Tag: 3BL

Southern Company

Southern Company was again named to FORTUNE’s list of the World’s Most Admired Companies for 2025. The company was listed No. 1 in the electric and gas utilities industry in social responsibility to the community and the environment, financial soundness and long-term investment value.

Dating back to its early beginnings, Southern Company has operated under the ethos of “being a citizen wherever we serve,” ensuring positive impact on each community within the places we live and work. The robust economic activity in the Southeast, complimented by constructive regulatory environments, provides a sound foundation for regular, predictable and sustainable long-term growth.

Exemplifying its recognition for financial soundness, every quarter for 77 consecutive years, Southern Company has paid a dividend to its shareholders that is equal to or greater than the previous quarter.

The World’s Most Admired Companies list is the definitive report card on corporate reputation. Since 1997, FORTUNE has identified, selected and ranked the World’s Most Admired Companies, identifying the business practices that make these companies highly regarded among their peers.

Southern Company’s overall score rose from 6.4 in 2023 to 6.9 in 2024, ranking as one of the top two electric and gas utilities in eight of the nine graded attributes. Among its peers, Southern Company ascended to No. 2 in the categories of innovativeness and wise use of corporate assets. This latest edition saw the company ranked as the world’s No. 2 most-admired electric and gas utility overall.

The ranking bookends a robust 2024 year for Southern Company, highlighted by the completion of the Plant Vogtle expansion project that saw the site emerge as the largest generator of clean energy in the United States. Also garnering recognition was the systemwide efforts made during the recovery from Hurricane Helene, one of the most-devastating storms in the history of the Southern Company service territory. Further details regarding recent accolades collected by the company can be found on the Southern Company website.

Survey Methodology

Fortune collaborated with Korn Ferry on this survey of corporate reputations. The publication began with about 1,500 candidates from a pool of the 1,000 largest U.S. companies ranked by revenue, along with non-U.S. companies in Fortune’s Global 500 database that have revenues of $10 billion or more. The list was narrowed to the highest-revenue companies in each industry, a total of 650 in 30 countries. The top-rated companies were picked from that pool of 650; the executives who voted work at the companies in that group.

To determine the best-regarded companies in 51 industries, Korn Ferry asked executives, directors, and analysts to rate enterprises in their own industry on nine criteria, from investment value and quality of management and products to social responsibility and ability to attract talent. A company’s score must rank in the top half of its industry survey to be listed.

Originally published on Saint-Gobain Newsroom

Saint-Gobain Ceramics, through its subsidiary Saint-Gobain NorPro, recently announced its intent to build a new, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Wheatfield, New York. The facility will revitalize an historic industrial property as the company expands its production of catalyst carriers to serve a fast growing market. With an investment of over $40 million, the company expects to create approximately 30 new full-time jobs upon the completion of the nearly 125,000 sq. foot facility.

The new facility in Wheatfield, which will be co-located with Saint-Gobain Ceramics’ existing Specialty Grains and Powders operations, will expand NorPro’s abilities to manufacture ceramic catalyst carriers that are vital to many industries such as energy production and refining, biofuels and chemical manufacturing. Currently, NorPro operates North American facilities in Bryan, Texas, Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee, and Stow and Norton, Ohio.

Construction is planned to begin later this year, with full project completion expected by 2028. Building design and construction will use many of Saint-Gobain’s light and sustainable building solutions to create a state-of-the-art, energy efficient industrial campus. In an effort to maximize the efficient use of materials for construction and minimize waste, Saint-Gobain plans to repurpose many of the currently viable structures on the campus, utilizing repurposed materials to further reduce embodied carbon emissions on site through circular practices.

“We are excited for NorPro to join the Niagara County community. Our new manufacturing facility in Wheatfield will become our second North America manufacturing site for our catalytic products and will enable us to meet rising customer demand,” said Tihana Tresler, General Manager of Saint-Gobain NorPro. “We thank the Wheatfield community, Niagara County, the New York Power Authority and the State of New York for their support.”

