Tag: 3BL

When residents of rural Uganda’s Bundimulinga village wanted to walk to school, access healthcare, or provide for their family, they had to prepare for a trek through thick forests and deep valleys which isolates their small community.  

Every morning, Karabiyo had to cross rivers of varying depths to access and work on her own cocoa farm, all the while worrying if her granddaughters made it to school safely. And during rainy season, it was not uncommon for high flooding to make school, work, and healthcare inaccessible for days on end. 

Nonprofit Bridges to Prosperity considers this kind of rural isolation to be a root cause of poverty for villages like Bundimulinga. With a core belief that safe access is a basic human right, their goal is to build bridges that better the lives of those who live in disconnected communities.  

Turning toward technology for more efficient bridge planning and development, Bridges to Prosperity created their own AI models with supporting funds from the Cisco Foundation, as part of the One Billion Lives campaign. In working with a robust set of publicly available data, AI can more strategically plan and map out future rural infrastructures, and Bridges to Prosperity can focus their energy on creating safer passages for villages in need.  

Watch the BBC StoryWorks segment to hear from Karabiyo herself about how a single trail bridge changed her life. 

For more information about Cisco and their successful mission to impact one billion people, visit One Billion Lives.

To learn the specifics about Bridge to Prosperity’s groundbreaking “Fika Map” AI tool, explore their website.   

About Cisco 
Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in technology that powers the internet. Cisco inspires new possibilities by reimagining your applications, securing your data, transforming your infrastructure, and empowering your teams for a global and inclusive future. Discover more on The Network and follow us on Twitter.

About Cisco’s Purpose 
Cisco’s purpose is to Power an Inclusive Future for All. From increasing access to skills needed to thrive in a digital economy to supporting the most vulnerable in times of crisis, we’re committed to using our technology for good. Cisco is also leveraging our scale and innovation to help ensure that our increasingly digital future is sustainable, inclusive, and resilient.

When residents of rural Uganda’s Bundimulinga village wanted to walk to school, access healthcare, or provide for their family, they had to prepare for a trek through thick forests and deep valleys which isolates their small community.  

Every morning, Karabiyo had to cross rivers of varying depths to access and work on her own cocoa farm, all the while worrying if her granddaughters made it to school safely. And during rainy season, it was not uncommon for high flooding to make school, work, and healthcare inaccessible for days on end. 

Nonprofit Bridges to Prosperity considers this kind of rural isolation to be a root cause of poverty for villages like Bundimulinga. With a core belief that safe access is a basic human right, their goal is to build bridges that better the lives of those who live in disconnected communities.  

Turning toward technology for more efficient bridge planning and development, Bridges to Prosperity created their own AI models with supporting funds from the Cisco Foundation, as part of the One Billion Lives campaign. In working with a robust set of publicly available data, AI can more strategically plan and map out future rural infrastructures, and Bridges to Prosperity can focus their energy on creating safer passages for villages in need.  

Watch the BBC StoryWorks segment to hear from Karabiyo herself about how a single trail bridge changed her life. 

For more information about Cisco and their successful mission to impact one billion people, visit One Billion Lives.

To learn the specifics about Bridge to Prosperity’s groundbreaking “Fika Map” AI tool, explore their website.   

About Cisco 
Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in technology that powers the internet. Cisco inspires new possibilities by reimagining your applications, securing your data, transforming your infrastructure, and empowering your teams for a global and inclusive future. Discover more on The Network and follow us on Twitter.

About Cisco’s Purpose 
Cisco’s purpose is to Power an Inclusive Future for All. From increasing access to skills needed to thrive in a digital economy to supporting the most vulnerable in times of crisis, we’re committed to using our technology for good. Cisco is also leveraging our scale and innovation to help ensure that our increasingly digital future is sustainable, inclusive, and resilient.

Covia is more than just an industry-leading provider of innovative mineral solutions. We’re a trusted partner to our customers. Our success stems not only from our high-quality products and services, but from the genuine, decades-long relationships we are grateful to have with businesses across a variety of industries.

These relationships continue to grow, thanks to dedicated team members like Mark Styers, Covia’s Vice President of Specialty Materials. Read on to learn more about Mark, his journey with Covia, and the important role he and his team have played in fostering strong relationships with our incredible customers.

