20 Mexican students gain key skills in semester-long pipeline specialization program at the University of Calgary.

SOURCE:TransCanada

DESCRIPTION:

Mexican government prepares for natural gas pipeline expansion

The Mexican government has been working to change the paradigm of its energy sector, opening up opportunities for private companies to contribute to the development of the oil and gas industry in the country. This historic step is the cornerstone of ensuring Mexico’s competitiveness in the coming years.

Training young professionals in pipeline construction and management

As is the case with any ambitious expansion, however, there are some challenges to be met. One of these is human resources.

In Mexico there are very few academic institutions that can provide training for technicians to meet the current and future demand that the sector will need.

To address this situation, TransCanada led an initiative, supported by the government of the State of Chihuahua, home of TransCanada’s El Encino-Topolobampo pipeline, aimed at training young professionals in pipeline construction and management.

University of Calgary welcomed 20 students from State of Chihuahua

In collaboration with the University of Calgary, a program was developed to bring 20 Mexican students from that state. The students were chosen to participate in a semester-long pipeline specialization program a the Schulich School of Engineering in Calgary.

When the El Encino-Topolobampo pipeline is completed, Chihuahua will have a total of 530 km of pipeline crossing the state, so these students will be very valuable to the multiple pipeline firms that are working there.

Mexico’s Ministry of Energy plans future education collaboration in Alberta

The students have recently arrived back in Mexico where they hope to will join the workforce in the near future. They are eager to start applying their new skills and knowledge.

Mexico’s Ministry of Energy, SENER, recently announced a collaboration agreement with the University of Calgary and the University of Alberta to continue developing programs like the one initiated by TransCanada, to ensure Mexico’s labour force is well prepared to meet the demands of the newly developing energy industry in the country.

Supporting expansion of Mexico’s essential resources

TransCanada supports Mexico’s decision to encourage expansion of the use of natural gas, a cleaner, more cost-efficient source of energy.

One such opportunity is a dramatic expansion of Mexico’s natural gas pipeline network. Over the past few years, TransCanada has been awarded several contracts for building, maintaining and operating natural gas pipelines, which will secure the supply of natural gas to most of the country.

In November, 2014, TransCanada brought the Tamazunchale Pipeline into service. The US $600-million extension was a true testament of our ability to engineer and manage projects over extremely rugged terrain.

Looking to the future, the Topolobampo and Mazatlan projects, along with the recently awarded Tuxpan-Tula pipeline, will bring TransCanada's Mexican asset base to US $3 billion by 2017.

Tweet me:Mexico strengthens its energy future with #pipeline #education partnership for #engineers. http://spr.ly/6011BkfwF

KEYWORDS: Education, Energy, Schulich, Calgary, Mexico, Chihuahua, students, natural gas, oil, pipeline, University, TransCanada

SOURCE:ReportAlert

DESCRIPTION:

Novartis has published its 2015 Corporate Responsibility (CR) Performance Report. The report is based on the Global Reporting Initiative G4 guidelines, with disclosure at “comprehensive” level, making it the first comprehensive level-report in the healthcare industry. In addition, the publication of the CR report now coincides with the Novartis Annual Report, providing a more integrated view on the company’s performance.

The report is based on the results of the CR materiality analysis review conducted in 2015, which reconfirmed that access, ethics, and research and development are our most important issues. In addition, it offers insights into how Novartis manages CR, including the company’s access framework, showing the variety of approaches and models used to expand access to healthcare globally.
 
Novartis 2015 CR highlights:

• Launched Novartis Access, a portfolio of 15 medicines to treat the main noncommunicable diseases in lower-income countries at a cost of USD 1 per treatment per month
• Provided medicine to 66 million patients through access programs
• Reached 7.6 million people through social business initiatives in India, Kenya, Vietnam and Indonesia
• Launched a new Group-wide program to ensure our ethical standards are firmly embedded in our business practices
• Trained more than 110 000 Novartis associates on the company’s Code of Conduct
• Set a new 2030 company vision on environmental sustainability with a 30% reduction target in global greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 vs. 2010
• Recognized in major CR-related indices, such as Dow Jones Sustainability Index and FTSE4Good, as well as, most recently, in the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World Index by Corporate Knights 

Share your feedback: corporate.responsibility@novartis.com

Read the report: https://www.novartis.com/sites/www.novartis.com/files/cr-performance-report-2015.pdf

Tweet me:.@Novartis releases 1st comprehensive level-report in #healthcare industry. Learn more: http://3bl.me/atsvms via @ReportAlert

KEYWORDS: Reports, Awards and Recognition, ReportAlert, Novartis

SOURCE:Antea Group

DESCRIPTION:

A precious metals refiner retained Antea Group to evaluate and improve their EHS programs with the end goal of achieving best in class EHS performance among the industry as a way to differentiate itself and create additional business opportunity. Their New Jersey industrial facility had deteriorating infrastructure and was recognized as a significant source of the client’s marginal EHS performance, and Antea Group was enlisted to assist with the relocation of manufacturing operations and to manage the EHS aspects of its’ startup.

To read more about the challenge, solution, and result. check out the Antea Group website.

About Antea Group

Antea Group is an international engineering and environmental consulting firm specializing in full-service solutions in the fields of environment, infrastructure, urban planning and water. By combining strategic thinking and multidisciplinary perspectives with technical expertise and pragmatic action, we do more than effectively solve client challenges; we deliver sustainable results for a better future. With more than 3,000 employees in over 100 offices around the world, we serve clients ranging from global energy companies and manufacturers to national governments and local municipalities. Learn more at http://us.anteagroup.com.

Tweet me:Antea Group case study for the day--supporting best in class EHS performance for a precious metal refinery: http://3bl.me/7s9v3s

Contact Info:

Katie Nordenson
katie.nordenson@anteagroup.com

KEYWORDS: Environment and Climate Change, antea group, ehs, safety

SOURCE:RSF Social Finance

DESCRIPTION:

SAN FRANCISCO, January 27, 2016 /3BL Media/ – When Randy Ritchie and Colum Riley first met, they discovered a shared passion uncommon in Tinseltown: building healthy soil.

