Tag: 3BL

On International Day of Forests, International Paper (IP) and longtime partner the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) celebrate landowners across the U.S. South that manage non-industrial private forests with controlled burns that help create thriving habitats, safer communities and more resilient forests.

The Forestland Stewards Partnership, a longtime collaboration between IP and NFWF, provides grants to on-the-ground partners to help landowners improve forest management practices and enhance the economic and ecological functions of working forests. One way that NFWF and IP help foster healthy, flourishing forests is by supporting controlled burns and encouraging participation by private landowners. These controlled burns help reduce potential wildfire fuel, such as dead wood and debris, resulting in forests that are more wildfire-resistant.

The Forestland Stewards Partnership supports work with private forest owners across the U.S. South, including North Carolina, where controlled burning efforts are in full swing thanks to partners including The Nature Conservancy in North Carolina (TNC), North Carolina State Cooperative Extension, North Carolina Forest Service (NCFS) and North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission that utilize Prescribed Burn Associations and other approaches to getting controlled burns back on the landscape.

“Fire has shaped healthy landscapes of North America, like the longleaf pine ecosystem, for millions of years. Yet, today, our relationship with fire has changed with an overemphasis on putting out fires as quickly as possible and an underemphasis on lighting safe, controlled burns,” said Jeff Marcus, TNC North Carolina Longleaf Pine Applied Scientist. “That’s why The Nature Conservancy and its partners are proud to work with North Carolina landowners through funding provided by the Forestland Stewards Partnership to teach landowners how controlled burns benefit the forests in their care as well as protecting the entire community.”

Marcus pointed to the June 2023 Pulp Road Wildfire in Brunswick County as an example of the importance of controlled burns for community and habitat protection.

“The blaze burned more than 15,000 acres, the majority of which was a wetland called pocosin. Areas that had not burned in over 60 years burned intensely, while areas managed with recent controlled burns burned less intensely or not at all. Controlled burns conducted by The Nature Conservancy in the Green Swamp helped mitigate and control the wildfire by reducing thatch and woody material that made containment of the wildfire easier,” Marcus said. “These fire-managed areas served as important refuges for wildlife that live in the Green Swamp.” The preserve is owned and managed by TNC, a nonprofit organization working to bring good fire back to forests and other ecosystems, including to longleaf pine forests in North Carolina.

Wayne Rider, a U.S. Army veteran and one of the 525,000 North Carolina private, non-industrial forest landowners, owns 210 acres with his wife in Cumberland and Bladen counties. Together, they are looking to leave the land better than they found it.

“Owning a piece of land and being a good steward was definitely a life goal,” Rider said. “We have had wildfires in our area; engaging in controlled burns will result in much less damage to land should an unmanaged blaze strike.”

To properly engage in controlled burns, Rider has participated in Bladen Lakes Prescribed Burn Association’s educational programs and was certified to conduct controlled burns after taking a 40-hour class through stewardship partner NCFS. Landowners also can hire certified burners and seek reimbursement for much of the cost.

More than three-quarters of North Carolina’s 18.7 million acres of forestlands are owned and managed by private landowners. Through NFWF and IP’s partnership and collaborative organizations, controlled burn management can protect private lands economic investment by reducing wildfire losses, while enhancing habitat, restoring at-risk wildlife and plant species, and improving water and air quality through healthier forests. Win-win for all.

About the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

Chartered by Congress in 1984, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) protects and restores the nation’s fish, wildlife, plants and habitats. Working with federal, corporate, foundation and individual partners, NFWF has funded more than 6,000 organizations and generated a total conservation impact of $8.1 billion. NFWF is an equal opportunity provider. Learn more at nfwf.org.

About International Paper 

International Paper (NYSE: IP) is a global producer of sustainable packaging, pulp and other fiber-based products, and one of the world’s largest recyclers. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., we employ approximately 39,000 colleagues globally who are committed to creating what’s next. We serve customers worldwide, with manufacturing operations in North America, Latin America, North Africa and Europe. Net sales for 2023 were $18.9 billion. Additional information can be found by visiting internationalpaper.com/.

