Tag: 3BL

As Hurricane Idalia intensifies to Category 3 and continues its path toward landfall, T-Mobile has activated its emergency plan so when needed, teams can quickly begin recovery efforts to keep communities, first responders and customers along the Gulf Coast and Atlantic seaboard connected.

The National Hurricane Center has warned that Idalia could bring catastrophic storm surge along the Gulf Coast and southward to Tampa Bay.

Key points you need to know:

Generators and batteries are topped off at local towers.Quick-deploy and portable satellites, microwave solutions and generators are ready to quickly recover critical connectivity.Customer concessions for unlimited talk, text and data from August 30 through September 6 are in place.Emergency teams are staged and ready to quickly begin network restoration; provide Wi-Fi, devices and device charging; and provide first responders with activated phones with Wireless Priority Service.

Here’s more about what we are doing to be ready:

Network 

Ahead of landfall, our Emergency Management teams have worked to ensure readiness and resiliency in projected impact areas. We’ve:

Refueled generators and ensured that high-capacity batteries are charged on towers and other important network sites.Readied and staged engineers, technicians and equipment — such as portable generators and satellites that can be quickly deployed, microwave solutions to supply temporary backhaul and heavy-duty trucks that provide high-speed and 5G coverage and capacity. This equipment can enhance network coverage, boost capacity, replace cell sites that are damaged or down due to commercial power outages, and connect cell sites to deliver high speed data should local fiber cable be damaged.Filled fuel trucks.

Also, over the last several years, our Emergency Management teams have extensively hardened our network ahead of the hurricane seasons, and we’ve worked to ensure readiness and resiliency in areas projected to be impacted by Idalia.

Customer Support

While the majority of our customers are on plans with unlimited talk, text and data, for those in impacted counties in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina who aren’t, we are offering unlimited talk, text and data starting Wednesday, August 30 through Wednesday, September 6.

First Responder and Community Support

T-Mobile’s teams have also staged equipment ready to provide critical wireless connectivity, Wi-Fi connectivity and devices to first responders, customers and communities. Our team is ready with heavy-duty supply transport trucks, Wi-Fi trailers and a Command Center. We’ll have additional RVs in the area to provide relief and housing to teams as needed. We’ll also be providing phones and charging equipment such as cables and battery packs, and we’ll have activated phones with Wireless Priority Service on hand for first responders to help ensure emergency communications move to the front of the line during times of high traffic. Our team is also at the State Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee working with state and local officials to support public safety.

Any first responder agencies or organizations needing communications assistance can reach out to our 24-hour emergency hotline at 888-639-0020 or email ERTRequests@T-Mobile.com.

T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile Stores

The safety of our employees and customers is paramount. We’ve already closed many stores in Idalia’s projected path and in surrounding areas, we’re closing others as early as 2 pm ET today. Updates on T-Mobile local store hours can be found here and Metro by T-Mobile stores are here.

Employees

We are partnering with our teams to take care of our local employees, which includes closing some office locations and supporting employees and their families during this time.

Plan for Every Emergency

Preparedness and proactive planning are essential for safeguarding you and your family’s well-being before, during and after a disaster. In preparation for Idalia and ahead of National Preparedness Month in September, here’s what you can do to be ready:

Create a family emergency plan with your loved ones so everyone knows what to do in an emergency. T-Mobile has tips, resources and an easy-to-use emergency template here: How to Create a Family Emergency Plan.Load up a fully equipped Go Bag to ensure that you and your family have critical items in case of a quick evacuation. For more information on the best items to include, check out Everything You Need in Your Go Bag.Put everything on your phone to be ready, and fully charge it. Download critical apps such as NOAA National Weather Service, enable Wireless Emergency Alerts, set up Wi-Fi calling and use power or battery saving modes to stretch battery life. Take steps outlined on the checklist below: Bookmark federal and disaster relief organizations, including The American Red Cross, Ready.gov and FEMA for more resources that can help you prepare or get support.

