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At Viatris, we are proud of the diverse perspectives of our colleagues that help drive innovation so that we can empower people everywhere to live healthy at every stage of life. Learn about some of the women at Viatris who are in science roles and how their work contributes to our mission.

Pallavi Trivedi
Senior Manager, Regulatory | Hyderabad

How long have you been in healthcare and what is your current role at Viatris?

It has been 15½ years and counting. I am a Senior Manager, Regulatory Science-Oral Solid Dosage Form. I am responsible for regulatory science activities for the medicinal products supplied in Europe and Australia/New Zealand.

What first interested you in science as a child/growing up?

My interest in science was manifested in me by my grandfather and got embedded long before I realized. I grew up in a premium technology institute residential campus (Indian institute of Technology) and was always surrounded by people in science. When I started working, I became interested in regulatory science and realized that this careers provided a unique opportunity to know a medicinal product inside out; from initial development right through the product life cycle.

What advice would you share with young girls who might be considering a career in science?

Step out in the world and explore fearlessly. Science is all about curiosities, questions and finding answers. I personally believe that gender discrimination must be ousted from one’s own brain before anyone else. A real sense of equality comes when you match up your potential, hard work, passion and commitment to those who are exceptional and inspire you. A sense of accomplishment comes when you outperform yourself and inspire others. Use your power of reason to find solutions and improvements. Give back to humanity. Making a career in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) is a journey: enjoy as you explore, learn and evolve.

How does your work each day contribute to our commitment of enhancing access for patients?

My work involves keeping our marketed products updated with the current regulatory requirements. I am also responsible for successful registration of repatriations and other supply critical, cost improvement projects within the stipulated time to avoid any out-of-stock situation. With our focus on supply continuity, we display a commitment to enhancing access for patients.

Erica Jackson
Director of Chemistry | Morgantown

How long have you been in healthcare and what is your current role at Viatris?

My current role is Director of Chemistry at the R&D Collins Ferry facility. I manage a team that has a variety of responsibilities including quality systems compliance and drug product testing and storage for pre–approval products. I have been in healthcare with the company for 20 years in March.

What first interested you in science as a child/growing up?

My dad is an engineer, so I was exposed to science and math early on as he frequently took me to his job sites. My parents understood and cultivated my interest by sending me to science camps. That along with my interest in my high school chemistry classes led me into the science field.

What advice would you share with young girls who might be considering a career in science?

Regardless of what science field you choose, being part of positive change — whether it be launching a spaceship or creating new medications — will be a rewarding experience. Never be afraid of challenges along the way, and always strive to be the best!

How does your work each day contribute to our commitment of enhancing access for patients?

The goal in R&D is to secure new product approvals. My team’s work is part of the final “package” that is submitted to health authorities. We ensure a high-quality standard in our daily operations so that our products are approvable, continuing our history of a strong pipeline and patient access.

Pai-Hui Huang
Global NCD Operations Lead | Taipei

How long have you been in healthcare and what is your current role at Viatris?

I started my career in the health sector after earning my undergraduate nursing degree. As a registered nurse, I worked in one of the largest medical centers in Taiwan. Every day I took care of patients with respiratory conditions such as COPD and lung cancer. Seeing patients suffering from multiple admissions to hospitals for the same long-term diseases, I felt it would be more meaningful to devote myself in public health or preventing the disease from upstream, instead of waiting until a chronic condition became irreversible. I pursued advanced studies in public health and later worked as a public health practitioner in the government sector. After several years I shifted gears to a medical affairs role in the pharmaceutical industry, communicating the role of optimal disease diagnosis and treatment with health care providers in different therapeutic areas. Currently I am the Operations Lead in the Global NCD Excellence team.

What advice would you share with young girls who might be considering a career in science?

Life has its beauty whether you choose a career in art or in science, and there is no discrete separation from science and art when it comes to health. Public health, a scientific discipline linking science and social aspects of population health, taught me that health topics are equally important as topics of politics and finance. The crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the importance of public health science in a hard way.

How does your work each day contribute to our commitment of enhancing access for patients?

Global NCD Excellence provides medical leadership to Viatris for solutions that reduce the burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and help people live healthier. We design and implement medical education programs, data generation programs, publication programs and innovative/partnership programs. These programs can relay or apply the scientific knowledge for optimizing outcomes of NCD management and control. My role is to work with my colleagues to deliver the programs in a timely, impactful way.

Ana Avelar
Global Medical Manager, Digital | Mexico

How long have you been in healthcare and what is your current role at Viatris?

I graduated from medical school 12 years ago and have been in healthcare ever since. Throughout my career I have been in primary care, in clinical research, and in the pharmaceutical industry. My current position at Viatris is Global Medical Manager, Digital, which among many other things, involves tasks such as medical content selection, adaptation, review, and creation of scientific digital materials for health care providers.

What first interested you in science as a child/growing up?

From a very young age I’ve always been fascinated by science, in particular biology and chemistry, and by learning through observation and experimentation. I always knew I wanted to pursue a career in science, but it wasn’t until my last year in high school that I decided to become a physician.

What advice would you share with young girls who might be considering a career in science?

