Tag: 3BL

Originally published on GoDaddy Resource Library

The fifth season of GoDaddy’s documentary series Made in America pays a visit to Ohio, a vibrant, diverse state where extraordinary entrepreneurs exemplify the essence of American hard work and ingenuity. 

Today, there are over 490,000 microbusinesses in Ohio, according to GoDaddy Venture Forward research. A microbusiness is defined as those having 10 or fewer employees, a domain and an active website.

From industrial Cleveland to rural Appalachia, we learn how strong community partnerships nurture growth in a region climbing out of the economic decline from waning U.S. manufacturing since the 1950s. 

We’ll also witness results driven by the Economic & Community Development Institute (ECDI), a local, long-term partner in our global signature social impact program, Empower by GoDaddy. 

Launched in 2017, Empower by GoDaddy provides training, digital tools, mentorship and peer networks to entrepreneurs in underserved communities. 

“Being around my parents and their friends, I saw how everybody wanted to have something of their own — to start their own business, to own their own home,” said Inna Kinney, founder and CEO of ECDI who comes from an entrepreneurial family. “And unfortunately, there was nothing out there to help these individuals.”​

Since 2004, ECDI — the leading Small Business Administration microlender in the country by number of loans distributed for the past three years — has supported the local creation and retention of more than 43,000 jobs and distributed some $180 million in loans to emerging businesses in Ohio.

Made in America was created to share inspiration through true stories of entrepreneurs.The series uses an unfiltered documentary approach to highlight real-life entrepreneurial journeys and acknowledge the scarcity of opportunities and resources for underserved entrepreneurs. 

The series advocates for an inclusive experience and the support of small businesses in all communities, with previous seasons shot in Baltimore, Phoenix, Atlanta and Memphis.

Let’s meet our Ohio entrepreneurs: the owners of Carter’s BBQ and Gray Brush Vintage Market​.

Carter’s BBQ

When husband-and-wife team Darren and Theresa Carter aren’t devoting their energy to fostering children and raising their recently adopted son, they’re working on their business Carter’s BBQ. 

The series follows their family after Darren quits his long-time job at a steel mill to pursue his passion for barbecue. In a summer of big make-it-or-break-it events, the family came together to build Carter’s BBQ from the ground up.

And, now, they’re cooking up good stuff. 

In 2023, the Carters were recognized by the Kingsford “Preserve the Pit” program, which spotlights people and stories in the Black community who have shaped the barbecue tradition.

Darren hosts the podcast The Unknowns Black Pitmasters — available on Spotify, Amazon and Apple — which focuses on Black barbecue enthusiasts and pitmasters across the country. The podcast features modern-day grill masters — from backyard cooks, to TV personalities, and everyone in between.

Gray Brush Vintage Market​

Located in Portsmouth, Ohio, a quaint town of 17,000 situated on a bank of the Ohio River, Gray Brush Vintage Market​ was born of a passion for yesteryears’ beauty and the comforting charm of small-town living.

Co-owners Lisa Brickey and Vonda Rogers​ started the business in 2021, turning their shared love for vintage treasures into a shop that operates both online and as a brick-and-mortar establishment. Gray Brush retails vintage and new items, curates collections and rents merchandise for display or scenery.

The pair have been friends since childhood, supporting each other through life, from raising families to embracing grandparenthood. Lisa and Vonda are both wives, mothers and grandmothers with deep roots in the community.

The series follows them as they attempt to grow their business, enduring funding challenges, formidable competition and a big pivot in their business model — all while honoring the legacies of their families.

Watch the series

Catch a sneak peek of the series in our new trailer, here.

Watch past seasons of Made in America and the new season premiering Thursday, July 25, here.

July 16, 2024 /3BL/ – The Consumer Goods Forum’s Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative (SSCI) proudly participated in the Living Wage & Living Income Summit, held on 26-27 June 2024 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. This summit organised in partnership by IDH, The Sustainable Trade Initiative, GIZ and the UN Global Compact, gathered over 400 public and private sector decision-makers from producing and consuming countries to address living wage and living income gaps within global value chains.

The summit saw significant strides towards closing living wage and income gaps through collaborative actions between the public and private sectors, producers and buyers, and social dialogue. Participants engaged in knowledge transfer, shared tools, and case examples, which underscored the possibilities and opportunities for further collaboration in this critical area. International organisations and due diligence regulations are increasingly recognising and embracing the importance of living wages and incomes.

