Tag: PR Newswire

• Revenue, Adjusted EBITDA¹ and Adjusted Free Cash Flow¹ all ahead of expectations
• Net Leverage¹ of 3.1x, lowest in Company’s history
• Revenue of $1,560.1 million, increase of 12.5% excluding the impact of divestitures² (9.0% including the impact of divestitures)
• Adjusted EBITDA¹ of $426.1 million, increase of 13.8%; Adjusted Net Loss from continuing operations¹ of $34.5 million; Net loss from continuing operations of $213.9 million
• Adjusted EBITDA margin¹ of 27.3%, 120 basis points increase over the prior year period; highest Q1 Adjusted EBITDA margin¹ in Company’s history
• Year-to-date completed acquisitions generating approximately $85.0 million in annualized revenue

VAUGHAN, ON, April 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ – GFL Environmental Inc. (NYSE: GFL) (TSX: GFL) (“GFL”, “we” or “our”) today announced its results for the first quarter of 2025.

“I am extremely proud of the hard work and commitment of our over 15,000 employees, as we delivered another strong start to the year,” said Patrick Dovigi, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of GFL. “Our exceptional execution drove industry leading top line growth of 12.5% and 120 basis points of Adjusted EBITDA margin¹ expansion over the prior year period. Our strong performance, achieved amid increased macroeconomic volatility and unusually challenging weather conditions, underscores the resiliency of our business model.”

Mr. Dovigi continued, “During the quarter, we used the proceeds from the sale of our Environmental Services business to materially de-lever our balance sheet to Net Leverage¹ of 3.1x, the lowest in the Company’s history. This not only accelerates our path to an investment grade credit rating, but also allows us to re-ignite our solid waste M&A engine. In addition, we repurchased 31,725,083 subordinate voting shares through a combination of our normal course issuer bid, participation in the recent secondary offering and directly from BC Partners. We intend to continue to be opportunistic on further share repurchases going forward.”

Mr. Dovigi concluded, “The strength of our first quarter results reinforces our confidence in achieving our full year guidance, and we look forward to updating investors on our outlook when we report our second quarter results.”

First Quarter Results³

• Revenue of $1,560.1 million in the first quarter of 2025, increase of 12.5% excluding the impact of divestitures² (9.0% including the impact of divestitures), including 5.7% from core pricing² and 0.9% from positive volume.²
• Adjusted EBITDA¹ increased by 13.8% to $426.1 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $374.4 million in the first quarter of 2024. Adjusted EBITDA margin¹ was 27.3% in the first quarter of 2025, compared to 26.1% in the first quarter of 2024.
• Net loss from continuing operations was $213.9 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $195.8 million in the first quarter of 2024.
• Adjusted Free Cash Flow¹ was $13.7 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $16.4 million in the first quarter of 2024. The decrease of 2.7 million was predominantly due to an increase in Adjusted EBITDA¹ partially offset by an increase in cash capex net of incremental growth investments and investment in working capital.

Q1 2025 Earnings Call

GFL will host a conference call related to our first quarter earnings on May 1, 2025 at 8:30 am Eastern Time. A live audio webcast of the conference call can be accessed by logging onto our Investors page at investors.gflenv.com or by clicking here. Listeners may access the call toll-free by dialing 1-833-950-0062 in Canada or 1-833-470-1428 in the United States (access code: 388082) approximately 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time.

We encourage participants who will be dialing in to pre-register for the conference call using the following link: https://www.netroadshow.com/events/login?show=be74913c&confId=79830. Callers who pre-register will be given a conference access code and PIN to gain immediate access to the call and bypass the live operator on the day of the call. Participants may pre-register at any time, including up to and after the call start time. For those unable to listen live, an audio replay of the call will be available until May 15, 2025 by dialing 1-226-828-7578 in Canada or 1-866-813-9403 in the United States (access code: 613839).

About GFL

GFL, headquartered in Vaughan, Ontario, is the fourth largest diversified environmental services company in North America, providing a comprehensive line of solid waste management services through its platform of facilities throughout Canada and in 18 U.S. states. Across its organization, GFL has a workforce of approximately 15,000 employees.

For more information, visit the GFL web site at gflenv.com. To subscribe for investor email alerts please visit investors.gflenv.com or click here.

Forward-Looking Information

This release includes certain “forward-looking statements” and “forward-looking information” (collectively, “forward-looking information”) within the meaning of applicable U.S. and Canadian securities laws, respectively. Forward-looking information includes all statements that do not relate solely to historical or current facts and may relate to our future outlook, financial guidance and anticipated events or results and may include statements regarding our financial performance, financial condition or results, business strategy, growth strategies, budgets, operations and services. Particularly, statements regarding our expectations of future results, performance, achievements, prospects or opportunities, the markets in which we operate, or potential share repurchases are forward-looking information. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “plans”, “targets”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “an opportunity exists”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “outlook”, “forecasts”, “projection”, “prospects”, “strategy”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “does not anticipate”, “believes”, or “potential” or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might”, “will”, “will be taken”, “occur” or “be achieved”, although not all forward-looking information includes those words or phrases. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, intentions, projections, guidance, potential or other characterizations of future events or circumstances contain forward-looking information. Statements containing forward-looking information are not historical facts nor assurances of future performance but instead represent management’s expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events or circumstances.