Definitely go for it, and do not let anyone discourage you from following your dreams. Science is a highly-rewarding field with many different branches that are all exciting and challenging and astonishing. It is inspiring to see that there are more and more women in science every day, but it is still a field where we can help achieve greater things by bringing so much more to the table, not only in terms of diversity and empathy, but also brainpower, creativity, and different points of view, to name a few.

How does your work each day contribute to our commitment of enhancing access for patients?

Each day, I contribute to the continuous medical education of healthcare professionals around the world, especially around disease areas, diagnosis and management throughout the natural history of disease. I am convinced that this can arm healthcare professionals (HCPs) to better care for their patients, improving their quality of life, and helping them live healthier at every stage of life.

Jennifer Donohue
Senior Scientist | St. Albans

How long have you been in healthcare and what is your current role at Viatris?

I began my career in the pharmaceutical industry in 2004 as a bench chemist ensuring quality control of raw materials and finished products. From there I gained experienced in manufacturing and R&D within the biotech industry before becoming a Senior Scientist with Mylan Technologies Inc. (MTI) in 2015. Since 2015, I have continued to provide analytical and technical support for both Viatris’ commercial and pre-commercial products.

What first interested you in science as a child/growing up?

I was fortunate to have an engaging family and teachers as a child who capitalized on my interest in the Earth and its hidden treasures to guide me to learn more about the field of science in general. It wasn’t until college when I realized my path to chemistry.

What advice would you share with young girls who might be considering a career in science?

I would encourage them to ask questions – a lot of questions to a lot of different people. Find out what career paths are available (or ideas to create something new!), what drives their passion, and move toward that with confidence.

How does your work each day contribute to our commitment of enhancing access for patients?

In addition to patient safety, my role allows me to ensure continuity and continued high-quality performance of the products we manufacture.

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The Concussion Awareness Now campaign raises awareness both about the common, everyday ways concussions most often happen and the importance of getting concussions evaluatedConcussion Awareness Now is a coalition of nearly 20 advocacy groups, founded by Abbott and the Brain Injury Association of America, with Rebel Wilson as the group’s inaugural spokespersonThe campaign addresses the fact that more than half of people who suspect they have a concussion never get it checked and features a family of characters called the Melons

ABBOTT PARK, Ill., and FAIRFAX, Va., March 28, 2023 /3BL Media/ – Concussion Awareness Now, a coalition of nearly 20 advocacy groups founded by Abbott and the Brain Injury Association of America, unveiled a new public service campaign to draw attention to concussions and the importance of seeking care.

The majority of concussions happen during everyday activities – and more than half of people who suspect they have a concussion never get it checked, according to a recent coalition survey.

The new public service announcement campaign raises awareness both about the common ways concussions happen and the importance of getting them evaluated. Playing off the fact that people sometimes refer to their brain as their “melon,” the campaign features a family of animated characters called the Melons, designed to connect with a wide audience by showcasing real-life situations where head injuries occur. Further, the spots encourage people to get their heads checked for a possible concussion, even if they are hesitant or feel pressure not to. The characters span three generations: grandparents, parents and children.

“Too often people think it’s OK to walk off a possible concussion,” said Dr. Beth McQuiston, neurologist and medical director in Abbott’s diagnostics business. “But like a bruised melon, which can suffer unseen damage beneath the surface, a concussion is a serious injury that isn’t always obvious to the naked eye. By driving awareness, we hope more people will seek care for possible concussions when they hit their head, because you can’t treat what you don’t know.”

Each public service announcement features a Melon character hitting his or her head in a different way: slipping on a toy, texting and walking, tripping over the family pet during a virtual reality game, and playing pickleball. Each spot ends with the tagline, “Don’t mess with your melon – if you hit it, get it checked.” The campaign is launching across digital and social channels.

A survey of 3,000 people conducted by the coalition in November of 2022 highlighted many of the misconceptions about concussions. For example, even though only 3% of concussions that present to the emergency room are the result of sports injuries, 84% of respondents believed athletes are the most at risk for concussion. The leading cause of concussions is slips and falls.

“Most concussions happen to people participating in regular, everyday activities,” said Rick Willis, president and chief executive officer of the Brain Injury Association of America. “In the brain injury community, we take concussions – and their after-effects – very seriously. But not everyone has the same understanding of what situations are most likely to cause concussions or what to do when they experience a hit or bump to the head or a full-body jolt. The Melons offer a unique way to spread awareness about concussions: if you think you or a loved one has sustained a concussion, it’s imperative to get it checked.”

Abbott and the Brain Injury Association of America launched the Concussion Awareness Now coalition in December. The coalition of advocacy groups has teamed up with acclaimed actress, comedian, writer and producer Rebel Wilson to raise awareness about the seriousness of concussions. Wilson has shared her personal concussion story as part of the coalition’s campaign and will appear with the Melons in online content. Wilson suffered a concussion when she slipped on wet grass while walking to the set of a movie.

Concussion Awareness Now is made up of advocacy groups that represent people who have sustained brain injuries – from veterans, older adults and victims of domestic violence – their caregivers, as well as healthcare professionals such as emergency care physicians, physicians assistants, urgent care workers and athletic trainers. The coalition website, CheckYourMelon.com, features information about concussion, tips for seeking treatment, frequently asked questions, a patient question guide and other resources.