Representing the SSCI was Luiza Reguse, who participated actively in the summit’s discussions. The first day featured a comprehensive program, including international developments presented by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), networking opportunities, and interactive breakout sessions.

On the second day, the focus shifted to developing the “Roadmap on Living Wage: Shaping its Next Phase Together.” The SSCI participated in the stakeholder committee, discussing the future of responsible sourcing and exploring the integration of living wage considerations into the SSCI Benchmark. Although our current social sustainability benchmark does not cover living wages, our involvement in these discussions marks a significant step forward. We are committed to understanding the landscape and studying the potential inclusion of living wage criteria, guided by emerging ILO standards and industry expectations.

The SSCI plays a crucial role in the sustainability landscape by setting the bar for industry expectations, recognising best practices, and offering a benchmark for third-party audit and certification standards. Our engagement in the Living Wage & Living Income Summit highlights how we work with industry in driving positive change and ensuring credible and trustworthy sustainability practices in global supply chains.

Living wages and incomes are essential to achieving sustainable economic development. As we continue to engage in global conversations and collaborate with various stakeholders, we invite you to join us in making strides towards fairer and more sustainable value chains.

As the SSCI remains dedicated to being a cornerstone of sustainability standards, driving continuous improvement and fostering global collaboration, we encourage you to learn more about our efforts.

To find out more about the SSCI and work with us, visit our website and sign up to receive news and updates.

PRINCETON, N.J., July 18, 2024 /3BL/ Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) today announced validation for its near-term and net-zero science-based targets from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), as part of a mid-year update on its environmental initiatives, highlighting progress in reducing emissions across its operations and supply chain. SBTi validation is considered the gold-standard for corporate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions target setting and reduction strategies.

BMS is committed to reaching net-zero GHG emissions across its value chain by 2050 from a 2022 baseline year. In addition, BMS has committed to reduce Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions and Scope 3 GHG emissions (from fuel and energy related activities) by 54.6%1 by 2033 and engage 75% of its suppliers, by emissions, in their development of science-based targets by 2028.2

“Validation of our near-term and long-term targets by the SBTi is an important milestone on our journey to achieving net-zero emissions,” said Karin Shanahan, executive vice president of Global Product Development & Supply, Bristol Myers Squibb. “Through cross-collaboration, industry partnerships, and supplier engagement we are taking decisive action and embedding changes into our operations that will help create a more sustainable and healthier planet for generations to come.”

Ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship

BMS’ SBTi validation reinforces the company’s commitment to advancing its long-term strategy to minimize its environmental footprint. Pivotal activities contributing to BMS’ progress include:

Reducing emissions from company-controlled operations (Scope 1). BMS has been implementing projects aimed at reducing energy use and GHG emissions within its operations. The Company’s leadership in energy management was recognized by ENERGY STAR with the 2024 Partner of the Year: Sustained Excellence award. Further, BMS was awarded the “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)” certification’s highest Platinum rating by the U.S. Green Buildings Council for its state-of-the-art research facility in Cambridge, Massachusetts – joining the company’s 16 other LEED Gold or Silver-rated facilities. 
 Transitioning to renewable energy (Scope 2): In 2022, BMS executed a 15-year virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) for 60 megawatts (MW) at the 240-MW Cattlemen Solar Park in Texas. In 2023, a second 15-year VPPA with National Grid Renewables for 145 MW of solar at the Texas-based Blevins Solar Projects was announced. These actions propel BMS another step closer to realizing its 2030 goal to source 100% purchased electricity from renewable sources. 
 Addressing emissions across the value chain (Scope 3). BMS has continued to strengthen its end-to-end data program, using GHG Protocol as a guiding principle. The Company has expanded tracking, management, and reporting of its Scope 3 emissions to 10 categories, with limited assurance. Further, through its supplier engagement program, BMS has determined that approximately 30% of suppliers in scope for its Scope 3 supplier engagement target already have approved science-based targets with an additional 20% of suppliers ‘committed’.

For more information on BMS’ environmental commitments and strategy, visit BMS 2023 ESG Report.

About Bristol Myers Squibb Company 
Bristol Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to discover, develop, and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases. For more information about Bristol Myers Squibb, visit us at BMS.com or follow us on LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements 
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding, among other things, the Company’s goals, strategies, and performance in accordance with its 2023 Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Report. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements in this press release should be evaluated together with the many risks and uncertainties that affect Bristol Myers Squibb’s business and market, particularly those identified in the cautionary statement and risk factors discussion in Bristol Myers Squibb’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, as updated by our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements included in this document are made only as of the date of this document and except as otherwise required by applicable law, Bristol Myers Squibb undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise.

