Tag: 3BL

Originally published in the 2022 FedEx Cares Report

FedEx turned 50 on April 17, 2023. It’s hard to believe how much our company -and the world around us – has changed since we delivered our first packages in 1973. To celebrate, we are acknowledging and honoring the incredible people and organizations that have been integral to our journey. We pledged back in 2019 to help 50 million people around the world by our 50th birthday. We are proud to announce we have exceeded this goal – reaching over 50 million people in those four years alone – adding to the scale of impact we’ve had over the years.

For the last 50 years FedEx has transformed the world by connecting people and possibilities, and we want to celebrate this milestone anniversary by giving back. Exceeding our 50 by 50 goal of supporting 50 million people globally demonstrates the incredible dedication of FedEx team members and our steadfast commitment to deliver more than packages, but also hope, opportunity, and good in the world. 

Raj Subramaniam

FedEx President and Chief Executive Officer

Our FedEx Cares programs have supported over 900 nonprofit organizations worldwide. Each year, thousands of team members volunteer, donate, and go above and beyond to work alongside community leaders on the front lines of social change.

Announcing the FedEx Founder’s Fund 

As part of our 50th birthday celebration, FedEx Cares announced the FedEx Founder’s Fund, a new philanthropic investment to honor Frederick W. Smith and his legacy. FedEx is committing $2M to the fund, which will celebrate two values near and dear to Mr. Smith: service and entrepreneurship.

The $2M will benefit the following: 

Nonprofits from around the world selected by FedEx team members in recognition for their outstanding volunteer engagement.U.S. veteran entrepreneurs to help their businesses succeed.

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PALO ALTO, Calif., July 18, 2023 /3BL/ – VMware, Inc., (NYSE:VMW), a leading innovator in enterprise software, today released its 2023 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) report sharing progress made toward the company’s 2030 Agenda. The 2030 Agenda serves as a compass to guide business actions and commitments to drive outcomes of sustainability, equity and trust.

“Every product we engineer, every customer we support and every employee we empower brings us one step closer to a more sustainable, equitable and secure future,” said Nicola Acutt, Chief Sustainability Officer and VP of ESG at VMware. “Throughout our ESG journey, we have continually pushed ourselves to implement a smarter, systemwide approach while staying true to our core intent of serving the needs of our customers while growing our own resiliency. We remain laser-focused on achieving our 2030 commitments and continuing forward by prioritizing innovation and impact.”

The progress detailed in this report demonstrates VMware’s commitment to engineering a more sustainable multi-cloud that helps customers meet their environmental goals, support their diverse and distributed workforce, and operate a more secure, privacy-aware digital infrastructure.

Decarbonizing Digital Infrastructure Along the Path to Net Zero

VMware’s sustainability strategy is grounded in visibility, efficiency, and renewable energy. When executed together, VMware operationalizes its smart impact strategy while also empowering customers and partners to achieve their own environmental goals. VMware has made meaningful progress in the past year toward its sustainability goals, including:

Launched the Green Score feature in VMware Aria Operations Cloud, which provides recommendations for customers to further optimize energy and carbon in their cloud environments.Expanded the VMware Zero Carbon Committed initiative by adding 24 VMware Cloud Services Provider™ partners committed to renewable energy, reaching a total of more than 50 partners.Joined the European Green Digital Coalition to partner with other IT companies working to harness the emission-reducing potential of digital solutions.

Making Progress Toward an Equitable Future

VMware’s pursuit of equity revolves around creating a diverse and inclusive work environment that allows all employees to experience a sense of belonging and community. This includes supporting diverse suppliers and developing distributed work solutions that enable customers to provide increased flexibility and digital access for their own employees. VMware’s equity milestones in the past year include:

Prioritized investing a cumulative of more than $300 million since FY21 with diverse suppliers toward a $1.5 billion goal by 2030.Enabled 85 percent of VMware people to support nonprofits of their choice through the VMware Foundation, impacting more than 15,000 organizations in 98 countries.Empowered VMware people with more than 900,000 hours of training and development with an average of 25 hours per employee.

Building Trust within Tech

Earning stakeholder trust is crucial to forging the relationships needed to build a more sustainable, equitable and secure future. VMware strives to build this trust by responsibly managing data privacy, enhancing security to protect from cyberattacks and operating ethically on behalf of all stakeholders. Recognized as one of the most trustworthy software companies in America by Newsweek, VMware has made progress in the past year toward its goals, including:

Recognized as a cybersecurity innovator at the Cyber Defense Magazine InfoSec Awards, receiving honors for VMware Contexa, VMware NSX Distributed Firewall, VMware Carbon Black Container, VMware Carbon Black Cloud and VMware SASE.Developed and rolled out a bespoke release lifecycle management platform so that product releases adhere to specific data privacy and security reviews and requirements.Added company-wide DEI goals as a component of funding for all bonus-eligible employees.

