Tag: 3BL

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

On any given day, a teacher runs the gauntlet of lesson plans, student engagements, parent interactions, evolving technology and trying to find a moment of time to eat, breathe or have a quiet moment to think. Given the complexity of their jobs, teachers need technology that streamlines their workflows  so they can focus on what matters: their students. According to research from McKinsey & Company, “20 to 40 percent of current teacher hours are spent on activities that could be automated using existing technology. That translates into approximately 13 hours per week that teachers could redirect toward activities that lead to higher student outcomes and higher teacher satisfaction.” This is where Lenovo and Google for Education come in — understanding that more than ever before, teachers are looking for secure, durable and easy- to-use technology that works every time, no matter the location..

As a former Director of Digital Teaching and Learning for a school district, I put thousands of Chromebooks into the hands of students. And that’s how educators typically think of ChromeOS devices – as tools for students. But have you considered the potential of a top of the line Chromebook for teachers? If I was teaching middle school English today, as I did for so many years, I think the Lenovo Flex 5i might be my daily device of choice. I know – you’re shaking your head. But let me make my case…

The latest generation of Chromebooks come equipped with features and capabilities that can really help teachers in their day-to-day. For example, the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook comes equipped with a 12th Gen In­tel Core i5 Processor, 8 GB of memory and 512GB SSD for some serious performance. It’s also built to be convertible, so teachers can shift from traditional keyboarding mode to tablet touchscreen mode with pen support. This means easy screencasting while moving around the classroom or referencing formative assessment responses while touching base with students or small groups. And the device’s long battery life means educators don’t have to plug in during the day.

Lenovo and Google for Education recently engaged some of the top K-12 EdTech influencers to put the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook through its paces to see how it would simplify and streamline teachers’ workday. The results speak for themselves. Here’s some of what they had to say:

A Device for Creativity, Collaboration, and Assessment

“There are numerous reasons to consider Chromebooks as your device of choice this school year. For one, there is certainly power in having students and teachers in the same ecosystem. When teachers and students both use a ChromeOS there is an ease of workflow. Teachers who have experience using Chrome can support students with how to best leverage the device. The Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook gives teachers a space to explore creativity and collaboration tools that they can bring back to their classroom, too…

The Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook is also an excellent option for multimedia creation and consumption given the power, graphics, touch and camera capabilities. If you’ve used other Chromebooks in the past, I’m sure you’ll be impressed at the power of this device. Having access to a device like the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook is important for teachers creating learning content to share with their class, and for students displaying their learning in creative assessment scenarios.”

– Monica Burns, Class Tech Tips

Lenovo Flex 5i as your primary teaching device

“In the evolving landscape of education, it’s imperative for educators to have tools that are reliable, versatile, and catered to their multifaceted teaching needs. The Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook rises to the occasion as an outstanding primary device for teachers. Its blend of performance, flexibility, and user-centric features makes it more than just a tech accessory—it’s a teaching partner. Whether you’re amplifying student voices, adapting lessons in real-time, or facilitating meaningful interactions, the Flex 5i streamlines these processes with intuitive ease. For educators striving to provide the best for their students, the Flex 5i is not just a wise choice; it’s an investment in the future of effective and engaging teaching.”

– Alice Keeler, Teacher Tech

The best Chromebook for teachers in the classroom

“If you have Chromebooks for your school or are using Google Classroom, this is a rock-solid recommendation for every teacher in your school. It is sturdy, reliable, and the pen makes it even better. It has everything you need to be successful but what I like best are the sturdy design, spill resistant keyboard, the super long battery life, the ability to position the computer any way I want to work and just how well it works with Google…

I highly recommend this sturdy device as a perfect fit for teacher Chromebooks. Teachers need the flexibility of annotation, the security of the additional features that protect sensitive student data, and the reliability of a long-charge device that will last the whole day and be as mobile as we are.”

