Tag: 3BL

January 24, 2024 /3BL/ – Inogen Alliance has recorded a short documentary in Brazil and Argentina focusing on our local expertise in the Latin America region. The countries in Latin America are very diverse and include many indigenous populations making it crucial to have a deep understanding of local culture, nuances, regulations and how to do business in the region.

Watch the film here.

The film focuses on our local expertise and Associate companies in the Latin America region, highlighting relevant challenges and opportunities. The film aims to inspire businesses and people to take collective action to ensure a better future for all.

“The work that we are doing is important because Latin America is a region where the world will depend on for their food and energy in the future. We are growing as a global supplier for food… if that’s not sustainable that’s not going to last, and if that doesn’t last, that’s going to have an impact,” Hilton Lucio, CEO Antea Brasil.

“As we face ever greater climate pressure, these problems will tend to increase so we have to think not only of the immediate solution for the development of a project that is due to open in the next months or next few years, but also what is the scenario five, ten, 15, 30 years down the line. As consultants we have to incorporate this into the planning process, into the design, and into the forecast models for future generations,” Jose Dengo, Managing Partner CDG Costa Rica.

Interviews include: Hilton Lucio, CEO of Antea Brasil and Inogen Alliance board member; Thierry Decoud, Director at Greenco Argentina; Miguel Ego Aguirre, General Manager EAS Environment Peru; Jose Dengo, Managing Partner CDG Costa Rica; Araceli Carrasco, EHS Senior Consultant Tero Hub Mexico; Eduardo Conghos, Director Greenco Argentina, Ivan Angel, Senior Consultant CAO Consultores Colombia; and Carlos Dengo, CEO CDG Costa Rica.

Check out more of our short documentary films featuring our local experts across regions in Europe and Asia-Pacific and more on our YouTube channel here, or read more about each of them in detail for EMEA and APAC filming and behind the scenes. These films have also been featured in The Independent, CBS News, and Gulf News.

Inogen Alliance is a global network made up of dozens of independent local businesses and over 6,000 consultants around the world who can help make your project a success. Our Associates collaborate closely to serve multinational corporations, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations, and we share knowledge and industry experience to provide the highest quality service to our clients. If you want to learn more about how you can work with Inogen Alliance, you can explore our Associates or Contact Us. Watch for more News & Blog updates here and follow us on LinkedIn.

PotlatchDeltic’s timberland climate analysis evaluates the potential physical impacts that changes in atmospheric CO2, temperature, and precipitation could have on our timberlands under various greenhouse gas (GHG) scenarios. We have evaluated potential physical impacts on our Idaho timberlands utilizing guidance from the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and using the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement (NCASI) Climate Projection Analysis Tool (NCASI Climate Tool). Following TCFD guidance, we evaluated four Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) or sets of potential future scenarios, including a highly unlikely, high consequence scenario: RCP 2.6, RCP 4.5, RCP 6.0, and RCP 8.5.

Temperature projections for our northern Idaho region were modeled using the NCASI Climate Tool under the four RCPs. Using RCP 2.6, downscaled temperature projections for the region reveal a temperature increase of about 0.5°C from the 2020’s to the 2040’s with no additional increase through the rest of the century. RCP 4.5 shows a temperature increase of approximately 0.7°C from the 2020’s to the 2040’s with an additional increase of roughly 1.0°C expected through the rest of the century. Similarly, RCP 6.0 shows a temperature increase of about 0.6°C from the 2020’s to the 2040’s with an additional increase of approximately 2.0°C through the rest of the century. RCP 8.5 shows a steady increase of roughly 4.4°C between the 2020’s and the end of the century. Precipitation projections for northern Idaho using the NCASI Climate Tool do not vary meaningfully by RCP and all four pathways project a very gradual increase of 5-15% from 2020 to 2100. Increases tend to be greater at higher elevations on the northern portion of our ownership and lower on the southern, low-elevation lands.

Douglas-fir accounts for approximately 60% of the seedlings planted on our Idaho timberlands. The species grows best in full sun or partial shade and prefers acidic or neutral soil that is well drained. It is moderately drought resistant and less prone to insects and disease than other coniferous species. Downscaled RCP projections for northern Idaho indicate annual climatic conditions are projected to be well suited for growth and productivity through the 2060 decade, which provides a full growing cycle until 2100. 