About the Brain Injury Association of America 
The Brain Injury Association of America is the country’s oldest and largest nationwide brain injury advocacy organization. Our mission is to advance awareness, research, treatment, and education and to improve the quality of life for all people affected by brain injury. We are dedicated to increasing access to quality health care and raising awareness and understanding of brain injury.

Learn more at www.biausa.org, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BrainInjuryAssociationofAmerica, on Instagram at @bia_usa, and on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/brain-injury-association-of-america.

About Abbott 
Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 115,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries. 
Connect with us at www.abbott.com, on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/abbott-/, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Abbott and on Twitter @AbbottNews.

Calvin Crosslin, VP, Lenovo Chief Diversity Officer and President, Lenovo Foundation

At Lenovo, International Women’s Day has always been a special day each year. Our efforts for gender inclusion unite our markets around the world, as does our global goal to reach 27% female executive representation by 2025. Through the efforts of Lenovo’s WILL (Women in Lenovo Lead) employee resource group, women and men are given opportunities to engage and learn more about gender inclusion through events in their local offices. From an event with Lenovo’s partner, Everywoman in London to training on how to increase self-awareness in Lima, our WILL groups are organizing more than 20 events around the world to engage our employees in this year’s theme “Embrace Equity”.

Embrace equity is a call to action for a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive world. At Lenovo, when it comes to embracing equity, our goal is simple: People should no longer have to change themselves to fit the world. Instead, the world will change to fit its people – all of its people. We acknowledge that the world can be built to be more inclusive and accessible – not just for women, but for people of all backgrounds and abilities.

In my role as Chief Diversity Officer, I work with Lenovo’s teams to drive equity throughout our systems and processes. From our talent acquisition team’s goals to ensure a diverse slate of candidates to our sponsorship and readiness programs for managers and directors from underrepresented backgrounds, we’ve put a pipeline in place to enable equity throughout an employee’s journey. But as every Chief Diversity Officer knows, these programs can’t be isolated to our Diversity and Inclusion teams or Human Resources and TA if they are to be successful. To quote our Chairman, Yuanqing Yang, “Creating an equitable environment requires the support of everyone in the workplace.” Employees at Lenovo are supported by leaders across our global business in Lenovo’s pursuit for an equitable environment. While we all reflect on how we can embrace equity on International Women’s Day, I’m proud to share the reflections of some our leaders below.

Kirk Skaugen, EVP & President Infrastructure Group and Lenovo Diversity & Inclusion Board Member

For me, embracing equity means that everyone has access to the same opportunities, treatment, compensation and advancement in their careers. Here at Lenovo, we’re driving a People First approach where we as leaders aspire to create an exciting and entrepreneurial environment that engages and energizes our employees, providing them the opportunity to achieve and contribute at their maximum potential. I’m proud of the work we do at Lenovo to ensure our employees have the resources and support they need for each person to reach their full potential. Diversity and equity isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s proven to be good for business and our results consistently show that.

Gao Lan, SVP, Lenovo Human Resources and Lenovo Diversity & Inclusion Board Member

Every person is inherently valuable and possesses a unique set of strengths and experiences. Embracing equity entails recognizing and honoring these differences, fostering an environment where all individuals can thrive and develop, and leveraging our diverse perspectives to drive the growth and success of our company.

Ken Wong, EVP & President, Lenovo Solutions & Services Group

Often the notion of gender parity centers around equality but it’s critical to understand the difference between equity and equality. Equity is giving everyone what they need to be successful. Equality is treating everyone the same. I have a son and a daughter and my hopes for them are the same – that they can achieve exactly what they want to in life. While opportunities for women have changed immeasurably over the last decades, I know my daughter will face more challenges than my son. So, I have a very personal motivation to commit to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. A focus on gender equity needs to be part of every society’s DNA. We can all play a part.

Fiona O’Brien, VP, ISO Sales Transformation & Enablement and EMEA D&I Sponsor

For me, embracing equity means developing a culture of fairness. This is what separates it from equality. If equality focuses on ensuring everyone is treated the same, equity recognises that we don’t all come from the same place and therefore we need to ensure we are creating a culture where all of us have the access and support to succeed to the best of our ability.

Achieving equity in the workplace means recognising that office norms and policies in their current state may benefit some and hinder others. So, we need to take a fresh look at these and make sure that they are truly inclusive and are adapted for different backgrounds and different lived experiences. Ultimately, if we want to see real change, we need to double down on efforts to support those that have been historically excluded or disadvantaged and make sure they have access to the tools, expertise, and support they need to truly succeed.

Amar Babu, President, Lenovo Asia Pacific and Lenovo Diversity & Inclusion Board Member

Embracing equity’ in my view, is that anyone can succeed in Lenovo, and one’s gender, ethnicity, or personal orientation doesn’t impact the path toward that success. Having worked for most of my Lenovo career in our highly diverse Asia Pacific Region, I have experienced this personally myself and am proud to see many success stories from across markets and backgrounds. Together we make Lenovo the most equitable place to work, and we should all be proud and confident that true merit gets real success here.

