Tag: 3BL

The Clorox Change Makers initiative spotlights people who actively champion inclusion, celebrate diversity, promote equity, and practice allyship — what we call IDEA — to make a positive impact on our business and culture. This month, we’re highlighting Motley Garcia, a production manager at our Hidden Valley Ranch plant in Reno, Nevada. 

Motley saw an opportunity last year to increase representation of Native Americans at Clorox by establishing a new employee resource group called NATIV, standing for Native American, tribal and indigenous voices. During his 11-year tenure, his passion to do the right thing, bring people together and share knowledge has been instrumental in fostering a more inclusive culture at Clorox.

Can you tell me about an accomplishment from your time at Clorox that you’re proud of?  

Two achievements come to mind. The first was the opportunity to become a project manager at the Reno plant after my manager encouraged me to participate in training to “uplevel” my skills. I learned a ton throughout my training and was able to build new relationships inside of Clorox and beyond. With this new level of responsibility, I feel that I’ve been able to make a difference for my teammates at the plant starting with helping to relieve shared pain points in our day-to-day operations.

Another important milestone for me was when I helped start the NATIV ERG last year. Native and indigenous people are incredibly diverse with vastly different regional identities and cultures, so I, among many of my fellow teammates, felt it was incredibly important that we provide a space to share stories and learn about different histories, traditions and experiences. By creating NATIV, we hope to extend Clorox’s celebration of diverse cultures, nurture professional development, and give back to native and indigenous communities through volunteering opportunities. We know we have a lot of work to do in this space, and I’m proud to be part of it!

How do you think about IDEA, and what experiences have shaped this for you?  

We hear a lot about embracing diversity in the workplace or education settings, but to me IDEA at Clorox isn’t just about promoting inclusion to meet the status quo. I think about IDEA as the proactive inclusion of diversity, equity and allyship.

Diversity in a vacuum can feel like just another way to group or categorize people, which can often feel restrictive and even work against efforts to foster inclusion. By intentionally championing allyship, IDEA is a more holistic way to broaden our inclusion lens to better recognize and value individual identities, experiences and contributions.

To me, the wealth of learning and networking opportunities provided by the various ERGs have been an essential driver of IDEA at Clorox and will continue to be an important tool platform maintaining our inclusive culture.

What has helped enable you to be a Change Maker? 

I would say my willingness to talk and to be open about things, especially expressing when I agree and disagree with something. My upbringing and prior work experience have given me the drive and motivation to change myself for the better, and if learnings from that journey can benefit others, well, I’m all for it!

Within Clorox specifically, my peers and leaders have been a huge source of inspiration for me. A prior manager and professional mentor of mine was particularly encouraging and regularly reminded me of my own potential. Not only did he demonstrate trust in me to exceed expectations and drive results, but, more importantly, he provided me with new and meaningful opportunities to grow within my role. Additionally, one of my plant’s HR partners had an immensely positive impact on my teammate experience by making me aware of Clorox’s ERGs and introducing me to the right people to get the NATIV group started.

Although I can’t name every person who has helped shape my career over the years, I’m truly grateful for the whole team at the Reno plant for how they’ve fostered an environment built on mutual respect and hard work. The commitment we all share to support IDEA has truly enabled me to be a Change Maker.

Do you have any advice on small actions to bring inclusivity into everyday attitudes and interactions? 

Listen to others, stay open minded when taking in information and be as willing to help as you can. Also, take a step further and encourage your peers to go after the things they want to achieve and not limit themselves. The simple acts of listening and offering support go a long way toward bringing people together and drive inclusivity.

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To live our purpose and values, we must build a workplace where every person can feel respected, valued and fully able to participate in our Clorox community. We aim to lead by example, at every level within the company, and to continually challenge ourselves to do better.  Learn more about our inclusion, diversity, equity and allyship efforts here. 

​Grabbing a plastic fork to eat lunch on the go is now a thing of the past, as the government’s new single-use plastic ban has come into force this week.

October 1 saw a ban that means businesses can no longer supply, sell or offer some of the most polluting single-use plastic items in England.

Such items include online and over-the-counter sales and supply, items from new and existing stock, all types of single-use plastic (including biodegradable, compostable and recycled) and items wholly or partly made from plastic, including coating or lining.