– Vicki Davis, Cool Cat Teacher

This Chromebook works hard

“Modern Chromebooks charge with a USB-C. That’s the charging port that so many devices use now so I can use the charger I have with me or is already in the room. The Flexi 5i has one USB-C on the left side and one on the right side. This is brilliant because I can plug the charging cable into either side. Since I work in many different classrooms, it’s nice that I can plug it in on the side that makes the most sense…

The Photos app has basic video editing abilities, and I can use it to trim the start and end of a screen recording. If I want more advanced video editing, I would use Canva, Adobe Spark, or Capcut. The Chromebook Flex 5i can run Android apps. That opens up a lot of possibilities. But really, the Flex 5i great for using Google Workspace. The keyboard was nice to use, the trackpad was zippy, and the screen was bright, and I had plenty of battery power. There are lots more ways a Chromebook, and particularly the Lenovo Flex 5i, can be your teacher’s pet. This Chromebook works hard.”

– Tony Vincent, Learning In Hand

An excellent device for all multi-tasking needs

“Overall the Lenovo Flex 5i was an excellent device that kept up with all my multi-tasking needs. I actually wrote this blog post on the device, easily jumping between my multiple accounts, editing photos, and more. So for me, yes, a Chromebook can definitely be my primary computer, and most days it actually is.

If you are wondering the same, I would encourage you to use a Chromebook for several days. However, to give it a fair test, try to use a Chromebook Plus model such as the Lenovo device that I tested out. The extra memory, powerful processor, high-resolution screen, and other upgraded features will go a long way to supporting your daily needs.”

– Eric Curts, Control Alt Achieve

As education technology continues to evolve, Lenovo Education can help you stay ahead of the curve with a strong ecosystem of technology solutions, rooted in seamless, easy-to-use hardware like the Chromebook Flex 5i. Lenovo continues to innovate and partner with Google for Education to bring the best devices and software together to deliver the best experience for students and educators. To learn more, visit https://techtoday.lenovo.com/us/en/solutions/education/chromebooks.

On any given day, a teacher runs the gauntlet of lesson plans, student engagements, parent interactions, evolving technology and trying to find a moment of time to eat, breathe or have a quiet moment to think. Given the complexity of their jobs, teachers need technology that streamlines their workflows  so they can focus on what matters: their students. According to research from McKinsey & Company, “20 to 40 percent of current teacher hours are spent on activities that could be automated using existing technology. That translates into approximately 13 hours per week that teachers could redirect toward activities that lead to higher student outcomes and higher teacher satisfaction.” This is where Lenovo and Google for Education come in — understanding that more than ever before, teachers are looking for secure, durable and easy- to-use technology that works every time, no matter the location..

As a former Director of Digital Teaching and Learning for a school district, I put thousands of Chromebooks into the hands of students. And that’s how educators typically think of ChromeOS devices – as tools for students. But have you considered the potential of a top of the line Chromebook for teachers? If I was teaching middle school English today, as I did for so many years, I think the Lenovo Flex 5i might be my daily device of choice. I know – you’re shaking your head. But let me make my case…

The latest generation of Chromebooks come equipped with features and capabilities that can really help teachers in their day-to-day. For example, the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook comes equipped with a 12th Gen In­tel Core i5 Processor, 8 GB of memory and 512GB SSD for some serious performance. It’s also built to be convertible, so teachers can shift from traditional keyboarding mode to tablet touchscreen mode with pen support. This means easy screencasting while moving around the classroom or referencing formative assessment responses while touching base with students or small groups. And the device’s long battery life means educators don’t have to plug in during the day.

Lenovo and Google for Education recently engaged some of the top K-12 EdTech influencers to put the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook through its paces to see how it would simplify and streamline teachers’ workday. The results speak for themselves. Here’s some of what they had to say:

A Device for Creativity, Collaboration, and Assessment

“There are numerous reasons to consider Chromebooks as your device of choice this school year. For one, there is certainly power in having students and teachers in the same ecosystem. When teachers and students both use a ChromeOS there is an ease of workflow. Teachers who have experience using Chrome can support students with how to best leverage the device. The Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook gives teachers a space to explore creativity and collaboration tools that they can bring back to their classroom, too…

The Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook is also an excellent option for multimedia creation and consumption given the power, graphics, touch and camera capabilities. If you’ve used other Chromebooks in the past, I’m sure you’ll be impressed at the power of this device. Having access to a device like the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook is important for teachers creating learning content to share with their class, and for students displaying their learning in creative assessment scenarios.”

