Author: sHq_LoGiNz

Baker Tilly’s podcast series specifically for professionals in the multifamily housing industry

In this episode of BuzzHouse, hosts Don Bernards and Garrick Gibson talk with Orlando Valdes, vice president of business development at Ion Water, about how invisible water waste is draining operating budgets in affordable housing and what developers, investors and property managers can do about it.

From catching invisible leaks to delivering underwriting support, Orlando explains how water data is becoming an operational tool for real savings, smarter investing and long-term asset preservation.

Learn more about water performance and the impact on affordable housing investment and lending.

Affordable housing resources

For articles, webinars and additional resources for developers, housing authorities, property managers, state housing credit agencies and lenders, visit our affordable housing page.

For more information on this topic, or to learn how Baker Tilly specialists can help, contact our team.

Members of a Georgia-focused funding collaborative visited Community Farmers Markets (CFM) recently during one of their Free Produce Markets at Fred A. Toomer Elementary School in Atlanta. The Free Produce Market was funded by a two-year Drawdown Georgia Climate Solutions and Equity Grant provided to address climate solutions at their intersection with equity. In this case, Community Farmers Markets is avoiding food waste while helping address food security for families in Atlanta’s Title-1 schools.

CFM’s original Drawdown Georgia grant was awarded to complement an existing MARTA Markets distribution and sales model of meeting the community with plant-based healthy foods “where they were” as they traveled through various MARTA stations around the city. These markets were originally held in addition to CFM’s weekly farmers markets, and often included chef demonstrations.

One goal of the revamped MARTA Markets program was to expand economic opportunities for local farmers by identifying alternative pathways for unsold produce. The new model allowed the farmers to be compensated for produce they didn’t sell; produce that would have otherwise been sent to a landfill. The grant provided CFM with a way to divert perfectly good, healthy food into prepared ready-to-eat dishes that could be sold in their other markets. The model also allowed CFM and its vendors to make positive contributions to food sovereignty in multiple disinvested communities in Atlanta that are officially designated as “food deserts.”

The MARTA Markets program ran as planned through the early part of 2024; however, MARTA’s ridership did not rebound as CFM and other partners had hoped it would in the years immediately following the COVID pandemic. Low ridership limited the growth and reach of the program. At that point, CFM leadership partnered with Concrete Jungle and other nonprofits to drive the program further into the same neighborhoods they originally targeted, this time choosing to test the concept for a monthly series of Free Produce Markets at four Title-1 elementary schools within the City of Atlanta.

With great success from the pilot program, CFM officially introduced the Free Produce Markets in early 2025. Now, once per month, students, parents, faculty members and school staff and community members can pick up produce and ready-to-eat meals at no cost after school. Buses wait for the riders that choose to shop, and some of the bus drivers even choose to partake. Many parents walk or bike to the school to meet their kids, so they can shop together.

The funders saw just how much buzz the CFM Free Produce Market creates, and how excited the kids and adults get about having the chance to shop for free produce. There were tastings offered by local CFM chefs, and seasonally appropriate recipes and pre-made food items were available to take home, based on the ingredients available at that week’s market. During the funder visit, the pre-made offering was white bean chili. CFM distributed 150 pre-made chili containers in record time, even with a limit of one per person. The free sample and recipe of the day was an Island Veggie Skillet. The pre-made foods were served in commercially compostable containers made from regionally sourced, rapidly renewable Farmer’s Fibers from Better Earth, and the sample bowls and utensils were also compostable.

While most of the kids were not shy about eating veggies, there was also the extra incentive to earn a sticker when they did a tasting with the chef. Lots of stickers were given out that day, and each family that shopped received a $5 coupon to purchase food at one of CFM’s regular markets, as well as information explaining how those with SNAP benefits could get a 2 for 1 deal for veggies and fruits in addition to the coupon discount. Resources were also provided to help families facing emergency food needs, with connections to other local programs.

