Tag: 3BL

NEW YORK, March 6, 2025 /3BL/ – Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose (CECP) announces a new Innovation Partner, which is a collaboration designed to add efficiency to the process that companies undertake to complete the CECP Giving in Numbers™ survey, more easily extracting their companies’ data in a compatible format. Bonterra is the newest addition to companies using software from CECP’s Innovation Partners. This partnership model is designed to support how companies use their corporate social investment data to make greater impact.

“Our collaboration with these Innovation Partners prioritizes how to more efficiently meet companies’ needs,” said Daryl Brewster, CEO of CECP. “With corporate leaders being pulled in multiple directions, these partnerships simplify measurement processes and enhance the user experience across software platforms and CECP’s Giving in Numbers Survey. Our focus remains on improving efficiency and reducing duplication, ensuring that companies can maximize their impact in their communities.”

Drawing from the Giving in Numbers™: 2024 Edition, the premier industry survey and research providing standard-setting criteria in a go-to guide, CECP found that 87% of surveyed companies reference applying their corporate purpose as they made business decisions outside of social investments. Recognizing the significance of measurement and data, CECP consistently works to simplify the process for companies, enabling them to become increasingly up to date, knowledgeable, and strategic in their efforts.

“At Bonterra, our motto is “For the greatest good.” To us, that means using technology and data to make it easier for everyone — from nonprofits to foundations and companies — to achieve more for their missions,” said Scott Brighton, CEO of Bonterra. “Companies play an enormous role in the future of social good, and we’re proud that this partnership with CECP can ensure they can easily report and share knowledge, find inspiration, and grow their impact during a time when it’s needed more than ever.”

CECP’s Innovation Partners showcase their commitment to advancing industry benchmarking and trends. By simplifying data submissions, these partnerships enhance business case analysis, strategic benchmarking, and trend insights for leaders across all sectors who rely on the Giving in Numbers report. Corporate leaders interested in or already contributing to the research will benefit from pre-formatted data, reducing time and effort when completing the Giving in Numbers Survey.

To learn more about these partnerships, contact CECP at info@cecp.co.

CECP’s Giving in Numbers™ has defined the field and advanced the movement. Over 23 years, CECP has created the largest dataset on trends in the industry, shared by more than 600 multi-billion-dollar companies, representing more than $439 billion in corporate social investments over that time span. The report is embraced by professionals across all sectors globally to understand how corporations invest in society, with topics ranging from cash and in-kind/product, employee volunteerism and giving, and impact measurement. From quick questions to presentations to company teams, boards, and CEOs, CECP is the only business counsel and network dedicated to driving measurable return on purpose, analyzing Giving in Numbers data to provide customized insights to advance strategy and measure the business value.

About Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose (CECP)

Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose® (CECP) is the only business counsel and network dedicated to driving measurable returns on purpose. We promote responsible purpose-driven business as it increases customer loyalty, builds employee engagement, improves brand trust, attracts top talent, connects with strategic investors, and contributes to the bottom line.

More than 200 of the world’s leading companies seek to improve their return on purpose through access to CECP’s solutions in insights and benchmarking. With our companies, we harness the power of purpose for business, stakeholders, and society.

For more information, visit http://cecp.co.

About Bonterra 
Bonterra is technology for the greatest good — helping nonprofits, charitable foundations, and socially responsible companies raise more, give more, and get more for their missions. With leading solutions across fundraising and engagement, corporate social responsibility, and case management, we’re innovating with a higher purpose: to increase giving to 3% of US GDP by 2033, creating $573 billion more in global impact every year. Learn more at www.bonterratech.com.

French version

Veolia strengthens its activities in Canada and announces the signing of a strategic contract with Metro Vancouver (a federation of 21 municipalities, one electoral area, and one treaty First Nation totaling over three million residents) to manage the operations and maintenance of its waste-to-energy facility.180,000 megawatts of electricity produced every year by processing about one quarter of Metro Vancouver’s waste.In line with its objectives to produce low-carbon local energy Veolia will be assisting the Region with the development of a district energy system to triple the amount of energy the facility can recover by using some of the steam generated through the combustion of garbage to provide heat and hot water to up to 50,000 homes.

Already strongly established and committed in Canada, Veolia announces that it will assume operations and maintenance of the Metro Vancouver Waste-to-Energy Facility, located in Burnaby, in Canada.

The facility processes about one quarter of Metro Vancouver’s waste producing approximately 180,000 megawatts per year of electricity (enough to power 16,000 homes) and recovering about 5,000 tonnes of recyclable metal per year. Metro Vancouver is also developing a district energy system that will triple the amount of energy the facility can recover, by using some of the steam generated through the combustion of garbage to provide heat and hot water to up to 50,000 homes in Vancouver and Burnaby.

The operations and maintenance contract is for five years with two potential five-year extensions in the amount of up to $245 million for operations, maintenance and capital replacement work at the Metro Vancouver Waste-to-Energy Facility effective Mach 3, 2025.

“We are very proud to continue to work with Metro Vancouver to provide this safe, reliable, and essential waste management service to the region,” declared Denis Chesseron, Country Director and CEO – Veolia Canada “As a global leader in ecological transformation, we don’t just want to provide a high-quality service. We want to establish increasingly efficient models based on our combined expertise. Veolia is currently present in 44 countries around the world and our goal is to capitalize on our experience to lead ambitious and high-performance projects. This is what we are doing here in Burnaby, in line with our GreenUp strategic program in which local low-carbon energy production is a growth booster: we are using our expertise to help develop a system that will triple the amount of energy recovered by the facility to provide heat and hot water to the local network.”

