Tag: 3BL

Kidney transplant is the ideal treatment for those with end stage kidney disease (ESKD) who are eligible for, and interested in, this potentially life-saving procedure. Yet traditionally, the path to transplantation has been long, complex and frustrating for patients and healthcare providers alike. Recently, a committed community of providers in the Kansas City region dedicated themselves to proving that it doesn’t have to be that way.

In early 2021, DaVita dialysis providers initiated an audit of their operations, seeking ways to better support transplant access. This process revealed critical gaps in communication between dialysis centers and their nearby transplant providers.

“Everybody [in the kidney health community] wants to achieve the same goal, what’s best for the patient,” explains Cheryl Matlack, DaVita’s division lead social worker in the region. “But dialysis centers and transplant facilities didn’t necessarily have the right processes in place to support those shared goals as effectively as they could.”

Matlack and other leaders involved knew that no matter how deep their commitment, DaVita couldn’t bridge this chasm alone. Transforming communication would take changes on both sides. “It wasn’t necessarily easy at first,” Matlack recalls. “Both sides had to be ready to hear what they weren’t doing perfectly, and really listen to what the other side needed.”

So, they reached out to transplant centers to form collaborative workstreams, including The University of Kansas Health System (The Health System), HCA Midwest Health Research Medical Center (Research Medical Center) and Saint Luke’s Hospital Abdominal Transplant and Multispecialty Clinic (St. Luke’s).

Jaime Bartley, director of nursing at The Health System transplant center, and Wendy Cundiff, organ transplant coordinator for TUKHS, noted that while their team had already had a relationship with the DaVita care teams, the collaboration Matlack and the rest of the DaVita team put forth made sense:

“There was a willingness to share more information, understanding that we could make a difference in streamlining it,” Cundiff says. “These conversations made it clear that transplant is important to DaVita. They are invested in getting people on the waitlist.”

“When you have that relationship that’s based on collaboration, you can have that level of open conversation,” Bartley says. “Questions like, ‘What do we need? Can we do this better? How?’”

New ways of working began at the senior level, with leaders from both sides establishing a regular cadence of meetings to share ideas and information. Transplant centers in the area invited DaVita representatives to events and workshops to help improve cross-functional understanding. Out of these collaborations, a new protocol — the “pipeline call” — was born.

Pipeline calls are routine points of contact where front-line clinical social workers and transplant coordinators can talk through patients’ needs and status upstream, far before they reach the transplant waitlist. This is just one example of process standardizations that remove obstacles and solve problems on the transplant journey.

“Before pipeline calls, our transplant center was taxed with mailing out spreadsheets with evaluation statuses,” says Marilee Clites, RN, BSN, the transplant director for Research Medical Center. “Now, both parties have the opportunity to directly communicate.”

“As a result of the calls and countless emails, I feel like the DaVita social workers are part of our transplant team family,” says Scott McClure, RN BSN, the transplant outreach coordinator for Research Medical Center. “I can always rely on them to help our patients get the best, most compassionate care.”

The dedicated time provided the structure for both sides to discuss details about why a patient might be “stuck” in the transplant journey. “The new structure gave social workers the opportunity to ask specific questions about their patients’ evaluation status, instead of relying solely on patient update letters, which were difficult to keep up-to-date in real time due to the nature of mailed correspondence,” Michelle Goldston, LMSW, transplant education representative for St. Luke’s says.

“We have recognized that this two-way communication is so valuable,” Cundiff says. “They recognize our needs; we’re recognizing their needs — for the same goal.”

In addition to process and communications improvements, greater collaboration fueled expertise on all sides, especially in the complex process for transplantation.

“It’s really led to a huge uptick in knowledge,” explains Matlack. “When each side understands the other’s job more clearly, it creates opportunities for mutual support and solving problems together.”

