Tag: 3BL

Authored by Mark Ross 

Boards of directors for healthcare providers play a crucial role in preserving financial integrity and operational efficiency. It is essential for boards to remain attentive to emerging industry trends to proactively address potential challenges and exploit opportunities. Awareness of trends allows boards to adjust financial and expansion strategies, refine risk management protocols and update compliance measures accordingly. 

In the evolving landscape of healthcare provider organizations, technological advancements and ever-changing healthcare reimbursement and regulatory policies can significantly influence financial stability. By proactively staying up-to date on trends, boards of directors can make well informed decisions, bolster long-term financial sustainability, and ensure that provider organizations are equipped to accomplish their number one objective, which is to deliver high-quality care while upholding fiscal responsibility. 

Beyond elevating awareness relative to industry trends, the remainder of this article addresses a few specific topics that should be front of mind for boards in the healthcare provider space. 

Price transparency 

Ever-changing regulations enacted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) raise increased scrutiny and steep penalties for noncompliance. Boards of directors should ensure that organizations are aware of applicable law and regulations, and an effective compliance program is in place to ensure compliance with these laws the regulations.   

A timely example of the ever-changing regulatory environment for healthcare systems would be the price transparency regulations.  Navigating the intricacies of the updated price transparency guidelines presents hurdles for hospital organizations, often requiring modifications to systems, processes, and reporting. For the deadline approaching July 1, 2024, and thereafter, provider boards of directors should ensure hospitals standardize and simplify reporting responsibilities to ensure adherence to these regulations as recent CMS enforcement actions against noncompliant providers are on the rise. 

Although price transparency is viewed as a regulatory compliance matter by many, providers can now use pricing information in the public domain to analyze and benchmark competitor and payer pricing. The process can add significant value to a provider organization. Boards of directors should ensure providers have processes in place to comply and benefit from this new legislation through improved pricing strategies and more effective managed care contract negotiations. Viewing this legislation as an opportunity to improve will help to change the mindset from compliance to value added.   

Mergers and acquisitions 

The ongoing merger and acquisition (M&A) activity in the healthcare provider sector poses opportunities and challenges for provider organizations. Despite the opportunities that can be gained through M&A strategies (e.g., enhanced reimbursement opportunities, expanded geographic reach, creating economies of scale, etc.), provider boards of directors should establish rigorous oversight protocols as organizations execute due diligence processes over the target organization. This can involve examining, and evaluating the accuracy of, historical and prospective financial information, assessing the targets strategic plan, and identifying potential compliance and other risks connected to target organizations. Boards can help ensure that the M&A process adheres to regulatory requirements and best practice industry standards, mitigating risk and elevating the chances of success. One of the most critical components of any M&A transaction is the integration process. Boards of directors need to ensure integration plans are well thought out and understood by all stakeholders. Integration goals established as part of this planning process need to be closely monitored on an ongoing basis to ensure the benefits of the M&A transaction are ultimately realized; this is often not the case with M&A transactions, specifically in the healthcare system space. 

Healthcare information technology 

Assessing the risks and benefits of healthcare information technology (HIT) initiatives, such as electronic health records (EHR) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) tools, can be a difficult task. Provider boards of directors should ensure provider organizations have effective processes in place to evaluate the performance and effectiveness of HIT systems. Most organizations today focus on optimization of their IT platforms to help drive down expenses, better capture revenue, improve workflows for clinicians, and improve patient satisfaction. The goal here is simple; eliminate unnecessary steps in clinical and other workflows and integrating and streamlining the overall technology environment. With data privacy and security being a priority, provider boards of directors should ensure cybersecurity risks are appropriately mitigated. Further, provider boards should ensure data analytics are being deployed in key operational and strategic areas across the organization, and that action plans are developed to leverage the insights surfacing from the use of data analytics. By providing effective oversight, provider boards support provider organizations as they strive to optimize their electronic environment, effectively managing HIT initiatives which will contribute to the success and effectiveness of the healthcare organization. 