About International Paper – EMEA

In Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA), International Paper focuses on the production and marketing of fiber-based packaging and pulp, employing approximately 4,200 people. As a leading supplier of high-quality corrugated containers for a multitude of applications, we serve customers throughout the region from our network of two recycled containerboard mills and 23 box plants in France, Italy, Morocco, Portugal and Spain. Pulp production is centered in Gdansk, Poland. Other products available from International Paper in the region include Kraft linerboard and recycled containerboard, as well as pulp.

To mark Fair Housing Month, KeyBank will host Community Lending Days at several branches. Mortgage Loan Officers will be on hand to offer advice and details on products and assistance programs available to homebuyers.

Community Lending Days take place at the following dates, locations and times:

Wednesday April 6 – Lehigh Township Branch – 4421 Lehigh Drive, Walnutport, PA 18088 – 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
 Wednesday, April 13 – Commerce City Branch – 6565 E 73rd Avenue, Commerce City, CO 80022 – 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
 Thursday, April 18 – West Valley Branch – 2807 South 5600 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84120 – 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
 Friday, April 19 – New Haven Main Branch – 195 Church Street, New Haven, CT 06510 – 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
 Saturday, April 20 – Parkville Branch – 1700 Park Street, Hartford, CT 06106 – 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
 Saturday April 27 – Summer Street Branch – 2386 Summer Street, Stamford, CT 06905 – 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

In addition, KeyBank will participate in the following events where home lending resources and advice will be offered:

Wednesday April 13 – Building Black Wealth Expo – Innovation Center, 640 Ellicott Street, Buffalo, NY 14203 – 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. – Register Here
 Wednesday April 17 – Urban League of Rochester Homebuyer Workshop – 265 North Clinton Avenue, Rochester, NY 14605 – 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. – Register Here

Get tips on home ownership from KeyBank

KeyBank Member FDIC. NMLS #399797. Mortgage and Home Equity Lending products offered by KeyBank are not FDIC insured or guaranteed. KeyBank extends credit secured by residential real estate without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, handicap, or familial status. All credit products are subject to collateral and/or credit approval, terms, conditions, availability and are subject to change.

CFMA #240319-2507178

by Geeta Aiyer, CFA, founder & President of Boston Common Asset Management

Until now, gender has not received adequate priority and has been largely confined to a single data point under workplace diversity efforts. While workplace-focused efforts that call for advancements like enhanced disclosure and board diversity are vital to supporting the infrastructure necessary to evolve toward gender equality in corporate environments, lasting change will require more comprehensive gender prioritization across corporate value chains.

Public and Private equity investors have a unique opportunity to motivate companies to design for inclusion and create genuinely inclusive systems within their organizations and throughout their value chains. Determined to equip investors with the tools to activate their voice, my company, Boston Common Asset Management, developed Investor Guidance for Prioritizing Gender in 2022. The guidance supplies engaged investors with critical questions and essential tactics for motivating companies to adopt gender-specific approaches using an integrated, full value chain approach.

Underpinning this approach is the understanding that a corporate strategy that prioritizes inclusive gender governance can positively impact each aspect of a company’s value chain, as detailed below:

Workplace operations impact a company’s leaders and employees via gender representation, benefits, compensation, health, safety, and well-being.Supply Chain practices impact business relationships between tier-1 suppliers and beyond.The Product/Service Marketplace and its participants are directly and indirectly impacted by how and what a company designs, develops, and disseminates.Communities are directly or indirectly impacted by a company’s business and/or community-focused activities.

Read Geeta’s full article here – https://greenmoney.com/making-gender-visible-a-path-to-systemic-inclusion

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Edwards becomes a corporate sponsor for the Catalyze Program Edwards participation expands Catalyze program to Tier One and Tier Two suppliers within semiconductor value chain

LOUISVILLE, Ky., March 21, 2024 /3BL/ – Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, today announced that Edwards has joined the Catalyze program not only as a Tier One supplier to the program’s founding corporate sponsors but also an additional corporate sponsor to the program. Edwards’ participation as a sponsor will enable decarbonization of energy sources for their own operations and enable their suppliers to access the Catalyze program benefits, extending the program’s reach to include Tier Two suppliers of some of the founding sponsors.

Edwards is a leading developer and manufacturer of sophisticated vacuum products, exhaust management systems, and related value-added semiconductor services. The company is a direct supplier to many of the Catalyze program’s founding corporate sponsors.