Veolia has operated in Canada since 1978 providing water, waste and energy services and technologies to municipal and commercial customers. In addition to the Metro Vancouver facility, Veolia also operates 60 other waste-to-energy facilities globally that generate 5.76 terrawatts of clean energy and 3 terrawatts of heat. Veolia also has an extensive background and expertise in district energy projects operating systems.

ABOUT VEOLIA

Veolia group aims to become the benchmark company for ecological transformation. Present on five continents with 215,000 employees, the Group designs and deploys useful, practical solutions for the management of water, waste and energy that are contributing to a radical turnaround of the current situation. Through its three complementary activities, Veolia helps to develop access to resources, to preserve available resources and to renew them. In 2024, the Veolia group provided 111 million inhabitants with drinking water and 98 million with sanitation, produced 42 million megawatt hours of energy and treated 65 million tonnes of waste. Veolia Environnement (Paris Euronext: VIE) achieved consolidated revenue of 44.7 billion euros in 2024. 
www.veolia.com 

CONTACT

Wesley Muir 
Tel. +1 416 931 3826 
wesley.muir@veolia.com

English version

Veolia renforce ses activités au Canada et annonce la signature d’un contrat stratégique avec le Grand Vancouver (une fédération de 21 municipalités, une circonscription électorale et une Première Nation signataire d’un traité totalisant plus de trois millions de résidents) pour gérer l’exploitation et l’entretien de ses installations de valorisation énergétique des déchets.180 000 mégawatts d’électricité produits chaque année en traitant environ le quart des déchets du Grand Vancouver.Conformément à ses objectifs de production d’énergie bas carbone, Veolia aidera la Région à développer un système énergétique de district pour tripler la quantité d’énergie récupérée par l’installation, en utilisant une partie de la vapeur produite par la combustion des déchets pour fournir de la chaleur et de l’eau chaude à 50 000 foyers. 

Déjà solidement établie et engagée au Canada, Veolia annonce qu’elle assumera l’exploitation et l’entretien de l’installation de valorisation énergétique des déchets du Grand Vancouver, située à Burnaby, au Canada.

L’installation traite environ un quart des déchets de la région métropolitaine de Vancouver, produisant environ 180 000 mégawatts d’électricité par an (assez pour alimenter 16 000 foyers) et valorisant environ 5 000 tonnes de métal recyclable par an. La région métropolitaine de Vancouver développe également un système énergétique de district qui triplera la quantité d’énergie récupérée par l’installation, en utilisant une partie de la vapeur produite par la combustion des déchets pour fournir de la chaleur et de l’eau chaude à 50 000 foyers à Vancouver et à Burnaby.

Le contrat d’exploitation et d’entretien est d’une durée de cinq ans, avec deux prolongations potentielles de cinq ans, pour un montant maximal de 245 millions de dollars pour les travaux d’exploitation, d’entretien et de remplacement des biens d’équipement dans l’installation de valorisation énergétique des déchets de la région métropolitaine de Vancouver à compter du 3 mars 2025.

« Nous sommes très fiers de continuer à travailler avec le Grand Vancouver pour offrir ce service de gestion des déchets sûr, fiable et essentiel à la région », a déclaré Denis Chesseron, Directeur Pays et Directeur général – Veolia Canada.. « En tant que leader mondial de la transformation écologique, nous ne voulons pas seulement offrir un service de haute qualité. Nous voulons établir des modèles de plus en plus efficaces basés sur notre expertise combinée. Veolia est actuellement présente dans 44 pays à travers le monde et notre objectif est de capitaliser sur notre expérience pour mener des projets ambitieux et performants. C’est ce que nous faisons ici à Burnaby, conformément à notre programme stratégique GreenUp dans lequel la production locale d’énergie bas carbone stimule la croissance : nous mettons à profit notre expertise pour aider à développer un système qui triplera la quantité d’énergie récupérée par l’installation pour fournir de la chaleur et de l’eau chaude au réseau local. »

Veolia exerce ses activités au Canada depuis 1978 en fournissant des services et des technologies dans les domaines de l’eau, des déchets et de l’énergie à des collectivités publiques et à des clients commerciaux. En plus de cette installation du Grand Vancouver, Veolia gère également 60 autres installations de valorisation énergétique des déchets dans le monde qui génèrent 5,76 térawatts d’énergie propre et 3 térawatts de chaleur. Veolia possède également une expérience importante et une grande expertise dans les systèmes d’exploitation de projets énergétiques de district. 

À PROPOS DE VEOLIA

Le groupe Veolia a pour ambition de devenir l’entreprise de référence en matière de transformation écologique. Présent sur les cinq continents avec 215 000 collaborateurs, le Groupe conçoit et déploie des solutions utiles et pratiques pour la gestion de l’eau, des déchets et de l’énergie qui contribuent à changer radicalement la situation actuelle. Par le biais de ses trois activités complémentaires, Veolia contribue à développer l’accès aux ressources, à préserver les ressources disponibles et à les renouveler. En 2024, le groupe Veolia a fourni de l’eau potable à 111 millions d’habitants et des installations sanitaires à 98 millions, produit 42 millions de mégawattheures d’énergie et traité 65 millions de tonnes de déchets. Veolia Environnement (Paris Euronext : VIE) a réalisé un chiffre d’affaires consolidé de 44,7 milliards d’euros en 2024.
www.veolia.com 

CONTACT

Wesley Muir
Tél. : + 1 416 931 3826
wesley.muir@veolia.com

SAINT JOHN, New Brunswick, March 6, 2025 /3BL/ – DP World, a global leader in logistics and supply chain solutions, has announced a $45,000 commitment over the next three years to Eastern Charlotte Waterways (ECW) to support critical research and conservation efforts in the Musquash Estuary Marine Protected Area (MPA). 

