Tag: 3BL

Originally published in Quest Diagnostics’ 2023 Corporate Responsibility Report

I’m pleased to share our 2023 Quest Diagnostics Corporate Responsibility Report.

The theme of this year’s report is “Care at Our Core,” which builds on our Purpose of working together to create a healthier world, one life at time.

Whether it’s our clinical franchises innovating to expand our disease-state testing portfolio, our professional lab services business helping hospitals operate more efficiently, our phlebotomists fostering a positive experience in our patient service centers (PSCs), or our many other touchpoints across the healthcare experience, we work together every day as a team to care for our patients, customers, and one another. I am proud of the critical role we play in healthcare and how our workforce is the engine that advances innovative contributions to the field.

The Quest Way guides our Corporate Responsibility strategy and progress toward our Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) priorities and goals. We look forward to sharing these achievements and demonstrating how we continue to improve our processes and capabilities surrounding this work.

In 2023, we focused on generating growth, operating more efficiently, and developing new solutions to meet the needs of our primary customers. Quest remains a leading provider of advanced diagnostics, with testing services at the forefront of disease prevention, diagnosis, and monitoring. We expanded our portfolio with an emphasis on early detection. Our acquisition of Haystack Oncology will allow us to better detect residual or recurring cancers in early stages and improve treatment outcomes. We also added to our Alzheimer’s test portfolio, providing individuals with insight into hereditary genetic risk and early detection of disease risk with a simple blood test.

Expanding access to our diagnostic solutions and reducing health disparities in underserved communities continued as imperatives for Quest in 2023. Through our Quest for Health Equity (Q4HE) initiative, we, along with the Quest Diagnostics Foundation, collaborated with local stakeholders on community-led efforts with 55 active programs across the country. We also made important refinements to our patient financial assistance programs, decreasing the cost of testing for qualified patients.

We introduced our mobile phlebotomy service, Quest Mobile™, and nearly doubled the number of tests available on our consumer-initiated testing platform, questhealth.com.

A healthier world starts with a healthier Quest, and a healthier Quest starts with the health of each of our ~48,000 colleagues. That’s why we relaunched our employee health program, HealthyQuest, in 2023 with a renewed commitment to our colleagues’ well-being. Through our Blueprint for Wellness® offering, ~37,000 Quest employees and their spouses or domestic partners received a personalized, comprehensive health report based on a lab panel, biometrics, and an online questionnaire. To further support our employees in making healthier lifestyle choices, we created a HealthyQuest Employee Business Network with more than 1,000 colleagues already participating.

2023 was a remarkable year. I am humbled to lead such a dedicated team and look forward to our continued accomplishments together.

In good health,

Jim Davis

Chairman, CEO and President

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When Cheuk Lun joined Otis working in Hong Kong SAR, he wasn’t certain about his career choice, but having mentors early in his career helped guide him to success.

“I felt overwhelmed when I first started working in the industry. My mentors played a key role in helping me navigate this new world, grow, and finally foster a passion for pursuing a career in the elevator industry,” said Cheuk Lun, who now works as a service mechanic in Hong Kong.

Where Unparalleled Expertise Meets Ambition

Cheuk Lun is one of many Otis colleagues who have benefitted from mentorship programs. Otis recognizes that colleagues – and especially field mechanics – are key to our business success. They are the face of the company to customers, and they keep passengers on the move.

This is why Otis is committed to providing growth opportunities to colleagues through a variety of initiatives. Mentorship plays a crucial role in connecting experienced Otis colleagues with those early in their careers – sharing technical knowledge and aspects of Otis culture as well as elevator industry trends and news, and empowering both to succeed by developing new skills and sharing ideas.

A culture of safety

Ravinder is a new equipment technician and was part of the Chantier École, or jobsite school, in France, an innovative recruiting and training program. Trainees work with volunteer mentors to gain hands-on experience that they can later apply to projects in and around Paris. The program was awarded a special jury award by the French Elevator Association and recognized by the French railway operator SNCF Réseau at its 2022 Safety and Sustainable Development Awards. SNCF Réseau is overseeing the extension of Line E of the rapid rail transit system which serves Paris and its surrounding suburbs (also called EOLE project).

For Ravinder, the training was more than learning the technical skills essential to his job – it helped him to connect with Otis’ values, including the Absolutes of Safety, Ethics and Quality while setting him up for long-term success.

