Tag: 3BL

Originally published on 3M News Center

When you come aboard 3M’s Safety Roadshow – a 90-foot semitrailer equipped with hands-on training experiences from 3M’s Personal Safety Division – the hum of robotics machinery and student chatter is unavoidable. That was the case at Joe T. Robinson High School, one of three stops in the Little Rock area this spring where more than 200 students eagerly took on roles as production managers, design engineers, assemblers, and quality control inspectors – all working feverously to create the perfect set of modeling clay “cookie” based on customer requirements.

That scene was part of 3M’s recent engagements with the company’s mobile training facility in communities where 3M manufacturing sites are located. The goal is to inspire students to pursue careers in STEM – science, technology, engineering, and mathematics – and the skilled trades.

The Safety Roadshow, which has been visiting training centers and customers in the U.S. and Canada for 11 years, expanded its reach to school districts for the first time this year. 

“Opportunities with visits like this help open a world of possibilities for students while helping address the future workforce needs of our country,” said Michelle Diggs, 3M’s director of external community impact.

In sessions during each roadshow stop, students were grouped together and each took charge of different aspects of their simulated production line. A table-top robot analyzed their clay “cookies” to determine if they met the required standards, allowing students to tweak their creations until they achieved success.

“All jobs in a production process do their own things and collaborate to create one product,” Madison Chang, a tenth grader in the school’s Science and Technology pathway, told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette after her session.

Markous Jewett, vice president of the Academies of Central Arkansas and the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce, emphasized the importance of extending learning beyond classroom walls.

“These are things we wouldn’t be able to do in a traditional classroom setting,” he said. “We lean on our industry partners to provide their time, talent, and expertise.”

The Safety Roadshow also introduced students to a wide range of personal protective equipment (PPE), including hard hats, eye and hearing protection, and respirators.

Stephanie Baum, sales training manager for PSD, highlighted the preventative nature of the exercise.

“If we can have those conversations before they’re even entering the workforce, they can help educate and empower themselves and their coworkers,” she said.

By bringing real-world insights and hands-on experiences to students, 3M aims to bridge the gap in STEM and skilled trades industries.

“Innovation isn’t just about science,” Baum added. “It’s about looking at things differently and partnering with communities to teach in new ways.”

While in Little Rock, 3M presented a check to the Pulaski County Special School District for $119,000, which included funds for strategic investments for the school system determined by students and administrators, funds from the 3M Little Rock “hometown giving” site budget for College Station Elementary School, and funds from the 3Mgives Little Rock Donors Choose classroom support budget for projects submitted by College Station Elementary teachers.

Earlier the same week, the Safety Roadshow visited the Career Academies of Decatur – a high school in Decatur, Alabama, established in 2024 as the first high school in north Alabama dedicated to STEM and skilled trades. More than 250 students took part in sessions similar to those in Little Rock, including problem-solving games where students had to unscramble terms to identify and appropriately dress a mannequin with correct PPE.

Also, while in Decatur, 3M donated $215,000 to the Decatur City Schools Foundation, which included seed and launch funding for the Career Academies’ industrial maintenance program, and funding for districtwide after-school tutoring and food security assistance programs.

3M’s Safety Roadshow will continue its stops throughout 2025, with student engagements planned for Indiana, Minnesota, and Texas.

Originally published on Principal.com

We get it: Principal^® is a big company with a lot of fancy jobs, and applying to work here may be intimidating if your resume doesn’t include a four-year degree or professional experiences. But guess what? It doesn’t need to.

Our 12-month apprenticeship program places aspiring professionals in full-time, entry-level roles in Des Moines, Iowa. What makes it special isn’t just the job—or the pay, or the benefits package—it’s the built-in support system designed to help you thrive in a corporate environment.

“It’s like starting a career with training wheels,” says Melissa P., a customer service apprentice who joined Principal after graduating high school.

Great candidates are …

• eager to learn
• service-oriented
• strong communicators
• interested in building a career in financial services

You don’t need a college degree.

Read on for three ways the program helps open doors for new professionals.

1. On-the-job training

Because week one is sometimes the hardest at a new job, the apprenticeship program strives to ease the transition period.

Melissa recalls an open house before she was even hired, where she met her leader and had a chance to ask questions about the role.

And when she was onboarding (training and getting acclimated), she says her leader proactively explained not just how things are done but also why, knowing this was her first role in a professional environment.