One specific example illustrates this vividly: Many transplant centers require colonoscopy as a prerequisite before a patient can be evaluated, but it’s not something patients are commonly aware of. This requirement often popped up as an unexpected stumbling block, slowing or even stalling the transplant journey. With greater shared understanding of common requirements, the colonoscopy step can be identified and communicated farther upstream, empowering the patient to get ahead of the process and stay on track.

Sreelatha Katari, MD, medical director of the kidney transplant program at St. Luke’s, shares that it’s also helped the teams communicate and act on care needs for transplant eligibility:

“The St. Luke’s transplant team can recommend that the dialysis social worker identifies patients who need physical therapy and help get that ordered,” Dr. Katari offers as an example. As a potential result: “Their candidacy for kidney transplant improves and shortens the workup time for transplant.”

While some of the improvements activated in the Kansas City region may seem simple, their impact has been profound. Recently, the team at The Health System published a research poster illustrating some of the progress their team has made with the DaVita team. In the poster, the The Health System team reported that the collaboration has helped double the transplant referral and evaluation rates, while the rate of placements on the transplant waitlist has increased 400% from DaVita facilities when compared to overall referrals, evaluations and listings. [1]

DaVita, seeing the advancement these new processes and methods have helped create, is now looking to create similar opportunities with transplant centers nationwide. But more than just a shift in protocols, this case illustrates the power of a shift in mindset. Says Matlack,

“It used to be understood that the job of dialysis was to keep patients healthy so they would be ready for a successful ‘hand-off’ to transplant, but now we see the dialysis team as a critical partner in supporting the whole journey. Even though some caregivers work in dialysis and some in transplant, we’re really all on one team — the patient’s team.”

[1] 2023 The University of Kansas Health System; Wendy Cundiff, BSN, RN; Jaime Bartley, MSN,RN, NE-BC, CCTC; “A Winning Combination: Teaming Up to Enhance the Transplant Process;” Presented at The Organization for Donation and Transplant Professionals NATCO 48th Annual Meeting, August 2023

Did you know that Henkel North America employs approximately 8,000 employees in more than 70 sites across the U.S. and Canada? Collectively, these sites support two business units: Adhesive Technologies and Consumer Brands.

Our #AViewFrom series features select locations, sharing information and facts about our sites across Henkel North America.

Tightly sealed windows, flooring that stays put, and element-resistant siding that looks beautiful are all made possible with the sealants and adhesives produced at Henkel Adhesives Technologies’ Mentor, Ohio facility. This is a site on the move, running seven days a week, powered by a dedicated team working to manufacture the products construction pros and do-it-yourselfers depend on. Learn more in this #AViewFrom segment.

Near the shores of Lake Erie, one of the United States’ Great lakes, sits Henkel’s 196,000 sq. ft. Mentor, OH site, where about 140 employees manufacture construction adhesives and sealants for the company’s Consumers & Craftsmen (ACC) business. Marketed under the LOCTITE®, OSI®, and LEPAGE® brands, among others, this facility produces over 44 million cartridges of solvent-free and solvent-based adhesives and sealants annually to support North American professional and retail customers. The products are used for various kitchen and bath, window, door, flooring, and siding applications and are essential for preventing air and moisture ingress, securing flooring materials, and protecting against water damage on exterior siding.

“Our operation is highly complex and requires extreme precision,” explains Plant Operations Director Joseph Perdue. “Unlike facilities serving industrial customers, where the material is filled into large drums, we produce point-of-sale cartridges in more than 20 different bulk formulations for 5 different brands. Consumers expect each 9.5 oz-tube of material to look and perform the same – every time.”

Our team of operators, quality control professionals, maintenance and engineering specialists, and product development experts are dedicated to making sure every formulation is mixed, filled, and packaged to exacting standards and that product consistency is bar none. Our exceptional reputation depends on it.