“The Catalyze program is designed to foster collaboration and partnership among corporate sponsors and their suppliers enabling collective decarbonization impact,” said John Powers, Vice President, Global Renewable at Schneider Electric. “Edwards has been at the forefront of working with their customers to develop products, services and solutions that maximize efficiency and minimize the environmental impact of the semiconductor industry.”

“We are immensely proud to join this ground-breaking initiative to help decarbonize the semiconductor value chain. It helps demonstrate our ambition to be leaders in enabling industry transformation for a better future. Catalyze provides a great opportunity to partner with our customers and suppliers around the world to accelerate the transition to renewable energy,” said Koen Lauwers, President of Semiconductor Division, Edwards.

“The Catalyze program’s continued growth represents our industry’s continued commitment to accelerating the widespread adoption of renewable energy throughout the semiconductor value chain and IT supply landscape. Through this initiative, we aim to empower suppliers to make a significant impact to their supply chain decarbonization strategies,” said John Golightly, Vice President Global Head of Sustainability at ASM. “We are thrilled to welcome Edwards as the latest member of the program, helping our industry to continue to lead the way to a more sustainable future.”

The Catalyze program aims to accelerate access to renewable energy across the global semiconductor value chain and IT supply landscape. The first-of-its-kind program was launched in July 2023 with the goal to:

Combine energy purchasing power across the semiconductor value chain to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy projectsProvide suppliers, who may not have the capacity on their own, with the opportunity to participate in the market for utility-scale power purchase agreements (PPAs).Enable any company that supplies to a Catalyze sponsor to participate in the program.Increase awareness of renewable energy availability in specific global regions where the semiconductor value chain is operational.Leverage educational and digital technology platform engagements to drive measurable actions in supply chain decarbonization.

Learn more about the Catalyze program at sustainabilityse.com/catalyze

About Edwards 

Edwards is a leading developer and manufacturer of sophisticated vacuum products, exhaust management systems and related value-added services. These are integral to manufacturing processes for semiconductors, flat panel displays, LEDs and solar cells; are used within an increasingly diverse range of industrial processes including power, glass and other coating applications, steel and other metallurgy, pharmaceutical and chemical; and for both scientific instruments and a wide range of R&D applications.

Edwards has over 8,000 employees worldwide engaged in the design, manufacture and support of high technology vacuum and exhaust management equipment and has state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Europe, Asia and North America.

Edwards is part of the Atlas Copco Group. Atlas Copco Group is based in Stockholm, Sweden with customers in more than 180 countries and about 49 000 employees.

Further information about Edwards can be found at Edwards Vacuum

About Schneider Electric 

Schneider’s purpose is to empower all to make the most of our energy and resources, bridging progress and sustainability for all. We call this Life Is On.

Our mission is to be your digital partner for Sustainability and Efficiency.

We drive digital transformation by integrating world-leading process and energy technologies, end-point to cloud connecting products, controls, software and services, across the entire lifecycle, enabling integrated company management, for homes, buildings, data centers, infrastructure and industries.

We are the most local of global companies. We are advocates of open standards and partnership ecosystems that are passionate about our shared Meaningful Purpose, Inclusive and Empowered values.

www.se.com

The Port of Santos, Latin America’s largest port, has become a hub for female workforce development, with DP World Brazil leading the charge. At this cutting-edge multipurpose port complex, women are not only encouraged but empowered to ascend to leadership roles, making DP World a pioneer in gender diversity within the port’s community.

Over the past decade, DP World’s presence in Brazil has significantly shifted the gender dynamics within the company. The female workforce has soared by more than 200%, bringing the total to 297 women across various departments, including operations, where 41% of the female staff are breaking new ground in traditionally male-dominated roles.

The terminal has seen a 30% increase in women holding leadership positions over the last five years, with over 30 women now in roles ranging from supervisors to directors. Only last year, 77 women were hired and 25 were promoted.

Empowering Women in Line with the UN’s SDGs

Empowering women is one of the three main legacy areas that DP World has defined in its Sustainability strategy, “Our World, Our Future.” DP World’s efforts align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG5), focusing on gender equality. The company’s dedication to creating opportunities for women and making a lasting impact on their careers is evident in its comprehensive sustainability strategy.

