Tag: 3BL

CINCINNATI, July 11, 2024 /3BL/ – Since its founding in 1948, the Fifth Third Foundation has made education programs a key priority. In 2005, Fifth Third established its Scholarship Program to award one-time, $2,500 scholarships annually to children of Fifth Third employees for study at a college or university. This year’s scholarships total $62,500. More than 450 students have merited scholarships since 2005.

Chosen and administered by the National Merit Scholarship Corp., the Fifth Third Scholarship Program recognizes the academic achievements of the following students, listed with their employee parent or parents and their work location:

Addison E. Anderson, child of Shanna Anderson, Cincinnati, Ohio.Gwendolyn A. Armstrong, child of David Armstrong, Columbus, Ohio.Charles D. Bender, child of David Bender, Cincinnati, Ohio.Prateek M. Bhandari*, child of Vijaya Bhandari, Cincinnati, Ohio.Ethan L. Davey, child of Julie Davey, Cincinnati, Ohio.Rick Fitzpatrick*, child of Shigemi Fitzpatrick, Lexington, Kentucky.Srikar S. Gandikota*, child of Vinod Gandikota, Atlanta, Georgia.Hailey L. Hartman, child of Bethany Hartman, Cincinnati, Ohio.Gavin J. Jensen, child of Cynthia Jensen, Cincinnati, Ohio.Natalie Z. Juszczyk, child of Aneta Juszczyk, Rosemont, Illinois.Lucy A. Konrad, child of Robert Konrad, Montgomery, Ohio.Hanna L. Kovacevic, child of Amra Kovacevic, Kentwood, Michigan.Brenna A. Lemoine, child of Amalie Lemoine, Cincinnati, Ohio.Vivian W. Li, child of Lei Li, Solon, Ohio.Revanth Manchineella, child of Sreedevi Chirumamilla, Cincinnati, Ohio.Casey J. Mankowski, child of Cynthia Mankowski, Tampa, Florida.Catherine A. McGuire, child of Timothy McGuire, Cleveland, Ohio.Zachary Reiffer, child of Stephen Reiffer, Grand Rapids, Michigan.Abraham T. Rempe, child of Thomas Rempe, Cincinnati, Ohio.Lauren J. Shen*, child of Lixin Shen, Cincinnati, Ohio.Hayden J. Stokes*, child of Miranda Stokes, Denver, Colorado.Danica Sun, child of Jinghua Cao, Rosemont, Illinois.Leo M. Tombragel, child of Greg Tombragel, Madisonville, Ohio.Jadon M. Turner, child of Kyle Greivenkamp, Cincinnati, Ohio.Emilie M. Young, child of Chris and Jenniffer Young, Independence, Kentucky.

“Since 2005, the Fifth Third Foundation has enthusiastically supported the academic goals of the children of Fifth Third employees through this scholarship,” said Heidi Jark, senior vice president and managing director of the Foundation Office at Fifth Third Bank, “We applaud these deserving students and are proud to support them as they embark upon this next chapter in higher education.”

The National Merit Scholarship Corp. is an independent nonprofit organization. The National Merit Scholarship Program was designed to identify and honor exceptionally able high school students, and to provide a system of services for corporations, foundations and other organizations that wish to sponsor college undergraduate scholarships to students who interest them. All aspects of the selection of winners and the administration of their awards are handled by the NMSC.

Established in 1948, the Fifth Third Foundation was the first charitable foundation created by a financial institution. The Foundation supports worthy causes in the areas of health and human services, education, community development and the arts in the states where Fifth Third Bank operates.

*National Merit Scholarship finalist

CINCINNATI, July 11, 2024 /3BL/ – Since its founding in 1948, the Fifth Third Foundation has made education programs a key priority. In 2005, Fifth Third established its Scholarship Program to award one-time, $2,500 scholarships annually to children of Fifth Third employees for study at a college or university. This year’s scholarships total $62,500. More than 450 students have merited scholarships since 2005.