“My leader and all my trainers have been amazing,” she says. “I had a very structured training, and even now, I continue to have plenty of support. No one expects me to be perfect—just to learn from any mistakes.”

2. One-on-one coaching from HR

In addition to a leader, each apprentice also has a coach from our human resources (HR) learning and development team. They schedule regular check-ins and tailor what you work on.

“It’s very comforting knowing I have someone outside my actual role that I can go to for questions that might seem silly to other people,” Melissa says. “Anything from ‘How do I book a meeting room?’ to ‘What should I sign up for with my benefits?’ to ‘How can I explore what my future might look like here? … My coach tailors our meetings to whatever I’m needing.”

3. Networking opportunities

The apprenticeship program launches once a year with a class of 10–12 apprentices. This way, the peer group can go through the program together—networking, meeting for lunches, and learning from each other along the way.

One highlight for Melissa: Watching big company meetings as a group and being able to discuss the executives’ talking points together.

Coaches can also help facilitate networking opportunities. “I mentioned I wanted to make more connections throughout the company, and right away my coach took down my interests and set up meetings for me to meet people in various roles,” Melissa says.

A launch pad for career growth

For Melissa, the apprenticeship program provided an ideal entry point to professional life.

“I didn’t want to go to college straight out of high school because I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do in my career,” Melissa says. “This gives me a foot in the door and an opportunity to explore what my future role could be.”

After 12 months, apprentices have the opportunity to be hired into their roles or similar roles in operations, customer service, marketing, sales, and technical support. Like any employee, you’ll have access to education assistance benefits (which can help pay tuition for college/relevant coursework) and growth and development opportunities throughout your career at Principal.

By design, the apprenticeship program helps Principal bring in early-career talent while also supporting our social goals of promoting financial security in the community.

Principal^® is an equal opportunity employer and an E-Verify participant. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion or religious creed, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, mental or physical disability, medical condition, genetic information or characteristics, sexual orientation, marital status, domestic partner status, military status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We also prohibit harassment on these bases.

Know your rights: Workplace discrimination is illegal (dol.gov)

If at any stage of the employment application process you need a reasonable accommodation due to a disability, contact Human Resources at MyHR@principal.com or 1-866-524-6947. Read our employment policies for more information.

Recruitment fraud is a scheme that offers fictitious job opportunities to people. This type of fraud is normally done through online services such as bogus websites, social media, or through unsolicited emails/SMS texts claiming to be from Principal or Principal employees. Only applicants who have filled out an official application on our career site (careers.principal.com) will be considered for employment opportunities. Principal will never ask for money during any stage of the employment application process. If you receive a communication (e.g., LinkedIn message, Facebook Messenger, SMS text, personal email, etc.) asking for money or personal financial information, don’t engage or respond. Please contact our Human Resources team at MyHR@principal.com or 1-866-524-6947, and your local law enforcement. For more information, review our recruitment fraud information.

You can review our U.S. workforce privacy notice (PDF).

Insurance products and plan administrative services provided through Principal Life Insurance Company^®, a member of the Principal Financial Group^®, Des Moines, IA 50392.

4368581-042025

 

Gildan is pleased to announce that its Canadian and U.S. operations have been certified at the Silver level by Women in Governance for their gender parity efforts. With this, Gildan joins 70 other recognized organizations, highlighting the Company’s advancements in creating an inclusive environment with an equitable representation of women to men.

“This certification is a testament to Gildan’s persistent and dedicated efforts to achieve gender parity at all levels of the organization; of notable mention, is Gildan’s Next Generation ESG strategy goal of achieving gender parity at the Director-level and above positions by 2027,” says Esther Hackett, Vice-President of Human Resources at Gildan. “Additionally, both the Canadian and U.S. certifications provide us with an opportunity to learn about the strengths uniquely possessed by our operations in each region, as well as identify relevant pathways towards improvement.”

Over the years, Gildan has implemented programs to empower women from different regions and at different levels of the organization. One of its most successful programs in Canada and the U.S. has been Women in Leadership – Ignite Your Impact, which brings together women from the manager-level and above for development and networking opportunities. The Company has also been enhancing its succession planning to build more equitable pipelines of future leaders, making gender parity a priority right from the hiring stage.