“We are proud to be pioneers in valuing women in the Port of Santos,” said Alcino Therezo, People Director at DP World in Brazil. “We work to improve female representation in the company and integrate discussions about the importance of diversity to our daily lives.”

Through initiatives like MentorHer, which offers mentoring by senior professionals to women aiming for career advancement, DP World is making strides in female empowerment. This program alone has certified over 50 women, with professionals dedicating more than 4,500 hours to training in 2022.

Trailblazers at DP World: Shaping the Future

Paula Bispo de Santana: Pioneering Side Operator

Since stepping into her role in 2022, Paula Bispo de Santana has been making history as the first woman side operator at the Port of Santos. Her journey with DP World began with a two-year stint as an operations assistant. Today, she plays a crucial role in the loading and unloading of ships and trucks, handling everything from docking ships to managing cargo with precision and safety. Paula’s hands-on approach and dedication to maintaining a smooth operational flow demonstrate her commitment to excellence in a traditionally male-dominated field.

Fabiana do Nascimento Almeida: Trailblazer in Container Operations

Fabiana do Nascimento Almeida’s tenure with DP World since 2012 has been marked by a series of firsts. Not only is she the first and only female container operator at the Port of Santos, but her journey also includes specialized training in Peru and a strong background in various operational roles. Starting in the administrative sector in other markets, Fabiana’s transition to the front lines of port operations underscores her versatility and pioneering spirit in navigating the logistics landscape.

Patrícia Silva de Oliveira: From Bus Driver to Operations Supervisor

At 37, Patrícia Silva de Oliveira’s career is a testament to resilience and ambition. Her transition from a driver at a bus company to a port operations supervisor at DP World is a story of constant learning and adaptation. Patrícia’s journey at the company includes different roles, culminating in a leadership position overseeing the port’s operations, reflects her determination to break barriers and inspire other women to pursue their dreams, no matter how daunting they may seem.

Juliana Bambini: Legal Luminary with a Groundbreaking Journey

Juliana Bambini’s nearly 14-year career at DP World has seen her rise from an intern to Legal Manager. Her growth within the company mirrors DP World’s evolution from a small office to a major terminal player. Juliana’s participation in the MentorHer program highlights her role in fostering a culture of mentorship and empowerment, further cementing her status as a key figure in the organization’s legal framework.

Daniela Zicari Di Monte: Director with a Global Vision

Daniela Zicari Di Monte joined DP World Logistics in 2022, bringing with her over two decades of experience in the global maritime sector. As Director, she’s poised to enhance the company’s footprint in the NVOCC segment, leveraging her comprehensive expertise in integrated logistics, P&L management, and strategic planning. Daniela’s extensive background and forward-thinking approach are instrumental in navigating the complexities of international trade and logistics.

A Model for the Future

These inspiring women exemplify DP World’s commitment to breaking new ground and fostering an environment where diversity and empowerment are key drivers of innovation and success. By promoting gender diversity and empowering women to lead, DP World is paving the way for a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable future in global trade and logistics.

International Olympic Committee news

Three schools have opened this week and another two are set to be inaugurated next month, fulfilling pre-Games plans for the long-term use of arenas that featured the world’s best athletes at the Olympic and Paralympic Games Rio 2016.

The inaugurations mean that key aspects of the Rio 2016 legacy plans are now materialising, following governance issues during the years after the Games.

“Finally, we will deliver to the population of Rio the legacy of the Olympic Games Rio 2016 from the perspective of sports venues,” said Mayor Eduardo Paes.

Carioca Arena 3

Built as a permanent venue in the Olympic Park that hosted Olympic taekwondo and fencing, and Paralympic judo, Carioca Arena 3 has been converted into a special sports education institution, and was ready for the start of the 2024 school year.

See the post here

The concept for these institutions was introduced by the city government in 2012 in order to capitalise on the momentum of the Games’ preparation and to support the practice of sports by students in public education. The enhanced sports curriculum has been offered to over 5,000 students across 11 of these schools.

Not only will the converted Carioca Arena 3 be an addition to this roster, it will also be the largest school in Rio’s municipal education network, with its 18,000 square metres, 24 classrooms and sports infrastructure for some 900 students. It has been named after Olympian and Brazilian volleyball legend Isabel Salgado, who died in 2022.