– Monica Burns, Class Tech Tips

Lenovo Flex 5i as your primary teaching device

“In the evolving landscape of education, it’s imperative for educators to have tools that are reliable, versatile, and catered to their multifaceted teaching needs. The Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook rises to the occasion as an outstanding primary device for teachers. Its blend of performance, flexibility, and user-centric features makes it more than just a tech accessory—it’s a teaching partner. Whether you’re amplifying student voices, adapting lessons in real-time, or facilitating meaningful interactions, the Flex 5i streamlines these processes with intuitive ease. For educators striving to provide the best for their students, the Flex 5i is not just a wise choice; it’s an investment in the future of effective and engaging teaching.”

– Alice Keeler, Teacher Tech

The best Chromebook for teachers in the classroom

“If you have Chromebooks for your school or are using Google Classroom, this is a rock-solid recommendation for every teacher in your school. It is sturdy, reliable, and the pen makes it even better. It has everything you need to be successful but what I like best are the sturdy design, spill resistant keyboard, the super long battery life, the ability to position the computer any way I want to work and just how well it works with Google…

I highly recommend this sturdy device as a perfect fit for teacher Chromebooks. Teachers need the flexibility of annotation, the security of the additional features that protect sensitive student data, and the reliability of a long-charge device that will last the whole day and be as mobile as we are.”

– Vicki Davis, Cool Cat Teacher

This Chromebook works hard

“Modern Chromebooks charge with a USB-C. That’s the charging port that so many devices use now so I can use the charger I have with me or is already in the room. The Flexi 5i has one USB-C on the left side and one on the right side. This is brilliant because I can plug the charging cable into either side. Since I work in many different classrooms, it’s nice that I can plug it in on the side that makes the most sense…

The Photos app has basic video editing abilities, and I can use it to trim the start and end of a screen recording. If I want more advanced video editing, I would use Canva, Adobe Spark, or Capcut. The Chromebook Flex 5i can run Android apps. That opens up a lot of possibilities. But really, the Flex 5i great for using Google Workspace. The keyboard was nice to use, the trackpad was zippy, and the screen was bright, and I had plenty of battery power. There are lots more ways a Chromebook, and particularly the Lenovo Flex 5i, can be your teacher’s pet. This Chromebook works hard.”

– Tony Vincent, Learning In Hand

An excellent device for all multi-tasking needs

“Overall the Lenovo Flex 5i was an excellent device that kept up with all my multi-tasking needs. I actually wrote this blog post on the device, easily jumping between my multiple accounts, editing photos, and more. So for me, yes, a Chromebook can definitely be my primary computer, and most days it actually is.

If you are wondering the same, I would encourage you to use a Chromebook for several days. However, to give it a fair test, try to use a Chromebook Plus model such as the Lenovo device that I tested out. The extra memory, powerful processor, high-resolution screen, and other upgraded features will go a long way to supporting your daily needs.”

– Eric Curts, Control Alt Achieve

As education technology continues to evolve, Lenovo Education can help you stay ahead of the curve with a strong ecosystem of technology solutions, rooted in seamless, easy-to-use hardware like the Chromebook Flex 5i. Lenovo continues to innovate and partner with Google for Education to bring the best devices and software together to deliver the best experience for students and educators. To learn more, visit https://techtoday.lenovo.com/us/en/solutions/education/chromebooks.

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, associates in Albertsons Companies’ Southern California Division volunteered at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for the MLK Day of Service hosted by L.A. Works. 

Our team, including members of our Albertsons African American Leadership Council (AAALC) and Unidos Hispanic Leadership Network (HLN) associate resource groups, division office support staff and District Manager, Ramon ” Ray” Villarreal’s Store Director team, spent the afternoon at the historic coliseum assembling over 500 bags of non-perishable food to benefit The Midnight Mission, SOVA Food Pantry, and North Hollywood Alliance Path. 

See original post on LinkedIn and read more about Albertsons Companies and our Recipe for Change on our website.

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, associates in Albertsons Companies’ Southern California Division volunteered at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for the MLK Day of Service hosted by L.A. Works. 

Our team, including members of our Albertsons African American Leadership Council (AAALC) and Unidos Hispanic Leadership Network (HLN) associate resource groups, division office support staff and District Manager, Ramon ” Ray” Villarreal’s Store Director team, spent the afternoon at the historic coliseum assembling over 500 bags of non-perishable food to benefit The Midnight Mission, SOVA Food Pantry, and North Hollywood Alliance Path. 