The funding will aid ECW’s ongoing work to manage invasive plant species, promote biodiversity, and implement conservation strategies to safeguard the MPA’s marine ecosystem. This initiative underscores DP World’s dedication to environmental sustainability and marks a significant step toward protecting one of Eastern Canada’s most ecologically important estuarine environments.

The partnership builds on ECW’s existing research into invasive plant species such as Phragmites australis (common reed), Frangula alnus (glossy buckthorn), and Fallopia japonica (Japanese knotweed), which threaten the estuary’s biodiversity. With DP World’s support, ECW will expand monitoring efforts, refine removal strategies, and engage local communities in conservation activities. 

Doug Smith, CEO of DP World in Canada, said: “At DP World, we recognize the importance of preserving and restoring natural habitats. Our partnership with Eastern Charlotte Waterways demonstrates our commitment to sustainability and meaningful environmental action. By supporting scientific research and conservation efforts, we aim to play a proactive role in preserving New Brunswick’s coastal environment for generations to come.”

Preliminary efforts, which began last year, included mapping invasive species across 13 sections of the estuary to identify priority areas for intervention. The next phase of the project will focus on targeted removal, restoration of native plant species, and long-term ecological monitoring to assess.

A Shared Commitment to Environmental Stewardship

As one of the last ecologically intact estuaries in the Bay of Fundy, the Musquash Estuary plays a vital role in supporting a diverse range of plant and animal species. Designated as a Marine Protected Area by the Canadian government, it faces increasing threats from invasive species that disrupt native ecosystems and alter habitat conditions. By supporting ECW’s scientific monitoring and restoration efforts, DP World is helping to preserve this unique coastal habitat.

Kalen Mawer, Executive Director at ECW, said: “Our partnership with DP World has enabled us to expand our research and conservation efforts in this sensitive habitat. Industry-NGO partnerships like this one are important drivers of efforts that can have benefits for rural communities and environments which may not always receive the attention they need.”

Charlotte Bartlett, Project Biologist at ECW, said: “This funding will enable us to implement more effective strategies for managing invasive species and protecting the estuary’s biodiversity. It represents a long-term investment in the health of one of Canada’s most significant marine environments.”

In addition to financial support, DP World is exploring opportunities for employee engagement in hands-on conservation activities, including fieldwork and restoration efforts, further reinforcing its commitment to environmental responsibility.

– END –

DP World Americas Media Contact:

Melina Vissat, Head of Communications
M: (+1) 704-605-6159
E: melina.vissat@dpworld.com

About DP World 

DP World is reshaping the future of global trade to improve lives everywhere. Operating across six continents with a team of over 100,000 employees, we combine global infrastructure and local expertise to deliver seamless supply chain solutions. From Ports and Terminals to Marine Services, Logistics and Technology, we leverage innovation to create better ways to trade, minimizing disruptions from the factory floor to the customer’s door.

In the Americas, DP World operates with a team of over 16,000 people across 12 countries, driving excellence through a robust network of 14 ports and terminals and more than 40 warehouses. By harnessing our global reach and local expertise, we simplify logistics, enhance operational performance, and redefine the boundaries of what’s possible in global trade.

WE MAKE TRADE FLOW.

For more insights into how DP World is reshaping global trade, visit our website: www.dpworld.com

Originally published on Aflac Newsroom

Aflac’s support of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) in Washington, D.C., continues as they become one of the newest members of its Corporate Leadership Council. Aflac was also a founding supporter of the museum – the Smithsonian’s newest – when it opened to international acclaim in September 2016.

“Our company recognizes the importance of preserving our nation’s cultural heritage through research, collections, exhibitions and conservation,” Aflac Senior Vice President and General Counsel Audrey Tillman said. “Aflac is pleased to join other corporate leaders in helping the museum tell the American story through the lens of African American history and culture.”

The 400,000-square-foot museum – which is free and open to the public 364 days a year – is the nation’s largest and most comprehensive cultural destination devoted to exploring, documenting and showcasing the African American story and its impact on American and world history. Over the last nine years, the museum’s 12 inaugural exhibitions, collection of over 44,000 objects, and an array of educational, public and digital programs have engaged over 11.7 million visitors in person and an additional 35 million users via the NMAAHC website.

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EXP 03/26

Every day, Covia’s Team Members make a positive difference, both at work and in their communities. 2024 was no different, and we’re excited to recognize these outstanding efforts through several awards and accolades.

The Covia Excellence Awards are an annual celebration dedicated to highlighting the outstanding work and contributions of Team Members, project teams, and plants across North America. We are proud to announce this year’s award winners and invite you to join us in celebrating their remarkable accomplishments.