Carioca Arenas 1 and 2

During the ceremony to unveil the new school at Carioca Arena 3, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva also officially kicked off the work to transform Carioca Arena 2, which was the Rio 2016 venue for Olympic judo and wrestling and Paralympic boccia, and has been under Federal Government management since the Games, into a branch of the Federal Institute of Technical Education. Once ready next year, it will serve 1,400 young people from local communities.

Carioca Arena 1, the largest of the permanent arenas in the Olympic Park and host of Olympic basketball and Paralympic wheelchair rugby and wheelchair basketball in 2016, has remained a multisport venue, frequently used for national and international events.

Arena of the Future

Another concept introduced in the Rio 2016 venue planning was nomadic infrastructure – structures which, after they have served their initial purpose, can be converted for another use. This was built into the project for the 12,000-seat Arena of the Future, which hosted Olympic handball and Paralympic goalball at the Olympic Park, and was always intended to be dismantled and turned into four schools for almost 2,000 students in Rio de Janeiro.

Two of these schools were unveiled this week in low social development neighbourhoods of the city’s West zone, a region that will also host the other two schools due to open in March. They will all adopt a new model of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics) education schools introduced by the city government.

Olympic Aquatics Stadium

Also originally planned as a temporary venue in the Rio 2016 Olympic Park, the Olympic Aquatics Stadium has been fully dismantled after featuring athletes from Olympic swimming and water polo, and Para swimming events. The Rio city government has announced that one of its swimming pools will form part of a new 234,000-square metre public park also to be built in the West zone.

The three other temporary swimming pools used at the Games (two for training at the Athletes’ Park and one for water polo preliminaries warm-up at the permanent Maria Lenk Aquatic Centre in the Olympic Park) were already disassembled and donated a few years ago.

These have become available for high-performance and recreational use in the Brazilian states of Amazonas, Bahia and São Paulo.

See the post here

Rio Olympic Velodrome

In addition to providing 2,000 local community residents a month with access to over 20 different sports and recreational activities, and hosting national and international competitions at the Olympic Park, the Rio Olympic Velodrome is being prepared to house the Rio Olympic Museum. The newly created exhibition centre will tell the story of the Rio 2016 Games through technology and interactive displays. Work is underway and expected to be completed this year.

See the post here

Olympic Way

The Olympic Way, a pedestrian thoroughfare that connected the main entrance gate to the live site at the far end of the Olympic Park, and provided access to the venues during the Games, has been open to the public since the Games finished. Along with a wider part of the original park, it has been the venue for the renowned Rock in Rio festival since 2017.

See the post here

It is now being turned into a public park that will benefit local communities, with 465 public tables and seats, sports courts, squares, a skate park, playgrounds, gymnastics equipment and bicycle racks. It will also have over 900 trees and 16,000 bushes planted throughout its 36,000 square metres.

Las Vegas Sands

As part of Women’s History Month 2024, Sands is featuring women who help drive the company’s success and exemplify its culture of professional growth and advancement. After holding a variety of corporate, civic and nonprofit leadership positions, Tracey Edwards joined Sands New York this past year and is the region’s newly appointed senior vice president/corporate social responsibility officer.

Prior to joining Sands New York, Edwards served as Commissioner of the New York State Public Service Commission, which ensures secure and reliable access to electric, gas, steam, telecommunications and water services for New York State’s residential and business consumers while protecting the natural environment.

Edwards spent a significant portion of her career in at Verizon where she held a variety of leadership positions. As region president, Edwards led a team of 4,000 employees responsible for field operations of voice, broadband and video services across the state of New York. Prior to her region president role, she led staffing and diversity for Verizon, responsible for ethics, hiring, recruitment, diversity councils and human resource policies. Edwards also served as president of the Empire City Subway Company, a subsidiary of Verizon that specializes in subsurface engineering and construction services.

After many years as a corporate executive, Edwards started her own consulting company focused on branding; diversity, equity and inclusion; and organizational, workforce and economic development.

She currently serves on the boards of directors for the NAACP, New Hour for Women and Children, and the Scott J. Beigel Memorial Fund, and is the Long Island regional director of the NAACP New York State Conference. Edwards is a former board member of the United Way of Long Island, former executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Suffolk and past president of the Melville Lions Club.