Sergio Buniac, Lenovo SVP, President of Latin America, and Motorola, and Diversity & Inclusion Board Member

“For me, embracing equity is about providing people – both internally and externally – with fair treatment, access, and opportunities. At Lenovo, we as leaders have the responsibility to provide inclusive and equitable opportunities in our workforce and to serve as an example to our teammates. We also recognize the influence and positive impact technology can have in serving as a catalyst to empower people all around the world to tell and share their stories. It’s why, at Motorola, we are committed to ensuring our products can be accessed by and meet the needs of all consumers.”

For more reporting on Lenovo’s gender equity initiatives, reference the most recent ESG Report and more diversity and inclusion stories on Lenovo StoryHub.

On World Water Day, Dow is supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Movement on Water Action alongside other member companies of the Water Resilience Coalition (WRC).

This year’s World Water Day coincides with the start of the UN 2023 Water Conference, to be held March 22-24 in New York. The conference is the first of its kind in nearly 50 years and brings together stakeholders across all sectors of society. A major outcome of the conference is the UN SDG Movement on Water, of which a centerpiece is the Business Leaders’ Open Call for Accelerating Action on Water.

The Open Call seeks to leverage the power of the global business community to accelerate progress on the SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation, and respond to the water issues exacerbated by climate change.

“We understand that resilient companies are built on healthy communities and ecosystems,” said Andre Argenton, Dow vice president of Environment, Health and Safety (EH&S) and chief sustainability officer. “By sharing our learnings and engaging with other partners through the WRC, we hope to inspire others to come together in order to sustainably manage scarce freshwater resources and accelerate actions toward achieving the United Nation’s sustainable development goal for clean water and sanitation.”

An initiative of the CEO Water Mandate, the WRC is a CEO-led, industry-driven coalition with the ambition to achieve positive water impact in more than 100 water-stressed basins that support over 3 billion people by 2030. Coalition companies have pledged to make needed investments in their own operations – as well as work in tandem through collective action – to build the resiliency of these freshwater basins that serve communities, industry and nature.

Hear more from Dow CEO and Chairman Jim Fitterling about what Dow is doing to impact water resilience in its own operations and through WRC.

Originally published by GreenBiz Group on GreenBiz.com

Corporations including Meta and P&G have vowed to replenish the water consumed by their operations in water-stressed regions, but finding appropriate, “shovel-ready” projects takes connections and patience.

As part of their “water positive” goals, some corporations, including Intel, Meta and Procter & Gamble, have pledged to restore or replenish the water consumed by their operations, particularly in water-stressed regions.

There are nuanced differences in the various corporate water positive commitments, but many companies making them are starting to invest in watershed restoration projects — including modernizing decades-old irrigation systems, restoring wetlands and reforesting wildfire-scorched landscapes — to make good on their pledges.

Those seeking to follow that lead may feel like they’re rowing upstream, according to sustainability professionals, consultants and NGO representatives who have already dipped their toes into these initiatives. The processes for finding water restoration projects and accounting for them against water stewardship goals are still being defined and refined, they said.

“Water is chronically undervalued in many regions. In a cost-benefit analysis, it’s never going to pencil out,” observed Stefanie Woodward, senior sustainability manager for water and climate at Meta, during a session last month at GreenBiz 23 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

“We don’t want volumetric calculation to be the be-all and end-all,” echoed Todd Reeve, CEO of Bonneville Environmental Foundation, a nonprofit from Portland, Oregon, that helps connect corporations interested in funding or supporting projects with the NGOs delivering them. “It can be a pitfall if an organization is too focused on that.”

Water is something many companies still take for granted, but as droughts and floods become more common, the financial exposure to water-related risks is growing. Last year, CDP examined the financial investments in four particularly water-dependent industries — oil and gas, electric utilities, coal and metals and mining. The data estimated that more than $13.5 billion in assets were already stranded, with $2 billion more at risk.

The reality is, however, that every industry is exposed. Another CDP report released this week estimated the overall risk from water insecurity at $392 billion, a figure the research organization believes underestimates the true impact. Among the big companies that aren’t very transparent on this issue: Apple and Tesla. “From a risk perspective, everything that we wear, everything that we eat, everything that we do is enabled by water,” said Jonathan Lanciani, senior vice president of consulting firm Coho, during the GreenBiz 23 discussion. “Either water is a raw material import or it is used in the production process, heating and cooling. It’s an essential item.”

Quality versus quantity

In the case of Meta, headquartered in Menlo Park, California, water is invaluable for its data centers. The company’s equipment is up to 80 percent more efficient than the industry average, according to recent remarks by the company’s global head of sustainability. But its license to operate in water-stressed regions depends on how it acts locally.

Meta is aiming to restore more water than it uses by 2030: the goal is 200 percent restoration in high water-stressed sites (defined by World Resources Institute as places where 40 percent or more of available water is withdrawn annually) and 100 percent restoration at medium water-stressed locations, according to Woodward.

Water is chronically undervalued in many regions. In a cost-benefit analysis, it’s never going to pencil out.