It all started when Ritchie, one of the first sustainable landscape designers in Los Angeles, received a request from a customer who wanted to grow organic food on her property in Malibu. The problem: Randy could not find good quality soil for her garden.

Shortly thereafter, Ritchie met Riley. Riley grew up on a biodynamic farm in southeast Pennsylvania, Camphill Village Kimberton Hills, and moved to California to study sustainable business; his then-goal was to enter consulting. Together they analyzed the lawn and garden industry, and identified an unmet need in the marketplace.

“There was a total absence of any high-quality soil product,” says Ritchie. “That’s when we decided to enter a market that’s never been there before—biodynamic compost. It’s real. It’s truly organic. It’s living soil.”

On July 8, 2009, the duo founded Malibu Compost, and became the first-ever local producer and distributor of certified biodynamic compost. After years of demonstrating the strength of their business model, the company received a Program Related Investment (PRI) loan from RSF to help it expand.

“Malibu Compost is a strong mission fit for RSF,” says Mike Gabriel, manager of social enterprise lending at RSF Social Finance. “They are committed not only to biodynamic practices, but also to addressing broader environmental issues through education and outreach.”

The Dirt on Biodynamics

Developed in the early 1920s, the biodynamic approach to agriculture is based on the spiritual insights and practical suggestions of Rudolf Steiner.

Biodynamic farmers strive to create a diversified, balanced farm ecosystem that generates health and fertility as much as possible from within the farm itself. Often referred to as “beyond organic,” biodynamic agriculture treats soil as a living organism rather than a support system. And like any living organism, the better the food it consumes, the stronger and healthier it becomes.

“It starts with creating living soil. We’ve created a compost that has such biological diversity that it literally brings gardens back from the dead to a state of health,” says Ritchie.

At Malibu Compost, the soil preparation process begins on a California farm where dairy cows graze over a thousand acres of organic pasture. In line with traditional biodynamic practices, Malibu Compost combines dairy cow manure with wood chips and homeopathic biodynamic preparations, which contain ingredients such as chamomile, dandelion and yarrow. This system produces a high-quality compost with naturally occurring microbial activity that is full of nutrients.

Certified by Demeter USA—the world’s only certifier of biodynamic farms and products—Malibu Compost adheres to strict standards that ensure crops are grown without chemical pesticides and fertilizers, utilize compost and cover crops, and set aside 10 percent of the total farm acreage for biodiversity. 

Going North

Malibu Compost has continued to broaden its customer reach, with particularly high demand in the Pacific Northwest.

“We watched the Oregon and Washington markets fall in love with Malibu Compost,” added managing partner Renie Byrne. “But our biggest issue in fulfilling this demand was shipping costs.”

A year and a half ago, Ritchie and Riley went to Oregon to identify the best organic, pasture-based dairy farms. There the Malibu Compost team set-up shop—using RSF financing to purchase equipment for the new production facility.

“We’ve been hoping and anticipating for this type of partnership since our inception,” says Riley.  “The mission of RSF is to leverage capital to create positive social and environmental impact, which directly parallels the approach we take in all aspects of our model.”

Malibu Compost products are now sold in local lawn and garden centers, organic grow shops, and specialty markets in 12 states across the U.S. Select products are also available online nationwide. Their compost is also used in the gardens at Highland Hall Waldorf School in Los Angeles, a fellow RSF borrower.

Business with Intention

Ritchie and Riley have big plans for the future of Malibu Compost. They envision having at least seven regional farms producing local compost. They also want to partner with young and aspiring organic farmers, and to identify farms where building compost will help heal and nourish the land.

“We want to build symbiotic partnerships and relationships so we can strive to make the best possible product in the country,” says Riley.

Education is another important element of Malibu Compost’s model. Both co-founders do educational seminars and speak at conferences to promote education and awareness of biodynamic agriculture. They reach tens of thousands of consumers each year, and make the practice more approachable to the general population.

“People can take the product, even if they know nothing about it, and put it in their garden and see results,” says Riley. “We are building trust and community around this. There is a sense of ownership that people feel once they use Malibu Compost.”

Ritchie adds, “What we’re bringing to business is intention. Business should have a heart, breath, soul, belief system, and an intention. And a personality!”

Tweet me:Loan Broadens Access to Certified Biodynamic Compost @RSFSocFinance @SurfingCow http://3bl.me/gmrw8p

Contact Info:

Enrique Perez
RSF Social Finance
+1 (415) 561-6156
enrique.perez@rsfsocialfinance.org

KEYWORDS: Finance & Socially Responsible Investment, Environment and Climate Change, RSF Social Finance

SOURCE:Sea Change Radio

DESCRIPTION:

When we try to visualize the Arctic, we usually think of ice as far as the eye can see. But, unfortunately, that’s changing. This week’s guest on Sea Change Radio, author Roy Scranton, gives us a first-hand glimpse into the rapidly melting polar cap up North. Scranton, who recently took a cruise through Greenland and Northern Canada for a piece published in The Nation magazine, presents us with the many challenges we face as this vast region undergoes vast transformation. Then, host Alex Wise and Scranton discuss Scranton’s book, Learning How To Die In The Anthropocene, and how his time as a U.S. soldier in the Iraq War gave him a unique perspective on climate change and environmentalism.

Tweet me:This wk's @SeaChangeRadio - @RoyScranton discusses the arctic cruise he took for @TheNation http://www.cchange.net/2016/01/26/scranton/

KEYWORDS: Environment and Climate Change, Energy, sea change radio, Roy Scranton, arctic, Global Warming

The company hosted the annual oratorical contest and recognition event as part its celebration of Black History Month, honoring the traditions and contributions of African-Americans to science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM).