See original post on LinkedIn and read more about Albertsons Companies and our Recipe for Change on our website.

Originally published by TriplePundit

Global sustainability reporting is finally on the brink of unifying around a set of disclosure requirements for climate and other environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues. This is great news for business leaders who are choking on the alphabet soup of sustainability reporting standards. Yet being prepared to meet the harmonized reporting standards around the corner remains a challenge. Companies are well served to start preparing now rather than later.

More than 600 ESG reporting frameworks and standards are used around the world today. Among the most widely known and adopted are those from the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) and the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).

The proliferation of standards has led to confusion as well as a significant amount of time, effort, and resources to gather the information and data that is shared in annual sustainability and financial reports. On top of that, individual investors often send out their own ESG data questionnaires to companies.

Preparing for regulatory disclosures

To add to the pressure, ESG reporting that has been largely voluntary will now be mandatory in many jurisdictions. The U.S., Canada, the European Union, Australia, Brazil, India, and others have either passed or indicated they will soon enact ESG-specific disclosure requirements for companies.

That includes the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) which entered into force in January 2023 and requires all large companies and listed companies to disclose information on risks and opportunities arising from ESG issues. The final rules from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requiring companies to include certain climate-related disclosures in their reporting are now expected in spring of 2024.

Confusion and reporting for reporting’s sake

“The biggest downside of this situation has been the confusion,” Ted Dhillon, co-founder of the ESG reporting platform FigBytes, told TriplePundit. “The second biggest downside is: How do you standardize your reporting when you have so many different reporting requirements?”

Critically, time spent collecting data for reporting is time not spent on making actual progress toward sustainability goals. The reporting burden has become so overwhelming that the usually small sustainability teams at organizations spend most of their time gathering data, Dhillon said.

“I call sustainability officers ‘nag, bag and drag officers,’ because that’s essentially what I’ve seen them do over the years: Pick up the phone and try to get the data, and that takes up most of the year,” he said. “It is becoming a reporting exercise for reporting’s sake and not for making true improvements. In the larger scheme of things, this makes us lose focus on the bigger challenge: We have to get to net zero.” 


A welcome move toward harmonized sustainability reporting

Against this backdrop, many welcomed the finalized disclosure standards released by the International Sustainability Standards Board last year, a major step toward a standardized global framework for sustainability reporting. The ISSB Standards, effective from January 1, 2024, provide a comprehensive global baseline of sustainability disclosures that can be mandated and combined with other legislative requirements. The ISSB is part of the IFRS Foundation, which is responsible for writing global financial accounting rules.

Notably, the ISSB supports both regulatory and voluntary adoption, and it has ensured that there will be interoperability between SASB, GRI and the European CSRD. The ISSB Standards have also incorporated the recommendations of the TCFD, and the ISSB will take over monitoring the progress on companies’ climate-related disclosures from the TCFD from 2024.

This harmonization is welcome and needed, Dhillon said. “I think it’s critical to have consistency and comparability. Otherwise, organizations will report on what suits them best and hide information that shows them in a negative light. While too many competing frameworks lead to confusion, I think standards and disclosure requirements are absolutely critical for setting a global baseline of sustainability performance.”

From this vantage point, Dhillon applauded the ISSB’s effort to align the various standards and reduce complexity. “The ISSB was clearly the way to go in setting a uniform level playing field for reporting. But I think it will probably take another iteration or two before the ISSB Standards clearly get set as the overarching global standard.”

Preparation is the best prescription

Now, with reporting season upon them, many organizations are trying to understand the implications of the different sustainability reporting developments. They need to figure out if their current reporting strategy is sufficient or whether additional steps are needed to comply with regulatory standards and to meet the expectations of investors and other stakeholders.

Dhillon said the first step should be to consult guidance provided by the standard-setting organizations themselves. The ISSB website offers a wealth of information including answers to frequently asked questions. It is the same for the websites of the other frameworks that companies may be using.