“One of the biggest challenges that we have right now is how you count or claim the various impacts that you are having,” Reeve said during the GreenBiz 23 session. “We’re at a pivotal point right now. Your goals are about much more than just accomplishing a molecular balance goal.”

Several efforts are under way to codify what it means to be “water positive,” Reeve said. One of those is the Net Positive Water Impact (NPWI) initiative, an effort led by the United Nations Global Compact’s CEO Water Mandate (which includes 240 companies) and the related Water Resilience Coalition. The effort suggests establishing water performance benchmarks aligned with three primary objectives:

Water quantity: Reducing the amount of water required for business activities through efficiency, reuse and efficiency measures. Its suggestions include establishing supplier guidelines for better water management.Water quality: Improving treatment methods to reduce nutrient loads and prevent pollution. This includes phasing out harmful chemicals in products and production.Water access: Protecting water sources to improve access for drinking, sanitation and hygiene (so-called WASH concerns).

Right now, Meta accounts for the impact of restoration using WRI’s Volumetric Benefit Accounting Methodology, but Woodward said considerations aside from volume are just as important for its project selection — such as water quality measures, watershed resilience and environmental justice. So far, the technology company has supported projects in states including Arizona, California, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas and Utah ranging from reforestation to aquifer storage restoration to wetland construction.

Here’s what it’s up against. In 2021, the last year for which data has been made publicly available, Meta withdrew about 5 million cubic meters of water for its operations, an increase of about 35 percent from the previous year. It consumed 2.6 million cubic meters. According to the company’s most recent water update in August, Meta restored almost all of that amount, about 2.3 million cubic meters. As of 2021, it had contracted for restoration projects that will restore an estimated 1 billion gallons, or about 3.8 million cubic meters.

Going with the flow

Finding “shovel-ready” water projects isn’t easy, as Meta and another company talking up water restoration, P&G, can attest. “A lot of the timelines shift,” said Shannon Quinn, global water stewardship leader for P&G, which is building a portfolio of about 20 projects, in collaboration with Bonneville and other partners. “Companies need to think about it at least mid-term and need to expect that there will be variation when each project comes online. It’s unpredictable … You need to plan for the unexpected.”

P&G has established two primary water restoration priorities. The first centers on restoring more water than is consumed at P&G manufacturing sites in 18 water-stressed areas around the world. The company used 69 million cubic meters of water for production in fiscal year 2021 (more recent figures aren’t publicly available). The second priority focuses on restoring water consumed by the use of its products in two high water-stressed regions, Los Angeles and Mexico City. Like Meta, P&G is seeking to satisfy certain volumetric considerations, but it is also focused on co-benefits such as better access for communities, improved quality, climate resilience, habitat restoration or reduced runoff.

“There are some that are looking for counting drops,” said Scott Heid, vice president of sustainability communications for P&G, who accompanied me on a field trip to an irrigation ditch modernization project last month in the Verde River Valley, Arizona, about 100 miles north of Phoenix near Sedona. The Verde, one of the state’s few remaining wild rivers, brings drinking water to the city. It is fed by tributaries including Oak Creek, Beaver Creek and West Clear Creek. “For us, it’s more about long-term infrastructure investment because we are already driving water-efficiency in our facilities and driving other things beyond.”

Finding projects takes a significant amount of research and negotiation. One of Bonneville’s roles is to help willing corporate, nonprofit and community partners find each other. “In so many ways, the work that needs to be done is experimental. We don’t know what the solutions are,” Reeve said after my field visit.

The project I visited on the West Clear Creek, managed by The Nature Conservancy (TNC), happens to be one in which restoring water volume was a consideration — it aims to ensure that farmers along the historic Verde irrigation ditch system started in the 1860s by settlers near Campe Verde have enough water to irrigate their crops. West Clear Creek has gone dry in early summer every year since 1905, according to Kimberly Schonek, Verde River project manager for TNC.

Above the irrigation system, the creek flows at an average of 15 cubic feet per second (CFS) — closer to 12 CFS in the summer, she said. The irrigation demand is closer to 20 CFS, she said. “Our goal is not to encourage the creation of more agricultural land; it’s getting more to existing lands while keeping water in the river.”

TNC’s work within the Verde system is twofold: improving the flow of its various creeks; and working with the farmers downstream to change the demand. Some of the corporate funding partners behind these projects: Coca-Cola; Intel; Meta; PepsiCo; and P&G. (Bonneville has worked with more than 60 corporations, about a dozen of which are actively engaged in projects.)

One of P&G’s initiatives in the Verde region is on the Mason Lane Ditch, a larger ditch than the one we visited during February that serves 223 acres of irrigated land. The work on this single ditch, inaccessible because of recent rainfall, will return an estimated 179.6 million gallons annually, according to materials published about the project.

Diving in

The work on the West Clear Creek irrigation system included installing sensors that help measure the flow and that automate when water is diverted into the system. At the site we examined, bullet holes in the structure marked where irrigation rights holders sought to increase the water flow in bygone years. The ditches themselves, originally dirt-lined, have been lined with flexible PVC piping that discourages runoff. It also prevents those with irrigation rights farther downstream from altering the ditch size by digging to siphon off more water than they’re permitted to use. According to a brief by Business for Water, a Bonneville program, the various projects on the creek will return an estimated 190 million gallons annually.