The 2024 Covia Excellence Award winners are:

President’s Safety Award – Oregon Plant (Illinois)Plant of the Year – Ahuazotepec Plant (Mexico)Leaf Award for Environmental Excellence – Huntingburg Plant (Indiana)Operations Impact Award – Kevin Traun, Senior Manager, Electrical EngineeringCommercial Impact Award – CaryAnn Bruce, Sales ManagerSupport Impact AwardLeeAnn Banas, ControllerAndrea Keck, Legal Operations ManagerChris Rundell, Senior Manager ERP & IT Project ManagementPrism Award – Monica Abarca, Inside Sales RepresentativeVolunteer of the Year – David Morris, Maintenance

President’s Safety Award

The President’s Safety Award is presented to the Covia facility that demonstrates the highest safety performance across several criteria. We are proud to announce that the Oregon, Illinois, plant earned this recognition through their unwavering commitment to safety and exceptional results.

With the support of their on-site Health and Safety Committee, the plant finished 2024 with zero lost-time or recordable incidents, and exceptional results across the board. Russ Montgomery, EVP and Chief Operations Officer, congratulated the team at the Oregon facility for maintaining an outstanding record of safe, responsible, and efficient operations.

Plant of the Year

This prestigious award recognizes excellence across safety, manufacturing, environmental practices, and community outreach. For the second consecutive year, our plant in Ahuazotepec, Mexico, has been named Covia’s Plant of the Year.

After going above and beyond in 2023, the Ahuazotepec team continued to shine this past year, creating a safer environment, supporting the surrounding community, and demonstrating strong environmental stewardship. A few notable highlights of their commitment include:

An exceptional safety record with zero lost-time incidents and zero recordable incidents while achieving PASST certification.The donation of trees to local communities and governments, along with active participation in local reforestation efforts.Successful EPA inspections and air compliance, with no violations.

Leaf Award for Environmental Excellence

The Huntingburg, Indiana, plant was independently nominated by eight plant managers as the winner of the Leaf Award for Environmental Excellence. This award is a testament to the plant’s extraordinary efforts in environmental compliance, environmental projects, and community involvement.

In 2024, Huntingburg plant celebrated several outstanding accomplishments, starting with timely completion of all environmental and safety reporting actions, zero community complaints, and no reportable spills or releases. Other achievements include:

Earning Wildlife Habitat Certification and implementing a conservation plan tailored to local needs that exceeds regulatory standards.Reducing therms per ton by 32% and recycling nearly 1,200 pounds of waste.Establishing a comprehensive community action plan featuring volunteerism, donations, and regular Covia Cares Action Days.

Operations Impact Award

The 2024 Operations Impact Award recognizes Kevin Traun, Senior Manager, Electrical Engineering, for his exceptional technical expertise and dedication to supporting multiple Covia plants. Kevin played an instrumental role in identifying problems and providing solutions for several plants, with team members lauding his expertise and willingness to respond at any hour.

Kevin’ contributions ranged from implementing automation changes and conducting electrical mechanism-operated contacts to establishing new communications networks, consistently demonstrating his commitment to keeping operations running smoothly across the organization.

Commercial Impact Award

The Commercial Impact Award recognizes individuals who show leadership, performance, professionalism, and all-around commercial excellence. CaryAnn Bruce, Sales Manager, demonstrated these qualities both through her results and the way she worked throughout 2024.

As a member of the inside sales team managing over 2,000 accounts, CaryAnn helped generate more than $3 million in new business from 146 opportunities. Her expertise in the equestrian market and innovative utilization of by-products helped drive success within the organization. Her dedication to continuous improvement extended to others as well, as CaryAnn actively fostered relationships and developed training modules to empower her colleagues.

Support Impact Award

This year’s Support Impact Award highlights a trio of team members for their collaborative efforts during one of the largest projects Covia undertook in 2024 – the energy carve-out.

LeeAnn Banas, ControllerAndrea Keck, Legal Operations ManagerChris Rundell, Senior Manager ERP & IT Project Management

These three team members successfully managed the complex reconfiguration of our internal processes to accommodate new supply contracts, while ensuring accurate conversion of all contracts and thorough documentation of legal entities. Their dedication was particularly notable as they maintained their regular responsibilities while committing a significant number of additional hours per week to this critical project.

Prism Award

Monica Abarca, Inside Sales Representative, received the Prism Award for exemplifying and promoting inclusion both in the workplace and in the community. Monica consistently goes above and beyond to ensure her colleagues feel valued and appreciated, from organizing birthday celebrations to coordinating group messages of support.

Monica’s dedication to inclusiveness extends beyond the workplace as well. She is a strong advocate for the Safe Alliance Domestic Violence Shelter, regularly volunteering there to provide lunches to those in need and dedicating her Saturdays to thoroughly cleaning the shelter’s kitchen.

Volunteer of the Year

Covia is proud to help our team members invest in their communities, and the Volunteer of the Year Award recognizes a standout individual whose consistent service makes a difference in their community.

In 2024, David Morris, Maintenance, from Covia’s Cleburne plant logged more than 500 volunteer hours, the equivalent of 61.5 8-hour days. He spent that time supporting multiple organizations in Glen Rose, Texas, including The LDL Foundation, a nonprofit supporting educational, health, and environmental projects. He plays a particularly active role in the Glen Rose School District’s Future Farmers of America program, where he helps prepare for livestock shows, coordinates transportation, and provides supervision at events.

Shaping Tomorrow Through Excellence Today

Each of our 2024 award winners exemplifies the values that set the tone for how we do business. Their dedication to safety, sustainability, operational excellence, business results, and community impact inspires us all and sets the standard for the future. Whether in our plants, offices, or communities, these individuals and teams exemplify the power of commitment, innovation, and teamwork.

