Tag: 3BL

Covia highlights the dedication and leadership of Team Members who have made a significant impact on the job or in their communities by sharing their stories. Today we recognize Kurt Krebs, Plant Manager at Covia’s Black Lab Chardon plant. Kurt started as a bagger at Chardon and worked his way up to his current role as plant manager. Read on to hear from Kurt about how he got started with Covia and how the team at Chardon has built a community of respect and care.

Growing with Covia

I started working at Covia back in 2010 as a bagger at the Black Lab Chardon plant. Even though I’m nearing 15 years on the job, it feels like I started just yesterday. While working as a bagger, I was able to learn a lot from my coworkers and mentors at the time. They helped guide me toward the leadership position I’m in now.

After four years of learning the different jobs at the plant and taking on leadership opportunities, I was promoted to crew lead/floor supervisor. Then, in 2016, I was tapped to become the new plant manager. From a career standpoint, this was the best thing that ever happened to me. I’m proud that I was able to work my way up, learning about the different situations and jobs so I can help create an environment that empowers others. Plus, having worked alongside nearly half the plant has helped build trust and respect among the Black Lab Chardon team.

As I’ve taken on this leadership position, I often turned to mentors who have been source of inspiration and guidance for me. One of my mentors has been here for over 40 years, he is truly a book of wisdom. I’ve been lucky to have good friends and great resources here, helping me make strategic decisions for the Black Lab Chardon team so we can work even better together.

I’m motivated to pass on the knowledge I’ve received. The Black Lab team is dedicated and always ready to take on any task to ensure nothing falls through the cracks. I’m impressed by the work of the younger employees and look forward to seeing them progress in their careers at Covia.

Black Lab Chardon

The Black Lab Chardon plant is not your typical mining facility. Our team and the work they do is a bit unique compared to Covia’s other operations – providing custom toll blending for various industries like construction and foundries. Every product our team works on is driven by customer specs. The customer provides the instructions, and we utilize our inventory of over 800 raw ingredients to create custom products like our Black Lab blend. On top of that, we provide eight different bag sizes for materials ranging from 10 pounds to 4,000.

This kind of work requires a significant attention to detail, a skill that I have seen in every member of the Chardon team. Their dedication and hard work are the reason why we can create the quality and quantity of minerals we produce at the Black Lab Chardon plant. We take great pride in our work and ability to keep up with every new change that comes our way. The way this team has adapted and grown over the years is truly inspiring.

The Black Lab Chardon team showed just how impressive they are by posting record production numbers last year – improving on the previous title with four fewer members on the team. This was made even more impressive by the fact that they kept up with a massive amount of client needs. Their ability to put in the work says so much about the team we’ve assembled and their commitment to one another. Nobody is just punching in and punching out, they take pride and ownership in what they do. I feel honored to be part of this talented team.

Building a Community of Respect and Care

On top of their work ethic, I am proud of the Black Lab Chardon team for their ability to hold each other accountable. The team looks out for one another, making sure everyone is safe and following protocols. We’ve really built a community of respect and care. If I went out on the floor but forgot my gloves, I wouldn’t make it far before someone turned me around to go put them back on.

This safety-first mindset is something we all take home. I’m an avid hunter and like to ride snow mobiles during the winter. Whenever the plant slows down during the colder months, I head up north with family and friends to ride. My job has really made me think about safety and how I need to take precautions when out in nature. Working at Covia has really helped me be more prepared in my personal life.

For the past ten years, the Black Lab Chardon plant has seen continuous growth. I’m looking forward to seeing how the plant continues to change and what kind of new faces we can bring in, possibly adding more machines and shifts to keep the plant moving forward. Seeing how far we’ve come and how close the team has gotten is really rewarding. Seeing everyone get along so well makes me proud. I’m grateful Covia has helped give me this opportunity to learn, grow, and lead.

Contact us today to discover more about Covia.