“I learned a lot about Otis’s values, especially when it comes to safety. At Otis, safety is the top priority for every technician and colleague,” he said. “Exercising safety first is how we do our job.”

A pathway to inclusion

Paula is a service mechanic for Otis in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. She participated in the Rota Escola training program, which also centers on mentorship. The popular and award-winning training and development program first launched over 10 years ago and attracts qualified candidates from underserved and underrepresented backgrounds.

“My mentor gave me a lot of theoretical and practical hands-on training,” said Paula. “I learned how to read diagrams, perform fault analysis, and gain knowledge about logic boards or inverters, for example. The exchange with my mentor was always interactive and dynamic.”

Each year, candidates in technical schools across Brazil are selected to participate in the Rota Escola program, and many receive jobs working in local Otis branches upon successfully completing the program. In 2023, almost 80% of program participants were offered a job at Otis and more than 30% of these applicants were women. In May, Rota Escola received an award in the “Attracting and Retaining Talent” category at HR First Class, one of the largest HR events in Brazil.

Mentoring benefits the mentors too

Among the hallmarks of a successful mentorship are the benefits felt by both mentor and mentee. This is something Tao, a mentor and lead trainer at the Otis Technical Academy (OTA) in Xiangtan, China, recognized. From the first training facility in Xiangtan, the OTA network has grown to five locations, adding Zhengzhou, Hangzhou, Chengdu and Tianjin.

“As a mentor, you learn as much as you provide to mentees, for example, how to communicate and listen,” said Tao. “I joined the program in 2016 as a mentor and since then have met thousands of students. Seeing them grow and thrive is fulfilling and inspiring.”

Strengthening the business

Mentorship is at the core of Otis’ learning and development programs and is central to attracting and retaining key talent as well as delivering on the company’s community engagement goals. Otis has committed to impacting 15,000 students globally through STEM-focused programs and vocational training by 2030 to help build the workforce of tomorrow.

Cheuk Lun from Otis Hong Kong reflected on how mentorship – as part of the apprenticeship and training for colleagues new to the industry – was invaluable to finding success at Otis and in the elevator industry.

“During my four year apprenticeship, I had the opportunity to work with a number of great mentors,” he said. “Each mentor played a crucial role in my career development and growth, helping me to gain new perspectives, learn new skills, and develop a better and holistic understanding of my work, the elevator industry and Otis as company.”

To learn more about how Otis partners with the community to build the next-generation workforce, read our 2023 ESG Report.

Originally published on 3M News Center

Heman Bekele, who won 3M’s Young Scientist Challenge in 2023 after inventing a soap that could someday help treat and prevent skin cancer, has been named TIME’s 2024 Kid of the Year.

TIME said it was Heman’s “ambition” and “selflessness” that earned him the recognition.

“I’m really passionate about skin-cancer research,” Heman told TIME. “Whether it’s my own research or what’s happening in the field. It’s absolutely incredible to think that one day my bar of soap will be able to make a direct impact on somebody else’s life. That’s the reason I started this all in the first place.”

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, with an average annual treatment cost of $8.1 billion. Inspired by this costly and widespread health issue, Heman developed an affordable soap solution that could positively impact skin cancer outcomes. Over the next five years, he hopes to refine this novel innovation and create a nonprofit organization that will distribute this low-cost solution to communities in need.

3M engineer Deboarh Isabelle, who was Heman’s mentor during the Young Scientist Challenge competition, said the TIME Kid of the Year honor was well deserved.

“Heman is an incredible charismatic, curious, intelligent, articulate young man,” Deboarh said. “But more than that, he’s compassionate and has a heart for people. He’s created an invention that has the potential to the make the world better for so many people.”

Heman is the second 3M Young Scientist Challenge winner to be honored by TIME. Gitanjali Rao, named America’s Top Young Scientist in 2017, was the first TIME Kid of the Year in 2020.

Recently, 3M and Discovery Education announced the 2024 3M Young Scientist Challenge top 10 finalists. As the nation’s premier middle school science competition, the annual 3M Young Scientist Challenge invites students in grades 5-8 to compete for an exclusive mentorship with a 3M scientist, a $25,000 grand prize, and the chance to earn the title of “America’s Top Young Scientist.”

The competition’s culminating event—where America’s Top Young Scientist will be named—will take place October 14-15, 2024, at the 3M Innovation Center in St. Paul, Minnesota.