Team Highlight: Mark Styers

Mark started his career with Covia back in 2012, when he applied for a sales manager position to oversee Covia’s energy initiatives in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Mark was recruited by another Covia team member who thought he would be a great fit for the organization. This proved to be true, and Mark has been an invaluable member of our sales team for nearly 13 years.

In his current role, Mark leads the commercial team for Covia’s specialty business unit – which consists of coatings, polymers, exports, engineered stone, and our European operation in Denmark. His day-to-day work involves supporting Covia’s great customer base and managing his talented team. “Whether it’s through negotiation strategy, opportunities presented by a customer, traveling with my team to visit a customer, or supporting the team that manages Covia’s distribution network, there’s such a wide range of things to do,” Mark said. Mark also assists in overseeing forecasting for the business unit, helping Covia’s Product Development and Innovation team prioritize and develop projects, and driving new business.

Outside of work, Mark enjoys spending time with his family. “I really put a high priority on the people in my life,” Mark said. “The best part about Covia is the people. The best part about my family is obviously the people. I’m blessed to have such a wonderful family, but also a wonderful professional family. That’s a very rare thing.” At home, Mark spends quality time with his kids – attending their sporting events and even coaching their teams.

Building Genuine Connections

Building genuine connections goes beyond the sales process. To further support our customers, many of Covia’s team members attend their charity events and actively participate in their philanthropic initiatives – just like our customers do for our business through the Covia Foundation. “Our team loves to participate in our customer’s charity events,” Mark mentioned. “It really fortifies the genuine relationships that we have. Our customers are so important to us – not only from a business perspective. We truly care about what they care about. We want them to be successful.”

At the same time, several of Covia’s customers and distributors go above and beyond to support our charitable efforts. We are truly grateful for their ongoing support of the Covia Foundation’s initiatives in events such as the Bill Conway Founders Charity Golf Classic benefiting the United Way and the annual Stars, Stripes, and Links event in support of wounded veterans. Through our philanthropic work, we strive to be a positive force in our communities, and their support helps make that a reality. “Their support highlights how impactful mutual relationships are in taking our organizations to another level,” added Mark. “We spend good time doing good work together. That’s what makes a difference for Covia and our customers.”

The relationships that Covia has built with our customers over the years are due in no small part to our sales team and our plant team members. “I can’t compliment our commercial team enough for the relationships they have with our customer base,” Mark said. “We have some really deep relationships with customers, some spanning several decades, and in some cases our commercial team members have meaningful friendships with our customers. You can’t get a closer relationship than a friendship.”

The work our plants do is also critical to the success of the sales team. “We can’t succeed without the great performance of our plants,” Mark said. “They are truly world-class.” Not only are they essential in the development and production of our mineral products, many plant workers go above and beyond when called upon. “One thing we like to do for the American Coatings Show is to have plant team members join the sales team at the booth,” Mark said. “They come out and work alongside the sales team side-by-side. When our customers come up to the booth, they not only talk with the sales team but also can speak with the plant team they’re buying their product from. Our plant team members are such great people and are critical to Covia’s success and our customers’ success.”

Meaningful Relationships and Product Innovation

LUMINEXTM is a silica-based, ultrawhite filler that helps reduce the costs of finished products while achieving consistent, higher whiteness. LUMINEXTM is most commonly found in quartz countertops for kitchens. For Mark, the launch of LUMINEXTM was a significant moment in his career.

LUMINEXTM was being commissioned when Mark was promoted to his current role and now LUMINEXTM has been developed into the final product it is today. “It’s been interesting to see how it’s grown over the last couple years – evolving from an idea to a full-fledged service offering,” Mark said.

“Developing new products that make our customers successful is key to Covia being successful. And that’s really exciting,” Mark continued. “We’ve gotten great customer engagement from this project. We’ve also been able to hire a lot of talented people to make this project a reality – giving them a fulfilling career.”

Mark said, “Our customers get excited when we talk about new products that we are working on. They get genuinely excited and curious about how our products can help them, and we love learning about what they need. I’m very excited to see what comes next.”

