Tag: 3BL

A celebration was held in our London office last week to congratulate the 44 Northern Trust employees who have successfully completed their Achieving Corporate Excellence (ACE) apprenticeship programmes within the past year.

Employees from all levels of the Northern Trust organization participate in programmes, from early career to senior Northern Trust management. Examples of these qualifications obtained under ACE include Chartered Management Institute (CMI), Project Management Institute (PMI), Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) and Business Computing Society (BCS).

In attendance on the day and to celebrate everyone’s achievements we had Teresa Parker, EMEA President, and Mark Lacey, Head of International & Shared Services HR, who both acknowledged the efforts and hard work of all involved.

Teresa Parker commented, “It is fantastic to celebrate with the group who have worked so hard to achieve their ACE apprenticeship qualifications. I know from speaking to them this requires a lot of time and commitment and I commend them all for continuing to learn and grow to benefit both themselves, and Northern Trust. Apprenticeships are a worthwhile investment combining practical training with study and all graduates, including ones who couldn’t make the celebration today, should be very proud of all they have achieved.”

In total, 117 Northern Trust employees have successfully passed their programmes to date.

Jennifer Cook, manager of apprenticeships at Northern Trust, reflected on the feedback from learners, stating “apprenticeships are a brilliant opportunity to enhance skills, knowledge and behaviors and build confidence. Partners have emphasized how impactful their learning has been to performing their roles more effectively and also gaining world class qualifications.”

Originally published by WorkingNation

By Laura Aka

A collaboration between IBM SkillsBuild and Usher’s New Look is providing free tech training to young people from historically underrepresented communities, says Lydia Logan, vice president of global education and workforce development for IBM.

Logan joined WorkingNation’s editor-in-chief Ramona Schindelheim for WorkingNation Overheard at SXSW EDU 2024 in Austin.

With a focus on AI, Logan says, “They need to learn everything from – what is it, how it intersects with cybersecurity? They need to understand what large language models are, what generative AI is, and all of the things that help them apply that technology to what they’re doing.”

She adds, “What does it mean to them both on their academic and professional journey, but also in their personal lives?”

IBM will be working with students – current and alumni – who participate or have participated in Usher’s New Look programming. Logan says, “We’re looking forward to a really robust and long-term relationship with them.”

She notes, “This is how people will start working and becoming more efficient. So rather than shying away from it, let’s lean in. Let’s teach students how to use those skills. Let’s make sure that they’ve got what they need in order to be really productive.”

Learn more about IBM SkillsBuild.
Learn more about Usher’s New Look.

Originally published by WorkingNation

By Laura Aka

A collaboration between IBM SkillsBuild and Usher’s New Look is providing free tech training to young people from historically underrepresented communities, says Lydia Logan, vice president of global education and workforce development for IBM.

Logan joined WorkingNation’s editor-in-chief Ramona Schindelheim for WorkingNation Overheard at SXSW EDU 2024 in Austin.

With a focus on AI, Logan says, “They need to learn everything from – what is it, how it intersects with cybersecurity? They need to understand what large language models are, what generative AI is, and all of the things that help them apply that technology to what they’re doing.”

She adds, “What does it mean to them both on their academic and professional journey, but also in their personal lives?”

IBM will be working with students – current and alumni – who participate or have participated in Usher’s New Look programming. Logan says, “We’re looking forward to a really robust and long-term relationship with them.”

She notes, “This is how people will start working and becoming more efficient. So rather than shying away from it, let’s lean in. Let’s teach students how to use those skills. Let’s make sure that they’ve got what they need in order to be really productive.”

Learn more about IBM SkillsBuild.
Learn more about Usher’s New Look.

In Philadelphia, a small business is brewing a revolution in the coffee industry. Win Win Coffee, owned by Nikisha Bailey and Matt Nam, is more than just a local roaster and distributor. It’s a mission-driven enterprise focused on amplifying the opportunities for Black and Brown communities across the coffee supply chain.

Nikisha and Matt entered the coffee industry in 2019, noticing a significant disparity: while coffee stands as the world’s second most traded commodity, Black and Brown coffee producers are noticeably absent from ownership within its supply chain.