You can learn more about the 3M Young Scientist Challenge and meet the 2024 finalists, by visiting YoungScientistLab.com.

By Kim Borges | July 9, 2024

You could call being the first U.S. city to end childhood hunger an audacious goal.

But Kids’ Meals, a Houston nonprofit focused on feeding children aged five and younger whose families face economic challenges, is confident they’re up to the task. And, in June, the organization took a huge step toward achieving it with the groundbreaking of a new location thanks to an investment by Regions Bank’s New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) team.

“Today was a humbling moment and we are especially grateful for the generous support we’ve received from Houston’s philanthropic community, investors and volunteers as we couldn’t do it without them,” said Beth Harp, CEO of Kids’ Meals, Inc., during the groundbreaking. “The growth made possible by the Greater Houston community is incredible and we look forward to feeding and serving thousands more Houston-area children in our new facility upon completion in mid-2025.”

That new 50,000 square-foot facility will provide a vital boost to Kids’ Meals’ food preparation, storage and meal distribution capabilities by allowing the organization to serve 26,000 preschool-aged children each weekday by 2031. It’s a long way from the organization’s 2006 beginnings with two vans delivering meals. Since then, the van fleet has grown to 21, with Kids’ Meals providing more than 14 million meals to children across 50-plus Houston-area zip codes. They’re on track to deliver 2.7 million meals this year alone.

Regions served as the NMTC investor with BlueHub Capital, a national nonprofit community development finance organization, providing the NMTC allocation. The funding supports the retention of 46 permanent full-time employees and will more than triple the number of meals served each year from 2.1 million to 6.5 million.

The Kids’ Meals NMTC investment by Regions is just one of several recent projects helping expand access to quality jobs, health care, education and additional critical services in under-resourced communities. The team also invested in community projects in Miami and Dallas, among additional cities and towns.

“The New Markets Tax Credit program is an important resource that helps nonprofits grow and address many community issues,” said Courtney Nolan, New Markets Tax Credit relationship manager for Regions Bank. “Through the New Markets Tax Credit program, we can enhance our mission of service and help build inclusive prosperity for all. We’re proud to be part of the team supporting Kids’ Meals, and we know it will make a real and meaningful difference in the lives of children and families across Houston for years to come.”

It’s a meaningful difference involving far more than delivering meals. Kids’ Meals also works with 70-plus community partners to connect families with a variety of resources like early childhood education and STEM education, case management services, literacy programs, job training and workforce development programs, and community health support.

In addition to the bank’s NMTC investment, nearly 20 Regions associates in Houston have also personally invested their time by preparing groceries for families and packing lunches for children during two Kids’ Meals volunteer projects.

“Kids’ Meals is providing our youngest neighbors with access to nutritious meals to help them grow and thrive,” said Caroline Vérot Moore, Commercial Banking leader and market executive for Regions Bank in Houston. “Their lifechanging work is addressing food insecurity today while working to break the cycle of poverty long-term. Our team is incredibly proud to support their efforts.”

Regions Associates – Part of Kids’ Meals’ Lunch-Packing Bunch:

We mentioned bank team members have volunteered at Kids’ Meals. Here, we learn more from two about why and what it means:

“Nutrition is important for everyone. Investing in children’s development helps them reach their full potential. By volunteering with Kids’ Meals, we can make a difference in young lives, serve as positive role models and show kindness to elevate our entire community.” 
–Tranyce Moore, Commercial Banking administrative assistant

“Kids’ Meals feeds more than 8,000 kids per day to help improve their lives. It made us happy to know we could enrich children’s lives just by sharing our time. I’m proud to work for a company that values the importance of investing in our community.” 
–Cesar Guerra, Commercial Banking relationship manager

Kids’ Meals In the News 
Read more about the Kids’ Meals June 4 groundbreaking.

About Kids’ Meals

In 2024, Kids’ Meals will deliver more than 2.7 million free, healthy meals to the homes of hungry preschool-aged children who face debilitating hunger due to extreme poverty. Since 2006, Kids’ Meals has delivered more than 14 million meals and connected families to vital wraparound resources to help end the cycle of poverty. Kids’ Meals is the only program of its kind in the nation delivering an average of 9,869 free, healthy meals every weekday to 56 Houston-area zip codes. Visit www.kidsmealsinc.org, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X.

