Author: sHq_LoGiNz

In a new FreightWaves interview, “DP World Leverages Global Reach for U.S. Solutions,” Glen Clark, CEO of DP World in the U.S. and Mexico, explains how the company is using its global scale to deliver regional value. With logistics networks spanning six continents, DP World is applying lessons from global operations to strengthen North American supply chains.

Bridging local needs with global expertise

Clark points out that the U.S. supply chain sector is at an inflection point – balancing nearshoring trends, labor shortages, and the need for sustainability. “Our reach allows us to connect regional shippers to a global infrastructure that’s both resilient and digitally optimized,” he told FreightWaves.

From AI-powered cargo tracking to port automation, Clark highlights that digitalization is the key to achieving efficiency and emissions reductions simultaneously – a message consistent with his recent Fast Company Executive Board commentary on AI’s role in logistics.

Turning disruption into opportunity

The interview also emphasizes DP World’s ability to convert global disruption into innovation. By integrating marine terminals, warehouses, and freight forwarding into one connected ecosystem, the company reduces handoff delays and provides customers with end-to-end visibility.

Clark explains that this approach enables DP World to respond quickly to shifting market demands – especially in the automotive, e-commerce, and energy sectors. The company’s expanding logistics footprint in Mexico and Canada further strengthens regional trade routes, offering businesses faster, more predictable delivery options.

A global model for resilient logistics

As trade patterns evolve, Clark believes agility and technology adoption will define the next era of supply chain leadership. “Our mission is to make trade flow smarter, faster, and cleaner,” he said – reflecting DP World’s ongoing investment in AI, automation, and sustainable logistics solutions across the Americas.

Read Glen Clark’s full FreightWaves interview: “DP World Leverages Global Reach for U.S. Solutions.”

In a new FreightWaves interview, “DP World Leverages Global Reach for U.S. Solutions,” Glen Clark, CEO of DP World in the U.S. and Mexico, explains how the company is using its global scale to deliver regional value. With logistics networks spanning six continents, DP World is applying lessons from global operations to strengthen North American supply chains.

Bridging local needs with global expertise

Clark points out that the U.S. supply chain sector is at an inflection point – balancing nearshoring trends, labor shortages, and the need for sustainability. “Our reach allows us to connect regional shippers to a global infrastructure that’s both resilient and digitally optimized,” he told FreightWaves.

From AI-powered cargo tracking to port automation, Clark highlights that digitalization is the key to achieving efficiency and emissions reductions simultaneously – a message consistent with his recent Fast Company Executive Board commentary on AI’s role in logistics.

Turning disruption into opportunity

The interview also emphasizes DP World’s ability to convert global disruption into innovation. By integrating marine terminals, warehouses, and freight forwarding into one connected ecosystem, the company reduces handoff delays and provides customers with end-to-end visibility.

Clark explains that this approach enables DP World to respond quickly to shifting market demands – especially in the automotive, e-commerce, and energy sectors. The company’s expanding logistics footprint in Mexico and Canada further strengthens regional trade routes, offering businesses faster, more predictable delivery options.

A global model for resilient logistics

As trade patterns evolve, Clark believes agility and technology adoption will define the next era of supply chain leadership. “Our mission is to make trade flow smarter, faster, and cleaner,” he said – reflecting DP World’s ongoing investment in AI, automation, and sustainable logistics solutions across the Americas.

Read Glen Clark’s full FreightWaves interview: “DP World Leverages Global Reach for U.S. Solutions.”

In a new FreightWaves interview, “DP World Leverages Global Reach for U.S. Solutions,” Glen Clark, CEO of DP World in the U.S. and Mexico, explains how the company is using its global scale to deliver regional value. With logistics networks spanning six continents, DP World is applying lessons from global operations to strengthen North American supply chains.

Bridging local needs with global expertise

Clark points out that the U.S. supply chain sector is at an inflection point – balancing nearshoring trends, labor shortages, and the need for sustainability. “Our reach allows us to connect regional shippers to a global infrastructure that’s both resilient and digitally optimized,” he told FreightWaves.

From AI-powered cargo tracking to port automation, Clark highlights that digitalization is the key to achieving efficiency and emissions reductions simultaneously – a message consistent with his recent Fast Company Executive Board commentary on AI’s role in logistics.