Inflation Reduction Act 

Following the enactment of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022, healthcare organizations, including tax-exempt entities, are now eligible to receive tax credits connected to eligible clean energy projects. Navigating the eligibility and compliance requirements of the IRA can be difficult for provider organizations. Provider boards of directors should be aware of the opportunities created by the enactment of the IRA and should ensure the organization is properly analyzing capital projects for eligible capital spend on energy and utilities infrastructure, and pursuing tax credits for which they may be eligible. There may be a sense of urgency on this particular issue as energy tax credits have certain eligibility timelines under law and regulation. In addition, as the upcoming election approaches, the possibility of changes to the IRA may be elevated. 

Takeaways

By keeping up with industry trends, boards of directors enhance their ability to exercise their fiduciary responsibility by assisting provider organizations confront the challenges of today and seize the opportunities of tomorrow. Boards support provider organizations as they assess financial stability, address current operational and compliance issues, and seek growth strategies to capitalize on opportunities. Moreover, boards should ensure provider organizations strive to maintain best in class polices, procedures, regulatory compliance protocols, etc. in response to both current industry challenges and the ever-changing environment will help provider organizations achieve both “provider of choice” and “employer of choice” designations in their market. There are no guarantees for success in the healthcare sector today, but those two designations will certainly elevate your chances of success. 

Unlocking strategic insights through audits with Baker Tilly 

Baker Tilly’s audit teams employ a risk-based approach to audit engagements, which leverages our comprehensive understanding of the healthcare sector; client-specific business models, operations and internal controls; and industry-wide best practices. Our teams use the latest in technology which facilitates a specific focus on certain audit areas, and the execution of audit procedures that produce valuable insights for clients. These insights result in real business conversations as a by-product of the audit process, rather than just compliance related dialogue. Contact us to understand how to move your organization to the tomorrow you envision through our innovative, value-added audit process.

Connect with Baker Tilly to learn more!

Originally published on Built From Scratch

In 2012, U.S. Army Ranger Master Sergeant (MSG) Cedric King lost both legs after stepping on an IED during his Afghanistan deployment. As a double amputee, he had little hope for his future quality of life, but with a wife and two daughters, Cedric knew he couldn’t stop fighting. Last year, he completed his 21st marathon.

Amid his recovery, Cedric returned home from the hospital with new accessibility needs. He found himself in a different battle: not being able to perform simple tasks in his own house. In 2017, The Home Depot Foundation partnered with the Gary Sinise Foundation and gifted his family a new, mortgage-free and specially adapted smart home. Built from the ground up specifically for his family, it came equipped with accommodations to simplify his day-to-day tasks like cooking and showering. With features like wheelchair level countertops and pulldowns in the closet for him to hang his own clothes.

“THE TRANSFORMATION MAKES LIVING JUST AS EFFORTLESS AS IT WAS BEFORE, ALMOST AS IF THIS ACCIDENT NEVER HAPPENED.”

–CEDRIC KING

Cedric received the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal and Legion of Merit. The new author now uses his voice to motivate others to fight through their own personal storms. He’s shared his story of perseverance and endurance with audiences at the U.S. Naval Academy and United States Military Academy and with professional sports teams, including the NFL, NBA, and MLB.

Giving back to veterans is personal to The Home Depot, as more than 35,000 of the company’s associates are veterans or military spouses. Since 2011, The Home Depot Foundation has partnered to build more than 90 smart homes for combat-wounded veterans and invested more than $500 million in veteran causes. This ensures more of our nation’s heroes have a safe, comfortable home that fits their individual needs.

Keep up with all the latest Home Depot news! Subscribe to our bi-weekly news update and get the top Built from Scratch stories delivered straight to your inbox.

Our people making a difference is a series featured throughout Owens Corning’s 2023 Sustainability Report.

Born in Brownsville, Texas, U.S., and raised in Mexico until age three, Brenda Karras has always aspired to make a contribution on a larger scale. She’s brought that idea to her work here at Owens Corning, both as part of our Global Information Services team and as an early member of the HOLA affinity group. Brenda has been an active participant in our efforts to build an inclusive workforce, helping seek out new bilingual talent for the Customer Solutions team from within her community. Her ability to find connections with others has helped us live our commitment to inclusion and diversity every day.