Forward-looking information is based on our opinions, estimates and assumptions that we considered appropriate and reasonable as of the date such information is stated, is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to certain assumptions set out herein; our ability to obtain and maintain existing financing on acceptable terms; our ability to source and execute on acquisitions on terms acceptable to us; currency exchange and interest rates; commodity price fluctuations; our ability to implement price increases and surcharges; changes in waste volumes; labour, supply chain and transportation constraints; inflationary cost pressures; fuel supply and fuel price fluctuations; our ability to maintain a favourable working capital position; the impact of competition; the changes and trends in our industry or the global economy; and changes in laws, rules, regulations, and global standards. Other important factors that could materially affect our forward-looking information can be found in the “Risk Factors” section of GFL’s annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2024 and GFL’s other periodic filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the securities commissions or similar regulatory authorities in Canada. Shareholders, potential investors and other readers are urged to consider these risks carefully in evaluating our forward-looking information and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such information. There can be no assurance that the underlying opinions, estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct. Although we have attempted to identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors not currently known to us or that we currently believe are not material that could also cause actual results or future events to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking information. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. The forward-looking information contained in this release represents our expectations as of the date of this release (or as the date it is otherwise stated to be made), and is subject to change after such date. However, we disclaim any intention or obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable U.S. or Canadian securities laws.

Non-IFRS Measures

This release makes reference to certain non-IFRS measures. These measures are not recognized measures under IFRS and do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Accordingly, these measures should not be considered in isolation nor as a substitute for analysis of our financial information reported under IFRS. Rather, these non-IFRS measures are used to provide investors with supplemental measures of our operating performance and thus highlight trends in our core business that may not otherwise be apparent when relying solely on IFRS measures. We also believe that securities analysts, investors and other interested parties frequently use non-IFRS measures in the evaluation of issuers. Our management also uses non-IFRS measures in order to facilitate operating performance comparisons from period to period, to prepare annual operating budgets and forecasts and to determine components of management compensation.

EBITDA represents, for the applicable period, net income (loss) from continuing operations plus (a) interest and other finance costs, plus (b) depreciation and amortization of property and equipment, landfill assets and intangible assets, plus (less) (c) the provision (recovery) for income taxes, in each case to the extent deducted or added to/from net income (loss) from continuing operations. We present EBITDA to assist readers in understanding the mathematical development of Adjusted EBITDA. Management does not use EBITDA as a financial performance metric.

Adjusted EBITDA is a supplemental measure used by management and other users of our financial statements including, our lenders and investors, to assess the financial performance of our business without regard to financing methods or capital structure. Adjusted EBITDA is also a key metric that management uses prior to execution of any strategic investing or financing opportunity. For example, management uses Adjusted EBITDA as a measure in determining the value of acquisitions, expansion opportunities, and dispositions. In addition, Adjusted EBITDA is utilized by financial institutions to measure borrowing capacity. Adjusted EBITDA is calculated by adding and deducting, as applicable from EBITDA, certain expenses, costs, charges or benefits incurred in such period which in management’s view are either not indicative of underlying business performance or impact the ability to assess the operating performance of our business, including: (a) (gain) loss on foreign exchange, (b) (gain) loss on sale of property and equipment, (c) share of net (income) loss of investments accounted for using the equity method, (d) share-based payments, (e) transaction costs, (f) acquisition, rebranding and other integration costs (included in cost of sales related to acquisition activity), (g) Founder/CEO remuneration and (h) other. For the three months ended March 31, 2025, Founder/CEO remuneration has been added back to EBITDA. We use Adjusted EBITDA to facilitate a comparison of our operating performance on a consistent basis reflecting factors and trends affecting our business. As we continue to grow our business, we may be faced with new events or circumstances that are not indicative of our underlying business performance or that impact the ability to assess our operating performance.

Adjusted EBITDA margin represents Adjusted EBITDA divided by revenue. Management and other users of our financial statements including our lenders and investors use Adjusted EBITDA margin to facilitate a comparison of the operating performance of each of our operating segments on a consistent basis reflecting factors and trends affecting our business.

Acquisition EBITDA represents, for the applicable period, management’s estimates of the annual Adjusted EBITDA of an acquired business, based on its most recently available historical financial information at the time of acquisition, as adjusted to give effect to (a) the elimination of expenses related to the prior owners and certain other costs and expenses that are not indicative of the underlying business performance, if any, as if such business had been acquired on the first day of such period and (b) contract and acquisition annualization for contracts entered into and acquisitions completed by such acquired business prior to our acquisition (collectively, “Acquisition EBITDA Adjustments”). Further adjustments are made to such annual Adjusted EBITDA to reflect estimated operating cost savings and synergies, if any, anticipated to be realized upon acquisition and integration of the business into our operations. Acquisition EBITDA is calculated net of divestitures. We use Acquisition EBITDA for the acquired businesses to adjust our Adjusted EBITDA to include a proportional amount of the Acquisition EBITDA of the acquired businesses based upon the respective number of months of operation for such period prior to the date of our acquisition of each such business.