The project is supported with funds from local and state economic investment programs, including $1 million from the New York State Excelsior Program, and other state and local investments. In addition, Saint-Gobain has applied to expand its existing relationship with New York Power Authority (NYPA) to provide additional hydropower for the site expansion.

“We are excited that Saint-Gobain is making an investment in our community that will create new jobs and significantly improve the site on Walmore Road,” said Niagara Country Legislator Rich Andres, Chairman of the Economic Development Committee. “I want to recognize the great efforts of our team at the Niagara County Center for Economic Development for working in partnership with Saint-Gobain to move this exciting project forward. This is the first step to revitalizing the former Bell Aerospace footprint.”

“Upstate New York is becoming a global competitor in advanced manufacturing, thanks to the state’s strategic investments in a skilled workforce, quality of life benefits, and innovative academic-industry partnerships,” said Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Hope Knight. “Western New York was shaped by the might of manufacturing, and there’s no question that the increase of investments by global companies will further add to the region’s growth.”

Saint-Gobain owns over 160 manufacturing locations in the United States and Canada. A current list of job openings at all Saint-Gobain locations, including those in the Greater Buffalo area, can be found on the company’s career website.

Today’s announcement comes as Saint-Gobain celebrates its 360 year anniversary, and continues to strengthen its commitment towards creating industry solutions which create value and have a positive impact on people and the planet.

About Saint-Gobain Ceramics and NorPro

Within its High-Performance Solutions division, Saint-Gobain Ceramics is a global innovator in the world of technical ceramics and aims at engineering a better, safer and greener world. Among its various range of solutions are unique ceramic catalyst support offerings, sold under the NORPRO brand name, for applications in chemical, petrochemical and biofuels markets. 
https://www.norpro.saint-gobain.com/about-us

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”.

https://www.saint-gobain-northamerica.com/careers

€46.6 billion in sales in 2024
More than 161,000 employees, locations in 80 countries
Committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 

At DaVita, we want our teammates to find the right role with flexible shifts to fit their lifestyle so they can grow their career, prioritize their well-being and reach their goals—inside and outside of work. Hear Ansel, Home Hemodialysis Registered Nurse at DaVita, talks about his schedule and the flexibility he has found in his role.

About DaVita Inc.
DaVita (NYSE: DVA) is a health care provider focused on transforming care delivery to improve quality of life for patients globally. As a comprehensive kidney care provider, DaVita has been a leader in clinical quality and innovation for 25 years. DaVita cares for patients at every stage and setting along their kidney health journey—from slowing the progression of kidney disease to helping to support transplantation, from acute hospital care to dialysis at home. As of December 31, 2024, DaVita served approximately 281,100 patients at 3,166 outpatient dialysis centers, of which 2,657 centers were located in the United States and 509 centers were located in 13 other countries worldwide. DaVita has reduced hospitalizations, improved mortality, helped improve health access and worked collaboratively to propel the kidney care community to adopt a higher quality standard of care for all patients, everywhere. To learn more, visit DaVita.com/Newsroom.

ATLANTA, March 10, 2025 /3BL/ – Georgia-Pacific Recycling, a leading trader of recyclable paper, plastic, and metal, is thrilled to share that its online platform, hubbIT, was named a finalist in Georgia State University’s J. Mack Robinson College of Business’ 2025 Marketing Awards for Excellence in Innovation.

Launched in June 2023, hubbIT gives smaller volume recycled materials producers fast and easy access to upfront pricing on more than 50 grades of recyclable paper, plastic, and metal as well as streamlined access to everything Georgia-Pacific Recycling offers its larger volume suppliers. This includes an extensive buying network, logistics and transportation management, convenient scheduling, timely and reliable payments, one-on-one support, and the assurance that Georgia-Pacific Recycling will always manage contracted customers’ recyclable waste, even if the value falls below $0, and the company won’t send it to the landfill.