Created in 2017, the Women in Governance Parity Certification evaluates organizations on over 75 quantitative and qualitative criteria in alignment with country-specific regulations, taking into account the multiple impacts of diversity in women’s career advancement. The Certification consists of a thorough diagnostic of an organization’s position on the gender parity spectrum as it pertains to its strategies (culture and commitments), actions (communications, policy and programs), and the results they yield.

For more information about the Women in Governance Parity Certification, click here. 

To learn more about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Gildan, click here.

Saint-Gobain North America today announced that it has been recognized with a Silver Stevie^® Award in the 23^rd annual American Business Awards^®. This award was earned in the category of Large Manufacturing Company of the Year in celebration of Saint-Gobain’s circularity initiatives, rapid growth in North America, and commitment to building the future of the manufacturing industry.

The American Business Awards^® are the leading business awards program in the United States. They are open to all organizations operating in the U.S.— whether public or private, for-profit or non-profit, large or small.

The recognition comes as Saint-Gobain celebrates its 360-year anniversary, with worldwide festivities, including a visit to the United States as part of its 360 Years Young Video Series. The award recognizes multiple investments made by Saint-Gobain across North America to better serve its customers, initiatives to build circularity in its production, and actions taken to build the future generation of the manufacturing workforce. They include:

• Over $400 million in investments to expand and modernize facilities, including its CertainTeed Gypsum plant in Palatka, Florida, its CertainTeed Roofing facility in Peachtree City, Georgia, its CertainTeed Glass Mat facility in Oxford, North Carolina and its CertainTeed Gypsum facility in Montreal, Canada, which will be powered exclusively by hydropower, making it the first net-zero carbon (Scopes 1 and 2) gypsum wallboard manufacturing facility in North America. All of these projects will come online later this year.
• As the leader in light and sustainable construction, Saint-Gobain is working to bring circularity to its production process, with initiatives such as its RenuCore by CertainTeed business, which allows for the recycling of asphalt shingles to be reused in hot mix asphalt paving instead of ending in landfills.
• Through video series such as Success in the Making, Saint-Gobain North America is highlighting the great careers available in the industry, building the manufacturing workforce of tomorrow.

“As a company with a mission of Making the World a Better Home, it is an honor to be recognized for our work to grow in North America, while building more sustainable production practices and the future of the industry,” said Mark Rayfield, President and CEO of Saint-Gobain North America. “This is an award I share with the entire North American team, whose work makes this award possible, and I thank the American Business Awards for this great honor.”

This recognition from the American Business Awards is the latest Saint-Gobain North America has received in recent months for its commitment to Making the World a Better Home:

• Earlier this month, Saint-Gobain announced that it was honored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Plants Program with a 2025 Better Practice Award. Participants in Saint-Gobain’s unique Essentials of Manufacturing program developed, then piloted an Energy Management System program across 4 sites, training 82 individuals in 14 different business units to support sustainability goals through enhanced energy management knowledge and resources;
• In April, Saint-Gobain announced that members of its team were recognized as finalists for three 2025 Manufacturing Leadership Awards by the National Association of Manufacturers including its Circular Economy Solutions team, ONE PRECISION ASSEMBLIES™ by CertainTeed, and CisLee Trost, Project Engineer for CertainTeed;
• In January, Saint-Gobain announced that it had received a strong 90 out of 100 score in the Human Rights Campaign’s Foundation’s 2024-2025 Corporate Equality Index for its commitment to workforce protections and non-discrimination policies, inclusive benefits, and long-running Live Open Employee Resource Group;
• Earlier in January, Saint-Gobain was one of only 17 companies worldwide to be recognized as a global Top Employer by the Top Employer Institute, a honor it has received for the tenth consecutive year.

With over 160 manufacturing locations in the United States and Canada, every current and future member of the company’s team plays a vital role in achieving its sustainability goals. A current list of job openings at all Saint-Gobain locations can be found on the company’s career website.

About Saint-Gobain

Worldwide leader in light and sustainable construction, Saint-Gobain designs, manufactures and distributes materials and services for the construction and industrial markets. Its integrated solutions for the renovation of public and private buildings, light construction and the decarbonization of construction and industry are developed through a continuous innovation process and provide sustainability and performance. The Group, celebrating its 360th anniversary in 2025, remains more committed than ever to its purpose “MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER HOME”.