Chosen and administered by the National Merit Scholarship Corp., the Fifth Third Scholarship Program recognizes the academic achievements of the following students, listed with their employee parent or parents and their work location:

Addison E. Anderson, child of Shanna Anderson, Cincinnati, Ohio.Gwendolyn A. Armstrong, child of David Armstrong, Columbus, Ohio.Charles D. Bender, child of David Bender, Cincinnati, Ohio.Prateek M. Bhandari*, child of Vijaya Bhandari, Cincinnati, Ohio.Ethan L. Davey, child of Julie Davey, Cincinnati, Ohio.Rick Fitzpatrick*, child of Shigemi Fitzpatrick, Lexington, Kentucky.Srikar S. Gandikota*, child of Vinod Gandikota, Atlanta, Georgia.Hailey L. Hartman, child of Bethany Hartman, Cincinnati, Ohio.Gavin J. Jensen, child of Cynthia Jensen, Cincinnati, Ohio.Natalie Z. Juszczyk, child of Aneta Juszczyk, Rosemont, Illinois.Lucy A. Konrad, child of Robert Konrad, Montgomery, Ohio.Hanna L. Kovacevic, child of Amra Kovacevic, Kentwood, Michigan.Brenna A. Lemoine, child of Amalie Lemoine, Cincinnati, Ohio.Vivian W. Li, child of Lei Li, Solon, Ohio.Revanth Manchineella, child of Sreedevi Chirumamilla, Cincinnati, Ohio.Casey J. Mankowski, child of Cynthia Mankowski, Tampa, Florida.Catherine A. McGuire, child of Timothy McGuire, Cleveland, Ohio.Zachary Reiffer, child of Stephen Reiffer, Grand Rapids, Michigan.Abraham T. Rempe, child of Thomas Rempe, Cincinnati, Ohio.Lauren J. Shen*, child of Lixin Shen, Cincinnati, Ohio.Hayden J. Stokes*, child of Miranda Stokes, Denver, Colorado.Danica Sun, child of Jinghua Cao, Rosemont, Illinois.Leo M. Tombragel, child of Greg Tombragel, Madisonville, Ohio.Jadon M. Turner, child of Kyle Greivenkamp, Cincinnati, Ohio.Emilie M. Young, child of Chris and Jenniffer Young, Independence, Kentucky.

“Since 2005, the Fifth Third Foundation has enthusiastically supported the academic goals of the children of Fifth Third employees through this scholarship,” said Heidi Jark, senior vice president and managing director of the Foundation Office at Fifth Third Bank, “We applaud these deserving students and are proud to support them as they embark upon this next chapter in higher education.”

The National Merit Scholarship Corp. is an independent nonprofit organization. The National Merit Scholarship Program was designed to identify and honor exceptionally able high school students, and to provide a system of services for corporations, foundations and other organizations that wish to sponsor college undergraduate scholarships to students who interest them. All aspects of the selection of winners and the administration of their awards are handled by the NMSC.

Established in 1948, the Fifth Third Foundation was the first charitable foundation created by a financial institution. The Foundation supports worthy causes in the areas of health and human services, education, community development and the arts in the states where Fifth Third Bank operates.

*National Merit Scholarship finalist

July 11, 2024 /3BL/ – In 2023, Lenovo unveiled its vision of “Smarter AI for All,” focused on unleashing the power of AI to drive intelligent transformation in every aspect of people’s lives and providing technology, solutions, and services that empower industries, enterprises, and individuals around the world. Lenovo recognizes that the realization of this vision hinges upon its steadfast adherence to principles that guarantee the responsible, ethical, and safe development, deployment, and utilization of AI.

Lenovo is pleased to announce Doug Fisher’s expanded role as Lenovo’s Chief Security and AI Officer, reporting to Lenovo’s CEO. In his newly expanded role, Fisher will lead Lenovo’s Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) governance by championing Lenovo’s AI Policy and working alongside Lenovo’s Responsible AI Committee. Lenovo chartered the Responsible AI Committee in 2022 with diverse leaders from across Lenovo’s business. The Responsible AI Committee is charged with evaluating Lenovo’s AI solutions against the key pillars of diversity and inclusion, environmental and social impact, accountability and reliability, transparency, explainability, privacy, and security.