Outline your career path and current role with Sands New York.

“After over a 30-year career in the public and private sector, I was honored to join Sands in October 2023 as senior vice president, corporate social responsibility officer. My role is to integrate our strategic plan and initiatives for our planned integrated resort operation in New York.”

What skills, trainings, mentors or experiences have helped you build a successful career?

“I was blessed to have a circle of women who worked in multiple departments that I could call on for advice, counsel and assistance. I, in turn, did the same for them. You need to realize that it is easier if you depend on and help each other along the way. I also had male and female champions who helped me with my journey.

“My drive was to make sure that no one (male or female) could out-work me, but I also recognized that as women we try to be all things to everyone, which is not possible all the time. We need to pace ourselves and stay healthy while we work hard.

“After surviving breast cancer, I cherished naps! After work, I would lay down for 20 minutes, and then power back up to handle the rest of my family stuff or complete work I took home.”

What are your ideas for evolving workplace to better support and empower women?

“Joining the EmpowHER Team Member resource group for women is a good start. Also, have executives lead a program of mentoring moments where you layout situational exercises and have those in power provide advice.”

What advice do you have for women or anyone who wants to advance in their careers?

“Volunteer for tough assignments and move around the business laterally so that you can learn about the many functions within the corporation.

“Once you learn more and more about the business, promotional opportunities will come. The focus should be about growing the business and exceeding the objectives through innovation.

“I also wanted to perform the jobs that no one else wanted to do, which made my position and brand more valuable.”

LINCOLN, Neb., March 21, 2024 /3BL/ – Philadelphia Insurance Companies (PHLY) confirms it will continue to support critical reforestation through a partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation. This renewed commitment aims to support the planting of 80,000 trees annually across the United States, focusing on sustainable forestry and land restoration efforts.

Kicking off this year’s campaign, forty PHLY employees and local foresters from Friends of the Rappahannock (FOR) participated in a two-day planting project along the Ta River in Virginia. The impact of reforesting this privately owned land extends far beyond its boundaries, contributing to the health of river watersheds and the preservation of the Chesapeake Bay. The PHLY team collaborated with Foundation leaders, FOR, and other local forestry partners to plant 1,200 trees.

“Through this partnership, Philadelphia Insurance Companies is not only helping restore forests—it’s also fostering a network of environmental stewards,” said Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “We’re grateful PHLY and its employees have demonstrated such a strong commitment to revitalizing ecosystems and strengthening communities through trees.”

PHLY has committed to helping the Arbor Day Foundation plant over 650,000 trees since 2015. Spanning more than 20 states, the initiative’s impact has also supported projects throughout the American West and Southeast, two of the Foundation’s global priority regions for strategic reforestation efforts.”

“This is a meaningful project for our company and our employees, who always enjoy the opportunity to come together for a cause,” said John Glomb, President and CEO of Philadelphia Insurance Companies. “These planting projects with the Arbor Day Foundation have left a lasting impression on our employees, and we take pride in knowing their efforts will have a lasting impact on communities for years to come.”

The PHLY80K Trees initiative not only aids in forest recovery but also enhances community resilience against natural disasters. Healthy tree canopies play a vital role in flood prevention, air and water quality improvement and soil stabilization.

About the Arbor Day Foundation

Founded in 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation is the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees. Together with our partners, we have helped plant more than 500 million trees in neighborhoods, communities, cities and forests throughout the world. Our vision is to lead toward a world where trees are used to solve issues critical to survival. Through our members, partners and programs, the Arbor Day Foundation inspires people across the globe to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. More information is available at arborday.org.

About Philadelphia Insurance Companies

Philadelphia Insurance Companies designs, markets, and underwrites commercial property/casualty and professional liability insurance products incorporating value added coverages and services for select industries. The Company is rated “A++” (Superior) by AM Best Company and “A+” for counterparty credit and financial strength by Standard & Poor’s. In business for over 60 years, PHLY is nationally recognized as a member of Ward’s Top 50, one of the Best Places to Work in Insurance, and one of the Healthiest 100 Workplaces in America. Based outside of Philadelphia, the organization has offices strategically located in all major metro areas across the United States to provide superior service. For more information, please visit www.PHLY.com.