Our climate boundary analysis for Douglas-fir illustrates that the projected range of temperature and precipitation should be suitable for its growth under all RCP scenarios through 2100. See Figure 1. In addition, the current range of Douglas-fir in the US extends into Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico suggesting that it can survive in conditions found at latitudes well south of Idaho.

The analysis for Douglas-fir productivity arising from a combination of temperature and precipitation under various RCP scenarios in 2090-2099 illustrates that conditions remain favorable for Douglas-fir and loss of productivity is not projected. See Figure 2. 

Higher elevations in Idaho are projected to warm relatively more than lower elevations and to have rising snowlines. This may improve higher elevation growth rates by lengthening the growing season and increasing the number of growing degree days. Lower elevation sites in Idaho with south and west facing slopes located on the western fringe of our Idaho timberlands may have a risk of increasing water stress.

Increased frequency, duration, or intensity of droughts in Idaho may increase wildfire risk and increase variability in annual planting success and could result in increased casualty losses or higher forest management expenses. Increased risks from insects and disease primarily result from overcrowding, decadent forest conditions and the chance of severe outbreaks are significantly increased by drought and moisture stress.

Overall, the projections for northern Idaho indicate annual climatic conditions should be well suited for Douglas-fir growth and productivity through the 2100 decade. Long term changes in climatic conditions in Idaho are likely to be variable and growth rates for different tree species may increase or decrease. Elevation, aspect, and soil characteristics are all likely to interact with long term climate changes to determine net growth rate changes.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Projections of future climate conditions based on modeling of greenhouse gas scenarios, as well as their effects on tree growing conditions, are inherently forward-looking and subject to change. Words such as “likely,” “chance,” “could,” “long term,” “may,” “potential,” “projected,” “should,” “suggested,” “unlikely,” and similar expressions and references to achievement of objectives in the future are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management’s views of future events based on estimates and assumptions and are therefore subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, and are not guarantees of future conduct, results, or policies. Please view the Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information on page 30 of PotlatchDeltic’s 2022 Carbon and Climate Report.

STAMFORD, Conn., January 24, 2024 /3BL/ -Henkel, a leading manufacturer of well-known consumer and industrial brands such as Dial® soap, Schwarzkopf® hair care, all® laundry detergent, and Loctite®, Technomelt® and Bonderite® adhesives, sealants, and functional coatings, has been recognized as one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity 2024 by Newsweek and Plant-A Insights Group.

America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity were selected based on a survey of over 220,000 individuals from over 1.5 million companies in North America, and the ranking considers key factors such as work-life balance, compensation and benefits, training and career progression, sustainability, corporate culture, and proactive management of a diverse workforce.

“Henkel is honored to be chosen among America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity in 2024,” said Valeria Gladsztein, Regional Human Resources Head, North America. “Our people are the key to accelerating innovation, sustainability, and corporate responsibility within the Henkel organization. To continue building on these initiatives, we focus on fostering a culture of trust and belonging, empowering employees to embrace their unique identities and collaborate in strong, diverse teams to make an impact.”

“Diversity is a widely discussed topic – and it remains a crucial factor as people look for an employer or a business partner,” said Nancy Cooper, Global Editor in Chief of Newsweek. “Newsweek and market-data research firm Plant-A Insights are proud to introduce ‘America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity 2024,’ highlighting companies that are committed to offering diverse and inclusive work environment.”

Henkel North America’s team of over 8,000 colleagues in North America is united through a purpose as pioneers at heart for the good of generations, striving to enrich and improve everyday life for employees, customers, partners, and consumers. Through tools such as Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) which represent more than 2,000 employee voices, ongoing career development, and a variety of programs designed to connect employees with each other and with local communities, Henkel works to create an environment where employees are supported, heard, and encouraged to excel.

BETHESDA, Md., January 24, 2024 /3BL/ – WHC (Wildlife Habitat Council) offers a new white paper available for download today, Reaching New Heights in Avian Conservation | Corporate Conservation Strategies to Support Bird Populations. The white paper is sponsored by Vulcan Materials Company and is available for free on our website.