For more information on how T-Mobile prepares for and responds to disasters, visit T-Mobile’s Emergency Response Hub. 

Follow T-Mobile’s Official Twitter Newsroom @TMobileNews to stay up to date with the latest company news. 
 

Asking for help can be the most difficult step. A retired army Veteran living in the rural community of Suwannee Valley in northern Florida had been self-sufficient, managing a mortgage and living expenses without any support from Veterans programs.

Then, the unexpected happened: he fell ill. Medical bills added up, then mortgage payments and utility bills. He struggled to care for his health and home, and was ultimately taking care of neither—he didn’t have the resources.

When he heard about MISSION UNITED, a new Veterans’ program through the United Way of Suwannee Valley, he still didn’t believe he was the kind of person who should accept help.

“He wanted the assistance to go to someone else who was more in need,” says Jennifer Anchors, UWSV’s executive director. “It was just this spiral that was going on for him.”

A caseworker was assigned to the gentleman, and he was connected with medical assistance through the Veterans Affairs hospital. MISSION UNITED helped him pay two months of his mortgage and one month of his electric bill. He also joined a local seniors’ group for socialization and volunteering.

“He was able to get back on his feet,” Anchors says. “And he just felt so good about himself.”

Although other programs for Veterans exist in the small community, people were falling through the cracks, Anchors explains, noting the region is home to approximately 11,000 Veterans.

“A lot of times people just don’t know where to go when they need help. We serve as the hub that supports them . . . to help them navigate resources,” she says.

MISSION UNITED isn’t funded by the workplace fundraising campaigns United Way organizations are known for; the program receives funding only through private foundations and grants.

Enbridge was proud to be MISSION UNITED’s first funder, awarding UWSV a Fueling Futures grant of $7,500 to help establish the program in 2021, as part of our commitment to build sustainable communities. We followed that initial funding with $7,500 in 2022 and $5,000 in 2023 to continue the work to support and empower Veterans and their families, and ensure they receive assistance when times are tough.

Frequently, these Veterans offer to pay back the financial support they’ve received.

“For a lot of people, it’s very difficult and embarrassing to ask for help, especially for Veterans,” Anchors says. “We try to reassure them: ‘No, this is not a loan. We’re here to help you.’ ”

It’s just as the program’s motto states: MISSION UNITED is proudly serving those who have served.

Cummins

Cummins Inc. recently announced approval of its entire line of diesel high horsepower engines across all ratings for use with unblended paraffinic fuels (EN15940), often referred to as renewable diesel, including hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO).

Utilizing renewable fuels like HVO can reduce net greenhouse gas (GHG) emission by up to 90% compared to conventional diesel, dependent on the exact feedstock and fuel pathway.

This approval applies to all high-horsepower engines for all applications in use across a variety of industries, such as mining, marine, rail, defense, and oil and gas. All industrial engines currently in the field can be fueled with 100% renewable diesel, or any blend of renewable and traditional diesel, with no engine modifications required. Any renewable diesel used must meet the EN15940 standard, as defined by the European Committee for Standardization.

“As we work alongside our customers toward a carbon neutral future, bridge solutions like alternative fuels are critical in decarbonizing existing equipment,” said Gary Johansen, Cummins’ Vice President, Power Systems Engineering. “Approving unblended renewable diesel use in all high horsepower engines is one more step on our path of continued innovation to help our industrial customers reduce their carbon footprints while upholding performance and reliability standards.”

Prior to this announcement, Cummins allowed up to 25% renewable diesel for high-horsepower engines for industrial applications, as well as up to 100% renewable diesel for the QSK95 engine for rail applications. Cummins was first to market in 2021 with the approval of 100% renewable diesel use in standby generator sets used in data centers and other key applications.

Technical evaluations of all high-horsepower engines utilizing renewable diesel included emissions cycle, performance, transient, fuel consumption testing as well as field testing.