Covia is more than just an industry-leading provider of innovative mineral solutions. We’re a trusted partner to our customers. Our success stems not only from our high-quality products and services, but from the genuine, decades-long relationships we are grateful to have with businesses across a variety of industries.

These relationships continue to grow, thanks to dedicated team members like Mark Styers, Covia’s Vice President of Specialty Materials. Read on to learn more about Mark, his journey with Covia, and the important role he and his team have played in fostering strong relationships with our incredible customers.

Team Highlight: Mark Styers

Mark started his career with Covia back in 2012, when he applied for a sales manager position to oversee Covia’s energy initiatives in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Mark was recruited by another Covia team member who thought he would be a great fit for the organization. This proved to be true, and Mark has been an invaluable member of our sales team for nearly 13 years.

In his current role, Mark leads the commercial team for Covia’s specialty business unit – which consists of coatings, polymers, exports, engineered stone, and our European operation in Denmark. His day-to-day work involves supporting Covia’s great customer base and managing his talented team. “Whether it’s through negotiation strategy, opportunities presented by a customer, traveling with my team to visit a customer, or supporting the team that manages Covia’s distribution network, there’s such a wide range of things to do,” Mark said. Mark also assists in overseeing forecasting for the business unit, helping Covia’s Product Development and Innovation team prioritize and develop projects, and driving new business.

Outside of work, Mark enjoys spending time with his family. “I really put a high priority on the people in my life,” Mark said. “The best part about Covia is the people. The best part about my family is obviously the people. I’m blessed to have such a wonderful family, but also a wonderful professional family. That’s a very rare thing.” At home, Mark spends quality time with his kids – attending their sporting events and even coaching their teams.

Building Genuine Connections

Building genuine connections goes beyond the sales process. To further support our customers, many of Covia’s team members attend their charity events and actively participate in their philanthropic initiatives – just like our customers do for our business through the Covia Foundation. “Our team loves to participate in our customer’s charity events,” Mark mentioned. “It really fortifies the genuine relationships that we have. Our customers are so important to us – not only from a business perspective. We truly care about what they care about. We want them to be successful.”

At the same time, several of Covia’s customers and distributors go above and beyond to support our charitable efforts. We are truly grateful for their ongoing support of the Covia Foundation’s initiatives in events such as the Bill Conway Founders Charity Golf Classic benefiting the United Way and the annual Stars, Stripes, and Links event in support of wounded veterans. Through our philanthropic work, we strive to be a positive force in our communities, and their support helps make that a reality. “Their support highlights how impactful mutual relationships are in taking our organizations to another level,” added Mark. “We spend good time doing good work together. That’s what makes a difference for Covia and our customers.”

The relationships that Covia has built with our customers over the years are due in no small part to our sales team and our plant team members. “I can’t compliment our commercial team enough for the relationships they have with our customer base,” Mark said. “We have some really deep relationships with customers, some spanning several decades, and in some cases our commercial team members have meaningful friendships with our customers. You can’t get a closer relationship than a friendship.”

The work our plants do is also critical to the success of the sales team. “We can’t succeed without the great performance of our plants,” Mark said. “They are truly world-class.” Not only are they essential in the development and production of our mineral products, many plant workers go above and beyond when called upon. “One thing we like to do for the American Coatings Show is to have plant team members join the sales team at the booth,” Mark said. “They come out and work alongside the sales team side-by-side. When our customers come up to the booth, they not only talk with the sales team but also can speak with the plant team they’re buying their product from. Our plant team members are such great people and are critical to Covia’s success and our customers’ success.”

Meaningful Relationships and Product Innovation

LUMINEXTM is a silica-based, ultrawhite filler that helps reduce the costs of finished products while achieving consistent, higher whiteness. LUMINEXTM is most commonly found in quartz countertops for kitchens. For Mark, the launch of LUMINEXTM was a significant moment in his career.

LUMINEXTM was being commissioned when Mark was promoted to his current role and now LUMINEXTM has been developed into the final product it is today. “It’s been interesting to see how it’s grown over the last couple years – evolving from an idea to a full-fledged service offering,” Mark said.