“Security and privacy are two of our top priorities as we lead innovation and transformation in the age of AI,” Fisher recently shared. “Lenovo’s AI Policy ensures that our customers and partners and the broader community can trust the AI solutions we provide.”

At its core, the policy aims to support the most important pillars of Responsible AI at Lenovo:

Lenovo will not use AI in ways that harm people or put them or their rights at risk;Lenovo will ensure that our AI is fair, transparent, explainable, and efficientLenovo will protect people’s privacy at all stages of the AI Lifecyle;

Lenovo’s AI will be developed and used with robust security protections. Lenovo has already aligned itself to proactively demonstrate responsibility and accountability in the AI space, committing to the Canadian Government’s Voluntary Commitment to Responsible, Ethical Generative AI, UNESCO’s Commitment to and Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, and the Cercle InterElles Commitment to Responsible and Gender-Equitable Artificial Intelligence.

To support Lenovo’s commitment to Smarter AI for All, the company is connecting communities around the world and NGOs to learn more about the quickly evolving AI space. While also working with third parties to develop AI solutions for under-represented communities including real-time interpretation of Libras, the Brazilian sign language, and working with the Scott-Morgan Foundation to develop an avatar that creates new communication possibilities for people with severe disabilities.

Lenovo is focused on ensuring the future of AI meets its full potential as a benefit to humanity. Lenovo has also harnessed the power of AI for sustainability, with real-time tracking of emissions across its value chain and an AI-powered advisor to support customers’ sustainability decisions across the IT lifecycle.

Learn more about Lenovo’s approach to Responsible AI and more of its governance initiatives in the FY2023-24 Environmental, Social and Governance Report.

July 11, 2024 /3BL/ – In 2023, Lenovo unveiled its vision of “Smarter AI for All,” focused on unleashing the power of AI to drive intelligent transformation in every aspect of people’s lives and providing technology, solutions, and services that empower industries, enterprises, and individuals around the world. Lenovo recognizes that the realization of this vision hinges upon its steadfast adherence to principles that guarantee the responsible, ethical, and safe development, deployment, and utilization of AI.

Lenovo is pleased to announce Doug Fisher’s expanded role as Lenovo’s Chief Security and AI Officer, reporting to Lenovo’s CEO. In his newly expanded role, Fisher will lead Lenovo’s Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) governance by championing Lenovo’s AI Policy and working alongside Lenovo’s Responsible AI Committee. Lenovo chartered the Responsible AI Committee in 2022 with diverse leaders from across Lenovo’s business. The Responsible AI Committee is charged with evaluating Lenovo’s AI solutions against the key pillars of diversity and inclusion, environmental and social impact, accountability and reliability, transparency, explainability, privacy, and security.

“Security and privacy are two of our top priorities as we lead innovation and transformation in the age of AI,” Fisher recently shared. “Lenovo’s AI Policy ensures that our customers and partners and the broader community can trust the AI solutions we provide.”

At its core, the policy aims to support the most important pillars of Responsible AI at Lenovo:

Lenovo will not use AI in ways that harm people or put them or their rights at risk;Lenovo will ensure that our AI is fair, transparent, explainable, and efficientLenovo will protect people’s privacy at all stages of the AI Lifecyle;

Lenovo’s AI will be developed and used with robust security protections. Lenovo has already aligned itself to proactively demonstrate responsibility and accountability in the AI space, committing to the Canadian Government’s Voluntary Commitment to Responsible, Ethical Generative AI, UNESCO’s Commitment to and Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, and the Cercle InterElles Commitment to Responsible and Gender-Equitable Artificial Intelligence.