“Companies who have been using other standards like GRI or SASB, or following the recommendations of the TCFD, won’t have such a heavy lift. They will have already started tracking their emissions across the different scopes of 1, 2 and 3 [categories of direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions],” Dhillon said. “But in light of the new reporting developments, they will need to take a step back and say, ‘Do we do another materiality exercise or at least a scoping exercise to figure out what we missed?’”

You have to start somewhere

For companies that have not yet made much progress on sustainability reporting, Dhillon advised that the global disclosure system CDP is a good place to start, as well as the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol which offers tools that help with systematic collection of data.

Over time, legislative and mandatory ESG requirements will likely take center stage and “voluntary reporting will just fade away,” Dhillon predicted. “I think the future will be companies reporting probably once, or maybe twice in Europe,” he said. “When organizations file a report to meet the CSRD requirements, for example, they won’t need to report again to any other framework. There will no longer be a need for multiple reports, and I think that’s the ideal situation for any company globally. Once you’ve filed to meet the CSRD or SEC requirements, you’re done and you can focus on your sustainability work.”

This should be welcomed by most companies, and Dhillon believes it will be — “aside from some organizations that don’t want to put their information out there, but they are outliers.”

Taking the alphabet soup of competing frameworks off the menu means companies can focus on the main course: making improvements to their ESG performance overall, he added. And he advised companies not to show up late for that meal.

“The time is now to learn as much as you can, put the systems in place and get started. There’s never going to be a perfect situation,” Dhillon said. “Even if it’s just a scoping exercise at the bare minimum, you’ll be in a far better position. At the end of the day, you want to create a mindset shift, because this is a change management issue for organizations. If organizations get started today understanding where their gaps are, they will be ready to meet whatever comes.”

This article series is sponsored by FigBytes and produced by the TriplePundit editorial team.

Originally published on U.S. Bank company blog

2024 is the Year of the Dragon – the Wood Dragon, to be precise. This year the two-week-long Chinese New Year holiday begins on February 10, 2024, and U.S. Bank is celebrating across its footprint with employees, clients and communities.

“Lunar New Year is such an important celebration, and we are recognizing it in a number of different ways,” said Sekou Kaalund, executive vice president, head of branch banking for U.S. Bank. “The Year of the Dragon symbolizes power, nobleness, honor, luck and success. We are excited this year to offer our red envelopes and customized calendars in our branches, as well as support various community celebrations. Happy Lunar New Year!”

This year, U.S. Bank has created several opportunities for everyone to celebrate the Year of the Dragon, including:  

Digital Red Envelopes: Gifting a red envelope with lucky money is a hallmark of Lunar New Year. Whether family and friends are across the street or across the country, Zelle® in the U.S. Bank Mobile App makes it safe and easy to continue this tradition with those you know and trust by sending one of our exclusive Lunar New Year e-card designs. Best of all, Zelle® is free for U.S. Bank clients.2024 Calendars and U.S. Bank Red Envelopes: Visit select local branches to pick up an exclusive 2024 Year of the Dragon wall calendar and red envelopes with the theme of “soaring into action.” Supplies are limited and available at select locations. The calendar artwork is available as wallpaper for digital devices and can be downloaded at usbank.com/yearofthedragon (in English).Financial Guidance: To help everyone plan for a prosperous year, U.S. Bank offers in-person and digital services including cobrowsing (in English) live with a banker and appointment scheduling (in English).Community Partnerships: In addition to celebrating with clients, U.S. Bank partners with community organizations across the country and is proud to support community events, festivals and parades celebrating Lunar New Year, including:Jan. 27-28: Lunar New Year Festival (Monterey Park, California)Feb. 18: Lunar New Year Parade & Festival (Chicago)Feb. 18: Alhambra Lunar New Year Festival (Alhambra, California)Feb. 24: Lunar New Year Celebration (Seattle)Feb. 24-25: Chinese New Year Festival and Parade (San Francisco)

U.S. Bank will also be giving away donuts from California Donuts at designated branch locations in Southern California on February 9, 2024, while supplies last. Those locations include:

Arcadia (1400 S. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia, California)Alhambra (2400 W. Commonwealth Ave., Alhambra, California)City of Industry (17501 Colima Rd. STE A, City of Industry, California)Hacienda Heights (2040 S. Hacienda Blvd., Hacienda Heights, California)San Gabriel (401 E. Valley Blvd., San Gabriel, California)San Marino (2300 Huntington Dr., San Marino, California)

Additionally, U.S. Bank clients can receive a free donut from California Donuts Bakery in Los Angeles on February 9, 2024, while supplies last.