Birds are of pivotal importance to the environment and to human well-being. They exist on all seven continents across a vast range of ecoregions, and the value of the ecosystem services provided by birds cannot be understated. Unfortunately, in nearly every type of habitat, bird populations are decreasing, often due to habitat degradation. Unless interrupted, this continued loss of avian species will result in escalated impacts on pollination, seed dispersal and decomposition, with cascading impacts on the global economy and health and well-being.

Given the ubiquity of birds and the vast amount of privately owned lands around the world, conservation projects involving birds are particularly well-suited for corporations. Avian projects require varying levels of personnel involvement, money and time and can be installed across a number of different habitat types. As such, there is a suitable avian conservation project for nearly any corporate conservation program. This white paper shares the various strategies that WHC members employ at corporate sites around the world to conserve avian populations and educate the community about these critical species. Featured case studies include:

AriensCo: AriensCo Conservation, Wisconsin, USAArgos: Black Vulture Management Program Martinsburg Plant, West Virginia, USACEMEX: Guadalajara “Potrerillos I,II y La Presa,” Jalisco, MexicoExxonMobil: St. Mary’s Island, Texas, USAHolcim: Lafarge Presque Isle Quarry, Michigan, USAIBM: Silicon Valley Laboratory, California, USAShell: Woodcreek Campus, Texas, USASummit Materials: Cox Station Quarry Mainland Sand and Gravel, British Columbia, CanadaToyota: Georgetown, Kentucky, USAWacker Chemical: Adrian Site, Michigan, USA

Sponsored by Vulcan Materials Company, this white paper includes a foreword stating: “At Vulcan Materials Company, we believe being a good steward of the environment is an integral component of our long-term sustainability and growth as a company. We effectively manage the impact of our operations, utilize natural resources wisely and intentionally support and protect the biodiversity of the areas where we operate.”

About WHC:

WHC (Wildlife Habitat Council) has been working at the nexus of business and biodiversity for 35 years and is the only international NGO focused exclusively on enabling private sector action for nature. WHC builds strategies and frameworks for companies to integrate nature with climate, equity and engagement to support sustainable ecosystems and healthy communities. WHC’s corporate members represent some of the leading national and multinational corporations. WHC-certified programs can be found in 19 countries and 48 U.S. states. Learn more at www.wildlifehc.org.

Creative Heart. Open arms.

Based in Littlehampton, England, Creative Heart is a non-profit community hub and arts café. A safe and genuinely inclusive space, Creative Heart tackles social isolation and loneliness, inspires creativity, and improves emotional, physical and mental well-being.

“It’s wonderful to be able to provide a safe, warm and inviting space for some very lonely and vulnerable people in our community,” says Claire Jones, Creative Heart’s director.

Creative Heart is one of about 160 charities, community groups and non-profits in the Sussex region supported by the Rampion Community Benefit Fund. Those organizations serve nearly a million residents living near the Rampion Offshore Wind Project.

The Fund, established to coincide with the opening of the offshore wind project in November 2018, supports organizations that help disadvantaged people and communities, as well as community groups and charities that focus on the environment, energy efficiency, biodiversity and sustainability,

The Sussex Community Foundation will manage the fund of £3.1 million for 10 years, offering grants of up to £10,000 for community project and £20,000 for capital projects. There is an endowment fund that will continue to support the Fund’s mandate after the initial 10 years.

At Creative Heart, the fund has helped install an array of solar panels, battery and three-phase battery inverter for the café, all of which have helped subsidize its ongoing energy costs.

Other charitable organizations benefiting from the fund include:

Quiet Down There, in Brighton, an open market offering free energy-efficient laundry facilities, which received a new washer and heat-pump tumble dryer.Henfield Hall, in Horsham District, the first public use building in Henfield retrofitted with rooftop solar panels.Memorial Hall, in Patcham, East Sussex, which was gifted a new air source heat pump system to replace three aging gas heaters.

The Rampion Offshore Wind Farm, Enbridge’s first offshore wind project, is owned by Enbridge, RWE Renewables UK and Equitix, and produces about 1,400 Gigawatt hours of power every year, which is enough to power almost 350,000 homes—around half the homes in Sussex—with clean, green energy. Enbridge has a 24.9% ownership interest in the Rampion Offshore Wind Project.