Adjusted Cash Flows from Operating Activities represents cash flows from operating activities adjusted for (a) operating cash flows from discontinued operations, (b) transaction costs, (c) acquisition, rebranding and other integration costs, (d) Founder/CEO remuneration, (e) cash interest paid on early termination of long-term debt and (f) distribution received from joint ventures. Adjusted Cash Flows from Operating Activities is a supplemental measure used by investors as a valuation and liquidity measure in our industry. For the three months ended March 31, 2025, Founder/CEO remuneration and cash interest paid on early termination of long-term debt have been added back to Adjusted Cash Flows from Operating Activities. These amounts were not paid in prior periods. Adjusted Cash Flows from Operating Activities is a supplemental measure used by management to evaluate and monitor liquidity and the ongoing financial performance of GFL.

Adjusted Free Cash Flow represents Adjusted Cash Flows from Operating Activities adjusted for (a) proceeds on disposal of assets and other, (b) purchase of property and equipment and (c) incremental growth investments. Adjusted Free Cash Flow is a supplemental measure used by investors as a valuation and liquidity measure in our industry. Adjusted Free Cash Flow is a supplemental measure used by management to evaluate and monitor liquidity and the ongoing financial performance of GFL. 

Adjusted Net Income (Loss) from continuing operations represents net income (loss) from continuing operations adjusted for (a) amortization of intangible assets, (b) amortization of deferred financing costs, (c) (gain) loss on foreign exchange, (d) share of net (income) loss of investments accounted for using the equity method, (e) loss on termination of hedged arrangements, (f) transaction costs, (g) acquisition, rebranding and other integration costs, (h) Founder/CEO remuneration, (i) other and (j) the tax impact of the foregoing. For the three months ended March 31, 2025, we added back the loss on termination of hedged arrangements and Founder/CEO remuneration. Adjusted income (loss) per share from continuing operations is defined as Adjusted Net Income (Loss) from continuing operations divided by the weighted average shares in the period. For the three months ended March 31, 2025, Founder/CEO remuneration and loss on termination of hedged arrangements have been added back to net income (loss) from continuing operations. We believe that Adjusted income (loss) per share from continuing operations provides a meaningful comparison of current results to prior periods’ results by excluding items that GFL does not believe reflect its fundamental business performance.

Net Leverage is a supplemental measure used by management to evaluate borrowing capacity and capital allocation strategies. Net Leverage is equal to our total long-term debt, as adjusted for fair value, deferred financings and other adjustments and reduced by our cash, divided by Run-Rate EBITDA.

Run-Rate EBITDA represents Adjusted EBITDA for the applicable period as adjusted to give effect to management’s estimates of (a) Acquisition EBITDA Adjustments (as defined above) and (b) the impact of annualization of certain new municipal and disposal contracts and cost savings initiatives, entered into, commenced or implemented, as applicable, in such period, as if such contracts or costs savings initiatives had been entered into, commenced or implemented, as applicable, on the first day of such period ((a) and (b), collectively, “Run-Rate EBITDA Adjustments”). Run-Rate EBITDA has not been adjusted to take into account the impact of the cancellation of contracts and cost increases associated with these contracts. These adjustments reflect monthly allocations of Acquisition EBITDA for the acquired businesses based on straight line proration. As a result, these estimates do not take into account the seasonality of a particular acquired business. While we do not believe the seasonality of any one acquired business is material when aggregated with other acquired businesses, the estimates may result in a higher or lower adjustment to our Run-Rate EBITDA than would have resulted had we adjusted for the actual results of each of the acquired businesses for the period prior to our acquisition. We primarily use Run-Rate EBITDA to show how GFL would have performed if each of the acquired businesses had been consummated at the start of the period as well as to show the impact of the annualization of certain new municipal and disposal contracts and cost savings initiatives. We also believe that Run-Rate EBITDA is useful to investors and creditors to monitor and evaluate our borrowing capacity and compliance with certain of our debt covenants. Run-Rate EBITDA as presented herein is calculated in accordance with the terms of our revolving credit agreement.

All references to “$” in this press release are to Canadian dollars, unless otherwise noted.

For further information:
Patrick Dovigi, Founder and Chief Executive Officer
+1 905-326-0101
pdovigi@gflenv.com

GFL Environmental Inc.
Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) 
(In millions of dollars except per share amounts)

GFL Environmental Inc.
Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position 
(In millions of dollars)

GFL Environmental Inc.
Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows 
(In millions of dollars)

SUPPLEMENTAL DATA

You should read the following information in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto as of and for the year ended December 31, 2024, as well as our Unaudited Interim Financial Statements and notes thereto for the three months ended March 31, 2025.