U.S. Bank has a long history of supporting Asian customers and communities through partnerships and grant efforts with the Chinatown Community Development Corporation in San Francisco, Pacific Asian Consortium in Employment in Los Angeles, Asian Business Association Inland Empire and San Diego chapters, Chinese American Service League in Chicago and the Las Vegas Asian Chamber of Commerce. 

Visit usbank.com/lunarnewyear (in English) for more information.

About U.S. Bank 
U.S. Bancorp, with approximately 75,000 employees and $668 billion in assets as of September 30, 2023, is the parent company of U.S. Bank National Association. Headquartered in Minneapolis, the company serves millions of customers locally, nationally and globally through a diversified mix of businesses including consumer banking, business banking, commercial banking, institutional banking, payments and wealth management. U.S. Bancorp has been recognized for its approach to digital innovation, community partnerships and customer service, including being named one of the 2023 World’s Most Ethical Companies and Fortune’s most admired superregional bank. To learn more, please visit the U.S. Bancorp website at usbank.com and click on “About Us.”

To send and receive money in minutes with Zelle®, you must have an eligible U.S. bank account and have a U.S. mobile number registered in your online and mobile banking profile for at least three calendar days. Transactions between enrolled consumers typically occur in minutes. Zelle® and the Zelle® related marks are wholly owned by Early Warning Services, LLC and are used herein under license. Some services may only be available in English.

Deposit products offered by U.S. Bank National Association. Member FDIC.

Originally published on Black & Veatch Insights

By Phil Fischer, Black & Veatch

Data centers are a critical part of modern business operations, and their importance is only growing as more data is generated and artificial intelligence (AI) puts added pressure on capacities. Many older data centers are struggling to keep up with the demands of modern technology, creating a need for modernization and adaptive re-use. Access to power and fiber, environmental concerns and permitting requirements are making greenfield builds on new sites ever-more challenging.

In addition, increased speed of development and aggressive schedules have become standard expectations in the data center industry. As a shortcut to increasing capacities and expanding data center footprints, developers and owners can leverage existing infrastructure by modernizing legacy data centers or repurposing brownfield sites and buildings. The process for modernization and adaptive re-use begins with thorough planning and due diligence and continues through program management, architecture and engineering, and construction.

An end-to-end data center assessment provides relevant information on the current state of the facilities and an evaluation of potential risks and improvement options. The journey towards data center modernization includes several key steps:

Stakeholder interviews to capture goals and initiativesCurrent infrastructure and facility assessment to decide which meet capacity, performance, utility and capital objectivesCapability and capacity studies relating to space, power and cooling systemsSystem reliability and maintainability reportingIdentifying short- and long-term deficienciesAssessment of owner identified IT growth on facility infrastructureConsideration of Best Practices to improve efficiency and operationsEvaluation of options and recommended solutionsPrioritization and schedule of expendituresRemediation through infrastructure upgrades, energy and water use or maintenance proceduresIT migration or outsourcing strategy including provider evaluation and associated change management.

One key tool that can be used during the modernization process is Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). By using CFD, facilities can identify, analyze and solve problems before they even occur. CFD provides several benefits, including driving design excellence and evaluating operational alternatives to optimize designs, reduce maintenance costs and mitigate risks. It also increases efficiencies by allowing design assessment early in the process and testing in a virtual environment, saving time and money that would otherwise be spent on physical testing and prototyping.

Overall, adaptive re-use and modernization can help data center developers and owners access existing infrastructure while also transforming legacy and brownfield buildings into resilient, robust facilities that are prepared for future data demand and growth. With the right expertise and tools, data centers can continue to be a critical part of modern business operations for years to come.

Author:

Phil Fischer has more than 25 years in the distributed generation and data center industry with leading infrastructure providers NEC Energy Solutions, American Power Conversion (APC), Schneider Electric, Eaton and most recently Nidec Industrial Solutions. As director of business development for Black & Veatch’s data center and commercial segment, he is the client executive to hyper scale, collocation, commercial and other mission critical entities globally. He brings a thorough, holistic understanding of interdependent electrical systems in today’s evolving energy ecosystem including energy storage, backup power, renewable energy and distributed generation solutions for behind the meter, front of the meter, and microgrid applications.