To support Lenovo’s commitment to Smarter AI for All, the company is connecting communities around the world and NGOs to learn more about the quickly evolving AI space. While also working with third parties to develop AI solutions for under-represented communities including real-time interpretation of Libras, the Brazilian sign language, and working with the Scott-Morgan Foundation to develop an avatar that creates new communication possibilities for people with severe disabilities.

Lenovo is focused on ensuring the future of AI meets its full potential as a benefit to humanity. Lenovo has also harnessed the power of AI for sustainability, with real-time tracking of emissions across its value chain and an AI-powered advisor to support customers’ sustainability decisions across the IT lifecycle.

Learn more about Lenovo’s approach to Responsible AI and more of its governance initiatives in the FY2023-24 Environmental, Social and Governance Report.

Originally published by Packaging Strategies

By Babitha George

A plant-based plastic cap is one way to minimize the carbon footprint of packaging when used in place of a traditional plastic cap. But what does “plant-based” mean in this context?

Food and beverage packaging can be derived from plant-based materials like sugarcane, which are renewable if responsibly sourced. When this is the case, it can reduce the packaging’s carbon footprint compared to that of traditional packaging materials, such as plastics derived from fossil fuels.

Continue reading here

Owned and operated by a dual military couple, Bailey’s Child Development and Learning Center started when the Bailey’s were facing difficulties finding reliable childcare while on active duty. Knowing they could not possibly be the only active military family dealing with this issue, the couple opened an at home childcare facility in 2013. Very quickly, three enrolled kids increased to 12 kids and the demand continued to grow, forcing Bailey’s CDC to implement a waiting list for other families who needed these services.

Bailey’s CDC provides curriculum to students in addition to training sessions for parents who need education support or information on childcare. Bailey’s CDC also provides jobs within the local community, expanding benefits and impact beyond the facility.

The Baileys identified this growing need for trustworthy and reputable childcare and were committed to providing this service. However, with no expertise in starting and running a small business, all of this was very new. They had to look for organizations that could provide them with all the knowledge and resources to properly operate and continue to grow the learning center.

Raphaela Bailey, part owner of Bailey’s CDC understands the fear and discomfort parents feel when placing their children in childcare. Raphaela understands the parents they service because she has been in their shoes. She recalls her time on active sea duty and how terrified she was to leave her babies. She has compassion for the parents leaving their kids in childcare and wants to create a safe environment where parents feel confident leaving their children.

With the demand for Bailey’s CDC increasing, the couple looked for ways to attract new employees while caring for their current staff. Through programs like the Shared Service Alliance, United Way, and Alamo Workforce, Bailey’s CDC was able to better understand the needs of the community.

As a recipient of a FedEx Small Business Grant, Bailey’s CDC can concentrate on efforts to invest more time in growing their business. The Baileys shared they plan to “take the center to the next level and become a Texas Rising Star-certified program,” a program that will help provide healthcare for teachers at the center.

With the grant funds, Bailey’s CDC will continue providing a much-needed space for children to learn and grow, parents to learn, and further engage local community members. Bailey’s CDC desires to contribute to their local economy and successfully set up the leaders of tomorrow for brighter futures.

Visit FedExCares.com for additional feature stories about the other 2024 Hiring Our Heroes Small Business Grant Program winners in the coming weeks.

Click here to learn about FedEx Cares, our global community engagement program.

By Sarah Hewitt, Director Strive Women, Women’s Entrepreneurship at CARE

In the corner of a vegetarian restaurant in Hanoi’s Old Quarter, three Vietnamese women sit around bowls of steaming noodles and dumplings, engrossed in discussion.

Despite the noise and chaos of the traffic outside, it’s peaceful in this small and cozy restaurant filled with potted plants. Sounds of conversation and laughter grow as the restaurant fills up with the lunch crowd.

The handmade menu tells the owner’s story. She opened the restaurant during the COVID-19 pandemic with a desire to provide healthy, nourishing meals made from local ingredients. Like any small business, this owner would face multiple challenges and fierce competition (as she later tells me), but now, the restaurant is clearly thriving, and I wonder, what is the recipe for her success? What draws all these customers and me, a foreigner in Vietnam, time and again to this restaurant instead of the more familiar big chain names?