1The target boundary includes biogenic land-related emissions and removals from bioenergy feedstocks; the Scope 3 target is from fuel and energy related activities (FERA).

2The target is limited to suppliers by emissions covering purchased goods and services, capital goods, and upstream transportation and distribution.

corporatefinancial-news

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For more information, contact: 

Media: 
media@bms.com

Investors: 
investor.relations@bms.com

In 2021, Cisco published a blog post on Simprints’ touchless, facial biometric ID technology. See how Simprints is now working to open-source this solution and assemble inclusive and ethical AI training datasets with support from Cisco’s Global Impact Grant program.

The case for biometric identification

Safe, reliable, and portable forms of ID are necessary to access critical services like healthcare and humanitarian aid. But an estimated 850 million people globally lack formal ID, making it challenging for governments, international development organizations, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to ensure essential services and resources reach their target populations. To address this problem, nonprofit Simprints has developed a new kind of technology for good: biometric ID, with privacy at its core. Simprints’ biometric solutions give people a safe digital identity and ensure every vaccine, every dollar, and every public good not only reaches those who need them most, but does so accurately, efficiently, and equitably. Research shows a digital biometric registry is 12.5 percent more accurate and can be searched three times faster than paper records. And, biometrically tracking reliable health data over time can play a vital role in assessing the success of campaigns like immunization series.

Cisco began supporting Simprints in 2018 as part of our One Billion Lives goal—an ambitious mission to change one billion individual lives through social impact investments. That year Simprints started testing mobile phone camera-based facial biometrics as an alternative to their existing fingerprint biometric solution, making identification all the more accessible. Operating facial biometrics on Android phones (used commonly in low-resource and last-mile humanitarian contexts) removes the need to produce and distribute separate hardware, thereby cutting costs and increasing scalability. Now, our latest Global Impact Grant is helping Simprints advance their ethical, inclusive face recognition AI and make it open source.

Ethical inclusive AI for face recognition

Face recognition is already widely incorporated into everyday technology, seen in cell phones, security cameras, and even used to tag friends in social media posts. But a 2019 National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) that many commercial face recognition solutions exhibit bias; mis-identifying African and Asian faces up to 100 times more than Caucasian faces. This bias, rather than an issue with the technology itself, is a byproduct of training AI matching algorithms with datasets that are predominantly male and Caucasian.

Simprints aims to reduce bias in their face recognition models through rigorous training and testing on diverse data sets. They are also exploring the application of training datasets with synthetically-generated face images, an innovative approach that enables countless variations on characteristics like skin color, hair style, facial features, and facial expressions. In using a synthetic dataset, there is no need to capture and retain personally identifiable information (PII) from real individuals, helping to further maintain data privacy. To foster trust and confidence among their partners and users, Simprints strictly adheres to policies such as the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and continuously explores and researches state-of-the-art methods in biometric template protection to ensure subjects are shielded from potential harm or misuse of their biometric data.

Impact across geographies

Simprints’ solutions have been used by humanitarian organizations working in Nigeria, Somalia and Kenya to prevent fraud and ensure that cash and aid distribution programs reach the intended recipients. Simprints has also partnered with various international Ministries of Health including Ethiopia, Uganda, Ghana, Bangladesh, and Rajasthan, and continues to explore expansion into new geographies. In Ethiopia, they are engaged in the ground-breaking roll-out of the electronic community health information system (eCHIS), through which patients are registered and identified by Simprints’ fingerprint scanners. In rural Uganda, Simprints is expanding the capacity of frontline community health workers to effectively deliver vaccines that fight infectious diseases such as COVID-19, HPV, hepatitis B, and tetanus. In Ghana, their ground-breaking technology is already improving access to critical maternal and vaccine services in 30 health centers, with a plan to scale reach across 500,000 children by 2025.

Why open source?

Some technology is so valuable, it’s worth gifting to humanity for the greater good. This is why with support from more than 30 organizations, including governments, researchers, and privacy experts, Simprints has embarked on a journey to make their biometric solutions fully open source. With a mission to transform the way the world fights poverty, Simprints is making their code available to the world and inviting developers, partners, advocates, and all those passionate about addressing global challenges to join their collaborative community. By going open source, and integrating with the leading data collection platforms that serve nearly 50% of the world’s population, Simprints envisions to increase their impact tenfold and empower teams to reach 20 million people with healthcare and humanitarian aid.