Determined to address this inequality, Nikisha and Matt started Win Win Coffee to reshape the industry by providing traceability from coffee bean to mouth. “We visit the farms, intentionally getting to know the farmers and their challenges,” Matt explained, reflecting on their journey to a remote coffee bean farmer in Colombia.

Win Win Coffee’s journey did start with some barriers, though, as they opened their doors just six months before the pandemic started. Due to mandates, they closed their doors at a time when their business was successfully growing. Nikisha describes how initially, they viewed it as a “curse,” yet unexpectedly, it turned into a “blessing” when they started to create and ship their own coffee.

In the face of initial challenges from the pandemic forcing them to pivot from their physical storefront, Win Win Coffee found an opportunity to further expand their reach through the FedEx E-commerce Learning Lab. In collaboration with Accion Opportunity Fund, FedEx offers this program to empower women and minority-owned small businesses, providing them with hands-on learning, mentorship, and networking opportunities to enhance their online presence.

“I applied for it because we were shipping out a lot of coffee,” Nikisha recalled. “We had developed this e-commerce platform, and so I thought it’d be a great opportunity to learn more about the different distribution options.”

Recognizing the need for knowledge about shipping processes, Win Win Coffee utilized the program’s learning opportunities to enhance their understanding. Matt expressed sincere gratitude for FedEx and Accion Opportunity Fund’s proactive support by identifying it as “another example of voice amplification.”

Armed with the support and education received through the FedEx E-Commerce Learning Lab, Win Win Coffee has continued to amplify its online presence and has become Philadelphia’s pioneering black woman-led roaster and distributor. Nikisha and her team are reaching a broader audience and furthering their mission of equity and inclusion within the coffee industry. The name ‘Win Win’ embodies their philosophy – as Nikisha summarized, “Everyone wins along the supply chain with us.”

In Philadelphia, a small business is brewing a revolution in the coffee industry. Win Win Coffee, owned by Nikisha Bailey and Matt Nam, is more than just a local roaster and distributor. It’s a mission-driven enterprise focused on amplifying the opportunities for Black and Brown communities across the coffee supply chain.

Nikisha and Matt entered the coffee industry in 2019, noticing a significant disparity: while coffee stands as the world’s second most traded commodity, Black and Brown coffee producers are noticeably absent from ownership within its supply chain.

Determined to address this inequality, Nikisha and Matt started Win Win Coffee to reshape the industry by providing traceability from coffee bean to mouth. “We visit the farms, intentionally getting to know the farmers and their challenges,” Matt explained, reflecting on their journey to a remote coffee bean farmer in Colombia.

Win Win Coffee’s journey did start with some barriers, though, as they opened their doors just six months before the pandemic started. Due to mandates, they closed their doors at a time when their business was successfully growing. Nikisha describes how initially, they viewed it as a “curse,” yet unexpectedly, it turned into a “blessing” when they started to create and ship their own coffee.

In the face of initial challenges from the pandemic forcing them to pivot from their physical storefront, Win Win Coffee found an opportunity to further expand their reach through the FedEx E-commerce Learning Lab. In collaboration with Accion Opportunity Fund, FedEx offers this program to empower women and minority-owned small businesses, providing them with hands-on learning, mentorship, and networking opportunities to enhance their online presence.

“I applied for it because we were shipping out a lot of coffee,” Nikisha recalled. “We had developed this e-commerce platform, and so I thought it’d be a great opportunity to learn more about the different distribution options.”

Recognizing the need for knowledge about shipping processes, Win Win Coffee utilized the program’s learning opportunities to enhance their understanding. Matt expressed sincere gratitude for FedEx and Accion Opportunity Fund’s proactive support by identifying it as “another example of voice amplification.”

Armed with the support and education received through the FedEx E-Commerce Learning Lab, Win Win Coffee has continued to amplify its online presence and has become Philadelphia’s pioneering black woman-led roaster and distributor. Nikisha and her team are reaching a broader audience and furthering their mission of equity and inclusion within the coffee industry. The name ‘Win Win’ embodies their philosophy – as Nikisha summarized, “Everyone wins along the supply chain with us.”