On the importance of affinity groups in building community

I believe affinity groups have a lot of power to help people feel seen and understood. They create an environment where people can connect with folks who may have walked a similar path and understand the challenges a person may be going through. They also foster camaraderie — through HOLA, I have met some pretty amazing people, some of whom I consider friends even though we’ve never met in person. Affinity groups can also help move the needle in achieving our inclusion and diversity aspirations. In our first two years, HOLA has focused on creating a network for connection and belonging, building a roadmap that focuses on talent attraction, onboarding, retention, development, and career advancement. We also want to expand to our plants strategically and understand what would help our Latino and Hispanic employees feel supported.

On being one’s most authentic self at work

I started a Hispanic Club in high school, and I was active in the Latino Student Union in college. When I joined Owens Corning, though, I unintentionally separated my “Mexican American me” from my “work me.” When I became involved with HOLA in the early stages of the group’s formation, though, I felt re-energized. It helped me truly understand the meaning of “bringing your whole self to work.” The people, cultural sharing, networking, and building a community and support brought back memories. Additionally, being able to find opportunities to connect with the community I grew up in (a mile from world headquarters) felt like I was meshing various parts of my world. That’s why being able to recruit local talent for bilingual roles from my church was so special to me. I hope we can partner with neighboring schools more and talk about the opportunities at Owens Corning and that maybe one day those students become future employees of our company, just as I did.

On the benefits of an inclusive workplace

Inclusion and diversity are key components of social sustainability. They show our company’s commitment and dedication to creating a positive and inclusive work place and promoting equal opportunities for all. A commitment to inclusion and diversity can also be a factor in the choices employees or potential employees make about whether to join, stay, or leave a company. Seeing Owens Corning include inclusion and diversity as part of our approach to sustainability sends a powerful message about our values and our stance on respecting people from all backgrounds. It makes it public — loud and proud — and you can see how it’s being measured and understand the progress being made in an area.

Originally published in Northwestern Mutual 2023 Sustainability and Social Impact Report

Since 1857, Northwestern Mutual has been committed to doing what’s right—working to deliver positive, transformative results for generations to come. The value we place on both today and tomorrow requires a commitment to environmental sustainability; we work to be good stewards for our policyowners and clients, our people and our communities. 

We manage our day-to-day facility operations to reduce our climate impact through energy efficiency, water conservation, waste management and a continued focus on our carbon footprint. We also recognize the importance of the relationship between spaces and the people who will use them, from our corporate employees and financial advisors and representatives to members of the public enjoying our campus. Our environmental sustainability commitment carries through to our investment strategy and to the investment products we offer consumers.

ESTABLISHING AN ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE CORPORATE FOOTPRINT

Building design, construction and operation at Northwestern Mutual considers the environment as well as people’s health and well-being. We’ve built to sustainability standards such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), focused on environmental impact and sustainability, and the WELL Building Standard, focused on people’s health and wellness. We have 3.27 million square feet of corporate office space across three campuses—and more than 40% of that office space is LEED Gold certified (our Milwaukee Tower, Commons and Van Buren buildings). This matters because LEED buildings use, on average, 25% less energy than conventional buildings1. As part of our commitment to environmental protection, we continue to find new ways to increase facility energy efficiency, reduce water use and waste, and expand focus on our carbon footprint.

Energy efficiency and focus on carbon footprint 

As part of our efforts to better understand and measure Northwestern Mutual’s impact on the environment, we’re expanding the metrics we use to measure our exposure to climate risk. This includes accounting for our scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions consistent with Greenhouse Gas Protocol guidelines. 

In 2024, we’re rolling out enhanced Energy Manager software to gather data from our Milwaukee and Franklin campus building systems, diagnose underperforming equipment, forecast energy use, and prioritize action. We’re adding HVAC submeters to improve energy tracking in our Van Buren office building. Daylight sensor harvesting will help reduce overhead light use and yield substantial savings. We’ve also invested in refrigerant recovery and reduction, and in using more eco-friendly options.

Water and waste management 

Our focus on environmental stewardship inspires us to conserve water and decrease and divert waste from our corporate operations. 