And what’s the impact for those downstream users? After visiting the ditch, we met with Zach Hauser, whose family owns 600 acres in the valley, about half of which is farmed with crops including alfalfa and barley. The Hausers began working with TNC about 10 years ago, after Schonek approached Zach’s father.

“We’ve had some projects that didn’t work as well as we wanted them to, but we haven’t had one project go wrong,” Hauser told me. “I’m looking forward to doing more.”

One project involved investing in a local malt house, enabling the Hausers to switch some fields to malt barley for beer — which pays almost double the price of barley used for feed and competes with corn for profit margin. Barley requires comparatively very little water: The Hausers stop irrigating those fields in early June each year, which reduces demand on the local creeks at a critical time for regional water supplies. The farm was also able to install drip irrigation (an investment that typically costs $1,000 to $3,000 per acre) and pivot irrigation, also thanks to the corporate funding arranged by Bonneville.

Since water restoration projects are still a relatively new frontier for corporations, here’s some advice for those just dipping their toes into this strategy, gleaned from my interviews:

Collaborate, collaborate, collaborate. Companies haven’t typically had a seat at the table on water issues — unless it’s on the receiving end of criticism. Getting engaged proactively and authentically with NGOs, communities and policymakers is non-negotiable. Working with other corporations that have similar interests can help speed project development, Reeve said. “This is a watershed moment to capitalize on corporate leadership and innovation.”Be prepared to wait, but know when to act quickly. Water rights differ from region to region, and land ownership can be tricky to navigate. “Many companies come in thinking this is a commoditized concept, like carbon credits,” Reeve said. Among the concerns that take time to investigate: community concerns; environmental studies; consideration of cultural significance to Indigenous peoples; convincing those with local water claims that conservation is in their interest. “Oftentimes what we struggle with is that we’ve got funders who want to fund now and want money in the ground next month, and then the project we can get in the ground next month is the easy one,” Schonek said. “Longer-time planning horizons get you better projects, and they get issues resolved.”Find common ground with landowners and local water users. The relationship between TNC and the Hausers was built on years of open dialogue, and Hauser said many of their values are closely aligned. “As a farmer, we want to use less water, and we want to manage it and conserve it better, but there also has be trust … that this isn’t some sleight of hand trick,” he said during my visit.

One other strategy that has been crucial to saving water on the farm, the largest in the valley, was the Hauser family’s decision to apply for conservation easements that permanently preserve a large portion of their property — their land is owned, not leased. Those acres are home to mesquite bosques and riparian buffer strips that encourage biodiversity and bird habitat, and the tax incentives the farm receives make it possible to maximize water management on the other acres.

“Farmers think about water all day, every day,” Hauser said. “This place without water is nothing. A farm is not a farm without water.”

Griffith Foods is honored to be named to the top 10 Chicago family-owned businesses by Better, a 13-year-old multi-platform publishing company serving communities throughout Chicagoland and the San Francisco Bay Area.

The top 10 list is comprised of family-owned businesses that are not only making an impact locally, but globally as well. Griffith Foods and the other candidates listed were nominated by Better’s readers along with previously honored business leaders.

Griffith Foods is driven by our purpose, We Blend Care and Creativity to Nourish the World. This is a compass that guides who we are, how we behave, and what we do as an organization. Being a family business, we know nourishment doesn’t just come from what’s on the plate, but also from what’s in the heart. In a changing world that’s hungry for more, our care and creativity mean we’ll find the right mix of global reach and local impact to serve the Earth so we can nourish all of us who call it home.

To learn more about this recognition, visit https://better.net/chicago/life/family/10-of-chicagos-top-family-owned-businesses-2023/.

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Originally published on 3M News Center

The U.S. Department of Transportation recently named 3M a primary stakeholder in a campaign to accelerate the National Roadway Safety Strategy, a comprehensive approach to significantly reduce traffic-related deaths and injuries. The Call-to-Action campaign encourages existing stakeholders to redouble their efforts to promote safe roadways and inspire others to join the effort.

3M is committed to helping the DOT and the NRSS by offering more than 80 years of science and expertise in traffic safety and by funding initiatives to address transportation equity. 3M is listed as a ‘First Mover’ among the DOT’s Allies in Action, a grouping that has already pledged specific action in 2023.

“3M is fully committed to supporting the DOT and its NRSS vision,” said Dan Chen, president of 3M’s transportation safety division. “We have a shared mission of making our roadways safer for drivers and pedestrians. The more collaboration we have among public and private organizations, the more American lives we can save.”

In 2021, nearly 43,000 individuals were killed in traffic-related accidents, the highest in 16 years.

“When it comes to roadway deaths, we have a crisis that’s urgent and unacceptable-and preventable…” said Pete Buttigieg, U.S. secretary of transportation. “We cannot and must not accept that these fatalities are somehow an inevitable part of life in America.”

In 2020, 3M pledged $50 million to address social justice and racial opportunity gaps. A portion of those dollars, approximately $250,000 annually, go to invest in transportation equity initiatives. 3M has also committed to improve 100 school zones around the world by improving reflective signs and crosswalks.