When Kate Warrington’s busy job in higher education slowed down during the pandemic, she took the opportunity to reflect on what she wanted in her career. Despite climbing the ladder in her field, she had felt “itchy” in her career for years.

After some reflection, she realized, “I want to do something every day that has a global impact and to know that my work impacts the wellbeing of others.” She was ready for a change.

This led her to the food and beverage industry. Warrington oversees the Technical Training Center at Tetra Pak’s Denton, Texas campus, where engineers who work with food processing and packaging equipment receive high-quality, hands-on instruction to ensure equipment runs at optimal conditions.

Purpose is a vital component of her day-to-day work. “Tetra Pak is special because we all care about people and the environment,” says Warrington. “We all know that what we do is so important for the world, for the environment, for people and that’s what makes this a very, very special place.”

Warrington is not alone. Edelman’s 2023 Trust Barometer shows that people are looking for work that has a greater purpose and can shape society. Sixty-nine percent of those surveyed said having a societal impact is a strong expectation or deal breaker when considering a job. At a recent event hosted by Females in Food, Warrington and two other food and beverage leaders shared how they found purpose in their careers.

Being part of an industry that supports lives through nutrition can connect with people’s desire to impact the health and wellbeing of others in a meaningful way.

Tia Glave always knew she wanted to be an engineer but found more traditional engineering roles unfulfilling. She never considered the food and beverage field would have opportunities for engineers until she attended a National Society of Black Engineers conference.

“Once I got into food, I realized I have a passion for building capabilities in others and helping people find their place, and then nourishing and growing them so they’re the best version of themselves,” she says. “I always tell people it’s fun to be in the food industry! It’s fun to eat. Even from a food safety standpoint, it’s a lot of fun.”

As the co-founder of Catalyst, a coaching and leadership development company for people in food and beverage, Glave supports food industry organizations of all sizes with food safety, quality, regulatory, operations and maintenance issues.

Abigail Dagadu finds purpose in working in the food and beverage industry because of food’s impact on health and wellbeing. She originally planned to become a doctor, but always had a passion for food. After an internship with a food flavor company, she realized she craved the creativity the field offered her.

“We all know food can make people feel better or lift you up if your day isn’t going well,” says Dagadu. “Being a food scientist, I can still help people feel better, which is why I originally was interested in medicine.”

As a research and development manager at Tetra Pak, she researches ways to improve the taste and nutritional value of customers’ products and ensures food safety can be maintained across the value chain. “I’m not just creating a product. I’m creating something that can be used therapeutically, to improve wellbeing, to bring people together in celebration,” Dagadu reflects.

From engineering to training and everything in between, the food and beverage industry offers a wide variety of career opportunities for those searching for purpose. No matter what path people take to get to food and beverage, they can find meaning in how the industry contributes daily to people’s lives.

Learn more about a career at Tetra Pak here.

By NRG Editorial Voices

Listen to the podcast here

We sat down with our experts, Megan Owen, Senior Energy Efficiency Manager, and Greg Kandankulam, Director of Sustainability, to discuss how businesses can stay compliant with local and federal policies and capitalize on available government incentives, all while plotting a course for a more sustainable future.

During our conversation, we cover:

Key policy and regulation requirements [05:21]How to offset compliance costs [08:54]How to overcome common compliance challenges [11:25]How businesses know where to start [13:37]The importance of setting sustainability goals [15:15]How to create a comprehensive roadmap [16:54]How to develop a holistic energy strategy [19:42]What energy efficiency improvements businesses can implement [23:28]How often energy audits need to happen [25:50]How to choose the right energy efficiency strategies [26:44]If businesses should consider a phased approach [27:49]Best practices for energy benchmarking and reporting [28:40]

Understand key sustainability policies and regulations

As governments and businesses sharpen their focus on sustainability, companies like yours need to know what’s required to comply with evolving local and federal policies. This can be challenging, as each region has its own set of requirements ranging from simple benchmarking reports to setting carbon emissions targets.

In New York, for example, there are several Local Laws designed to drive energy reduction; the aggregate of these laws makes up one of the most stringent programs in the country. There’s also the Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance in Boston, Washington D.C.’s Building Energy Performance Standards, and recently passed Senate Bills 253 and 261 in California. These are just a few examples of the measures cities and states are implementing today.

