Tag: 3BL

SAN JOSE, Calif., June 1, 2023 /3BL Media/ – With growing concerns about the business impacts of biodiversity loss and the climate crisis, GreenBiz Group is launching Bloom 23, a conference focused on company strategies to protect and regenerate nature, to be co-located with VERGE 23, the largest climate tech event in North America.

Over the course of two interactive days, Bloom 23 will help catalyze a community of companies, innovators and experts from leading organizations and Indigenous groups. Participants will explore the markets, technologies and partnerships key to addressing the climate and biodiversity crises hand-in-hand.

“Corporations are waking up to the reality that biodiversity impacts their operations’ bottom lines, including their ability to deliver on climate commitments,” said Theresa Lieb, Senior Director of Nature and Food Systems at GreenBiz. “Bloom aims to build and nurture a new community focused on accelerating solutions to both.”

VERGE 23 is the center of gravity for the climate tech community — leaders from business, government, finance and startups — working together to address the climate crisis across the six key programs that comprise the event: Buildings, Carbon, Energy, Food, Startups and Transport. The annual event attracts thousands of participants and convenes some of the biggest actors leveraging the power of technology to confront the climate crisis and ensure a just transition to a clean economy.

“The co-location of Bloom 23 with VERGE 23 acknowledges the inextricable interconnection between climate and biodiversity,” said Shana Rappaport, Senior Vice President of Climate Tech and Executive Director of VERGE. “While the climate crisis has been front and center for much of today’s business world, companies are recognizing that we can’t solve the climate crisis without also solving for biodiversity loss. We are thrilled to expand our scope and reach by co-locating Bloom and VERGE.”

The co-location of the two events underscores that flourishing ecosystems are critical to both mitigating and adapting to growing climate impacts. Moreover, companies are recognizing the importance of global biodiversity to the overall health and resilience of their operations and supply chains.

Among the topics to be covered at Bloom 23:

Creating a “nature-positive” business strategyEngaging Indigenous and local groups, suppliers and other partnersUnderstanding the fast-changing biodiversity policy landscapeEmerging tools, technologies and other resourcesCase studies from leadership companies

“We are in a race against time, and the private sector has a critical role now to turn risk into opportunity at speed and scale. We need all innovators, disruptors and ecopreneurs on deck for nature and climate,” said Tim Christophersen, Vice President of Climate Action at Salesforce.

“As Indigenous Peoples, we think long term, and we try to do what we think is going to be best in the long term. Land, culture, and identity are interwoven, they are one and the same, resulting in 80% of the remaining global biodiversity being on Indigenous Peoples’ lands and waters. I look forward to participating in Bloom to help other stakeholders understand how to respect Indigenous Peoples’ jurisdictions and invest in their knowledge,” said Steven Nitah, former Chief of the ŁuTsël K’e Dene First Nation.

Bloom 23 is launching with the support of more than two dozen allied organizations, including the Biomimicry Institute, Business for Nature, Capitals Coalition, MRV Collective, Nature for Justice, Science Based Targets Network, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), Wildlife Habitat Council and WWF.

“There’s a powerful, pivotal movement taking shape: companies acknowledging, measuring and addressing the value that nature brings to their operations and supply chains,” said William Sisson, Executive Director of WBCSD North America. “WBCSD is proud to partner with Bloom as we work alongside our members who will play critical roles in accelerating this important movement.”

Professionals interested in learning more can visit the Bloom 23 and VERGE 23 websites. Select media are invited to attend for free. To apply, contact Sam Dow, samantha@greenbiz.com.

Category-exclusive sponsorship and brand integrations for Bloom 23 and VERGE 23 are still available. For more information, contact Natalie Rasmus, natalie@greenbiz.com.

ABOUT GREENBIZ

GreenBiz Group empowers professional communities to confront the climate crisis. We do this through media, events and peer networks that help professionals understand the emerging technologies, business practices, policies and societal expectations that companies, cities and others need to know to succeed. www.greenbiz.com

The corporate giving program at Quest captures the passion and commitment of our employees, leadership, and business partners to make lasting, meaningful contributions in the communities where we live and operate.