Revenue Growth

The following table summarizes the revenue growth in our segments for the period indicated:

Detail of Organic Growth

The following table summarizes the components of our organic growth for the period indicated:

Operating Segment Results

The following table summarizes our operating segment results for the periods indicated, excluding the results of GFL Environmental Services which has been presented as discontinued operations:

Net Leverage

The following table presents the calculation of Net Leverage as at the dates indicated:

Shares Outstanding

The following table presents the total shares outstanding as at the date indicated:

NON-IFRS RECONCILIATION SCHEDULE

Adjusted EBITDA 

The following table provides a reconciliation of our net loss from continuing operations to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA for the periods indicated, excluding the results of GFL Environmental Services which has been presented as discontinued operations:

Adjusted Net Loss from Continuing Operations

The following table provides a reconciliation of our net loss from continuing operations to Adjusted Net Loss from continuing operations for the periods indicated, excluding the results of GFL Environmental Services which has been presented as discontinued operations:

Adjusted Cash Flows from Operating Activities and Adjusted Free Cash Flow

The following table provides a reconciliation of our cash flows from operating activities to Adjusted Cash Flows from Operating Activities and Adjusted Free Cash Flow for the periods indicated:

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SOURCE GFL Environmental Inc.

Compliance Leader Verification^™ recognizes organizations with an
outstanding commitment to achieving a superior ethics and compliance program

Company’s Vice President and Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer Antonio Fernández honored with Business Ethics Leadership Alliance’s Beacon Award

AKRON, Ohio, April 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Reflecting its core values and commitment to ethics and integrity, FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) has earned Compliance Leader Verification for 2025-2026 from Ethisphere, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices. This designation reflects that FirstEnergy’s corporate ethics and compliance program and initiatives and corporate culture meet or exceed stringent criteria reflective of best practices.

Ethisphere also has recognized FirstEnergy Vice President and Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer Antonio Fernández with its 2025 Business Ethics Leadership Alliance (BELA) Beacon Award, which honors individual leaders who have fostered the growth of the BELA community through their personal efforts and generosity in sharing their time and expertise.

Brian X. Tierney, Board Chair, President and Chief Executive Officer for FirstEnergy: “Under Antonio’s leadership, FirstEnergy has rebuilt our ethics and compliance program to focus on doing what’s right for our customers, communities, employees and other stakeholders. The integrity and accountability that grounds these programs are not just principles on paper, but the foundation for how we work, lead and grow. I’m proud that we’ve established a culture where integrity fuels innovation, drives performance excellence and enhances the experience for our customers – traits reflecting our transformation to becoming a premier electric company.”

Watch Tierney and Fernández discuss FirstEnergy’s ethics and compliance journey with Ethisphere’s Bill Coffin on a recent episode of the Ethicast Podcast.

Jodie Fredericksen, Vice President, Data and Services at Ethisphere: “FirstEnergy has put in an incredible amount of work to establish and strengthen their program. They mean business, and we continue to be impressed with their dedication to ethics and compliance. Antonio has been a standout leader in this space, both at FirstEnergy and in the compliance community. At a time when integrity and trust are more important than ever, he sets an example for those around him by leading with courage, clarity and conviction.”

The Compliance Leader Verification process involves a rigorous review of an ethics and compliance program and corporate culture. It includes completing the Ethics Quotient^® (EQ), a questionnaire covering the elements of an effective program; benchmarking program practices against the World’s Most Ethical Companies^®; and extensive document review and interviews with executives and stakeholders. 

FirstEnergy’s performance was evaluated on six key areas: program resources and structure; perceptions of ethical culture; written standards; training and communication; risk assessment, monitoring and auditing; and enforcement, discipline and incentives.

More information about Compliance Leader Verification is available at https://ethisphere.com/what-we-do/leader-verification/

About Ethisphere 

Ethisphere is the global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices that strengthen corporate brands, build trust in the marketplace and deliver business success.

Companies turn ethics, compliance, and culture into a business advantage by leveraging Ethisphere’s data-driven program and culture assessments featuring the latest guidance and the practices of hundreds of global organizations across the 8 pillars of an ethical culture, and 240+ ethics, compliance, social and governance data points delivered through a proprietary software platform.

Ethisphere also honors superior integrity programs through World’s Most Ethical Companies^® recognition, brings together a community of industry experts with the Business Ethics Leadership Alliance (BELA), and advances ethical business practices through the Global Ethics Summit, Ethisphere Magazine and the Ethicast podcast. For more information, visit https://ethisphere.com.

About FirstEnergy

FirstEnergy is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its electric distribution companies form one of the nation’s largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The company’s transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Follow FirstEnergy on X @FirstEnergyCorp or online at firstenergycorp.com. 

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SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.

HOPE Homes – A 27-Unit Modular Casita Community Made Possible Under New SB4

FONTANA, Calif., April 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — BOXABL, a Las Vegas–based startup revolutionizing the housing industry, has announced an exciting new partnership with Bethel AME Church of Fontana to provide 27 Casita modular homes for the local community. This milestone project is among the first in California to be implemented under the state’s groundbreaking Affordable Housing on Faith Lands Act (SB4) — a transformative law designed to expedite the development of affordable housing on land owned by faith-based and nonprofit educational institutions.

SB4 removes long-standing zoning barriers, allowing churches and religious organizations to develop housing solutions more efficiently on their properties. This new legal pathway opened the door for Rev. Terrence D. Sims, pastor of Bethel AME Church of Fontana, to collaborate with BOXABL, utilizing the company’s innovative Casita units as a strategic solution for senior affordable housing needs.

About the Project

The 27 Casita homes—each a compact 361-square-foot unit—will be located at Bethel AME Church, providing convenient access for residents to church services, programs, and community resources. This initiative, HOPE Homes, directly aligns with Bethel’s mission of “Helping Other People Everywhere,” bringing tangible support to seniors in need of safe, accessible, and dignified housing.