Enbridge and its partners, RWE and a Macquarie-led consortium, are currently developing the Rampion Extension Offshore Project, which is adjacent to the existing Rampion Offshore Wind Farm, about 13 kilometres off the Sussex coast.

“For us, it’s more than the energy we deliver—it’s also how we use our personal energy to help those around us,” said Matthew Akman, Executive Vice President of Corporate Strategy and President of Power at Enbridge. “The Rampion project team is committed to being a good neighbour by supporting important community organizations near the wind farm. I’m proud that the Fund has supported so many of those living in the region.”

In addition to the Rampion Community Benefit Fund, Rampion Offshore Wind Farm created the Rampion Visitor Centre for the Sussex community on Brighton Seafront.

Entry is free, and visitors can enjoy dozens of displays and interactive exhibits that bring to life the story of human settlement, technological advancement and population growth, alongside climate change, renewable energy and the construction of Rampion.

NEW YORK, January 24, 2024 /3BL/ – CSRHub is excited to announce that ESG Playbook and CSRHub have a formal agreement to collaborate in serving their customers’ needs. This agreement recognizes that CSRHub and ESG Playbook offer high quality products in their own area and that our products support and add value to each other.

CSRHub and ESG Playbook share a belief that transparent access to environment, social and governance (ESG) information will drive responsible supply chain decisions and sustainability strategies. By ensuring that our customers have access to both a broad, stable source of ESG ratings (CSRHub) and a robust sustainability reporting platform (ESG Playbook), we will accelerate progress towards a more sustainable future.

Sonia Zugel, ESG Playbook CEO says, “for ESG reporting to be meaningful, you first need to measure, then assess and finally set goals to improve your performance. ESG Playbook walks you step by step on how to report and set goals to improve your ESG reporting with transparency and accuracy. The platform is audit-ready and verifiable. It is already a cliche that ESG reporting is no longer a nice to have but a must have. Investors want to know you understand how resilient your business is and employees and customers want to work and buy sustainable goods. ESG reporting is a game changer and helps your company stand out.”

“We are excited to bring ESG Playbook’s solution to our customers to enable them to improve their Sustainability and ESG reporting transparency,” said Cynthia Figge, CSRHub CEO and Cofounder. “ESG Playbook is an innovative solution in helping companies meet the expanding requirements for ESG reporting and stakeholder requirements globally.”

For more information, or to request a consultation, please visit https://www.csrhub.com/

About CSRHub 
CSRHub offers one of the world’s broadest and most consistent set of Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) ratings, covering 50,000 companies. Its Big Data algorithm combines millions of data points on ESG performance from hundreds of sources, including leading ESG analyst raters, to produce consensus scores on all aspects of corporate social responsibility and sustainability. CSRHub ratings help drive corporate, investor and consumer ESG decisions. For more information, visit www.CSRHub.com. CSRHub is a B Corporation.

PORTLAND, Ore., January 24, 2024 /3BL/ — Junior Achievement of Oregon and SW Washington has announced a grant of $225,000 from KeyBank to launch the expansion of its JA Capstone Program. The funds will support upgrades to its S.E. Portland facilities and spearhead a major initiative to serve more Oregon and Washington youth with JA BizTown and JA Finance Park, which provide a proven model for economic empowerment and project-based and experiential learning. During these experiences, students interact within a simulated economy and take on the challenge of managing organizations as they learn more about the various jobs that exist within a community.

JA serves youth throughout the region, with a focus on reaching students who are from low-income families, students in rural areas, young people of color, and historically and currently marginalized youth. This investment from KeyBank will help expand equitable access to JA programs to new student markets and provide tens of thousands of local youth with critical life and career skills. Most of the grant funds will be used to focus on the educational experiences being provided to low-income schools and students.

“KeyBank has long supported JA and its curriculums that provide schools with a fun, engaging and effective program for students,” said Josh Lyons, KeyBank’s Market President for Oregon and S.W. Washington and Commercial Banking leader. “KeyBank considers financial literacy as an essential skill to succeed in life, and we are impressed with how JA helps students gain critical thinking skills related to budgeting, money management and living within one’s means. We look forward to supporting JA’s expansion as it aims to provide more equity in educational opportunities and contributes to a skilled workforce.”

