helps prevent severe incidents by identifying potential safety issues in advance.

8. Safety instruction generation

Your AI safety officer can generate clear safety instructions for specific equipment based on the latest risk assessments and job hazard analyses.

With SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition, EHS workplace safety, AI-assisted safety instruction generation, the time and effort of manually prescribing and updating safety instructions can be dramatically reduced.

Solve today’s sustainability challenges while preparing for tomorrow

The right AI integration can ensure you future-proof your operations while shining a light on the path that drives competitiveness.

What sets SAP apart is our suite-first, AI-first approach that helps ensure sustainability isn’t an add-on, but a strategic enabler that can deliver measurable outcomes at scale. SAP’s one sustainability data model can drive consistent reporting, deeper insight, and confident decisions across every sustainability process, product, and partner network.

With a responsible AI partner, businesses can realize measurable financial returns on AI investments and unlock sustainability benefits; automate manual-heavy paperwork; identify emissions hot spots and steer their business toward a decarbonized economy; and make environmental impact tracking visible to all lines of business based on a reliable single source of truth. With an integrated set of capabilities, SAP Sustainability solutions help businesses address their sustainability needs holistically and across topics. The result is speed, trust, and traceability, which turn sustainability into strategy, not just compliance.

Get in touch to find out how SAP can help your business power on with sustainability solutions.

Monica Molesag is global head of Sustainability Communications at SAP.

GSA WISH Conference 2025: Trailblazing Leadership, Resilient Mindsets and Building the Semiconductor Workforce of the Future

Posted on October 9, 2025 by sHq_LoGiNz

Last week, the Global Semiconductor Alliance (GSA) hosted its 2025 Women in Semiconductor Hardware (WISH) Conference in San Jose, bringing together trailblazers from across the industry to share lessons on leadership, resilience and the urgent need to expand the talent pipeline. I had the privilege to attend this event alongside a distinguished group of AMD women engineers. I felt fortunate to be included among such inspiring peers.

The main sessions underscored three clear themes: the power of mindset in overcoming adversity, authentic leadership in times of change and collective action to address the workforce challenges shaping the future of semiconductors.

Fireside Chat: The Trailblazer’s Mindset

Sylvia Acevedo, former NASA rocket scientist, CEO and current board member at Qualcomm and Credo, shared insights from her book The Trailblazer’s Playbook. In a conversation with GSA CEO Jodi Shelton, Acevedo described how clarity, courage and conviction helped her turn barriers into stepping stones throughout her career.

From being told “girls like you don’t go to college” to becoming one of the first Hispanic women to earn an engineering graduate degree at Stanford, Acevedo emphasized the importance of resilience, persistence and authenticity. Her stories from NASA and corporate leadership illustrated how setbacks can fuel growth if approached with curiosity rather than frustration. She also reminded attendees that strong leaders can be both competitive and compassionate, and that opening doors for others is an essential part of building a legacy.

Leadership Lessons: Authenticity and Advocacy

A panel of senior executives, including leaders from Broadcom, Arm, Cirrus Logic, Cerebras and more, explored what it takes to lead in times of rapid change. The discussion highlighted that kindness should not be mistaken for weakness, and that leaders must balance being approachable with delivering results.

Panelists stressed that authenticity is a powerful differentiator: leaders who retain their identity and use their natural strengths, whether humor or empathy, are more approachable and effective. They also spoke candidly about visibility and advocacy, reminding the audience that career advancement is not only about what you know, but also who knows you.

Key advice included:

Speak the language of leadership by framing contributions in terms of strategy and value.
Understand how your work fits into the bigger picture of an organization.
Be proactive in sponsoring unseen talent, especially women and underrepresented voices.
Teach people how to treat you by setting boundaries and articulating your vision.

The conversation underscored that building a legacy means lifting others as you climb, creating opportunities that only leaders on the inside can unlock.

Talent and Workforce: Inspiring the Next Generation

The semiconductor industry plays a critical role in modern life, from powering smartphones to enabling AI, and this theme was at the center of the final main session on talent. Leaders from TSMC, GlobalFoundries, Micron Technology, Marvell and San Jose State University discussed the workforce challenges and opportunities shaping the industry.