Turning disruption into opportunity

The interview also emphasizes DP World’s ability to convert global disruption into innovation. By integrating marine terminals, warehouses, and freight forwarding into one connected ecosystem, the company reduces handoff delays and provides customers with end-to-end visibility.

Clark explains that this approach enables DP World to respond quickly to shifting market demands – especially in the automotive, e-commerce, and energy sectors. The company’s expanding logistics footprint in Mexico and Canada further strengthens regional trade routes, offering businesses faster, more predictable delivery options.

A global model for resilient logistics

As trade patterns evolve, Clark believes agility and technology adoption will define the next era of supply chain leadership. “Our mission is to make trade flow smarter, faster, and cleaner,” he said – reflecting DP World’s ongoing investment in AI, automation, and sustainable logistics solutions across the Americas.

Read Glen Clark’s full FreightWaves interview: “DP World Leverages Global Reach for U.S. Solutions.”

“Bridges don’t hold unless they are supported.”

This quote from Bob Dickerson, Executive Director of the Birmingham Business Resource Center, reflected many of the themes explored at the sixth Mastercard Strive USA Summit, convened in Alabama. The event brought together leaders from government, philanthropy, the private sector, and other partners to spotlight success stories, share learnings, and identify new opportunities in the state’s small business ecosystem.

Speakers highlighted how economic growth in Alabama, as well as broader economic changes, are creating both new opportunities and new challenges. For example, while new investments are being made in the state, uneven access to resources and fast-changing technologies risk leaving many small businesses behind unless the local small business support ecosystem can bridge the gap between today’s realities and tomorrow’s potential.

As Coreata R. Houser, the Interim Director of the Department of Innovation and Economic Opportunity for the City of Birmingham put it: “Frankly, in economic development, making the numbers work on paper is the easy part. The harder part is making sure your constituents can access the resources they need to grow their businesses,” he said, listing investments in roads, childcare infrastructure, and workforce development as examples of what Birmingham is doing to broaden access to opportunity.

Building a more coordinated ecosystem in Birmingham

In a city that has at least 65 small business support organizations, as well as a diverse community of public, private, and philanthropic sector funders and partners, what does building better bridges look like? And how can these efforts be better coordinated into a more holistic strategy for supporting entrepreneurs?

Part of the answer is the Entrepreneurship Center for Growth and Excellence, a new entrepreneurship center in Birmingham that has already mapped the opportunities and gaps in the city’s small business ecosystem. The Center is now focusing on developing a shared vision among the city’s many stakeholders as well as a data-driven roadmap — in addition to a front door where small businesses can get support.

John Turner, CEO of Regions Bank, spoke about why his bank has gotten so involved in supporting and scaling this new center.

“Our businesses can only be as good as the health of the communities where we operate, and the health of communities is largely about jobs, job growth, and people’s ability to earn a good wage,” he said. “We have a lot of small businesses that I think have a real opportunity to scale up. But they can benefit from some tailored advice and guidance in doing that sustainably, and we think can help provide that.”

As Kendra Key, the Executive Director of the Center and a loaned executive from Regions Bank, put it: “This is infrastructure building. It is about coordinating our ecosystem and enabling work that serves our shared customer — Birmingham’s small businesses.”

Deep dives on rural entrepreneurship and manufacturing

Other panels spoke to the challenges of supporting small businesses in rural areas and manufacturing specifically. For example, while there are more than 65 small business support organizations in Birmingham, there are few in Alabama’s rural counties despite the depth of entrepreneurial potential.

“Capital flows down the path of least resistance every time, so the question is how to remove the friction of capital flowing into rural communities,” said Alex Flachsbart, Founder & CEO of Opportunity Alabama, a nonprofit dedicated to developing an impact-centered Opportunity Zones ecosystem across the state. “We have seen that if you create the right support infrastructure for dynamic people in rural communities, and you keep showing up, great things can happen.”

Claudia Pettway Charley, Co-Founder of Sew Gee’s Bend Heritage Builders, a community-based nonprofit organization located in the heart of the rural community Gee’s Bend, also spoke about the impact that organizations can have in communities like hers.

“When there are a lot of needs, almost anything you do will be helpful,” she said. “What we don’t need is a lot of things going out of the community as much as we do [resources] coming into the community.”

In the panel discussion on manufacturing, the focus was on the trainings and investments necessary to unlock further growth — with a particular focus on the needs of small businesses. The role of technological training was one example.