In programs that date back nearly 100 years, the cafeterias at our Milwaukee and Franklin campuses minimize food waste by planning and buying ingredients accurately, using “just in time” food production and composting organic materials. Partnering with local food and composting providers, this year we diverted thousands of pounds of food waste from landfills. 

We engage employees in continually decreasing waste, coordinating recycling of paper, plastic, cardboard, metal, batteries, shoes, glasses, ink pens and more— with a specialized technology recycling program to address computers, monitors, printers and other equipment. In 2023, we also removed bottled water from our cafeterias and break areas, promoting water stations for reusable cups and drink containers. 

Our rooftop gardens on the Milwaukee campus—planted with 34,000 square feet of plants and foliage—divert more than 500,000 gallons of stormwater runoff a year.

Enhanced employee experience 

We know the physical environment affects people’s well-being and the work they’re capable of doing. Northwestern Mutual considers employee feedback and empathetic design to create a welcoming environment that supports health, comfort and connection as well as productivity. In addition to our renowned free lunch for employees, we offer: 

Increased focus on air quality, with regular third-party testing Natural lighting and green spaces to encourage well-being Museum-quality art experiences to foster vibrant, innovative and diverse physical and cultural environments Free exhibitions of relevant contemporary artwork by notable artists in our public indoor and outdoor spaces Electric vehicle charging stations at our Milwaukee and Franklin campuses now available at no cost to employees Technology that lets employees submit facility service requests using their mobile devices, helping identify opportunities to save energy and reduce potential water waste

ASSESSING CLIMATE-RELATED RISKS AND OPPORTUNITIES

Our cross-functional Climate Risk Stakeholder Group, accountable to the Enterprise Risk Executive Committee, is an extension of Northwestern Mutual’s time-tested governance practices. These subject matter experts: 

Conduct physical and transition climate risk and opportunity identification and analysis as part of the company’s enterprise risk prioritization and assessment processes. Determine integration points for climate-related risks and opportunities into operations, strategic planning, and reporting. Identify emerging climate risk practices, guidance and standards through close monitoring of and engagement with regulators, policymakers and other key stakeholders. 

For more information about how Northwestern Mutual assesses and manages climate-related risk, see our annual Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) filing administered by the California Department of Insurance on behalf of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

POWERING CHANGE THROUGH SOCIALLY AND ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENTS

 Northwestern Mutual aims to use its best efforts to invest at least 5% of general account assets in socially and environmentally responsible investments without compromising return objectives. It’s good for business—and the right thing to do. We’ve consistently exceeded our target; such investments today total more than $24.8 billion. For retail investment clients interested in this focus, we offer a variety of responsible investment options.

General account investments 

As a mutual company, Northwestern Mutual exists for the benefit of our policyowners. We seek to maximize long-term value through superior returns while maintaining exceptional financial strength, taking a balanced portfolio approach focused on diversification. We also believe proactively integrating social and environmental factors will enhance our investment process and outcomes. In particular, we focus on:

Environmentally responsible investments that support or are sensitive to the environment, including public and private corporate and sovereign green, social, sustainable, and sustainability linked-bonds and loans linked to renewable and alternative energy projects, projects qualifying for Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) financing, real estate investments that meet nationally recognized sustainable building and occupant wellness standards, and projects that invest in cleaning up state and federal environmentally contaminated sites. We’re also exploring approaches to the low carbon transition through thoughtful allocation of capital and a variety of initiatives. 
 Socioeconomically responsible investments that promote goals such as affordable housing, healthcare access, economic development through education and social infrastructure projects in underdeveloped areas, and success for businesses with owners from underrepresented groups. 
 

Impact Investment Fund investments that generate social benefits, such as deploying capital to underserved communities and businesses, looking to enhance capital access, physical or social infrastructure, or underserved neighborhoods. 