SOURCE:Eastman Chemical Company

DESCRIPTION:

Eastman recognized 15 local high school students, their families and educators during a luncheon today at The Eastman Lodge in Kingsport, Tenn.

“It’s important for us to celebrate and recognize the achievements that African-Americans have made in STEAM fields, and to bring a greater awareness to the importance of science, technology, engineering, arts, and math in education today,” said David Golden, Eastman’s senior vice president, chief legal officer and corporate secretary. “At Eastman, we have an increasingly diverse, global team of talented and dedicated people working together to innovate for the future and create a brighter tomorrow. We need students to be excited enough about these subjects and to choose careers that will give them unlimited opportunities in companies like Eastman.”

Winning the contest and a $1,000 cash prize was Katheryn Luckadoo, a sophomore at Volunteer high school in Church Hill, Tenn. Katheryn will present her essay at Eastman’s Black History Month community event featuring Dr. Mae Jemison. The event will be held on Feb. 4, 2016 at 7 p.m. at the Toy F. Reid Center, and is open to the public.  

The contest was conceived to give area students the opportunity to learn more about the contributions of African-Americans in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) fields and display their creativity and presentation skills. 52 local high school students submitted essays for consideration, and the top five finalists were provided the opportunity to orate during the luncheon.

“The number of responses we had this year is amazing,” says Eastman team member Elaine Washington, a member of Eastman’s Black History Month committee organizing the event. “We received double the essays compared to last year. It’s exciting to see all these students learning more about African-American contributions to STEAM, and the contest offered a perfect opportunity for Eastman to partner with area educators and engage with students in a meaningful and enriching way.”

# # #

Eastman is a global specialty chemical company that produces a broad range of products found in items people use every day. With a portfolio of specialty businesses, Eastman works with customers to deliver innovative products and solutions while maintaining a commitment to safety and sustainability. Its market-driven approaches take advantage of world-class technology platforms and leading positions in attractive end-markets such as transportation, building and construction, and consumables. Eastman focuses on creating consistent, superior value for all stakeholders. As a globally diverse company, Eastman serves customers in approximately 100 countries and had 2014 revenues of approximately $9.5 billion. The company is headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee, USA and employs approximately 15,000 people around the world. For more information, visit www.eastman.com.

Tweet me:.@EastmanChemCo recognizes 15 high school students in annual #BlackHistoryMonth Oratorical Contest #STEAM #education http://3bl.me/4m8r2g

KEYWORDS: Education, Diversity and Human Resources, Eastman, black history month, STEAM Education, East Tennessee, oratorical contest

SOURCE:Subaru of America

DESCRIPTION:

CHERRY HILL, N.J., January 27, 2016 /3BL Media/ - Octopus researchers, the science of de-extinction, and chickens are the subjects of the winners of 2016 American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)/Subaru Science Books & Film Prizes for Excellence in Science Books.

The AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prizes for Excellence in Science Books, now in their 10th year, celebrate outstanding science writing and illustration for children and young adults. AAAS and Subaru of America, Inc. co-sponsor the prizes to recognize recently published works that are scientifically sound and foster an understanding and appreciation of science in readers of all ages.

This year's prizes are better positioned than ever to have an impact on the writing and publishing of outstanding science books for all ages. Winning the prize can have a significant impact on popularity and sales of a recognized book. Thanks to an expanded partnership between AAAS and Subaru, more than 17,000 winning books were donated to schools throughout the country in 2015 as part of the Subaru Loves Learning initiative.

“In the spirit of Subaru’s commitment to innovation, we, alongside AAAS, are proud to once again recognize those who engage and inspire people of all ages to discover the world of science,” said Thomas J. Doll, president and chief operating officer at Subaru of America Inc.

The prizes, which are administered by the AAAS review journal Science Books & Films (SB&F), drew by far the largest number of submissions since the program’s inception. According to SB&F Editor in Chief Maria Sosa, 214 books were up for consideration, 30 more than were submitted for the 2015 prize.

The 2015 prizes recognize efforts in four categories: Children's Science Picture Books, Middle Grades Science Books, Young Adult Science Books, and Hands-on Science Books. Winners will receive $1,500 and a plaque on 12 February during the 2016 AAAS Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.

The 2016 prize recipients are:

Winning Children's Science Picture Book
A Chicken Followed Me Home! Questions and Answers About a Familiar Fowl, by Robin Page. San Diego: Beach Lane Books, 2015.

In A Chicken Followed Me Home, Robin Page, who earned AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for a book in collaboration with her husband and frequent writing partner, answers questions that young readers might have about chickens: What do they eat? How many different kinds of chickens are there? Though its concept is simple and its subject is familiar, the book is elevated by accessible and interesting text and illustrations that are both artistic and scientifically accurate. Page’s first solo book as writer and illustrator captures the reader’s attention throughout its 32 pages and serves as a strong model for presenting nonfiction content to very young readers.

Winning Middle Grades Science Book
The Octopus Scientists: Exploring the Mind of a Mollusk, by Sy Montgomery. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2015.

In The Octopus Scientists, Sy Montgomery transports readers to a remote South Pacific Island where a team of scientists study the behavior of octopuses, tracking the decision-making skills as they avoid predators and choose food and shelter. As part of the Scientists in the Field series, a groundbreaking series that places scientists’ real work at the center of science stories for children, Montgomery’s work showcases the researchers’ work and all aspects of life in the field.

Montgomery is a gifted writer with the capacity to create pictures and impart factual information in eloquent passages such as the following, which opens the book: “With three hearts and blue blood, its gelatinous body unconstrained by jointed limbs or gravity, the octopus seems to be an alien, an inhabitant of another world. Its baggy, boneless body sprouts eight arms covered with thousands of suckers—suckers that can taste as well as feel. The octopus also has the powers of a superhero: it can shape-shift, change color, squirt ink, pour itself through the tiniest of openings, or jet away through the sea faster than a swimmer can follow.”

