Tag: 3BL

As companies continue to navigate a post-COVID environment, hybrid work or fully remote models have become more commonplace. The increased amount of time spent indoors, where the air quality could potentially be worse than outdoors, highlights the need to prioritize indoor air quality (IAQ) and awareness on factors that contribute to poor IAQ.

According to a study led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, poor IAQ affects health and productivity significantly more than previously understood. Factors such as low ventilation or increased dust particles can impact how employees feel and may cause symptoms such as headaches, exhaustion, or respiratory disorders, making it difficult for employees to remain focused. In addition, other climate-related factors are expected to increase and contribute to poor IAQ. For example, wildfires and the smoke emitted contains microscopic particles that can easily seep through closed doors and windows, potentially exacerbating respiratory and cardiac problems.

Through comprehensive IAQ assessments, employers have control over the air quality in-office and their facility environments and can develop long-term solutions to remediate any air quality-related issues. On the other hand, the air quality while working from home is not closely regulated and often overlooked.

IAQ at Home

As part of their duty of care, employers should provide adequate IAQ awareness and offer modifications to protect their employees from illness in at-home environments. The same way certain companies provide a stipend for ergonomic equipment for hybrid and/or fully remote employees, a similar system could be adopted for improving at-home air quality.

There are several factors that influence indoor air quality and can impact productivity while working from home:

Ventilation: Poor ventilation systems can trap air pollutants in the home.Chemical Pollutants: The push for energy-efficient construction coupled with the increased use of synthetic materials, personal care, and cleaning products has resulted in higher concentrations of certain harmful pollutants in the air. Other common forms of indoor air pollutants include carbon monoxide, asbestos, and lead.Airborne Particles: Dust, pollen, pet dander, tobacco products, and viral particles can remain suspended in the air, affecting air quality.

Strategies that employees can adopt to improve their indoor air quality include:

Monitor IAQ: Investing in an IAQ monitoring device is an effective way to get a baseline understanding of the quality of air in the home. Monitoring metrics such as CO2 levels, carbon monoxide, radon, lead, etc. will provide insight into what changes need to be made, if any.Maintain adequate ventilation: Opening doors and windows periodically ensures clean air is circulated throughout the home. In addition, the use of special venting in certain areas of the home (i.e., the exhaust fan in the kitchen and bathroom fans) can be helpful to efficiently move the air outside.Check and replace common household filters: Household filters for HVAC units and kitchen vents should be cleaned or replaced every few months to prevent fine particulate matter from escaping back into the air. Additionally, ensure the most appropriate filtration type is installed.Limit the use of candles and air fresheners: Despite the intent of candles and air fresheners, these fragrances emit small particulates, which can raise the level of total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) at home and increase the risk of serious health problems.Monitor humidity at home: Increased temperature and humidity inside the home could result in the presence of mold and mildew, which over time can cause respiratory issues. The EPA provides information and guidance on how to prevent mold growth, including the use of dehumidifiers and venting appliances.Isolate sick household members: If a family member or loved one at home is sick, consider isolating them in a separate room or area of the home to prevent the spread of the virus to others.

As IAQ awareness continues to grow and the future of work environments continues to change, it’s essential for businesses to stay informed on best practices and invest in advanced solutions that extend to all potential employee work environments. It’s key to ensuring the health and wellbeing of employees, and it demonstrates an employer’s commitment to employee health and safety.

Do you have questions or need help with your business’ IAQ? We’re here to help!

As companies continue to navigate a post-COVID environment, hybrid work or fully remote models have become more commonplace. The increased amount of time spent indoors, where the air quality could potentially be worse than outdoors, highlights the need to prioritize indoor air quality (IAQ) and awareness on factors that contribute to poor IAQ.

According to a study led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, poor IAQ affects health and productivity significantly more than previously understood. Factors such as low ventilation or increased dust particles can impact how employees feel and may cause symptoms such as headaches, exhaustion, or respiratory disorders, making it difficult for employees to remain focused. In addition, other climate-related factors are expected to increase and contribute to poor IAQ. For example, wildfires and the smoke emitted contains microscopic particles that can easily seep through closed doors and windows, potentially exacerbating respiratory and cardiac problems.