The trials showed that exhaust emissions output continued to be comparable to engines operating on conventional diesel fuel and within established EPA targets with no changes to engine hardware and software. The trials also showed that, when compared to conventional diesel, the use of renewable diesel can serve as a drop-in replacement, as well as:

Reduce well-to-work greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions up to 90%.Reduce tailpipe emissions of particulate matter and smoke up to 50%Provide no impact to service/maintenance intervals.

This announcement is an example of Cummins’ commitment to advance the company’s current technology to achieve industry-leading emissions reductions. Through PLANET 2050, the company’s environmental sustainability strategy, Cummins pledges to address climate change, support communities and use resources wisely.

“Engineering was not something that I thought was accessible to me and going through the Porterville program really opened my eyes. The Thinkabit Lab has really affected my growth and development. Qualcomm gave me the confidence to start dreaming about a career in engineering.”

Luis, Thinkabit Lab student participant and summer camp intern from Porterville, California

As published in Qualcomm’s 2022 Corporate Responsibility Report

Thinkabit Lab is our homegrown STEM engagement program that introduces students to the invention process through hands-on engineering activities. Since 2014, Thinkabit Lab has engaged students from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds to wire circuits like an electrical engineer, code like a computer scientist and build and design IoT-themed inventions that address a real-world problem. These and other career exploration activities give students an idea of the variety of jobs that can be found at technology companies like Qualcomm, while helping them understand how they can use technology to shape a better world.

This year, we added to our Thinkabit Lab curriculum, by:

Adding a new sustainability theme to our projects to encourage these future inventors to integrate a sustainability mindset as part of their design and invention process.Revamping our Wearable Tech curriculum to expand across multiple IoT sectors. By utilizing sensors, students were able to create IoT devices that show how wearable technology can improve healthcare and public safety and make our lives more efficient.Developing a guided experience for educators at all skills levels, providing them a suggested lesson flow, guided videos and instructional tips. This guide is easily accessible for educators to implement our free activities in their classroom or after-school program.Incorporating a career exploration component using O*NET resources and a lesson led by a Thinkabit Lab instructor. These materials help anyone who goes to our Learning Center to engage in STEM learning, even outside of our formalized programs.

Here’s a snapshot of our 2022 impact across the United States:

24 Sites* across 7 states throughout the U.S.10,000+ Students Reached425+ Girls Reached through Wearable Tech Camps32 Week-long STEM Camps Reaching 1,000+ Students11 Newly Trained Instructors75 Educators Engaged48 Qualcomm Employee Volunteers121 Volunteer Hours

*Sites are defined as collaborating organizations that deliver the Thinkabit Lab program in either a virtual or physical capacity

Learn more in Qualcomm’s 2022 Corporate Responsibility Report

DAVIDSON, N.C., August 30, 2023 /3BL/ – Calhoun Community College, the largest two-year institution in The Alabama Community College System, and Trane® – by Trane Technologies, a global climate innovator, celebrate the opening of Calhoun Community College’s new building automation system lab. The lab is designed to give students hands-on experience that will help them bridge the gap between classroom instruction and the needs of employers.

The immersive learning environment was designed to support the building automation system curriculum provided through the National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3). Students will use the latest Trane controls and equipment to understand how a sophisticated building automation system works and gain practical experience using the data-driven technology to better control facility comfort and energy efficiency.

“The lab is just one way Calhoun Community College is fulfilling its commitment to provide students with a gateway to a better career, better pay, and a better life, said Dr. Jimmy Hodges, president, Calhoun Community College. “Our new building automation system lab offers our students a unique opportunity to learn using the latest HVAC technology and ensure that they are well-prepared to excel in the workforce.”

The need for skilled labor remains high across the United States and specialized roles like HVAC technicians are experiencing exceptional demand. Filling the talent pipeline with highly skilled technicians who understand the latest systems and controls is critical to maintaining and optimizing HVAC systems. Students completing the coursework will be eligible to test for five Building Automation System NC3 Certifications which demonstrate skills achievement.