Panelists emphasized that careers in semiconductors provide high impact, intellectual challenge, long-term stability and a strong sense of societal purpose. To address the talent gap, companies are investing in university partnerships, K–12 educational programs, apprenticeships and collaborations with groups like the Girl Scouts and First Robotics. They also emphasized broadening recruitment beyond elite universities, valuing potential and diverse backgrounds over pedigree.

The collective message was clear: building a skilled, diverse and inspired workforce is both a challenge and an opportunity that the industry must meet together.

AMD Contributions

AMD was strongly represented throughout the event. Liya Liu, senior member of AMD technical staff, spoke in the AI breakout session on accelerating formal verification workflows. Sharon Zhou, AMD vice president of AI, joined a panel discussion on AI and the future of hardware engineering. Isabelita Camaclang, MTS silicon design engineer, and Manvitha Pannala, technical program manager, from AMD delivered test and validation track presentations on using AI for DFT optimization and improving SERDES margin analysis with Power BI and Snowflake. Sangeeta Raste, AMD senior manager of PMTS silicon design, spoke in the design technology breakout session on innovative approaches to low-power design. In addition, the 2025 Female Up and Comer Award was presented to Yanfang Le, AMD principal network architect.

I am proud that AMD was a sponsor of this year’s WISH conference and plays an active role in the GSA Women’s Leadership Initiative, reinforcing its commitment to supporting women leaders across the semiconductor industry.

Looking Ahead

The 2025 WISH Conference showcased the leadership, grit and collaboration driving the semiconductor industry forward. From personal stories of resilience to candid conversations on authenticity and talent, the sessions highlighted the responsibility and the opportunity to create pathways for future generations.

As Sylvia Acevedo put it, trailblazing is not just about creating a path but building a highway for others to follow. Last week’s conversations made it clear: the future of semiconductors will be shaped not only by technology, but by leaders committed to unlocking opportunity for all.

Advanced Power Closes Sale of Rock Rose Energy Storage

Posted on October 9, 2025 by sHq_LoGiNz

Project demonstrates the company’s depth of development expertise

BOSTON, Oct. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Advanced Power continues to cement its leadership in utility-scale power innovation with the sale of Rock Rose Energy Storage LLC (Rock Rose), its first standalone energy storage project. This milestone highlights the company’s expertise and deep commitment to enhancing grid reliability through modern power solutions.

Rock Rose is a 200-megawatt/2-hour battery energy storage system (BESS) located in Fort Bend County, Texas. The fully developed project, which is expected to begin operations in 2027, continues Advanced Power’s track record of success in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) power region. Upon completion, Rock Rose will support grid reliability in the rapidly growing Houston and Freeport areas.

BESS facilities, such as Rock Rose, enhance grid reliability by storing surplus energy from the electric system. Grid operators can strategically dispatch power from BESS during periods of peak demand to support grid stability. BESS also accelerates the transition to cleaner, more resilient power infrastructure.

“The completed development and sale of Rock Rose Energy demonstrates the depth of Advanced Power’s capabilities,” noted Tom Spang, Advanced Power’s CEO. “ERCOT, like other major power markets in the U.S., has an urgent need for projects that enhance grid reliability. As a premier developer of thermal, renewable, and now, BESS technology, Advanced Power is committed to bringing these contemporary power solutions to regions with urgent and growing energy and capacity needs.”

Advanced Power was advised by PEI Global Partners, a leader in financing energy projects and infrastructure in the U.S.

Advanced Power is focusing on further development in the U.S.
Advanced Power manages energy projects through all stages of a project life cycle, including development, financial structuring, construction, and operations. Rock Rose is included in the company’s portfolio of thermal, renewable, and BESS projects proposed across the ERCOT, Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Maryland Interconnection (PJM), Southwest Power Pool (SPP), and Western Electric Coordinating Council (WECC) grid management areas. These projects represent more than 12 gigawatts (GW) of thermal and renewable capacity, as well as over 9 gigawatt hours (GWh) of energy storage.

For more information about Advanced Power, its projects, and core competencies in development, financial structuring, and asset management, please visit www.advanced-power.com.

About Advanced Power

Advanced Power
is a privately-owned developer, manager, and owner of modern power infrastructure. Our experienced team is advancing a sustainable, reliable energy future through its deep expertise in project development, financial structuring, and asset management.