VMware has a long history of leveraging data to drive progress on its commitments and has transparently reported its ESG performance since 2015. With 25 years of innovation informing this work, VMware’s commitment to ESG and investments in smart opportunities grows our resiliency, better meets the evolving needs of our customers and maximizes our impact.

About VMware

VMware software powers the world’s complex digital infrastructure. The company’s cloud, app modernization, networking, security, and digital workspace offerings help customers deliver any application on any cloud across any device. Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, VMware is committed to being a force for good, from its breakthrough technology innovations to its global impact. For more information, please visit https://www.vmware.com/company.html

Additional Information

VMware’s website is located at www.vmware.com, and its investor relations website is located at https://ir.vmware.com. VMware’s goal is to maintain the investor relations website as a portal through which investors can easily find or navigate to pertinent information about VMware, all of which is made available free of charge. The additional information includes materials that VMware files with the SEC; announcements of investor conferences and events at which its executives talk about VMware’s products, services and competitive strategies; webcasts of our quarterly earnings calls, investor conferences and events (archives of which are also available for a limited time); additional information on VMware’s financial metrics, including reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures; press releases on quarterly earnings, product and service announcements, legal developments and international news; corporate governance information; and other news, blogs and announcements that VMware may post from time to time that investors may find useful or interesting.

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CNH Industrial has launched its program ‘Sustainable Environment Solution’, aimed at preventing the burning of crop residues and promoting environmental conservation. The initiative is focused on leveraging crop stubble management techniques to find sustainable alternatives including ex-situ management, in turn raising awareness about the detrimental effects of crop residue burning.

With Indian Society for Agribusiness Professionals (ISAP) as the implementing agency, the company is targeting eight locations, starting with Chhattisgarh, over the course of this three-year initiative. It will be gradually extended to other locations based in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Bihar.

“At CNH Industrial we are firmly committed to sustainable agricultural practices and environmental conservation, and this initiative is the latest to drive positive sustainable change in the farming industry,” said Narinder Mittal, Country Manager and Managing Director of Agriculture Business (India and South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) at CNH Industrial. With this program, CNH Industrial will help in “creating a more environmentally friendly and healthier future for farming communities.”

The project will also train farmers and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) to productively utilize the bales produced in the process such as for cattle feed, compost manure, fuel, and packing materials. With economic incentives, such as carbon credits and the utilization of by-products, the program is beneficial for both the environment and agricultural communities.

For the eighth year in a row, Entergy’s Tribal Scholarship program has partnered with the American Indian College Fund, or AICF, to provide higher education for Native American students.

During a celebration at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Entergy Louisiana president and CEO, Phillip May, and Entergy vice president of corporate social responsibility, Patty Riddlebarger, presented a $30,000 check to the AICF and the United Houma Nation Chief for student scholarships. The contribution will be used to support 13 local students, 32 in total, helping them attain higher education, pursue enriching career opportunities and serve as leaders throughout their communities.

“Supporting the American Indian College Fund’s mission exemplifies Entergy’s ongoing commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion,” said May. “We are excited to make a positive impact throughout our Native communities in Louisiana, equipping young people with the resources necessary to cross barriers to higher education.”

Since 2015, Entergy’s shareholders have funded $235,000 in scholarships, which supported 113 scholars with 211 scholarships. American Indian students are the most educationally underrepresented population in America, receiving bachelor’s degrees at less than half the national average of approximately 37%. The AICF’s goal is to achieve a 60% graduation rate for all scholars by 2025.

“Over the last eight years, 113 American Indian students have been able to pursue their college degrees thanks to Entergy’s ongoing commitment,” said United Houma Nation Chief Lora Ann Chaisson. “This generous contribution significantly impacts our students, tribes and their communities and we’re excited to continue to make progress to change the face of higher education for Natives.”

Every year, the AICF helps more than 4,000 students start and stay in school, complete their degrees and launch careers. Since their inception in 1989, they have provided more than 153,000 scholarships and $283 million to support American Indian communities.