Businesses were given the strict October 1 deadline to use up existing stock, source suitable alternatives and different materials to single-use items, or else be faced with a fine.

So, which single-use plastic items are included in the new ban?

Banned items include plates, bowls, trays, cutlery, balloon sticks, and polystyrene food and drink containers (including polystyrene cups).

However, there are some key exceptions to the rule which makes some items exempt from the latest announcement, including single-use plastic plates, bowls and trays – provided they are being supplied to another business or the items are packaging (pre-filled or filled at the point of sale, such as a pre-filled salad bowl or a plate filled at a takeaway counter).

Another exemption is where food and drink are supplied in polystyrene containers and further preparation is required prior to consumption, such as microwaving or adding water.

What happens to businesses that don’t comply with the new plastic ban?

Businesses not adhering to the new rules could be reported by consumers to Trading Standards. Local authorities will also carry out inspections to make sure the rules are being followed across the country, which will include inspectors making test purchases, speaking to staff and requesting to see records.

If a business is seen to be breaking the law, inspectors can order the firm in question to cover the cost of the investigation.

What impact does single-use plastic create for our environment?

Plastic pollution takes hundreds of years to break down and is hazardous for our ocean, rivers and land. It also generates greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), throughout its journey from production and manufacture to disposal at the end of its life.

Research shows consumers use 2.7 billion items of mostly plastic single-use cutlery in England and 721 million single-use plates every year, but only 10 per cent of these are recycled.

To fully appreciate the sizable statistic, if the 2.7 billion pieces of cutlery were lined up, they would go round the world more than eight-and-a-half times.

Rebecca Pow, Environment Minister, said: “This new ban is the next big step in our mission to crack down on harmful plastic waste. It will protect the environment and help to cut litter – stopping plastic pollution dirtying our streets and threatening our wildlife.

“This builds on world-leading bans on straws, stirrers and cotton buds, our single-use carrier bag charge and our plastic packaging tax, helping us on our journey to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste by 2042.”

Tom Townsend, Principal Consultant – Sustainable Business UK at Acre said: “It is positive to see further action being taken to ban certain single-use plastic items as the country gears up towards a net zero future.

“However, it is only a small step towards taking urgent action and there is, as always, plenty of room for improvement. I would also like to see a full ban on items such as balloons – rather than just the plastic sticks that hold them – they pose a hazard to wildlife and take approximately 450 years to break down.

“Even biodegradable balloons can take up to six years to decompose and I think there are other, more sustainable ways to celebrate occasions. That said, I am, however, pleased to see the elimination of single-use plastic items in this latest announcement, and the subsequent impact of that ban.”

If you have any questions about what the new rules mean for your business, contact Plastics.Consultation@defra.gov.uk.

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.

Originally Published on August 24, 2023

OKLAHOMA CITY, November 28, 2023 /3BL/ – To support students in underserved communities, Frito-Lay and Feed the Children are launching the fourth year of “Building the Future Together” in seven key cities across the U.S. To kick off this year’s partnership, the organizations are teaming up with Detroit Public Schools Community District on Thursday, Aug. 24, for a community distribution event serving 400 families.

“Building the Future Together” is a program launched in partnership between Feed the Children, a leading nonprofit focused on alleviating childhood hunger, and Frito-Lay. The program supplements school meals with shelf-stable food items while also providing school supplies, personal care products and books. With back-to-school costs expected to be more expensive than ever, the program not only provides much-needed assistance to local Detroit students, but also provides additional support throughout the school year. Underserved school districts across Atlanta, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Orlando and Phoenix will benefit from the initiative again this year.

Building the Future Together Resource Rooms have become a safety net for many families, providing consistent access to both food and hygiene items. For participating schools where nearly eight in 10 students qualify for free school meals, the impact observed by schools has been significant:

• 63% noticed an increase in school attendance among students

• 38% saw an increase in student confidence

• 63% reported an increase in student engagement

• 25% observed an improvement in student grades

“The Souper Pantries at Marshall & Robinson Elementary have allowed our department to provide immediate support to those who most need it,” said Prentiss L Collins Jr., Manager of Wraparound Services at Houston Independent School District. “Having direct access to food and hygiene items allows our Wrapround Specialist to meet the needs of students and their families, which ensures they are happy and healthy to attend school every day. This has even more impact during crisis situations where loss of employment or health situations can really affect families.”