We believe that a strategic and targeted approach to giving enables us to focus our resources to support identified needs in the most effective and impactful way.

Donated or discounted testing

Community engagement We are committed to providing clinical laboratory services regardless of patients’ ability to pay. Through our various patient assistance programs and Quest for Health Equity (Q4HE), we tailor solutions based on individual circumstances and may adjust some or all laboratory charges.

In 2021, we provided ~800K donated or discounted test requisitions, at a cost of approximately $13M

Matching gifts and volunteering

The Quest Diagnostics matching gifts and volunteering programs are designed to support organizations with a primary focus on healthcare, health disparities, and social determinants of health; accredited educational institutions; and organizations that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our program matches $1 for every $1 contributed by Quest employees to eligible organizations, up to $2,500 per employee per year.

Contributed $475K in matching funds to 600+ nonprofits Volunteered more than 27K hours

Employee Relief Fund

At Quest Diagnostics, we take pride in our ability to support our employees during unforeseen circumstances. The Quest Diagnostics Employee Relief Fund serves as an opportunity for employees to support one another during f inancial hardships that result from federally declared emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and other natural disasters. Quest matches $1 for every $1 contributed to the Fund by Quest employees.

More than 300 grants were approved in 2021, representing $268K in support for employees

Community engagement

Through local, national, and international partnerships, Quest offers employees several ways to participate in community engagement throughout the year. Some of the programs through which we give back include:

Season of Giving campaign: In 2020, Quest introduced the Season of Giving campaign, which offered employees a double-match opportunity for donations made as part of the Giving Tuesday global movement. In 2021, the campaign expanded to feature nearly 30 volunteer opportunities through various nonprofit partnerships across each region. This campaign offered employees flexibility to give back in a way that is meaningful to them, from food, clothing, and toy drives to cash donations to nonprofits aligned with Quest’s strategic giving.

Supporting COVID-19 relief efforts in India: To support colleagues, their families, and the broader community in India during the COVID-19 surge, Quest partnered with Vibha, a US-based nonprofit organization with the mission to ensure that underprivileged children attain their right to health, education, and opportunity. Vibha established Ray of Light, an initiative focused on COVID-19 relief efforts in India to set up modular bed hospitals, procure oxygen concentrators, personal protective equipment (PPE), and establish vaccine clinics. Through Quest employee donations and corporate matching funds, more than $30,000 was donated to these relief efforts.

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Last week our team in Guernsey participated in the Alternative Transport Week 2023 initiative and the results are in…

They successfully reduced 111 fossil-fueled vehicle return commutes during the week along with a total 215 alternative journeys made – across bus, bike and other transport modes.

Based on survey results, on average each day, 30% of our Guernsey employees travelled using sustainable methods which is a marked increase versus 2022.

At Northern Trust, we are proud to say you can make your mark – at work and in the community.

So how are you getting to the office next week?

Discover more about our People and our Culture here

HOUSTON, June 1, 2023 /3BL Media/ – LyondellBasell (NYSE: LYB) today announced it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Technip Energies and Chevron Phillips Chemical to potentially design, construct and operate a demonstration unit using Technip Energies’ electric steam cracking furnace technology (eFurnace by T.EN™). A joint development agreement is expected to be signed later this year.

This new eFurnace technology could enable the company to use renewable electricity as a heat source for the olefins cracking process in the future, significantly reducing the greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint of its olefins production process, and helping the company meet its ambitious climate targets.

“We are taking decisive steps to reduce our absolute scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions, while creating solutions for everyday sustainable living,” said Peter Vanacker, CEO of LyondellBasell. “Deployment of an industrial-scale electric cracking furnace is one option we are considering in this space because of its ability to reduce furnace GHG emissions by up to 90% compared to a conventional furnace.”

Construction of the demonstration unit, which would be the first for LyondellBasell, is an essential step in the development of eFurnace technology and a critical pre-condition for potential future construction of a full-scale unit. It will enable the company to test the technology and confirm continuous olefin production is possible using electricity as a heat source.