Joseph Perdue, Plant Operations Director

Like its water-based sealant and adhesives sister plant in LaGrange, GA, the Mentor, OH site has been in existence since 1984 and joined the Henkel manufacturing footprint in the early 2000s following the company’s acquisition of OSI Sealants. The high-volume operation runs 24 hours a day Monday through Friday, with partial weekend production as well. Mentor was recognized in 2013 as Henkel’s best global plant and, in 2019, was the recipient of significant capital investment to upgrade equipment and drive manufacturing efficiency. This year, two new high-speed filling lines were installed, helping to increase capacity, and freeing valuable resources for high-changeover production, such as Mentor’s color-matched sealant lines.

Protecting natural resources is a hallmark of the Henkel Mentor plant, which is a carbon-neutral operation and a zero-waste-to-landfill site. No water is used in production processes here, and the team strives to significantly reduce manufacturing waste. With its color-matched line, for example, changing over the sealant colors means the first several tubes post-changeover will result in a mixture of the previous color and the new color. Instead of scrapping this material, the company sells its ‘rainbow caulk’ at a reduced price compared to its color-specific varieties. For applications where the sealant will not be visible, this is a perfect solution for waste reduction and consumer cost savings.

DID YOU KNOW?

The Mentor facility manufactures products that are specifically designed to color match various construction and design materials such as paints, windows and doors. More specifically, the plant produces hundreds of color-matched OSI® brand sealants for color-coded products made by well-known construction material and supply manufacturers with a Color ID system to help find the perfect color match.

The Mentor plant’s color matching capability and Color ID system gives customers and consumers options to match to existing building materials and supplies from well-known suppliers.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Engagement with the local community is central to Mentor’s success and demonstrates its commitment to supporting area initiatives. Recently, the plant’s focus has been to create awareness of the types of jobs available at the manufacturing facility and in various support functions. In September, a team of employees attended a career fair at the Case Western Reserve University to promote Henkel jobs and internships. In October, as part of the Mentor plant’s Manufacturing Day activities, employees participated in the local high school’s “Think Manufacturing” career fair where Senior Manufacturing Engineer Scott Schwickerath, Administrative Assistant Amia Martorana, and Packaging Operator Katy Shaffer, connected with students to discuss the variety of career opportunities at Henkel. The Gen Z crowd was all ears and had plenty of questions. Hopefully, some of them are inspired to take the next step!

CULTURE AND CAREER
“Opportunity is everywhere at this site,” shares Amia Martorana, who worked as a machine operator for two years before becoming the administrative assistant.

If you want to learn, if you’re curious, and have a passion for the business, there are multiple avenues for advancement. And management’s support is extraordinary. I’m also a college student and appreciate being able to simultaneously pursue two goals – education and professional development.

Amia Martorana, Site Administrator

Recognizing and valuing employees has been vital to building Mentor’s unique culture.

When you operate a multi-shift site, traditional all-staff events are difficult to organize. Instead, we do shift-specific appreciation events like summer cookouts and holiday parties, which occur between shifts so that everyone can participate.

Kelli Burns, Site Human Resources Business Partner

Originally published on GoDaddy Resource Library

What’s your story? Tell us a little bit about yourself and your career journey, to date.

Hi, I’m Tareyn and I work as a Manager within Corporate Audit Services. I joined GoDaddy’s Internal Audit team in March of 2022 and I’m located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

I started my career in more traditional accounting roles before transitioning into financial planning and analysis and financial control/compliance focused roles. Most of my career has been in the healthcare industry, but a few years ago I decided I wanted to explore options for pivoting into the technology space. And, that’s when I landed here at GoDaddy.

As part of the Corporate Audit Services team, we serve to increase the quality and efficiency of the company’s operations through improving execution, eliminating waste and reducing risk across the organization by providing objective assessments.

How do you keep yourself motivated and inspired in your work?

For me, maintaining a balance is critical. That starts with prioritizing taking care of myself to ensure I’m feeling my best so I can perform at my best. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is essential for both my physical and mental well-being. Given how much time we dedicate to our work, it’s crucial to acknowledge the significant impact it has on our holistic lives. Recognizing this direct relationship is important.