Frito-Lay and Feed the Children are hoping to continue the success the program saw during the 2022-23 school year. Since its inception, the Building the Future Together initiative has served more than 110,000 families in cities across the U.S. Through this program, Frito-Lay and Feed the Children have provided nearly 1.5 million pounds of resources such as household essentials, books and products provided by Frito-Lay, PepsiCo and Kroger – valued at nearly $12 million. These items have supplemented more than 775,000 meals.

“At Frito-Lay, we are deeply committed to helping our communities thrive as a long-time and proud employer in these markets and across the U.S.,” said Rachel Hibbs, Regional Vice President, Frito-Lay North America. “We know that our communities only flourish when its people are supported and we are proud to continue to advance our storied history of helping others as a founding partner in the ‘Building the Future Together’ program, tackling food insecurity and ensuring our youth have the necessary resources to succeed.”

“Hunger and food insecurity are often invisible,” said Travis Arnold, Feed the Children president and CEO. “We rarely know what someone else is going through, which is why we need to take care of our neighbors. Feed the Children is thankful for the partnership with Frito-Lay and their support of the Building the Future Together program as we tackle the important issue of childhood hunger.”

About Frito-Lay North America

Frito-Lay North America, Inc. is the $23 billion convenient foods division of PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ: PEP), which is headquartered in Purchase, NY. Frito-Lay snacks include Lay’s® and Ruffles® potato chips, Doritos® and Tostitos® tortilla chips and branded dips, Cheetos® snacks, Stacy’s® pita chips, PopCorners® popped-corn snack, SunChips® multigrain snacks and Fritos® corn chips. The company operates 30+ manufacturing facilities across the U.S. and Canada, more than 200 distribution centers and services 315,000 retail customers per week through its direct-store-delivery model. Learn more about Frito-Lay at the corporate website, www.fritolay.com, on Twitter (@fritolay), on Instagram (@fritolay) and on Facebook (Frito-Lay).

About Feed the Children

At Feed the Children, we feed hungry kids. We envision a world where no child goes to bed hungry. In the U.S. and internationally, we are dedicated to helping families and communities achieve stable lives and to reducing the need for help tomorrow, while providing food and resources to help them today. We distribute product donations from corporate donors to local community partners, we provide support for teachers and students, and we mobilize resources quickly to aid recovery efforts when natural disasters strike. Internationally, we manage child-focused community development programs in eight countries. We welcome partnerships because we know our work would not be possible without collaborative relationships. Visit feedthechildren.org for more information.

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For more information: 
Carrie Snodgrass – 405-213-9757 
carrie.snodgrass@feedthechildren.org

MEMPHIS, Tenn., November 28, 2023 /3BL/ – Foundry’s Computerworld (http://www.computerworld.com) announces International Paper as a 2024 Best Places to Work in IT. This award recognizes the top organizations that challenge their IT staffs while providing great benefits and compensation. Organizations will be included in coverage on Computerworld.com along with results from the 2024 Best Places to Work in IT survey.

“It’s an honor for International Paper to once again be recognized as a Best Place to Work in IT,” said Mike Anderson, Vice President and Chief Information Officer. “As technology continues to advance at an accelerated pace, we acknowledge that everything we do begins with our people and is informed by our strong company culture and core values. Our teams embrace safety, diversity, inclusion, and engagement as the launching pad to deliver digital services and solutions that are essential to our company’s operations and our customer’s continued success.”

Ranking number six out of 100 for 2024, this marks the fourteenth year IP has been recognized as one of the top 100 “Best Places to Work in IT.” IP’s 1,250 global IT team members deliver technology and digital solutions for business advantage and provide support services to the company’s 39,000 global team members across hundreds of locations around the world.

“Technology is playing an increasingly important role in modern business. IT professionals continue to benefit from this trend, as this year’s winning organizations increase staffing and offer a variety of pathways to upskill, reskill, and diversify their teams.” said Rob O’Regan, global director, content strategy, Foundry. “These companies provide a model for IT and HR leaders who are looking for new ways to attract, engage, and retain talent in an increasingly competitive IT environment.”