“We are delighted to team up with LyondellBasell and CPChem to bring the eFurnace by T.EN™ to fruition,” said Arnaud Pieton, CEO of Technip Energies. “Consistent with our purpose to engineer a much-needed sustainable future, Technip Energies is making huge strides toward reducing the CO2 emissions resulting from the production of ethylene and this design will enable olefins producers to take advantage of the growing supply of available renewable energy to operate the most energy-intensive part of the plant.”

The LyondellBasell Channelview site offers an optimal environment for the demonstration unit due to its operational excellence, feedstock flexibility and electric grid infrastructure, proximity to the other MOU parties and access to expertise at the company’s Houston Technology Center. The three parties plan to assemble a joint development team to support implementation of the project.

“Climate change is a global issue that will take action from all segments of society, and we want to be part of the solution by reducing the intensity of our carbon footprint,” said Bruce Chinn, President and CEO of Chevron Phillips Chemical. “This project supports our efforts toward lowering the carbon intensity of our operations and demonstrates our continued focus on accelerating change for a sustainable future.“

LyondellBasell is committed to reaching net zero scope 1 and scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 and has set ambitious interim targets to reduce scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 42%, and scope 3 GHG emissions 30% by 2030, relative to a 2020 baseline. To reach these targets, the company is deploying emissions reduction initiatives at its sites. The company has also announced plans to develop an integrated hub in Houston to support the growth of its circular and low carbon solutions business, which will leverage existing capabilities at its sites in Houston, such as Channelview.

About LyondellBasell

We are LyondellBasell – a leader in the global chemical industry creating solutions for everyday sustainable living. Through advanced technology and focused investments, we are enabling a circular and low carbon economy. Across all we do, we aim to unlock value for our customers, investors and society. As one of the world’s largest producers of polymers and a leader in polyolefin technologies, we develop, manufacture and market high-quality and innovative products for applications ranging from sustainable transportation and food safety to clean water and quality healthcare. For more information, please visit www.lyondellbasell.com or follow @LyondellBasell on LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statement for LyondellBasell

The statements in this release relating to matters that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions of management which are believed to be reasonable at the time made and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from the projections, anticipated results, or other expectations expressed in this release, including, but not limited to, our ability to complete the transaction described or the timing of such transaction; the successful construction and operation of the facilities described in this release; our ability to obtain all necessary regulatory approvals; our ability to meet our sustainability goals, including our ability to reduce our emissions and achieve net zero emissions by the time set in our goals; and general economic conditions in geographic regions or markets served by LyondellBasell and its affiliates, or where operations of the company and its affiliates are located. While these statements and projections are made in good faith, LyondellBasell and its management cannot guarantee that anticipated future results will be achieved. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the “Risk Factors” section of our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, which can be found at www.lyondellbasell.com on the Investor Relations page. LyondellBasell assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein or any other forward-looking statements made, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

MEMPHIS, Tenn., June 1, 2023 /3BL Media/ — FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) partnered with legendary photographer Annie Leibovitz on an iconic storytelling series to celebrate the company’s 50th birthday on April 17. Named Driving Passions, this collection incorporates the power and possibilities of FedEx by showcasing three small businesses that represent the startups, innovators, and legends in the making—individuals and teams intrinsically connected by the innovative FedEx spirit bridging now and the next 50 years. The collection will be available on FedEx.com and on display at the Memphis International Airport.

“This campaign is an opportunity to celebrate our customers—the entrepreneurs and visionaries of tomorrow,” explained FedEx Chief Customer Officer, Brie Carere. “These three FedEx small business customers were chosen to be photographed to serve as a direct reflection of the modern FedEx brand— inclusive, innovative, and intelligent.”

Driving Passions portrait series tells the story of how the visionary founder of FedEx, Frederick W. Smith, brings the support and dream of entrepreneurship to small businesses full circle.