This collaboration also reflects BOXABL’s belief in the power of mission-driven partnerships. Religious institutions like Bethel Fontana are uniquely positioned to address pressing social challenges, such as housing insecurity. This project serves as a compelling model for faith-based engagement in community development.

Partnership and Investment Opportunities

As BOXABL continues to scale its modular housing technology, the company is actively seeking additional partnerships with developers, municipalities, and organizations looking to make a real impact. For individuals interested in supporting this mission, BOXABL shares are currently available starting at $0.80 per share.

READ THE OFFERING CIRCULAR HERE

About BOXABL

BOXABL is committed to reimagining the housing landscape through cutting-edge design and modular technology. Focused on affordability, durability, and efficiency, BOXABL is building homes for the future that meet today’s community needs.

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SOURCE Boxabl

HOUSTON, April 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — JERA Americas was proud to host its second annual Spring Volunteer Day Event on Wednesday, partnering with six area nonprofits. About 100 employees divided into smaller teams and spent the day assisting with special projects designed by each organization.

Nonprofit partners included:

• Children’s Museum Houston
• Dress for Success Houston
• Houston Public Library
• Kids’ Meals Houston
• Project Sunshine
• United Services Organization (USO)

Volunteer opportunities are offered to employees annually and are one of the ways JERA Americas ensures it keeps its values front of mind. The Company values are Sustainability, Happy, Adaptable, Passionate, Entrepreneurial (SHAPE). Sustainability is the primary company value, and it encompasses safety, and environmental, social, and financial sustainability.

“We have several volunteer efforts initiated at our various offices and generating facilities throughout the year. Our Spring Volunteer Day is an opportunity for our employees to engage in teamwork across our organization,” said Cindy Garcia, JERA Americas Senior Vice President and Head of Human Resources and General Affairs. “Such collaboration with a broader purpose of supporting our communities enables us to connect in a way that brings great happiness and satisfaction.”

JERA Americas also offers two days of paid time off for team members to volunteer at the charities of their choice throughout the year. And as part of its best-in-class benefits, the company provides family-sustaining jobs, premium-paid healthcare and welfare benefits, and a flexible and positive work environment. 

ABOUT JERA AMERICAS
JERA Americas is supporting an energy transition in an environmentally and socially responsible manner. The company is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based JERA, which stands for Japan’s Energy for a New Era. JERA produces about 30% of all electricity in Japan. https://www.jeraamericas.com. 

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SOURCE JERA Americas, Inc

Adapted testing method indicates another potential consumer exposure to “forever chemicals”

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., April 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Curious about how local water quality could affect your next happy hour? Researchers at RTI International, an independent scientific research institute, just published a new study in Environmental Science & Technology showing that the presence of “forever chemicals” in municipal water gets into the beer production process — and the beer itself.

The Environmental Science & Technology journal article, titled “Hold My Beer: The Linkage between Municipal Water and Brewing,” explores how chemical contaminants known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — or PFAS — pose a challenge for drinking water utilities and breweries across the U.S. and globally.

“RTI’s ‘Hold My Beer’ study highlights the need for broad, coordinated action to reduce PFAS in water supplies,” said Jennifer Hoponick Redmon, lead study researcher and senior director of environmental health and water quality at RTI. “Our adapted testing method offers a practical way to detect and address PFAS in beverages including beer, which we hope can reduce exposure to these chemicals and make future happy hours relatively safer and healthier.”

This is the first study to adapt an established PFAS testing method for drinking water for beer analysis and evaluate how municipal drinking water at brewing locations influences PFAS presence in beer.

Key findings from the research include:

• PFAS Detection: PFAS were detected in most beers, particularly from smaller breweries near contaminated water sources. These beers had a higher likelihood of PFAS presence compared to larger-scale U.S. or international beers.
• Variability in Contamination: PFAS contamination was variable, even within six-packs of the same beer. Despite reduced use of longer-chain PFAS compounds, both PFOA and PFOS are still found in beers.
• Firefighting Foam Connection: PFAS compounds linked to firefighting foam, such as PFSAs and PFBS, were commonly found in beers, indicating widespread environmental transport.
• Regional Differences: Beers from North Carolina exhibited higher PFAS species variety compared to Michigan and California.
• Actionable Steps: Consumers can prioritize choosing beers from breweries without PFAS in municipal drinking water, or that conduct testing and use water filtration that removes PFAS. Water utilities can enhance water treatment processes to remove PFAS contaminants before distribution, and breweries can test or filter their brewing water.

RTI researchers evaluated PFAS compounds in beers purchased in retail stores and compared results with municipal water data to determine if contamination was associated with the water supply. The study was conducted at brewing locations in 17 U.S. counties, nine states and three countries.

PFAS are human-made chemicals produced for their anti-grease, water-resistant, and stain-repelling properties. Recent studies show that PFAS exposure can lead to adverse reproductive, developmental, cardiovascular, liver, kidney, immunological and carcinogenic health effects. Nearly every American has PFAS in their blood, indicating that exposure is common. Consumption of contaminated drinking water is a major, if not the primary contributor to total exposure.