“We have seen that technology is accelerating faster than many small businesses can keep up,” said Lee Mathews, the COO of Innovate Alabama, the first statewide public-private partnership focused on entrepreneurship, technology, and innovation. “So it is very important to provide small businesses in manufacturing with early exposure to cybersecurity, data, and AI, especially as the role of computer science increases in manufacturing.”

Mathew’s fellow panelist Lauren Hyde, Executive Director of the Alabama Business Intelligence Center — Alabama’s first dedicated business research hub focused on economic development — spoke on a similar topic: her organization’s work creating Birmingham AI, an initiative that convenes people to make AI accessible, and connects new companies entering the state with local partners, including many small businesses.

Cybersecurity was also a major discussion topic given the increasingly digital nature of manufacturing.

“Any system that can be accessed or operated remotely introduces potential cybersecurity risks,” said LaVada Varner, Center Director of the Alabama Technology Network, a statewide organization dedicated to advancing training and innovation within Alabama’s manufacturing sector. “Manufacturers are increasingly being targeted through equipment that is connected to the Internet and unsecured networks, which makes proactive cybersecurity education and training essential to protecting their operations.”

Varner also emphasized the growing importance of certification and standards compliance for smaller manufacturers. “Many large companies now require ISO or similar certifications as a prerequisite for partnership,” she said. “ISO standards have become the common language of manufacturing, providing the structure and assurance that larger firms expect from their suppliers.”

The call to action

Despite the turbulent times, panelists across the board were optimistic about what lies ahead. The Mayor of Birmingham, Randall L. Woodfin, spoke to this optimism in the closing conversation.

“All of our successes in Birmingham have been rooted in public-private partnerships,” he said. “And based on the momentum we have, there’s never been a better time to invest in supporting our small businesses. Everyone is stepping up to the plate, leaning in, and being vulnerable enough to say, ‘how can we get this ecosystem of supporting and building our small businesses better?’”

John Turner added, “We’re fortunate to have solid leadership in Birmingham, from City Hall to the business community, including business development centers and nonprofits. Increasingly, we see a clear and common vision for growth — and a network of organizations ready to support it. If we can keep building on this unity and collaboration, there truly is no limit to what we can accomplish — together.”

View original content here.

Follow along Mastercard’s journey to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere.

About Mastercard

Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re building a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

www.mastercard.com

“Bridges don’t hold unless they are supported.”

This quote from Bob Dickerson, Executive Director of the Birmingham Business Resource Center, reflected many of the themes explored at the sixth Mastercard Strive USA Summit, convened in Alabama. The event brought together leaders from government, philanthropy, the private sector, and other partners to spotlight success stories, share learnings, and identify new opportunities in the state’s small business ecosystem.

Speakers highlighted how economic growth in Alabama, as well as broader economic changes, are creating both new opportunities and new challenges. For example, while new investments are being made in the state, uneven access to resources and fast-changing technologies risk leaving many small businesses behind unless the local small business support ecosystem can bridge the gap between today’s realities and tomorrow’s potential.

As Coreata R. Houser, the Interim Director of the Department of Innovation and Economic Opportunity for the City of Birmingham put it: “Frankly, in economic development, making the numbers work on paper is the easy part. The harder part is making sure your constituents can access the resources they need to grow their businesses,” he said, listing investments in roads, childcare infrastructure, and workforce development as examples of what Birmingham is doing to broaden access to opportunity.

Building a more coordinated ecosystem in Birmingham

In a city that has at least 65 small business support organizations, as well as a diverse community of public, private, and philanthropic sector funders and partners, what does building better bridges look like? And how can these efforts be better coordinated into a more holistic strategy for supporting entrepreneurs?

Part of the answer is the Entrepreneurship Center for Growth and Excellence, a new entrepreneurship center in Birmingham that has already mapped the opportunities and gaps in the city’s small business ecosystem. The Center is now focusing on developing a shared vision among the city’s many stakeholders as well as a data-driven roadmap — in addition to a front door where small businesses can get support.

John Turner, CEO of Regions Bank, spoke about why his bank has gotten so involved in supporting and scaling this new center.

“Our businesses can only be as good as the health of the communities where we operate, and the health of communities is largely about jobs, job growth, and people’s ability to earn a good wage,” he said. “We have a lot of small businesses that I think have a real opportunity to scale up. But they can benefit from some tailored advice and guidance in doing that sustainably, and we think can help provide that.”