Hearty, healthy goodness prevailed, and children’s faces beamed with smiles. Being onsite was truly heartwarming for the funders as they heard from Toomer’s administrators, teachers, and parents how much they appreciate the events, and how valuable they are to the school community.

After the shopping, bikes sped away loaded with veggies, families walked home together, planning the night’s dinner along the way, and electric buses quietly glided away from the curb, full of smiling faces and green bags of goodies.

CFM is looking to expand the Free Produce Market model to additional Title-1 schools in 2026, and they are committed to do so. Like many other Drawdown Georgia grantees, federal cutbacks do cause concern for the future; especially the announced reductions to SNAP benefits and the impact it will have on food insecure shoppers who receive matching dollars through partner programs like Wholesome Wave Georgia. Inflation and rising food prices will also exacerbate these challenges. CFM is actively pursuing additional sources of funding through donation requests on their website and at markets, fundraiser events, including benefit nights at local restaurants, and by exploring new partnership models.

CFM’s grant was funded by a cohort of funders that included Atticus Fund, the R. Howard Dobbs, Jr. Foundation and its Dobbs Fund, Ghanta Family Foundation, The Ray C. Anderson Foundation, Reilly Family Fund, Tull Charitable Foundation and The Wilbur & Hilda Glenn Family Foundation.

By Carrie Browen

In the previous blog posts we explored the architecture, business requirements, and challenges of the Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) transition. Now, it’s time to zoom in and look at how we, as Keysight, are helping shape this future by delivering the technologies, insights, and tools that enable our customers and partners to move forward with confidence.

The SDV journey is not just about adapting to change; it’s about leading it. And that requires a deep understanding of the technological domains that are evolving rapidly. From electrification to perception, from connectivity to cloud and cybersecurity, SDVs are built on a complex, interconnected technology stack. Keysight provides comprehensive, scalable, and integrated solutions that deliver actionable insights across the entire development workflow.

Where We Help Drive the SDV Transition

We empower our customers across six technological domains that are essential for the success of software-defined vehicles (SDVs). In the sections that follow, we’ll explore each domain in detail and highlight how Keysight’s expertise and solutions can drive innovation and performance in every area.

E/E Platform: Enabling intelligent and electrified architectures

SDVs rely on a powerful and interconnected electrical/electronic (E/E) architecture that supports everything from electrification to advanced perception. This domain forms the technological foundation of the SDV, enabling intelligent decision-making, seamless sensor integration, and efficient energy management. As vehicles become more software-centric, the E/E platform must evolve to support high-speed data exchange, real-time control, and scalable electrified systems. This includes electric vehicle (EV) components, electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE), vehicle-to-grid (V2G) interfaces, and sophisticated electronic control and sensing technologies such as battery management systems, radar, lidar, and cameras. Keysight empowers this transformation by providing high-precision test and validation solutions that span the entire E/E ecosystem. Our tools help engineers simulate, measure, and optimize everything from battery performance to sensor accuracy, enabling faster development cycles, improved system reliability, and future-ready vehicle architectures. Our solutions include:

• Power semiconductor characterization Accurate modeling and testing of power semiconductors are essential for optimizing energy efficiency and thermal performance in EV powertrains and onboard electronics. Keysight provides advanced tools for characterizing wide-bandgap devices such as SiC and GaN, enabling reliable and high-performance designs.
• EV Test Solutions
  Comprehensive test capabilities for electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, including:
  • Charging Test Solutions for EV and EVSE, covering interoperability, protocol compliance, and power quality.
  • Battery Test Solutions for cell, module, and pack-level validation, including aging, thermal behavior, and performance under dynamic load conditions.
  • AC and Grid Emulation to simulate real-world grid conditions and V2G scenarios for robust system integration. Learn more about Keysight EV Test Solutions here.
• Radar and Lidar Sensor Test & Validation
  High-fidelity simulation and measurement tools for validating sensor performance under diverse environmental and operational conditions. This includes target simulation, signal integrity analysis, and interference testing to ensure the reliability of perception systems.
• SerDes Design Test & Validation
  Signal integrity and compliance testing for high-speed serial links (e.g. SerDes, MIPI) used in zonal architectures and centralized computing platforms. Keysight enables precise jitter, eye diagram, and BER analysis to ensure robust data communication.
• In-Circuit Test for Board-Level Validation
  Scalable in-circuit test solutions to verify component placement, connectivity, and functionality that are critical for achieving high board test coverage and reducing manufacturing defects in complex automotive electronics.