Putnam Investments’ Jackie VanderBrug has been announced as one of three winners of the 2024 Joan Bavaria Award, which is awarded for catalysing positive change in the capital markets. This year’s award specifically recognizes the influential and collaborative work in developing the field of gender lens investing*. The award continues the legacy of the late Joan Bavaria, whose pioneering work is viewed as helping to catalyze positive change in capital markets.

The award presentation was held in Chicago in June, during US SIF’s (Sustainable Investment Forum) Forum 2024. The award committee included Mindy Lubber, CEO and President of Ceres, Maria Lettini, CEO of US SIF, and Matthew Patsky, CEO of Trillium Asset Management. Each of these judges lead organizations that were founded or co-founded by Ms. Bavaria, who died in 2008 following a long battle with ovarian cancer.

The other recipients of the 2024 award are Joy Anderson (Founder and President of Criterion Institute), and Suzanne Biegel (posthumously) of Women Effect, and later GenderSmart.

“It is exciting to see recognition across the investment landscape that a gender lens is a powerful tool in identifying opportunities and risks in an increasingly dynamic global environment. The diversity of gender lens investment approaches demonstrates both the insights available and the client interest,” said VanderBrug.

Jackie VanderBrug is Head of Sustainability Strategy at Putnam Investments, a Franklin Templeton company. She is responsible for leading Putnam’s ESG-focused business functions, including stewardship, engagement, partnerships, and ESG strategy and integration. She is co-author of the 2015 book Gender Lens Investing: Uncovering Opportunities for Growth, Returns, and Impact and a co-trustee of Heading for Change.

Judging criteria included a subjective assessment of the nominee’s initiatives or accomplishments that have been the most impactful. This involved consideration of how these achievements reflect a sustained and comprehensive commitment toward maintaining long-term impact in the capital markets. Nominees provided specific examples to convey how their individual accomplishments are especially visionary, groundbreaking, or otherwise unique. Judges also assessed three sources (e.g. press release/coverage, endorsement, or publications) relevant to the nominee’s work.

Important Information

Franklin Templeton did not provide any compensation for Jackie to be considered for this award.

This material is intended to be of general interest only and should not be construed as individual investment advice or a recommendation or solicitation to buy, sell or hold any security or to adopt any investment strategy. It does not constitute legal or tax advice. The views expressed are those of the investment manager and the comments, opinions and analyses are rendered as at publication date and may change without notice. Franklin Templeton has certain environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals or capabilities; however, not all strategies are managed to “ESG” oriented objectives. Integrating ESG considerations into the investment process is not a guarantee that better performance will be achieved. All investments involve risks, including possible loss of principal. Data from third party sources may have been used in the preparation of this material and Franklin Templeton has not independently verified, validated or audited such data. Franklin Templeton accepts no liability whatsoever for any loss arising from use of this information and reliance upon the comments, opinions and analyses in the material is at the sole discretion of the user.

About Franklin Templeton

Franklin Resources, Inc. [NYSE:BEN] is a global investment management organization with subsidiaries operating as Franklin Templeton and serving clients in over 150 countries. Franklin Templeton’s mission is to help clients achieve better outcomes through investment management expertise, wealth management and technology solutions. Through its specialist investment managers, the company offers specialization on a global scale, bringing extensive capabilities in fixed income, equity, alternatives and multi-asset solutions. With more than 1,500 investment professionals, and offices in major financial markets around the world, the California-based company has over 75 years of investment experience and over $1.6 trillion in assets under management as of June 30, 2024. For more information, please visit franklintempleton.com and follow us on LinkedIn, X and Facebook.

MILWAUKEE, July 16, 2024 /3BL/ – Northwestern Mutual announced today that the company earned its sixth consecutive top-score on the Disability Equality Index®. The recognition is a comprehensive benchmarking tool designed to recognize companies that are advancing inclusion practices and building a roadmap of measurable, tangible actions to achieve disability inclusion and equality.