As Kendra Key, the Executive Director of the Center and a loaned executive from Regions Bank, put it: “This is infrastructure building. It is about coordinating our ecosystem and enabling work that serves our shared customer — Birmingham’s small businesses.”

Deep dives on rural entrepreneurship and manufacturing

Other panels spoke to the challenges of supporting small businesses in rural areas and manufacturing specifically. For example, while there are more than 65 small business support organizations in Birmingham, there are few in Alabama’s rural counties despite the depth of entrepreneurial potential.

“Capital flows down the path of least resistance every time, so the question is how to remove the friction of capital flowing into rural communities,” said Alex Flachsbart, Founder & CEO of Opportunity Alabama, a nonprofit dedicated to developing an impact-centered Opportunity Zones ecosystem across the state. “We have seen that if you create the right support infrastructure for dynamic people in rural communities, and you keep showing up, great things can happen.”

Claudia Pettway Charley, Co-Founder of Sew Gee’s Bend Heritage Builders, a community-based nonprofit organization located in the heart of the rural community Gee’s Bend, also spoke about the impact that organizations can have in communities like hers.

“When there are a lot of needs, almost anything you do will be helpful,” she said. “What we don’t need is a lot of things going out of the community as much as we do [resources] coming into the community.”

In the panel discussion on manufacturing, the focus was on the trainings and investments necessary to unlock further growth — with a particular focus on the needs of small businesses. The role of technological training was one example.

“We have seen that technology is accelerating faster than many small businesses can keep up,” said Lee Mathews, the COO of Innovate Alabama, the first statewide public-private partnership focused on entrepreneurship, technology, and innovation. “So it is very important to provide small businesses in manufacturing with early exposure to cybersecurity, data, and AI, especially as the role of computer science increases in manufacturing.”

Mathew’s fellow panelist Lauren Hyde, Executive Director of the Alabama Business Intelligence Center — Alabama’s first dedicated business research hub focused on economic development — spoke on a similar topic: her organization’s work creating Birmingham AI, an initiative that convenes people to make AI accessible, and connects new companies entering the state with local partners, including many small businesses.

Cybersecurity was also a major discussion topic given the increasingly digital nature of manufacturing.

“Any system that can be accessed or operated remotely introduces potential cybersecurity risks,” said LaVada Varner, Center Director of the Alabama Technology Network, a statewide organization dedicated to advancing training and innovation within Alabama’s manufacturing sector. “Manufacturers are increasingly being targeted through equipment that is connected to the Internet and unsecured networks, which makes proactive cybersecurity education and training essential to protecting their operations.”

Varner also emphasized the growing importance of certification and standards compliance for smaller manufacturers. “Many large companies now require ISO or similar certifications as a prerequisite for partnership,” she said. “ISO standards have become the common language of manufacturing, providing the structure and assurance that larger firms expect from their suppliers.”

The call to action

Despite the turbulent times, panelists across the board were optimistic about what lies ahead. The Mayor of Birmingham, Randall L. Woodfin, spoke to this optimism in the closing conversation.

“All of our successes in Birmingham have been rooted in public-private partnerships,” he said. “And based on the momentum we have, there’s never been a better time to invest in supporting our small businesses. Everyone is stepping up to the plate, leaning in, and being vulnerable enough to say, ‘how can we get this ecosystem of supporting and building our small businesses better?’”

John Turner added, “We’re fortunate to have solid leadership in Birmingham, from City Hall to the business community, including business development centers and nonprofits. Increasingly, we see a clear and common vision for growth — and a network of organizations ready to support it. If we can keep building on this unity and collaboration, there truly is no limit to what we can accomplish — together.”

View original content here.

Follow along Mastercard’s journey to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere.

About Mastercard

Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re building a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

www.mastercard.com

“Bridges don’t hold unless they are supported.”

This quote from Bob Dickerson, Executive Director of the Birmingham Business Resource Center, reflected many of the themes explored at the sixth Mastercard Strive USA Summit, convened in Alabama. The event brought together leaders from government, philanthropy, the private sector, and other partners to spotlight success stories, share learnings, and identify new opportunities in the state’s small business ecosystem.

Speakers highlighted how economic growth in Alabama, as well as broader economic changes, are creating both new opportunities and new challenges. For example, while new investments are being made in the state, uneven access to resources and fast-changing technologies risk leaving many small businesses behind unless the local small business support ecosystem can bridge the gap between today’s realities and tomorrow’s potential.