“All of us at Georgia-Pacific Recycling are honored to be recognized for our efforts to open the recycling marketplace to the tens or even hundreds of thousands of businesses that are currently left out or face significant barriers to participating,” said Blake Gordon, general manager of digital trading with Georgia-Pacific Recycling, referring to businesses that aren’t currently being paid as they could be for their recycled waste.

Gordon continued, “hubbIT has the potential to generate new profit centers for businesses, improve U.S. recycling rates, and divert more recyclable waste from landfills. Being honored by MAX Innovation will go a long way in helping us reach this new customer base and in achieving our goal of driving environmental responsibility for future generations through increased landfill diversion.”

In its first 18 months, hubbIT suppliers collectively received more than $1 million from Georgia-Pacific Recycling and prevented more than 14 million pounds of valuable recyclable paper, plastic, and metal from being landfilled.

Georgia-Pacific Recycling was honored at the 2025 Future of Marketing Conference, which took place in late February in Atlanta. The event is produced in collaboration with the Georgia State University Department of Marketing and its Marketing RoundTable at the Robinson College of Business. The Marketing RoundTable is one of the longest-running Marketing RoundTables in the country, comprising more than 50 senior marketing professionals representing many of Georgia’s premier companies.

About Georgia-Pacific Recycling

Georgia-Pacific Recycling, a division of Georgia-Pacific and a leader in the recycling marketplace for more than 50 years, is one of the largest buyers and sellers of recyclable paper, plastic, and metal in the world. Georgia-Pacific Recycling is the sole source of recycled fiber for Georgia-Pacific’s mill system, which uses more than two million tons of recovered paper each year to make everyday brands like Dixie®, Brawny®, Quilted Northern®, Angel Soft®, and Vanity Fair®. By leveraging traditional trading channels as well as its online platform, hubbIT, Georgia-Pacific Recycling diverts more than five million tons of recycled waste from landfills each year. To learn more, visit www.gapacrecycling.com.

Contact: 

Patty Gibbs 
Patty Gibbs & Company 
651-269-7687 
Patty@pattygibbscompany.com

or

Rachel Ryan 
Georgia-Pacific 
404-333-2076 
Rachel.ryan@gapac.com

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LINCOLN, Neb., March 10, 2025 /3BL/ – Arbor Day Carbon, a subsidiary of the Arbor Day Foundation, has retired over 1.6 million forestry carbon credits on the American Carbon Registry (ACR) — more than any other nonprofit — and helped plant and protect millions of trees as a result.

“Every carbon credit we retire is a win for the present and future of our planet and a record of real, measurable impact,” said Chris Tointon, president of Arbor Day Carbon. “For us, these 1.6+ million retired credits aren’t just numbers on a page. They are a representation of ecosystems restored, forests protected, and communities strengthened.”

Retirement is the final stage of a carbon credit’s life cycle, indicating the credit’s intended benefit (verified emissions removal or reduction) has been achieved and claimed by an organization against their hard to avoid emissions. Arbor Day Carbon’s over 1.6 million retired credits were accomplished through large-scale reforestation and improved forest management projects in the United States.

Arbor Day Carbon has also collaborated extensively with other leading organizations on the American Carbon Registry to help expand the reach and impact of the voluntary carbon market.

“Partnership is foundational to our work. Its why we’ve been able to retire more ACR forestry carbon credits than any other nonprofit, while also helping other organizations reach their goals,” said Jeremy Manion, managing director of carbon markets for Arbor Day Carbon. “We all achieve more when we symbiotically work together.”

In addition to the over 1.6 million ACR forestry carbon credits retired by Arbor Day Carbon, the organization has also transacted approximately 6.4 million more forestry carbon credits on leading global standards Verra, Plan Vivo, and Climate Action Reserve. As a team of industry experts, Arbor Day Carbon specializes in fostering strong connections with corporate buyers, investors, project developers, and on-the-ground planting partners to create tangible benefits for critical ecosystems. To learn more about Arbor Day Carbon, visit arborday.org/carbon.