€46.6 billion in sales in 2024
161,000 employees, locations in 80 countries
Committed to achieving Carbon Neutrality by 2050

For more information about Saint-Gobain, visit www.saint-gobain.com and follow us on Twitter @saintgobain

MEDIA CONTACTS
Peter Clark
(+1) 603 513 8513

Client background

HomeServe USA is a consumer services company that has been providing home repair solutions in North America for nearly 20 years, helping their customers save over one billion dollars on home repairs by providing home repair coverage and local repair services. They work with leading utilities to provide customers with optimal service plans while delivering a seamless experience.

The business challenge

HomeServe had been relying on disparate general ledger and accounting systems and lacked access to accurate and reliable data, resulting in time-consuming accounting processes, especially with bank reconciliation procedures.

They were also burdened by software that required a substantial amount of manual data entry, forcing them to physically run checks through a remote deposit capture machine (RDC) and manually enter cash receipts into the accounting system before reconciling the entries in a massive Excel file to match the checks against a batch deposit in the bank. With so much time spent inputting transactional accounting data, HomeServe didn’t have time to sufficiently analyze it.

HomeServe needed a solution that could:

• Provide better visibility between their technology systems
• Automate manual transactional accounting processes
• Provide impactful data output visualization for executives

Strategy and solution

HomeServe worked with Baker Tilly to implement Sage Intacct and ServiceTitan home services software to bridge gaps between their accounting and finance technology stack and automate workflows. The benefits they experienced were immediate. With Baker Tilly’s support, HomeServe was able to connect their disparate systems, eliminate data silos and gain real-time access to information anytime, anywhere.

“I was impressed with the Baker Tilly implementation team. We got responsiveness, and we didn’t just feel like a number in the queue. We got real-time solutions to actually fix the problems and make them work better going forward.” – Joel Vander Eeems, Director of Accounting for HVAC and Energy Services, HomeServe USA

In addition, HomeServe also moved forward with implementing Baker Tilly’s Home & Commercial Services Module (HCSM) and Home & Commercial Services Intelligence (HCSI) products. Through HCSM, HomeServe has revolutionized its financial operations by automating payment deposits imported into Sage from ServiceTitan, streamlining their refund processes. Additionally, batched payments from ServiceTitan now automatically reconcile with their bank statements, significantly reducing reconciliation time and ensuring accurate financial records. By minimizing manual tasks and discrepancies between accounts, HomeServe has freed its employees to focus on revenue-driving roles.

“We leveraged the Home & Commercial Services Module and migrated to ServiceTitan, which enabled the mobile check capture. The bank reconciliation process time went down to one quarter for one individual and we were able to take that person that was just doing a cash receipts function and they became more outwardly focused on helping our technicians give the best financing solutions in the field and actually helping drive revenue rather than just button clicks.” – Joel Vander Eeems, Director of Accounting for HVAC and Energy Services, HomeServe USA

Lastly, with the in-depth analytics software provided through HCSI, HomeServe no longer needs to pay a third party for market research as they now have access to their service data on an interactive, visual dashboard alongside relevant demographic data. The dashboard’s interactive heat maps also drill down to specific zip codes, allowing them to analyze detailed metrics for each area.

HomeServe expects the resulting insights into membership and revenue trends to create new opportunities to optimize marketing efforts, analyze churn and identify potential memberships. They also plan to use the data for developing targeted advertising and marketing strategies, particularly in areas with low market penetration, to ensure customers are aware of all their services.

“Having Home & Commercial Services Intelligence will give us metrics around membership churn and opportunities for new memberships. That’s going to be a tool for analytics that not only is great for accountants, but great for the operational side of the business.” – Joel Vander Eeems, Director of Accounting for HVAC and Energy Services, HomeServe USA

To learn more about how Baker Tilly’s home and commercial services solutions can help your business, contact us today.

ATLANTA, May 6, 2025 /3BL/ – Georgia-Pacific’s Savannah River mill in Rincon, Georgia, now accepts polyethylene (PE)-coated paper cups in its mixed paper stock for recycling.

It’s the third Georgia-Pacific facility to begin accepting PE-coated cups, joining recycled paper mills in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and Muskogee, Oklahoma. These facilities enable the reuse of fibers from PE-coated cups and other mixed paper stock to produce Georgia-Pacific products such as tissues, towels and napkins.