Unlimited Tomorrow was founded by Easton LaChappelle, a millennial inventor who wanted to create affordable prosthetic limbs using 3D printing technology. With his team of engineers, LaChappelle is changing lives by providing customizable prosthetics that are both personalized and functional.Terra Beauty Bars is co-founded by three Brazilian-American sisters, one a U.S. Army Veteran, and their mother. The women cultivated their combined skills and heritage as building blocks for a small business success story. Terra provides award-winning products that are good for you, sustainably made, cruelty-free, plant-based, and always crafted with a dash of family love.Ginjan Bros. is a beverage company founded by two brothers who wanted to share the taste of their African heritage with the world. Their signature drink, ginjan, is made from a blend of ginger, pineapple, and hibiscus, and enjoyed by people of all ages.

“Every day, these entrepreneurs break barriers and change lives with their innovative ideas, commitment to their customers, and products,” added Carere. “These photographs capture their essence in a way that is both authentic and inspiring.”
Lifting up customers has been the company’s top priority over the past 50 years, and it will continue to remain front and center as FedEx moves into the next 50.

EDMONTON, Alberta, June 1, 2023 /3BL Media/ — The Saskatchewan Power Corporation (SaskPower) has selected Graham Black & Veatch, a joint venture between Black & Veatch’s construction entity in Canada, OCI, and Graham Construction, to complete the additions of one simple cycle gas turbine to the Ermine Power Station, located near Kerrobert, and another to the Yellowhead Power Station, located near North Battleford. The project includes design, procurement, construction and commissioning of the facilities and related equipment and improvements.

As Saskatchewan continues to transition away from coal-fired power generation and introduce more wind and solar power to the grid, reliable and efficient generation will continue to play an integral role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. These additions to the existing power stations will supply reliable, cost-effective baseload power to the province.

“Black & Veatch’s expertise in technical studies, consulting and design-build projects paired with Graham’s experience working with SaskPower on plant construction services, offers a unique combination of talent that gives these communities a swift and effective new source of energy,” said Laszlo von Lazar, President of Energy and Process Industries for Black & Veatch.

Black & Veatch has delivered more than 1,000 projects in Canada, working across multiple sectors, including power, oil and gas, telecommunications, renewables, clean transportation, water and wastewater treatment and the environment.

Graham operates across Canada and the United States working on projects ranging from energy and power to water and environment. With more than nine decades of experience, Graham has 500-plus active projects across North America.

“Between Graham’s local knowledge and previous experience at these sites and Black & Veatch’s power resume and familiarity with EPC contracting, the joint venture between our companies will deliver reliable, resilient energy to SaskPower’s customers for many years to come,” said Cecil Dawe, Executive Vice President, Industrial for Graham.

Contact Black & Veatch for more information.

Editor’s Notes: 

SaskPower is supplying two 46MW General Electric gas turbines, complete with generators, synchronous-self-shifting clutch and static excitation, which will stabilize the energy profile to homes and businesses in the area. The new turbines will also provide backup generation to support the continued introduction of renewable energy sources. One facility is located at the existing Ermine Power Station and the second is located at the existing Yellowhead Power Station. Learn more about SaskPower here.

About Black & Veatch 
Black & Veatch is a 100-percent employee-owned global engineering, procurement, consulting and construction company with a more than 100-year track record of innovation in sustainable infrastructure. Since 1915, we have helped our clients improve the lives of people around the world by addressing the resilience and reliability of our most important infrastructure assets. Our revenues in 2022 were US$4.3 billion. Follow us on www.bv.com and on social media.

About Graham Construction

Graham is an employee-owned construction solutions partner with revenues exceeding $4 billion annually. With over nine decades of experience, Graham provides general contracting, design-build, integrated project delivery, construction management, public-private partnerships and development services in the buildings, industrial, infrastructure, water and project finance sectors. Graham has offices throughout North America and employs over 2,200 passionate professionals focused on delivering lasting value. Learn more about Graham at grahambuilds.com.

Media Contact Information:

MEGHAN LOCKNER | +1 201-977-1628 | locknerm@bv.com 
24-HOUR MEDIA CONTACT | Media@bv.com

 

Originally published by Ericsson.