At Covia, we’re always looking for talented individuals to join our journey. Visit our Careers section to explore opportunities across North America and become part of a team where excellence isn’t just recognized – it’s celebrated every day.

IBM has been working with universities for almost a century. Today, we’re excited to share the new IBM SkillsBuild university strategy to strengthen AI education in universities, helping them cultivate talent among future developers, and drive economic growth worldwide.

Today’s skills gap presents an obstacle to innovation and economic development.  The demand for AI skills is a top priority for companies, universities and learners, due to mass adoption of AI, the rise of open-source AI models available for the general public and the new proliferation of AI assistants and agents. In fact, the latest Future of Jobs report from the World Economic Forum shows that the skills gap remains the most significant barrier to business transformation, and that by 2030, 39% of current skills may become outdated. Developers face a similar challenge according to recent research from IBM and Morning Consult. For example, 76% of developers surveyed say they don’t consider themselves to be experts in generative AI. This trend is likely to continue and the skills gap would grow at the same accelerated pace. To foster the technical talent needed to fuel open innovation and drive business results, we need to invest in the skills of our future workforce.

How can IBM support students and aspiring developers? In 2023, IBM announced a commitment to providing free AI training to 2 million learners worldwide over three years. When we undertook this work, we knew that different groups of learners would have different needs, and that cross-industry alignment on how to approach this global challenge would be required. To help address this, we co-created an AI competencies guide through the AI Alliance. We worked to collect data, generate insights, and align on recommendations to define the essential AI competencies across key sectors and roles, as well as a defined range in levels from fluency, to proficiency, to expertise, and finally mastery.

Building on this AI Alliance framework guidance, we have created a new strategy to help university students and aspiring developers build the AI competencies that will help them thrive. The key elements of this work are faculty training, online learning, hands-on labs, group innovation challenges, as well as practical real-world learning opportunities. Each of our student-facing offerings is developed for key personas, to respond to their needs and help them build their AI competencies to reach their goals, and all are available through our IBM SkillsBuild program.

Faculty Training: Our starting point to deepen IBM’s relationships with universities is connecting with professors to offer AI training and resources that can help them cultivate their students’ abilities. This approach multiplies the impact of our training, helping us reach a much wider audience of learners. To this end, we’re rolling out enhanced training for professors with new coursework on generative AI. Meanwhile, we will also provide faculty at select universities with access to IBM solutions like watsonx, (our portfolio of generative AI products) and Granite (our family of open-source large language models (LLMs)). The additional guidance and support from IBM experts will offer professors more options to incorporate advanced AI learning into their curriculum.  ​New free generative AI courses for beginners: We heard from many students that they’re curious about how AI will shape their futures and are looking for a place to begin their AI exploration. To help address this need, for students enrolled in any university program across any discipline, we are offering new, free online courses that can help them explore generative AI. Whether they’re aspiring developers or plan to pursue tech-adjacent or any other field, these future decision-makers can benefit from short form coursework that provides a foundation of AI understanding and an introduction to generative AI technologies. These courses are about 1 hour each and include topics like exploring text to speech; building a chatbot; and an introduction to open-source LLMs. For those students who may not know where to start or need additional support, IBM SkillsBuild is also hosting on-campus activation events to guide and help them complete these courses, and celebrate their new skills. Are you a university student? Start today.Hands-on labs: Students who are studying computer science, IT, or a tech-adjacent field at the university level are generally more interested in a deeper-dive into AI learning with interactive components. These students may be aspiring developers who like to try out new technologies and build applications. For them, we will be offering hands-on labs to help them develop their AI expertise. These interactive exercises are up to 90 minutes in length and will help students dive deeper into topics like code generation and data classification using LLMs, like IBM Granite.  Students will also have the opportunity to earn digital credentials that are recognized by future employers.Capstone projects and group innovation challenges: IBM is making watsonx available to selected universities for students to build real-world solutions. This offering will be targeted to advanced technical undergraduate or graduate students. These students will have the opportunity to work with IBM experts and their classroom professors, to build innovative capstone projects over the course of a semester. IBM mentors will equip the students with problem statements, including some from IBM clients, which could span different industries such as financial services, healthcare, insurance, life sciences, manufacturing, telecommunications, marketing or energy. Groups of students at this level could also participate in innovation challenges, like hackathons, which are short-term experiences that give groups of aspiring developers the opportunity to use generative AI and LLMs, like Granite.

Results of our pilots around the world:

As we’ve piloted this approach around the world, we have already seen some early success stories. For example, through IBM SkillsBuild, two teams of university students in Boston built a chatbot using IBM’s generative AI technology. The tool aims to help students explore if their work outside the traditional college environment could be applied for college credit. Additionally, students in India have built watsonx solutions focused on the legal profession, farming, and nutrition. And in the UK, we worked with a team of students who built a disaster-response robot using IBM’s AI and data platform technology. Equipped with advanced sensors and a virtual assistant, built from scratch using IBM watsonx, the robot would assess its environment, identify obstacles, connect with individuals on the ground, and send important information back to rescue teams, making it a valuable asset during critical moments.

Looking ahead:  

The pace of AI innovation continues to challenge and inspire businesses across industries, making skilled talent even more important than ever. As we see the rise of more open-source AI models, it’s clear that the pace of transformation is not slowing down. The future of AI will be shaped by students, educators, and professionals who not only have the skills to use generative AI, but also to manage AI agents, or even build them.