Is it just the papaya salad – really, the best I’ve ever eaten – or is it something else that only a small business has?

Building stronger communities

Around the world, small businesses are the hearts and souls of communities. Your local barber and corner stores offer more than just transactional interactions for essential products and services. They are places where people listen to your everyday problems and foster a sense of belonging. What’s more, there’s a one in three chance that these micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), like the one I’m lunching in today, will be led by women.

There are more women than ever in business today, yet most have only three-quarters of the legal rights that men have when it comes to career, finances, and work-life balance – this despite the fact that women-led businesses are vital not just for their reinvestment into household incomes and national economies, but also for their transformative power. The latest evidence on women-led businesses finds that they not only reduce poverty but that they also drive job creation, spark innovation, and contribute to safer, greener and more vibrant communities, ensuring that everyone thrives collectively. These women-led enterprises are regenerative forces – building business communities and hiring local workers. Local economies simply cannot succeed without them.

Dreaming inclusive growth into reality

“Women on their own face many obstacles. However, if we build a community of people who inspire us and support us, we can achieve so much…. We can do things together that we could never accomplish alone,” says Violeta Pacheco Mejía an entrepreneur in Lima, Peru.

Her eco-friendly alpaca and cotton clothing company, Tejidos Peruanos, is based in Villa El Salvador, a historically disadvantaged neighborhood in Lima.  Her business has a reputation for being a place where women help women succeed and where community makes the impossible possible. Violeta set up her company in Villa El Salvador to make it more accessible to talented workers living in the area. In addition to having a largely female work staff, Tejidos Peruanos offers safe on-site childcare for employees, to give parents flexibility and peace of mind. Tejidos Peruanos and Violeta are prime examples of how women entrepreneurs reinvest in their communities, hire more women, and give hope to other marginalized populations.

It has taken Violeta over 18 years of hard work and passion to create the business of her dreams — impactful and profitable. Yet it was only in this last year that Violeta, through her participation in CARE’s Ignite and Strive Women programs – both supported by the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth – was finally able to get a bank loan in her own name.

“Tejidos Peruanos is the dream of 14 women,” says Violeta, “We have gone through many difficulties, but we have been able to move forward despite them. We have realized at this point that if we want to keep moving forward, we must keep preparing and training – not just me, but the whole team. This is a dream that we dream together.”

Enabling healthy market systems, while battling systemic barriers

Despite the creativity, resilience, and leadership demonstrated by Violeta and millions like her, women entrepreneurs face outsized barriers and constraints – including access to credit – that impede their growth and deteriorate their confidence.

The women entrepreneurs we work with through CARE’s programs are not willing to wait. They want to grow their businesses and they have the skills and confidence to do it. Our recipe for building a supportive ecosystem – one that values the contributions of women – works with local partners to design policies, products, and programs. Together we design tailored financial services, alongside training and business networks, with outreach campaigns to challenge harmful gender norms.

Policymakers, businesses, banks, community leaders, and individuals have a role to play in unlocking women’s economic power, valued at $10 trillion annually. We need whole system change that includes comprehensive macroeconomic reforms including fairer tax systems and recognition of the care economy. We need localized women-centered financial products and entrepreneur support systems to create more equitable economies for all marginalized groups, including women.

As we commemorate MSME Day let us recognize, celebrate, and promote the women-led micro and small enterprises that are the lifeblood of our communities. Here’s how you can show your support and make an impact:

By supporting the growth and resilience of women-led small businesses, we strengthen the invisible bonds that connect us. This not only helps unique and vibrant places thrive, like the Vietnamese noodle café in Hanoi, but also moves us towards a feminist future where equality and inclusivity become a lived reality.

ERGs Unplugged is our diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) podcast, where we take a deeper dive into the power of our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). In our fourth episode, Black Alliance members Destinie Harris, Candance Lewis, and Dre Moseley share their perspectives on the impact of the ERG.