Winning Young Adult Science Book
How to Clone a Mammoth: The Science of De-Extinction, by Beth Shapiro. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 2015.

In How to Clone a Wooly Mammoth, Beth Shapiro tackles the topic of de-extinction, offering a complete and honest overview of experimentation in this new area of science. Writing in easy-to-read language, even when discussing the actual techniques of modifying the genome, she enables a lay person to understand what would go on behind the scenes in real labs—not as it’s pictured in movies such as Jurassic Park.

Shapiro, an evolutionary molecular biologist, presents scientific thinking at its best: thoughtful, clear, and covering many different aspects of a problem.  What seems like an easy question, “Why not bring back an elephant or the carrier pigeon?” becomes a complicated (but never confusing) study of the many angles that surround a supposition. The book poses many fascinating questions that will fuel discussion—and may encourage teen readers to pursue study in such cutting-edge areas of science.

Winning Hands-on Science Book
A Kid’s Guide to Keeping Chickens, by Melissa Caughey. North Adams, Mass.: Storey Publishing, 2015.

A Kid’s Guide to Keeping Chickens is a tribute to the joy of keeping chickens as well as it is to one of the oldest sciences practiced by humans: the science of animal agriculture. This book began as a website, Tilly’s Nest, in which the author shared experiences with her own flock of backyard chickens. Melissa Caughey shares her advice in an engaging way so that kids understand what it means to keep chickens and what kind of housing, food, equipment, and care the chickens will need to thrive. Useful for families, 4-H clubs, or teachers who want to raise classroom chickens, this book is a marvel of engagement, enthusiasm, and commitment, a model of how to write a comprehensive how-to guide book for children.

Background on the Prizes
The prizes began in 2005 when four lifetime achievement awards were given to children’s authors for their books promoting science literacy. Today, the AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books continues to recognize stand-out science books.

Finalists were selected by a group of judges made up of librarians, scientists, and science literacy experts. The panel selected 18 finalists and four winners out of nearly 214 books up for consideration across all four categories. These finalists were then submitted to a second round of judging, and the winners were selected. In addition to the winners and the finalists, this year SB&F and the judges identified an additional 35 titles, which were designated as “Commended Books.”

About AAAS
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is the world’s largest general scientific society, and publisher of the journal, Science (www.sciencemag.org) as well as Science Translational Medicine (www.sciencetranslationalmedicine.org), Science Signaling (www.sciencesignaling.org), and Science Advances (www.scienceadvances.org), a new digital, open access journal. AAAS was founded in 1848, and includes more than 250 affiliated societies and academies of science, serving 10 million individuals. Science has the largest paid circulation of any peer-reviewed general science journal in the world, with an estimated total readership of 1 million. The nonprofit AAAS (www.aaas.org) is open to all and fulfills its mission to “advance science and serve society” through initiatives in science policy, international programs, science education, and more. For the latest research news, log onto EurekAlert!, www.eurekalert.org, the premier science-news Web site, a service of AAAS.

About Subaru of America, Inc.
Subaru of America, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. of Japan. Headquartered at a zero-landfill office in Cherry Hill, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts, and accessories through a network of more than 620 retailers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill production plants, and Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. is the only U.S. automobile production plant to be designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. For additional information, visit media.subaru.com.

About Science Books & Film (SB&F)
Since 1965, Science Books & Film (SB&F) has been the authoritative guide to science resources, bringing expert information to bear on choices of materials for a library, classroom or institution. Published by AAAS, SB&F is the only critical review journal devoted exclusively to print and nonprint materials in all of the sciences and for all age groups. Every year, SB&F (www.sbfonline.com ) evaluates nearly 1,000 books, videos, DVDs and software packages for general audiences, professionals, teachers
students from kindergarten through college.

Contacts
Diane Anton
Subaru of America, Inc.                                             
856-488-5093
danton@subaru.com 

Andrea Korte
AAAS
202-326-6551
akorte@aaas.org

Tweet me:The @AAAS / @Subaru_USA SB&F Prizes for excellence in science books spotlight 4 great kids books http://3bl.me/qe2z4c

KEYWORDS: Education, Awards and Recognition, subaru, AAAS, SB&F, science books

SOURCE:America's Charities

DESCRIPTION:

Have you worked on a project or program that simply did not turn out the way you planned? The New Year signifies new beginnings. This can mean a new beginning to old methods, a new perspective, even a new way of thinking. One program that many employers have adopted in 2016, or should consider adopting, is a strategically focused and effective employee engagement program.

It is no secret that nearly 70% of US employees do not feel engaged at work. There are multiple reasons for this startling rate, and this remains a pain point for many professionals that are charged with devising new and improved ways to engage employees in 2016. 

Recent research conducted by America’s Charities and our partners in Snapshot 2015 – The New Corporate DNA: Where Employee Engagement and Social Impact Converge, explains:

 “Effective engagement programs are beneficial to all key stakeholders, including the company, employees, customers, and nonprofit organizations. In fact, engagement has become a central feature in employee recruitment and retention strategies. Furthermore, companies recognize they must also meet rising expectations of their employee and customers.”

A growing number of companies have implemented employee engagement programs, but do so with a limited budget and with high expectations for one or two personnel to oversee the program without an expert partner to help with the strategy, planning and implementation of the program. This typically results in employee engagement programs falling victim to multiple failures. America’s Charities Snapshot 2013, ’14 and ’15 reports indicate most failures are due to not having the proper tools, support and partnerships to help build a successful program. With some small adjustments and expert guidance, you can turn your employee engagement program failures into successes in 2016.

For example, consider the following cases:

>> Continue Reading

Tweet me:Turn #EmployeeEngagement Failures into Successes in 2016! Advice from @AmerCharities BD Director @CharisseBrowner http://bit.ly/23u1xz5

KEYWORDS: Volunteerism & Community Engagement, Business & Trade, best practices in employee giving, America's Charities, Employee Engagement, Fundraising, cause marketing, corporate philanthropy, workplace giving, social responsibility, csr

SOURCE:GRI

DESCRIPTION:

FINAL DAYS TO SECURE YOUR REDUCED RATE - REGISTER NOW!  