PERRYSBURG, Ohio, March 25, 2024 /3BL/ – O-I Glass, Inc. (“O-I Glass” or “O-I”) was selected by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations to begin award negotiations for up to $125 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act funding as part of the Industrial Demonstrations Program (IDP). The O-I decarbonization project was selected as one of 33 projects across more than 20 states to receive up to a total of $6 billion to demonstrate commercial-scale decarbonization solutions needed to move energy-intensive industries toward net-zero while strengthening local economies, creating, and maintaining high-quality jobs, and slashing harmful emissions that jeopardize public health.

The Glass Furnace Decarbonization Technology project, led by O-I Glass, plans to rebuild four furnaces across three of its facilities in California, Ohio, and Virginia to reduce scope 1 carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 48,000 metric tons per year, an average of 40% reduction of scope one emissions across the four furnaces and their corresponding production lines. The proposed rebuilds plan to combine five cutting-edge furnace technologies on each furnace, marking the first time that all five technologies have been implemented simultaneously. These technologies reduce waste heat and increase electrification, making the furnaces more energy efficient and reducing both direct and indirect emissions. The project provides O-I the opportunity to demonstrate the functionality of combining multiple technologies across different glass colors and container types. 

O-I anticipates each project would support up to 300 construction jobs (up to 1,200 across four furnaces) and plans to establish Project Labor Agreements and Community Workforce Agreements as needed throughout the project to ensure project success and workers’ rights. Additionally, O-I is working to enhance the company’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts through the intentional engagement of underrepresented groups such as women, LGBTQ+, and veterans. O-I Glass and its charitable contributions would continue to support the communities through local investments in organizations, including the United Way, that address the communities’ social needs, arts and culture, education and career development, and environmental impact related to glass recycling and beyond.

Learn more about IDP and projects selected for award negotiations here. Learn more about innovation-driven sustainability for glass packaging by O-I by visiting: O-I.com/Sustainability/

###

ABOUT O-I GLASS 

At O-I Glass, Inc. (NYSE: OI), we love glass, and we are proud to be one of the leading producers of glass bottles and jars around the globe. Glass is not only beautiful, it is also pure, healthy, and completely recyclable, making it the most sustainable rigid packaging material. Headquartered in Perrysburg, Ohio (USA), O-I is the preferred partner for many of the world’s leading food and beverage brands. We innovate in line with customers’ needs to create iconic packaging that builds brands around the world. Led by our diverse team of approximately 23,000 people across 68 plants in 19 countries, O-I achieved revenues of $7.1 billion in 2023. Learn more about us:  
o-i.com / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / LinkedIn

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking” statements related to O-I Glass, Inc. (“O-I Glass” or the “company”) within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Forward-looking statements reflect the company’s current expectations and projections about future events at the time, and thus involve uncertainty and risk. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “may,” “plan,” “estimate,” “intend,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” and the negatives of these words and other similar expressions generally identify forward-looking statements.