Set your business up for success

Complying with ever-evolving regulatory policies is no easy feat, but it’s essential for your business. It can help you avoid costly penalties. Plus, it can enhance the value of your brand and potentially increase your revenue as more consumers and investors prioritize companies that are committed to environmental stewardship.

To achieve this ambitious goal, we recommend creating a holistic strategy that aligns your sustainability objectives with industry standards. Consider conducting an annual energy audit to identify efficiency improvements and cost savings. Finally, review your building’s year-over-year performance and compare it to others using the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool.

Work with an experienced partner

Whether you are just starting your sustainability journey or looking to optimize your existing efforts, working with a trusted partner could also benefit your business. Look for one with deep insight into these complex programs and a proven record of hitting timelines and goals.

At NRG, we help customers across the country:

Strategically chart their course toward a more sustainable futureManage their participation risk and identify potential sources of funding, such as local utility incentives, rebates, and tax creditsCreate comprehensive roadmaps that integrate different local and federal requirements into one cohesive planGuide them in improving efficiencies and reporting for their organization

Connect with Megan Owen on LinkedIn
Connect with Greg Kandankulam on LinkedIn

Resources and people mentioned

Start Your Sustainability Journey with Energy eBook Guide

The Challenge

Henry Ford Health, Michigan’s leading healthcare provider, aims to develop one of the nation’s first net zero hospital campuses. The challenge will be operating without generating greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining reliable service for their patients. They will need innovative technologies and strategies to address energy consumption and waste management.

 

The Solution

Henry Ford Health, Kiewit, and Veolia North America collaborated to implement a comprehensive solution which, in addition to a 33-year Operations and Maintenance contract, will include:

RENEWABLE ENERGY PURCHASING 
Power purchase agreements (PPAs) ensure a supply of renewable electricity, reducing reliance on traditional energy sources.

DIGITAL ENERGY MANAGEMENT 
Veolia’s Hubgrade digital platform monitors and manages energy use efficiently, optimizing consumption and reducing waste.

SUSTAINABILITY TASK FORCE 
A task force drives ongoing improvement and engages stakeholders in implementing sustainable practices.

ELECTRICITY 
The project installed electrified boilers, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

WASTE HEAT RECOVERY 
Waste heat recovery technology generates 75% of the facility’s heating, maximizing energy efficiency.

 

Projected Outcome

68% lower carbon footprint 

75% heat to come from waste heat recovery

Additional electric boilers enable full net-zero operation from day one, provided renewable energy power purchase agreements are in place.

Download the Case Study 

Read the 2024 Wesco Sustainability Report here

Inclusion and Diversity

Inclusion and diversity (I&D) are at the foundation of our high-performing culture. We believe that our dedication to diversity—the many different things we individually and collectively bring to work each day— contributes to building a stronger workforce and a better company at all levels. We seek to understand, respect and appreciate the dimensions of diversity that shape our global employees’ experiences. As such, we consciously work to create an environment that respects and values the diversity of the people and world around us.

Wesco’s Inclusion & Diversity (I&D) Program Goals

Leverage the experiences and perspectives of our talented workforce to support Wesco’s mission.Engage employees and build an inclusive culture.Recruit and develop talent that brings new perspectives and thought processes to Wesco.Increase representation of suppliers that are owned and operated by teams with diverse backgrounds.Support the communities in which we operate. I&D is explicitly reflected in our Code of Business Conduct and other workplace policies.

Wesco’s overall strategy includes an I&D focus and has empowered our business leaders to prioritize the topic. Executive leadership oversees I&D activity, measures results, and holds our leaders accountable. Collectively, teams are working toward a multi-year, enterprise-wide vision on inclusion, diversity and engagement, which interconnects our employees, suppliers and customers.

Our Global Inclusion and Diversity Council is chaired by our Vice President of I&D, who leads a team of senior management members.

Diversity Awards

In recognition of our I&D initiatives, Wesco has received the following awards for its efforts and achievements.

Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index (GEI): 
The index tracks the performance of public companies committed to transparency in gender- data reporting and measures gender equality across five pillars, including female leadership and talent pipeline, equal pay and gender pay parity, inclusive culture, anti-sexual harassment policies and pro- women brand. Companies on the index scored at or above a global threshold established by Bloomberg to reflect disclosure and the achievement or adoption of best-in-class statistics and policies. Wesco was first recognized in 2019 and has been included each year since. 
 The 30 Best Companies to Work for Latinos: 
Each year, Latino Leaders magazine compiles a list of best companies for Latinos, using such criteria as employee diversity, programs to recruit, promote and retain Latinos, employee resource group programs and Latino representation in the boardroom and C-Suite level. Wesco is proud to be recognized as one of the 30 best companies in 2023, which reflects our commitment to diversity and inclusion strategies and advancement.