“Trane is committed to uplifting and preparing people for in-demand careers in the HVAC industry – that includes working with leading organizations like Calhoun Community College and NC3 to create effective learning environments that prepare students for real-world applications,” said Brian Thorstad, Alabama area general manager, Trane. “We are proud to support Calhoun’s new building automation system lab, which will help advance career and technical education in the community and further develop the next generation of building automation system experts.”

“With the new lab and curriculum, Calhoun Community College is demonstrating their extraordinary commitment to their community, and the nation, by delivering world class education and skills sets that benefit everyone,” said Roger Tadajewski, executive director, NC3. “We are proud to be able to make a difference in the next generation of skilled workers together with Calhoun and Trane.”

Students can begin enrolling in the new building automation system curriculum in November. For more information or to enroll, click here: https://calhoun.edu/technologies/.

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About Calhoun Community College 
The largest of the two-year institutions comprising The Alabama Community College System, Calhoun is an open-admission, community-based, state-supported, coeducational, comprehensive community college dedicated to providing affordable, high-quality and accessible education to individuals in its four-county service area. Offering more than 100 associate degree and career/certificate programs, Calhoun serves approximately 10,000 students at its 110-acre Decatur campus; its Huntsville/Cummings Research Park site; and Alabama Center for the Arts in downtown Decatur. The college’s faculty and staff are well qualified and remain current in their areas of expertise. Over 80 percent of the full-time faculty possess at least a master’s degree, and approximately 15 percent hold the doctorate. For over 75 years, Calhoun has been an active member of North Alabama. Graduates of the college permeate the community, and many of them have gone on to complete baccalaureate degrees at other institutions in the area, or have entered the work force after successfully completing programs of study and training.

About NC3 
NC3 was established to help build a workforce prepared to meet the needs of today’s and tomorrow’s industries by connecting employers and educational institutions in synergistic partnerships that foster effective training, elevation of skilled careers, and employment opportunities. Learn more at www.nc3.net.

About Trane 
Trane – by Trane Technologies (NYSE: TT), a global climate innovator – creates comfortable, energy efficient indoor environments for commercial and residential applications. For more information, please visit www.trane.com or www.tranetechnologies.com.

About Trane Technologies 
Trane Technologies is a global climate innovator. Through our strategic brands Trane® and Thermo King®, and our portfolio of environmentally responsible products and services, we bring efficient and sustainable climate solutions to buildings, homes and transportation. Visit tranetechnologies.com.

ST. PAUL, Minn., August 30, 2023 /3BL/ – The Minnesota Occupational Safety and Health Administration formally honored Cintas Corporation’s (Nasdaq: CTAS) Rental Division Location in St. Paul, MN, as a Minnesota Star certified location during Monday’s ceremony at the location.

The Minnesota Star program was created by Minnesota OSHA to recognize stand-out worksites that have comprehensive, successful safety and health management systems. Companies that have earned a Minnesota Star designation have achieved injury and illness rates at or below the national average of their respective industries and have established strong workplace hazard control programs. 

>> Media Use Assets (available on Dropbox) https://cint.as/47ORb37

During the presentation, Erik Kielley, Northern Plains Group Vice President, accepted the honor on his team’s behalf.

“Achieving the VPP Star Status is an exciting achievement for the Cintas St. Paul, MN operation,” Kielley said. “Their tireless efforts and commitment to safety excellence have created this important moment.  The amazing team of professionals found at this operation truly realizes there is nothing more important than the health and safety of each partner.  I am humbled by their example and truly grateful to be working for a company that always puts partner safety first.”

MNOSHA established Minnesota Star to promote effective and cooperative worksite safety and health in both private industry and government worksites.