To learn more about our commitment to DE&I visit: Maximus.com/DEI

As energy transition continues to take hold globally, the oil and gas industry stands in a central position of influence.

On one hand, these fuels are major contributors to carbon emissions. On the other hand, oil and gas companies have unique expertise, resources, and incentives to take a leading role in the shift toward more sustainable energy systems.

In what has been described as a “moment of truth” for the industry, it’s critical for business leaders to be aware and vigilant of the risks and opportunities presented by a global movement toward cleaner energy.

What does energy transition mean for oil and gas?

Oil and gas aren’t going away anytime soon. While research from the International Energy Agency (IEA) has suggested that global demand for these energy sources could peak by 2030, McKinsey asserts that “fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas will continue to make up a significant share of the energy mix by 2050, partly because of how they combine affordability and security of supply.”

With that said, there are clear market risks associated with the decreasing demand for petroleum-based products, along with policy/legal risks, technology risks, and reputational risks faced by companies in this space.

Understanding oil and gas transition risks and opportunities

At Antea Group, we are deeply focused on helping companies navigate the novel challenges of an evolving global energy infrastructure. Using the profile of an upstream oil and gas company in the United States, here’s an overview of transition-related risks as defined by the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), highlighting some of the latest legislative and regulatory action.

Policy and legal risks

The most apparent and forthcoming policy risk, impacting all businesses, is the recent SEC ruling requiring disclosure of GHG emissions data. That policy and others like it can impose compliance burdens on oil and gas companies and may increase the level of scrutiny on public reporting. Oil and gas companies should also be aware of the following examples of local and national pricing schemes:

A national carbon tax, while unlikely in the short term, will significantly increase compliance costs, especially impacting heavy industries like power production and manufacturing earlier.The American Petroleum Institute (API) has supported the idea of a national carbon price but there is no consensus on implementation details.The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is a cooperative effort among 12 eastern states aimed at reducing CO2 emissions from power plants. It employs a market-based system where regulated power plants must acquire CO2 allowances priced at $2.50 per short ton of emissions.

Additionally, it’s important to be aware of these changes in access to leases and production costs:

One climate-related action from the Biden administration was slowing the release of federal leases, increasing exploration and production costs. Higher royalty rates and the rescindment of non-competitive leases are adding to the financial burden.New reclamation policies for abandoned wells and stricter regulations on methane venting and flaring can further increase production costs.

There is also an anticipated decrease in overall domestic demand for oil and gas as clean power targets from the government take shape. An executive order for the U.S. in December of 2021 established the following goals:

100% carbon-free electricity by 2030, with half being locally supplied clean energy.100% zero-emission vehicle acquisitions by 2035.Net-zero emissions building portfolio by 2045, including a 50% reduction by 2032.

Since 2018, 19 states have increased the ambition of their renewable or clean energy targets.

Technology and market risks

The adoption of electric vehicles and emission standards is having a substantial impact on the oil and gas industry, and demand for fossil fuels. For example:

Emissions standards set by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) have been adopted in 17 states, including California and Washington D.C. These states are also committed to zero emission vehicle (ZEV) targets.The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has introduced the most stringent emissions standards to date for heavy-duty vehicles, further reducing fossil fuel demand.

From a market standpoint, technologies such as renewables (solar and wind), electric vehicles, and battery storage are achieving cost parity with traditional fossil fuels more quickly than anticipated. This makes them more competitive and attractive alternatives.

Meanwhile, carbon capture technology is being developed, with support from investments in the oil and gas sector. Despite the ongoing effort, carbon capture has not yet proven to be cost-effective or scalable, posing a significant risk to its viability as a long-term solution for reducing emissions.

Reputational risks

Understandably, oil and gas companies have become a prime target of climate activism, due to perceptions around being a core part of the problem. Public criticism of new exploration projects and oil and gas operations generally are growing more common – divestment campaigns being one example.

Increasing regulatory pressure and continued stakeholder expectations to disclose environmental and social impacts are presenting increased costs associated with business operations.