Learn More about how to future-proof your data center

Data center owners and developers are setting environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals to actively protect the environment and mitigate climate change impacts. Built-in design benefits prioritize energy, water and resource efficiency, cut operational costs, slash carbon footprints and speed corporate decarbonization. Stay ahead of the net-zero curve by planning and designing sustainable infrastructure for a future-ready data center.

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Franklin Templeton employees show their generosity and compassion all year long. This year, the firm’s global volunteer program, Involved, introduced Involved HOLIDAYS, a special volunteer campaign building upon the momentum of June’s Impact Days to extend the spirit of giving beyond that month and make an impact during the holiday season. It is the perfect time to come together as a team and a extend hand to those in need.

Here are a few projects from company offices around the globe.

Baltimore 

On December 12, Involved Baltimore kicked off the holiday season with a gift drive and wrapping event to support the Art Baltimore, a nonprofit supporting people with developmental disabilities in leading fulfilling lives with a sense of belonging, purpose and meaningful relationships.

Edinburgh 

On December 7, Edinburgh employees volunteered at the Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity annual Christmas event. The “All Wrapped Up” event started the season of holiday festivities with a carol concert featuring young performers, all of whom have participated in the activities that the Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity has provided in the hospital and health care settings in the community.

Fort Lauderdale 

Keeping with an annual tradition, on November 15, employees in Fort Lauderdale gathered for a Thanksgiving potluck lunch. Employees did not just eat but also gave back through a simultaneous food collection drive to benefit the Pantry of Broward. They collected 300 pounds of food.

Hyderabad

Employees in Hyderabad hosted a gift drive for children followed by a visit to the Basavatarakam Cancer Hospital on December 23, where volunteers distributed gifts to young patients undergoing cancer treatment.

New York

On December 6, the NYC office hosted its annual Storefront Academy holiday event. The school’s first graders visited the office for breakfast followed by singing carols and receiving presents from Santa Claus. Employees donated gifts to help fulfill the wishes of Storefront Academy’s economically disadvantaged families across its South Bronx and Harlem campuses.

On December 14, employees in New York joined Rise Against Hunger for its meal packaging program, a volunteer-based initiative that coordinates assembly-line packaging of highly nutritious dehydrated meals made up of rice, soy vegetables and essential vitamins and minerals. These packaged meals are used primarily to support school food programs in developing countries.

Poznan

The Crafts for Charity initiative supported surgery funding for Basia, a Poznan colleague’s daughter. Through December, volunteers crafted and donated handmade items to a charity shop for employees to purchase. All proceeds from the event went to fund Basia’s account at the Fundacja “Sloneczko” nonprofit supporting individuals with disabilities in obtaining the funds needed for treatment, rehabilitation and orthopedic equipment.

Between November 7 and 28, Poznan employees hosted a Share the Warmth holiday drive to support Albertynki Poznań and Caritas Charity Kitchen by donating the most-needed items for people experiencing homelessness. Employees contributed financially, volunteered to sort and pack donated items, helped transport the packages to the Albertine Sisters and cooked and served cakes and food to clients of the Caritas Kitchen.

San Mateo

On December 6, colleagues in San Mateo joined for a fun, holiday-themed event and partnered with local charity LifeMoves to create and pack more than 100 client care packages to benefit unhoused members of the community.

On December 12, Involved volunteers attended LifeMoves Vendome’s holiday party and helped serve food, engaged with clients, facilitated games and music and helped clean up after the event.

Through December, Franklin Templeton and Family Giving Tree partnered again to fulfill holiday wishes of those in need. For 31 consecutive years, employees have donated gifts through the organization to help brighten the lives of those less fortunate.

Short Hills

The Short Hills Involved team kicked off the holiday season with a toy drive to support two worthy organizations. Girls; Live, Love, Laugh Inc. focuses on building leadership skills, developing self-esteem, acquiring college readiness skills and teaching the importance of civic engagement in the community. Chosen Generation Ministries is a nondenominational church that celebrates diversity and is a home for healing and restoring lives.