Achieving MN Star certification is rigorous. Businesses must demonstrate that management and employees work cooperatively – and proactively – to prevent workplace accidents by implementing a comprehensive safety and health management system and maintaining injury and illness rates below national Bureau of Labor Statistics averages for their respective industries. 

This program is MNOSHA’s official recognition of the outstanding efforts of employers and employees who have achieved exemplary occupational safety and health. To remain in the program, participants must be re-evaluated every three to five years. 

Cintas’ commitment to OSHA’s VPP Star program has set a new standard for U.S. companies. As of August 2023, 127 Cintas facilities in the United States are VPP Star certified, a total that far outpaces every other American company.

“The most important requirement for earning this distinction is that the location management team and the front-line partners must work together toward the common goal of eliminating workplace injuries and illnesses,” said Stephen Jenkins, Cintas Director of Health & Safety, whose department oversees the company’s VPP certification process. “Without this critical element, a company will not qualify for this recognition. We’re incredibly proud of our employee-partners’ dedication to working collaboratively to maintain safe and healthy worksites throughout our company.”

About Cintas Corporation
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, towels, restroom supplies, workplace water services, first aid and safety products, eye-wash stations, safety training, fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems and alarm service, 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

HOUSTON, August 30, 2023 /3BL/ – Green Mountain Energy customers prioritized protecting the environment in 2022 by choosing renewable energy and carbon offset products to prevent more than 8.7 billion pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) from entering the atmosphere.

To illustrate the impact, that’s the equivalent of planting 1 million trees, taking 1.1 million cars off the road, or 25 million households turning their lights off for a year. Since 1997, Green Mountain Energy customers have collectively avoided 107 billion pounds of carbon dioxide, the equivalent of planting more than 12.8 million trees.

“Green Mountain Energy customers use the power of customer choice to change the way power is made and reduce their carbon footprint,” said Mark Parsons, vice president and general manager of Green Mountain Energy. “We are confident our customers will continue to light the path to a brighter future as they seek to live sustainably across all parts of their lives.”

Green Mountain Energy also advances sustainability through its charitable program, Sun Club®. Sun Club collaborates with nonprofit organizations on projects that focus on renewable energy, energy efficiency, resource conservation, and environmental stewardship.

Since its founding in 2002, Sun Club has donated more than $13 million to 156 nonprofit organizations across Texas and the Northeast. In 2022 alone, Sun Club donated $1.4 million to fund 13 projects. These projects are estimated to have generated 21 million kWh of solar electricity; avoided more than 4 million pounds carbon dioxide; captured 15 million gallons of rainwater; and grew 264,000 pounds of produce. To learn more about supporting Green Mountain Energy and Sun Club or to apply for a Sun Club grant, visit greenmountain.com/sunclub.

Green Mountain offers a variety of options for customers to harness the power of the sun to sustainably meet their energy needs. For example, the Renewable Rewards Solar Credit plan allows residents to get the most out of their solar panel system. Excess electricity generated by the panels flows into the grid, and in exchange, customers receive a Green Mountain Energy bill credit for 100% of the excess energy produced by the solar system.

Customers who sign up for the Solar All Nighter for EVs Plus plan can fuel their electric vehicles with 100% renewable energy, powering their electric vehicles at home during low-cost hours of the day to reduce their carbon footprint using emissions-free electricity.

Green Mountain Energy has helped communities light up with hope for a greener future since 1997. This commitment to clean energy is reflected in our new brand campaign “Light the Future.” Watch the campaign video here, and meet the new firefly brand ambassador Lucy as she will continue to glow across the company’s website, social media channels, and more.

To learn more about how to take the next step toward sustainability with renewable energy plans, visit greenmountainenergy.com.

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About Green Mountain Energy Company

Green Mountain Energy is the nation’s longest serving renewable energy retailer, on a mission to change the way power is made since 1997. Green Mountain offers consumers and businesses the choice of cleaner electricity products from renewable sources, as well as a variety of carbon offset products and sustainable solutions for businesses. Collectively, Green Mountain customers have helped avoid more than 107 billion pounds of carbon dioxide emissions to date. Green Mountain is lighting the path to a brighter future by supporting the sustainable projects of nonprofits through our charitable program, Green Mountain Energy Sun Club. To learn more about Green Mountain, visit greenmountainenergy.com.