“We estimate that every tribal college student and graduate success impacts 35 other people. Our students serve as role models for their children, parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, neighbors and friends, said Cheryl Crazy Bull, president and CEO of the AICF. “As a result, every college student changes the literacy and education level not only of the individual themselves, but of entire communities throughout our country.”

Entergy’s vision, “We Power Life,” means much more than just keeping the lights on and power and gas safely flowing. It also means strategically investing in vital programs and initiatives that help ensure the communities we serve remain vibrant and growing. Entergy is committed to creating and sustaining healthy, educated, environmentally safe and productive communities through philanthropic support, volunteerism, low-income customer service initiatives, advocacy and economic development. For more on our community commitments, visit our corporate social responsibility webpage.

By Candace Higginbotham

A unique summer program for law students working at local Birmingham law firms hits several sweet spots for Tara Plimpton, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary at Regions, and her team.

Since her arrival at the bank in 2020, Plimpton has established a few key priorities that have become mantras in her organization: talent development; diversity, equity and inclusion; and collaboration within the local legal community.

In law school you learn the law, but you don’t necessarily learn how to be a lawyer. I think it’s important to expose these future lawyers to as many areas of law as possible, so they’ll have a better understanding of what career opportunities they have after graduation.

Tara Plimpton, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary at Regions

The Legal team recently hosted a group of seven law school students who are spending their summers as law clerks for Birmingham firms for a corporate law ‘mini term’. The students were paired with Regions Legal mentors for a crash course in life as an in-house lawyer.

“In law school you learn the law, but you don’t necessarily learn how to be a lawyer,” Plimpton said. “I think it’s important to expose these future lawyers to as many areas of law as possible, so they’ll have a better understanding of what career opportunities they have after graduation.”

Mission accomplished, according to Megan Wong, a student at the University of Alabama School of Law who is a summer clerk at Baker Donelson. “In-house is a really good option. I really didn’t understand this was a viable route you can take in your legal career,” she said.

During their time at Regions, she and the other students sat in on meetings that included many business and support groups across the bank. They enjoyed learning how different areas of the bank collaborate with Legal. “I had no idea how critical the Legal department is in a corporate environment,” said Alisha Clay, a clerk at Burr Forman who also attends the University of Alabama School of Law.

When it comes to recruiting, hiring and developing legal talent, a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, is paramount to the Regions Legal team. With Plimpton’s leadership, they are pursuing Mansfield Rule Legal Department certification, which is modeled after the Mansfield Rule for law firms, a well-known national movement to increase diversity in legal recruitment and promotion practices.

“It’s especially important in the legal profession that lawyers reflect our community,” said Andrew Nix, Chief Governance Officer at Regions and leader of the Legal department’s Culture & Equity team. “The Regions Legal team is committed to expanding opportunities for groups who have been underrepresented in the legal profession, including women, racial and ethnic minorities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and people with disabilities.”

I enjoyed having a woman mentor at Regions and learning about her career experience.

Naomi Migoya, a student at the University of Mississippi School of Law

The seven law clerks who did a stint at Regions are from historically underrepresented groups, which was meaningful for many of the students.

“I enjoyed having a woman mentor at Regions and learning about her career experience,” said Naomi Migoya, a student at the University of Mississippi School of Law serving as a clerk for Baker Donelson. “She was open and honest about the highlights and the challenges of being a woman in a historically male-dominated field and it was helpful to hear her perspective.”

Other participants noted how much they enjoyed similar conversations with their mentors, including tips on balancing career and motherhood.

Besides their mentors and Legal department leadership, the students enjoyed some face time with company executives, including Kate Danella, head of the Consumer Banking group at Regions, and Kimberly Robichaud, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion program manager.

Spending time with Head of Community Affairs Leroy Abrahams was a particular treat for these community-minded students.

“Learning about Regions’ commitment to the community was a highlight,” said Lizz Campbell, a student at Cumberland School of Law working at Maynard Nexsen this summer. “The intentionality of the programs the bank supports and the impact – that was really impressive to hear.”

Even though it’s only two weeks, this program makes such a positive impact.

Katie Loggins, Regions Legal Services manager

Tionna Tate, a University of Alabama School of Law student also clerking at Maynard Nexsen, agreed. “I enjoyed hearing about the work of the Regions Foundation, especially around their investment in education. I was also interested in Regions Bank’s participation in The Birmingham Promise. It really made an impression on me and made me realize the importance of pro bono work.”

Clearly the brief time at Regions was a positive experience for the students, but the Legal team also benefitted.