As Coreata R. Houser, the Interim Director of the Department of Innovation and Economic Opportunity for the City of Birmingham put it: “Frankly, in economic development, making the numbers work on paper is the easy part. The harder part is making sure your constituents can access the resources they need to grow their businesses,” he said, listing investments in roads, childcare infrastructure, and workforce development as examples of what Birmingham is doing to broaden access to opportunity.

Building a more coordinated ecosystem in Birmingham

In a city that has at least 65 small business support organizations, as well as a diverse community of public, private, and philanthropic sector funders and partners, what does building better bridges look like? And how can these efforts be better coordinated into a more holistic strategy for supporting entrepreneurs?

Part of the answer is the Entrepreneurship Center for Growth and Excellence, a new entrepreneurship center in Birmingham that has already mapped the opportunities and gaps in the city’s small business ecosystem. The Center is now focusing on developing a shared vision among the city’s many stakeholders as well as a data-driven roadmap — in addition to a front door where small businesses can get support.

John Turner, CEO of Regions Bank, spoke about why his bank has gotten so involved in supporting and scaling this new center.

“Our businesses can only be as good as the health of the communities where we operate, and the health of communities is largely about jobs, job growth, and people’s ability to earn a good wage,” he said. “We have a lot of small businesses that I think have a real opportunity to scale up. But they can benefit from some tailored advice and guidance in doing that sustainably, and we think can help provide that.”

As Kendra Key, the Executive Director of the Center and a loaned executive from Regions Bank, put it: “This is infrastructure building. It is about coordinating our ecosystem and enabling work that serves our shared customer — Birmingham’s small businesses.”

Deep dives on rural entrepreneurship and manufacturing

Other panels spoke to the challenges of supporting small businesses in rural areas and manufacturing specifically. For example, while there are more than 65 small business support organizations in Birmingham, there are few in Alabama’s rural counties despite the depth of entrepreneurial potential.

“Capital flows down the path of least resistance every time, so the question is how to remove the friction of capital flowing into rural communities,” said Alex Flachsbart, Founder & CEO of Opportunity Alabama, a nonprofit dedicated to developing an impact-centered Opportunity Zones ecosystem across the state. “We have seen that if you create the right support infrastructure for dynamic people in rural communities, and you keep showing up, great things can happen.”

Claudia Pettway Charley, Co-Founder of Sew Gee’s Bend Heritage Builders, a community-based nonprofit organization located in the heart of the rural community Gee’s Bend, also spoke about the impact that organizations can have in communities like hers.

“When there are a lot of needs, almost anything you do will be helpful,” she said. “What we don’t need is a lot of things going out of the community as much as we do [resources] coming into the community.”

In the panel discussion on manufacturing, the focus was on the trainings and investments necessary to unlock further growth — with a particular focus on the needs of small businesses. The role of technological training was one example.

“We have seen that technology is accelerating faster than many small businesses can keep up,” said Lee Mathews, the COO of Innovate Alabama, the first statewide public-private partnership focused on entrepreneurship, technology, and innovation. “So it is very important to provide small businesses in manufacturing with early exposure to cybersecurity, data, and AI, especially as the role of computer science increases in manufacturing.”

Mathew’s fellow panelist Lauren Hyde, Executive Director of the Alabama Business Intelligence Center — Alabama’s first dedicated business research hub focused on economic development — spoke on a similar topic: her organization’s work creating Birmingham AI, an initiative that convenes people to make AI accessible, and connects new companies entering the state with local partners, including many small businesses.

Cybersecurity was also a major discussion topic given the increasingly digital nature of manufacturing.

“Any system that can be accessed or operated remotely introduces potential cybersecurity risks,” said LaVada Varner, Center Director of the Alabama Technology Network, a statewide organization dedicated to advancing training and innovation within Alabama’s manufacturing sector. “Manufacturers are increasingly being targeted through equipment that is connected to the Internet and unsecured networks, which makes proactive cybersecurity education and training essential to protecting their operations.”

Varner also emphasized the growing importance of certification and standards compliance for smaller manufacturers. “Many large companies now require ISO or similar certifications as a prerequisite for partnership,” she said. “ISO standards have become the common language of manufacturing, providing the structure and assurance that larger firms expect from their suppliers.”