“We value the ongoing support of Cisco enormously as we continue our journey to becoming a digital public good. 

The latest Global Impact Grant is game-changing for us. This new funding enables our team to accelerate the integration of ethical AI into our platforms and supports our move to open source. Together with Cisco, we’re amplifying the impact of our biometric tools, helping ensure thousands more people across the world can access life-saving health and aid.” —Toby Norman, Simprints CEO

For more information:

To learn more about Simprints, visit their website.See how Cisco’s One Billion Lives campaign has supported other NGOs and reached its goal over two years early.

View original content here.

Originally published on TAPinto Camden

Each Honoree Overcame Obstacles to Win New Laptop, Receive $1,500 Scholarship

The definition of remarkable came to life during the Camden City School District’s eighth annual remarkable graduates ceremony on Rutgers-Camden’s campus on Thursday, June 20.

Each honoree received a certificate, a laptop and a $1500 scholarship, according to Erica McLeod, a corporate social responsibility manager for Subaru, the company that donated those items.

Click here to read more on TAPinto Camden

With a shared vision of improving lives through homeownership and improving communities, Whirlpool Corporation and Habitat for Humanity have had a relationship spanning 25 years and exceeding $140 million in funding. The work in that time has had, and continues to have, a positive impact on communities and nearly 1,000,000 individuals. Additionally, through innovative programs and efficient products, they are helping homeowners save money sustainably.

Donated products are key to the success and impact of the programs Whirlpool Corp. supports through Habitat for Humanity. In the 25 year relationship, more than 241,000 home appliances have been donated to date. These product donations save homeowners money in a number of ways:

Saving on major home appliance purchasesHelping families save money on food expenses by reducing the need to eat out often driven by inadequate appliancesLowering their monthly utility costs with new, energy-efficient appliances

In 2021, Habitat conducted a study to estimate the total energy savings and associated cost-savings resulting from Whirlpool ranges and refrigerators donated between 2018 and 2020 to Habitat homes. The study extrapolated that over the duration of the decades-long collaboration, the donated appliances generated lifetime energy savings of over 218 million kilowatt-hours and energy bill savings of more than $24 million dollars across the full network.

The Whirlpool Corp. donated product program was recently enhanced with support from InSinkErator, a global manufacturer of garbage disposals and instant hot water dispensers for home and commercial use. Over the next year, InSinkErator, a Whirlpool Corporation brand, will donate a disposal for each new Habitat home construction, rehabilitation and kitchen repair project in the U.S. InSinkErator products help to reduce the amount of food waste taken to landfills and resulting methane emissions that contribute to global warming, further extending environmental benefits to homeowners.

Whirlpool supports key Habitat programs with links to the company’s vision. Through the BuildBetter with Whirlpool program, Habitat and Whirlpool built 260 climate resilient and energy-efficient homes across the United States with an expected 15 percent increase in energy efficiency compared to conventional homes. In global builds, Whirlpool Corp. has helped Habitat break into new countries like Italy and Colombia. In addition, the company supports some of Habitat’s key advocacy programs promoting affordable housing like Cost of Home in the U.S. which helped change more than 300 policies and increase access to affordable homes for an estimated 6.6 million people.

“Our global social responsibility focus is on helping to ensure everyone can have a place to live that’s comfortable and nurturing so that families can really build their best life from inside those four walls, and to help build thriving communities through education programs,” says Deb O’Connor, Whirlpool Corporation’s director of corporate reputation and community relations. “Our vision aligns perfectly with Habitat’s vision which is why this relationship has lasted 25 years and has had a profound impact for more than a million people around the world.”

For more information about Whirlpool Corporation’s Habitat for Humanity programs, visit whirlpoolcorp.com/our-impact/social-impact/social-reponsibility/.

About Whirlpool Corporation

Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) is a leading kitchen and laundry appliance company, in constant pursuit of improving life at home and inspiring generations with our brands. The company is driving meaningful innovation to meet the evolving needs of consumers through its iconic brand portfolio, including Whirlpool, KitchenAid, JennAir, Maytag, Amana, Brastemp, Consul, and InSinkErator. In 2023, the company reported approximately $19 billion in annual sales, 59,000 employees, and 55 manufacturing and technology research centers. Additional information about the company can be found at WhirlpoolCorp.com.