Georgia-Pacific has partnered closely with the Foodservice Packaging Institute (FPI) and the NextGen Consortium, an industry collaboration managed by Closed Loop Partners’ Center for the Circular Economy, to promote and expand the acceptance of PE-coated cups for recycling.

“As single-use paper cups have grown in popularity in recent years so, too, has paper cup waste,” said John Mulcahy, vice president of stewardship for Georgia-Pacific, which manufactures the Dixie® brand of paper cups. “As a leading manufacturer of paper foodservice products, we continually look for ways to consume fewer resources as part of our longer-term strategy to identify solutions that benefit society. Accepting mixed paper bales containing PE-coated cups at our mills is a significant step in this direction.”

PE coatings, along with any remaining liquid and food left behind from use, have historically left single-use paper cups out of the recovery and recycling process. However, Georgia-Pacific has proven through its extensive re-pulping trials that these mills can effectively recapture valuable cup fiber from paper cups while screening out PE coatings and then reuse the fiber to make bath tissue, napkins and paper towels. 

Kate Daly, managing partner and head of the Center for the Circular Economy at Closed Loop Partners, said Georgia-Pacific’s repulping capability will benefit the foodservice industry and further advance the industry’s environmental stewardship.

“We are excited see Georgia-Pacific continue to accelerate paper cup recycling through its acceptance of cups in mixed paper bales at the Savannah River mill,” Daly said. “There has been tremendous momentum in paper cup recycling over the last several years. This announcement marks another critical step forward for the industry, and we hope even more mills will follow this lead. Georgia-Pacific’s actions and commitment to expanding cup recycling across their portfolio reinforces the value of the materials in paper cups and builds critical markets for these recycled materials. As the managing partner of the NextGen Consortium, Closed Loop Partners’ Center for the Circular Economy continues to collaborate with leaders like Georgia-Pacific and stakeholders across the cup value chain, to keep these valuable materials in play.”

Georgia-Pacific is also collaborating with the NextGen Consortium to trial at its mills next-generation paper cups that have replaced the PE-coating with more bio-based materials that are recyclable and/or compostable.

And with its Rincon, Green Bay and Muskogee mills now engaged, Georgia-Pacific is also working with FPI to expand and accelerate single-use PE-coated paper cup acceptance in curbside recycling programs to increase the number of households that can recycle the paper cups. As the voice of the foodservice packaging industry, FPI is committed to reducing the impact of its products on the environment and to advancing recycling and composting. 

“We’re proud to work with Georgia-Pacific in its effort to recover and reuse poly-coated paper cups,” said Natha Dempsey, president of FPI, “and we look forward to partnering with new communities that previously didn’t have the capability to recycle them.”

View original content here.

At Gilead, we set and achieve bold ambitions in our fight against the world’s most devastating diseases. In this installment of The Centrifuge Sessions, See Phan, Vice President, Oncology Clinical Development, discusses Gilead’s approach to cancer research and how his team is working to deliver innovative therapies that offer new hope for patients.

Gilead Sciences, Inc. 
Gilead Sciences, Inc. is a research-based biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and commercializes innovative medicines in areas of unmet medical need. The company strives to transform and simplify care for people with life-threatening illnesses around the world. Gilead has operations in more than 35 countries worldwide, with headquarters in Foster City, California. 

Originally published by Gilead Sciences

Liza Bobrow didn’t think it was a big deal when her handwriting suddenly went haywire.

“It was just so bizarre,” she remembers. “My handwriting was getting teeny-tiny. I couldn’t even sign a check. I had just turned 50 so I thought ‘I’m getting old. I must have arthritis, or a pinched nerve or writer’s cramp.’ So, when the doctors told me it was Parkinson’s Disease, I was terrified.”

Medication helped at first.

Her handwriting returned to near normal. But Parkinson’s is a progressive disease—it usually worsens over time.

Two years after her diagnosis, the medication began triggering bouts of dystonia. She suffered painful muscle spasms in her feet that made walking difficult. Her right arm would suddenly shoot out and she would have to cradle it back in with her left arm.

“The pain was so bad that I didn’t want to take the medication,” she said. “But without the medicine I struggled with motor skills. It was a terrible time.”

Neurologists eventually suggested deep brain stimulation (DBS), a surgical procedure in which electrodes are implanted in specific spots in the brain to deliver electrical stimulation to help control tremor, rigidity, and bradykinesia. Bobrow and her husband spent six months researching DBS and consulting her doctors before deciding to proceed.