Through comprehensive IAQ assessments, employers have control over the air quality in-office and their facility environments and can develop long-term solutions to remediate any air quality-related issues. On the other hand, the air quality while working from home is not closely regulated and often overlooked.

IAQ at Home

As part of their duty of care, employers should provide adequate IAQ awareness and offer modifications to protect their employees from illness in at-home environments. The same way certain companies provide a stipend for ergonomic equipment for hybrid and/or fully remote employees, a similar system could be adopted for improving at-home air quality.

There are several factors that influence indoor air quality and can impact productivity while working from home:

Ventilation: Poor ventilation systems can trap air pollutants in the home.Chemical Pollutants: The push for energy-efficient construction coupled with the increased use of synthetic materials, personal care, and cleaning products has resulted in higher concentrations of certain harmful pollutants in the air. Other common forms of indoor air pollutants include carbon monoxide, asbestos, and lead.Airborne Particles: Dust, pollen, pet dander, tobacco products, and viral particles can remain suspended in the air, affecting air quality.

Strategies that employees can adopt to improve their indoor air quality include:

Monitor IAQ: Investing in an IAQ monitoring device is an effective way to get a baseline understanding of the quality of air in the home. Monitoring metrics such as CO2 levels, carbon monoxide, radon, lead, etc. will provide insight into what changes need to be made, if any.Maintain adequate ventilation: Opening doors and windows periodically ensures clean air is circulated throughout the home. In addition, the use of special venting in certain areas of the home (i.e., the exhaust fan in the kitchen and bathroom fans) can be helpful to efficiently move the air outside.Check and replace common household filters: Household filters for HVAC units and kitchen vents should be cleaned or replaced every few months to prevent fine particulate matter from escaping back into the air. Additionally, ensure the most appropriate filtration type is installed.Limit the use of candles and air fresheners: Despite the intent of candles and air fresheners, these fragrances emit small particulates, which can raise the level of total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) at home and increase the risk of serious health problems.Monitor humidity at home: Increased temperature and humidity inside the home could result in the presence of mold and mildew, which over time can cause respiratory issues. The EPA provides information and guidance on how to prevent mold growth, including the use of dehumidifiers and venting appliances.Isolate sick household members: If a family member or loved one at home is sick, consider isolating them in a separate room or area of the home to prevent the spread of the virus to others.

As IAQ awareness continues to grow and the future of work environments continues to change, it’s essential for businesses to stay informed on best practices and invest in advanced solutions that extend to all potential employee work environments. It’s key to ensuring the health and wellbeing of employees, and it demonstrates an employer’s commitment to employee health and safety.

Do you have questions or need help with your business’ IAQ? We’re here to help!

February 6, 2024 /3BL/ – The earthquakes on February 6, 2023, had devastating consequences in Turkey and Syria, killing nearly 60,000 people and injuring more than 100,000. In Turkey, nearly 300,000 buildings were destroyed, forcing more than three million people to flee.

“Over the past year, our teams have been working tirelessly to support the victims of the catastrophic earthquakes, but many still face a long road to recovery,” says Daniel Martín Santos, Country Director for Action Against Hunger in Turkey. “We continue to rehabilitate sanitation and water systems. We are also distributing hot meals, shelter materials, and hygiene items, and providing psychosocial support.”

Today, about 800,000 people are still living in temporary settlements in Turkey alone. They are now enduring their second winter without a home and with limited access to clean water, sanitation, nutrition, healthcare, and mental health support. There has been a shortage of specialized doctors, including those specializing in pre- and post-natal care, and the health infrastructure across the country has deteriorated. Among those affected by the earthquakes, between February and October, 102,000 women had given birth. They and their children face an uncertain future.

“A year since the earthquakes hit, Action Against Hunger and our partners are focusing on the over 800,000 people still living in temporary shelters and, within this population, on the most vulnerable such as women, children, the elderly,” says Santos.

With partners in Turkey and the support of the government, Action Against Hunger works to address essential needs such as food, nutrition, access to clean water, hygiene, and sanitation. Action Against Hunger teams are also helping families generate resources and income. The organization is additionally working to improve socioeconomic inclusion by evaluating and identifying opportunities in different sectors, such as business development and access to employment.