Computing & In-Vehicle Networks: Powering Intelligence and Data Flow

At the heart of every SDV lies a high-performance computing (HPC) environment and a robust in-vehicle network architecture. These systems enable real-time data processing, seamless communication between electronic control units (ECUs), and support for advanced features like digital cockpits, autonomous driving, and zonal architectures. SDVs require scalable computing platforms and wireline communication technologies such as Ethernet, MIPI, SerDes (etc.), that ensure high data integrity and low latency under automotive conditions.

Keysight supports this domain with a comprehensive suite of Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools, covering simulation, verification, and compliance. These solutions feature built-in design templates, extensive component libraries, and robust electromagnetic and thermal modeling capabilities, accelerating the development of reliable, high-performance systems. For automotive wireline networks, Keysight offers comprehensive test solutions that span protocol analysis, signal integrity testing, and compliance validation across all major standards, such as Automotive Ethernet and SerDes. Solutions like Novus Network Testing enable compact, scalable network validation for automotive and industrial IoT applications, supporting realistic traffic emulation, performance benchmarking, and stress testing across complex topologies such as 10Base-T1S.

Meanwhile, Bit Error Ratio Test (BERT) tools offer in-depth protocol debugging and analysis capabilities, enabling engineers to identify signal integrity issues, validate link robustness, and optimize performance across high-speed digital interfaces. Keysight’s BERT systems deliver industry-leading accuracy in physical-layer design verification, supporting multi-gigabit standards critical to SDV computing and communication architectures.)

Communication: Ensuring connectivity, always and everywhere

SDVs rely on a diverse set of communication technologies to connect with infrastructure, other vehicles, the cloud, and users. From cellular to satellite and short-range protocols, these systems are foundational in enabling advanced features, ensuring safety, and delivering seamless user experiences. Keysight supports this domain with a comprehensive portfolio of test solutions that help validate, optimize, and future-proof communication systems to ensure robust performance, low latency, and compliance with global standards across technologies, including 4G, 5G, and emerging 6G networks.

Cellular Communication

• NG eCall Conformance Test Solutions perform end-to-end functional and standards-compliant testing for next-generation emergency call systems.
• C-V2X Test Solutions  enable vehicle-to-everything communication for both infrastructure and on-board units, supporting critical safety applications and traffic efficiency. WaveBee V2X test tools and SA8700A C-V2X Test Solution to learn more.

Short-Range Communication

• Ultra-Wideband (UWB)supports precise localization and secure access for advanced vehicle features.
• Wi-Fi  enables high-speed data exchange both within the vehicle and with external networks.

Satellite Connectivity

• Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN)  solutions help reduce development risk and accelerate satellite system validation. Keysight enables antenna design interference detection, RF emission monitoring, and ground-based testing to ensure optimal performance in orbit.

By helping customers test, validate, and optimize these technologies, Keysight ensures that SDVs deliver reliable, secure, and high-performance connectivity. Whether enabling critical safety features, enhancing user experiences, or supporting future-proof architectures, our tools and expertise make seamless, always-on communication a reality.

Perception: Empowering Vehicles to See, Sense, and Interact

Perception systems are central to enabling intelligent driving functions and services in SDVs. These systems allow vehicles to interpret their surroundings and make real-time decisions through a fusion of technologies such as radar, lidar, and cameras. They support critical applications including ADAS, autonomous driving (AD), digital cockpits, and connected services like V2X (vehicle-to-everything), V2G (vehicle- to-grid), and V2H (vehicle-to-home).