“We are grateful for the unwavering support and generosity of KeyBank. Their steadfast partnership over the last couple of decades has been instrumental in advancing our mission of promoting our equitable education initiatives,” said Barb Smith President/CEO for Junior Achievement of Oregon & SW Washington. “The funding and support provided by KeyBank will empower us to expand our reach and make a meaningful impact on more students’ lives. Through their partnership, we are able to inspire and prepare students for success in a global economy and their thriving communities. KeyBank’s commitment to our mission has truly made a difference, and we look forward to continuing our collaborative efforts to create a brighter future for the next generation.”

About Junior Achievement of Oregon and SW Washington

Junior Achievement of Oregon & SW Washington is a non-profit organization whose core purpose is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy. We work in partnership with school and business communities to improve student knowledge in the areas of work readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy with an emphasis on serving marginalized youth in the highest needs schools. 

About KeyBank

KeyCorp’s roots trace back nearly 200 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation’s largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $188 billion at December 31, 2023. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and approximately 1,200 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank is Member FDIC.

​In this edition of the Insights Series, we look at the key themes in ESG reporting and the main responsibilities of those specialist functions across investment management, banking and insurance and private markets.

With ESG reporting absorbing a significant amount of capacity, and obligations under new and existing regulations such as SFDR, TCFD, TNFD and ISSB, increasing stakeholder expectations and pressure from investors, the demand for enhanced ESG reporting remains high.

So too does the need for reporting professionals with a good understanding of the evolving regulatory and ESG reporting landscape in financial services. For publicly listed companies, the sustainability ratings strategy and management of the engagement with external Sustainability rating agencies often falls to the sustainability reporting lead.

So, what do we mean when we refer to “ESG reporting” in the context of financial services?

At a corporate level, this is the disclosure of an organisation’s environmental, social and governance performance and practices. It provides transparent information about how an organisation addresses various sustainability and ethical considerations in its operations, policies, and decision-making processes.For investors, ESG reporting also provides non-financial data to help inform valuations, company engagements and portfolio management. ESG reporting functions support investors with data gathering, analysis, and disclosure, as well as the incorporation of steadily growing set of sustainability metricsIn banks & insurers, ESG reporting work covers the coordination and integration of company wide ESG metrics as well as the external disclosures of this data and oversight of greenwashing risk.

The talent landscape

The structure of ESG and scope of reporting teams in any financial services organization largely depend on the size and complexity of the business and the regulatory framework it operates in:

Investment management: ESG reporting is often continually being integrated into financial reporting process with one or two people coordinating activities, providing guidance and specialist expertise from a central sustainable investing team. Those in the central teams will often have a role where reporting is just one component with other integration focused tasks involving data, tools and frameworks often included.Private markets: As ESG teams tend to be leaner, reporting requirements less onerous and access to consistent data more challenging, ESG reporting is often undertaken by analysts working with portfolio operations teams at an asset class level. Some of the larger GPs may opt for a senior specialist, sitting centrally, whose main purpose is to oversee ESG reporting for the business. Many GP’s who do not have the scale to justify a large inhouse team rely on an ever increasing pool of professional services firms and individual consultants who offer outsources ESG reporting solutionsBanking: ESG reporting capability in banks is significantly greater than in their financial services peers due to scale of operations and the regulatory burden placed on the industry. Banks will often have dedicated senior resource in the role of Head of Sustainability Reporting or Head of Sustainability disclosures, supported by specialist reporting teams looking at specific frameworks like TCFD, TNFD, CDP and GHG Protocol.Insurance: In the last 12 months, we have begun to see ESG reporting move from centralised sustainability teams to the finance function in some insurers. There is still a dotted line into the group sustainability team to provide thematic expertise. This shift reflects the overlap between ESG issues and areas of finance such as accounting IR and tax. It mirrors what is already happening in other sectors, where companies are setting up a designated role within the finance function to work closely with sustainability, legal and communications teams to prepare for ESG disclosure mandates.Interim talent focus: Acre is seeing a surge in demand for flexible, non-permanent resources in response to the escalating requirements on ESG reporting. Freelancers specialising in ESG reporting and disclosure are entering the market with targeted skill sets, addressing projects like SFDR, implementation, evaluating businesses’ preparedness for incoming regulation such as TNFD, and supplementing reporting teams facing short term capacity challenges. This trend reflects a dynamic shift towards agile and specialised workforce solutions to navigate the evolving landscape of ESG reporting.