About the Arbor Day Foundation 

The Arbor Day Foundation is a global nonprofit inspiring people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. They foster a growing community of more than 1 million leaders, innovators, planters, and supporters united by their bold belief that a more hopeful future can be shaped through the power of trees. For more than 50 years, they’ve answered critical need with action, planting more than half a billion trees alongside their partners. And this is only the beginning.

The Arbor Day Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit pursuing a future where all life flourishes through the power of trees. Learn more at arborday.org.

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As a family-owned business, Bacardi is proud of its 163-year legacy and the team dedicated to preserving the stories of its heritage brands. This Women’s Month, Bacardi spotlights the woman at the helm of this team, Jacqui Seargeant – Global Heritage Manager, as she describes her journey to this unique role in the spirits industry, her favorite pieces of the collections, and the person from the past she’d love to share a cocktail with.

What’s a day in the life like for you?

As the Global Heritage Manager for all of our history at Bacardi, no two days are the same; one day I may be preserving a collection of 100-year-old glass bottles from the early days of our company, or working with our marketing teams to find the best stories to represent our brands today. With collections across the globe including BACARDÍ rum in Miami, DEWAR’S Blended Scotch whisky in Scotland, MARTINI vermouth in Italy, and BÉNÉDICTINE Liqueur in France, the storytelling opportunities are endless. Across these sites we preserve more than 150,000 physical items. If you laid our archive shelving end to end, it would be more than 75 times the height of the Statue of Liberty – and that number continues to grow every day!

Recently I spent time at our company global headquarters in Bermuda, coordinating the restoration of a stunning 11-metre-long mural that depicts the tropical landscape of Cuba, the original home of Bacardi. Even after 25 years on the job, exciting new projects like this one pop up everyday thanks to the diversity and breadth of our brands and collections.

What inspires you about your role as an archivist?

As a student at Glasgow University, I fell in love with archives at the age of 21 because I could see they were forgotten worlds with traces of people and moments from the past, waiting to be rediscovered.

What are your favorite items in the collections?

I love the centuries-old handwritten documents and ledgers of our founders. As I read them, I can imagine the person sitting there, making their mark and recording the urgent business of the day. The handwriting is so frenetic that you just know these people were in a hurry to do business!

Our cocktail book collection is one of the oldest and largest in the world, where we can discover drinking trends of the day through cocktail recipes, bartender insights and even trace the origins of cocktails like the Cuba Libre, which was first mixed with BACARDÍ rum 125 years ago.

I also enjoy the various promotional items our brands have created over the years. Each tells us a story about social moments of the past – like beautiful glassware in the MARTINI collection that defined a generation of the Italian aperitivo time or one of the smallest items we might have: a branded silver toothpick for after your meal!

What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

A former-archivist and friend of mine became a coach to help women unlock their confidence and achieve their potential. Each New Year on her podcast she challenges her listeners to set an intention for the year and to think about what we want from the year and focus on what is important to each of us. This year, I did just that – I created a plan for the year ahead from which I can chart progress and achievements in both my personal and professional life. I set targets to connect with friends I haven’t spoken to in a while, read authors I haven’t yet got around to, and sign up for new experiences and opportunities to step out of my comfort zone at work.

How do you pay it forward to other women?

One of the ways I give back to women in my company is by co-leading a Menopause awareness program at our Bacardi UK Supply site. Menopause can severely affect a woman’s time at work; according to the 2022 Biote Women in the Workplace Survey, nearly 1 in 5 women considered quitting or quit their jobs due to menopause symptoms. Our Bacardi program supports anyone going through it, boosts awareness of symptoms and solutions, and educates managers to better care for their teams. It should be a time of reinvention, not a time of crisis.