Examples of these investments include the following:

Environmental transformation. Northwestern Mutual’s real estate investment team is partnering to redevelop more than 30 acres near the Dallas-Fort Worth airport, a site that had housed a petroleum bulk facility and transfer station since 1960. The site had included piping infrastructure and 15 above-ground steel tanks, 2,000 to 3.36 million gallons each, containing gasoline, diesel, ethanol and other fuel additives. Northwestern Mutual’s investment requires this equipment to be decommissioned and the property decontaminated, consistent with the partners’ Soil and Groundwater Management Plan. We will then develop four LEED-certified warehouse buildings on the site while creating hundreds of jobs in this densely populated area. 
 Affordable housing. Our local Impact Fund is invested in the Milwaukee Community Land Trust’s “Homes MKE” initiative, which seeks to preserve access to affordable homeownership. Since 2010, Milwaukee has lost 15-20% homeownership in underserved neighborhoods, largely due to out-of-town acquisitions of city property. Families in these neighborhoods face headwinds to homeownership including low income, education about the homebuying process, and affordability. The Milwaukee County Land Trust, with the help of Northwestern Mutual, addresses all three headwinds. Low-income residents can purchase homes at or below market prices, based on neighborhood property value, cost to redevelop, and family income. In return, homebuyers agree to sell their home to other qualified individual homebuyers in the future, making affordable homeownership opportunities available to future generations. 
 Responsible investments for our clients We offer a suite of responsible investment options for retail investment clients looking to match their values with value. These offerings include mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and individual securities that, like all other offerings, are rooted in Northwestern Mutual’s proprietary capital market assumptions and disciplined approach to investing, with the common objective of maximizing risk-adjusted return. Learn more about these investment options at northwesternmutual.com/esg-investing.

Learn more about Northwestern Mutual’s commitment to reducing our environmental impact in the 2023 Sustainability and Social Impact Report.
 

1U.S. Green Building Council, “Top 10 reasons to certify to LEED”

May 2, 2024 /3BL/ – The USAID Center for International Disaster Information (CIDI) and USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (USAID/BHA) are proud to announce the winners of their annual PSAid contest, a public service announcement design competition for college students. Each year, participants are invited to create PSAs explaining why “Cash is Best” when donating to international disaster relief efforts. 

When disaster strikes internationally, Americans want to help. While well intentioned, most people are unaware that donating material goods can hinder relief efforts by creating logistical challenges and overwhelming local infrastructure. Monetary donations to trusted organizations working on the ground helps support international disaster relief efforts and makes a meaningful impact on the lives of those affected by these devastating events. 

The 2024 winning PSAs were selected from submissions received from universities and community colleges across the country in three categories: video, static image and GIFs. 

Congratulations to the 2024 PSAid contest winners: 

GIF:

1st: Cash is Best, Izie Figueroa, Arizona State University2nd: Cash is Fast, Emyli Hinojosa Rafael, Arizona State University3rd: Why is Cash Best?, Hyelim (Amy) Song, Arizona State University

Static Image:

1st: Send Cash!, EL Mikkelsen, Arizona State University2nd: Unblocking Relief Efforts, Emma Klarin, Arizona State University3rd: Change is Magic, Sydnee Reed, Arizona State University

Video:

1st: Global Chat, Natalie Clark, Arizona State University2nd: No Matter the Disaster, Alula Valdivia, Arizona State University3rd: Quick and in Quantity, Gabe Pante, Arizona State University

“Throughout this experience, I learned how valuable cash is during international disasters,” said Sydnee Reed of Arizona State University, third-place winner in the static image category. “I hope people see this and understand that needs are different in every situation, and the best way to make a change is to donate something that is universally valued.” 

A panel of experts from the fields of humanitarian assistance, communications and design served as volunteer judges: Oktay Dogramaci, former vice president of PayPal Giving, CTO and co-founder of MissionFish; Hillary Hoffower, editor and writer; Jeff Odom, director of digital marketing for IndyCar; Gretel Truong, producer; and Marcia Wong, deputy assistant to the administrator for USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance. 

USAID also invited the public to vote for their favorites in the People’s Choice contest. 

People’s Choice winners:

GIF: Finding Your Zen With Cash, Alliyah Zaragoza, Arizona State UniversityStatic Image: The Pocket Sized Solution, Avery Cluff, Arizona State UniversityVideo: One Solution, Cash is Best, Jasmine Lawson, Arizona State University

The winning PSAs will be used in CIDI’s “Cash is Best” outreach efforts. Previous winning PSAs have reached over 1 billion people and have been in more than 150 media markets, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Atlanta. Winning broadcast PSAs have appeared on streaming services, such as Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime. Winning static PSAs and GIFs have been featured in Forbes, Rolling Stone, The Boston Herald, and the Arizona Republic, to name a few publications. 