Talent pool analysis

Despite the significant ESG reporting burden across financial services, there is still a lack of senior-level talent focused purely on this area. Most reporting specialists tend to broaden out from “doing” reporting into more of an oversight or strategic role as they progress – keen to get “get out of the weeds”. Consequently, the talent pool at a senior manager/VP or head of level is small. Clients frequently recruit from consultancies (with backgrounds in audit and/or accountancy) or corporates for their head of reporting roles, where they exist.

For many smaller firms there may still be insufficient demand for a full-time senior reporting lead. For example, in smaller private markets funds, the requirement may be for a broader role combining senior ESG reporting expertise with commercial acumen/value creation. Finding the right combination of skills can be problematic; someone with deep technical regulatory understanding with an interest in reporting does not always possess the requisite commercial acumen and client-facing experience to fulfil a broader remit.

Looking ahead, if the integration of sustainability and financial reporting becomes more common, there may be the emergence of a more mainstream talent pool, including a Head of Reporting role, that combines financial and non-financial reporting.

Key responsibilities in reporting roles across financial services

Data Collection and Analysis: Gathering relevant ESG data from various sources, such as company reports, databases, and third-party providers. Analyzing this data to assess the environmental, social, and governance performance of companies, assets or financial products.Reporting and Disclosure: Compiling accurate and comprehensive ESG reports that provide transparency on the ESG practices and performance of the assets under management or financial products. Ensuring compliance with relevant reporting frameworks, standards, and regulations.Integration of ESG Factors: Collaborating with investment teams and risk management to integrate ESG factors into investment decision-making processes. Providing insights and recommendations on how ESG considerations can be incorporated into investment strategies, product development and risk assessments.Stakeholder Engagement: Engaging with internal and external stakeholders, such as clients, regulators, and industry organizations, to communicate ESG initiatives, performance, and progress. Addressing inquiries and providing information related to ESG reporting.Monitoring and Evaluation: Continuously monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of ESG strategies and initiatives. Identifying areas for improvement and implementing appropriate measures to enhance ESG performance.Policy Development & Implementation: Continuously monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of ESG strategies and initiatives within financial services.Training & Development: internal training on ESG concepts, reporting requirements and best practices

We hope you have found this a useful snapshot of the market. If you would like to discuss the key trends in the talent market or your hiring requirements across sustainable finance in more detail then please email ian.povey-hall@acre.com to set up a call.

About Acre

At Acre, we work with the most aspirational businesses with potential to make real change; from those who are just starting out to those who are well on the journey to crafting a legacy.

Our 18 years’ experience in sustainability recruitment, combined with our extensive global network, enables us to provide talent solutions that are designed to deliver this change.

Through our unique behavioural assessment technology, we understand the types of people, skills and behaviours required to create impact. We can develop these qualities within your existing teams too.

We find talented people and develop their skills to ensure they make a true impact in ambitious, progressive organisations.

Acre. Making companies ready for tomorrow.

Pepco | The Source

We’re proud to once again be a sponsor at the Washington D.C. Auto Show for a fifth year! The District’s premier annual auto show is held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and offers car enthusiast a chance to see hundreds of vehicles, including electric vehicles (EV), from the world’s top manufactures.

Our popular Pepco EVsmart Ride and Drive experience returns this year and offers guests the opportunity to test drive EV’s from multiple car brands. Above is a breakdown of the manufacturers participating.

Here’s how it works: Attendees will be able to test drive each EV for free. Participants will be joined by a specialist from the corresponding manufacturer who will explain the vehicle and its features . Visitors can register to test drive one or all of the EV’s in the Ride and Drive Experience. Pepco representatives are also available to answer questions about EVs, share important things to consider if you are planning to switch to an EV, and highlight programs available to support the transition.

We’re also participating in FedFleet 2024 (January 23-24), a unique, educational experience that assembles fleet management professionals for training. Sessions include a wide range of topics, including electrification of the federal fleet. We will have a booth in the FedFleet exhibitor area, where EV program managers will provide attendees information about the company’s EVsmart Fleet program. This program offers make-ready incentives (up to $15,000) to Pepco Maryland business customers installing EV charging equipment for their company fleets. Visitors can also interact with the EV Fleet Savings calculator at our booth to learn more about how much they can save by converting to an electric fleet, and can check out our Rivian truck, an example of one of the EVs we are introducing to our own fleet.