The countdown begins - your last chance to save up to 20% on your registration fee before Friday 29 January midnight CET. 

JOIN THE GRI CONFERENCE COMMUNUITY

Participants from 61 countries have already registered. Join them to demonstrate leadership, exchange leading-edge knowledge on sustainability best practices, innovations and trends with speakers from organizations such as; Nasdaq, Coca Cola, Taiwan Stock Exchange, Harvard University, Oxfam, Heineken, European Commission, IOE and many Governments.

The GRI Conference will provoke lively and inspiring debates to help us tackle some of the most pressing sustainability challenges.

BE INSPIRED - EXPLORE THE FULL PROGRAM    

Join GRI and up to 1,500 sustainability leaders at the largest multi stakeholder sustainability conference in the world.              

Tweet me:Did you know? Participants from 61 countries have already registered for #GRI2016! Secure your spot today http://www.griconference.org

KEYWORDS: Events, Conferences & Webinars, Business & Trade, GRI, GRI2016

By Nicole Champion

SOURCE:AT&T

DESCRIPTION:

When I look back at my own education, I am grateful to the adults who opened doors of opportunity for me. At the time, I just knew them as people I looked up to; today I understand these inspiring people were my mentors.

My high school DECA advisor was one of those mentors who had a profound influence on my life.  The leadership development skills and positive adult relationships I experienced through DECA led me to a career in education.  As a high school marketing teacher and DECA advisor now, I want to facilitate similar experiences for my students. DECA* allows my students, and students across the country, to receive the personal mentorship they need to improve key skills required to become future leaders in marketing, finance and hospitality. The commitment by AT&T employees to be mentors, through AT&T’s Aspire Mentoring Academy, has given my students access to doors of opportunity I could only wish to provide on my own. These AT&T employees have changed the lives of my students; much like my mentors changed my life so many years ago.

Check out the video above to see how my and other students have grown because of their experience with DECA.

I would like to thank every AT&T employee who has volunteered their time through Aspire Mentoring Academy and I congratulate them on achieving the 1 million hours of mentoring milestone. My students are looking forward to a million more!

* DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe.

Tweet me:.@ConnectToGood "Mentors: Opening Doors of Opportunity" http://soc.att.com/20v59yo #ATTImpact

KEYWORDS: Education, Volunteerism & Community Engagement, mentor, AT&T, AT&T Aspire, Aspire Mentoring Academy, students, opportunity, DECA, skills, high school, employees, access, volunteer, 1 million hours

SOURCE:FrontStream

DESCRIPTION:

We’re pleased to announce that FirstGiving is now integrated with the HEPData corporate gift matching database! HEPData is the largest, most trusted, and most widely used database of over 20,000 corporate matching gift programs, employer-specific forms, and policies.

WHY IS CORPORATE GIFT MATCHING SO IMPORTANT?

According to the latest Giving in Numbers Survey by the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy, 9 out of 10 companies offer an employee matching program. For instance, you might recall the many companies that matched donations made by their employees to disaster relief organizations after the Haiti earthquake or Japanese tsunami. Many employers will match all charitable donations made by their employees … Often dollar-for-dollar! Reminding donors that their donation could be matched by their employer is a simple way to potentially double the impact of the generous gift. In fact, just mentioning employer matching to donors on an online donation form can result in a 71% increase in response and a 51% increase in the average donation amount!

Click here to continue reading on the FrontStream Blog!

Tweet me:.@frontstream now offering free corporate gift matching for @firstgiving users; http://bit.ly/1PFiJO2; #EmployeeEngagement #fundraising

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy, Business & Trade, #CSR, Fundraising, frontstream

SOURCE:Antea Group

DESCRIPTION:

A global pharmaceutical organization sought to improve its best‐in‐class EHS and social responsibility performance across its global organization. Following establishment and communication of baseline performance expectations to its sites, it was necessary to evaluate a diverse array of locations in multiple geographies to determine the degree of conformance and recommend corrective actions if necessary.

For more about the challenge, solution, and result, read the full case study on the Antea Group website.

About Antea Group

Antea Group is an international engineering and environmental consulting firm specializing in full-service solutions in the fields of environment, infrastructure, urban planning and water. By combining strategic thinking and multidisciplinary perspectives with technical expertise and pragmatic action, we do more than effectively solve client challenges; we deliver sustainable results for a better future. With more than 3,000 employees in over 100 offices around the world, we serve clients ranging from global energy companies and manufacturers to national governments and local municipalities. Learn more at http://us.anteagroup.com.

Tweet me:Antea Group case study for the day: EHS auditing support for a global pharmaceutical organization: http://3bl.me/vayckf

Contact Info:

Katie Nordenson
katie.nordenson@anteagroup.com

KEYWORDS: Business & Trade, antea group, health and safety, pharma, Audit, ehs

Collaboration to Enable Complete Solutions for Profitable, Responsible Operations and Products

SOURCE:Antea Group

DESCRIPTION:

January 28, 2016 /3BL Media/ - Antea™Group and Technology Forecasters Inc. (TFI) are pleased to announce that they have joined client services, effective immediately. Since 1987, TFI has helped executives to reduce costs, improve supply-chain efficiencies, and design and produce more sustainable products. Antea Group, a global consulting firm specializing in Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) and Sustainability services, combines technical expertise with superior project management to deliver results-focused business solutions. TFI and Antea Group together can provide full-service solutions from C-suite strategy through local implementation, for client operations and products.

Pamela Gordon, CEO of TFI and Antea Group Senior Consultant describes the move this way: “Having the ability to bring profitable sustainability to exponentially more client organizations, supply chains, and products around the world is the ultimate goal. Joining TFI’s services with Antea Group’s makes that possible.” Peylina Chu, Senior Consultant with Antea Group, adds: “This relationship can lead only to gains for both TFI and Antea Group clients, who can capitalize on our synergistic areas of expertise, complementary solutions, and continued focus on measurable client results.”