Keysight provides advanced solutions for validating perception technologies across multiple layers, from sensor signal fidelity to system-level behavior. Our tools support sensor fusion testing by integrating data from radar, lidar, and cameras to ensure accurate environmental modeling. Scenario-based testing, including radar scene emulation, enables validation of ADAS and autonomous driving systems under dynamic conditions. The Radar Scene Emulator replicates real-world scenarios by varying speed, distance, and target count across a continuous field of view, allowing radar sensors and backend software to be tested against complex driving environment, reducing development risk and accelerating deployment of next-generation vehicle autonomy.

To ensure seamless integration between perception and connectivity, Keysight’s C-V2X Autonomous Drive Emulation platform validates both communication performance and user interface (UI)/ user experience (UX) behavior, evaluating how V2X data is presented to drivers and how users interact with safety alerts and navigation features. This supports realistic interaction modeling and enhances system responsiveness in connected environments.

As AI and machine learning become integral to SDV perception and decision-making, Keysight provides tools for testing and validating AI/ML and Generative AI models, focusing on performance, robustness, and regulatory compliance. Solutions include AI-based test automation, Human-in-the-Loop modeling, and user experience testing, supporting generative AI requirement-based testing, realistic interaction scenarios, and accelerating validation of intelligent vehicle systems.

By enabling precise, scenario-based validation of perception systems, Keysight helps customers build vehicles that are not only aware of their environment but also capable of interacting with it intelligently, safely, and in compliance with global regulations.

Security: Embedding Cybersecurity by Design

As SDVs grow in software complexity and connectivity, cybersecurity becomes a foundational design requirement. Protecting vehicle systems, data, and user privacy requires a proactive, multi-layered approach that spans hardware, software, and network domains. Keysight helps customers embed security by design, supporting every stage of the development lifecycle with scalable, integrated solutions.

• The Automotive Cybersecurity Test Platform enables validation of security mechanisms at ECU/TCU, subcomponent, and vehicle level—simulating real-world cyberattacks to assess system resilience.
• Pre-silicon and code-level vulnerability testing to identify and remediate issues early in the development process, reducing downstream risk.
• SecOps and Zero Trust validation  to ensure secure operations, access control, and policy enforcement in dynamic, distributed environments.
  • With CyPerf, lightweight test agents are deployed across physical, cloud, and edge environments to validate Zero Trust architectures and network security environments
  • The Threat simulator continuously emulates breach and attack scenarios, providing actionable insights into the effectiveness of security controls.
• CCC Digital Keys support contactless and secure vehicle access and authentication via smartphones and vehicles.
• With CloudLens, Keysight extends visibility into hybrid cloud environments, enabling packet capture, filtering, and analysis down to the edge, providing dynamic network intelligence essential for monitoring and securing SDV cloud-based services.

By integrating security into every layer of the SDV architecture, Keysight empowers customers to build vehicles that are not only intelligent and connected, but also secure, trusted, and future-proof.

Cloud & Backend: Enabling Scalable Services and Intelligent Operations

The cloud backend is the digital foundation of SDVs, powering mobility services, OEM platforms, data analytics, and over-the-air (OTA) updates. As vehicles become increasingly connected and software-driven, cloud infrastructure must support secure, scalable, and low-latency operations across a wide range of services, from infotainment and diagnostics to energy management and autonomous driving.

Mobility Services & Application Ecosystems
Keysight enables validation of mobility platforms and OEM services, including web-based automotive applications and Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) ecosystems. Our solutions support OTA firmware and app store testing, ensuring secure and reliable software delivery, updates, and lifecycle management across SDV fleets.