If you could enjoy a cocktail with any historical figure, who would it be and what would you ask?

I would love to share a glass of DEWAR’S with Una Cameron, the granddaughter of John Dewar, founder of DEWAR’S whisky.

I have a little book from her library ‘The Lore of the Wanderer’, which was given to me by her family, and it contains lots of amusing essays about nature and the outdoors. Una achieved a number of first ascents during the 1930s. She was an accomplished artist as well as a mountaineer – two pastimes close to my heart.

I imagine spending a day at her villa in Italy, in which we would go walking in the hills around Villa Cameron in the morning. I could ask her about her favourite mountaineering moments and memories of her Dewar family members and then spend the afternoon learning from her artistic expertise. She passed away in 1987, long before I even had a love of the mountains.

What’s your advice to other women leaders? 

I set a word for the year that I use to guide my intention and help me make decisions. This year my word is ‘appreciate’. For me, it is important to appreciate the everyday moments in life, to enjoy the very moment I’m in and not be wishing my days away!

Related Content

Journey through the DEWAR’S Archives, presented by Jacqueline Seargeant 
Bacardi Named Among Top Companies for Women by Forbes in 2024

AMSTERDAM, HONG KONG, and OAKLAND, Calif., March 10, 2025 /3BL/ – The Cascale Forum: Ho Chi Minh City, taking place on May 14-15, will bring together manufacturers, suppliers, brands, retailers, and key industry stakeholders to drive actionable solutions for decarbonization, environmental performance, responsible purchasing practices, and audit fatigue. With a focus on sustainable production, the forum underscores the critical role Vietnam plays as the world’s second-largest textile, apparel, and footwear exporter.

Open to both members and industry stakeholders, the event marks the first time Cascale’s Manufacturer and Brand & Retail Forums are combined into one unifying platform. Set in one of the world’s most critical manufacturing hubs, the two-day immersive event will address urgent sustainability challenges and opportunities, fostering collaboration between key industry actors and associated stakeholders. This year’s agenda is shaped by leaders from the Apparel Impact Institute (Aii), Crystal International, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Hirdaramani Group, New Balance, Puma Group, and the Vietnam Textile & Apparel Association (VITAS), who serve on the event’s advisory council.

“There could not be a better time or place to convene on sustainability challenges given the evolving regulatory landscape and resounding appeal for industry to fill in the gaps where promises are often falling short. Sustainability is no longer a ‘nice to have,’ it’s a business imperative,” said Colin Browne, Cascale CEO, who will deliver the opening address. “Cascale Forum: Ho Chi Minh City is an opportunity for stakeholders to embed future-proofing practices into core business strategies to drive growth, resilience, and lasting impact. We are honored to host it in Vietnam, a country who remains committed to delivering on green initiatives while being in close proximity to the sourcing regions and manufacturer networks who see the first-hand impacts of the climate crisis and deepening injustices.”

“Partnering with Cascale at its forum in Vietnam is a great opportunity to bring together manufacturers and brand leaders in one of the world’s key manufacturing hubs,” said Scott Raskin, CEO of Worldly, Lead Partner of Cascale Forum: Ho Chi Minh City. “Suppliers are facing growing pressure to meet sustainability targets, navigate complex reporting requirements, and manage audit fatigue—all while continuing to run their businesses. By working together, Worldly and Cascale are creating solutions that increase visibility, improve transparency, and foster real collaboration between brands and their suppliers. Our goal is to make it easier for manufacturers to share data once, reduce redundancies, and focus on meaningful progress—reducing environmental impact while improving working conditions. This partnership is about breaking down barriers and helping the entire supply chain move forward together.”