About the Best Places to Work in IT 
The Best Places to Work in IT list is an annual ranking of the top work environments for technology professionals by Foundry’s Computerworld. The list is compiled based on a comprehensive questionnaire regarding company offerings in categories such as benefits, career development, DEI, future of work, training and retention. In addition, the rankings are reviewed and vetted by a panel of industry experts.

About International Paper 
International Paper (NYSE: IP) is a global producer of planet-friendly packaging, pulp, and other fiber-based products, and one of North America’s largest recyclers. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., we employ approximately 39,000 colleagues globally who are committed to creating what’s next. We serve customers worldwide, with manufacturing operations in North America, Latin America, North Africa, and Europe. Net sales for 2022 were $21.2 billion. Additional information can be found by visiting internationalpaper.com.

About Computerworld 
Computerworld is the leading technology media brand empowering enterprise users and their managers, helping them create business advantage by skillfully exploiting today’s abundantly powerful web, mobile, and desktop applications. Computerworld also offers guidance to IT managers tasked with optimizing client systems—and helps businesses revolutionize the customer and employee experience with new collaboration platforms. Computerworld’s award-winning website (www.computerworld.com (http://www.computerworld.com)), strategic marketing solutions and research forms the hub of the world’s largest global IT media network and provides opportunities for IT vendors to engage this audience. Computerworld is published by IDG. Communications, Inc. Company information is available at www.idg.com.

Follow Computerworld on X: @Computerworld #BestPlacesIT 
Follow Computerworld on LinkedIn

Note: All product and company names are trademarks of their respective organizations.

Meet the Ashoka + Kind City changemakers. To bring Lenovo’s crowd-sourced vision of the Kind City to life and empower community-led innovation, Lenovo partnered with Ashoka, the global network of social entrepreneurs. To accelerate Ashoka’s transformative efforts, Lenovo sponsored initiatives in four cities across the Southern Hemisphere: Guadalajara, Mexico; Puerto Princesa, Philippines; Salta, Argentina; and Johannesburg, South Africa.

Watch the videos below and learn more about technology-powered innovation and the Ashoka + Kind City changemakers at www.kindcity.com.

Marine Conservation and Protecting Sea Turtles in the Philippines

Jessica Labaja, co-founder and executive director of the Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines (LAMAVE), engages her local community in Puerto Princesa and beyond to understand, protect, and heal ecosystems.

“Without technology we wouldn’t be able to do our jobs,” Labaja said. “Scientific research and development is advanced by technology, right? We can monitor our study species through satellite tags and we see their movement in real-time from our mobile phones with an app.”

“I would like to see a more inclusive society and a more empathic society. If voices are being heard from all walks of life, I think we can make our cities kinder.”

Empowering Families and Transforming Policy in Mexico

Cristina Martinez Pinto, founder and CEO of the Public Interest Technology (PIT) Policy Lab helps guide the latest technology to fight against inequality in Guadalajara, Mexico and create new opportunities for families to thrive and navigate often-complex procedures.

“How can we change these processes and thus create systemic change?” Pinto asks of programs with implicit bias or that fail to consider everyone.

“Our vision of a kind city is one that has empathy, that recognizes diversity, where services work, and where technology is a tool to put people at the center.”

Building the Next Generation of Technology Leaders in South Africa

Thembiso Magajana, founder of Social Coding South Africa, works with rural communities in and around Johannesburg to provide digital literacy and technology training to encourage the next generation of innovators.

“It’s less about building these great start-ups and more about giving people the tools that they can use to change their lives,” Magajana said. “Every young person should have the skills that they need to choose their own future.”

“Our future lies in ensuring that our culture is one that empowers people to be kinder to one another.”

Reimagining Cook Stoves for Entrepreneurship in Argentina

Pierre-Yves Herrouet, founder of Solar Inti, brings modular, cleaner cook stove technology to the rural, indigenous, or impoverished communities around Salta to create entrepreneur opportunities, accelerate cooking, and improve health.

“With just one kitchen, we can transform the lives of these families,” Herrouet said.

“The changemaker acts from empathy toward other human beings, toward their problems, their emotions. It’s when a profound sense of helping another person is born in you.”

Learn more about technology-powered innovation and kinder, more inclusive cities by exploring the founding principles and interactive podcast experience at www.kindcity.com.