Cloud Performance & Security Validation
To ensure robust and secure cloud operations, Keysight offers tools like  CyPerf, which performs scalable application and security testing across distributed cloud environments. CloudPeak validates the functionality and benchmarks the performance of virtualized network infrastructures. IxLoad VE emulates real-world traffic, such as web, video, voice, storage, VPN, and security protocols, to assess backend responsiveness and scalability under realistic load conditions.

Energy & Edge Services Integration
Keysight supports the development and validation of V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid) and EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment)systems through advanced emulation and conformance testing solutions. These tools enable bidirectional energy exchange testing, protocol validation, and in-field debugging to ensure interoperability and compliance with global charging standards. In parallel, Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) plays a critical role in delivering low-latency, real-time services such as ADAS, V2X communication, and predictive maintenance. While Keysight does not directly implement MEC platforms, it provides performance MEC such as CyPerf and CloudPeak , to test edge infrastructure under realistic traffic and threat conditions, ensuring reliable operation of latency-sensitive SDV applications.

By helping customers test, secure, and optimize cloud-based SDV architectures, Keysight ensures that vehicles can deliver intelligent, personalized, and continuously evolving experiences, securely and at scale.

Conclusion: Let’s Build the Future Together

What sets Keysight apart is our ability to deliver  insights across the entire SDV workflow, from early design to validation, from lab to road. Our tools are built to scale, integrate seamlessly, and empower teams to make decisions faster and with greater confidence.

We help our customers:

• Accelerate innovation and development cycles and enabling shift-left testing
• Improve test coverage, automation and continuous testing
• Ensure compliance and security from code to chipset to system to operation

The SDV transformation is complex, but with the right partner, it becomes an opportunity. At Keysight, we’re proud to support the pioneers of this new era of mobility. Whether you’re building the next-gen EV platform, validating AI-based perception systems, or securing your cloud-connected vehicle architecture, we’re here to help.

Let’s shape the future of mobility. Together.

Wesco Anixter and RSE have strengthened their relationship by equipping RSE’s newest apprentices with professional-grade toolkits at a significantly reduced cost. This initiative marks a meaningful step in their shared commitment to fostering career development in the industry, ensuring that apprentices begin their journey with the tools, support, and confidence needed to succeed.

RSE offers apprenticeships at many of their locations, including Muir of Ord, Deephaven, Cumbernauld, Dalgety Bay, Basingstoke and West Thurrock, with the diversity of the business allowing young talent to be identified and developed throughout their early careers into senior and even office-based roles.

The standard of workmanship expected by RSE requires quality tools, and with apprentices joining the programme from a range of backgrounds, it’s important that each apprentice receives a high-quality toolkit that will serve them well throughout the duration of the apprenticeship programme.

In late August, Zubi Hussain, Business Development Manager Electrical and Electronic Solutions UK, visited the Muir of Ord Production facility to meet RSE’s newest electrical and mechanical apprentices, who received their toolkits through the newly launched apprentice tooling initiative.

“We are delighted to begin this initiative with Wesco Anixter,” said Mike Campbell, RSE Apprentice Officer. “It is encouraging to see their approach to apprenticeships and supporting the early careers of upcoming talent is well aligned with RSE’s, and we look forward to our continued collaboration.”

Zubi Hussain, Wesco Anixter Business Development Manager, added: “We’re thrilled to partner with RSE in supporting the next generation of apprentices through this tooling initiative. By providing high-quality toolkits, we’re helping these young aspiring individuals start their careers with confidence and the right resources. What excites me most is how closely aligned our values are with RSE’s. This collaboration reflects our long-term commitment to building a stronger future for the industry.

Wesco Anixter has also committed to providing toolkits at no cost for future apprentice groups, as a way to support career development and give back to the industry.

Notes to the editor 

About RSE

RSE is the UK’s leading provider of sustainable water treatment solutions, working to bring new technology to life and play a leading role in improving water quality across the globe.

Through standard integrated product solutions, RSE aims to reduce lead times, assure factory quality and reduce lifecycle costs while offering a range of commercial models including temporary and rental solutions.