Vietnam is a critical region for sustainable consumer goods production, with a particular concentration in textile, apparel, and footwear, and luggage. With $44 billion in revenue in 2024 – an over 11 percent increase, as compared to the previous year – it is now the world’s second largest textile, apparel, and footwear exporter, next to China. VITAS aims for over $47 billion in export revenue this year, while continuing to deliver on commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by transitioning to renewable energy sources, part of the country’s ambition to become carbon neutral by 2050. This reflects Cascale’s goal of delivering a 45% reduction of GHGs across the apparel industry value chain by 2030, executed through collaborative climate action programs like the Industry Decarbonization Roadmap and GIZ PDP Solar Rooftop Initiative, which support decarbonization efforts for manufacturers in Vietnam.

As one of just a few events where the entire consumer goods value chain can gather to align on shared objectives, Cascale Forum: Ho Chi Minh City reflects the theme: “Co-Creating Tomorrow: Unified Action for People & Planet.” The event will feature thought-provoking sessions including updates on Cascale’s Higg Index tools, exclusively available on Worldly, as well as visionary speakers, a dynamic exhibition area, and specialized training sessions that provide certifications to enhance organizational credibility and demonstrate commitment to environmental and social sustainability.

“Echoing the theme ‘Co-Creating Tomorrow: Unified Action for People & Planet,’ I look forward to joining all the industry peers at the Cascale Forum: Ho Chi Minh City to drive collective actions and bring actionable insights for our shared vision. Representing the voice from the manufacturers’ perspective, I envision driving impactful change in the global fashion value chain,” said Kyle Chung, assistant general manager, corporate quality and sustainability, Crystal Group Limited.

“The Cascale Forum: Ho Chi Minh City serves as an invaluable platform for driving meaningful discussions and collaboration on sustainability. At Hirdaramani Apparel, we are committed to fostering innovation and shared solutions that promote sustainable practices. This forum empowers industry leaders to collectively shape a more sustainable future for the global apparel sector,” said Leonie Vaas, general manager, sustainability at Hirdaramani Apparel.

“At New Balance, we believe in fostering greater sustainability through collective action. The only way to create a more responsible apparel and footwear industry for the future is by collaborating closely with peers, supply chain partners, and communities,” said Tony Hung, supply chain sustainability manager, New Balance.

“We’ve listened closely to our members and the broader industry, taking a hard look at where we can make the greatest impact. The Cascale Forum: Ho Chi Minh City is the culmination of that effort—a program designed to bring together key players across the value chain, with the manufacturer’s voice at the core. This event offers a unique platform to collaborate, learn, and take action on the most pressing issues in sustainability. It’s more than just an event; it’s an opportunity to be part of the movement toward real, measurable change in our industry,” said Lee Green, Senior Director, Marketing & Communications, Cascale.

For more information on sessions, speakers, and sponsorship, please visit the event webpage.

ABOUT CASCALE

Cascale is the global nonprofit alliance empowering collaboration to drive equitable and restorative business practices in the consumer goods industry. Formerly known as the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, Cascale owns and develops the Higg Index, which is exclusively available on Worldly, the most comprehensive sustainability data and insights platform. Cascale unites over 300 retailers, brands, manufacturers, governments, academics, and NGO/nonprofit affiliates around the globe through one singular vision: To catalyze impact at scale and give back more than we take to the planet and its people.

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By Liz Peters and Kristen Coco

We can learn a lot from history, especially when it comes to scientific advancements in the field of public health. Some of the earliest public health professionals were architects, designing spaces that responded to our bodies’ needs.

As highlighted in the IWBI Special Report, in the late 1800s, when tuberculosis was killing one in every seven people in the U.S. and Europe, doctors found an unexpected ally: architects. Medical professionals recognized that patient health was tied to their environments, leading architects to design sanatoriums filled with light, fresh air and access to nature. These spaces helped people heal.

Today, we know that buildings play a vital role in our well-being, though the people behind them often went unnoticed—many of them women.

In celebration of International Women’s Day, we’re reflecting on influential leaders in public health.