It is possible that the Company’s future financial performance may differ from expectations due to a variety of factors including, but not limited to the following: (1) the general political, economic and competitive conditions in markets and countries where the Company has operations, including uncertainties related to economic and social conditions, trade disputes, disruptions in the supply chain, competitive pricing pressures, inflation or deflation, changes in tax rates and laws, war, civil disturbance or acts of terrorism, natural disasters, public health issues and weather, (2) cost and availability of raw materials, labor, energy and transportation (including impacts related to the current Ukraine-Russia and Israel-Hamas conflicts and disruptions in supply of raw materials caused by transportation delays), (3) competitive pressures, consumer preferences for alternative forms of packaging or consolidation among competitors and customers, (4) changes in consumer preferences or customer inventory management practices, (5) the continuing consolidation of the Company’s customer base, (6) the Company’s ability to improve its glass melting technology, known as the MAGMA program, and implement it within the timeframe expected, (7) unanticipated supply chain and operational disruptions, including higher capital spending, (8) seasonability of customer demand, (9) the failure of the Company’s joint venture partners to meet their obligations or commit additional capital to the joint venture, (10) labor shortages, labor cost increases or strikes, (11) the Company’s ability to acquire or divest businesses, acquire and expand plants, integrate operations of acquired businesses and achieve expected benefits from acquisitions, divestitures or expansions, (12) the Company’s ability to generate sufficient future cash flows to ensure the Company’s goodwill is not impaired, (13) any increases in the underfunded status of the Company’s pension plans, (14) any failure or disruption of the Company’s information technology, or those of third parties on which the Company relies, or any cybersecurity or data privacy incidents affecting the Company or its third-party service providers, (15) risks related to the Company’s indebtedness or changes in capital availability or cost, including interest rate fluctuations and the ability of the Company to generate cash to service indebtedness and refinance debt on favorable terms, (16) risks associated with operating in foreign countries, (17) foreign currency fluctuations relative to the U.S. dollar, (18) changes in tax laws or U.S. trade policies, (19) the Company’s ability to comply with various environmental legal requirements, (20) risks related to recycling and recycled content laws and regulations, (21) risks related to climate-change and air emissions, including related laws or regulations and increased ESG scrutiny and changing expectations from stakeholders and the other risk factors discussed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

It is not possible to foresee or identify all such factors. Any forward-looking statements in this document are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by the Company in light of its experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments, and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from expectations. While the Company continually reviews trends and uncertainties affecting the Company’s results of operations and financial condition, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or supplement any particular forward-looking statements contained in this document.

PERRYSBURG, Ohio, March 25, 2024 /3BL/ – O-I Glass, Inc. (“O-I Glass” or “O-I”) was selected by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations to begin award negotiations for up to $125 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act funding as part of the Industrial Demonstrations Program (IDP). The O-I decarbonization project was selected as one of 33 projects across more than 20 states to receive up to a total of $6 billion to demonstrate commercial-scale decarbonization solutions needed to move energy-intensive industries toward net-zero while strengthening local economies, creating, and maintaining high-quality jobs, and slashing harmful emissions that jeopardize public health.

The Glass Furnace Decarbonization Technology project, led by O-I Glass, plans to rebuild four furnaces across three of its facilities in California, Ohio, and Virginia to reduce scope 1 carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 48,000 metric tons per year, an average of 40% reduction of scope one emissions across the four furnaces and their corresponding production lines. The proposed rebuilds plan to combine five cutting-edge furnace technologies on each furnace, marking the first time that all five technologies have been implemented simultaneously. These technologies reduce waste heat and increase electrification, making the furnaces more energy efficient and reducing both direct and indirect emissions. The project provides O-I the opportunity to demonstrate the functionality of combining multiple technologies across different glass colors and container types. 

O-I anticipates each project would support up to 300 construction jobs (up to 1,200 across four furnaces) and plans to establish Project Labor Agreements and Community Workforce Agreements as needed throughout the project to ensure project success and workers’ rights. Additionally, O-I is working to enhance the company’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts through the intentional engagement of underrepresented groups such as women, LGBTQ+, and veterans. O-I Glass and its charitable contributions would continue to support the communities through local investments in organizations, including the United Way, that address the communities’ social needs, arts and culture, education and career development, and environmental impact related to glass recycling and beyond.

Learn more about IDP and projects selected for award negotiations here. Learn more about innovation-driven sustainability for glass packaging by O-I by visiting: O-I.com/Sustainability/

###

ABOUT O-I GLASS 

At O-I Glass, Inc. (NYSE: OI), we love glass, and we are proud to be one of the leading producers of glass bottles and jars around the globe. Glass is not only beautiful, it is also pure, healthy, and completely recyclable, making it the most sustainable rigid packaging material. Headquartered in Perrysburg, Ohio (USA), O-I is the preferred partner for many of the world’s leading food and beverage brands. We innovate in line with customers’ needs to create iconic packaging that builds brands around the world. Led by our diverse team of approximately 23,000 people across 68 plants in 19 countries, O-I achieved revenues of $7.1 billion in 2023. Learn more about us:  
o-i.com / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / LinkedIn

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking” statements related to O-I Glass, Inc. (“O-I Glass” or the “company”) within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Forward-looking statements reflect the company’s current expectations and projections about future events at the time, and thus involve uncertainty and risk. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “may,” “plan,” “estimate,” “intend,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” and the negatives of these words and other similar expressions generally identify forward-looking statements.