The firm was founded in Muir of Ord in the Scottish Highlands in 1982 and now employs more than 2,000 people across 17 sites. Over the last few years, RSE has enjoyed rapid growth, with revenue increasing from £61million in 2019 to £360million in 2025.

RSE’s commitment to the circular economy, carbon reduction and cutting-edge engineering, including modular off-site fabrication and digital innovation, has enabled the business to achieve company-wide carbon neutral status.

RSE delivers projects for the UK’s major water companies, as well as leading firms including Diageo, Siemens, SSE and EDF.

About Wesco Anixter

Wesco International (NYSE: WCC) builds, connects, powers and protects the world. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Wesco is a FORTUNE 500® company with more than $22 billion in annual sales and a leading provider of business-to-business distribution, logistics services and supply chain solutions. Wesco offers a best-in-class product and services portfolio of Electrical and Electronic Solutions, Communications and Security Solutions, and Utility and Broadband Solutions. The Company employs approximately 20,000 people, partners with the industry’s premier suppliers, and serves thousands of customers around the world. With millions of products, end-to-end supply chain services, and leading digital capabilities, Wesco provides innovative solutions to meet customer needs across commercial and industrial businesses, contractors, government agencies, educational institutions, telecommunications providers, and utilities. Wesco operates nearly 800 branches, warehouses and sales offices in more than 50 countries, providing a local presence for customers and a global network to serve multi-location businesses and global corporations.

Eastman

MILAN, October 27, 2025 /3BL/ — Ugolini, the Italian benchmark company in the production of countertop equipment for catering and hospitality, has taken an important step forward on its sustainability journey by integrating Tritan™ Renew, Eastman’s innovative copolyester, into the design of its products.

The company had already adopted traditional Eastman Tritan copolyester in 2019 in response to European regulations banning the use of BPA in materials intended for food contact. Today, driven by growing consumer awareness of environmental sustainability and strengthened European regulations, Ugolini has chosen to evolve further by switching to Tritan Renew, a more sustainable version of the same material.

“We are excited to offer a more sustainable version of a material we already fully trust,” said Marco Ugolini, the company’s CEO. “Tritan has shown exceptional durability over the years. With Tritan Renew, we can deliver the same technical performance while adding a strong environmental value that our customers increasingly appreciate.”

Tritan Renew is made with certified recycled content* thanks to Eastman’s molecular recycling technology. This process significantly reduces the use of fossil resources and greenhouse gas emissions without compromising performance, safety or durability.

For Ugolini, the choice of material is crucial. Containers used for preparing and dispensing beverages must meet high standards for food suitability, hygiene, and chemical and thermal resistance and withstand intensive wash cycles. Tritan Renew meets these requirements perfectly while also offering a BPA-free solution, which is increasingly sought after in international markets.

“We are proud to collaborate with a company like Ugolini, which is driving innovation in its sector also through the selection of more sustainable materials,” said Paolo Franco, business development manager at Eastman. “With Tritan Renew, Ugolini offers a product that is not only safe and high performing but also more environmentally conscious — an added value that is increasingly decisive for consumers.”

The collaboration between Ugolini and Eastman has taken concrete form in the development of the mold for the ICON 3 model, characterized by the tank’s complex technical design. The combined experience of the Ugolini and Eastman teams made it possible to produce a mold perfectly suited to processing Tritan Renew while maintaining the final product’s mechanical and visual performance.

This synergy of expertise has accompanied the evolution of Ugolini equipment, first with the adoption of Tritan and now with the transition to Tritan Renew, consolidating the company’s commitment to a more responsible, future-oriented production model.

Ugolini products, symbols of Made in Italy design and distributed worldwide, can be seen on the official website ugolinimilano.com.

_{*Certified recycled content by ISCC via mass balance allocation method}

Originally published on Aflac Newsroom

What are your top wellness priorities? Perhaps they include exercise, eating a balanced diet or mindfulness practices. What about doctor appointments — are your routine screenings on the list as well?