All winning entries can be viewed at PSAid.org. 

### 

About USAID CIDI 
USAID CIDI was created in 1988 by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance to inform the public about the advantages of giving monetary donations to relief organizations and warn about the risks of donating unsolicited material goods. Through its “Cash is Best” messaging, CIDI’s goal is to support donors and relief agencies as they work to provide quick, effective, and efficient relief to people affected by disasters. CIDI provides donations guidance to individuals, groups, embassies, businesses, and corporations. For more information about “Cash is Best” and helping international disaster survivors, please visit USAID CIDI at www.cidi.org. 

Media Contact: 
Ariel Selzer White 
(713) 492-5627

Learn More

Georgia-Pacific’s stewardship framework includes contributing to the success of communities where we operate, and ensuring we use natural resources thoughtfully. We responsibly source our timber and proactively monitor where our fiber comes from through our endangered forest mapping program. The company also supports wildlife conservation, uses renewable energy sources, and aims to reduce our waste responsibly.

At the same time, Georgia-Pacific continuously challenges and transforms how we practice responsible stewardship. We use biomass at our wood products facilities to generate thermal energy for production processes.

Biomass, considered carbon neutral by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is a renewable organic material that comes from plants such as trees. It contains stored chemical energy from the sun produced by plants through photosynthesis, and can be used for heat, converted to liquid and fuels, and energy sources. Sources of energy include wood and wood processing waste, which is a primary raw material we use.

Using the entire tree – from bark to wood waste and other organic materials – biomass accounts for over 50% of our energy needs. For example, twenty-one of Georgia-Pacific’s Building Products facilities use biomass to make steam or heat to produce various products, such as plywood. Overall, GP has decreased our reliance on solid fossil fuels by 72% since 2013 and replaced this energy demand with either natural gas or biomass. Shifting energy choices to biomass and natural gas has resulted in a decrease in our greenhouse emissions.

In 2019, Georgia-Pacific’s Naheola mill in Pennington, Alabama, completed a coal boiler upgrade to biomass. This facility, which produces consumer products such as bath tissue and paper towels, replaced the legacy boilers as part of a strategy to produce energy more efficiently. The initiative, which also reduced water consumption, emissions, and particulate matter, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and the need for landfill disposals, was chosen by the ENERGY STAR® Industrial Partners as a Top Project.

Georgia-Pacific depends on healthy working forests for its products. As a manufacturer that practices responsible sourcing, biomass is one of the technologies we use to consume fewer resources and lessen emissions, while creating more value for our partners, consumers, and communities.

Learn more about Georgia-Pacific’s approach to environmental stewardship by viewing the 2023 Stewardship Report.

View original content here.

National Volunteer Week is an opportunity to recognize the impact of volunteer service and harness the power of many individuals coming together to make change. It reminds us that when we come together, we have the power to tackle society’s most significant challenges, help build stronger communities, and be a force that transforms the world.

As we recognize Volunteer Week, the Foundation would like to celebrate the contributions of our employee Ambassadors, including the Foundation Board, who continue to take opportunities to serve their community. In March, the Board came together to roll up their sleeves and volunteer with Foundation grantee partner Cornerstones.

Cornerstones’ mission is to promote stability, empowerment, and hope through support, advocacy, and community-building for individuals and families in need. They achieve their mission through comprehensive programs and wrap-around services that solve urgent or ongoing requirements for housing, childcare, food, or financial assistance, intending to sustain healthy families, secure housing, and financial independence.

Volunteering with Cornerstones allowed the board members and staff to witness firsthand the organization’s impact on the lives of individuals and families while actively engaging to learn more about the community and contribute to positive change. “One of the things I enjoy most about involvement with the Maximus Foundation is interacting with the organizations we support and seeing firsthand the impact they have in our communities, ” Byron French, Maximus Managing Director and Foundation Board Member, said. ”I loved sharing this experience with fellow Maximus Foundation Board Members in the project we did at Cornerstones, an organization doing tremendous work not far from our corporate office.”