TFI's consulting team is excited that their clients can now benefit from Antea Group’s 3,000 expert EHS and Sustainability consultants on 6 continents. Likewise, Antea Group is pleased to be able to bring TFI's supply-chain, design-for-environment, and profitable sustainability expertise to their global clients. The collaboration will enable both firms to provide EHS and Sustainability services for client facility operations plus environmental compliance and eco-design leadership for client products.

Pamela Gordon and Peylina Chu welcome inquiries about the business benefits of aligning EHS and Sustainability strategies, as well as leveraging best practices for profitable and responsible operations and products.

CONTACT
Peylina Chu
+ 1 508 490 8606
peylina.chu@anteagroup.com

Pamela Gordon
+ 1 510 406 9460
pamela.gordon@anteagroup.com

About Antea Group
Antea Group is an international engineering and environmental consulting firm specializing in full-service solutions in the fields of environment, infrastructure, urban planning and water. By combining strategic thinking and multidisciplinary perspectives with technical expertise and pragmatic action, we do more than effectively solve client challenges; we deliver sustainable results for a better future. With more than 3,000 employees in over 100 offices around the world, we serve clients ranging from global energy companies and manufacturers to national governments and local municipalities. Learn more at http://us.anteagroup.com.

About Technology Forecasters Inc.
Since 1987, Technology Forecasters has helped executives reduce costs, improve supply-chain efficiencies, and design-and-produce more sustainable products. A proud proponent of a Lean and Green approach, Technology Forecasters has long been on the forefront of helping companies to realize efficiencies and savings while building responsible and profitable brands. Learn more at http://www.techforecasters.com.

Tweet me:Antea Group and Technology Forecasters Inc. Join Client Services http://3bl.me/rykqdp

Contact Info:

Alison Bryant
alison.bryant@anteagroup.com

KEYWORDS: Environment and Climate Change, Business & Trade, antea group, TFI, peylina chu, pamela gordon, ehs, supply chain

Bard MBA Sustainable Business Friday's Podcast Hosts Margaret Fenwick, United Nations Global Compact

SOURCE:Bard College Graduate Programs in Sustainability

DESCRIPTION:

ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, N.Y., January 28, 2016 /3BL Media/ - The Bard MBA in Sustainability  will host a live discussion: COP21, The Unstoppable Momentum Behind Corporate Climate Action on the dial-in podcast, Sustainable Business Fridays, with Margaret Fenwick, Manager Environment and Climate, United Nation Global Compact office, on Friday, January 29th, at 12pm. 

Margaret Fenwick is the Manager of Environment and Climate at the United Nations Global Compact. The UN Global Compact is the UN’s corporate responsibility initiative for businesses that are committed to aligning their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption, and take actions that advance societal goals

Fenwick will discuss the UNGC's Caring for Climate program, which endeavors to help prevent a climate change crisis worldwide by mobilizing a critical mass of business leaders to implement and recommend climate change solutions and policies. The initiative helps companies to advance practical solutions, share experiences, inform public policy as well as shape public attitudes in an effort to mitigate a climate crisis. According to Bard MBA Director, Eban Goodstein, “Businesses have a unique opportunity, and responsibility, to be at the forefront of developing climate change solutions.”

SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS FRIDAYS 
 
Bard MBA in Sustainability hosts Sustainable Business Fridays, a dial-in podcast series, twice monthly at 12pm EST. The podcast features Bard MBA students interviewing sustainability leaders from organizations ranging from Fortune 100 companies to start-ups to regional non-profits. Listeners can dial-in live or listen to past podcasts here. Past speakers have included sustainability leaders from Pepsi, Jet Blue, GM, SustainAbility, Method Home, and many more. 
 
Dial in: 845-746-2287 to listen live on Friday at noon eastern  
 
BARD MBA IN SUSTAINABILITY 
 
The  Bard Graduate Programs in Sustainability offer masters programs in  Environmental Policy,  Climate Science and  Policy, and Sustainable Business.  The Bard MBA in Sustainability is a hybrid, low-residency program based in New York City. Students meet one weekend per month in NYC and attend online classes two nights per week. The program integrates sustainability throughout its core MBA curriculum and all students engage in a yearlong consulting engagement with real-world clients in NYCLab. For more information, visit bard.edu/mba. 
 
Contact 
Steve Patch 
spatch@bard.edu

Tweet me:LIVE 1/29 NOON @BardMBA #Susty #Biz Podcast feat. Margaret Fenwick @GlobalCompact COP21:Unstoppable Momentum dial-in http://ow.ly/X3x1Q

KEYWORDS: Business & Trade, Environment and Climate Change, unitednations, GlobalCompact, COP21, csr, Corporate Social Responsibility, UN Global Compact, Bard College

Donations Will Support Feeding Hungry Nationwide

SOURCE:Subaru of America

DESCRIPTION:

CHERRY HILL, N.J., January 28, 2016 /3BL Media/ – To commemorate Subaru’s seventh record-breaking sales year, the company will donate a meal for every vehicle sold in 2015 -- 582,675* -- to help the Feeding America® nationwide network of 200 food banks. This is the second year Subaru has matched its year-end sales figure to meal donations.

The Food Bank of South Jersey, which serves the community around the Subaru corporate headquarters, will receive the monetary equivalent of 110,000 meals. Subaru will also donate the monetary equivalent of 27,500 meals to food banks serving areas where Subaru of America has regional offices:

• Cherry Hill, NJ

• Columbia, MD

• Lithia Springs, GA

• Orlando, FL

• Itasca, IL

• Frisco, TX

• Bloomington, MN

• Dublin, OH

• Aurora, CO

• Portland, OR

• Pleasanton, CA

• Costa Mesa, CA

Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, will be the recipient of Subaru’s donation balance for its national feeding programs.