Supporting breweries and water utilities in addressing PFAS paves the way for future advancements in water quality and food safety.

More information is available about how exposure to contaminants is identified and reduced in the places where people live, learn, work and play through RTI CleanPlus™, a portfolio of environmental health and water quality programs.

RTI has in-house capabilities spanning PFAS assessment, testing, remediation and identification of alternatives.

About RTI International
RTI International is an independent scientific research institute dedicated to improving the human condition. Our vision is to address the world’s most critical problems with technical and science-based solutions in pursuit of a better future. Clients rely on us to answer questions that demand an objective and multidisciplinary approach—one that integrates expertise across social, statistical, data, and laboratory sciences, engineering, and other technical disciplines to solve the world’s most challenging problems.

Media Contact:
RTI Media Relations
919-541-7300
394373@email4pr.com

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SOURCE RTI International

 Talent, technology, and strategic planning are shaping the future of the AEC industry at a crossroads

DULLES, Va., April 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Unanet, the leading provider of project-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) and customer relationship management (CRM) for the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry, today released its 2025 AEC Inspire Report. Based on a recent nationwide survey of hundreds of top industry professionals, the report offers timely benchmarks and insights to help firms make informed, strategic decisions this year, particularly as they face significant talent shortages due to an aging workforce.

“The AEC industry is incredibly agile, but market uncertainty and talent gaps are driving successful firms to leverage technology in new ways, such as resource management and business development,” said Akshay Mahajan, Executive Vice President, AEC, Unanet. “In the new Inspire Report, we offer a practical view into pressing concerns and emerging opportunities shaping the sector, so leaders can move forward with confidence.”

Top Reported Challenges
The report shows labor and talent development are top concerns for 67% of firms, surpassing even economic uncertainty. The average employee age is 41, and many founding leaders are nearing retirement. Yet only two-thirds of firms report having formal succession plans, and more than half rate their career development efforts as fair or poor.

In addition, business development remains a key area for improvement. Nearly half of respondents (47%) cite low adoption of business development tools, up from 35% last year. Further limiting their ability to pursue new opportunities, 54% say they lack the tools needed to access and analyze the data required to pursue new work effectively.

The third significant business challenge is resource management, which 25% of respondents rate as “immature.” This means many AEC firms lack the insights that forecasting and predictive analysis can deliver.

Yet Optimism Reigns
Despite these challenges, the vast majority of respondents (78%) expressed optimism about the current business environment. The optimism about future growth creates an even greater need to build a strong workforce, adopt leading-edge business development tools, and accurately forecast and plan resources.

“As any successful AEC firm can attest, success takes a lot more than just a growth plan, but also determined execution composed of actionable business intelligence about new opportunities, dedicated talent that will deliver stellar results for each project, and a firm-wide view of resources and timelines so each project can be managed properly,” said Lucas Hayden, Senior Director, AEC Strategy, Unanet. “Firms that prioritize data centralization, health, and system integration are in a stronger position to drive growth.”

The 2025 AEC Inspire Report includes insights from 313 senior-level professionals across firms of varying sizes and revenue levels. It also features tools organizations can use to assess themselves and their needs including a Resource Management Maturity Model, an AI and technology checklist, and guidance for evaluating business solutions.

Download the full report at https://info.unanet.com/aec-inspire-report-2025.

About Unanet
Unanet is a leading provider of project-based ERP and CRM solutions purpose-built for government contractors, architecture, engineering, construction, and professional services. More than 4,000 project-driven organizations depend on Unanet to turn their information into actionable insights, drive better decision-making, maintain regulatory compliance, and accelerate business growth. All backed by a people-centered team invested in the success of your projects, people, and financials. For more information, visit www.unanet.com.

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SOURCE Unanet

Join the Hunt for Houdini Flies!

BOTHELL, Wash., April 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Rent Mason Bees, the nation’s largest solitary bee provider, has partnered with researchers at the University of California, Davis to address the alarming spread of the Houdini fly, an invasive kleptoparasite threatening native mason bee populations across the Pacific Northwest.

This week, they officially launched THE HOUDINI FLY HUNT, calling on bee hosts and citizen scientists nationwide to help track and report sightings of this destructive invader.

The collaboration is led by Abigail Lehner, a PhD candidate at UC Davis, who is researching how mason bees are impacted by global environmental change. Lehner recently received a grant from the Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (WSARE) program to deepen the understanding of Houdini fly biology and to develop an effective management plan.

“I’ve seen a significant increase in Houdini flies in Washington and Oregon this year, and they are devastating to mason bee populations. Unmaintained bee hotels are a major cause of their spread,” said Lehner.

The Houdini fly—a small, gray insect with red eyes, about the size of a fruit fly—was accidentally introduced from Europe within the last few years. These parasitic flies are often seen hovering near bee hotels or sitting at nest entrances.

Houdini flies exploit mason bees by sneaking into nests when the mother bee is away. They lay their eggs on the pollen stores intended for bee larvae. When the Houdini larvae hatch, they consume the pollen, starving the developing mason bees. Fully grown Houdini flies then escape the sealed chambers at the same time the surviving bees would normally emerge, earning their notorious name.