Learn more about Ashoka, their global network of changemakers, and powerful initiatives to transform the world.

The new initiative, in partnership with South Pole, is designed to accelerate the deployment of renewable electricity and to directly reduce AB InBev’s Scope 3 GHG emissions through a powerful value-chain engagement program.AB InBev suppliers and customers will be able to directly engage in Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) across Europe, benefiting from potential cost-savings, hedging against price volatility and securing the necessary renewable electricity volumes for their operations, ultimately lowering their Scope 2 GHG emissions.Beyond leveraging existing projects, the program will also have the potential to add new renewable electricity generation to national grids across Europe.

LEUVEN, Belgium, November 28, 2023 /3BL/ – AB InBev, the world leading brewer, announced a partnership with South Pole, a global sustainability solutions provider, to establish a renewable electricity group buying initiative for its customers and suppliers across Europe.

The initiative represents a coordinated effort to support AB InBev’s value chain (scope 3) decarbonisation by providing AB InBev partners with a network to source PPAs across Europe. The core goal for the group buying program, which will also provide access to tailored training on PPA sourcing, is to support the procurement of green electricity for AB InBev suppliers and customers.

By combining forces, the aim is to facilitate market-leading prices and provide a hedge against price volatility while securing the necessary volumes of renewable electricity to power the operations of AB InBev’s partners. The initiative aims to make renewable electricity accessible to companies that would typically lack the financial resources or have insufficient power demand to independently contract such agreements.

The purchase agreements, facilitated by South Pole, will also have the potential of adding new renewable energy generation to national grids across Europe.

“We are looking forward to the challenging but exciting journey to source European PPAs and thereby join AB InBev in their leadership in driving value-chain decarbonisation.” – Patrick Horka, Global Director, Renewable Energy Solutions, South Pole

Scope 3 emissions represented more than 85% of AB InBev total emissions in 2022, making the initiative one of the brewer’s strongest opportunities for emissions reductions and a key focus of AB InBev’s wider Eclipse sustainability leadership program. The Eclipse platform was developed to enable closer collaboration and alignment with AB InBev’s supply chain on sustainability initiatives.

Jason Warner, Zone President for Europe at AB InBev, said: “At AB InBev, we are committed to not only driving decarbonisation throughout our own operations, but designing solutions that can deliver meaningful impact across our entire value chain. Collaborating with partners who share our vision is key and represents a core tenet of our Eclipse decarbonisation program and our global brand purpose – To a Future With More Cheers.

“We know from our own experience that the transition to 100% renewable electricity is a challenging and resource-intensive process. Our partnership with South Pole represents a critical step in our commitment to reducing Scope 3 emissions and will hopefully open the door for many of our customers and suppliers to begin or advance their renewable energy ambitions.”

Patrick Horka, Global Director, Renewable Energy Solutions, South Pole, said: “South Pole is excited to launch this initiative with AB InBev, which is designed to help the members of the group buying program to take part in the clean energy transition and further their green ambitions without requiring them to develop and operate their own renewable energy projects. We are looking forward to the challenging but exciting journey to source European PPAs and thereby join AB InBev in their leadership in driving value-chain decarbonisation.”

Since 2022, all AB InBev beers brewed in Western Europe – including Budweiser, Corona and Stella Artois – are brewed with 100% renewable electricity, from a mix of on-site, near-site solar and wind installations and through Guarantees of Origin (GoOs). This achievement is supported by a 10-year VPPA deal with BayWa r.e and Verbund, which saw the opening of the 161-hectare Solar Park in Pinos Puente (Spain) in September 2022. The park generates 250 GWh of emission-free electricity per year.

Putting emissions on a trajectory consistent with the Paris Agreement requires a significant increase in the use of green energy. With the European Union recently revising its binding renewable target for 2030 from 32% to a minimum of 42.5%, the existing share of renewable energy in the region must almost double. Corporate PPAs and market-based availability of renewables are expected to play a critical role in achieving this target.

The Group Renewable Electricity Buying Initiative was announced at the AB InBev Europe Eclipse event for partners and suppliers which explored best practice approaches for heat decarbonisation, green logistics and emissions reporting. AB InBev partners and suppliers that are interested in finding out more can register their interest via the Eclipse website.