“Even though it’s only two weeks, this program makes such a positive impact,” said Katie Loggins, Regions Legal Services manager who works closely with the law firms to manage this program. “Our Legal team is made up of lawyers with such varied backgrounds and experiences. Most of us never thought when we were in law school that we’d end up working for a bank. But the work Legal does is interesting and really diverse – I love that we get to share that and introduce these future lawyers to what it’s like to practice law at a company like Regions.”

Loggins and the team plan to stay in touch with the students and make themselves available for additional career advice as they continue their education. The team will also be refining the program and begin preparing for next year’s participants.

Comcast is proud to be recognized on Fast Company’s 2023 ‘Best Workplaces for Innovators’ list for the second time, ranking #38 and moving up six spots from its inclusion in 2021. It is an honor to be named one of the top companies that demonstrate an inspiring commitment to encourage and develop innovation at all levels.

Developed in collaboration with Accenture, the 2023 Best Workplaces for Innovators ranks 100 winners from a variety of industries, including entertainment, biotech, consumer packaged goods, marketing, education, healthcare, and many more. Fast Company editors and Accenture researchers collaborated together to score nearly 1,000 submissions, and a panel of eight distinguished judges reviewed and endorsed the top 100 companies. The 2023 awards feature workplaces from around the world.

Entrepreneurial enthusiasm drives our company today, through our leadership and our employees, who strive to revolutionize, discover, and create innovative technology and entertainment in their jobs, in their communities, and for our customers. Through hardware like our Xfinity Large Button Voice Remote and initiatives like our startup programs, including LIFT Labs and SportsTech, and Lab Week, where teams ideate and collaborate to develop technical passion projects that are outside their normal work streams, our workforce is driven and inspired by our inclusive and innovative culture.

From advising on Canadian legislation to creating organization-wide environmental initiatives, I am appreciative for the experiences and opportunities Covia has encouraged me to pursue throughout my eight years with the company. Looking back, I am so grateful I was given the chance to make real, impactful change in the lives of Covia Team Members and in communities across the globe.

A Catalyst for Change

Back in the 90s, I was a self-proclaimed “tree hugger.” I wanted to change the world and build a sustainable future. If you told me back then that I would end up working for a company that mines, I would have called you crazy. I would never work for a company that would make me compromise on my beliefs. Thankfully, when I met the incredible Environmental Team at Covia, I found that I could work for a mining company that does right by the environment and cares about the communities in which it operates.

My journey to where I am today was slightly unconventional. My college experience started at the University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario, Canada, and after completing my Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Biology, I became a stay-at-home mother to two amazing boys. After nine years, I decided to go back to college to gain some new skills and completed my Ecosystem Technologists diploma at Fleming College in Lindsay, Ontario. This experience was transformative, it gave me the opportunity to meet and communicate with a wide array of unique people – one of which I am now married to all these years later.

After graduation, I landed at a consulting firm that developed rules and regulations around for the protection of drinking water for the Great Lakes. It was at this firm that my passion for environmental protection developed. During that time, I was able to further hone the skills that I later brought to my position at Covia.

I made the transition to Covia in 2015 as an Environmental Specialist. Throughout the last eight years, I have been promoted to Senior Environmental Specialist and have had the privilege to be the Corporate Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) Coordinator. My current role includes permitting and compliance for 10 Covia plants, located in the southern United States and the Province of Ontario in Canada. During my time at Covia, I have been able to develop great relationships with state regulators and plant managers – helping plants go beyond the basic level of compliance.

By developing positive relationships with environmental regulators, my team and I try to stay ahead of any upcoming policy changes that might impact Covia’s plants. For instance, the Tri-Colored Bat is planned to be listed as a protected species by the U.S. Government later this year. By working closely with regulators and plant managers, we can proactively ensure our plants are meeting updated regulations and stay in compliance by staying in constant communication with regulators.

Since day one, I have continued to grow and thrive at Covia – gaining my footing and confidence to speak on topics with authority. This growth has helped me become an even stronger advocate, guiding Covia to enact progressive environmental policies throughout the organization. I value the relationships that I have built and the role that I play to help our plants go above and beyond regulatory minimums. Together, we make a real difference in the communities in which we operate.

Wildlife Habitat Certification (WHC)

My role as Covia’s Corporate Wildlife Habitat Council Coordinator gives me the unique opportunity to work with various plants to create well-rounded conservation certification programs. These programs meet the Wildlife Habitat Council’s criteria for broad-based biodiversity enhancements and conservation education. One of my favorite programs is the Turtle Conservation program at our NSO plant in Canada. This program and several others have received praise and recognition from WHC for their impact on the preservation and improvement of biodiversity at our sites.