It is possible that the Company’s future financial performance may differ from expectations due to a variety of factors including, but not limited to the following: (1) the general political, economic and competitive conditions in markets and countries where the Company has operations, including uncertainties related to economic and social conditions, trade disputes, disruptions in the supply chain, competitive pricing pressures, inflation or deflation, changes in tax rates and laws, war, civil disturbance or acts of terrorism, natural disasters, public health issues and weather, (2) cost and availability of raw materials, labor, energy and transportation (including impacts related to the current Ukraine-Russia and Israel-Hamas conflicts and disruptions in supply of raw materials caused by transportation delays), (3) competitive pressures, consumer preferences for alternative forms of packaging or consolidation among competitors and customers, (4) changes in consumer preferences or customer inventory management practices, (5) the continuing consolidation of the Company’s customer base, (6) the Company’s ability to improve its glass melting technology, known as the MAGMA program, and implement it within the timeframe expected, (7) unanticipated supply chain and operational disruptions, including higher capital spending, (8) seasonability of customer demand, (9) the failure of the Company’s joint venture partners to meet their obligations or commit additional capital to the joint venture, (10) labor shortages, labor cost increases or strikes, (11) the Company’s ability to acquire or divest businesses, acquire and expand plants, integrate operations of acquired businesses and achieve expected benefits from acquisitions, divestitures or expansions, (12) the Company’s ability to generate sufficient future cash flows to ensure the Company’s goodwill is not impaired, (13) any increases in the underfunded status of the Company’s pension plans, (14) any failure or disruption of the Company’s information technology, or those of third parties on which the Company relies, or any cybersecurity or data privacy incidents affecting the Company or its third-party service providers, (15) risks related to the Company’s indebtedness or changes in capital availability or cost, including interest rate fluctuations and the ability of the Company to generate cash to service indebtedness and refinance debt on favorable terms, (16) risks associated with operating in foreign countries, (17) foreign currency fluctuations relative to the U.S. dollar, (18) changes in tax laws or U.S. trade policies, (19) the Company’s ability to comply with various environmental legal requirements, (20) risks related to recycling and recycled content laws and regulations, (21) risks related to climate-change and air emissions, including related laws or regulations and increased ESG scrutiny and changing expectations from stakeholders and the other risk factors discussed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

It is not possible to foresee or identify all such factors. Any forward-looking statements in this document are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by the Company in light of its experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments, and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from expectations. While the Company continually reviews trends and uncertainties affecting the Company’s results of operations and financial condition, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or supplement any particular forward-looking statements contained in this document.

As an organization, AEG has helped build a brighter future for girls by supporting nonprofit organizations in the cities where it operates and encouraging employee volunteerism.

During this year’s Women’s History Month, the company organized several initiatives to help empower girls and provide them with the tools and essential materials that they need to be successful.

“At AEG, we believe in an inclusive work environment that values differences and celebrates the unique perspectives and talents of our employees,” said Anette Padilla, Director of Community Foundation and Social Impact, AEG. “We also extend those values to the communities we serve through community partnerships that invest in young girl’s leadership development, empowerment, and recognition.”

Here are some of the ways that AEG celebrated Women’s History Month:

AEG’s employee network group, Women@AEG, teamed up with women’s organizations Femergy, Girls Inc., and Emma’s House Inc., where employees across the country, including Los Angeles, CA, Las Vegas, NV, Atlanta, GA, Cleveland, OH, Pittsburgh, PA and Palm Beach, FL, volunteered to assemble more than 650 ‘empowerment kits’ — care-package-style kits that provide recipients with essential products and toiletries. All items in the EmpowerHer Kit were collected and donated by Women @ AEG members and employees.