Thyra McKelvie, Managing Director of Rent Mason Bees, emphasizes that proper care and public education are critical.

“Many people don’t realize that setting up a bee hotel comes with responsibility,” McKelvie said. “Without proper maintenance, these hotels can quickly become breeding grounds for parasites like the Houdini fly.”

McKelvie outlines three critical steps for responsible mason bee care:

1. Place clean, openable nesting material out in early spring.
2. Remove nesting materials at the end of spring (mason bees only live 6–8 weeks).
3. Harvest and clean cocoons in the fall to remove parasites.

“If you want to prevent further spread, it is imperative to clean out your bee hotel in the fall and remove Houdini larvae,” Lehner added.

Join the Houdini Fly Hunt!

One of the best ways to combat this threat is by identifying where Houdini flies are spreading—and that’s where you come in.

Report your findings here: Houdini Fly Hunt!
Watch the video to learn how to spot and stop Houdini flies: Mason Bee Predator Alert! Houdini Fly – How to Spot, Stop & Hunt!

Your participation is crucial in protecting our native pollinators and strengthening ecosystems across the country.

www.RentMasonBees.com

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SOURCE Rent Mason Bees

SPRINGFIELD, Mo., April 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Rev up your engines and join us for the Birthplace of Route 66 Motorcycle Kick-Off on April 30th from 5 PM to 8 PM at Hold Fast Brewing and Billiards. It’s the perfect way to celebrate the spirit of the open road and gear up for the upcoming rally season!

This high-energy event will offer riders and enthusiasts the opportunity to sign up for the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association (CVMA) Gypsy Poker Run and Bike Show, taking place on August 9th in Downtown Springfield as part of the iconic Route 66 Festival. Don’t miss your chance to secure a spot in this celebrated ride supporting our veterans.

Enjoy delicious Italian cuisine from Bedda Matri Springfield food truck, a veteran-owned food truck serving authentic Italian dishes.

Come enjoy and connect with fellow riders as we kick off an unforgettable motorcycle season. Whether you’re a seasoned biker or just a fan of the motorcycle culture, this event is for you!

Event Details:

• What: Birthplace of Route 66 Motorcycle Kick-Off Event
• When: April 30, 2025 | 5 PM – 8 PM
• Where: Hold Fast Brewing and Billiards, Springfield, MO
• Sign Up: Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association Gypsy Poker Run and Bike Show (August 9th)
• Food: Bedda Matri Springfield Food Truck – Veteran-Owned Italian Cuisine

For more information on the Birthplace of Route 66 Festival and the CVMA events, visit Route66FestivalSGF.com

Kickstart your engines and we’ll see you there!

Media Contact
Laura Dannegger
(417) 889-1400
Laurad@autoinjury.com

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SOURCE Aaron Sachs & Associates, P.C.

REAL SIMPLE Editors Team Up with Interior Designers and Content Creators Including Drew Michael Scott, Mallory Fletchall, Jason Saft, Alvin Wayne, Mandy Cheng and More

NEW YORK, April 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — REAL SIMPLE is bringing its eighth annual REAL SIMPLE Home to a luxury building in downtown Manhattan. And for the first time ever, the brand is expanding the project to include two separate residences: a four-bedroom penthouse and a two-bedroom apartment. Located in the newly built One Park Row, these units will showcase brilliant design ideas, approachable DIY projects, and smart storage solutions. Over the next few months, a team of talented designers will work with REAL SIMPLE editors to decorate and furnish the units. The 2025 REAL SIMPLE Home will be revealed in the October 2025 issue, featured on RealSimple.com, and open to the public with tours starting in late September.

“This is our most exciting REAL SIMPLE Home yet. Expanding into two separate units—one focused on trend-forward interior design, the other on easy DIY projects to achieve the same kind of beautiful results—gives us the chance to share even more smart, stylish ideas to inspire our audience and drive them to action,” said Lauren Iannotti, REAL SIMPLE Editor in Chief.

The penthouse will feature bright, bold spaces designed by stars of the home design world: Alvin Wayne, Jason Saft, Mandy Cheng, Candace Griffin, Alexandra Gater, and Noz Nozawa. Each will infuse their rooms with color, personality, and inspiring ideas. Wrapping around the penthouse is a 1,470-square-foot roof deck with different zones for entertaining, gardening, and wellness. The two-bedroom apartment, the DIY Annex, offers projects from social media sensations Drew Michael Scott, Mallory Fletchall, and Valeria Jacobs. The professional organizer Tyler Moore, will bring order and functionality throughout spaces including the pantry, fridge, primary closet, and laundry room. All of the spaces will showcase maximalist moments, moody palettes, and plenty of inspiration.

“I’m excited to be part of this year’s REAL SIMPLE Home where creativity, storytelling, and community come together–three things I’m passionate about. I look forward to collaborating with inspiring minds and contributing a fresh perspective to create something meaningful and memorable,” said Alvin Wayne, New York-based interior designer.

The expansive project will be located within One Park Row, marketed by SERHANT. New Development. The 24 floor condominium building is located in the Financial district, neighboring Tribeca, and sits across from City Hall Park and St. Paul’s Chapel.