“Developing new products that make our customers successful is key to Covia being successful. And that’s really exciting,” Mark continued. “We’ve gotten great customer engagement from this project. We’ve also been able to hire a lot of talented people to make this project a reality – giving them a fulfilling career.”

Mark said, “Our customers get excited when we talk about new products that we are working on. They get genuinely excited and curious about how our products can help them, and we love learning about what they need. I’m very excited to see what comes next.”

Mastercard

Moving the needle on climate change is a daunting task; no single corporation or individual alone can mitigate its effects.

We can, however, integrate solutions into our daily lifestyle and business choices to reduce our environmental impact. Over the past quarter, Mastercard has welcomed new ideas that can support more conscious, sustainable choices. From consumers to businesses, we’re leveraging our legacy programs and products to contribute to tackling the climate crisis.

By fostering an ecosystem that makes it simple to make informed choices, we can build a more sustainable, prosperous tomorrow.

Encouraging paperless practices

Mastercard aims to digitalize existing processes to support more efficient use of resources. Take paper receipts for example: Large supermarkets consume an average of 10,600 rolls of thermal paper per year to print receipts, many of which end up lost, or crumpled in our pockets or at the bottom of our bags. We’ve recently revised our rules to encourage paperless confirmation for card payments at all points of sales, where Mastercard payments are accepted.

As consumers can now opt for digital receipts over paper, this can reduce waste, deforestation, and ultimately this type of environmental impact.

Supporting the shift to circular systems

In the UK, Mastercard Move is supporting the Eden Project, an educational charity focused on demonstrating and inspiring positive action for the planet, to eliminate 250,000 single-use cups that typically end up in landfills every year.

Visitors who buy a takeaway drink can now receive it in a reusable cup and are charged a deposit of £2.50 to “rent” the cup. Once they have finished their drink, visitors return their cup to a ‘Reverse Vending Machine’ return point. After putting their cup in the machine, they tap their card, phone or watch to receive their deposit back into their card account via a digital payment. With no app required, the drop creates a seamless, fast service that mitigates single-use waste.

Integrating impact data calculations

Since 2014, Mastercard Start Path has opened its doors to high-potential startups looking to innovate and scale their solutions. In a move supported by Mastercard’s Sustainability Innovation Lab, the Start Path Emerging Fintech program expanded this quarter to welcome a new, dedicated set of sustainability-focused startups. These startups are all uniquely focused on advancing sustainability impact data calculations to support next-generation solutions for consumers who want to make more informed purchases.

This set of startups include: AWorld, a platform that educates, engages and rewards people for reducing their carbon footprints; HowGood, an independent research company and SaaS data platform with one of the world’s largest databases on food product sustainability; FootprintLab, which offers sustainability data as a service for fintech, financial services and analytics companies; Reewild, an app that nudges consumer behavior before the point of purchase, incentivizes sustainable choices and helps retailers decouple emissions growth from corporate growth; and Vaayu, which makes climate tech software that is designed to help the retail industry calculate and cut its climate impact.

Entering the final stretch of 2024

Mastercard is embedding sustainability into the heart of our business, using our scale to reach beyond our own footprint and enable meaningful change. We are putting our technology and network to work to support climate-aligned practices without disrupting day-to-day activities. As we look to the last quarter of 2024, Mastercard will continue to grow our solutions and collaborate with partners who are making it easier than ever to make sustainable choices.

Originally published by Mastercard

Follow along Mastercard’s journey to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere.

Mastercard

Moving the needle on climate change is a daunting task; no single corporation or individual alone can mitigate its effects.

We can, however, integrate solutions into our daily lifestyle and business choices to reduce our environmental impact. Over the past quarter, Mastercard has welcomed new ideas that can support more conscious, sustainable choices. From consumers to businesses, we’re leveraging our legacy programs and products to contribute to tackling the climate crisis.

By fostering an ecosystem that makes it simple to make informed choices, we can build a more sustainable, prosperous tomorrow.

Encouraging paperless practices

Mastercard aims to digitalize existing processes to support more efficient use of resources. Take paper receipts for example: Large supermarkets consume an average of 10,600 rolls of thermal paper per year to print receipts, many of which end up lost, or crumpled in our pockets or at the bottom of our bags. We’ve recently revised our rules to encourage paperless confirmation for card payments at all points of sales, where Mastercard payments are accepted.