Soldiers’ Angels Stocking Stuffer Events

On November 14 and 15, employees in Stamford, St. Petersburg and Rancho Cordova joined in person to help the Veterans business resource group and Involved sort items, fill holiday stockings and write cards to send to deployed troops and veterans currently staying at Veterans Affairs hospitals. Over 400 stockings were donated across the participating offices.

Wreaths Across America

Every December, Wreaths Across America coordinates wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery and more than 2,100 other locations across all 50 US states, at sea and abroad. On December 16, Franklin Templeton volunteers helped Arlington National Cemetery to remember and honor veterans by laying remembrance wreaths on the graves of the country’s fallen heroes.

About Franklin Templeton

Franklin Resources, Inc. [NYSE: BEN] is a global investment management organization with subsidiaries operating as Franklin Templeton and serving clients in over 150 countries. Franklin Templeton’s mission is to help clients achieve better outcomes through investment management expertise, wealth management and technology solutions. Through its specialist investment managers, the company offers specialization on a global scale, bringing extensive capabilities in fixed income, equity, alternatives and multi-asset solutions. With more than 1,300 investment professionals, and offices in major financial markets around the world, the California-based company has over 75 years of investment experience and approximately $1.5 trillion in assets under management as of December 31, 2023. For more information, please visit franklintempleton.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

CINCINNATI, January 24, 2024 /3BL/ – Cintas Corporation (Nasdaq: CTAS) today published its 2023 Sustainability Report (the “Report”), which provides an update on the company’s continued efforts to elevate its corporate, environmental, social and governance impact – People, Planet, Workday. 

Now in its fourth year, the Report details the company’s performance in the fiscal year 2023, which ended May 31, 2023. 

>> View the 2023 Cintas Sustainability Report

“Cintas’ heritage is rooted in our collective commitment to efficiency, innovation, and excellence – and this year was no exception,” said Todd Schneider, President and CEO of Cintas. “We continued to optimize our proprietary SmartTruck technology and moved to the Google Cloud Platform as we doubled down on our commitment to technology innovation to drive efficiency. We reduced our emissions intensity by 11% and further enhanced the efficiency of our water usage. We recorded the lowest safety incident rate in our history. In keeping with our ongoing commitment to our people, we were named one of Forbes’ America’s Best Large Employers 2023, reflecting our efforts to prioritize and support the needs of our employee-partners. These tremendous achievements represent just a few highlights of the progress we made in 2023.” 

The Company’s 2023 accomplishments include:

Achieved the lowest safety incident rate (TRIR) in the company’s history of 1.53Employee-partners in the U.S. with a self-reported minority status increased to 45.1%Reduced greenhouse gas emissions intensity by 35% since the fiscal 2019 base year, including a more than 11% decrease in fiscal 2023Reduced energy usage intensity by 33% since the fiscal 2019 base year, including a 13% decrease in fiscal 2023 More than a 9% reduction in both water withdrawal and total water consumed since the fiscal 2019 base year

“In 2023, we continued to deliver significant progress in our efforts in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Health and Safety, Environmental Stewardship, and other sustainability programs, all while driving innovation to advance our key initiatives,” said Christy Nageleisen, Vice President of ESG. “Our commitment to sustainability and adhering to our attitude of positive discontent to drive continuous improvement are deeply engrained in the fabric of Cintas and continue to help us lead a ‘Shared Drive for Better’ for our employee-partners, the communities we serve, the planet, and our customers.”

For more information about these key initiatives and activities and Cintas’ commitment to sustainable business, visit cintas.com/esg. 

About Cintas
Cintas Corporation helps more than one million businesses of all types and sizes get Ready™ to open their doors with confidence every day by providing products and services that help keep their customers’ facilities and employees clean, safe and looking their best. With offerings including uniforms, mats, mops, restroom supplies, first aid and safety products, fire extinguishers and testing, and safety training, Cintas helps customers get Ready for the Workday®. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Cintas is a publicly held Fortune 500 company traded over the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol CTAS and is a component of both the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index and Nasdaq-100 Index.

Media Contact: 
Michelle Goret, Cintas Vice President of Corporate Affairs goretm@cintas.com, 513-972-4155