Like many nonprofit organizations worldwide, Cornerstones relies heavily on volunteer support to fulfill its mission. During Volunteer Week and throughout the year, we all can lend our time, expertise, and resources to amplify further the impact of those doing work in our community.

In celebration of Volunteer Week, the Foundation thanks its supporters for their invaluable contributions to giving back and invites everyone to explore opportunities to get involved and make a meaningful difference in their community. Whether it’s through amplifying nonprofits through social media, organizing fundraising drives, or visiting a local nonprofit to learn about the issues affecting our communities, we can all do something to be the change we wish to see in the world.

Giving back to the communities we serve

The Maximus Foundation is one of the ways Maximus employees are doing something greater together. Established by the Maximus Board of Directors in 2000, the Maximus Foundation is an independent, employee-led, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Employee donors pool their charitable contributions together through the Foundation, double their impact on the grantmaking program through Maximus’ dollar-for-dollar matching pledge, and make their voices heard by nominating and voting for future grantee partners. Though the Foundation focuses its giving strategy on grantmaking, it also helps coordinate corporate-wide humanitarian efforts and empowers employees to donate their time and skills to nonprofits. Their inspired giving and volunteerism help accelerate the missions of nonprofits on the frontlines of the communities we serve. Learn more at  maximus.com/foundation.

Covia is thrilled to be partnering with Monarch Joint Venture (MJV) in an effort to safeguard and enhance the habitat of the migratory monarch butterfly and other pollinators. Through MJV’s work, they aim to protect monarchs and their migration by collaborating with partners, like Covia, to deliver habitat conservation, education, and science across the monarch range. The monarch butterfly is facing significant challenges that have raised concerns about the sustainability of its long-distance migration. These obstacles have led to population declines, prompting consideration for protection under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Factors such as habitat loss, climate change, pesticide use, and the decrease in milkweed plants, crucial for monarch breeding, have all contributed to this decline.

Our shared goal includes the distribution of milkweed plugs throughout the eastern monarch population range in states such as Texas, Oklahoma, Georgia, North Carolina, Arkansas, Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, and Missouri, often referred to as the “Monarch Central Flyway.” These efforts align with Covia’s commitment to the conservation, restoration, and enrichment of biodiversity. Learn more about Covia’s ESG efforts at https://www.coviacorp.com/esg/.

As part of our partnership, Covia will be distributing nearly 5,000 milkweed plugs to employees located within the monarch population footprint. We will be using various native milkweed species such as common, showy, swamp, butterfly, whorled, and spider milkweed to accommodate different regions. Milkweed plays a vital role as a food source and breeding ground for monarch butterflies.

In addition to the milkweed distribution, Covia’s Cleburne, Texas, plant is collaborating with MJV on a yearlong project to develop a multi-acre pollinator habitat at the plant. MJV will be offering guidance, expertise, and technical support in designing the habitat layout, preparing the site, selecting native plant species, and giving recommendations for dormant seeding.

“We are pleased to share that we have established a partnership with Monarch Joint Venture,” said Natalie Eglinton, Director of ESG. “Monarch butterflies and pollinators play a crucial role in our ecosystem, and we look forward to contributing to the enhancement of habitats for these important species. It is exciting to see that many of Covia’s facilities align with the Monarch Central Flyway, providing us with a unique chance to support the habitat improvement for pollinators and other wildlife.”

Originally published on U.S. Bank company blog

As the amount and scope of materials being recycled has grown over the years, so has longtime bank client Napa Recycling.

Napa Recycling began in 1990 and offered curbside recycling and organic composting services, said general manager Greg Kelley. It has expanded over the years to include services for all recyclable products and organic materials, including yard waste and food waste from residential homes and commercial kitchens.

“When we started in 1990, we were processing about 10,000 tons of organics and 15,000 tons of recyclables per year,” Kelley said. “Now, between our two composting sites, we do 300,000 tons of organic waste and 60,000 tons of recyclables.”