The infrastructure might be largely invisible to consumers, but telcos know that behind the scenes, running a mobile network is hard work. It isn’t just about providing reliable connectivity, or ensuring customers can access the services they need, wherever they are. The other half of the equation is keeping costs under control, which is something we’ve all become more aware of over the last year with the spiralling cost of energy.

In fact, energy is more important than most of us may realize. In our Breaking the Energy Curve report, we estimated that the total energy bill for mobile operators worldwide in 2020 was $25bn. In 2022, the International Energy Agency estimated that energy prices were already 30% higher on average.

Clearly there is a difficult balance to strike. So how can telcos improve energy efficiency, while simultaneously building out the latest 5G technology?

While 5G networks are now up and running in many major cities, the industry has still not unlocked the real promise of 5G and the increased revenues that new premium services can provide. For example, new applications enabled by network slicing, including Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR) – and everything in between – will enable telcos to build a much deeper relationship with consumers and enterprise customers.

In the next two or three years, there’s going to be a big shift in the telco business model, from a pure mobile broadband business to providers of new products that take advantage of network slicing and 5G stand-alone core, with a huge first mover advantage to the telcos that get there first. So as concerning as energy prices might be, this really is the time for telcos to build for the future.

The energy challenge

Over the last few decades, there’s been an explosion of growth, with mobile data traffic increasing by an estimated 38% in the last year alone. Today, European customers use an average of 19GB data every month – a figure expected to rise to 46GB by 2028. The numbers are stark.

All of that extra data requires more hardware on the operator’s side, so telcos need to use more powerful radios that cover more spectrum bands, and they need an alternative to building more sites to increase the density of their networks and improve the quality of coverage. All of this means an increasing energy bill.

So what can operators do to avoid breaking the bank? The good news is that 5G has the solution. Until now, every move from 2G to 3G and 4G, has required a step change in energy consumption to power dedicated equipment for new technologies. Now, using the same equipment, we can transmit different frequencies with 5G proven to be around 30-40% more energy efficient. And by re-farming to 5G frequencies, we can reduce energy consumption while transmitting the same data volume. For this reason, promoting 5G capable devices is also strategic for the telcos.

5G hardware can serve more data with less energy, but this is just the beginning. It’s still early days for 5G and the technology is evolving fast. Last year, we saw the rollout of our first hardware components that can deliver spectrum on three bands, meaning that we are reducing the footprint of our sites and using less energy than if each of the three bands had their own hardware.

In high traffic scenarios, we have proven in a customer network that delivering 5G data with our Massive MIMO radios is 13 times more energy efficient than LTE FDD (Frequency Duplex division). In other words, we can transmit 13 times more data with the same energy consumption.

Work smarter, not harder

The trick then to reduce energy costs is to embrace the latest 5G technology and break the energy consumption curve.

The first step is to focus on hardware as old equipment is simply not as efficient. The latest equipment is capable of achieving ten times improved capacity and more than 30% energy savings. But there are further gains by focusing on 5G’s energy saving software too.

5G enables telcos to take a granular approach to network management. Switching off or reducing the power of transmitters depending on the traffic, can result in energy savings of up to 70% and even up to 97% with no traffic.

On the face of it, the idea of only powering radios when needed, is unconventional for operations teams. After all, in a highly competitive environment, all the telcos share the same objective to be ranked highest for performance. But there doesn’t have to be a trade-off, as long as decisions are made smartly.

To make the hardware and software work well together, it’s absolutely critical to have the right analytics and AI. If you want to save energy costs while maintaining a great customer experience, you need the right data and AI models to make the right decisions.

The holistic mindset

What’s clear is that there are solutions to the energy challenge that are available right now. By embracing the promise of 5G, telcos can deliver better services to customers, increase revenues with new business opportunities, and break the energy cost curve at the same time.

But getting there will require a change in mindset from telcos.

At Ericsson we believe that telcos will succeed if they take a ‘holistic’ approach. We need to plan, deploy and operate mobile networks differently to meet the energy challenge. It’s about looking beyond the traditional KPIs around network performance and taking a broader view by correlating the customer experience to take advantage of energy saving innovations.