Media Contact:

Estefanía Joy
713-537-5735
media@greenmountain.com
Twitter: @GreenMtnEnergy

Fifth Third Bank, in collaboration with The Urban League’s Financial Empowerment Center, is proud to present the next discussion in its Wealth Building Wednesdays (WBW) series, “Generational Wealth in Action!” today, August 30, 2023, during Black Philanthropy Month. Wealth Building Wednesdays is designed to bring financial literacy tools to the public and is being held at the new Holloman Center for Social Justice in Avondale, Ohio. 

This powerful conversation on generational wealth journeys will be moderated by Marya Rutherford Long, vice president and community impact manager at Fifth Third, and will feature Association of Fundraising Professionals’ 2023 Philanthropist of the Year Gail Holloman, her daughter Jamia Gamble, who leads the 7 Principles Foundation as President & CEO, and Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio Board of Trustees Chair Barbara Turner. Panelists will share their stories of building generational wealth, answer questions, and offer practical guidance on achieving financial goals. 

This event is free and open to the public, but you must register at https://tinyurl.com/ulgsowbw. 

Doors open at 4:45 p.m. Lite bites and refreshments will be available.

About Fifth Third

Fifth Third is a bank that’s as long on innovation as it is on history. Since 1858, we’ve been helping individuals, families, businesses and communities grow through smart financial services that improve lives. Our list of firsts is extensive, and it’s one that continues to expand as we explore the intersection of tech-driven innovation, dedicated people and focused community impact. Fifth Third is one of the few U.S.-based banks to have been named among Ethisphere’s World’s Most Ethical Companies® for several years. With a commitment to taking care of our customers, employees, communities and shareholders, our goal is not only to be the nation’s highest performing regional bank, but to be the bank people most value and trust.

Fifth Third Bank, National Association is a federally chartered institution. Fifth Third Bancorp is the indirect parent company of Fifth Third Bank, and its common stock is traded on the NASDAQ® Global Select Market under the symbol “FITB.” Investor information and press releases can be viewed at  www.53.com.

Originally published on NRG Energy Insights

By Lynda Clemmons

From our operations to our customers, sustainability is at the core of NRG Business. We have worked together, across functionalities, to develop a comprehensive sustainability framework, placing equal importance on decarbonizing our business and helping our customers — big and small — bridge the gap between traditional and renewable.

As Vice President of Sustainable Products and Innovation, I lead a team whose work is helping customers meet their goals and reduce their environmental impact. Expert, adaptable, and innovative, together we are leading the transition to a more sustainable future. I am proud to introduce the members of my team who seem to make anything possible.

Get to know me 

Personally, I got my start right out of school as an analyst at an investment bank. My willingness and ability to learn new things helped me land my first role and has continued to be a core competency I have relied on throughout my career. Following this position, I had the opportunity to work at Enron for eight years and started a weather derivatives business, which works like an insurance policy against weather performance that could negatively impact business. I also started a sulfur dioxide + nitrogen oxides (SO2 + NOx) emissions trading desk, a market-based approach to controlling SO2 + NOx emissions. This kept me busy and stoked my passion for developing and implementing sustainable solutions.

In 2000, I left to co-found and serve as COO of XL Weather and Energy (a division of XL Capital Ltd.), a trading and insurance company based in Connecticut, before finally joining the team at NRG. Since 2012, I have led NRG’s sustainable products, renewables, innovation, and project management teams. I help run an incubator for growing businesses and early-stage opportunities within NRG Business, and my team is always working on new projects with the goal of enhancing our sustainability and renewables approach for customers.