Before the earthquakes, more than 15 million people in Syria already needed humanitarian assistance due to conflict, economic crisis, and epidemic outbreaks. In northern Syria, the earthquake left even more people in desperate need of shelter and public services. Many sought refuge in schools that had been converted into shelters.

Lama, 49, is a teacher from Aleppo. During the war, her family had to leave their home to flee the fighting. When they returned, their house was badly damaged, and they tried to fix it as best they could. Then, just four months after her husband passed away, their home was completely destroyed when the earthquakes hit. Until the end of 2023, Lama and her four children lived in a school that was converted into a shelter.

“Initially there were no services, not enough toilets, no showers, no lighting,” she says. “This area has had no electricity since the war. Action Against Hunger came and saw how tragic the situation was. There were 210 families using only five toilets, and we had no showers. We went the first 15 days without showering.”

Lama says that Action Against Hunger installed new water taps and showers, as well as toilets for men, women, and people with disabilities. “Now, there are enough bathrooms and sanitation support for everyone,” she says. “The teams also installed solar panels to generate electricity for heat and light.”

Lama and many others still live in displacement camps across the country. Many are rebuilding their lives from scratch.

“[The solar panels] were a big step. We were afraid to walk around here at night, the courtyard is very large and the area very dark. We used our mobile phones to have some light,” says Lama. “Now, with the solar panel system, we have light and hot water, and life has returned to be somewhat normal, as if we were in our homes.”

Many of the schools that served as shelters in 2023 have been evacuated and restored to resume classes. Displaced families received cash assistance to cover rent for six months after they left their shelters, but beyond that, there is only uncertainty, especially for those who lost their livelihoods and continue to deal with the trauma of the catastrophe.

Action Against Hunger’s Response

Action Against Hunger teams mobilized in the early hours after the earthquake to provide continuous support to people in Turkey and Syria in collaboration with local partners. In the past year, our programs have reached more than 400,000 people: 152,000 people received support in water, sanitation, and hygiene; more than 175,000 accessed out health and nutrition services, and 62,400 benefited from our food security and livelihoods support.

“I can’t express how proud I am to be part of this great team and organization that genuinely spared no effort or time to provide immediate assistance after the earthquake,” says Bassel, head of the Monitoring and Evaluation team at Action Against Hunger in Aleppo. “None of my colleagues were thinking about their own homes or families, but rather about what we could offer at every moment and in these circumstances to the community. Honestly, it’s the first time I’ve felt the humanity of the work we do to such an extent.”

About Action Against Hunger

Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 28 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across 55 countries, our 8,900 dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good.

**

All photos by Hasan Belal / Fairpicture / DEC. 

*Names have been changed to protect people’s privacy. 

By Candace Higginbotham 

Alabama-based Yellowhammer News recently announced its annual Women of Impact awards, and this year’s list includes Regions Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary, Tara Plimpton.

According to Yellowhammer News, Women of Impact recognizes the women in Alabama whose contributions have earned the authority and power to move the needle in their industry. “Our mission is to illuminate the personal and professional advancements of 20 women across business, government and nonprofit sectors each year.”

Yellowhammer noted that Plimpton was honored for her leadership and service to the community.

As a direct report of the CEO, Plimpton plays a key role in strategy and decision making for Regions Bank. Her areas of responsibility include all Legal matters, Government Affairs, Corporate Governance and Reputation Management. Plimpton and her team also manage the operations of subpoena processing and eDiscovery. As Corporate Secretary, Plimpton provides counsel to the Regions Board of Directors, ensuring it has the resources to fulfill its fiduciary duties.

Plimpton says that she recognizes she would not be where she is without significant mentorship and sponsorship from others, and that has meaningfully influenced her leadership style. Inclusion and broadening talent pools are key areas of focus. She frequently speaks about the value proposition for an inclusive workforce and how that impacts a company’s ability to compete and create better products and services for its customers.

“Early in my career, I realized that high-performing teams thrive when there is wide range of thought, experience and background,” Plimpton said.

Early in my career, I realized that high-performing teams thrive when there is wide range of thought, experience and background.