Overprepare to avoid being overwhelmed

Oil and gas companies have a lot on their radars right now, in an industry brimming with both excitement and uncertainty. Understanding the evolving regulatory landscape and the various risks at play in connection with energy transition is crucial to effectively guiding your business into the future.

Antea Group is here to help. Learn about our energy transition consulting services.

Verizon

What you need to know:

Verizon Business and Monarch Tractor have joined together to support more sustainable farming practices through the use of Verizon’s network connectivity.Monarch’s autonomous tractors stay connected even in remote agricultural areas, leveraging the power of Verizon’s award-winning wireless networks.Monarch Tractor’s Monarch MK-V platform, integrated with Verizon’s technology, enables autonomous operations, near real-time visibility, and alerts for farmers.

NEW YORK, July 11, 2024 /3BL/ – Verizon Business and Monarch Tractor, the pioneering force behind the MK-V, the world’s first fully electric, autonomous, smart tractor, announce a strategic partnership to support more sustainable farming practices with the use of autonomous tractors all connected via Verizon’s network.

By harnessing Verizon’s technology, Monarch Tractor enables its autonomous tractors to be connected even in remote agricultural landscapes. Unlike traditional broadband solutions, Verizon provides game-changing technology that connects homes and businesses seamlessly. This connectivity is ideal for remote locations and well suited for the vineyards and farmlands served by Monarch Tractor.

“Monarch Tractor is an example of what happens when an innovative customer leverages our class network and shows the power and versatility of our wireless network,” said Aparna Khurjekar, Chief Revenue Officer, Verizon Business. “By providing connectivity to their autonomous tractors, we are enabling Monarch Tractor’s mission to redefine an industry, bringing greater data-driven decision-making to the agricultural sector.”

The Verizon Business and Monarch Tractor Partnership

Innovation is at the heart of the partnership between Verizon Business and Monarch Tractor, which is investigating the deployment of additional Verizon Business solutions tailored to the agricultural sector. These include capabilities such as the wireless network performance tool and GPS location services.

The deal between Verizon Business and Monarch Tractor underscores the transformative potential of technology in promoting sustainable agriculture by driving innovation, connectivity, and efficiency in farming practices, paving the way for a more resilient and prosperous future for farmers and communities worldwide.

Monarch MK-V Technology

Headquartered in Livermore, California, a renowned agricultural hub, Monarch Tractor’s farmer-centric approach to innovation aligns with Verizon Business’s commitment to advancing technological solutions for businesses across diverse sectors, marking this as a pivotal moment in the agricultural industry. This effort is driven heavily by the Monarch MK-V platform.

The Monarch MK-V combines electrification, machine learning, and data analysis to enhance operations by driving labor productivity, increased safety, and significant cost savings. Monarch Tractor customers can harness the true power of the MK-V with the Wingspan Ag Intelligence (WingspanAI) platform, which provides automated operations planning, remote fleet management, tractor performance reports, maintenance diagnostics, and more. Harnessing Verizon’s technology in the MK-V enables the execution of autonomous operations via the WingspanAI app and deeper visibility into MK-V operations through live video feeds and near real-time alerts from virtually anywhere, at any time.

Monarch Tractor, through its work with Verizon Business, is leveraging connectivity in this real-world use case, highlighting how the Verizon network helps meet the demand for access to high-speed, reliable internet, in virtually any location or industry.

“The premise of Monarch Tractor has been centered around delivering farm machinery that drives farmer profitability and planet sustainability at scale,” said Praveen Penmetsa, CEO and Co-Founder of Monarch Tractor. “Leveraging Verizon’s connectivity solutions has been integral to making the MK-V tractor’s smart, sustainable technology accessible to customers in remote farming communities, allowing us to bring the latest in electrification and autonomy into the hands of farmers across the country.”

Learn more about Monarch Tractor and the MK-V platform.

Learn more about innovative business solutions from Verizon Business.

Media contact

Tessa Giammona
tessa.giammona@verizon.com