Beyond the work, one of the reasons I have remained here for some time is the amazing team I get to work with every day. Together, we embody a culture that is collaborative and focused on education and sharing information. We try extremely hard to make sure that even the newest member of our team can understand, rather than using our own jargon. We also take the time to hear everyone’s perspective because oftentimes, it’s the newest teammate who brings the best idea to the table.

Work-life balance is something I have spent my life trying to perfect—especially as a mother of two daughters—and I encourage my team members to do the same. When I’m not in the office, I try to take time for myself by enjoying outdoor activities such as hiking, snowboarding, and gardening, and when it’s inevitably 100+ degrees in Houston, I’m probably inside on my Peloton or reading a good book.

My dream team 

Our Sustainable Products and Innovation team is made up of four branches which come together to provide our customers with premier and innovative approaches to sustainability. Each group, within the larger team, is focused on their field of expertise, and when brought together they create a formative and multi-faceted foundation for sustainability at NRG Business.

Let me introduce you to each of the branches of our tree and highlight what they do.

Our Sustainability Advisory group, led by Greg Kandankulam, Director of Sustainability Advisory, educates customers on how to reach their sustainability goals by providing insight into their carbon footprint, helping them to decide the appropriate way for their company to buy/access renewable energy as well as the tools available for benchmarking and reporting. This team helps customers establish a solid strategy and make it easier to navigate the evolving clean energy landscape and improve business performance.Our Renewable Brokerage team, led by Miro Sutton, Head of Renewable Advisory, focuses on assisting Fortune 500 companies with virtual power purchase agreements, community solar portfolio origination and management, transferable tax credit financing solutions, distributed generation solutions, and long-term renewable energy credit purchases. This team supports our customers with the industry’s top talent and most innovative solutions. With over 2GW in recent transactions, the team continues to assist clients in an ongoing effort to maximize both ESG and financial benefits.Our Renewable Products team, led by Alan Cherkas, Senior Originator, focuses on Voluntary Market Carbon Offsets, Renewable Natural Gas (RNG), Producer Certified Natural Gas, Renewable Electricity (in Canadian Markets), and Hydrogen. Bernie Kinsella, Director of Origination – Environmental Products, heads up constructing and staffing our voluntary market carbon trading desk and supporting the Sales organization to market carbon offsets to NRG customers. This team is tasked with working with all necessary internal functions to commercialize the environmental products under development and to help train and support the Sales organization to educate our customers and prescribe the right products to meet their needs.Our New Product Innovation (Quantum) team, led by Lucas Spangler, Senior Manager of Commercialization and Schneider Otohwo, Manager of Product Strategy & Commercialization, is a cross-functional team working with Business Operations that focuses on bringing commercialized new products such as Renewable Energy Credits, Carbon Offsets, Renewable Natural Gas and Producer Certified Gas to market. They identify customer needs and market opportunities and collaborate with internal and external partners to design, develop, and launch innovative solutions that address sustainability challenges. This team also supports the scaling and adoption of these products across different regions and sectors, ensuring that they deliver value to our customers and stakeholders.

Our commitment to change

Our industry is at an inflection point and we have an opportunity to rethink what power can be. For NRG, customers are the driving factor pushing us forward with their sustainability goals. The ambition of our customers motivates the team to develop new and innovative sustainable solutions.

Paving a new path for the energy sector requires dedication to our customers, communities, and the environment we all share. I am proud of what my team’s work achieves and our shared commitment to propelling all of us toward a more sustainable future. I’ll let them share the reasons why they are passionate about the work we do.