Wellness checkups are excellent tools for staying on top of your health — especially routine screenings that can help detect certain diseases, like cancer, early and before they’ve had a chance to spread. However, many Americans admit to putting off and/or avoiding important recommended health checkups and screening tests, according to the 2025 Aflac Wellness Matters Survey.¹

Aflac commissioned its third annual Aflac Wellness Matters Survey to gain key insights from everyday Americans about important health care issues. It explores topics such as routine health appointments and recommended health screenings, how health care is prioritized compared to other factors, and who are the biggest influences on individuals’ decisions to seek routine care. 

Key findings show:¹

• The overwhelming majority of Americans (more than 90%) have put off getting a checkup or recommended health screening on time.
• Nearly all Americans (94%) face barriers to getting checkups and recommended screenings on time.
• Half of younger Americans are using urgent care or the ER for their health care needs.
• Women are most likely to admit skipping common recommended screenings and are also less likely than men to have a feeling of control over many aspects of their health.
• Sixty-eight percent of Americans are interested in using AI for health concerns. 

In hopes of inspiring a healthier population for today and in the future, the Aflac flock is sharing their wellness stories. Click here to watch their videos and know we are cheering you on to advocate for your health, because your wellness matters.

Click here to watch: Buffy’s Story, Darcy’s Story, Mayauna’s Story, Olivia’s Story and Rusty’s Story.

For more tips about taking the first steps, view the Wellness Matters tip sheet. 

1. Aflac (2025). The Aflac Wellness Matters Survey. Accessed on Sept. 26, 2025 from www.aflac.com/wellnessmatters.

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

Z2500987

EXP 10/26

Originally published on Tork Newsroom

Tork, an Essity brand and the leading global professional hygiene brand, announced its entrance into the restroom air care category in North America, with the introduction of the Tork Constant Air Freshener to the U.S. and Canada. Bringing innovation to the traditional air freshener category, Tork Constant Air Fresheners continuously deliver freshness in restrooms, eliminating odors with a system that is easy to maintain and refill.

Poor restroom experiences can negatively impact business reputation, causing visitors to leave early or avoid a location altogether; a bad restroom odor is a top reason (#2) people avoid public restrooms. Additionally, 63% of restroom users say a fresh scent helps determine if a public restroom is clean; a “fresh scent” is also the top solution consumers recommend for ideal public restroom design.²

Tork Constant Air Freshener neutralizes odors with evenly and continuously distributed fragrance that eliminates, rather than masks, bad odors. This unique design eliminates the “spray and fade” effect from traditional systems, creating a fresh restroom experience that lasts up to 90 days between refills. The propellant-free system features three scents with adjustable intensity levels to suit any restroom size or preference.

“The scent of a restroom – good or bad – is often the first impression of its condition, and people view a restroom’s condition as a direct reflection on that business,” says Brian Kincaid, Product Management Director, Skincare & Aircare, Essity. “After launching Tork Constant Air Fresheners in Europe, we received an overwhelmingly positive response from customers who quickly discovered this product delivers on a real need and is highly effective at neutralizing odors and maintaining a steady fragrance, which results in a consistently welcoming restroom environment. Add in the easy maintenance and sustainability benefits, and it checks the boxes for businesses looking to create a restroom experience that is memorable in all the right ways.”

Tork Constant Air Freshener is “easy to use”  for speedy refilling by cleaning staff. Where traditional air fresheners need to be placed high on walls for whole-restroom fragrance distribution, Tork Constant Air Fresheners allow flexible placement at reachable heights for easy refilling during the normal cleaning routine. It is also compatible with Tork Vision Cleaning, the world’s leading data-driven cleaning solution, which allows cleaning staff to know exactly when and where to refill all Tork dispensers in the restroom. 71% of cleaning staff agree that if restroom dispensers were quicker and easier to refill, they’d have more time for other cleaning tasks.⁴

Tork Constant Air Fresheners support sustainable hygiene management best practices, helping the planet by avoiding harmful propellants and enabling more efficient product usage, and helping people by delivering inclusive hygiene in the restroom. This includes accessible product design for greater ease of use with cleaning staff, to creating spaces that are approachable and free of odors that might otherwise lead to restroom avoidance.