5G is the game-changing moment that telcos have been waiting for. Let’s work together holistically, to break the energy cost curve – and deliver the new tools and services that are going to be the engine that powers telcos through the next decade.

Watch experts from Vodafone, Deutsche Telekom and Ericsson discuss all the points above, and more, in our latest episode of 5G Talks.

All statistics in this blog are from Ericsson’s Breaking the Energy Curve Report

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., June 1, 2023 /3BL Media/ – Verizon announced it will host its second Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Summit, an all-day experience for small business owners to network and participate in live events designed to help them grow their businesses, in Cleveland, Ohio on June 12, 2023, at Cleveland State University. In partnership with the global professional education and networking platform, Luminary, the summit aims to bring valuable business insights and strategies to small business owners.

Participants of the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready: Cleveland Summit will have the opportunity to engage in robust workshops and educational sessions, with the goal of building connections and learning from subject matter experts, including local small business owners. In addition, Verizon is giving away a free Chromebook to five small business registrants who attend the summit1. To learn more about the event and to register, visit Verizon Small Business Digital Ready: Cleveland Summit.

“At Verizon, we take pride in serving the unique needs of local markets,” said Jessica Cohen, Director of Community Engagement, Verizon. “We are thrilled to bring this informative Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Summit to Cleveland-based small businesses. Small businesses are at the heart of Cleveland’s economy and, at Verizon, a focus of our responsible business plan is to ensure small businesses have access to the tools and services needed to succeed in the digital economy.”

Launched in 2021, Verizon Small Business Digital Ready is a free online resource designed to give small businesses the tools they need to thrive in today’s digital economy. Small businesses can access personalized learning through over 40 courses, mentorship, peer networking, 1:1 expert coaching and incentives such as grant funding. In partnership with LISC and Next Street, the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready portal was created with and for small businesses, with a specific focus on helping diverse and under-resourced business owners. Spanish language course offerings, coaching from experts and community events are also available. Since its launch, over 900 Cleveland-based small businesses have registered and engaged with the platform.

This initiative is part of Verizon’s goal to support 1M small businesses by 2030 with the resources to thrive in the digital economy, as part of its responsible business plan: Citizen Verizon. Visit CitizenVerizon.com to learn more about the company’s responsible business efforts.

1 No purchase necessary. Must be present to win. Sweepstakes starts June 12, 2023 at 9:00 AM Eastern Time (ET) and ends on June 12, 2023, at 12 PM ET. Must be a legal U.S. resident 18 years or older to enter. Void where prohibited. Sponsor: Verizon Corporate Services Group Inc. For official rules, see weareluminary.com/Verizon-Cleveland-Summit.

Originally published on principal.com

When Chery VanHouweling signed up for the Feel Your Best Self (FYBS) volunteer event, she thought it sounded fun—a lunch hour at Principal® creating an educational puppet kit for schoolchildren. “Expressing my creativity and getting outside of myself to do something with more purpose—for me, it’s a no-brainer,” VanHouweling says.

For VanHouweling, the event, organized by the Principal® Foundation, quickly morphed into something bigger. She made a kit—then two puppets for her grandchildren. She shared notes about the group with her daughter; maybe a local youth support group could plug into FYBS. And VanHouweling, a senior change management consultant, wondered how FYSB might work with volunteer efforts for other agencies in her community. “Just being in a room with people I don’t know and possibly making some new friends along the way is inspiring,” she says. “It’s a great mental health opportunity.”

Employers like Principal have increasingly realized that supporting mental health through volunteer events like FYBS, employee resource groups (ERGs), or employee assistance programs (EAPs) improves not just the workplace, but work overall.

Volunteering: Offering a connection to mental health

VanHouweling connected what research has already proven: Volunteering does give a boost to mental health. It improves happiness and confidence1 and leads to a flood of feel-good endorphins.2

Providing access to those volunteer opportunities at work is even more important at this moment. More people than ever are struggling with their mental well-being at home and at work.