As consumers can now opt for digital receipts over paper, this can reduce waste, deforestation, and ultimately this type of environmental impact.

Supporting the shift to circular systems

In the UK, Mastercard Move is supporting the Eden Project, an educational charity focused on demonstrating and inspiring positive action for the planet, to eliminate 250,000 single-use cups that typically end up in landfills every year.

Visitors who buy a takeaway drink can now receive it in a reusable cup and are charged a deposit of £2.50 to “rent” the cup. Once they have finished their drink, visitors return their cup to a ‘Reverse Vending Machine’ return point. After putting their cup in the machine, they tap their card, phone or watch to receive their deposit back into their card account via a digital payment. With no app required, the drop creates a seamless, fast service that mitigates single-use waste.

Integrating impact data calculations

Since 2014, Mastercard Start Path has opened its doors to high-potential startups looking to innovate and scale their solutions. In a move supported by Mastercard’s Sustainability Innovation Lab, the Start Path Emerging Fintech program expanded this quarter to welcome a new, dedicated set of sustainability-focused startups. These startups are all uniquely focused on advancing sustainability impact data calculations to support next-generation solutions for consumers who want to make more informed purchases.

This set of startups include: AWorld, a platform that educates, engages and rewards people for reducing their carbon footprints; HowGood, an independent research company and SaaS data platform with one of the world’s largest databases on food product sustainability; FootprintLab, which offers sustainability data as a service for fintech, financial services and analytics companies; Reewild, an app that nudges consumer behavior before the point of purchase, incentivizes sustainable choices and helps retailers decouple emissions growth from corporate growth; and Vaayu, which makes climate tech software that is designed to help the retail industry calculate and cut its climate impact.

Entering the final stretch of 2024

Mastercard is embedding sustainability into the heart of our business, using our scale to reach beyond our own footprint and enable meaningful change. We are putting our technology and network to work to support climate-aligned practices without disrupting day-to-day activities. As we look to the last quarter of 2024, Mastercard will continue to grow our solutions and collaborate with partners who are making it easier than ever to make sustainable choices.

Originally published by Mastercard

Follow along Mastercard’s journey to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere.

A team of Maximus employee volunteers recently enjoyed a community support day at the Ronald McDonald House in Richmond, Virginia. This nonprofit provides a “home away from home” for families with children receiving medical care at nearby hospitals. Our team prepared meals for the resident families and left the kitchen spotless so parents had one less thing to worry about.

Maximus volunteer Kristy Jones shared that she had noticed Ronald McDonald House donation boxes inside McDonald’s restaurants but didn’t know much about the organization. “It was an eye-opening experience, and being able to donate my time to prepare meals was the least I could do,” she explained. Her colleague, Brandi Goode, agreed and said that she liked being able to help serve her community by making a difference right in her hometown.

The hand-prepared meal was much appreciated by a mother whose daughter was recently diagnosed with a serious heart condition that required immediate surgery. In speaking with our volunteer team, she shared that the short distance to the hospital and not worrying about what her family would eat made things so much easier. She explained that it allowed her to focus on caring for her daughter, and she is “forever grateful to the Ronald McDonald House and those who give their time, efforts, and money to help families at such a critical time.”

At Maximus, our team proudly provides customer service and eligibility support for Virginia’s Cardinal Care Program. This program provides coverage for essential healthcare services to over a million Virginians, including children, pregnant women, adults, and people with disabilities.

To learn more about how Maximus employees make a difference in their local communities, visit maximus.com.

A team of Maximus employee volunteers recently enjoyed a community support day at the Ronald McDonald House in Richmond, Virginia. This nonprofit provides a “home away from home” for families with children receiving medical care at nearby hospitals. Our team prepared meals for the resident families and left the kitchen spotless so parents had one less thing to worry about.