Tara Plimpton, Regions Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary

Plimpton recently oversaw the Regions Legal team’s achievement of Mansfield Rule Legal Department Edition certification, a well-known national movement to expand opportunities in hiring, development activities and outside counsel engagements, which is modeled after the Mansfield Rule for law firms. The Mansfield Rule guidelines do not include hiring mandates or goals for overall departmental makeup – but promote efforts to broaden opportunities for inclusive candidate pools, professional development and advancement.

“Obtaining Mansfield certification was a significant accomplishment for the team,” Plimpton said. “It was a lot of work, but it demonstrates a real operational focus on diversity, equity and inclusion, and shows the practical value a good DEI program brings to the business.”

Plimpton helped launch the first Women of Regions Symposium, serves as the executive sponsor for the Regions South Florida DEI Network and continues to lead the Partnerships in the Profession program, which drives dialogue about diversity, equity and inclusion issues among members of the Birmingham legal community.

As a result of these efforts, Corporate Counsel named Plimpton a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Champion as part of its 2022 Women, Influence and Power in Law Awards.

Community engagement is another priority for Plimpton. She has served on the Georgetown advisory council, the Atlanta Women’s Care Network and the Board of Directors of the Atlanta United Way. She served as a Cabinet Member for the Birmingham United Way and led the Legal Division for the 2022 Campaign.

We’re so fortunate to have a leader like Tara who not only effectively manages a broad and complex Legal environment at Regions, but also mentors associates and continually sets a positive example for our team with her inclusion and community focus.

Andrew Nix, Regions Chief Governance Officer

Plimpton has been instrumental in the Regions Legal team’s community support efforts, including overseeing programs that provide financial education to inmates at an Alabama women’s prison and doing hands-on work with the Boys & Girls Club.

Plimpton was recently selected to participate in Leadership Alabama, an organization made up of Alabama’s most accomplished and forward-thinking leaders who share a strong commitment in serving the people of the state.

Chief Governance Officer Andrew Nix leads the Legal department’s Culture and Equity Team and praises Plimpton’s leadership. “We’re so fortunate to have a leader like Tara who not only effectively manages a broad and complex Legal environment at Regions, but also mentors associates and continually sets a positive example for our team with her inclusion and community focus,” Nix said. “I’m so pleased she has been recognized for those efforts by being named to the Yellowhammer News Women of Impact.”

The Yellowhammer News Women of Impact were honored at a dinner and ceremony in Birmingham on Jan. 25.

As a provider of consumer-facing financial services, our members entrust us with their data and financial futures, obligations we take seriously. Oportun invests in our systems and people in order to help ensure the integrity of our members’ data. With Data Privacy Week recently passed, we sat down for 5 Questions With Angel N. J. , Oportun‘s Senior Manager Security Engagement & Education.

First things first – what do you do at Oportun?

I run the security awareness program at Oportun. I’m responsible for helping create protections against cybersecurity attacks, educating team members on how to prevent them, and helping train Oportun workers on security practices.

Let’s imagine security awareness in simple terms.  Picture what happens when a rock is thrown and it hits you – it’s a pretty simple lesson in pain.  Teaching security awareness is like showing people how to dodge the rock altogether, so they stay safe (and avoid the pain of your data being stolen).

Today, our internal awareness campaigns are hitting on all cylinders with regular communications, webinars, and training that ranges from new hire onboarding through to annual cybersecurity classes.

How did you get into this field and what led you to Oportun?

I’m an accidental security awareness leader. I started my career as a technology consultant, then expanded into IT audit work and governance. I became fascinated by cybersecurity and the human element of prevention, so dedicated the next phase of my career to cybersecurity education and awareness.

I decided to obtain my master’s degree in Training and Development (Angel was a pandemic graduate), then accepted a new opportunity with my prior employer, Bank of America, where I developed an award-winning cybersecurity talent upskill program. That’s where I heard about Oportun.

I was attracted to the Oportun mission immediately. I had actually been a member using the Oportun savings app already. But when I learned about the important work the company does offering financial tools and services to the underserved, I was hooked.