For example, 24% of U.S. adults say their mental health is either fair or poor; women, younger adults, and those with lower annual household incomes suffer in greater numbers.3 Nearly two out of five adults—39%—say work negatively impacts their mental health, reporting mental health concerns, performance issues, and stress.4

Struggles with mental well-being don’t stop once you get to work; if you are suffering, you may have reduced focus, insomnia, and decreased teamwork.5 Workplaces that ignore mental health supports may also face increased attrition, particularly with younger generations.6

“Similar to physical illness, when mental health suffers it is difficult to deliver peak performance at work,” says Mackenzie Sheehan, senior associate, Principal Foundation and community relations. “Mental health struggles can impact focus and steal joy from work we love.”

ERGs: Finding supportive communities

Both Jennifer Schwartz and Anna Mundy have children with severe medical challenges. Schwartz’s son has muscular dystrophy, and Mundy’s son was born with spina bifida. For their families, it’s not just about caregiving and adaptations; there are also mental and emotional hills to climb—again and again. Having a workplace that supports their total well-being and provides employee resource groups, or ERGs, to share resources and stories helps.

“My leaders and my department both conveyed that I needed to take care of myself,” says Mundy; she’s legal counsel with Principal. “I didn’t feel like my ability to come back to work was in jeopardy.” For Mundy, sharing her experience is a way of supporting her well-being—and others, too: “I’ve learned things going through what I’ve gone through, and so I can offer that to people, but I can learn from them, too.”

Schwartz agrees; she and Mundy co-chair the Principal OneAbility ERG, dedicated to creating a place of belonging for all abilities. “I was able to open up about my vulnerability, and I may not have been able to do that at other companies,” Schwartz says; she’s a human resources business partner at Principal. “I feel like I can be a balanced parent and a balanced person.”

Common mental health support in an EAP may include:Counseling for anxiety and depressionCrisis interventionGrief supportSupport for behavioral health issues such as eating disorders or addiction

Research backs up the importance of ERGs to mental health and belonging. Because of their very nature—building community and connection—ERGs help employees feel authentic at work and find purpose.7 Belonging at work can translate directly to performance, reducing turnover, increasing job performance, and decreasing sick days.8

EAPs: Providing outside expertise

As much as mental health affects the workplace, it also affects financial security. If you’re more stressed, you’re more likely to suffer financial worries, and vice versa.9

At work, benefits such as employee assistance programs can help—but they too often carry a stigma. “People don’t know about them, don’t know where to start, and don’t know the full range of what they offer,” says Shelley Garrington, a director at Principal.

The pandemic only accelerated both the employee desire for support like those offered in EAPs, and employers’ focus on mental well-being. Seven in ten workers believe their employer is now more concerned about mental health than in the past.10 But only about half of employees that have access to an EAP are even aware of the benefit.11

Mundy was able to turn to an EAP during a past traumatic family event; it helped. “You often don’t know who to start with or where to start, and it’s an avenue to open doors,” she says.

The awareness of and willingness to access EAPs may be changing—for both employers and employees. Retaining talent means meeting the human side of employees, says Mundy, and willingness to talk about EAPs helps destigmatize them, Schwartz has noticed.

“I had a team member that talked about going to a counselor—she considered that professional part of her care team, and a proactive way to strengthen her health,” Schwartz says. “I was always so proud of her, especially for making the conversation common. The more we do that, the more people can find out how to get the help they need.” 

1NAMI 
2Cleveland Clinic 
3Gallup 
4APA 2022 Work and Well-being Survey 
5Cost of Workplace Mental Health 
6Harvard Business Review 
7McKinsey 
8Deloitte 
9National Library of Medicine 
10APA 2022 Work and Well-being Survey 
11HR Executive 

This article is intended to be educational in nature and is not intended to be taken as a recommendation.