AEG’s LA Kings staff packed and delivered over 100 hygiene kits to St. Anne’s Family Services in Los Angeles. The kits included self-care essentials, including toothbrush, toothpaste, body wash, soap, and deodorant.

Additionally, the LA Kings hosted a pre-game toiletry drive to benefit St. Anne’s Family Services where fans could donate hygiene supplies and toiletry items and drop them off at designated areas inside Crypto.com Arena during their March 7 game against the Ottawa Senators.

Prior to the game, the LA Kings held a mentoring session for more than 20 students from the Girls Academic Leadership Academy who had the opportunity to meet with the club’s operations staff a get a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to put on a hockey game.

On March 8, International Women’s Day, AEG’s Dignity Health Sports Park and the LA Galaxy Foundation, hosted 3,000 young girls at the YMCA’s 3rd Annual Girls Empowerment Day, which was presented in partnership with Los Angeles Unified School District, Los Angeles Unified School District Region East and LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Event sponsors will include AEG’s LA Kings and LA Galaxy, the LA Clippers, LA Sparks and LA Dodgers.

On March 10, the LA Kings hosted a ball hockey clinic led by Manon Rhéaume, the club’s Hockey Operations/Prospect Advisor and a former women’s hockey player and Olympic athlete. Rhéaume worked with players to build fundamental hockey skills like stickhandling, passing and shooting through skill appropriate drills. Participants also received a complimentary ticket to attend a future Kings game.

On March 19, Women@AEG hosted a virtual fireside chat with Shelly Cayette, EVP and COO of the Cleveland Cavaliers who shared her profession journey and personal insights about climbing to the top of the sports industry.

On March 26, AEG Supplier Diversity in partnership with California State Dominguez Hills hosted the second annual Women in Technology Panel where industry executives gathered to share adversities they have overcome, the experiences that made them who they are today and provide valuable advice on how to succeed in this space.

To learn more about AEG, please visit www.aegworldwide.com.

As an organization, AEG has helped build a brighter future for girls by supporting nonprofit organizations in the cities where it operates and encouraging employee volunteerism.

During this year’s Women’s History Month, the company organized several initiatives to help empower girls and provide them with the tools and essential materials that they need to be successful.

“At AEG, we believe in an inclusive work environment that values differences and celebrates the unique perspectives and talents of our employees,” said Anette Padilla, Director of Community Foundation and Social Impact, AEG. “We also extend those values to the communities we serve through community partnerships that invest in young girl’s leadership development, empowerment, and recognition.”

Here are some of the ways that AEG celebrated Women’s History Month:

AEG’s employee network group, Women@AEG, teamed up with women’s organizations Femergy, Girls Inc., and Emma’s House Inc., where employees across the country, including Los Angeles, CA, Las Vegas, NV, Atlanta, GA, Cleveland, OH, Pittsburgh, PA and Palm Beach, FL, volunteered to assemble more than 650 ‘empowerment kits’ — care-package-style kits that provide recipients with essential products and toiletries. All items in the EmpowerHer Kit were collected and donated by Women @ AEG members and employees.

AEG’s LA Kings staff packed and delivered over 100 hygiene kits to St. Anne’s Family Services in Los Angeles. The kits included self-care essentials, including toothbrush, toothpaste, body wash, soap, and deodorant.

Additionally, the LA Kings hosted a pre-game toiletry drive to benefit St. Anne’s Family Services where fans could donate hygiene supplies and toiletry items and drop them off at designated areas inside Crypto.com Arena during their March 7 game against the Ottawa Senators.

Prior to the game, the LA Kings held a mentoring session for more than 20 students from the Girls Academic Leadership Academy who had the opportunity to meet with the club’s operations staff a get a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to put on a hockey game.

On March 8, International Women’s Day, AEG’s Dignity Health Sports Park and the LA Galaxy Foundation, hosted 3,000 young girls at the YMCA’s 3rd Annual Girls Empowerment Day, which was presented in partnership with Los Angeles Unified School District, Los Angeles Unified School District Region East and LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Event sponsors will include AEG’s LA Kings and LA Galaxy, the LA Clippers, LA Sparks and LA Dodgers.