Learn more about how Tork Constant Air Fresheners can help deliver a great restroom experience through smart, sustainable hygiene management here: www.torkglobal.com/us/en/airfreshener

About Tork

The Tork brand offers professional hygiene products and services to customers worldwide ranging from restaurants and healthcare facilities to offices, schools and industries. Our products include dispensers, paper towels, toilet tissues, soap, napkins and wipers, but also software solutions for data-driven cleaning. Through expertise in hygiene, functional design and sustainability, Tork has become a market leader that supports customers to think ahead so they’re always ready for business. Tork is a global brand of Essity and a committed partner to customers in more than 110 countries. To keep up with the latest Tork news and innovations, please visit www.torkglobal.com/us/en/.

About Essity

Essity is a global, leading hygiene and health company. Every day, our products, solutions and services are used by a billion people around the world. Our purpose is to break barriers to well-being for the benefit of consumers, patients, caregivers, customers and society. Sales are conducted in approximately 150 countries under the leading global brands TENA and Tork, and other strong brands such as Actimove, Cutimed, JOBST, Knix, Leukoplast, Libero, Libresse, Lotus, Modibodi, Nosotras, Saba, Tempo, TOM Organic and Zewa. In 2024, Essity had net sales of approximately SEK 146bn (EUR 13bn) and employed 36,000 people. The company’s headquarters is located in Stockholm, Sweden and Essity is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm. More information at essity.com.

Taco Bell

One of the coolest things about working at Yum! Brands is the ability to complete an STA. An STA, also known as Short Term Assignment, is the ability to work across corporate, brand and business affiliate offices. This allows employees to grow their skills, learn more about the different functions and gain further insight into business operations without the permanent commitment of a role switch. In this story series, we’ll spotlight those who have completed STA’s and how it’s grown their career.

McKenzie H., Training Coordinator on the learning and development team, came to Taco Bell about five years ago. Before this, McKenzie grew up in the “middle of nowhere” as she proclaimed, in Minnesota. She wanted to be a vet when she was younger but didn’t enjoy dissecting animals in biology class, so she set out on a different path.

McKenzie originally went to college for elementary/special education before switching careers and getting a degree in graphic design. After college, she was looking for jobs and decided to follow her brother to California. He worked for a company that managed the Service Desk for Taco Bell, so McKenzie joined the team, too!

“A little after I started on the Service Desk, my role changed… I started working with the training team to help create materials for the field teams, such as knowledge-based articles teaching folks about standard operations procedures and how to troubleshoot.”

McKenzie realized that her graphic design skills layered perfectly with crafting learning and development modules, so she put herself out there and asked someone on the current learning and development team to be her mentor. At the same time, she did a lot of LinkedIn Learning courses, making her well-prepared for a STA that she eventually got the opportunity to do!

“Working with cross-functional teams, managing multiple deadlines, critical thinking and having the patience to translate content were all skills I had learned on the Service Desk. At the same time, LinkedIn Learning, mentorship and practicing role-specific tasks was how I built my foundation. So, when the opportunity came to apply for the team, I was ready.”

While McKenzie applied all her Service Desk skills to her STAs, she also had immense passion and perseverance that helped her land her dream role. She found something she loved and stuck with it, built relationships with people in that field, and learned new techniques along the way.

“After a few months of the STA, I went back to being a full-time Service Desk member. But I continued to express interest, so I started working a couple hours a week with the learning and development team. Not long after that, I was offered another STA with the team… and this year, I ended up getting hired on full-time!”

We’re excited to see what McKenzie continues to do with her career at The Bell! Stay tuned for more stories about our exceptional talent.