-ENDS-

Note to editors:

For more information please contact:

media@southpole.com

About PPAs:

A contract for the purchase of power and associated energy attribute certificates (EACs) from a specific renewable energy generator (the seller) to a corporate off-taker (the buyer).

About Scope 3 emissions:

Scope 3 emissions are all indirect emissions (not included in scope 2) that occur in the value chain of the reporting company, including both upstream and downstream emissions.

HAMILTON, Bermuda, November 28, 2023 /3BL/ – Family-owned Bacardi has announced that it is not only cutting single-use plastic from its gift packs, it will also now reduce the number of cardboard gift boxes for some of its iconic brands.

Four years ago, Bacardi set itself the ambitious goal of removing 100% of the single-use plastic from its gifting range by the end of 2023. Thanks to innovative new designs, the company has successfully removed almost 275 tons of single-use plastic used annually.

“We are incredibly proud of what we have achieved to date but we want to go one step further,” said Rodolfo Nervi, Vice President Safety, Quality and Sustainability for Bacardi. “We don’t want to just redesign our packaging to remove plastic, we want to do all we can to reduce our cardboard packaging too.”

It’s with this in mind that Bacardi will now begin reducing the number of cardboard gift boxes for brands including BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® gin, DEWAR’S® White Label Blended Scotch whisky and MARTINI® sparkling wines. This move will cut the company’s use of cardboard by approximately 100 tons in the first year alone.

Where Bacardi continues to use paper and cardboard for its packaging, it is certified by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) or the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®).

“We are not standing still. We are constantly innovating. For more than 160 years, our iconic brands have reflected the changing tastes of each new generation of consumers. Today, consumers want drinks that are made in the most environmentally responsible way possible and so do we,” added Rodolfo.

Find out more about Bacardi and its ESG – Environmental, Social & Governance – commitments, including its alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, at www.bacardilimited.com/good-spirited.

Media enquiries: 

Andrew Carney, Corporate Communications Director, Bacardi, acarney@bacardi.com

Jessica Merz, VP Corporate Communications, Bacardi, jmerz@bacardi.com

About Bacardi 

Bacardi Limited, the largest privately held international spirits company, produces, markets, and distributes spirits and wines. The Bacardi Limited portfolio comprises more than 200 brands and labels, including BACARDÍ® rum, PATRÓN® tequila, GREY GOOSE® vodka, DEWAR’S® Blended Scotch whisky, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® gin, MARTINI® vermouth and sparkling wines, CAZADORES® 100% blue agave tequila, and other leading and emerging brands including D’USSE® Cognac, ANGEL’S ENVY® American Straight whiskey, and ST-GERMAIN® elderflower liqueur. Founded more than 161 years ago in Santiago de Cuba, family-owned Bacardi Limited currently employs approximately 9,000, operates production facilities in 11 countries and territories, and sells its brands in more than 160 countries. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited. Visit www.bacardilimited.com or follow us on LinkedIn or Instagram.

Always drink responsibly.

Ian (pronounced Eye-an) Leybas was born at the Choctaw Nation Healthcare Center in Talihina, Oklahoma. His father was Native American, and while he grew up not knowing his father, Leybas is a citizen of Muscogee (Creek) Nation and feels very connected to the tribal community. In his current role at Marathon Petroleum Corp. (MPC), he is able to help tribal communities thrive.

“Through Marathon Petroleum’s Tribal Affairs Working Group (TAWG), we engage directly with leaders of the Choctaw Nation, the Cheyenne Arapaho Nation and the Muskogee (Creek) Nation on workforce development to improve the communities in eastern Oklahoma,” said Leybas, Senior Manager for MPLX Gathering and Processing (G&P), a midstream segment of MPC. “It is definitely one of the most fulfilling things in my life.”

Leybas stays busy in his role as a leader with MPLX G&P, supporting tribal communities with the TAWG, family activities, and making time for his favorite sport of fishing. His experiences have taught him to work hard and play hard.

Life in Oklahoma

“I’m definitely my mama’s boy,” said Leybas. “I’ll be 50 in December, and she never fails to tell me how proud she is of me. I’ve been blessed, even through adversity.”

Leybas grew up and went to school in Oklahoma. He’s a proud graduate of Southeastern Oklahoma State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Accounting degree and then his master’s in business administration (MBA) in Finance in 2019.