In the months ahead, we’re excited to expand our work with more schools and learners across disciplines to build AI skills. We will continue to:

enhance our resources for university faculty, including opportunities to connect across the faculty community,expand our catalog of new AI coursework for students, andconnect with teams across universities to build new innovative AI and open source solutions.

Together with universities and our network of IBM SkillsBuild partners, we are investing in the pipeline of technological talent for our future, and preparing them for the marketplace.

If you’re a student, visit the IBM SkillsBuild site.

If you’re a university or faculty and would like to participate or learn more, please visit https://skillsbuild.org/organizations-supporting-college-students/interest-form.

By Ben Williamson

When heavy rain threatens to swell the Catawba-Wateree River, Duke Energy must act quickly to help protect nearby communities. At the center of those decisions is a nondescript office in northeast Charlotte, N.C., where a small but vital team oversees a diverse portfolio of renewable energy.

Equipped with hundreds of cameras and hundreds of thousands of alarms, the Regulated Renewable Operations Center (RROC) serves as the central hub for this work. It is staffed around the clock, even holidays, to quickly adapt to changing conditions, such as weather or electricity demand.

“We have eyes on everything 24/7,” said Dustin Sipes, lead renewables portfolio specialist at Duke Energy. “We have several hundred thousand alarms, and we’ve got almost 500 cameras. At any point, we can call up a camera and see anything that is going on across the fleet.”

As the RROC celebrates its 25th anniversary in February, the team reflects on the advantages of remotely monitoring and managing the company’s renewable energy assets. Their diverse portfolio includes a mix of hydro and solar sites, as well as batteries – devices that store energy and then release it when customers need power.

With demand for electricity increasing across all Duke Energy service areas, particularly in the Carolinas, the RROC will continue to play a key role in the company’s plans to meet growth reliably while continuing a legacy of innovation that spans generations.

An evolving role

Sipes, a fourth generation Duke Energy employee, brings more than 16 years of experience to a role that continues to evolve alongside the company’s energy transition.

“I’m a veteran in the office now – and there’s some pride in that – but in some ways, I still feel like the 22-year-old kid who walked in here 17 years ago,” he said. “It’s exciting to watch as new technologies are developed, so I’m still kind of learning something every day with the way our work grows and changes with the industry.”

Today, the RROC operates 76 hydro units, 33 solar sites and a handful of batteries, representing 5,500 megawatts (MW) of energy. Centralized operations allow for greater efficiency, improved responsiveness and seamless integration of new technologies.

A centralized approach

In the past, each hydro station was staffed 24/7 and operations were managed through phone calls. System and station upgrades in the 1990s enabled the company to bring hydro operations under one roof with the creation of Hydro Central (predecessor to the RROC) in 2000.

This team, housed in a small office in Uptown Charlotte, helped the company apply standardized operating practices across the fleet and allowed for greater information sharing and quicker response to emerging issues, while reducing operational costs and maintaining compliance with environmental and regulatory requirements.

Over time, as solar and battery assets were added to the grid, the office evolved into the RROC, reflecting its broader focus.

“Duke Energy was and continues to be a pioneer in renewable asset automation and remote operations,” Sipes said. “When we started developing solar assets, we quickly saw the value that remote operations would bring to these new assets. Bringing everything into one office lets all the gears spin together. As our portfolio has grown, so has our team.”

A growing portfolio (and team)

And growth is only accelerating. By 2030, the RROC’s portfolio is expected to nearly triple to more than over 16,000 MW of energy, and double again to more than 30,000 MW by 2035. These proposed investments are part of Duke Energy’s commitment to meet rising electricity demand while supporting economic development with a diverse energy mix.

“It’s exciting and unique to help manage hydro – the company’s oldest form of energy generation – alongside new technologies like solar and batteries,” said Aaron Dale, director of the RROC team. Dale oversees the RROC portfolio expansion, ensuring the team is prepared to implement new technologies as renewable energy management evolves.

“We’re always looking at what skills we’ll need, what new equipment is hitting the market, and whether our training is keeping pace,” he said. “Every asset we bring on requires unique considerations, so flexibility and agility are key.”

As the portfolio grows, so will their team of about 20 people. Building on the RROC’s diverse energy technologies and expertise, Dale said they’ll look for operators who’ve worked at traditional thermal power plant to experts in information technology (IT) and environmental monitoring.

Some team members have already transitioned from Duke Energy’s retired power plants, including Thomas Slade, who spent 40 years as an operator at Allen Steam Station in Gaston County, N.C.

“I’ve been well supported here,” he said of transitioning to the RROC. “They have given me lots of information and the team is always ready to help me understand. This is a great opportunity.”

A generational legacy

Sipes continues a Duke Energy legacy that spans much longer than the 25 years the RROC has been in service. His family tie to Duke Energy begins more than 100 years ago just after the company first harnessed the power of water for electric generation.

“My great grandfather Walter Sipes was supposedly on the crew that helped construct the Lookout Shoals Dam back in 1914,” he said of one of the first dams built on the Catawba River. “My grandfather Sam spent several decades with Duke Energy and retired as a transmission supervisor.”

And Sipes’ father, Foy, worked as a Duke Energy hydro technician for more than 40 years before retiring in 2021.

“It’s really nice to have that personal connection,” he said. “[My dad may be retired] but he is still teaching me new things.”