Napa Recycling employs 240 people throughout its companies, he said. That includes people who collect recyclables and organic waste, people who process it, people in customer service and more. It serves both residential homes and commercial businesses across different industries.

“The easy part is collecting recyclable material,” Kelley said. “The harder thing is to sort recycling to market specs and to truly recycle something to be used to make a new product.”

The company has seen a lot of innovation in the sorting and processing areas over the years, he said.

“Back in ’90s we were all manual hand-sorting,” Kelley said. “We eventually added screens to separate paper from containers, and now we have air classifiers that use optics to sort, and also have robots that sort. They basically use AI and learn as they go just as a human would.”

There have been innovations on composting organic materials as well, he said.

“We now do aerated composting where, basically, we’re blowing air into our piles 24/7 so it’s actively composting at optimal temperatures for 22 days, where in the past it would take about three months and never be at optimal temps except about 20 minutes a day,” Kelley said. “Not only are we making a better, mature product, we’re cutting emissions into the environment while doing it.”

The composted materials are sold as soil amendments to farmers, he said. Recyclable materials are sold to various manufacturers. For example, recyclable plastics, such as polyethylene terephthalate (known as PET) water bottles, are melted down and made into pellets that are sold to manufacturers to produce new products.

Napa Recycling’s relationship with U.S. Bank began in 2005 with predecessor company Union Bank.

“It’s been a great relationship for our company and our communities,” Kelley said. “The bank has treated us well. With their assistance, we have been able to use California municipal bonds for our major expansions.”

Napa Recycling partners with the U.S. Bank environmental banking group, which is part of Commercial Banking and specializes in serving waste management companies.

“Napa Recycling is a vital community partner providing waste management services, especially recycling and composting, to its communities to meet the State of California’s waste diversion goals,” said Hassan Salem, head of Commercial Banking. “We are happy to continue to support this client’s growth with specialized industry bankers from our Environmental Services Group.”

Napa Recycling also uses U.S. Bank for other services that include accounts payable products, online banking tools, cash management solutions and more, he said.

“The bank has been a great partner for us over the years,” Kelley said.

A team of Molex engineers is working to accurately predict how their connectors will work, down to the individual component level, by using fully functional digital replicas to virtually validate their designs. The innovative use of digital twins will help lower costs, reduce recall risk and speed up the time it takes for a product to make it to market.

Engineers at Molex, a Koch company, are taking the idea of digital twins — fully functional virtual replicas of physical products — to the next level.

The engineers have created models that can accurately predict and virtually validate how parts will work down to the component level — enabling customers to have a much better understanding of how their connectors will function throughout their lifespan before even being put into production. This helps lower costs, reduce recall risk and cut down on the amount of time used on physical testing and revisions.

The implementation and innovation around digital twins at Molex have also led the automotive division to transform the way it operates so it can better utilize the technology’s capabilities and meet the fast-changing needs of leading-edge car manufacturers.

In the past, the engineers who would simulate what would happen with a given design and the engineers testing the designs operated in mostly separate worlds, with one group working away on equations and the other developing and testing physical products. The team at Molex recognized there was an opportunity to combine their efforts using digital twins, forming one predictive engineering team.

“We took the power of simulation and the power of experimentation and combined them,” says Vijy Koshy, a Molex senior director of engineering. “It’s a small group of people we deployed and told your job is to predict the future through physics.”

So far, the team has been able to create a high-fidelity digital twin that can accurately predict and validate a connector’s current rating with 95% accuracy. The model helps eliminate the need for months of physical testing.

And when they do perform physical tests, they’re testing to validate the data predicted by the digital twin, not to see if it meets some specification. With the knowledge the digital twins provide about current rating and other mechanical functions, they’ll create connectors that meet or exceed any other required specifications and work with their customers to come up with solutions to solve the specific challenges they’re facing.

The lessons learned from these early electrical models will also soon be applied to other areas of the connector, such as its mechanical, sealing and thermal functioning. In addition to using these advanced digital twins to develop predictive models for its connectors, Molex is also using them to model and optimize production lines and develop 5G antenna systems for modern cars and trucks.

The knowledge gained is shared with engineers across Molex to improve connector design and reliability wherever they are in the world. Mutual benefit at its best.