There’s a tremendous alignment between the Oportun mission and cybersecurity’s role within it. By helping protect the most technologically vulnerable, we can ensure that the information of the most financially vulnerable remains safe and protected. I designed my first campaign at Oportun, Fall into Cybersecurity, with that in mind.  The campaign revitalized the Security Education program and was mentioned in the Oportun 2022 Corporate Sustainability Report as a testament to how our security awareness program enhances the information security posture at the Company.

I’ve also felt seen and heard here at Oportun. I have an amazing team around me and Chief Information Security Officer, @Manju Mude, has been incredibly supportive. They’ve given me the freedom to build and evolve this program so that it’s best able to serve our Oportun teams.

You’re very passionate about your job. What drives you?

Once I moved into cybersecurity awareness, I realized the work was my passion. I’m a creator at heart (Angel is a sewist and crafter in her free time) and enjoy helping others, so building content and programs that make people smarter and better able to avoid deceptive practices is incredibly fulfilling.

The key is teaching good habits. Cybersecurity is a muscle; you need to build it up and make it repeatable. My goal is to build that muscle and then equip team members to help others do the same. In that way, we are building a wider, stronger, more effective cybersecurity net that protects everyone.

I’m also passionate about helping others succeed. As a Black woman, I believe my obligation is to be visible so others can see that it’s possible and then help lift others into similar roles.

I am a president of the Charlotte Chapter of Cyversity, an organization that helps underprivileged groups break into cybersecurity. I also created a LinkedIn initiative called Cyber is the Future that provides perspectives on the industry and tips for how to break into it.

What cybersecurity advice do you have for others?

In general, I’m technology agnostic. I prefer to teach principles that can be applied no matter what type of device you’re using or where you work.

For me, the Core Four are always the best starting point:

Turn on automatic updates for everything so you’re guaranteed to have the latest protections.Learn how to identify phishing attempts early so you can be more adept at spotting suspicious activity.Use multi-factor authentication whenever possible.Employ creative passwords for your logins, combined with leveraging password managers. Increasingly, that’s less about complex alphanumeric strings and more about personal passphrases that are easier to remember but hard to guess

What’s next in cybersecurity and for you at Oportun?

As a company, Oportun is very supportive of generative AI, but we obviously need ground rules for how to engage with it safely. To do that, we first created a three-part seminar that covered the benefits of the technology, its risks and needed ethics, and how we use AI and data science at Oportun. It was exciting to see hundreds of our colleagues take part in that.

As a next step, I’m working with @Carlos Carlos and his Data Security team to develop Generative AI University. It will dig a little deeper to show how to use the technology properly, what our governance tools are at Oportun, and provide training for our technical teams.

If you are interested in learning more about cybersecurity for personal or business purposes, I  recommend the National Cybersecurity Alliance. They provide engaging educational content that I use often as source material for  Oportun newsletters and curriculum content.

Authored by Darren R. Jones, Michael K. Green, Mark Scallon, David A. Gregory, Grace Macalino, Arun Parekkat, Samantha Sutherland, Timothy J. Nugent

Baker Tilly’s outlook on what lies ahead for industry leaders

As we progress into 2024, it’s evident that the life sciences industry has proven to be highly resilient. This past year has been stable for life sciences whereas other industries have struggled with rapidly evolving economic challenges. Despite the ongoing success of the life sciences industry, there will be obstacles for organizations to face. This year, success will be dictated by how industry leaders tackle these adversities. 

To assist life sciences organizations in formulating and implementing their strategic initiatives for 2024, Baker Tilly’s team of life sciences specialists has compiled a list of key developments that leaders should consider. The complimentary whitepaper discusses: 

Trends and challenges in the healthcare market Increases in capital market activity Navigating the compliance and regulatory landscape Market access and the importance of data utilization U.S. government pricing updates Medical affairs and patient access Developments within the European, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) as well as Asian-Pacific (APAC) markets And more

Download the full report now

For more insights, visit Baker Tilly’s life science’s page. 

The world faces increasing climate and social crises. Comprehensive assessments have given us a deeper understanding of the science and the role of industry. As a global technology company supporting the vast majority of the world’s business, SAP needs to lead from the front with our ambitions and actions. That is why SAP has committed to achieve net-zero emissions across our value chain by 2030.