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PORTLAND, Ore., March 6, 2025 /3BL/ – TEDxPortland, an all-volunteer nonprofit organization and the largest TEDx conference in North America, announces a new Women’s Leadership Forum taking the stage on Saturday, April 26 at Portland’s Keller Auditorium. The Women’s Leadership Forum will headline the event’s Year 13 program. Made possible by a partnership with KeyBank and the Portland Thorns FC, the new platform features an interview led by former Thorns and Canadian international teammates Karina LeBlanc, Executive Vice President of Strategic Growth Development RAJ Sports, the ownership group of Portland Thorns/WNBA Portland, with Christine Sinclair—FIFA’s all-time scoring record holder, Olympic Gold Medalist, and five-time World Cup player.

The final lineup of TEDxPortland’s Year 13 features eleven speakers and seven performers centered around this year’s theme: Continuum. The Women’s Leadership Forum is a new format for TEDxPortland; the interview will delve into leadership, legacy, and how we can all make an impact in our community. More information on Year 13 speakers, performers, and hosts can be found at TEDxPortland’s new website.

“We’re honored to have the opportunity to shine a spotlight on Christine Sinclair, whose unparalleled leadership—both on and off the field—has inspired so many of us,” said Karina LeBlanc. “This Women’s Leadership Forum represents the power of connection, community, and legacy, and I’m excited to explore these themes with Christine in front of the TEDxPortland audience. Together, we hope to lead a conversation that inspires future generations to step into their own leadership potential—whether in sports, business, or life—and empowers everyone to lean into their own greatness and take action.”

“We’re incredibly excited to welcome Christine Sinclair, one of the greatest female soccer players of our lifetime, and unquestionably the GOAT of the Thorns FC. Christine and Karina will be magic on our stage,” said TEDxPortland founder Dave Rae. “This new on-stage interview format expands our event offering and welcomes new dreamers, thinkers, and doers to join us at TEDxPortland.”

“KeyBank is proud to sponsor TEDxPortland and bring this event and forum to attendees,” said Josh Lyons, KeyBank Oregon and SW Washington Market President. “We are a big supporter of the Thorns and women’s sports in general, we know that Karina and Sin will have an interesting conversation and guests will be treated to a look into the life of this sports legend.”

Christine Sinclair’s portrait was painted by TEDxPortland’s first ever artist in residence, Kyra Watkins, a Portland-based public and digital artist originally from Cincinnati, Ohio. The artist created two one-of-a-kind pieces for each speaker and performer in Year 13—one of their inner-child, aged 4-8, and one as a young teenager. These one-of-a-kind pieces are currently on display at L’Atelier Yaffe through April 27.

Founded in 2009, TEDxPortland strives to host the most inspirational and educational day of the year—to bring a community together that celebrates people, partners, and place. In welcoming a multi-cultural audience who seeks a deeper understanding of the world, TEDxPortland believes in the power of ideas to change attitudes, perspectives, and lives.

Tickets to the dynamic event from 9 am to 5 pm on Saturday, April 26, are on sale now, ranging from $99 to $169. Each ticket includes TEDxPortland’s award-winning event book, coffee and tea in the morning, an interactive lunch experience, and a complimentary post-event happy hour in Keller Park.

TEDxPortland photos and logos can be found in the folder HERE.

About TEDxPortland

Established in 1984, TED is an annual event where some of the world’s leading thinkers and doers are invited to share what they are most passionate about. “TED” stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design—three broad subject areas that are shaping our collective future. And the event is broader still, showcasing ideas that matter in any discipline. The TEDx movement is a local iteration of the annual TED event, held in cities all over the world. Portland, Oregon holds the largest TEDx conference in North America, with an all-volunteer team that brings Ideas Worth Spreading to the Rose City. Learn more at TEDxPortland.com and follow TEDxPortland on Instagram.

About Portland Thorns FC 

Founded in 2012, Portland Thorns FC have set the standard for fan support and on-field success in women’s soccer since its inaugural 2013 season. One of the world’s most supported women’s soccer clubs, Portland has led the league in attendance for eight seasons and set a new club playoff attendance record with 25,218 fans supporting Thorns FC in the 2023 semifinal match at Providence Park. Thorns FC have won the NWSL Championship a league-record three times (2013, 2017, 2022) and finished as runners-up in 2018. The club has made the postseason a league-high nine times and has won the NWSL Shield in 2016 and 2021.

About KEYCORP

In 2025, KeyCorp celebrates its bicentennial, marking 200 years of service to clients and communities from Maine to Alaska. To learn more, visit KeyBank Heritage Center. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation’s largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $187 billion at December 31, 2024. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and approximately 1,200 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank Member FDIC.

Previously published by DAV

Veterans behind the scenes

A streaming hit on Paramount+, “SEAL Team” committed to unwavering authenticity as it followed the fictional Bravo Team of U.S. Navy SEALs. From star David Boreanaz wearing an actual SEAL’s helmet on screen to the numerous military veterans in the cast and crew, the series strove for realism in every detail during its recently ended seven-season run.

Dedication to on-screen authenticity is only one aspect that the Veteran Immersion Program, created by the Paramount Veterans Network in 2020 to guide and support veterans in the media industry, brings to the table.

While offering hands-on experience and the opportunity to network with the best in the business, this unique program supports a culture of camaraderie infused with mentorship, career counseling, skills development and job readiness.