Advanced Power has successfully developed 6 GWac of thermal and renewable generation and BESS assets in the U.S. and Europe. Today’s development portfolio includes 12+ GW of thermal and renewable projects, and 9+ GWh of energy storage.

Founded in 2000, Advanced Power is bringing reliable energy to places that need it and providing economic benefits plus jobs to communities, all while making massive contributions to the reduction of CO₂ emissions.

Advanced Power has offices in Boston and Houston with a registered office in Zug, Switzerland.

Advanced Power

Contact: Janine Saunders
Phone: +1 617 816 3119
Email: jsaunders@advanced-power.com
www.advanced-power.com

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SOURCE Advanced Power

Cascale Contributes to Cotton LCA Position Paper

Posted on October 9, 2025 by sHq_LoGiNz

In the latest effort to make cotton data more accessible and available, cotton programs have released an LCA position paper, with Cascale contributing additional expertise.

Together, Better Cotton, Cotton Australia, Cotton Incorporated, and U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol commissioned the report, with Cascale, Cotton Research and Development Corporation, and Textile Exchange as contributors. EarthShift Global, LLC prepared the report, “From Data to Impact: How to Get Cotton LCAs Right” which zeroes in on the importance of proper use and interpretation of cotton LCA data, especially in the context of differing growing regions and methodological parameters.

Cascale’s Joël Mertens, head of Higg Product Tools at Cascale, outlined the problem. “What can I really claim in terms of making change happen?” It is one thing to say, “This is my footprint,” and another to claim that switching from cotton to another fiber or blend has helped improve climate change or water scarcity. This last piece in particular is the one that is misleading. The approach that moves the sector forward is fixing the supply change instead of ignoring the problem by going somewhere else without moving the state of play.”

The work followed a joint workstream within Cascale: the Higg MSI Methodology Cotton Expert Team, to help collaboratively address cotton data gaps. The 40-page report captures a number of nuances, challenges, and positive indicators for change, hoping to help guide sustainability managers, policymakers, cotton programs, and growers.

”Real progress will come from investment in farmer-centered improvements backed by science and transparency, aligning around responsible use of LCAs,” read a line from the report’s summary.

Readers can find the report and press release on Better Cotton’s website.

Listen: Cascale’s “Source of Good” podcast featuring Jesse Daystar!

Seaweed Market to Reach $9,339.2 Million by 2027 in the short term and $18,111.5 Million by 2034 Globally, at 9.5% CAGR: Allied Market Research

Posted on October 9, 2025 by sHq_LoGiNz

Increase in demand for food, medicine, cosmetics, and agriculture is driving the steady growth of the global seaweed market. Seaweed, which is valued for its nutritional and bioactive qualities, is used as an organic fertilizer and gelling agent. Production is dominated by Asia-Pacific, while demand is rising in North America and Europe.

WILMINGTON, Del., Oct. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Allied Market Research published a report, titled, “Seaweed Market – Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2025-2034″, valued at $7,476.0 million in 2024. With a projected CAGR of 9.5% from 2025 to 2034, the market is expected to reach $18,111.5 million by the end of 2034. Regional market expansion is also being fueled by health-conscious customer preferences and sustainable farming methods.

Download Sample Pages of Research Overview: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/4650

Market Introduction:

Food, medicine, cosmetics, agriculture, and biofuels are just a few of the industries that use and trade different marine algae species globally. This is known as the seaweed market. Red, brown, and green seaweeds are all rich in vital elements such as calcium, iron, iodine, and vitamins, which makes them an excellent addition to diets that prioritize health. As interest in plant-based and functional foods grows, seaweed, which has historically been consumed in Asia, especially in nations such as China, Japan, and South Korea is starting to gain momentum in Western markets.

Seaweed derivatives such as agar, alginate, and carrageenan are used extensively as thickening, gelling, and emulsifying agents in food preparation in addition to being consumed directly. Seaweed extracts are used more and more in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic sectors due to its anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant qualities. Furthermore, the agriculture industry uses them as seaweed-based fertilizers and animal feed additives enhance soil quality and livestock health. Seaweed farming has become a low-impact cultivation technique as the demand for environmentally friendly and sustainable resources increases, which propels market expansion. It is anticipated that technological developments in farming and harvesting techniques, as well as encouraging government programs and investments, are projected to accelerate market growth. Since its sustainability and adaptability, the seaweed market is therefore expected to grow significantly.