View original content here.

Wednesday, July 31, 2024|12:00 PM – 1:00 PM ET|Virtual

In today’s dynamic business environment, organizations face mounting pressure to excel in ESG and sustainability initiatives. Paired with an ever-evolving regulatory landscape, the need to manage risk, collect auditable data, and elevate operational efficiency is paramount.

Join our webinar to learn how sustainability, legal, and finance personas at mature companies are leveraging ESG reporting software to mitigate compliance risks, boost team efficiency, ensure data accuracy, and realize a return on investment all while achieving ambitious sustainability goals. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn from industry leaders on how they’re getting a head start on managing the growing demands of non-financial reporting and paving the way towards ESG excellence.

Are you ready to revolutionize your approach to ESG and sustainability strategies? Register today.

This session will be recorded. The recording will be distributed after the event ends.

Question? 
Contact Us at contact@nasdaq.com.

SPEAKERS

Sarah Crowe 
ESG Sustainability Channel Lead, Nasdaq

Kim Knickle 
Research Director, ESG & Sustainability, Verdantix

Jeremy Taub 
Head of ESG Content, Nasdaq

Mike Schwartz 
Director of Sustainability, Republic Services

TULSA, Okla., July 17, 2024 /3BL/ – Students in Tulsa Tech’s aviation maintenance technology program now have more than 3,000 new industry mentors thanks to a new partnership announced today with American Airlines. Students now have direct access to the airline’s Tulsa-based aviation maintenance technicians (AMTs) through ongoing engagement opportunities at the carrier’s maintenance base and on campus. Additionally, top-performing students will secure guaranteed interviews for open positions with the carrier.

While the partnership is new, it’s not the first time American and Tulsa Tech have worked together to inspire future AMTs. In 2011, American donated a McDonnell Douglas MD-80 aircraft to the school, and the iconic aircraft continues to be used today to provide hands-on training opportunities. American’s Tulsa-based AMTs have also mentored award-winning Tulsa Tech student teams in the annual Aerospace Maintenance Council Competition.

“American is excited to officially partner with Tulsa Tech to mentor and train future generations of aviation maintenance technicians,” said Greg Emerson, American’s Vice President of Base Maintenance. “American’s Tech Ops – Tulsa maintenance base is the largest commercial aviation maintenance facility in the world and has been the backbone of our base maintenance program since 1946. Having access to top local talent from Tulsa Tech ensures that work will continue for generations to come. We’re eager to provide a pathway from their Tulsa Tech classrooms to our hangars.”

Tulsa Tech, the oldest and largest technology center in Oklahoma’s CareerTech System, is a career and technology center school district dedicated to educating people for success in the workplace. Tulsa Tech helps high school and adult students from across the Tulsa region explore new careers, upgrade their training and skills, and pursue their dreams. Students can work toward their FAA Airframe and Powerplant licenses or choose from other aviation-related coursework at the school. More information can be found at tulsatech.edu.

“We extend our heartfelt gratitude for our strong partnership in workforce development and training with American Airlines,” said Dr. Steve Tiger, Tulsa Tech Superintendent and Chief Executive Officer. “Their unwavering support and collaboration help us train the next generation of skilled workers and highlights the expanding career opportunities available throughout the aviation industry, including right here in Tulsa at American Airlines.”

American also donated several aircraft parts including an auxiliary power unit, four oxygen generators, a digital flight computer and a flow control valve during today’s event at the school’s Riverside campus. These parts will provide students with relevant, hands-on resources to help them in their studies.

American employs nearly 5,000 team members at Tech Ops – Tulsa, including 3,200 licensed AMTs. The facility was recently awarded $22 million from the State of Oklahoma to make enhancements at the base. The funds are in addition to a $31.6 million engine shop capital investment and ongoing $350 million improvement project made by American. As a result of these investments, American is in the process of adding more than 300 new jobs a Tech Ops – Tulsa. Candidates interested in joining American’s team can view open opportunities and apply online at jobs.aa.com.

Download the PDF

About American Airlines Group
To Care for People on Life’s Journey®. Shares of American Airlines Group Inc. trade on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol AAL and the company’s stock is included in the S&P 500. Learn more about what’s happening at American by visiting news.aa.com and connect with American @AmericanAir and at Facebook.com/AmericanAirlines.