“We’re thrilled to receive a top-score on the Disability Equality Index for the sixth consecutive year because everyone deserves a workplace where they can show up, feel like they belong, and perform at their highest level,” said Amy Hanneman, vice president of diversity and inclusion, Northwestern Mutual. “We’re committed to growing an inclusive workplace and investing in a culture where all people can fully contribute and flourish.”

The Disability Equality Index is administered by the American Association of People with Disabilities and Disability:IN, and is a national benchmark to measure corporate disability inclusion practices and identify opportunities for continued improvement. Northwestern Mutual’s designation is the latest in a series of awards the company has earned in recent years for nurturing an inclusive workplace. Those awards include:

Military Friendly® Employer (2020-2024)Best Employers for Diversity, Forbes (2018-2023)America’s Best Large Employers, Forbes (2023)America’s Best Employers for Women (2023)Top 50 “Best-of-the-Best” Corporations for Inclusion, National Business Inclusion (2022-2023)Best Companies for Diversity, Black Enterprise (2023)Nine consecutive top scores on the National Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index (2015-2023)

Learn more about our commitment to strengthen our culture of belonging.

About Northwestern Mutual

Northwestern Mutual has been helping people and businesses achieve financial security for more than 165 years. Through a comprehensive planning approach, Northwestern Mutual combines the expertise of its financial professionals with a personalized digital experience and industry-leading products to help its clients plan for what’s most important. With over $627 billion of total assets1 being managed across the company’s institutional portfolio as well as retail investment client portfolios, more than $36 billion in revenues, and $2.3 trillion worth of life insurance protection in force, Northwestern Mutual delivers financial security to more than five million people with life, disability income and long-term care insurance, annuities, and brokerage and advisory services. Northwestern Mutual ranked 110 on the 2024 FORTUNE 500 and was recognized by FORTUNE® as one of the “World’s Most Admired” life insurance companies in 2024.

Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company (NM), Milwaukee, WI (life and disability insurance, annuities, and life insurance with long-term care benefits) and its subsidiaries. Subsidiaries include Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC (NMIS) (investment brokerage services), broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, member FINRA and SIPC; the Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company® (NMWMC) (investment advisory and services), federal savings bank; and Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Company (NLTC) (long-term care insurance). Not all Northwestern Mutual representatives are advisors. Only those representatives with “Advisor” in their title or who otherwise disclose their status as an advisor of NMWMC are credentialed as NMWMC representatives to provide investment advisory services.

1 Includes investments and separate account assets of Northwestern Mutual as well as retail investment client assets held or managed by Northwestern Mutual.

CHARLOTTE, N.C., July 16, 2024 /3BL/ – The United States Department of Defense (DOD) has signed on to Duke Energy’s (NYSE: DUK) Green Source Advantage (GSA) program to provide renewable energy on behalf of the five largest DOD major military installations across North Carolina and South Carolina, including Fort Liberty, USMC-Camp Lejeune, USMC-Cherry Point, USAF Seymour Johnson and USAF Shaw.

The DOD’s participation in the GSA program will provide an estimated 135 megawatts and approximately 4.8 million megawatt-hours of renewable energy in both states over a 15-year delivery period from two newly constructed off-site solar facilities in South Carolina. The facilities will be developed, owned and operated by energyRe, subject to local and state approvals. The projects are expected to become operational in the fourth quarter of 2026.

“This project is a great opportunity to assist our military departments and our warfighters in their decarbonization goals and is paramount to reaching our initial goals of Executive Order 14057, Catalyzing Clean Energy Industries and Jobs Through Federal Sustainability. DLA Energy is committed to supporting the administration’s clean energy initiatives and helping the military services and whole-of-government partners achieve their climate change goals,” said United States Air Force Col. Jennifer Neris, director of carbon pollution-free electricity for the Defense Logistics Agency.