Report Overview:

The seaweed market is divided into product type, application, and region. By product type, the market is segregated into red, brown, and green. By application, the market is categorized into food, medicines, chemical & fertilizers, animal feed additives, building materials, and energy sources.

Region wise, it is analyzed across North America (U.S., Canada, and Mexico), Europe (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, and rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, and rest of Asia Pacific), and LAMEA (Brazil, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, and rest of LAMEA).

By product, the red segment dominated the global seaweed market in 2024 and is anticipated to maintain its dominance during the forecast period.
By application, the food segment dominated the global seaweed market in 2024 and is anticipated to maintain its dominance during the forecast period.

Report Coverage & Details:

Report Coverage	Details
Forecast Period	2025–2034
Base Year	2024
Market Size In 2024	$7,476.0 Million
Market Size In 2034	$18,111.5 Million
CAGR	9.5 %
No. Of Pages In Report	259
Segments Covered	Product, Application, And Region
Target Regions/Countries	North America (U.S., Canada, And Mexico), Europe (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, And Rest Of Europe), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, And Rest Of Asia Pacific), And LAMEA (Brazil, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, And Rest Of LAMEA)
Drivers Rise In Demand For Natural Food Additives And Hydrocolloids Increased Utilization In Pharmaceuticals And Nutraceuticals Growth Of Organic Farming And Demand For Biofertilizers
Opportunities Increase In Application Of Seaweed In Biofuel Gowth In Cosmetic Applications
Restraints Volatility In The Prices Of Seaweed Complex And Inconsistent Regulatory Standards

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https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/seaweed-market/purchase-options

Factors Affecting Market Growth & Opportunities:

Growing consumer knowledge of seaweed’s health advantages is one of the major factors driving the seaweed market expansion. Seaweed, which is high in vital nutrients including vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, is becoming more and more popular as a functional food, especially in the expanding plant-based and vegan industries. One of the main drivers is the food and beverage sector, since seaweed is utilized in a wide range of products, including ready-to-eat meals, snacks, and supplements.

Technological developments in seaweed cultivation and extraction techniques drives market expansion. The efficiency and productivity of seaweed production have increased due to sustainable farming practices and greater investment in research and development, making it more affordable and accessible. The need for seaweed-based hydrocolloids like agar, alginate, and carrageenan in sectors including agriculture, cosmetics, and medicines has also greatly fueled market expansion.

Environmental factors also play a role. Seaweed is an environmentally beneficial resource that presents prospects for the manufacturing of natural fertilizers, biofuels, and biodegradable packaging. Seaweed is a good substitute as concerns about plastic pollution and the demand for sustainable farming methods increase. In addition, growing consumer demand for clean-label and organic products continues to open new markets, particularly in North America and Europe, where there is a growing need for eco-friendly, healthy products.

Major Challenges in Industry & Solutions:

The seaweed industry is confronted with several obstacles that may hinder its expansion, such as supply chain problems, market fragmentation, and environmental concerns. Overharvesting wild seaweed poses a serious threat to marine ecosystems and biodiversity. Climate change makes this worse by affecting seaweed growth patterns through acidity and rising water temperatures. The absence of uniform rules governing seaweed cultivation is another difficulty and may lead to uneven production and quality standards.

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Inefficient supply chains are a further challenge because seaweed needs to be processed and distributed rapidly due to its high perishability. This may result in product deterioration and spoiling, especially in markets that are geographically remote from seaweed-producing areas.

The establishment of aquaculture systems, which enable the controlled and ecologically friendly cultivation of seaweed, is one example of the sustainable farming methods being promoted to address these challenges. Better drying and preservation techniques, among other technological advancements, are extending the shelf life of seaweed products. To provide uniform quality control procedures and guarantee traceability across the supply chain, improved cooperation between industry participants, including governmental organizations, farmers, and companies—is also crucial. These challenges must be resolved if the seaweed industry is to expand sustainably and satisfy the growing demand for its wide range of uses globally.