On March 10, the LA Kings hosted a ball hockey clinic led by Manon Rhéaume, the club’s Hockey Operations/Prospect Advisor and a former women’s hockey player and Olympic athlete. Rhéaume worked with players to build fundamental hockey skills like stickhandling, passing and shooting through skill appropriate drills. Participants also received a complimentary ticket to attend a future Kings game.

On March 19, Women@AEG hosted a virtual fireside chat with Shelly Cayette, EVP and COO of the Cleveland Cavaliers who shared her profession journey and personal insights about climbing to the top of the sports industry.

On March 26, AEG Supplier Diversity in partnership with California State Dominguez Hills hosted the second annual Women in Technology Panel where industry executives gathered to share adversities they have overcome, the experiences that made them who they are today and provide valuable advice on how to succeed in this space.

To learn more about AEG, please visit www.aegworldwide.com.

In celebration of Women’s History Month and the Mattel Inc Barbie brand’s 65th Anniversary, Stacy’s announces special-edition “Barbie-fied” Bags, consumer giveaway and donation to support the next generation of women trailblazers

Partnership comes on the heels of the announcement of the 2024 Stacy’s Rise Project winners, which includes the largest grant amount in the program’s history

PLANO, Texas, March 25, 2024 /3BL/ – Stacy’s Pita Chips, a woman-founded brand with a longstanding legacy of supporting women entrepreneurs, has partnered with another iconic woman-founded brand, Barbie, to celebrate Women’s History Month through the stories of women from past, current and future generations. United by a shared vision of uplifting women and changing “herstory,” the partnership kicks off with a limited-time offer of “Barbie” inspired Stacy’s Pita Chips packaging – with bags available in both human and Barbie sizes.

“Barbie and Stacy’s Pita Chips share a common goal of inspiring women to achieve their dreams, so this partnership is a match made in ‘herstory,’” says Rhasheda Boyd, vice president of marketing, Frito-Lay North America. “Stacy’s is proud to continue its ongoing support of women founders through the Stacy’s Rise Project, and with Barbie, we’re thrilled to extend that spotlight on the upcoming generations of aspiring women trailblazers.” United by these legacies, the brands share a passion for supporting past, current and future generations of women.

Stacy’s and Barbie Limited-Edition Bags

To honor their brand stories and celebrate Barbie’s 65th anniversary, Stacy’s is getting the full Barbie treatment with limited-edition Stacy’s Pita Chip bags. The specialty bags feature a signature Barbie-pink metallic exterior and the classic Stacy’s Simply Naked® chips inside. And the fun doesn’t stop in the snack aisle – Barbie dolls are getting their own signature bag, too. The limited-edition Barbie-fied Stacy’s Pita Chip bags will also come in a miniature size, fit perfectly for any Barbie doll.

Before specialty full-size bags are available at retailers nationwide this fall, fans can enter for a chance to win a Stacy’s Career Barbie Kit inclusive of both the full-size bags and Barbie-size mini bags, along with an exclusive Career Barbie doll and other goodies. For the chance to win a Stacy’s Career Barbie Kit, fans can like and comment on the giveaway post on @stacys Instagram on or around March 12.

Guided by the belief that when one woman rises, we all rise, Stacy’s has pledged a $100,000 donation to the mentorship nonprofit Step Up. Step Up provides mentorship and programs for girls to define their ideal destination and get there – wherever that destination may be. The donation from Stacy’s will go towards sponsoring conferences in Los Angeles, Chicago, Nashville and New York to help provide 1,000 hours of mentorship to girls of middle and high school age.

“Step Up believes mentors play a crucial role in guiding girls to their success, so we are inspired and grateful to continue our partnership with two of our mentors, Barbie and Stacy, as part of our Women’s History Month collaboration with the Barbie Dream Gap Project and Stacy’s Pita Chips,” Step Up CEO Delores Druilhet Morton said. “With this investment in the next generation, Step Up will be able to offer valuable mentorship to help girls define and achieve their unique visions of success through our career exploration conferences.”