Duke Energy’s GSA program, which supports renewable energy development, provides large nonresidential customers the opportunity to offset their power purchases by securing renewable energy from projects connected to the Duke Energy grid. The customer receives the renewable energy certificates (RECs) generated by the projects to satisfy sustainability and/or renewable, carbon-free energy goals. Customers are credited for the solar power the facility generates against their energy purchased from the Duke Energy grid.

Additional participants in Duke Energy’s GSA program include the City of Charlotte, the City of Durham, Bank of America, Durham County, Duke University and Durham Public Schools.

“As our large business customers plan for the future, they also have increasingly specific goals around decarbonization and require access to renewable energy sources that can support those needs,” said Meghan Dewey, vice president of Products and Services for Duke Energy. “Duke Energy continues to expand its scope of customer options and programs built with critical stakeholder feedback to enable these customers and prospective customers to meet their sustainability goals.”

Executive Order 14057 has established targets for federal agencies to reach 100% carbon-free electricity by 2030, with 50% matching on a 24/7 basis. Participating in the Duke Energy GSA program is one of the DOD’s first major carbon-free energy initiatives and will enable them to make considerable progress toward the requirements of EO 14057.

Duke Energy is leading the largest clean energy transformation in the United States. It owns, operates and purchases more than 5,100 MW of solar power on its energy grid in the Carolinas – enough to power the annual usage of almost 1 million homes and businesses. North Carolina currently ranks No. 5 in the nation for overall solar power. With a portfolio of nuclear, hydro and renewable energy, more than half of the company’s energy mix in North Carolina is carbon-free.

Duke Energy

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America’s largest energy holding companies. The company’s electric utilities serve 8.4 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 54,800 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky.

Duke Energy is executing an ambitious clean energy transition, keeping reliability, affordability and accessibility at the forefront as the company works toward net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas business by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions from electricity generation by 2050. The company is investing in major electric grid upgrades and cleaner generation, including expanded energy storage, renewables, natural gas and nuclear.

More information is available at duke-energy.com and the Duke Energy News Center. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook, and visit illumination for stories about the people and innovations powering our energy transition.

Contact: Logan Stewart 
24-Hour: 800.559.3853 
Twitter: @DE_LoganS

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Navigating the fast-paced digital world demands strong customer connections, especially in industries like logistics and supply chain management, states Brian Enright, CEO of DP World Americas in a recent article published by the Forbes Business Council.

“In today’s rapidly evolving marketplace, the importance of deeply understanding and engaging with your customer has never been more critical,” Enright writes in The Evolution Of Customer Understanding In The Age Of Digital Transformation. “This is particularly true for the logistics and supply chain sectors, where maintaining strong customer relationships is essential for navigating the complex landscape of global trade.”

The rise of AI tools—think virtual assistants and chatbots—is totally changing the game, reshaping how businesses talk to their customers. Big names like Amazon and Zappos are leading the charge, using chatbots to handle customer questions on the fly, setting new standards for speedy service​​.

But going digital doesn’t mean losing the human touch. In fact, these high-tech tools are there to boost personal interactions by providing tailored, smooth experiences across different platforms. Staying ahead of the curve means companies need to tweak their strategies to keep up with these new customer journeys, using the latest tech to back up their human teams.

Yet, even with all these digital tools, the real magic happens when people connect. In his article, Enright describes a scenario where a face-to-face chat at a customer event helped his company clinch a deal with an automotive OEM. By really listening and getting into the nitty-gritty of the client’s needs, they were able to offer a logistics solution that hit the mark​​.

The article makes it clear that while digital tools are great, they also push businesses to rethink how they connect with customers. It’s not enough to just follow trends. Companies need to meet expectations, boost their efficiency, and work as a team. Balancing tech efficiency with a personal touch will define how good customer relationships are in this digital age, challenging businesses to be as dynamic and forward-thinking as the markets they serve​​.

Read the full article on the Forbes Business Council: The Evolution Of Customer Understanding In The Age Of Digital Transformation.