Leybas met his wife Crystal in college, and they have been married for 23 years and have two children. His daughter, Kaylee, is 21 years old and a senior at Oklahoma State University (OSU); his son, Cole, is 16 years old and a sophomore in high school. Leybas says they have a pretty nice little family that stays active and loves spending time together.

Leybas has worked for MPC for almost 15 years. He started in project accounting as an administrator doing accounting work, then went into financial analysis and worked his way to manager of forecasting and analysis. He then transitioned to work in Operations with MPLX G&P, Eastern Oklahoma.

“I enjoy it. Accounting is wonderful, but operations is exciting. It never stops. It’s a 24/7 job: the operation of moving gas and liquid from sales to delivery,” said Leybas.

“We work directly with the Choctaw Nation, the Cheyenne Arapaho Nation and the Muskogee (Creek) Nation. It is definitely one of the most fulfilling things in my life.”

Commitment to Tribal Communities

In areas where we operate, MPC is committed to building strong partnerships with tribal nations and communities who are historically marginalized. A portion of the company’s Tribal Affairs Working Group (TAWG) is made up of employees from these various business units that operate on or near tribal lands. MPC’s Principal ESG & Stakeholder Engagement Representative VJ Smith manages the TAWG and supports 21 tribal partnerships.

In 2021, Smith asked Leybas to help build the network with the Native American tribes in Oklahoma where MPC has an operational footprint across multiple tribal lands. Leybas then officially joined the TAWG and has become a key member.

“Our relationship with Indigenous peoples is founded on respect,” said Smith. “Respect for the distinct history, cultures and legal status of Indigenous Peoples and their unique relationship to the land.”

Since starting with the TAWG, Leybas and Smith have worked together on workforce development and community needs projects and meetings with several tribes in Oklahoma.

Leybas also serves as an advisor at the OSU Institute of Technology and helps align the educational program with changes happening in the oil and gas industry. He helps students network and secure jobs when they graduate from the program.

“These programs are making a difference in our communities, and watching the students fulfill their vision to better themselves means the world to me,” said Leybas. “Students ask me ‘how did you get to where you are?’ I tell them to put their head down and do the work. Do the right thing when no one is looking. Know where you want to be and stay on the course to success.”

Facing Adversity

His success hasn’t been without some challenges. In 2019, Leybas found a small lump on his hip that he thought was unusual. He almost forgot to bring it up at his next doctor’s appointment. When he did, his doctor sent him for a biopsy, and the results turned his life upside-down.

“I found out I had non-Hodgkin’s Peripheral T-Cell lymphoma, cancer in the lymph system,” said Leybas. “It was intimidating. It was a scary time.”

Through multiple rounds of chemotherapy and stem cell transplant treatment that caused him to lose his hair and 50 pounds, he tried to stay positive. After his initial treatment, scans showed the cancer was in remission. A year and a half later, a routine scan showed the cancer had returned.

“Being a numbers guy, I know the statistics and what the relapse data says,” said Leybas. “That was rough. That was mentally hard.”

But he had lots of support from family and friends that helped him persevere. His doctors said he was still strong and young, and there were options. He tried CAR T-Cell therapy, a promising treatment for patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma that had relapsed. Leybas said that treatment showed fabulous results with minimal side-effects, and he has been in complete remission for several years. He goes for scans every 90 days, and he’s happy to be back to doing all the things he loves.

All-American Fisherman

One of Leybas’ favorite hobbies is competitive bass fishing, and he’s made quite a name for himself in the sport.

“Fishing is therapeutic. I’ve been doing it for 30 years,” said Leybas.

In 2022, he qualified to fish in the Major League Fishing Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American tournament at Lake Cartwell in South Carolina. He said 16,000 people start off each year and only 48 qualify from the different divisions. This year, he made it to Championship Saturday and will be featured in the show that airs Dec. 23 on CBS Sports. He also re-qualified this year for the 2024 All-American at Cherokee Lake in Tennessee. Leybas worked with his management team to allow him to display the MPLX logo during the fishing tournaments.

“It is awesome that the company not only supports us at work, but that they encourage us to have a strong work-life balance as well,” said Leybas. “You work hard and you play hard. Make sure you take care of business but enjoy it.”