Three award-winning digital innovations imagined by North American students were recently assessed by judges working to identify the Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) goIT Global Innovator of the Year. The seven North American students earned the opportunity as winners of TCS’ 2022 Go Innovate Together (goIT) Monthly Challenges and of the company’s North American Innovator of the Year Competition. They presented their ideas to program judges along with Latin American program finalists on March 20.

“TCS’ goIT program enables young people to consider the significant problems facing the planet as each goIT monthly challenge is directly tied to the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Goals,” said Lina Klebanov, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, TCS North America. “Attending to those priorities is part of our commitment to the global community in which we operate, but it’s also our pleasure to bring these students and future technology innovators the chance to see how their own innovations might be able to address and promote social good.”

The 2022 North American program finalists and global citizens are all potential future “women in technology” and include:

Alaina G., age 11, from San Jose, California, and her app, A.C.E (A Cleaner Earth): ACE is an app that reduces the number of items sent to landfills by providing relevant local recycling information and reducing the risk of wishcycling. Wishcyling is the result of uncertainty and is also known as “wishful recycling,” the act of placing an object in a recycle bin and hoping it might actually be recycled.Aishani B., age 16, from Cumming, Georgia, and her website, A Second Life: A Second Life is designed to help increase access to educational necessities (and, therefore, academic success). It will also reduce waste produced by discarded and unwanted textbooks and school supplies by connecting these resources to students who need them.Caroline C., Tiffany N., Aryanna G., Edlyn T. and Laura F., a team of 8th graders from Toronto Public Schools, and their app, GoTO: GoTO aims to be “Making Toronto Cleaner,” by encouraging residents to start cleaning up litter today.

All of their ideas were created to be initiated locally and all have the potential to one day make a greater, even global impact.

“I didn’t have to look much further than my own school to find a problem that needed solving,” said Aishani. “The goIT Monthly Challenge gave me the opportunity to consider the ways I might use my lessons in computer science to help solve that problem at my own school — and even all over the world one day. Participating was very rewarding.”

Each innovation was presented in a three-minute video presentation and assessed twice by volunteer judges working in or with TCS in various capacities — once, when the students and/or their teachers entered the innovations into the goIT Monthly Challenge — and won — and, again, when they moved on to the live North American competition.

TCS’ goIT program is one of several ways TCS elevates STEM education for the future workforce. It operates in 42 countries in the interest of both the digital future and social good. Those looking to engage with the program can register or learn more about this month’s goIT Monthly Challenge at http://on.tcs.com/goIT-ENG.

For more information on opportunities, educator resources and additional details about TCS STEM education programs, visit TCS Empowers Programs (tcsapps.com).

About goIT 
TCS’ flagship digital innovation and career readiness program, goIT (go Innovate Together), prepares students with the skills, confidence and mindsets to pursue careers of the future. Through engaging design workshops and custom mentorship experiences, goIT impacts students around the globe by challenging stereotypes and inspiring our future leaders to pursue careers in STEM and the computer sciences. Learn more at https://tcsempowers.tcsapps.com/amer/goIT.

ST. PAUL, Minn., March 28, 2023 /3BL Media/ – Antea Group consultants Caron Koll, Jack Sheldon, and Scott Recker shared their insights on future PFAS regulation in Environment Analyst’s recently published report “Why PFAS rulemaking is a game-changer for US consultants,” written by Steven Gilmore. This report discusses the ever-changing litigation landscape surrounding PFAS and how it’s driving more work toward consulting firms. New regulations include the recent EPA proposed rule that aims to establish legally enforceable levels for six PFAS known to be found in drinking water.

New regulations such as this one, consistent public pressure, worry about PFAS in drinking water, and the fact that regulations may soon expand beyond drinking water into other industries – such as wastewater and biosolids, are leading more businesses to seek out specialized environmental consulting help on PFAS issues, including identifying PFAS sources across supply chains, advising on risk management strategies, treating PFAS contamination and providing environmental litigation support.

Scott Recker, Senior Consultant and Environmental Remediation Practice Leader at Antea Group USA, is quoted in the Environment Analyst publication, saying “Our clients are nervous and their level of nervousness depends on who they are, what their risk tolerance is and what their brand image looks like.”

Additionally, treating PFAS is complex, and different technologies are often used. In the publication, Caron Koll notes that, “Treatment trains require a series of different technologies that are continually evolving. We don’t want to be locked into one particular vendor whose technology might not always be the best fit for our client.”

Lastly, as the US government slowly moves toward more PFAS regulations, consultants can expect an influx in demand for PFAS management services. However, not all firms are truly invested in comprehensive PFAS solutions. As Jack Sheldon notes in the report, “We expect an onslaught of PFAS work at some juncture due to regulatory change. Then it’s going to be very interesting to see which consultants are true players and which ones are not.”

To read the full article by Steven Gilmore that features Caron Koll, Scott Recker, and Jack Sheldon, head over to Environment Analyst today.

About Environment Analyst

Environment Analyst is an international membership community for the environmental services space, built around their market intelligence service. Their analysts help customers examine market opportunities in the environmental sector. They bring together business leaders and practitioners in peer-to-peer networks and share news and insight with member companies.