Maximus volunteer Kristy Jones shared that she had noticed Ronald McDonald House donation boxes inside McDonald’s restaurants but didn’t know much about the organization. “It was an eye-opening experience, and being able to donate my time to prepare meals was the least I could do,” she explained. Her colleague, Brandi Goode, agreed and said that she liked being able to help serve her community by making a difference right in her hometown.

The hand-prepared meal was much appreciated by a mother whose daughter was recently diagnosed with a serious heart condition that required immediate surgery. In speaking with our volunteer team, she shared that the short distance to the hospital and not worrying about what her family would eat made things so much easier. She explained that it allowed her to focus on caring for her daughter, and she is “forever grateful to the Ronald McDonald House and those who give their time, efforts, and money to help families at such a critical time.”

At Maximus, our team proudly provides customer service and eligibility support for Virginia’s Cardinal Care Program. This program provides coverage for essential healthcare services to over a million Virginians, including children, pregnant women, adults, and people with disabilities.

To learn more about how Maximus employees make a difference in their local communities, visit maximus.com.

It was an evening full of inspiration, networking and connection. On October 17th more than 100 people attended the third annual Key4Women Forum in Pittsburgh at Franklin on Penn. This year’s theme, “Perseverance: When Life is ‘On the Rocks’,” resonated deeply with attendees, focusing on overcoming adversity and achieving success despite life’s challenges.

The highlight of the evening was a powerful keynote address from Maria Costanzo Palmer, acclaimed author of “On the Rocks: The Primadonna Story.” Palmer shared her personal journey and insights on resilience, recounting her experiences with failures and successes. Her message struck a chord with the audience, reminding everyone of the power of persistence, the importance of finding strength in adversity, and the need to redefine success on one’s own terms.

Watch the video above to hear from Palmer.

“I was really excited to talk about this topic,” said Palmer. “I hope that women walk away tonight knowing that it’s okay to be you, all parts of you. It’s okay to be the shiny, wonderful parts of you. It’s also okay to show your vulnerabilities because it’s the duality of the entire person that makes us human and makes us interesting.”

The event provided a platform for local women to connect, share their stories and support each other’s professional and personal growth. Attendees left not only with new business contacts but also with a renewed sense of motivation and purpose.

The annual Key4Women forum is dedicated to celebrating, supporting and encouraging the progress of women in business. The Key4Women program, which launched in 2005, offers:

Customized financial services and advice from Key4Women certified advisorsExclusive member events and forums with industry experts to help foster professional and business development while creating lasting connections with industry leaders and professionalsTimely and robust thought leadership content and insights covering the latest in financial and business trends to help women succeedStrong support of national and local women organizations

More about Key4Women can be found here

It was an evening full of inspiration, networking and connection. On October 17th more than 100 people attended the third annual Key4Women Forum in Pittsburgh at Franklin on Penn. This year’s theme, “Perseverance: When Life is ‘On the Rocks’,” resonated deeply with attendees, focusing on overcoming adversity and achieving success despite life’s challenges.

The highlight of the evening was a powerful keynote address from Maria Costanzo Palmer, acclaimed author of “On the Rocks: The Primadonna Story.” Palmer shared her personal journey and insights on resilience, recounting her experiences with failures and successes. Her message struck a chord with the audience, reminding everyone of the power of persistence, the importance of finding strength in adversity, and the need to redefine success on one’s own terms.

Watch the video above to hear from Palmer.

“I was really excited to talk about this topic,” said Palmer. “I hope that women walk away tonight knowing that it’s okay to be you, all parts of you. It’s okay to be the shiny, wonderful parts of you. It’s also okay to show your vulnerabilities because it’s the duality of the entire person that makes us human and makes us interesting.”

The event provided a platform for local women to connect, share their stories and support each other’s professional and personal growth. Attendees left not only with new business contacts but also with a renewed sense of motivation and purpose.

The annual Key4Women forum is dedicated to celebrating, supporting and encouraging the progress of women in business. The Key4Women program, which launched in 2005, offers:

Customized financial services and advice from Key4Women certified advisorsExclusive member events and forums with industry experts to help foster professional and business development while creating lasting connections with industry leaders and professionalsTimely and robust thought leadership content and insights covering the latest in financial and business trends to help women succeedStrong support of national and local women organizations

More about Key4Women can be found here