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DES MOINES, Iowa, July 16, 2024 /3BL/ —Principal Financial Group® was named to the list of the “Best Places to Work for People with Disabilities” after earning a 100 score on the 2024 Disability Equality Index® (DEI), the world’s most comprehensive benchmarking tool for companies to measure disability workplace inclusion.

The 2024 DEI measured performance in the categories of Culture & Leadership; Enterprise-Wide Access; Employment Practices including benefits, recruitment, employment, education, retention and advancement, and accommodations; Community Engagement; and Supplier Diversity. Each company receives a score on a scale of zero to 100. Principal has earned a top score of “100” for five years in a row.

“Our people are our most valuable resource. We are focused on removing barriers and giving people what they need to succeed so every employee feels valued and can contribute to our culture and positive business outcomes,” said Miriam Lewis, chief inclusion officer at Principal. “We operate our best as a company when we cultivate a deep range of perspectives by fostering accessibility and belonging for all.”

The DEI is a joint initiative of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the nation’s largest disability rights organization, and Disability:IN, the global business disability inclusion network, to collectively advance the inclusion of people with disabilities. It was first launched in 2015 to help businesses make a positive impact on the unemployment and underemployment of people with disabilities.

“On the 10th anniversary of the Disability Equality Index, we’re extremely proud of the 542 national and international companies that are taking a proactive role in leading progress towards disability inclusion, setting a benchmark for others to follow. Their dedication to fostering inclusive workplaces not only attracts top talent but also drives innovation and creates sustainable performance in today’s global market. Together, we are creating a future where everyone can contribute and thrive,” said Jill Houghton, president and CEO of Disability:IN.

Learn more about the ways Principal supports equity and inclusion here: Global inclusion | Principal.

About Principal Financial Group®

Principal Financial Group® (Nasdaq: PFG) is a global financial company with 20,000 employees1 passionate about improving the wealth and well-being of people and businesses. In business for 145 years, we’re helping more than 62 million customers1 plan, protect, invest, and retire, while working to support the communities where we do business, and build a diverse, inclusive workforce. Principal® is proud to be recognized as one of the 2023 World’s Most Ethical Companies2, a member of the Bloomberg Gender Equality Index, and named as a “Best Places to Work in Money Management3.” Learn more about Principal and our commitment to sustainability, inclusion, and purpose at principal.com.

1 As of March 31, 2024 
2 Ethisphere, 2024 
3 Pensions & Investments, 2023

© 2024 Principal Financial Services, Inc.

About Disability:IN®

Disability:IN is a global organization driving disability inclusion and equality in business. More than 500 corporations partner with Disability:IN to create long-term business and social impact through the world’s most comprehensive disability inclusion benchmarking and reporting tool, the Disability Equality Index; best-in-class conferences and programs; expert counsel and engagement; and public policy leadership. Join us at disabilityin.org/AreYouIN #AreYouIN.

Insurance products issued by Principal National Life Insurance Co (except in NY) and Principal Life Insurance Company®. Plan administrative services offered by Principal Life. Principal Funds, Inc. is distributed by Principal Funds Distributor, Inc. Securities offered through Principal Securities, Inc., member SIPC and/or independent broker/dealers. Referenced companies are members of the Principal Financial Group®, Des Moines, IA 50392.​

© 2024 Principal Financial Services, Inc.​​​ 
Principal®, Principal Financial Group®, and Principal and the logomark design are registered trademarks of Principal Financial Services, Inc., a Principal Financial Group company, in the United States and are trademarks and service marks of Principal Financial Services, Inc., in various countries around the world.

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Earlier this year, Chemours released our annual Sustainability Report titled, “Partnering for Progress.” Throughout the report, we showcase how Chemours embraces partnerships to deliver innovative products responsibly and more sustainably, share its success with others, and drive business value. One such example is how Chemours is partnering to protect local wildlife and habitats, including at the company’s mining operations.