Their mission is to connect the environmental, ESG and professional services community and provide the intelligence to deliver a sustainable transition. Their vision is to be the leading global partner supporting the environmental, sustainability & ESG community in its ambition to shape a better future. Learn more at environmentanalyst.com.

About Antea Group

Antea®Group is an environment, health, safety, and sustainability consulting firm. By combining strategic thinking with technical expertise, we do more than effectively solve client challenges; we deliver sustainable results for a better future. We work in partnership with and advise many of the world’s most sustainable companies to address ESG-business challenges in a way that fits their pace and unique objectives. Our consultants equip organizations to better understand threats, capture opportunities and find their position of strength. Lastly, we maintain a global perspective on ESG issues through not only our work with multinational clients, but also through our sister organizations in Europe, Asia, and Latin America and as a founding member of the Inogen Alliance. Learn more at us.anteagroup.com.

Mandell Jackson Vice President/General Manager, Quest for Health Equity

When we launched Quest for Health Equity (Q4HE), we focused first on addressing the devastating impacts of COVID-19 on our most vulnerable communities. We collaborated with others to move forward—and to move quickly —to provide testing and information. While fighting COVID-19 aligns perfectly with our larger goal to increase health equity, we also knew when we started Q4HE that our poorest communities faced the greatest risk from healthcare disparities. We have been—and continue to be—focused on that larger goal through initiatives that support underserved communities.

Quest stepped in to do this work because healthcare disparities, especially in Black and Hispanic communities, are a growing concern. In the time since we launched Q4HE, we’ve built partnerships with community-based organizations, national nonprofits, religious leaders, academic institutions, and healthcare leaders to address these disproportionate impacts and advance health equity for underserved populations. And we’ll continue to build these partnerships—to fund the work of those providing direct services and make our own expertise and resources available—so we can close the gap in health disparities.

I’m excited to share what we’ve accomplished so far, and I’m also eager to move Q4HE forward. Together, we will leverage our insights, our knowledge, and our collective commitment to help ensure everyone—regardless of income, ethnicity, geography, or demographics—has the same opportunity for better health.

Bonnie Reyna, MPH, MsED Director, Advancing Equity in Communities

“Being part of this team and this organization is inspiring. It allows us to collectively and positively impact communities to examine social determinants of health and reduce health inequalities. I am most proud of being able to offer our partners opportunities to address critical health needs in ways that are community centered, respectful, culturally intelligent, and trustworthy.”

Michael Floyd Sr. Director, Advancing Equity in Diagnostics

“What is beautifully unique about Quest for Health Equity is that we support authentic projects that truly impact lives in communities that, through no fault of their own, have been marginalized. From helping to launch a rural FQHC’s school-based clinic (and funding its purchase of a van to deliver healthcare to patients without transportation) to addressing the ravages of diabetes in hardhit New Mexico communities, we continue to do amazing work. Going forward, we endeavor to go deeper into underserved and under-resourced communities. My excitement is high and my commitment is even stronger to continue supporting and offering value to those in need!”

Stacey Ingram Sr. Manager, Networked Initiatives

“Like many other companies in the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder during a global pandemic, Quest decided to do something about health inequity. Unlike many of these other companies, we are still at it. More than a year later, Quest is still actively engaged in positively impacting disparities in healthcare, and Q4HE is building increasing momentum in this vein. This journey has the feel and excitement of a start-up, and my role in Quest for Health Equity has provided a great opportunity for me to learn and develop—both personally and professionally—as we build this start-up. That’s why I feel so proud to be a part of this initiative to impact health equity.”

Cynita Smith-Watson Sr. Manager, Community Partnerships

“I recently joined the Quest for Health Equity team, and it makes me feel honored to be doing good work for our communities on behalf of Quest Diagnostics. I take enormous pride in knowing that my company is a leader in addressing healthcare disparities and inequities. Moving forward, I see us expanding Q4HE to provide resources to those who need them the most.”

Rafael Irizarry Director, Aged and Elder Initiatives

“Quest for Health Equity’s vision and mission—to level the playing field for health disparities in underserved populations and/or marginalized populations and to enhance access to care—touched me very closely. I’ve been the leader for the long-term care segment, an area where I can see myself helping my family as I am helping others with no access to healthcare. It has been a privilege to work with this team as well as with an organization that truly cares about its patients. Why? Because every step of the way we treat them as we would our own loved ones.”

Kimberley Tucker Sr. Manager, Operations

“I’m honored that I’ve had the opportunity to work with such a great team to make a difference in underserved communities. This team, together with our collaborators, is making great strides in reducing health disparities in our most vulnerable communities. This is just the beginning, as I foresee Quest for Health Equity continuing to build trust and improve critical health inequities in these communities.”

Callie Poindexter Marketing and Place-Based Programs

“Working with a team of such passionate, caring, and motivated individuals on truly impactful initiatives has been an incredibly rewarding experience for me. I’m proud of the work we’ve done to expand access to critical testing and services in communities across the US and couldn’t be more excited about initiatives we’ll be launching in the coming months. Year one has been a building year—building processes, relationships, programs, and more— and I know the best is yet to come.”

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