Today is Giving Tuesday, a global movement unleashing the power of radical generosity. At Tapestry, we are committed to showing up in the communities in which we live and work, and giving our time, talents and resources. Our purpose – stretch what’s possible – comes to life when we practice generosity.

Tapestry and its house of brands live our purpose every day, not just on Giving Tuesday. Here are three examples of how our brands and people are living proof of the power of radical generosity.

Coach Foundation, Dream It Real
Access to post-secondary education has the power to expand opportunities for young people around the world. Meet Yannick – one of the 5,000+ scholars the Coach Foundation supports around the world.

His story is a testament to the power of dreaming big and we are proud to play a part in his journey of turning dreams into reality.

The Coach Foundation is on a mission to create a more equitable future by creating opportunities and removing barriers for the next generation of young people.

Since we launched our signature initiative, Dream It Real, in 2018, we have continued to empower students from historically underrepresented and marginalized communities that demonstrate a high financial need.

Additionally, we have:

Provided 5,000 scholarships to students around the world.Partnered with 8 nonprofits globally to support the dreams of young people.Mentored over 250 students through our employee Dream It Real Mentor Program.

Our impact on the lives of young people would not be possible without the collective efforts of our employees, customers, and nonprofit partners around the world.

On this Giving Tuesday, we thank them for the time and dedication contributed to the young people the Coach Foundation supports.

kate spade new york
kate spade new york believes that good mental health is foundational to women and girls’ empowerment. For over a decade, we’ve been providing access to culturally competent mental health resources, globally advocating on the issue and using our platform to help destigmatize mental health issues. We are uniquely positioned to support women in all their intersecting identities, by providing mental health resources that contribute to their empowerment journeys. To date, KSNY has given over $26M to support mental health and empowerment efforts, globally, and have committed to supporting 100,000 women and girls with access to mental health and empowerment resources by 2025.

This Giving Tuesday in our North American stores and websites, 5% of net sales on November 28, 2023 (up to a maximum donation of $275,000) will be donated to non-profit partner Tides Foundation to support the mental health and empowerment initiatives of women and girls globally.

To shop with the brand during Giving Tuesday, and to learn more about Kate Spade New York’s social impact work, visit: https://www.katespade.com/social-impact/our-mission

Stuart Weitzman
Stuart Weitzman is committed to celebrating the strength of women and girls, inspiring their confidence and empowering them to be bold — through authentic partnerships and programs — to create meaningful change in their communities.

We recently announced a bespoke program with Vital Voices, Bold Movers: Investing in Women Working Towards Gender Equity. Bold Movers is a seven-week program that invests in women working toward gender equality advancing workplace inclusion, addressing challenges for working mothers and caregivers, and changing the cultural perceptions of women in society. Participants will build their confidence, empowering themselves to take on leadership roles and identify and remove barriers to their success.

Through curriculum work, mentorship, and a network of peers, Bold Movers gives participants the skills, knowledge, confidence, and inner strength to lead social change and create pathways to prosperity for themselves and their communities.

Participants will also receive mentorship for the full length of the program, focusing on how best to catalyze the changes that matter most to them. They will also be eligible to receive a grant to help further their missions.

On Giving Tuesday, we celebrate the power of women helping women: giving support, encouragement, and experience so that one generation may learn from another.

We were proud to sponsor the recent TechWomen100 awards for the second year running. The annual event celebrates women in technology across many industries and the work of WeAreTechWomen.

Representing Northern Trust on the night included Alison Pain, Tracey Fee and Jaymini Ichharam.

We are committed to a culture that embraces diversity, encourages equity and creates inclusion. Actively recognizing the achievements of women working in technology helps us achieve that goal. By embracing diversity of thought in all its forms, we can deliver the technology that our organization and broader society need.

Congratulations to all the winners for such a fantastic achievement – your success provides role models for up-and-coming women in the tech industry.

“The TechWomen100 Awards is an inspiring and empowering event. It brings together women from different industries to celebrate their success. We are proud to partner with WeAreTechWomen to provide a network to help women in technology learn and grow while developing their careers, providing role models and the motivation to succeed.” Alison Pain

You can learn more about our Culture and our People here https://lnkd.in/eebkUb6r