The call to action

Despite the turbulent times, panelists across the board were optimistic about what lies ahead. The Mayor of Birmingham, Randall L. Woodfin, spoke to this optimism in the closing conversation.

“All of our successes in Birmingham have been rooted in public-private partnerships,” he said. “And based on the momentum we have, there’s never been a better time to invest in supporting our small businesses. Everyone is stepping up to the plate, leaning in, and being vulnerable enough to say, ‘how can we get this ecosystem of supporting and building our small businesses better?’”

John Turner added, “We’re fortunate to have solid leadership in Birmingham, from City Hall to the business community, including business development centers and nonprofits. Increasingly, we see a clear and common vision for growth — and a network of organizations ready to support it. If we can keep building on this unity and collaboration, there truly is no limit to what we can accomplish — together.”

View original content here.

Follow along Mastercard’s journey to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere.

About Mastercard

Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re building a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

www.mastercard.com

“Bridges don’t hold unless they are supported.”

This quote from Bob Dickerson, Executive Director of the Birmingham Business Resource Center, reflected many of the themes explored at the sixth Mastercard Strive USA Summit, convened in Alabama. The event brought together leaders from government, philanthropy, the private sector, and other partners to spotlight success stories, share learnings, and identify new opportunities in the state’s small business ecosystem.

Speakers highlighted how economic growth in Alabama, as well as broader economic changes, are creating both new opportunities and new challenges. For example, while new investments are being made in the state, uneven access to resources and fast-changing technologies risk leaving many small businesses behind unless the local small business support ecosystem can bridge the gap between today’s realities and tomorrow’s potential.

As Coreata R. Houser, the Interim Director of the Department of Innovation and Economic Opportunity for the City of Birmingham put it: “Frankly, in economic development, making the numbers work on paper is the easy part. The harder part is making sure your constituents can access the resources they need to grow their businesses,” he said, listing investments in roads, childcare infrastructure, and workforce development as examples of what Birmingham is doing to broaden access to opportunity.

Building a more coordinated ecosystem in Birmingham

In a city that has at least 65 small business support organizations, as well as a diverse community of public, private, and philanthropic sector funders and partners, what does building better bridges look like? And how can these efforts be better coordinated into a more holistic strategy for supporting entrepreneurs?

Part of the answer is the Entrepreneurship Center for Growth and Excellence, a new entrepreneurship center in Birmingham that has already mapped the opportunities and gaps in the city’s small business ecosystem. The Center is now focusing on developing a shared vision among the city’s many stakeholders as well as a data-driven roadmap — in addition to a front door where small businesses can get support.

John Turner, CEO of Regions Bank, spoke about why his bank has gotten so involved in supporting and scaling this new center.

“Our businesses can only be as good as the health of the communities where we operate, and the health of communities is largely about jobs, job growth, and people’s ability to earn a good wage,” he said. “We have a lot of small businesses that I think have a real opportunity to scale up. But they can benefit from some tailored advice and guidance in doing that sustainably, and we think can help provide that.”

As Kendra Key, the Executive Director of the Center and a loaned executive from Regions Bank, put it: “This is infrastructure building. It is about coordinating our ecosystem and enabling work that serves our shared customer — Birmingham’s small businesses.”

Deep dives on rural entrepreneurship and manufacturing

Other panels spoke to the challenges of supporting small businesses in rural areas and manufacturing specifically. For example, while there are more than 65 small business support organizations in Birmingham, there are few in Alabama’s rural counties despite the depth of entrepreneurial potential.

“Capital flows down the path of least resistance every time, so the question is how to remove the friction of capital flowing into rural communities,” said Alex Flachsbart, Founder & CEO of Opportunity Alabama, a nonprofit dedicated to developing an impact-centered Opportunity Zones ecosystem across the state. “We have seen that if you create the right support infrastructure for dynamic people in rural communities, and you keep showing up, great things can happen.”

Claudia Pettway Charley, Co-Founder of Sew Gee’s Bend Heritage Builders, a community-based nonprofit organization located in the heart of the rural community Gee’s Bend, also spoke about the impact that organizations can have in communities like hers.

“When there are a lot of needs, almost anything you do will be helpful,” she said. “What we don’t need is a lot of things going out of the community as much as we do [resources] coming into the community.”

In the panel discussion on manufacturing, the focus was on the trainings and investments necessary to unlock further growth — with a particular focus on the needs of small businesses. The role of technological training was one example.