An original champion of the workplace, Alice Hamilton (February 27, 1869 – September 22, 1970) was a leading expert in the field of occupational health. She was a pioneer in the field of toxicology, studying occupational illnesses and the dangerous effects of industrial metals and chemical compounds on the human body, notably lead poisoning. Hamilton published numerous benchmark studies that helped raise awareness of dangers in the workplace.

“No young doctor nowadays can hope for work as exciting and rewarding.”

Professor Christhina Candido is an architect who directs the SHE – Sustainable and Healthy Environments – Lab at the University of Melbourne, Australia. The SHE Lab develops a program of applied research aimed at understanding how the built environment can improve sustainability and health. A champion of the WELL movement, WELL Faculty member and member of the IWBI Global Research Advisory, Candido frequently publishes work related to enhancing the human experience in the built environment.

“People are starting to realize that we need to be provided with different types of infrastructure, different spaces within the same open office plan to actually do all of our activities, because we don’t do the same thing during the whole day.”

Clare Cooper Marcus is an exemplary figure in environmental psychology and architecture, focused on the relationship between the built environment and well-being, emphasizing the public health benefits of green spaces, natural light and the integration of nature into residential and public buildings–finding gardens to be a therapeutic outlet. Based in the UK, she worked on projects that highlighted the importance of building designs that promote mental and physical health, particularly in urban areas.

“Research has shown that if people have certain conditions and then have access to nature, they may call for fewer pain killers. That’s certainly significant.”

City-phile Jane Jacobs’ (May 4, 1916 – April 25, 2006) work in urban planning and design had a profound effect on public health. With a focus on New York City, she advocated for community-based urban planning and fought against urban renewal projects that disrupted local communities. Her ideas, particularly about walkable neighborhoods, mixed-use developments and the importance of green spaces have influenced public health by emphasizing environments that promote physical and mental well-being.

“Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.”

Michelle A. Williams, SM ’88, ScD, is a renowned epidemiologist, an award-winning educator, and a widely recognized academic leader. Since stepping down as Dean of the Faculty at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, she joined Stanford University’s School of Medicine faculty as a tenured Professor of Epidemiology and Population Health. Prior to becoming Dean, she was Professor and Chair of the Department of Epidemiology at the Harvard Chan School and Program Leader of the Population Health and Health Disparities Research Programs at Harvard’s Clinical and Translational Sciences Center.

Over the course of her career in public health, Dr. Williams has dedicated herself to advancing innovative research, training the next generation of public health professionals and communicating evidenced-based information that can help individuals and policy makers improve public health.

Recently, Dr. Williams joined IWBI at our WELL Conference, serving as a key signatory of the International Healthy Building Accord, seeking to redefine the future of our built environment, emphasizing the critical role of health in building design, construction and operations.

“If we are looking for improving health [and] decreasing disparities, we’re going to have to make sure that we are collecting high-quality data on human behaviors, as well as the social and physical environment.”

View original content here.

By Kim Borges

“It was something like I’d never seen before.”

In 2020, Shalonda Tillman witnessed a moment at a running track that literally stopped her in her tracks.

“It was not your typical ‘get out there and run’ practice,” Tillman continued of the first time she observed Cedric Vaughn – known as “Coach Vaughn” – in action.

Tillman, a Regions Bank branch manager and herself a runner and certified trainer, had been looking for someone to train with her 14-year-old son.

“Jayce was a basketball player, and we wanted him to do track for conditioning,” explained Tillman. “I learned more about what Cedric does during a guided discovery conversation we had at the bank. When I saw him that day at practice, I told my son, ‘You’re going to go to the best of the best. He’s amazing.’”

When I saw him that day at practice, I told my son, ‘You’re going to go to the best of the best. He’s amazing.’
Shalonda Tillman, Regions Bank branch manager

You see, what Cedric does involves far more than logging miles at competitive track events. This is about helping youth run life’s race.