Then, there’s the balance component of feeling engaged in the work I’m doing. Doing the same thing for too long can make me feel mentally stagnant. I’m a big proponent of continuous improvement, so I’m always motivated by the opportunity to learn new things and do something different.

I do my best to be authentic to myself and transparent to my leadership when it comes to my goals and motivations, which helps ensure I’m able to take control to achieve those.

Can you share how internal audit contributes to the success of the organization?

Corporate Audit Services works as an independent assurance and consulting function from within the organization. Our ultimate goal is to affirm GoDaddy’s financials, operations, compliance and internal controls are both adequate and effective. The internal audit function gives assurance both to our board, and the company’s shareholders, that we are performing the way we say we are. But to achieve that overarching objective, we’re working with team members all across the organization each and every day.

Operational audits over specific business processes allow us to understand all the ingredients that go into a given team’s responsibilities and the recipe they use to successfully perform each task. In that process, we work to ensure the recipe is following the standards from within the company, is compliant with any external standards that may apply to it, as well as work to identify general process improvement opportunities. We strive to be sought after partners in the organization, and emphasize our goal is to help make improvements that benefit all of us.

We realize undergoing an audit can feel invasive or disruptive to the day-to-day components of someone’s primary role. To combat that, our team is continuing to work exceptionally hard to shift the culture of internal audit into a resource to help make improvements. Having a standard cadence for updates, self-servicing where we can, and even gathering feedback from auditees on how we can make the experience better are just a few examples of how we’re working to achieve that. When our team members across the company understand we’re all working toward the common goal of making GoDaddy the best it can be, that’s how we all make the organization successful.

Do you have any advice for someone who is interested in a career at GoDaddy?

The first bit of advice I have for anyone interested in a career at GoDaddy, or anywhere for that matter, is to understand how the company’s culture and values align with your own. At the end of the day, most people want to work for an organization where they feel included and valued, but that looks different for everyone. GoDaddy is an incredibly diverse organization, with a wide variety of career paths, so chances are you’ll find something in your wheelhouse. And, if you stay true to your professional goals and personal values, you’ll find the right opportunity and the right people to help get you there.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

Outside of work, spending time with family and friends is certainly a big part of my life. I am also a travel enthusiast and lover of all things outdoors; hiking, biking, running, you name it! My husband and I are working toward a goal to visit all the national parks in the U.S., and we’ve done around 20 so far. So, you can usually find me planning some sort of new adventure.

I also serve as the Treasurer on the Board of Directors for Yinz Run Club, a Pittsburgh running club focused on fostering a community where all are welcome, and every step is celebrated. A lot of people find running intimidating and difficult for a variety of reasons, but we like to challenge that narrative and have a ton of fun in the process. You can check us out @YinzRunClub to see for yourself! It’s extremely rewarding to give back in a meaningful way where my professional experience allows me to support a more personal passion.

Are you enjoying this series and want to know more about life at GoDaddy? Check out our GoDaddy Life social pages! Follow us to meet our team, learn more about our culture (Teams, ERGs, Locations), careers, and so much more. You’re more than just your day job, so come propel your career with us.

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NEW ORLEANS, January 31, 2025 /3BL/ – In recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, more than 230 Entergy employees and community partners across Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas came together to package over 250,000 meals for families facing food insecurity. For more than two decades, Entergy has empowered employees to make a meaningful impact in the fight against hunger through volunteerism.

This year, Entergy team members partnered with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, and Healthy Blue, Louisiana Blue, and dedicated their time to packing meals at 10 locations across our service area. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, more than 47 million people in the United States face hunger, including 1 in 5 children. This collective effort not only enabled us to meet our goal of supporting our customers, neighbors, and families in need but also played a crucial role in addressing hunger in our communities.

“Entergy is proud to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King by joining with partners to help end hunger across our service area,” said Patty Riddlebarger, Entergy’s vice president of corporate social responsibility. “For more than twenty years, our major corporate cause has been eradication of poverty, and we know that too many families struggle to put healthy meals on their table. This MLK Day of Service is one way that our employees can help ease that struggle throughout our communities.”