The Washington D.C. 2024 Auto Show runs through January 28. To learn more about the show click here.

Even with the economy starting to show some signs of improving for many, there’s still plenty of worry among us when it comes to what’s in our wallets.

“I think there are a lot of positives that are on the horizon and we’re trending in the right direction,” says Chad Wolfe, a money coach and student loan specialist at the My Secure Advantage financial coaching program. “However, the majority of people I’m talking to are stressed. I think for the end user, it’s still a challenge. Simply put, there’s still a lot of financial stress out there.”

For thirty five years, the financial gurus at MSA have been helping people manage their money, and are currently available to T-Mobile employees through the company’s wellbeing website LiveMagenta, which offers everything from physical and mental health services to MSA’s financial wellness coaching. Chad is one of the experts helping guide people to a healthier bank account during Financial Wellness Month — which lands annually in January — and beyond.

“I’ve provided a tried-and-true formula, what I call the five tips to financial health,” says Chad. “But, how we prioritize one versus the other might change. If the market is high, maybe we don’t want to leverage debt and we’re keeping cash. If the market is losing money, maybe we want to adjust something to be more conservative. There are nuances there for individuals and where they are in their financial journey, but following those five bullets, I think, always leads us in the right direction.”

Chad says the start of the year is always a good time to survey not just the market as it relates to your goals, but also the latest bundles and trending deals that can help us get more bang for our buck in the new year.

“For example, I have a nine-year-old, so we love our streaming services,” explains Chad. “But through T-Mobile’s latest plans we were able to bundle it together with our mobile service. I think self-care is important, and I know those extra dollars spent feel valuable to many like myself, but ensuring that we’re leveraging opportunities to get the most value out of our investment is a good exercise.”

Chad says ultimately we shouldn’t dismiss the lessons learned in leaner times. Here are his five tips for financial health in 2024.

Assess Your Year-To-Year Goals 

Chad recommends people go through a kind of a retrospect of the prior year and do a goal-setting exercise for the coming year. In addition to reviewing if there are any new things that may have come up, he suggests also looking at your withholdings, to make sure those are optimized in January. Review your taxes to ensure you’re keeping track of those dollars and paychecks to save with or pay down debt. (More on that below.) Looking at net worth, he says see if you are up from where you were last year. Perhaps you need to adjust your risk tolerance or allocations on those investments.

Build a Buffer Fund

It is recommended to have three to six months of living expenses saved in an emergency fund to help you weather unexpected financial emergencies, such as a job loss or a major medical expense.

Pay Down Debt

If you have high-interest debt, such as a revolving credit card balance or a personal loan, try to make paying it down a priority, no matter how small of steps you take. This can help you save money in interest charges and free up more money in your monthly budget.

Fund for the Future

Contributing to an IRA can help you save for retirement and may also provide a tax deduction for traditional IRA contributions. For 2023, you have until April 15 to contribute, and the limit for traditional and Roth IRAs is $6,500, or $7,500 if you are 50 or older. If you have a high-deductible health plan, you may be eligible to contribute to a Health Savings Account (HSA). HSAs offer tax benefits, including tax-deductible contributions and tax-free withdrawals for qualified medical expenses.

Bundle with the Best

Data shows that when consumers feel the pinch, they tend to shed subscriptions in order to save. That includes things like streaming services. In fact, about one-quarter of U.S. subscribers to major streaming services have canceled at least three over the past two years. But Chad says if you’re strategic in how some services are bundled in order to receive discounts, you don’t necessarily have to give up some of the things you love in order to meet your budget.

For instance, T-Mobile offers the best entertainment bundle in wireless, with Hulu on Us recently joining Apple TV+ on Us and Netflix on Us already included with the company’s Go5G Next plan. Plus, T-Mobile customers can get free season-long subscriptions to MLB.TV every year. That adds up to over $35 per month — or $400 per year — just in streaming benefits. How’s that for a steady stream of savings?

To learn more about redeeming these benefits and more, visit: https://www.t-mobile.com/benefits