Inclusion and Diversity Influencer

“Caring for people brings me joy. This comes in a lot of forms – sending a kind note, reaching out on a bad day, offering encouragement and laughs, sitting with a new person at lunch, the list goes on. I&D is all about ensuring people feel included, have a sense of belonging and can bring their whole selves to work. I can help bring small change simply by being kind and caring for people on a personal level and that is profound.”

– Rachel Westurn

I&D Training, Development, and Communication

Leaders and managers leverage a set of practical trainings and tools to engage employees and share diverse experiences and ideas. We offer 797 different I&D training course modules. In 2023, employees completed an estimated 6,429 hours of I&D training.

Business Resource Groups (BRGs)

Wesco’s BRGs exist to support a culture of inclusion where employees can thrive and strengthen our culture by offering different perspectives, styles, thoughts and ideas. These groups are offered globally and are open to all employees regardless of any aspect of their personal identity. BRG’s support the following:

Building an inclusive culture and positively impacting employee engagementCreating an open forum for the exchange of ideasProviding informal mentoring and professional development opportunities for Wesco employeesIdentifying opportunities for adding value and growing Wesco’s business through community engagementAssisting with the creation and maintenance of a pipeline of diverse talent for the CompanyEngaging with suppliers, customers and industry groups to share best practices, partner on I&D initiatives, advance the industry and to drive business growth has context menu

We continue to expand our BRGs to support inclusion and diversity goals of the company. Feedback from our BRGs provides valuable business insights, aiding our ongoing efforts to enhance diversity.

Wesco Business Resource Groups

ABLE – Employees with disabilities and alliesMOSAIC – Black, Latino, Indigenous, people of color, employees and alliesPRIDE – Equitable empowerment of the LGBTQ+ community WIN – Women in our organization and industry alliesVOLT – The engagement of the military community including our employees who are veterans and those who continue to serveSPARK – Employees in their early careers, allies and wider stakeholders that empower the expansion of professional horizons

UN Sustainable Development Goals

UN SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being 
Wesco provides health benefits to all full-time employees including resources for addressing substance abuse, promoting mental health and preventative health.UN SDG 3: Reduced Inequalities 
Wesco practices integrate respect for human rights, both directly within our global operations and throughout our supply chain.

To learn more, download the 2024 Wesco Sustainability Report here.

About This Report

Unless otherwise stated, this report covers activities, data and initiatives from our fiscal year 2023.

ESG Disclosure and Framework Alignment

The topics covered in this report include those that we have determined to be material for our business and stakeholders as noted on page 12. Wesco aligns with several ESG frameworks and disclosures in support of our commitment to transparency and our fulfillment of stakeholder needs and expectations. We leverage the following frameworks and standards to provide robust ESG information disclosure:

Global Reporting Initiative (GRI): GRI offers a list of global standards and guidelines around sustainability reporting.Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB): SASB provides a comprehensive set of industry-specific disclosure topics and guidelines.Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD): TCFD provides disclosure recommendations on thematic ESG topics such as governance, strategy, risk management, metrics and targets to provide stakeholders with fuller information surrounding climate risks.CDP: Formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project, CDP is an international organization that helps companies and cities measure and disclose important environmental impact information through an annual questionnaire and rating system.United Nations Global Compact (UNGC): UNGC is an initiative that aims to help businesses align their strategies and work toward the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals.United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (U.N. SDGs): U.N. SDGs provide a shared set of 17 toward peace and prosperity for people and planet goals and create a call to action by all countries in a global partnership.

We also regularly engage with our investors, employees, customers, regulators, ratings agencies and others on ESG and business issues. Additional information about Wesco can be found in our public financial filings—including our annual report and proxy filings—as well as on the Security and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov or on the Investors page of our website at Wesco.com.

Wesco plans to continue to report annually as we monitor, measure, and deepen our ESG initiatives and disclosures.

Wesco endorses the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are a call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity.

More information about our SDG aligned initiatives is included throughout this report.