About Friends of the Rappahannock

Friends of the Rappahannock (FOR) is a non-profit, grassroots conservation organization established in 1985. Located in Fredericksburg, Virginia, FOR is dedicated to educate everyone about the river and to advocate for actions and policies that will protect and restore the Rappahannock River.

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March 21, 2024 /3BL/ – E+E leader’s podcast, “Sustainability Unveiled,” hosted by Jessica Hunt, is thrilled to launch another episode – “Building Bridges for Sustainability.” The podcast continues to provide insightful discourse about the intersection between business growth and societal advancement.

The newest episode features a conversation with Claudia Herbert Colfer, a respected figurehead driving corporate accountability and sustainability. Claudia’s impactful work guiding the UN Global Compact Network USA programs has steered numerous businesses towards more environmentally and socially conscious practices.

In “Building Bridges for Sustainability,” Jessica and Claudia jump into many challenges and triumphs. The episode offers listeners invaluable insights into the complexities of corporate efforts in reaching Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By shining a light on the essential role of the UN Global Compact Network USA, listeners garner a nuanced understanding of the journey towards an ethically driven, transparent business sector.

Highlights of the episode include:

Thought-provoking discussions on how businesses can be more environmentally and socially active.Innovative ideas on incorporating SDG principles into core business strategies.Resources available to private businesses

The podcast is essential for sustainability professionals determined to make a difference. Be part of this compelling narrative and participate in the conversation driving significant change in the corporate sector.

Tune in on March 21, 2024, at 9:00 A.M. ET wherever you listen to your podcasts. 

Buzzsprout link to all platformsVideo Version

“Sustainability Unveiled” promotes dialogue around business practices and societal betterment. Through in-depth interviews with thought leaders, activists, and proponents, the podcast series propels us toward a more sustainable and inclusive future.

Stay tuned for the second half of Season 1 next month featuring Hadia Sheerazi of RMI.

Season 2 promises a lineup of extraordinary experts and innovators, extending the tradition of profound conversations on societal progress through conscientious business practices.

Press Contact:

Sarah Washington

Events Assistant

Sarah.Washington@environmentenergyleader.com

Calling all sustainability voices: 

We’re seeking speaker submissions for Season 3. If you’re passionate about making a difference and have stories or expertise that align with our mission, we invite you to submit a call for speakers form. Be part of a movement that values profitability, principles, and purpose.

Some North Dakota teenagers are getting first-hand experience with the skills they would need to become professional firefighters.The city of Dickinson’s fire department conducts a certification course for high school students, qualifying them for college credit and positioning them to apply for jobs in firefighting.A grant from Marathon Petroleum’s Dickinson renewable diesel facility is helping the fire department provide equipment for students who enroll in the course.

High school students in southwestern North Dakota who want to become firefighters don’t have to wait to find out what it’s like. A two-semester course taught by the city of Dickinson’s fire department offers students opportunities to earn certification for entering the field. Using the same tools and equipment as professional firefighters is essential to the program, which prompted a recent $2,000 grant to the fire department from Marathon Petroleum’s Dickinson renewable diesel facility.

“In the future, we might be working side by side with these students if we ever need to call upon outside help or are asked to assist another department.”

“The city’s fire department provides personal protective equipment for the students, which is quite costly, and this grant will help with some of that expense,” said the renewable diesel facility’s Interim Fire Chief Nate Eberle.

The city fire department’s Firefighter 1 Academy course is administered through the Roughrider Area Career and Technical Center, a regional facility that serves schools from 12 area communities. Completing the course gives students options when deciding which direction to take after graduating from high school. They qualify for credits toward a fire science degree at Dickinson State University and are also in position to pursue jobs with fire departments.

“Most departments in the state will require, at minimum, Firefighter 1 certification, which is what students will get after they have successfully completed the cognitive and practical exams,” said Eberle. “This program also offers Firefighter 2 certification as a possibility for students.”

The grant from the Dickinson renewable diesel facility adds to its ongoing support for the local community and first responders throughout the area. The facility’s fire brigade maintains a mutual aid agreement with all surrounding fire departments in Stark County, meaning they will provide resources and equipment to each other, as needed, during emergencies. Eberle pointed out how the grant brings it all full circle.

“In the future, we might be working side by side with these students if we ever need to call upon outside help or are asked to assist another department,” he said.