Since 2009, SAP has been on a sustainability journey with the objective to create positive economic, environmental, and social impact within planetary boundaries. Along the way, we have learned a great deal about measuring economic, social, and environmental performance and integrating sustainability into our business strategy. Central to this effort has been a continuous effort to decarbonize our business. Setting ambitious targets and leveraging digital solutions have proven crucial.

Raising our ambition to achieve net-zero emissions is a key element of our approach to sustainability, which looks across the interconnected areas of holistic steering and reporting, climate action, the circular economy, and social responsibility.

What Does Net Zero Mean?

Net zero is a state where the greenhouse gases going into the atmosphere are balanced by removal out of the atmosphere. Corporate net-zero pledges have gained significant traction as half of the world’s largest companies, representing an annual aggregate revenue of US$27 trillion, are committed to net zero.

There are a number of definitions of net zero and how companies can achieve it. SAP follows the Science Based Targets initiative’s (SBTi) Net-Zero Standard , which provides a credible and independent assessment of corporate net-zero target setting in line with climate science. The continually improving standard enables companies to align their climate actions with limiting global warming to 1.5°C. SAP became a member of SBTi in 2017 and was the first German company with a science-based carbon reduction target for 2050. In 2019, SAP raised its commitment and adopted a 1.5°C science-based emissions reduction target. We announced our net zero by 2030 ambition in early 2022, bringing this commitment forward by 20 years.

Achieving net-zero emissions across our entire value chain means that all our emissions across all emission sources need to be either eliminated or, up to certain limits, compensated for. These emission areas, known as scopes, include those from our own operations, those generated by the energy we purchase to run operations, and finally, the largest area, external emissions such as those incurred by employee travel, items procured, and customer data center use.

Targeting Our Entire Value Chain

SAP’s net-zero plan is implemented through a comprehensive and integrated approach that involves all functions in the company, customers, suppliers, partners, and other stakeholders. We have established a cross-company program team involving experts from different lines of business to plan and implement our net-zero transformation. Reducing emissions from the use of SAP software will be the primary area for reductions, followed by purchased goods and services. The SAP net zero by 2030 approach includes:

Accelerating the transformation of on-premise customers to the cloud through our market-leading RISE with SAP and GROW with SAP offeringsEnhancing direct investments in renewable energy sources and operating our internal and external data centers on 100% renewable electricityReducing emissions by improving the energy efficiency of best-in-class data centers – our own, our co-locations, and hyperscalers – with sustainable programming and a cloud carbon footprint calculator for all SAP cloud solutionsStrengthening engagement with key suppliers to commit to net zero and deliver carbon-neutral products and servicesElectrifying the vehicle fleet, promoting green mobility, and enabling hybrid work situationsCompensating for emissions by investing in high-quality, nature-based solutions, such as reforestation, renewable energy, and community development, that have verified environmental and social benefitsEnabling our customers and partners by adding sustainability features and functions into our core offerings, such as SAP S/4HANA, SAP Ariba solutions, and SAP SuccessFactors solutions, and by giving them tools, guidance, and best practices to measure, manage, and reduce their emissions through our portfolio of dedicated sustainability solutions including SAP Sustainability Footprint Management, SAP Sustainability Data Exchange, SAP Sustainability Control Tower, and SAP Responsible Design and ProductionAccurately measuring and reporting emissions using the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and the Science Based Targets initiative and showing progress and performance through platforms such as CDP, EcoVadis, and the Dow Jones Sustainability Index

Capturing the Opportunities of Net Zero

We have many achievements to build on, but we also are charting new territory. 2030 is not far away. The challenges increase the farther we move upstream and downstream into our value chain. Despite the complexities, there are enormous opportunities ahead as we establish further success with our net-zero efforts.