Chemours is the only U.S. producer of titanium and zirconium minerals and one of only two domestic producers of rare earth minerals. We mine minerals that contain the elements titanium and zirconium, which are included in the U.S. Department of the Interior’s 2018 list of critical minerals as vital to the nation’s security and economic prosperity. These critical minerals are produced in limited quantities domestically, and Chemours’ domestic monazite sales and production are used in U.S. rare earth mineral processing.

Our Titanium Technologies business segment operates mineral sands mining and separation operations in Florida and Georgia to supply our facilities with TiO2 mineral feedstock and to recover and sell other valuable mineral products.

We are committed to leaving each mining site in a condition comparable to its pre-mine condition. Through continuous reclamation, we work to re-establish the soils and plant vegetation in mined areas as soon as possible after mineral extraction is complete, which in turn allows native wildlife to quickly return.

Opportunities to directly protect wildlife habitats on the lands that we mine are limited because we lease mineral rights and carry out mining operations on land owned and managed by others. However, our mining operations teams support numerous organizations that work to protect area land and water resources, including the Satilla Riverkeeper, St. Marys Riverkeeper, and the Okefenokee Swamp Park.

Where practical, we craft our mine plans to avoid sensitive resources, such as wetlands and uplands that are habitats for gopher tortoise and indigo snake subpopulations. We also partner with external organizations to assist us in providing long-term conservation solutions to protect translocated gopher tortoises (indigo snakes have not been observed at our mining operations to date). Over nine years of mining in Georgia, Chemours’ research partners have translocated more than 400 tortoises and moved 181 hatchlings reared from collected eggs to Wildlife Management Areas.

In 2023, Chemours expanded wildlife protection research by partnering with academic institutions to examine the impacts of mining and mine reclamation on bird communities and rare plants and to assess soil development and plant re-establishment in wetlands constructed on mined lands.

Learn more in Chemours’ 2023 Sustainability Report.

Whirlpool Corporation has been recognized by Forbes as one of the country’s Best Brands For Social Impact in 2024. Inclusion on the list reflects the organization’s commitment to creating a more sustainable and socially responsible future.

“We are elated that our efforts to positively impact consumers across the country and around the world have been recognized,” said Pam Klyn, Whirlpool Corporation’s executive vice president of corporate relations and sustainability. “Serving the communities where we do business is ingrained in our corporate identity and extends beyond our organization through programs designed to improve life at home.”

To create America’s Best Brands for Social Impact list, Forbes partnered with customer insights company HundredX. An online survey from March 2023 through February 2024 asked more than 185,000 consumers to rate brands and products in more than a dozen categories. The list was created by combining respondents’ ratings in four survey categories: Overall Brand Values and Trust, Social Stances, Sustainability and Community Support.

To view the full list of Best Brands for Social Impact in 2024, click here.

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.

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A future defined by AI, hyper security, and constant change has brought into focus the importance of ensuring subsets of our world’s population aren’t left behind. We need to be diligent in bringing people along and to do this we are pursuing what we at Cisco can meaningfully influence – using our technology, our people, and our networks to help close the digital divide. Every individual has the right to thrive in our increasingly connected world, and four years ago Cisco codified this belief with our Social Justice Beliefs and Our Commitment to Action – our plan to actively dismantle barriers and create opportunities for underrepresented communities around the world.

As part of this, we promised to be bold and deliberate in our support of the Black community and to help Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) flourish. America’s HBCUs are treasured institutions and cornerstones of educational excellence and cultural heritage in our country. In 2020 we showed our commitment to their future with a $150 million donation over 5 years for STEM education programs and technology modernization.