“We have seen that technology is accelerating faster than many small businesses can keep up,” said Lee Mathews, the COO of Innovate Alabama, the first statewide public-private partnership focused on entrepreneurship, technology, and innovation. “So it is very important to provide small businesses in manufacturing with early exposure to cybersecurity, data, and AI, especially as the role of computer science increases in manufacturing.”

Mathew’s fellow panelist Lauren Hyde, Executive Director of the Alabama Business Intelligence Center — Alabama’s first dedicated business research hub focused on economic development — spoke on a similar topic: her organization’s work creating Birmingham AI, an initiative that convenes people to make AI accessible, and connects new companies entering the state with local partners, including many small businesses.

Cybersecurity was also a major discussion topic given the increasingly digital nature of manufacturing.

“Any system that can be accessed or operated remotely introduces potential cybersecurity risks,” said LaVada Varner, Center Director of the Alabama Technology Network, a statewide organization dedicated to advancing training and innovation within Alabama’s manufacturing sector. “Manufacturers are increasingly being targeted through equipment that is connected to the Internet and unsecured networks, which makes proactive cybersecurity education and training essential to protecting their operations.”

Varner also emphasized the growing importance of certification and standards compliance for smaller manufacturers. “Many large companies now require ISO or similar certifications as a prerequisite for partnership,” she said. “ISO standards have become the common language of manufacturing, providing the structure and assurance that larger firms expect from their suppliers.”

The call to action

Despite the turbulent times, panelists across the board were optimistic about what lies ahead. The Mayor of Birmingham, Randall L. Woodfin, spoke to this optimism in the closing conversation.

“All of our successes in Birmingham have been rooted in public-private partnerships,” he said. “And based on the momentum we have, there’s never been a better time to invest in supporting our small businesses. Everyone is stepping up to the plate, leaning in, and being vulnerable enough to say, ‘how can we get this ecosystem of supporting and building our small businesses better?’”

John Turner added, “We’re fortunate to have solid leadership in Birmingham, from City Hall to the business community, including business development centers and nonprofits. Increasingly, we see a clear and common vision for growth — and a network of organizations ready to support it. If we can keep building on this unity and collaboration, there truly is no limit to what we can accomplish — together.”

View original content here.

Follow along Mastercard’s journey to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere.

About Mastercard

Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re building a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

www.mastercard.com

November 20, 2025 /3BL/ – In response to the White House’s decision on November 14, 2025, to amend Executive Order 14257 to exempt select agricultural products from reciprocal tariffs (Modifying the Scope of the Reciprocal Tariff With Respect to Certain Agricultural Products), Fairtrade America issued the following statements:

“These exemptions are the right move, but the full picture of relief remains to be seen. The extreme uncertainty and rapidly rising costs farmers, traders, companies, and consumers have unnecessarily endured for months should ease. However, complex, international supply chains, like those for coffee, cocoa, and bananas, do not automatically snap back into place because of a policy change. There will be lasting consequences for all supply chain actors, and continued instability and price fluctuations are likely as supply chains reconfigure yet again.

“When politicians choose to use trade as a political tool, they undermine real peoples’ livelihoods. American businesses and consumers must recognize that their collective purchasing power has global influence. When we all come together as a movement to demand that power be spread equitably between farmers, businesses, consumers, and governments, trade can become truly fair.”

— Amanda Archila, Executive Director, Fairtrade America

“Practical minds recognize that it’s too soon to celebrate. We must wait and see if this decision sticks long-term.

“Banana prices have risen 7% since March, but that 7% represents only 4.5 cents per pound. Bananas are still dramatically under-priced compared to the cost of sustainable production. Despite tariffs, people continued to buy bananas. They were slightly more expensive than before, but still the cheapest fruit in our basket. If banana prices went up due to Fairtrade Minimum Pricing, the average consumer would barely notice and the impact on supply chains would be immense. That’s what we should take away as our guiding learning from the last six months of tariffs.”

–Jennie Coleman, President and Co-Owner, Equifruit

“This announcement is encouraging, but tariffs have already significantly suppressed consumer demand for imported nuts, seeds, dried fruits, and grains. We expect that lower prices will take several months to reach consumers and that a full recovery to pre-tariff demand levels may take more than a year.”