“I had never had surgery in my life, so the idea of brain surgery was pretty scary,” she said. “But I had an incredible experience, and the results are profound. My motor skill fluctuation is less and in general it’s just a feeling of relaxation and comfort in my body that I just didn’t have before DBS.”

Revolutionary leap in DBS therapy

DBS has been around for decades. A pacemaker-like device is implanted in the upper chest and thin wires lead to precise locations in the brain, where electrodes deliver electrical stimulation that can help control some of the symptoms from Parkinson’s.

Even though traditional DBS is proven as a safe and effective treatment for Parkinson’s, the level of stimulation is constant/pre-programmed. But it has limitations. The human body and brain are constantly changing and adjusting, as the various symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and medication levels can fluctuate in intensity throughout the day. So, the amount of electrical stimulation needed to optimally treat Parkinson’s may also change.

“I went through a lot of programming sessions to refine the device settings,” Bobrow said. “You can’t just set it and forget about it.”

For many patients, that’s about to change.

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the Medtronic Adaptive Deep Brain Stimulation (aDBS) system for use in the U.S. for patients with Parkinson’s disease. With aDBS, the electrodes that deliver electrical stimulation can also sense the patient’s brain signals and automatically adjust the level of stimulation to meet the patient’s needs.¹ A few programming adjustment visits may be needed in the first few months after turning on Adaptive Therapy. Patients programmed with Adaptive Therapy may require more programming adjustment visits if they experience stimulation-related side effects or need to further personalize programming settings.

“The aDBS system listens to these brain waves and then algorithms adjust the stimulation in real time according to what the brain waves tell us about their symptoms. It’s a very exciting development,” said Dr. Simon Little, a neurologist at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF).

Living the dream

Liza Bobrow received her DBS device before the FDA approval of aDBS; however, a software upgrade to aDBS does not require surgery. Her device already includes the brain sensing technology^†; if her doctors decide she is a candidate for aDBS, it would be a matter of activating this technology in her current device.

“Adaptability is obviously the next frontier. I can tell that my body has ebbs and flows and clearly real-time stimulation adjustment is something that interests me,” Liza said.

“There’s been a dream in our field for years that a device would be developed that could understand brain signals well enough to auto-deliver stimulation,” added Dr. Philip Starr, professor of neurological surgery at UCSF. “Now the dream is real. This field of neuromodulation is sort of like turning back the clock. It can take people with a chronic disease like Parkinson’s and give them a better quality of life. The rejuvenation that people experience is dramatic and as a clinician it’s a wonderful thing to participate in.”

Learn more about Medtronic.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION https://www.medtronic.com/en-us/healthcare-professionals/specialties/neurology/therapies-procedures/deep-brain-stimulation/conditions/parkinsons-disease.html

DBS Therapy requires brain surgery. Risks may include: surgical complications, infection, failure to deliver therapy as needed and/or worsening of some symptoms.

Product usage represented may not be approved or cleared in all markets.

† The sensing feature of the Percept™ PC and Percept™ RC system is intended for use in patients receiving DBS where chronically recorded bioelectric data may provide useful, objective information regarding patient clinical status.

L001-03112025

References:

1. Stanslaski S, Summers RLS, Tonder L, et al. Sensing data and methodology from the Adaptive DBS Algorithm for Personalized Therapy in Parkinson’s Disease (ADAPT-PD) clinical trial. NPJ Parkinsons Dis. 2024;10(1):174.

By: Adrienne Bourgeois • Senior Communications Specialist, Utility Communications

Because our customers live in areas prone to some of the most severe weather in the country, we prepare for the worst of what Mother Nature might bring. Day after day and year after year, we stand storm ready. We have a proven plan of continuous preparation, planning and training. As severe weather threatens, we monitor, mobilize and act.  

Last year’s storm seasons proved our resiliency and hardening investments are working, but summer can bring a variety of threats. Along with our annual preparations, Entergy is participating in recognizing Hurricane Preparedness Week and Wildfire Awareness Month. 

Hurricane Preparedness Week 
This year, Hurricane Preparedness Week, sponsored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, will be recognized May 1-7, and we are preparing for a potentially active hurricane season. This season, scientists predict there could be 17 named storms with 9 being hurricanes – four of which are predicted to be major hurricanes of Category 3 or higher. This forecast follows a stormy spring season that brought devastating tornadoes to communities we serve in Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. 