“I am passionate about my work because I believe I am in a role at a company and industry in which I can truly make a difference. It is only through a clean, resilient, affordable grid that we will have the energy foundations that can support a more equitable future.” -Schneider Otohwo

“When I started my career, I found myself gravitating towards clean power – even before it was popular. To date, I have been part of nearly 6GW of projects, many of which would not have happened without my involvement. This gives me immense satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment in being able to make a positive impact in the world.” -Miro Sutton 

“As an originator, It’s extremely rewarding to be able to help our suppliers advance projects that benefit the environment, while helping our customers achieve their own environmental objectives. It’s not always easy, but important work and every success is a stepping stone along the path to a more sustainable future.” -Alan Cherkas

“I want to help create a more sustainable and empowering energy ecosystem for our customers. With NRG’s position in the industry, we have the opportunity to lead by example for a cleaner and affordable energy future.” -Greg Kandankulam

“Small changes have big impacts. The size and scope of our customers can create significant effects by introducing one program or product. These products directly impact the planet and people. To me, that is making a difference.” -Lucas Spangler

This blog was written by Andre Heller, Program Director of Signpost. Signpost, is an International Rescue Committee (IRC)-led consortium project that creates digital information hubs to equip and empower clients in times of crisis. 

This year’s World Humanitarian Day theme is “No Matter What” – a recognition that the humanitarian community strives to reach people in crisis with lifesaving assistance, regardless of the dangers or difficulties in making that happen. That tenacious spirit is both fitting and necessary this year. Since last August, long-standing humanitarian crises in places like Syria and Venezuela have not abated. At the same time, new crises have emerged or conditions have deteriorated to alarming extents in countries as far-flung as Afghanistan, Haiti, Niger and Sudan.

In the face of these mounting challenges, it is understandable to feel despair. But there are reasons to hope. People facing unimaginable difficulty constantly find new ways to persist, recover, and eventually thrive. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) sees their courage and resilience firsthand every day. And the humanitarian community that serves them, in partnership with donors and grassroots communities around the world, are developing new and more powerful ways to move humanity to a better place.

A powerful example of this is Signpost, an IRC-led consortium project that creates digital information hubs to equip and empower clients in times of crisis. Signpost platforms deliver critical information through local teams equipped with cutting-edge digital tools — providing communities with timely and actionable information. That information is vital for people to solve difficult and complex problems and make pivotal decisions on their course of action in times of crisis.

The correct information at the right time helps people understand big questions like: is it safe to flee the country? Am I eligible for a food program to support my family? Where can I find employment? Where to find the hospital that can help with a chronic illness? How do I enroll my children in a new school in a new city? Where can my family find shelter in a place that is safe from violence?

Signpost helps people approach these questions with up-to-date, accurate information. It is now active in 22 countries across five continents and plans to expand in the months and years ahead.

From the beginning, partnership has been a key element of Signpost’s power and success. Cisco’s support empowered the Signpost technology team to innovate and remove years of backlog. In just one year Signpost built the following technologies that helped exponentially grow the reach and impact of the program:

Service Map Rebuild

A low-code data management system for Service Mapping Officers across the globe to map service locations so our clients can better access the places they need. This tool can connect to chatbots, geospatial data, and manage real-time incoming information.

Universal Analytics Stack

A central hub where all Signpost data is securely stored to facilitate better targeting of humanitarian information and aid in humanitarian advocacy.

New Front End

A quick-deploy and centrally administered web-application deployed to over 10 countries. This template can function online and offline, and store critical information with a utilitarian approach.

In the past year of Cisco’s support, Signpost reached 32 million people, served 5.74 million users, with 131,830 unique two-way communications with clients, nearly doubling our impact numbers from all years (2015-2022) preceding. This support led to a 188% increase in reach, 187% increase in users, and 393% increase in two-way communications over last year’s annual count.

In recognition of Signpost’s success in connecting people in crisis with vital and vetted information, the United Nations recently awarded the project with a prestigious Sustainable Development Goal Action Award. There is no question that bold and innovative partnerships like Signpost have a huge role to play in helping the international community both reach the United Nations’ Sustainable Development goals and in helping the humanitarian community serve its clients more broadly.

To learn more about the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and its partnership with Cisco, as well as how you can support and donate, visit the Cisco Crisis Response page and IRC’s website.

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