From a business perspective, focusing on net zero means reducing risk, improving SAP’s operational efficiency, and delivering cost savings by reducing our energy consumption and waste and optimizing our processes and resources. Net-zero action helps increase our market competitiveness by creating new products and services that meet the growing expectations of customers, partners, and regulators for low-carbon and sustainable solutions. We’ll also be better at attracting and retaining top talent who are increasingly discerning about their employer’s sustainability actions. We’ll offer a compelling case to investors who used focused criteria to inform their holdings. Finally, we’ll continue to enhance our reputation with industry media and analysts as a leader and innovator in sustainability. And most importantly, we’ll reduce our overall carbon emissions to provide much-needed relief for the over-accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

With an increased sense of urgency, we recognize the responsibility, as well as the opportunity, to step up and drive a faster transformation toward a sustainable future. Not only must we accelerate our own net-zero transformation, but we must help other businesses and industries reinvent themselves as well. Only a fundamental transformation of our global economy will allow us to limit global warming to 1.5°C. It’s vital that we build sustainability into the very nature of how we do business.

Southern Company and Samsung SmartThings have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to collaborate on a number of innovative projects that explore the intersection of consumer energy management and smart-home automation.

This strategic relationship is designed to advance and unlock residential flexible load and grid benefits by providing customers with personalized, automated solutions. Among other goals, the collaboration is intended to demonstrate quantifiable reduction in energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions.

SmartThings is Samsung’s global connected living platform for smart homes, with users in more than 200 countries. The app allows users to control their connected devices in the home from a smart device and was certified by the EPA as the first commercial Smart Home Energy Management System (SHEMS).

Samsung is the market leader in refrigerators, televisions and display monitors in the United States, holding the largest market share. Some 71% of U.S. households currently own at least one Samsung device.

The engagement will encompass the following initiatives:

Creation of an Innovation laboratory and test site where testing can take place for integrations and demand response simulations prior to customer implementation.Design and implementation of a custom Southern Company user experience on SmartThings to help recruit, enroll and engage users during a Mississippi Power energy efficiency battery pilot scheduled for the first quarter of 2024. Participating customers will be able to view their usage data in a SmartThings app.SmartThings will support Mississippi Power’s Smart Neighborhood project with customer education and engagement, data and analytics.

Southern Company and Samsung SmartThings will continue to explore ways in which the two entities can work together across the larger Southern Company footprint.

“We are excited to engage with Samsung SmartThings,” said Hank Adams, Southern Company’s senior vice president of customer solutions. “By combining our energy expertise with Samsung’s smart home technology, we aim to deliver personalized, automated solutions that enhance the lives of our customers while advancing energy efficiency.”

“Mississippi Power’s pipeline of innovative projects, including our Smart Neighborhood and demand response initiatives, are the perfect place to begin this new collaboration,” added Mississippi Power Marketing and Sales Director Giff Ormes. “This collaboration will allow Mississippi Power and Southern Company to better understand how new technologies can help our customers manage their energy usage.”

“Here at SmartThings, sustainability is at the core of everything we do,” commented Mark Tekippe, vice president of product and growth. “We could not be more thrilled about this collaboration with Southern Company, and we look forward to being able to engage, educate and empower customers to take control of their home energy usage, save money, reduce carbon emissions and support a cleaner, more efficient power grid.”

Xavier Teal is a true leader, devoted to selfless service in every area of his life. His ability to see the bigger picture has led him to freely give his time, knowledge, and encouragement to those around him in his career and community. 

In high school, Teal was a Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) commander and later became a non-commissioned officer in the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division. His experience in the Army as a system administrator for the Trojan intelligence network helped to shape him as a future project manager at CACI. 

“My time in the Army equipped me to always see tasks through to the end,” Teal said. “More often than not, others are depending on you to do your job right and in a timely manner. I kept this in mind as I transitioned into the civilian world and now encourage members of my team to do the same as they break new ground in their careers.”

After leaving the Army in 2009, Teal joined CACI, initially serving as a network administrator at the Trojan Network Control Center (TNCC) at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia. Today, he is CACI’s Air Force-Distributed Common Ground System (AF-DCGS) Management Center (DMC) Network Lead, leveraging his 20 years of network engineering expertise to ensure essential intelligence data continues to flow through DCGS. 

This $65 billion network system is the second largest Command and Control system in the U.S. Air Force and supports more than 6,000 warfighters at 27 sites. “Because of the work we do, the network is able to provide near-real time data that helps troops receive situational awareness and maintain their safety and security,” Teal said. 