Prepare now before the season begins. Take time to get your personal storm plans in place and make a kit with the basic supplies needed in an emergency.  

Stay connected with us throughout a storm  
Keeping our customers and employees informed before, during and after severe weather is important to us. Update your contact information at myEntergy.com to ensure you receive important information. Here are some ways to stay up to date: 

• Notifications: Sign up to stay informed about an outage.
• Entergy app: Download the free mobile app.
• View Outages map: Get details on power outages in your area.
• Storm Center: Be prepared and stay safe – before, during and after the storm.
• Social media: Follow us for updates on major outage events. 

Wildfire Awareness Month  
May is Wildfire Awareness Month, sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Administration. The month will highlight the importance of preparing for the increased risk of wildfires as hotter, drier summer weather approaches.  

While drought conditions and wildfires have not been common in most areas across Entergy’s service territory, we have recently experienced several instances where high winds and the presence of dry fuels have increased our risk for wildfire. Entergy closely monitors many factors that could pose a risk for wildfires – drought conditions, red flag warnings, elevation, humidity, winds, rainfall levels and weather forecasts – so that we can take proactive measures to prevent our work or equipment from sparking a fire. 

Those proactive measures include: 

• Monitoring weather conditions, such as red flag warnings issued by the National Weather Service, and active wildfire threats across our service area.
• Coordinating with local officials and emergency response agencies.
• Monitoring our grid for wildfire risk and implementing appropriate safety measures. 

Safety is one of our core values and we encourage you to make it your top priority. Learn how to make an emergency kit and get important severe weather safety tips on the Entergy Storm Center. 

SANTA BARBARA, Calif., May 5, 2025 – Amy Weaver today officially begins as Chief Executive Officer of Direct Relief, bringing a record of executive leadership and a deep humanitarian commitment to the organization as it scales its operations to aid people affected by poverty, disaster, and conflict worldwide. 

Weaver joins Direct Relief from Salesforce, where she served since 2020 as President and Chief Financial Officer. Over her nearly 12-year tenure at the Fortune 500 company, she also led the global legal and corporate affairs team as Chief Legal Officer and oversaw a wide range of functions, including Global Communications, Real Estate and Workplace Services, Corporate Development, Accessibility, Government Affairs, Audit, and Ethics & Compliance. She has also served on the boards of Habitat for Humanity International and McDonald’s and previously held executive and legal positions at Univar Solutions and Expedia Group.   

“Amy brings precisely the leadership strengths Direct Relief needs at this pivotal moment,” said Mark Linehan, Chair of the Board of Directors. “She combines strategic thinking with operational discipline and has shown throughout her career that she’s a deeply deliberate thinker who puts people first. Her experience managing complex, high-growth organizations, coupled with her commitment to humanitarian causes, makes her ideally suited to lead Direct Relief as it faces the accelerating scale of humanitarian challenges.” 

“It’s an extraordinary honor to lead Direct Relief—an organization widely trusted for its ability to deliver life-saving assistance with speed, precision, and compassion,” Weaver said. “I’m excited to build on its remarkable legacy and help ensure that people facing the most urgent challenges—whether from disasters, poverty, or conflict—receive the care and support they need.” 

Weaver succeeds Thomas Tighe, who served as CEO of Direct Relief for 24 years and led the organization’s expansion into the fifth-largest charity in the United States and one of the largest providers of charitable medications globally. 

Weaver’s appointment also comes just days after Direct Relief was named the 2025 Seoul Peace Prize laureate—a global honor recognizing individuals and organizations that advance peace and human welfare.  

Dr. Byron Scott, who has served as CEO on an interim basis since January 2025, accepted the award on behalf of the organization at a ceremony in Seoul on April 28. “This prize is a reminder that peace begins in the most fundamental way—in supporting the health and well-being of every person,” he said during his remarks. “This is the peace we aim to foster every day.” 

Dr. Scott will now transition back into the role of Chief Operating Officer and President. 

“Under Amy Weaver’s leadership, I’m confident that Direct Relief will continue to expand its impact for people affected by increasingly severe disasters, ongoing conflict, and persistent barriers to healthcare,” Dr. Scott said. “I look forward to working alongside her continue advancing the vital work of Direct Relief.”