Introducing the Stacy’s Rise Project Class of 2024

Stacy’s is also continuing to change the course of “herstory” by announcing the 2024 Class of Stacy’s Rise Project winners. This year, Stacy’s has awarded 15 North American women founders each a $25,000 grant, mentorship from Frito-Lay and PepsiCo leadership and an incomparable built-in community of powerful women. The 2024 Stacy’s Rise Project class includes:

Alak Nanda (Atlanta, Ga.) founded PODI Life, a brand committed to bringing the best in South Indian food to culinarily curious American tables with seasonings (made of roasted lentils, nuts, herbs and spices) and easy, one-pot comfort meals (made of organic rice, lentils, climate-smart millets and spices).Delia Hughes (Westchester, N.Y.) and Lindsay Simon co-founded Tazzy, a candy brand on a mission to make candy with simple ingredients. A portion of sales from every item sold supports the fight to find a cure for Metastatic Breast Cancer.Diane Garber (Chicago, Ill.) founded WillPOWER Your Day, whole-food, plant-based snacks –including Unbelieva-Brittle® Seed Crunch, and Fruit-Sweetened Truffles – that appeal to and satisfy mainstream consumers while addressing nutritional priorities of vegan and specialty shoppers.Jamie Kim (New York, N.Y.) founded Jamie’s Farm, award-winning granolas baked with ghee for a luxurious flavor profile and perfectly delicate, crunchy texture.Jen Caines (Boulder, Colo.) founded Moksha Chocolate, an artisan bean-to-bar chocolate company that hand-crafts chocolate in small batches with direct-trade cacao.Kristen Fields (Austin, Texas) founded mmmpanadas, award-winning, better-for-you empanadas that are wholesome, delicious and really easy to heat and eat.Laura Melgarejo Silva (Bend, Ore.) co-founded Altitude Beverages, zero-proof cocktails packed with functional ingredients for an unwind without the booze.Martha Diaz (Sacramento, Calif.) founded Itacate Foods, dehydrated Latin meals for backcountry recreation that are all vegan or vegetarian, rehydrate quickly and bring authentic Latin flavors to the market.Ms. Fields (Baltimore, Md.) founded , which offers artisan-crafted cinnamon rolls that bring warmth and indulgence to vegan-friendly lifestyles, providing decadent, cinfully delicious treats that are ready in moments.Orleatha Smith (Los Angeles, Calif.) founded Sip Herbals, a pre-biotic tea that provides a gut health-supporting, caffeine-free, herbal coffee alternative made for label readers.Ajoa Mintah (Waterloo, ON), founder of Four All Ice Cream, is an engineer-turned-entrepreneur who blends her education, diverse experiences, and unwavering creativity to spread the joy of ice cream to everyone, no matter their dietary preferences or restrictions.K. Dee Howard (Cobourg, ON) founded Sootsoap Supply Co. to detoxify, deodorize and sanitize with the power of white charcoal, inspired by a lack of solutions for the devastating health effects of firefighter exposure.Evelyne Nyairo (Calgary, AB) founded Ellie Bianca – inspired by her daughter, Eliana – with the mission of giving every woman the opportunity to embrace and own her strength and beauty, inside and out.Kate Tremills (Chemainus, BC) founded Flourish Kitchen to bring easy-to-digest meals to women who desire big, joyful lives. The meals are designed to ease the stress of busy lives, while delivering all the flavour and nutrition of a home-made meal.Nadia Ladak (Toronto, ON) founded Marlow on her mission to revolutionize women’s health by pioneering the first-ever lubricated tampon for smoother and more comfortable insertion.

Since 2017, Stacy’s Pita Chips has connected thousands of women founders and provided more than $1 million in funding. The annual Stacy’s Rise Project has provided grants to 75 women, as well as resources, mentoring and a thriving network. Year over year, the application numbers have continued to increase, thanks to the brand’s longstanding partnership with Hello Alice, with over 29,000 Stacy’s Rise Project applications received in five years.

For more information about Stacy’s partnership with Barbie, the Stacy’s Rise Project and the newest class of Stacy’s Rise Project winners, visit stacyssnacks.com/barbie.