Co-innovating with HBCUs for lasting change

While Cisco’s is the single largest donation from a corporation in the history of HBCUs, our support is more than financial. We are committed to co-innovating with HBCUs to create lasting change, focusing on four foundational areas:

supporting Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM) studentsbuilding technological excellencepromoting success before and beyond graduationadvancing information sharing and engagement

Together for three years now, we have been sowing seeds of innovation, inclusion, and inspiration to help Black leaders prepare to thrive in the AI era. To date, Cisco and HBCUs worked side by side with an ecosystem of Partner organizations, each leveraging unique strengths, and all dedicated to driving systemic change. Together, we:

donated $66 million in services and software to HBCUscompleted 46 National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) assessments and 30 technology installations at HBCUs(in doing above) preserved $1.5 billion in HBCU Title IV funding through services and software needed for the required NIST compliancelaunched the Cisco Cyber Academy at Denmark Technical College, a two-year HBCU located in rural Bamberg County, South Carolina.

As our partnerships with HBCUs and partner organizations mature and strengthen, our impact expands. We are looking forward to sharing an equally significant list of achievements in our fourth year!

Approaching challenges from an ecosystem perspective

More than anything, our work with HBCUs has shown the progress and possibilities we create when we approach challenges from an ecosystem perspective. The interconnectedness of our world means we are all diminished by social injustice, and that we all play a role in building a more just and inclusive future. Bringing together an ecosystem of Cisco Partners has been critical to providing HBCUs the support they need by assessing participating schools’ IT infrastructures, recommending upgrades, and donating services and equipment to ensure schools have the latest cybersecurity technology

An Inspiring Success Story: Denmark Tech’s ecosystem at work

Hearing directly from Denmark Tech President and CEO, Dr. Willie L. Todd Jr. makes what we’re doing even more compelling.

A brighter future is already evident in the Denmark Tech region – one which has historically seen limited jobs and educational opportunities. Dr. Todd focuses on his collaboration with Cisco and connections across our partner ecosystem to make sure the success story continues.

Working with Procellis, a member of the African American Cisco Partner Community (AACPC), Cisco donated equipment and services to upgrade Denmark Tech’s IT infrastructure to ensure they could meet NIST cybersecurity standards.

Cisco also connected Denmark Tech with Fusion Cyber, a company that collaborates with colleges and universities to offer comprehensive online cybersecurity training.

This career-oriented program encompasses certification, mentorship, and job coaching to equip students for careers in cybersecurity. Dr. Todd saw how the program could change the trajectory of his students’ lives and the surrounding communities they serve. He launched the training in 2021 to upskill students for jobs in the cybersecurity field, helping them create generational wealth. To date, the program has graduated 59 students including veterans, women, and other underserved groups, and plans to expand are in the works. Graduates of the program can stay in their community, positively impacting the local economy and bringing a renewed sense of hope and optimism to the region.

Security and the workforce of the future – the risks and rewards of AI

Globalization, digitization, and AI advancements have made our world progressively interconnected. While the benefits of AI are incredible to consider, so are the threats. Cybersecurity is now foundational to a safe and prosperous future for organizations around the world – including HBCUs. The World Economic Forum estimates that 3 – 4 million cybersecurity experts are needed to support the current global economy, but a critical shortage of cybersecurity specialists is creating a gap that puts the world’s digital assets at risk. Denmark Technical College is the 27th HBCU offering Cisco’s Networking Academy curriculum with programs in networking, cybersecurity, Python, and data science – all designed to build job-ready skills so that faculty and staff can both benefit from the AI economy and help protect it.

We continue to challenge ourselves to drive greater social impact knowing that with every person we train, every school we connect, every college we enable, and every community we empower, we are advancing Cisco’s Purpose to power an inclusive future for all – because inclusivity is not just a societal ideal, but a fundamental human right.

“We’ve taken what many might say was a floundering institution, and we’ve turned it into a success story the likes of which this area has never seen.” 
—Dr. Willie L. Todd Jr., Denmark Technical College President and CEO

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Written by Mike Jackson, general manager, data centers and industrial software, Eaton

How to streamline data center sustainability governance

Data centers are at the heart of digital economies worldwide. As digitalization accelerates, power loads, cooling costs and water usage are skyrocketing. By 2026, data center electricity use alone is expected to double (source: International Energy Agency, Electricity 2024). How can data centers address increasing pressures to reduce their carbon footprints as digitalization takes off ever faster? Regulators, communities, customers and shareholders are paying attention.