Looking ahead, I am excited for the opportunity to increase the number of Covia sites that are WHC certified. By 2030, Covia’s goal is to have 50% of our mining and processing sites achieving and maintaining WHC certification. I’m excited to help more sites build programs and initiatives that support biodiversity.

World Environment Day

The other project that I’m proud of is the creation of World Environment Day at Covia. The first year we participated in World Environment Day, there was opportunity for the Environmental Team to create a more informative and impactful program. Covia listened to my feedback and guidance to improve the event into what it is today. I like to think that you don’t have to be in the environmental department to love World Environment Day. Four years into this project, and I can confidently say that my sentiment rings true.

World Environment Day has turned into an organization-wide celebration that’s hosted by the Environmental Team. Each year, in alignment with the United Nations’ yearly theme, the Environmental Team hosts a virtual event that features environmental and ESG updates as well as guest appearances from well-known environmental advocates. We’ve had speakers such as Steve Adair, Ducks Unlimited’s Chief Scientist, and Wildlife Habitat Council’s President, Margaret O’Gorman.

Following the event, the environmental team invites Team Members to participate in a scavenger hunt that reinforces the WED topic. Last year, in conjunction with the UN’s theme – Only One Earth – the Biodiversity Scavenger Hunt encouraged Team Members to safely explore their neighborhoods to complete tasks such as litter clean up. This year, the Team visited the Houston Audubon Raptor Education Center to film the event that premiered on June 5.

Lifetime Learner and Advocate

One of the things I really appreciate about Covia is that they encourage us to pursue our interests outside of the office. I like to spend that free time learning new things, solving puzzles, advocating for environmental protections, and relaxing with my husband and our dog on our boat.

Currently, I am a sitting member of the Ontario Mining Association’s Environmental Committee. There, I help review and provide feedback on legislation that that may impact the mining industry. I think it’s critical that members of Covia are a part of the conversation on mining legislation and environmental protection. Not only do we have proper insight to give feedback, but it pushes us to be a leader in our industry when it comes to environmental conservation.

I am always trying to learn something new. Whether that stems from attending the Wildlife Habitat Council Conference every year or taking ongoing education courses – I love to learn. In my field, it’s important to stay up to date on regulations and best practices so that we can pivot quickly and effectively when the need arises.

ESG: More Than a Talking Point

I’m looking forward to what comes next for Covia and its ESG goals. The ESG conversation has been advancing rapidly over the last few years and I cannot wait to see our goals come to fruition. From reclamation and water conservation to species management, there are a ton of initiatives right now that are making a real difference. The data so far has been phenomenal, and I can’t wait to be a part of what comes next.

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) cause approximately 41 million deaths each year globally and encompass a range of conditions including hypertension, diabetes, cancer, mental health conditions and cardiovascular disease. Viatris’ broad portfolio helps address these areas and, via our commercial footprint and partnerships, we seek to leverage our portfolio to bring access to medicines and supporting services to patients and healthcare systems across the world.

In 2022, examples of the work by Viatris colleagues in countries around the world to introduce treatments for expanded access included the following:

In Poland, we introduced an educational application on dyslipidemia, the Riskmeter. The tool is built to educate, train and improve the competency of HCPs on proper cardiovascular risk assessment. The application is dedicated to HCPs and calculates cardiovascular risk based on indicated sample parameters and considers therapeutical goals indicated in the guidelines.We registered Dymista nasal spray, the first fixed-dose combination of azelastine hydrochloride + fluticasone propionate, in the Philippines. There is a high 20% prevalence rate of allergic rhinitis (AR) among Filipinos and despite the availability of antihistamines and nasal corticosteroid sprays, there is still a gap in the treatment options for patients. Biosimilar bevacizumab1 was also registered and launched in the Philippines to address the unmet needs of colon cancer patients for more affordable treatment options. Colon cancer is the third most common cancer type in the country.In the U.S., we launched several important generic medicines, including generic lenalidomide, a medicine used for the treatment of certain cancers affecting blood cells, and cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion as a first generic version of Restasis®, indicated for dry eye disease. We also received final approval of Breyna (budesonide/formoterol), the first U.S. FDA-approved generic version of Symbicort, a milestone both for our company and the many patients living with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).In Romania, we responded to the Ministry of Health’s call to increase access to lifesaving molecules by launching UGUROL (tranexamic acid), for prevention and treatment of hemorrhages caused by systemic or local fibrinolysis.Yupelri (revefenacin), a once-daily nebulized treatment, was launched in the United Arab Emirates to support COPD patients.In Norway, Dymista was approved as an over-the-counter product to enable greater access to a self-care option for patients managing their allergic rhinitis.In China, Viatris launched a digital solution, YUEYA, to help hypertension patients control their blood pressure and also support HCPs with managing patient care. The solution includes blood pressure monitoring and detection, medication reminders, patient education and lifestyle instructions.In Greece, we launched generic fingolimod for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) in adults.Biosimilar adalimumab1 was launched in Israel to support patients with rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis.In New Zealand, a supply tender arrangement of Viatris with PHARMAC resulted in the availability of two cardiovascular disease treatments: ramipril was listed in New Zealand for the first time and is available as a fully funded product; and rosuvastatin was fully funded for eligible patients for the first time.