“We are thankful to Subaru for its generous support and commitment to helping individuals in need,” said Nancy Curby, vice president of corporate partnerships for Feeding America. “Feeding America is committed to fighting hunger in communities nationwide and this donation will help our network better serve children and families who struggle with hunger.”

“Working with such a worthy organization like Feeding America is at the core of our company’s, our consumers’ and our retailers’ values,” said Thomas J. Doll, president and chief operating officer, Subaru of America, Inc. “We aim to build lasting relationships and we are proud to be able to celebrate another banner year with another impactful donation to Feeding America.”

Subaru of America has set a new all-time sales record in 2015, marking the seventh consecutive year of sales records and eighth consecutive year of sales increases, with each of the company’s vehicles contributing to the success as nearly each carline achieved new annual sales records.

*$1 helps provide 11 meals secured by Feeding America on behalf of local member food banks. Subaru provided $55,000 to Feeding America and member food banks.

About Feeding America
Feeding America is the nationwide network of 200 food banks that leads the fight against hunger in the United States. Together, we provide food to more than 46 million people through 60,000 food pantries and meal programs in communities across America. Feeding America also supports programs that improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. Educate.  Together we can solve hunger. For additional information, visit www.feedingamerica.org.

About Subaru of America, Inc.
Subaru of America, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. of Japan. Headquartered at a zero-landfill office in Cherry Hill, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of more than 620 retailers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill production plants and Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc. is the only U.S. automobile production plant to be designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. For additional information visit media.subaru.com.

Contacts
Michael McHale
Subaru of America, Inc.
856-488-3326
mmchale@subaru.com     

Diane Anton
Subaru of America, Inc.
856-488-5093
danton@subaru.com

Tweet me:Donating a meal for every car sold, @Subaru_USA helps @FeedingAmerica http://3bl.me/cfbcgz #SubaruLovestoHelp

KEYWORDS: Health, Philanthropy, subaru, Feeding America

by RP Siegel

SOURCE:Justmeans

DESCRIPTION:

SolarCity is the nation’s largest solar provider. Among the reasons for that are some of their innovative, community-oriented programs, like their GivePower Foundation which provides a free solar system and battery to a school without electricity for every MW of solar that they install. Through interactions with some of the communities they work in, they came to realize an opportunity for shared value in a cooperative venture with various non-profits. This gave rise to the SunRaising initiative, which allows non-profits to raise money for their own operations while, at the same time, acting as ambassadors, for SolarCity.

To continue reading, click here

Image courtesy of SolarCity

RP Siegel, author and inventor, shines a powerful light on numerous environmental and technological topics. He has been published in business and technical journals and has written three books. His third, co-authored with Roger Saillant, is Vapor Trails, an eco-thriller that is being adapted for the big screen. RP is a professional engineer – and a prolific inventor, with 50 patents, numerous awards, and several commercial products. He is president of Rain Mountain LLC and is an active environmental advocate in his hometown of Rochester, N.Y. In addition to Justmeans, he writes for Triple Pundit, ThomasNet News, and Energy Viewpoints, occasionally contributing to Mechanical Engineering, Strategy + Business, and Huffington Post.

Tweet me:The SunRaising initiative helps NPOs raise money for their own #solar program http://bit.ly/1QGIKLU via @Justmeans #energy

KEYWORDS: Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Energy, SolarCity, Sunraising, Riverkeeper, Paul Gallay, Desert Sands Educational Foundation, Jan Diaz, Jon Carson, Organizing for Action, GivePower Foundation, Justmeans

CEMEX delivering 5.7 km of roadway. Currently 45% complete

SOURCE:CEMEX

DESCRIPTION:

For many years, the highway between the communities of Nuevo México and El Chungal, north of Panama´s capital city, suffered from decay. Sensing a significant need, CEMEX completed a study to propose the implementation of cost-efficient technologies that could improve the highway’s condition. As a result, in 2015 the government of Panama, through its Ministry of Public Works, embarked on a project with CEMEX to rehabilitate 5.7 km of the road, a project that is approximately 45% complete and is expected to be delivered in June of this year.

This highway is important to locals and to the surrounding regions because it is one of the main access points to the Chagres National Park and the Alajuela Lake, some of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. The current administration hopes this rehabilitation will help further encourage tourism and spur the local economy.

The proposed combination of CEMEX’s thin concrete pavement solution and concrete overlay technique, commonly known as “white-topping,” allowed for an expansion of the original project proposal from 3.6 km to 5.7 miles of rehabilitation.“The realization of this roadway represents a joint effort between the government, the community, and CEMEX,” according to Andrés Jiménez, CEMEX President in Panama. The scope of the project also includes the addition of sidewalks for pedestrians and ditches for channeling rainwater and is expected to benefit an estimated 15,000 people in the region.

CEMEX’s proposed solutions offer increased durability and require less maintenance, expanding the road’s life cycle to approximately 20 years. Other important benefits include increased safety, since concrete pavements produce higher traction that reduce braking distance and they also reflect more light than other materials like asphalt, resulting in higher night visibility and reducing lighting expenses. Concrete also absorbs less heat compared to asphalt pavements, contributing to a reduction in vehicle gas consumption as well as energy consumption of surrounding buildings.

At the press event for the inauguration of the project, Juan Carlos Varela, President of the Republic of Panama, stated that “this project has no other interest than to respond to the needs of the people of this community and improve their quality of life.”

- See more at: cmx.to/1RL59so  

Tweet me:Find out how CEMEX paving solutions are expected to impact 15,000 people in #Panama http://3bl.me/p8qcnn

KEYWORDS: Business & Trade, Environment and Climate Change, CEMEX, Panama

Part of the Campaign to Raise Awareness of Thousands of Broward County Residents On the Importance of Being Tested and Knowing Your HIV/AIDS Status

SOURCE:EcoMedia

DESCRIPTION:

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., January 28, 2016 /3BL Media/ – Florida Department of Health in Broward County (DOH-Broward) and ArtServe announce the Jury panelists for the “Art to End AIDS” public mural project that is part of the broader HIV Ends With Me and Broward Greater Than AIDS campaigns.