His unfaltering dedication extends beyond Teal’s role at CACI. Teal is an active member of his community, the same community that has nurtured and supported him throughout his life. “My motivation for giving back stems from my parents,” he said. “Growing up, my parents offered our home as a safe haven for anyone need who needed it. I hope to keep that tradition alive in my own life.”

He fills his evenings and weekends with coaching duties for an age five and under soccer league and has consistently boosted team morale as the captain of a social kickball team that is made up of personnel from CACI and DMC. Teal also volunteers with #Lunchbag, a Hampton Roads organization, packing and distributing more than 750 lunches throughout the community each month.

Teal is described by friends and colleagues as a motivated problem solver and pillar of his community. This vast support led him to what he calls his greatest accomplishment as a CACI employee thus far, being selected as a 2024 Black Engineer of the Year awardee in the Outstanding Achievement category. 

“Xavier is a problem solver who sees challenges as opportunities for improvement,” said Todd Probert, CACI President of National Security and Innovative Solutions. “He views success as a group endeavor and empowers his team to be its very best, and he is motivated by the knowledge that when his team succeeds, our national security is stronger, and our troops are safer.” 

Since joining the company, Teal has felt a strong connection to the culture deeply woven into the fabric of CACI’s workforce. “I feel most connected to CACI’s devotion to character,” he said. “At CACI, we believe character and innovation go hand-in-hand. Our commitment to fostering this approachable culture fuels our progress and inspires us to aim higher.”

CACI is a collaborative team of diverse, talented, and highly skilled professionals. Explore how CACI embraces its richness of differences. 

ABOUT CACI

At CACI International Inc (NYSE: CACI), our 23,000 talented and dynamic employees are ever vigilant in delivering distinctive expertise and differentiated technology to meet our customers’ greatest challenges in national security and government modernization. We are a company of good character, relentless innovation, and long-standing excellence. Our culture drives our success and earns us recognition as a Fortune World’s Most Admired Company. CACI is a member of the Fortune 1000 Largest Companies, the Russell 1000 Index, and the S&P MidCap 400 Index. For more information, visit us at caci.com.

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Corporate Communications and Media:                                           
Lorraine Corcoran                                                              
Executive Vice President, Corporate Communications                  
(703) 434-4165, lorraine.corcoran@caci.com                                  

February 6, 2024 /3BL/ – As the world grows increasingly interconnected, understanding and appreciating different cultures and traditions has become more crucial than ever. Beyond the diverse cuisines, languages, and landscapes, one aspect that unites people worldwide is the celebration of holidays. From colorful festivals to solemn religious observances, holidays offer a glimpse into the rich tapestry of global customs.

“I think the most interesting part for me was understanding how different calendar types work – especially lunar calendars. It reminds me of learning a new language, where direct word-for-word translation often fails because the process is more complex. Looking at holidays from different calendar bases is similar. For example, the Muslim holiday Eid al-Fitr is celebrated on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month in the Islamic calendar. This date does not correspond to a specific day in the Gregorian calendar, which is solar-based, leading to a shift in the Gregorian date of Eid al-Fitr each year. This distinction highlights the challenges of making a global calendar that captures the important dates across the world, like languages,” Jill Berry, digital solutions team, Antea Group USA.

Here at Inogen Alliance, and in our globalized work environment, acknowledging and respecting holidays can foster stronger relationships, enhance cross-cultural communication, and ultimately help us navigate the intricacies of international collaborations. So, enjoy going through a journey with us to explore holidays around the world and uncover the significance of embracing these cultural treasures to manage our work effectively across borders.

You can view overall trends (guess which month has the most holidays – it’s not one that you would think!), search by upcoming weeks or months, or in the final tab search by specific holiday, month, date or country. This enables global teams to be aware of holidays and out-of-office dates to help with scheduling purposes and to foster better international relationships. Wish your colleagues a Happy Lunar New Year in February across many Asian countries, Anzac Day in April in Australia and New Zealand, and Eid al-Adha across numerous countries in June.

Click here to gain access to our comprehensive International Holiday Dashboard showing all major global holidays across the Alliance for 2024.