–Juliet Wiebe-King, Vice President of Sustainability & Business Development, Red River Foods

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About Fairtrade America

Fairtrade America works to rebalance trade, making it a system rooted in partnership and mutual respect rather than exploitation. It’s about businesses, shoppers, farmers and workers all working together so we can all experience the benefits of trade. Fairtrade America is the U.S. branch of Fairtrade International, the original and global leader in fair trade certification with more than 30 years of experience working for fair trading practices in more than 60 countries across the globe. A non-profit 501(c)3 organization, Fairtrade America is part of the world’s largest and most recognized fair trade certification program —part of a global movement for change. Learn more at Fairtrade.net and by connecting with Fairtrade America on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Media Contact

Liz Davis, ldavis@fairtradeamerica.org | +1 202-930-4349

Originally published on newsroom.marykay.com

In October, Mary Kay hosted nearly 30 Brownies and Cadettes from the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas, ranging in ages from 7 to 12, along with 18 equally as excited moms, for an immersive STEM Day experience designed to help the girls earn their STEM Career Exploration Badge. From the moment the group entered the doors of Mary Kay’s Silver LEED-certified Richard R. Rogers Manufacturing and R&D Center in Lewisville, Texas, the atmosphere was electric, filled with excitement and curiosity about what it would be like to work at a global cosmetics and skincare company like Mary Kay.

The day began upstairs in the Innovation Center, where Carrissa Dowdy, Manager of Product Formulation, shared her personal STEM journey and explained what being a product formulator is all about. The girls and their moms were captivated by Carissa’s ability to take complex scientific concepts and present them in a way that was both engaging and easy to understand. Carissa’s enthusiasm set the stage for an inspiring day of STEM exploration ahead.

Next, the group made their way downstairs to the Product Formulation Lab, where Rhonda Solberg, Associate Principal Scientist of Product Formulation, led eighteen smiling lab scientists ready to assist the future innovators in creating their own custom Mary Kay Unlimited^® Lip Gloss in one of six shades. The girls donned perfectly pink lab coats, gloves, and safety glasses before pairing up to begin their experiments. With guidance from the lab scientists, they mixed beautiful hues of pinks, nudes, and berries – complete with every girl’s favorite color, glitter. Excitement filled the room as the girls watched their cloudy mixtures transform into dazzling, custom shades of lip gloss.

After perfecting their glosses, everyone divided into three small groups for a facility tour led by Chris Smith, Senior Specialist, Training Operations Center of Excellence, and his expert-trained tour team leaders. Moms and daughters alike were fascinated by the vast lab spaces and captivated by the insights shared by their guides. Many mothers expressed newfound appreciation for the intricate processes involved in creating Mary Kay products – from research and formulation to scaling and production. Several even reflected on their own career paths, inspired by the possibilities within STEM. By the end of the tour, many Girl Scouts were asking about the best degrees for STEM careers, eager to explore their options. A few even asked about the age requirements for driving a forklift – and whether a special license was needed!

The day concluded with Amy Ruiz, Manager of Manufacturing Center of Excellence, who shared her experiences as a Chemical Engineer and explained how the degree opens doors to careers in process and environmental engineering, product development, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, and cosmetics manufacturing. The girls asked thoughtful questions about sustainability, product packaging, and the realities of a day in the life of an engineer.

Thanks to the dedication of the Mary Kay team, the Girl Scouts proudly earned their STEM Career Exploration Badges after an action-packed day filled with learning and inspiration. The Go-Give spirit of Mary Kay employees once again shone through – empowering a new generation of future STEM leaders, sparking their curiosity, and encouraging them to continue exploring the world of science, technology, engineering, and math.

Did You Know?

• Mary Kay Inc. has awarded more than 40 grants to young women pursuing their dreams in STEM-related fields around the world.
• Mary Kay has the capability to produce 1.1 million products every day at R3, our state-of-the-art, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver-certified manufacturing facility in Lewisville, TX (US).
• 62% of Mary Kay Global Research & Development team members are women¹.
• Mary Kay holds more than 1,400 global patents across formulas and technologies, packaging and applicators, delivery systems and application methods, and more showcasing decades of continuous innovation and technology advancements.

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About Mary Kay

One of the original glass ceiling breakers, Mary Kay Ash founded her dream beauty brand in Texas in 1963 with one goal: to enrich women’s lives. Learn more at marykayglobal.com. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, or follow us on X.

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¹ Women Representation and Leadership at Mary Kay (May 2025).