Assurance 
We did not seek third-party assurance for this report; however, we will consider doing so for future reporting. The information and data contained in this report was vetted by internal subject matter experts on the various ESG topics included in this report.

Contact Us 
We appreciate and welcome feedback on our ESG initiatives and reporting and invite you to contact us directly via email at Sustainability@Wesco.com.

Originally published on Women We Admire

Nira Johri
Chief Sustainability Officer, KFC

Nira Johri is the Chief Sustainability Officer of KFC. She first joined the company in 2023. KFC is an iconic brand that has been making world-famous fried chicken since 1952, now serving chicken and delighting customers at more than 28,000 restaurants in 150 countries and territories around the world.

Johri is a sustainability executive with over 20 years of experience leading transformational, global strategies, and has dedicated more than 10 years to enhancing the value that big food companies can generate through sustainability. She is passionate about delivering impact in organizations, where inclusion and sustainability are fundamental parts of doing business. Johri is adept at developing and implementing enterprise-wide strategy, engaging stakeholders at all levels, and influencing without authority. She is a self-starter who is inspired by challenging learning environments and innovative workplaces.

Previously, Johri was a vice president of global inclusion and sustainability at Rich Products Corporation. Before that, she was a senior director of sustainability strategy and learning at the World Cocoa Foundation. Earlier in her career, she worked with Jack Morton Worldwide as a strategic planner and account manager. Johri earned an MBA in Beyond Profit from the University of Cambridge and an undergraduate degree in marketing government and politics from the University of Maryland.

Click here to read more on Women We Admire

Originally published on U.S. Bank company blog

For the third year in a row this August, Micae Brown can be found leading a team of U.S. Bank employees and others across Chicago to meet with the business owners she serves.

“This is about building connections and strengthening community,” said Brown, who is a U.S. Bank Business Access Advisor serving Chicago and Milwaukee. “It’s about our leaders hearing firsthand the challenges business owners face with securing capital, getting information, and having a strong relationship with a financial institution.”

Brown, who is focused on bridging gaps and being a conduit for business owners looking for solutions, will be holding her third annual Access Business bus tour in August, which also happens to be National Black Business Month. Similar tours are happening across the bank’s footprint with the Business Access Advisors hosting an inaugural business tour in Minnesota in August, one in Los Angeles in September, and an Arkansas-based Business Access Advisor joining ReMix Ideas – an organization dedicated to supporting Black-owned businesses – as a community leader on a bus tour for the third year.

“We find over and over again that the common pitfalls for small business owners often come from lack of access – whether it’s capital or resources and information,” said Brown. “It’s part of the reason why U.S. Bank created the Business Access Advisor role. We are striving to help business owners overcome those common challenges by connecting them with people who can help with access, whether it’s nonprofits or financial education resources.”

Over the years through the bus tour, Brown and U.S. Bank leaders have visited dozens of business owners who shared their own unique experiences and goals. This includes Alicia Deurson, the owner of a Harold’s Chicken franchise.

“When you are starting a small business, you don’t have ‘x’ amount of dollars,” said Deurson, who worked with Brown to find solutions at U.S. Bank and alongside community partners to help her open her restaurant in 2023. “You don’t have this or that, but U.S. Bank was willing to work with what I had. They take interest in you and don’t judge you on what you don’t have.”

In the end, these events are aimed at creating opportunities for deeper understandings around what it means to own a business, what challenges business owners face today, and understanding what their end goals are. For Tyrone Hemingway, the owner of Kicking the Barriers, those goals stretch far beyond the walls of his youth martial arts studio.

“Being a Black business owner is something I try to influence all of my people to be,” Hemingway said. “I’m honored to be a Black business owner because many doors are open to me, and I’m able to educate others on how these same doors can be open for them.”

To Brown and her BAA colleagues, sharing knowledge and creating connections to help small businesses grow is central to who they are.

“People start their small business because they are passionate about their product or service,” said Brown. “They don’t do it because they want to be a part-time banker. Moments like those on our tours – that bring together a small business owner and banking leadership – open so many doors on how we can work better together to help our small businesses succeed.”

About U.S. Bank Business Access Advisors

U.S. Bank Business Access Advisors provide information, connections and resources to help small business owners sustain or grow their business.

Focused on serving underserved communities including Hispanic- and women-owned businesses, Business Access Advisors are here to help small business owners connect and network with local resources, advise on how to meet goals and guide entrepreneurs through the process.