“We focus on character, accountability and leadership,” said Vaughn, who founded the organization Fellowship of Champions back in 2014. “During skill drills, I’m doing a lot of coaching, we’re doing a lot of talking. My goal is to make sure no kid had a bad day.”

A Little Rock, Arkansas, native, Vaughn, who ran the 200- and 400-meter dashes and 400-meter hurdles while attending the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, has always appreciated the value of coaching.

During skill drills, I’m doing a lot of coaching, we’re doing a lot of talking. My goal is to make sure no kid had a bad day.
Cedric Vaughn, Fellowship of Champions Founder

Which takes us back to that conversation he had with Tillman at Regions’ West Little Rock Branch four years ago.

“My wife knew Shalonda,” said Vaughn. “I told her I wanted to start my business, had never done anything like this, and I’d heard good things about her. The first thing she said was, ‘I want to help you.’ I just couldn’t believe someone wanted to help me.”

Tillman began researching options to help Vaughn formally establish Fellowship of Champions.

“The first thing she did was help me get my business license,” said Vaughn. “I couldn’t get certain things without it. She literally helped me get established as a business.”

Next, Tillman worked with Regions’ Underwriting team and identified a Small Business Administration loan as viable solutions to help Fellowship of Champions scale to the next level.

“I was working three jobs, so it was so critical at that time,” said Vaughn. “Shalonda was critical in me having some stability.”

Tillman’s focus allowed Vaughn to focus on coaching more youth – from less than 10 in the earliest days to 150-plus today ranging in age from four to 23.

“Shalonda was working on things even when I couldn’t,” said Vaughn. “It would be nine or ten o’clock at night and she’d say, ‘I will make sure you get what you need.’ She became the person I trusted to give me advice, to get me here.”

Vaughn, who’s also worked with fellow nonprofits like High Impact Movement, is giving youth advice to get them where they are, too.

“My biggest battle is letting them know they don’t have to buy into being something that’s not going to be a blessing to their lives,” said Vaughn. “This is about making people better because someday, they’ll be somebody’s mom, somebody’s dad.”

And before that, they’ll likely be somebody’s employee.

Last year, Vaughn was walking through a Colorado airport when he heard, “Coach Vaughn!”

“This young man had earned a major role in the airport’s Baggage Claim department,” said Vaughn of a former Fellowship of Champions participant. “He said, ‘I never would’ve made it had you not believed in me.’ He told me the opportunity to run put him on the right track. Those moments mean more than gold medals.”

Vaughn is now experiencing more moments like those thanks to Tillman’s support. And, this month, her support is expanding by teaching Regions NextStep® financial education classes to students.

Cedric focuses on three disciplines in his coaching– the physical, the spiritual and the financial.
Shalonda Tillman

“Cedric focuses on three disciplines in his coaching– the physical, the spiritual and the financial,” said Tillman. “We’ll be touching on the financial piece to help with budgeting and saving.”

Four years after that first practice, Vaughn continues to keep in touch with Jayce.

“He still checks on him to make sure he’s doing O.K.,” said Tillman. “Jayce credits him for teaching him to unlock his full potential and strive for excellence. He remains an important part of Jayce’s life.”

And the Tillmans remain an important part of Vaughn’s.

“Shalonda is a like a sister to me,” he said. “I’ve been there for her son; she’s been there for my daughter. We go past Regions at this point.”

“Everything Cedric touches, he changes for the better,” said Tillman. “He’s what a coach should be. I’m grateful for that. I’m grateful for him.”

This week, Deanna Bratter, Chief Sustainability Officer at Crocs, Inc., joins Alyssa Zucker to talk about the company’s pioneering initiatives in the circular economy. They discuss Crocs, Inc.’s introduction of the Keep It Going Classic Clog, made with 25% recycled content, and the 2023 launch of their retail take-back program. Tune in for highlights of the challenges and strategies associated with the program, including customer reactions and scalability. Plus, Crocs, Inc.’s social responsibility initiatives within their supply chain, and so much more! 

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