“One Park Row is classic architecture meets modern luxury, and is one of the most iconic new luxury developments in the city; there couldn’t be a better setting for this year’s REAL SIMPLE Home,” said Ryan Serhant, Founder & CEO of SERHANT. “The Penthouse at One Park Row on its own is stunning with its warm accents and unreal views of 1 World Trade Center and St. Paul’s Chapel, it’s the perfect place to showcase incredible design ideas and bring the best of REAL SIMPLE to life. SERHANT. New Development is so excited to collaborate with the REAL SIMPLE team again, and the team cannot wait to see how each designer makes the space their own.”

Eight sponsors have already signed on and will be featured in the REAL SIMPLE Home, including Command™ Brand, House of Rohl®, Minted, NOW®, Pure Leaf®, Valspar®, Fios Home Internet from Verizon. In the past eight years, previous iterations of the REAL SIMPLE Home have been in Florida, New Jersey, and across New York City. The 2024 REAL SIMPLE Home took place at a historic Brooklyn brownstone in Crown Heights.

Leading up to the reveal in September, REAL SIMPLE will run tips from the designers in the magazine and online. On Instagram (@real_simple), the editors will be sharing behind-the-scenes looks. Stay tuned for updates as the project unfolds and for a first look behind the inspiration at the 2025 REAL SIMPLE Home, visit RealSimple.com/rshome2025.

ABOUT REAL SIMPLE
REAL SIMPLE is a go-to source for practical, useful, and clever solutions to make every aspect of your busy life easier. By tightly curating expert advice and tested products, REAL SIMPLE delivers a judgment-free guide for living, leaving readers feeling lighter, more accomplished, and in control. As the number one women’s lifestyle magazine at newsstands and on Apple News+, REAL SIMPLE connects with its passionate audience across platforms—in its print magazine, on the web, on social media, and through its licensed products and brand experiences. REAL SIMPLE is a proud member of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.

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SOURCE REAL SIMPLE

Proactive Gen–AI Insights and Tailored Interfaces Deliver Secure Experiences for Utility Customer Service Teams

DETROIT, April 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Powerley, a leader in home energy management, has launched BillWise AI—a next-generation software platform that empowers consumers and customer service representatives with billing insights, disaggregated energy analysis and personalized savings recommendations. Built on a secure technology foundation designed to safeguard customer privacy, BillWise AI is the first and only tool that offers both a consumer–facing web portal and a CSR–focused dashboard—each engineered to drive operational efficiency, enhance customer satisfaction, and support regulatory compliance.

With utilities facing mounting pressure to reduce costs to serve while delivering an exceptional customer experience, BillWise AI answers common customer inquiries like “Why is my bill so high?” by delivering a clear, personalized breakdown of the customer’s utility bill.

• Bill Breakdown & Forecasting: Visualizes current, prior, and predicted bills for both usage and costs
• Generative AI Savings Recommendations: Personal saving recommendations are delivered to customers proactively based on the home’s characteristics and individual usage patterns
• Category Health Ranges & External Factor Analysis: Breaks down usage into key usage categories like heating and cooling, while factoring in weather, billing cycles, and program participation to identify why bill amounts changed
• Rate Recommendations: Identifies the most cost-effective rate a customer should be on based on which rates they’re eligible for and their usage patterns
• Program and Rebate Referrals: Identifies programs that will help the customer stay on track with their utility bills like budget or flat billing along with eligible rates

“We’ve spent over a decade helping utilities innovate at the intersection of energy data analytics and customer experience,” said Rahul Prakash, CEO of Powerley. “BillWise AI combines that expertise with the latest in Generative AI, energy data machine learning, and human-centered design—enabling utilities to dramatically reduce operational costs through lower call volumes and reduced average handle time.”

During a current pilot with DTE Energy, BillWise AI is improving Average Handle Time (AHT) by empowering Customer Service Representatives (CSRs) with insightful, customized data to more effectively address customer needs. Furthermore, BillWise AI has achieved impressive call deflection rates, highlighting its ability to enhance the customer experience and reduce call volume.

“BillWise AI is a key step in our journey to further empower our customers to take control of their energy usage and manage their affordability,” said Angie Pizzuti, Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer, DTE Energy. “We’ve also seen the benefits for our customer service team, where we’re seeing shorter call times after deployment. Simply put, this technology is a win-win for our company and our customers.” 

As a SOC 2, Type II certified provider, Powerley designed BillWise AI to prioritize personalization and insights while ensuring customer data remains secure. All artificial intelligence services are services run within Powerley’s secure environment, minimizing exposure to third parties and preventing unauthorized access. Powerley’s novel approach to generative AI also reduces the risk of hallucinations, so customers can trust every recommendation. Powerley uses end-to-end encryption and integrated single sign on to ensure customers’ data is always secure.

BillWise AI is available now to utility customer service groups across North America. For more information, visit www.powerley.com/billwiseAI.

About Powerley

Powerley is a SaaS provider and leader in AI-powered home energy management and customer experience tools for utilities. With over a decade of experience and eleven patents (and counting), Powerley’s solutions are redefining what’s possible for utility companies and their customers. Learn more at Powerley.com.

Contact:
Powerley Media Relations
e. 394355@email4pr.com
p. 248-537-9440
www.powerley.com

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SOURCE Powerley