To address the global burden of NCDs, we work with stakeholders to create beyond-the-pill solutions that are patient-centric and include awareness, prevention, early detection and treatment. This comprehensive approach is critical to saving lives and alleviating needless suffering.”

— Abhijit Barve Chief Medical Officer, Viatris

View the full 2022 Sustainability Report here.

1Part of the transaction of assets to Biocon

Originally published on Built From Scratch

15 years ago, The Home Depot embarked on a mission to build a best-in-class merchandising service team. MET, which stands for Merchandising Execution Team, was created as an alternative to using third party vendor service groups to keep our stores looking great for customers. Ann-Marie Campbell, who was the vice president of Instore Service at the time, said, “A Home Depot associate is going to have the ownership that a third party is not going to have. You can’t beat that!”

MET’s mission was – and still is – to make things simple for both customers and associates by improving the shopping environment.

“l often call MET the ‘secret sauce’ of The Home Depot, because it is an agile, sales-driving organization made up of individuals who are passionate about the customer shopping experience and committed to The Home Depot Family.”

– Heidi Thompson, Vice President of Merchandising Execution

Wearing orange polo shirts instead of aprons, the first MET associates traveled in teams around their districts, focused on packing down products and taking care of customers. There were approximately 2,000 MET associates that first year, and they set the springboard for success for the MET program. Today, there are more than 25,000 MET associates supporting the stores and creating a better customer experience.

“I often call MET the ‘secret sauce’ of The Home Depot,” says Heidi Thompson, vice president of merchandising execution, “because it is an agile, sales-driving organization made up of individuals who are passionate about the customer shopping experience. It’s an incredible honor to lead this dedicated team into its next 15 years of service. Go MET!”

District Execution Manager Bryan Ramos has been part of MET since its inception. “I am lucky to support close to 200 of the most passionate associates,” he says. As a witness to MET’s growth through the years, he sees the biggest change as “how many of our great supervisors and MEAs (merchandising execution associates) are viewed as candidates for future leadership roles. Because of their bandwidth and capacity, our associates are recognized as candidates for many positions cross-functionally.”

The key to MET’s success is associates’ vast knowledge of stores and merchandise. To best support the ever-changing needs of customers, products should be easy to find. That’s where MET comes in, to standardize the selling floor and remove friction from the shopping experience.

Keep up with all the latest Home Depot news! Subscribe to our bi-weekly news update and get the top Built from Scratch stories delivered straight to your inbox.

By Applied Blog

Today marks a major milestone in Applied Materials history. At SEMICON West 2023, we introduced Vistara™, a wafer manufacturing platform designed to provide chipmakers with the flexibility, intelligence and sustainability needed to tackle growing chipmaking challenges.

This is not your run-of-the-mill equipment launch. Vistara is Applied’s most significant new platform in more than a decade – a purpose-built system that has been expertly designed over the past four years by hundreds of engineers from across Applied’s hardware, software, process technology and ecoefficiency teams.

When we introduce a new platform, it is designed to be a be a trusted solution for many years of customer innovation, reliability and productivity. We ship thousands of new systems to customers each year, and most have been based on just four major platforms that were introduced and refined over the past three decades. To learn more about the history and longevity of Applied’s equipment platforms, read this blog from Applied Fellow Mike Rice.

The new Vistara platform is architected based on three pillars: flexibility, intelligence and sustainability. The above animation video highlights the capabilities and components behind each of these pillars.

The Vistara platform was launched this morning during Applied’s SEMICON West Technology Breakfast event. More information about the event, including presentations, press releases and other materials, can be found on the Investor Relations Events page of our website.