Regional Insights

The global seaweed market is growing in different ways in different parts of the world due to variations in industrial uses, consumption patterns, and production capacities. The highest market share is held by the Asia-Pacific region, mainly because seaweed has long been a part of the diets and economies of nations including China, Japan, South Korea, and Indonesia. With significant aquaculture operations and ideal coastal settings, these nations are not only major seaweed producers but also top consumers. Seaweed is a staple cuisine in South Korea and Japan, where it is used in sushi, soups, and snacks. China is the world’s largest producer of red and brown seaweed for food and industrial uses.

The increased demand for plant-based and functional foods is driving the seaweed market’s rapid expansion in Europe. Seaweed cultivation and research into new product applications are growing in nations including France, Norway, and Ireland. In addition, seaweed is being investigated as a sustainable substitute for biofuels and packaging. The European Union has supported several projects that should increase domestic output and reduce the need for imports to encourage sustainable aquaculture.

Seaweed consumption is rising in North America, particularly in the US and Canada, as health-conscious consumers look for foods that are high in nutrients and low in calories. Although the region imports more than it exports, there is a growing movement to grow native seaweeds in coastal regions like British Columbia and Maine. A wide variety of products, including snacks, vitamins, cosmetics, and fertilizers for agriculture, use seaweed.

Latin America exhibits moderate development potential, especially in Chile, a major producer of red seaweed, mostly to produce carrageenan. Providing raw materials for the global food and pharmaceutical industries, the region’s market is mostly driven by exports. Despite being relatively low domestically, consumption is predicted to increase as more people become aware of the health advantages of seaweed.

The seaweed market is still in its early days in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) area. Future demand, however, might be driven by growing interest in water-efficient crops and sustainable agriculture. In dry areas where conventional farming is difficult, researchers are investigating the possibilities of seaweed in soil conditioning and animal feed. Thus, a combination of traditional consumption patterns, emerging health trends, environmental initiatives, and aquaculture technology developments create regional dynamics in the seaweed industry. Other regions are spending more on seaweed production and innovation, even if Asia-Pacific still has a strong position in order to fulfill the rising demand globally.

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Key Players:

Product innovation and sustainability initiatives are key strategies in the seaweed market from 2022–2024. For instance, the U.S. Department of Energy began the “Harnessing Autonomy for Energy Joint Ventures Offshore (HAEJO)” program, partnering with South Korea to speed up ocean-based biomass production in U.S. waters and investing $25 million to scale up deep-water seaweed farming for energy and industrial applications.

The major players in the seaweed industry include Annie Chun’s, Inc., Brandt, Inc., Cargill, Incorporated, COMPO EXPERT GmbH, GimMe Health Foods LLC, Groupe Roullier, Irish Seaweeds, Maine Coast Sea Vegetables, Inc., Qingdao Bright Moon Seaweed Group Co., Ltd., and Qingdao Gather Great Ocean Algae Industry Group Co., Ltd.

Key Strategies Adopted by Competitors

In May 2025, Atlantic Sea Farms collected more than 1.3 million pounds of regenerative seaweed through its network of 40 partner farmers. According to a national customer study, food-product inventors used these quantities to create well-known seaweed-infused snacks and meal ingredients.
In April 2025, the conferences for Seagriculture USA and Seagriculture Asia-Pacific combined to form “Seagriculture World,” a single international platform for showcasing the most recent developments in seaweed farming, legislative frameworks, and commercial-scale mariculture expansions.
In February 2025, about 70% of the world’s commercial seaweed production (about 24 million tons) came from China in 2024. The country increased the extraction of carrageenan and other high-value compounds by using machine learning-driven farm oversight and high-resolution satellite surveillance.
In May 2023, a strategic agreement was established between Oceanfarmr (Australia) and Coast 4C (Australia) to develop mobile and sensor-based solutions for small-scale seaweed growers throughout Southeast Asia. The cooperation is projected to concentrate on yield optimization and real-time crop-quality grading.

Explore AMR’s Extensive ongoing Coverage on Food and Beverages Domain:

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About Us

Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Wilmington, Delaware. Allied Market Research provides end-to-end solutions along with information, education, advocacy, and networking resources to SMEs and early-stage start-ups to bring excellence to their processes. In addition, we offer a nurturing environment required to develop and grow businesses, including business planning; virtual support; market intelligence; acquiring resources; and getting direct access to finance, suppliers, and other experts to boost the growth of businesses and entrepreneurs.

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SOURCE Allied Market Research