The good news is that relatively small adjustments in data center operations will invariably add up and have a big effect on sustainability. From grid to chip, Eaton’s vast experience as a manufacturer of critical infrastructure and digital solutions will help improve how data centers use energy through meaningful insights that will lead to informed decisions.

Getting ahead of compliance matters 
Traditional metrics like power usage effectiveness (PUE) are becoming insufficient and incomplete to assess and address data center sustainability. PUE only tells you how much power is going in and used for IT equipment. It doesn’t tell you anything about how you’re using water or the effectiveness of your equipment.

The International Organization for Standardization / International Electrotechnical Commission (ISO/IEC) 30314 provides a better framework to understand and optimize data center operations. This methodology addresses key performance indicators (KPIs), such as PUE, Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE), renewable energy factor (REF), energy reuse factor (ERF), IT equipment energy efficiency for servers (ITEEsv), IT equipment utilization for servers (ITEUsv), cooling efficiency ratio (CER) and more. Utilizing the ISO/IEC 30314 framework can help data centers better identify areas for improvements.

Beyond providing the metrics data centers need to comply with global standards like ISO/ IEC 30314, we can enable the customized reporting required for your organizational, regional or local compliance requirements.

Holistic approach to impact data center sustainability 
Achieving sustainability goals requires a broad and detailed understanding of energy systems and how, where and when power is used.

Our Brightlayer Data Centers suite includes the industry’s first digital platform to natively provide asset management, IT and operational technology (OT) device monitoring, IT automation, power quality metrics and one-line diagrams in a single, configurable application. Leveraging decades of expertise in the data center industry—from low- and medium-voltage switchgear and transformers to uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs), battery storage and power distribution units (PDUs)—our platform brings together information that has been traditionally siloed in disparate applications into a single, simple and comprehensive view of your energy and environmental footprint.

Optimizing data center operations by putting compliance requirements to work 
From end to end, our platform advances sustainability and improves operation by enabling monitoring, management, reporting and optimization.

It includes three solutions that can be used independently or together based on data center needs:

Data Center Performance Management software (DCPM) monitors and manages IT assets to help drive operational efficiencies and maximize space, power and cooling resources through powerful visualizations, automated reports and dashboards, providing traditional data center infrastructure management (DCIM) capabilities and much more.Electrical Power Monitoring System software (EPMS) helps you understand where and when energy is flowing through your facility. Providing real-time and historical visibility for water, air, gas, electricity and steam (WAGES)—it gives you the data-driven insights and reporting needed to reduce energy consumption and comply with sustainability reporting requirements.Distributed IT Performance Management software (DITPM) provides remote management and control of network-connected assets, no matter where they are located or who made them. Further, DITPM can help to proactively identify and automate actions to prevent IT equipment from going down providing increased resiliency in your increasingly critical edge locations.

Our proven and holistic digital approach is optimizing and digitalizing global energy systems—from data centers to the electric grid and across commercial and industrial applications. Through our software and digitally-enabled hardware, we are giving customers everywhere an integrated solution and the ability to optimize their operations—from a single core facility to thousands and all the way the edge.

More effective data and reporting on sustainability will help future-proof for compliance and uncover opportunities to reduce resource consumption, increase customer satisfaction and differentiate your business. This is about increasing data center performance by applying digitalization to make your assets work harder, smarter and more sustainably.

Not sure where to start? Request a consultation with one of our solution architects to learn how Eaton can help take data center operations to the next level.

Contact:

Kristin Somers
+1.919.345.3714
Kristincsomers@eaton.com

Regina Parundik
Cobblestone Communications
+1.412.559.1614
Regina@cobblecreative.com