DOH-Broward is working with ArtServe to create a public mural in Broward County that will depict images and messages that promote the HIV Ends With Me themes of being tested and knowing your HIV/AIDS status. The mural will be revealed in conjunction with the annual United States Conference on AIDS to be held in Fort Lauderdale in fall 2016.

The panel of jurors includes members from the arts community, public art officials, and healthcare professionals to ensure the winning mural maintains the highest standard of artistic excellence while holding true to the HIV ENDS WITH ME theme. Jurors include: George Gadson, business leader and professional artist; Terrence Davis, curator; Richard E. White, art and design consultant and adjunct professor at Broward College in Fort Lauderdale; and Wilma Bulkin Siegel, M.D., award winning artist and community activist noted for her work using art as an educational and healing tool to raise awareness of important social issues. 

 “We are honored to have such a prestigious group of individuals serving on the Art to End AIDS Jury,” said Evelyn Ullah, Director, HIV/AIDS and Viral Hepatitis Prevention Program, DOH-Broward. “Through their help in selecting an artist for the mural, we will be sure to create an enduring public message on HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness for the citizens of Broward County.”

“ArtServe is thrilled to work with Florida Department of Health in Broward County and this esteemed Jury,” said Jaye Abbate, President and CEO of ArtServe. “Together, we will engage the broader arts community, and promote a critical public health message through a highly visible public art project.”

Learn more about the Art to End AIDS mural project, read the call to artists, and submit your mural concept at http://www.artserve.org/art-to-end-aids/ or www.artserve.org

About Florida Department of Health in Broward County
The Florida Department of Health in Broward County works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Broward County through integrated state, county and community efforts.

About ArtServe
Now celebrating its 25th Anniversary, ArtServe was incorporated in 1988 as one of six original arts incubators in the United States, with a mission of developing programs that support artists and cultural organizations as a means to creating vibrant, thriving communities. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, ArtServe offers its members a wide range of progressive services, events, affordable facilities and collaborative programs that promote the visibility of art and culture throughout South Florida and helps artists turn their art into business. ArtServe recently received the “Salute to Business” award from the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce and the Doyle Foundation Award for Non-Profit Excellence.  In 2014, ArtServe was voted Broward County’s best non-profit arts organization at the Nonprofit Academy Awards, and Best Art Gallery Readers’ Choice Award from New Times Broward Palm Beach. Programs are supported in part by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners as recommended by the Broward Cultural Council, and the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs.

*          *          *

Press Contact:

David Plath

954.462.8190 ext 210

davidp@artserve.org

Tweet me:.@HealthyFla & @ArtServeInc announce jury for Art to End Aids campaign & mural contest! Artists submit b4 Jan. 31st! http://3bl.me/s2rswg

KEYWORDS: Events, Conferences & Webinars, Health, Florida Department of Health in Broward County, ArtServe, Art to End AIDS, fort lauderdale, Mural, HIV Ends With Me, EcoMedia

SOURCE:Taproot Foundation

DESCRIPTION:

“Life's most persistent and urgent question is, what are you doing for others?” In answer to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s call, over 300 project managers and subject matter experts in marketing, finance, strategy, HR, and IT committed their day to use their own talents for others at the Project Management Day of Service Pro Bono Lab. Facilitated by the Taproot Foundation and Project Management for Change, in partnership with 5 local Project Management Institute (PMI) chapters, this one-day event connected 134 DC-metro area nonprofit leaders to resources that helped them address pressing capacity building problems facing their organizations.

Each nonprofit leader was paired with a team of 3-4 project managers to sit and problem solve key issues for the day. In addition, 10 pro bono consultants with Taproot DC volunteered their subject matter expertise in marketing, finance, HR, IT, or strategy to help teams answer more technical questions. Teams could simply raise a color-coded card to call over an expert in a particular issue area and our subject matter experts would appear!

Jacqueline Audigé, CEO and Founder of Aumazo Inc. summarized her experience: “We have all heard the saying that it takes a village to raise a child. I didn’t know I would find my own village here in this room today. When we sat down with our project managers and pro bono consultants, we found out we have many more challenges to overcome than we thought. My ‘village’ helped us to get focused. When I came in here I was looking down. Now, leaving this room, I will be looking up!”

The event concluded with inspiring remarks from Maria Contreras-Sweet of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Here's why the Administrator and so many others chose to #ScopeForChange this MLK Day.

Tweet me:Such an inspiring #MLKday of service! http://3bl.me/t5c6sn @taprootfound @pmdos16 #scopeforchange

KEYWORDS: Volunteerism & Community Engagement, Community, #MLKDAY2016, MLK Day of Service, Project Management Institute, Project Management for Change, Taproot Foundation

By Lauren Coles

SOURCE:Diageo North America

DESCRIPTION:

Diageo, a multinational alcoholic beverages company, is setting an example for bringing wellness to a social workplace in their New York City office. The company has always encouraged employees and consumers alike to live well and celebrate responsibly. Culture & Partnerships Manager Alisa Jacobs took wellness offerings to the next level in 2015 by spearheading their Fitspo workplace wellness club, which offers an inclusive social atmosphere that people at the office love.

She described a renewed commitment to increasing educational resources and access to industry innovators and experts for in-office and offsite fitness programs. "As former athletes and closet health nuts, like-minded colleagues partnered with me to create the community and culture we desperately desired."

Click here to continue reading on The Huffington Post.

Tweet me:See how @Diageo_NA's bringing wellness to the workplace with their #FITSPO club: https://t.co/b99ILXuS2z

KEYWORDS: Health, Diversity and Human Resources, Wellness, workplace, Culture, yoga, social, Diageo, fitspo