BETHESDA, Md., July 17, 2024 /3BL/ – WHC (Wildlife Habitat Council) offers a new white paper available for download today, Protecting Earth’s Most Valuable Resources | Conservation Activities to Benefit Water and Air Quality. The white paper is sponsored by General Motors and is available for free on our website.

Water and air are the earth’s most valuable resources. No ecosystem or human community could exist without access to clean air and water, making the protection of these resources a paramount concern. Unfortunately, decades of industry and development have had negative effects on the quality of the earth’s air and water.

Because of the widespread and well-documented impacts of air and water pollution, governments have implemented regulations requiring industries to minimize deleterious effects on air and water. Adherence to these critical regulations is not the final step in corporate efforts to protect air and water quality. The private sector can go above and beyond these regulations to promote air and water quality through voluntary habitat conservation projects, with the added benefits of supporting wildlife species and human well-being.

The case studies featured in this white paper illustrate the role of habitat-specific projects in water and air quality improvement. Featured case studies from WHC-Certified sites include:

ArcelorMittal: AM/NS Calvert, Alabama, USABacardi: Bombay Sapphire Distillery, Hampshire, UKCemex: Laguna de Los Cangrejos, Santo Domingo, Dominican RepublicDTE Energy: Downtown Detroit Headquarters, Michigan, USAThe Earth Lab: Ejido Sisal, Yucatán, MexicoFreeport-McMoRan: Miami Site, Arizona, USAINVISTA: Victoria Site, Texas, USAITC Holdings: Iowa City Warehouse, Iowa, USAWM: Twin Creeks Landfill, Ontario, Canada

Sponsored by General Motors, this white paper features a foreword stating, “Environmental conservation requires everyone’s participation. At GM, we believe that businesses have a responsibility to contribute to the regeneration of nature and the protection of biodiversity. As we strive to enhance resource circularity in our products and operations, we are also promoting biodiversity across our sites.”

About WHC:

WHC (Wildlife Habitat Council) has been working at the nexus of business and biodiversity for 35 years and is the only international NGO focused exclusively on enabling private sector action for nature. WHC builds strategies and frameworks for companies to integrate nature with climate, equity and engagement to support sustainable ecosystems and healthy communities. WHC’s corporate members represent some of the leading national and multinational corporations. WHC-certified programs can be found in 19 countries and 48 U.S. states. Learn more at www.wildlifehc.org.

MAYS LANDING, N.J. and NEWARK, Del., July 17, 2024 /3BL/ – Pepco Holdings, which includes Atlantic City Electric and Delmarva Power, has named Phil Vavala as its new vice president of Governmental and External Affairs, and region president for Atlantic City Electric and Delmarva Power.

Vavala, who previously served as the vice president of gas and electric operations for Pepco Holdings, has led innovative and strategic approaches to strengthening the local energy grid and delivering safe and reliable energy service to the customers and communities it serves. Under his leadership, customers have experienced record-breaking reliability for homes and businesses across South Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Washington, D.C.

Vavala joined Pepco Holdings 33 years ago as an intern in Delmarva Power’s System Planning department and went on to hold positions throughout Operations, including senior supervising engineer, manager of Control Room Operations for Atlantic City Electric and Delmarva Power, director of Regional Electric Operations for Delmarva Power and director of Transmission & Substation Engineering for Pepco Holdings. In his most recent role as vice president of Electric and Gas Operations, Vavala led the organization responsible for day-to-day operations of the electric and gas distribution system.

“Phil understands our communities from a unique perspective, not only raising his family in this area and being a customer himself but starting as an intern and growing through the organization for more than 30 years has truly given him an understanding of what it means to power a brighter future for our customers,” said Rodney Oddoye, senior vice president of Governmental, Regulatory and External Affairs at Pepco Holdings. “His leadership and drive not only help ensure the lights turn on when customers flip the switch and gas flows when they heat their home but goes beyond energy to making a positive impact on our communities.”

Vavala has served as chairman of the Pepco Holdings and Exelon Diverse Business Enterprise Working Group, focusing on developing spending opportunities with minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses and leading in the company’s commitment to provide more than energy for its customers.

Vavala is a graduate of Drexel University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. Together with his wife Katherine, they are lifelong residents of the region and have raised their three children here.

To learn more about Delmarva Power, visit The Source, Delmarva Power’s online newsroom. Find additional information by visiting delmarva.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/DelmarvaPower and on X, formerly known as Twitter, at twitter.com/DelmarvaConnect. Delmarva Power’s mobile app is available at delmarva.com/MobileApp.