About Principal® Foundation 

Principal Financial Group Foundation, Inc. (“Principal Foundation”) is a duly recognized 501(c)(3) entity focused on providing philanthropic support to programs that build financial security in the communities where Principal Financial Group, Inc. (“Principal”) operates. While Principal Foundation receives funding from Principal, Principal Foundation is a distinct, independent, charitable entity. Principal Foundation does not practice any form of investment advisory services and is not authorized to do so. Established in 1987, Principal Foundation works with organizations that are helping to shape and support the journey to financial security by ensuring access to essential needs, fostering social and cultural connections, and promoting financial inclusion. Principal Foundation funds a growing network of more than 140 charitable organizations in 25 countries and territories.

© 2023 Principal Foundation

Principal community relations supports the communities where affiliates of the Principal Financial Group®, Des Moines, IA 50392 operates. Insurance products and plan administrative services provided through Principal Life Insurance Company®, a member of the Principal Financial Group, Des Moines, IA 50392.

2914011-052023

RESTON, Va., June 1, 2023 /3BL Media/ – CACI International Inc (NYSE: CACI) is dedicated to creating a better future by investing in education and opportunities for young innovators in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). CACI’s philanthropic arm, CACI Cares, has taken steps toward this by aligning with the San Antonio Museum of Science and Technology (SAMSAT), an up-and-coming technology museum dedicated to promoting and enabling STEM education and “inspiring what’s next.”

“CACI works closes with the U.S. Air Force to fulfill its important missions and is an active member of the San Antonio community,” said DeEtte Gray, CACI President of Business and Information Technology Solutions. “As we continue to grow our presence in this area, our support of STEM education and SAMSAT enables future talent to consider a career in national security.”

In support of SAMSAT, CACI has sponsored the creation of the new Tech Port Innovation Center as well as the CACI Cyber City exhibit, an interactive model of San Antonio constructed out of LEGO® bricks. Additionally, numerous CACI employees volunteered for more than 200 hours and organized more than 20 STEM student volunteers to help build the LEGO exhibit. 

The construction of CACI’s Cyber City exhibit was built from the company’s City Block technology. City Block is a software-based cyber-physical modeling and simulation environment where cybersecurity specialists, network administrators, and industrial control systems and operational technology (ICS/OT) security testers can train and conduct cybersecurity operations.

“We are excited to see our software superpower being used to stimulate young minds in San Antonio,” said Todd Probert, CACI President of National Security and Innovative Solutions. “City Block leverages virtual reality, 3D modeling, and other technologies to help our military partners prepare for the digital battlefield of the future. We hope that students who visit the exhibit will be inspired to join us in our continuous efforts to defend and protect our nation from cyber threats.”  

SAMSAT was created with the vision of advancing STEM education while serving as a facilitator between K-12 students, college students, universities, industry, government agencies, and nonprofits in the San Antonio area. Today, SAMSAT provides education opportunities for all ages through tours, online programs, mobile demonstrations, STEM camps, STEM clubs, and adult-focused events.

SAMSAT’s mission of “inspiring what’s next” by exploring the past and present to inspire future innovation aligns closely with CACI’s program of innovation ahead of needs. CACI’s contribution to SAMSAT furthers the company’s commitment to providing the resources necessary to prepare the next generation of innovators for careers in national security. 

About CACI

CACI’s approximately 22,000 talented employees are ever vigilant in providing the unique expertise and distinctive technology that address our customers’ greatest enterprise and mission challenges. Our culture of good character, innovation, and excellence drives our success and earns us recognition as a Fortune World’s Most Admired Company. As a member of the Fortune 1000 Largest Companies, the Russell 1000 Index, and the S&P MidCap 400 Index, we consistently deliver strong shareholder value. Visit us at www.caci.com.

There are statements made herein which do not address historical facts, and therefore could be interpreted to be forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are subject to factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated results. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated include, but are not limited to, the risk factors set forth in CACI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2022, and other such filings that CACI makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Any forward-looking statements should not be unduly relied upon and only speak as of the date hereof.

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Corporate Communications and Media:                                           
Lorraine Corcoran                                                              
Executive Vice President, Corporate Communications                  
(703) 434-4165, lorraine.corcoran@caci.com