“We identify skill sets in each of our participants, and then we grow that skill set,” said Betty Diaz, director of programs and operations for Paramount Veterans Network. With an uncle who served in the Marine Corps and a cousin who was wounded in the Army, Diaz has seen the importance of giving back to those who have served.

“We’ve had veterans come into communications, animation, editing, event planning, event coordination, corporate responsibility, info security and tech. There’s a plethora of opportunities.”

These opportunities are often necessary for veterans, who have contributed some of their prime learning years to military service.

“Getting into media is very challenging,” Diaz continued. “For the military, as they’re getting out and transitioning, there are not a lot of open doors. It’s important for us to open these doors of opportunities for veterans to work in media.”

“This industry is a dog-eat-dog world,” said Torrin Fields, a senior postproduction editor at Paramount. “You feel alone; you feel isolated.”

Fields joined the Army as a military police officer in 2001, shortly after 9/11. Between 2002 and 2005, he deployed twice to Iraq, serving in a reconnaissance role both times.

The shared responsibility and mission of these deployments ultimately shaped how Fields views the world.

“The military gave me the opportunity to understand how to be a leader, a team player and also resilient,” Fields said. “Before I joined the military, I just cared about myself.”

But with service comes risk. Due to an injury he received in Iraq, Fields temporarily lost his ability to walk. He was medically discharged in 2005.

“I sacrificed my body,” Fields explained. “To this day, I have complications. I sometimes use a cane to walk. I can’t stand for longer than 30 minutes. The injury really did impact my physical ability.”

Fields moved to Los Angeles to begin working in the media field. He quickly found that the civilian workplace did not resemble the team environment he had experienced in the Army. “It was very difficult to find a team. You find a lot of individualistic behavior outside of the military,” Fields said.

When he learned about the Veteran Immersion Program, which was recruiting for its inaugural session, he knew he wanted to participate. Through courses and individual mentorship, he learned skills like public speaking, corporate leadership and networking, eventually landing his current role. However, for Fields, the best part of the program was finally finding his team.

“This program is about camaraderie, family. I always felt like they had my back,” Fields said. “They were always championing me.”

In 2023 and 2024, Paramount Veterans Network (and the immersion program) was recognized as a DAV Patriot Employer for its dedication to the military community. The organization was also a featured employer at the DAV Job Fair that occurred at the 2023 Military Veterans in Journalism conference.

“Paramount’s program not only provides valuable employment and job training opportunities for veterans but also brings authenticity to programming—a service to the nation as the veteran population continues to shrink,” said Lamarr Couser, employment director at DAV. “Ensuring that real veteran perspectives are represented in media helps preserve their stories and contributions for future generations.”

Joshua Reyes can attest to the life-changing impacts of the Veteran Immersion Program. Now a sales associate for Paramount Global, Reyes grew up in an impoverished neighborhood in the Brooklyn borough of New York City with his mother and three siblings. Determined to break the cycle of poverty, he enlisted in the Marine Corps.

“It really gave me a foundation and structure that I needed at the time,” he said. He built a wide range of skills as an aviation ordnance technician and martial arts instructor.

“I learned values like honor, courage, commitment and service—all these things that I didn’t learn growing up,” he said.

But then an accident during an instructor training course changed the trajectory of his life.

Reyes’ back was broken, and doctors said he would never walk again. Refusing to accept that as his fate, he battled every day toward recovery. After a year of rehab in the Wounded Warrior Battalion, Reyes made a 95% recovery, including the use of his legs. But he was still medically discharged from service.

“I was going to be a lifer,” Reyes said. “My identity was so attached to the Marine Corps. Once you get out, you don’t have that support system. I struggled for a long time.”

He studied international business and acting in school, looking for direction and spark. Then he heard about the Veteran Immersion Program, which would offer the flexibility to pursue both his “passion and survival.”

He wasn’t expecting how therapeutic it would feel to immerse himself in other people’s stories through acting.

“You’re taught to really peel back the layers of your soul, your heart, and drop those walls. Acting has taught me to be comfortable with allowing myself to feel emotions of the character and portray those feelings freely,” he said. “It’s liberating.”

The opportunities at Paramount are not just for fully transitioned veterans. National Guard and Reserve members also find a welcome home in the immersion program.

Chris Murray, an editor with Paramount Global, always had a camera in hand before joining the Air Force as a tactical aircraft maintenance technician. After four years on active duty, Murray was ready to pursue a degree in film and business.

But his military career wasn’t over. He also joined the Air National Guard as a satellite operator for the Space Force.

Serving while trying to break into the film industry proved difficult.

“The hardest part is finding work that doesn’t feel like you’re underutilized or overqualified,” Murray said. “You can be called up at any time to serve your country. In a competitive field, you can’t afford to dip away for X amount of time.”

The Veteran Immersion Program provided the solution he needed.

“Paramount goes that extra mile with their immersion program,” Murray said. “You’re temporarily employed under the Veterans Immersion Program in the entertainment industry, allowing you to make connections and bridge that gap along with a community of veterans who have made that transition right before you.”

Those connections go a long way. “When you leave the service, you feel almost isolated,” Murray said. “Being a part of this program, you still feel that connection.”

Building camaraderie in a competitive field is an important aspect to the program, according to participants, but so is giving back to the military community.

“Being a DAV Patriot Employer is an opportunity,” said Diaz. “This award acknowledges all the good work that we’re doing. And we can do more. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.”

For Diaz, the mission is bigger than the program. “If I can show other media companies how to do this, I will,” she stated. “I just want to see vets thrive.”

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