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service supports Entergy’s mission to create sustainable value for our communities through volunteerism and philanthropy. We pay tribute to King’s legacy by actively giving back to the communities we serve. This federal holiday serves as a reminder to put his teachings into action by tackling social issues, advancing equality and empowering others. We encourage our employees to continue collaborating to support our communities and generate impactful solutions. Learn more about how Entergy serves our communities.

About Entergy

Entergy (NYSE: ETR) is a Fortune 500 company that powers life for 3 million customers through our operating companies in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. We’re investing in the reliability, resilience and growth of the energy system while helping our region transition to cleaner, more efficient energy solutions. With roots in our communities for more than 100 years, Entergy is a nationally recognized leader in sustainability and corporate citizenship. Since 2018, we have delivered more than $100 million in economic benefits each year to local communities through philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy. Entergy is headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, and has approximately 12,000 employees. Learn more at entergy.com and connect with @Entergy on social media. #WePowerLife

Contact
Media inquiries: Cristina del Canto
|504-576-4238|
mdelcan@entergy.com

MEMPHIS, Tenn., January 31, 2025 /3BL/ – Memphis-based International Paper has renewed its commitment to boosting childhood reading, joining Champions for Literacy (formerly Coaching for Literacy) as its signature partner for the ninth consecutive year.

“Third grade reading level is a powerful predictor of high school graduation and career-building. Regardless of zip code, if a kid is reading on grade level by the end of third grade, there is an 89% chance they will complete high school and embark on a career. It’s hard to find another cause that transcends economics in that manner.” said Jason Baker, Executive Director at Champions for Literacy. “Educators and organizations like ours are working hard to make sure every child flourishes in life through the skill of reading, and partners like International Paper truly help provide the tools needed with their investment. We do it all via the platform of sports, bringing a big platform to a big cause.”

Through its partnership, International Paper is recognized as presenting sponsor of the national program Fight for Literacy Games, through which Champions for Literacy partners with collegiate sports teams to raise awareness and funds for the cause of childhood literacy. Funds raised through the games are granted to local partners to support literacy for students from birth through third grade. In prior years, grants have funded tutoring programs, summer learning camps, and the purchase of age-appropriate reading materials for classrooms and students.

“Literacy is the foundation of all education, and improving it is how we will prepare tomorrow’s leaders,” said Dynisha Woods, Manager, Community Engagement, International Paper. “Partnering with Champions for Literacy allows us to impact tens of thousands of students and numerous organizations in communities across the United States. We are committed to this partnership and heartened by the difference we can make in the Fight for Literacy.”

Over the past nine years, through its partnership with Champions for Literacy, International Paper has directly provided grant funding to 40 literacy organizations in more than 20 states. This season Champions for Literacy has 88 collegiate athletic teams committed to hosting a Fight for Literacy Game, their largest number of teams to date.

About International Paper
International Paper (NYSE: IP) is a global producer of sustainable packaging, pulp and other fiber-based products, and one of the world’s largest recyclers. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., we employ approximately 39,000 colleagues globally who are committed to creating what’s next. We serve customers worldwide, with manufacturing operations in North America, Latin America, North Africa and Europe. Net sales for 2023 were $18.9 billion. Additional information can be found by visiting internationalpaper.com.

About Champions for Literacy
Founded in 2013 by two high school athletes, Champions for Literacy uses the power of sports to impact childhood reading. CFL has hosted 350+ Fight for Literacy Games with 150+ collegiate athletic teams, generating more than $1.8 million to fund critical reading projects for 95,000 kids. For more information and to learn how you can get involved, visit ChampionsForLit.org.

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For more information, contact
Jason Baker
Champions for Literacy
jason@championsforlit.org
901.438.8781

Southern Company

ATLANTA, January 31, 2025 /3BL/ – Southern Company Gas and its philanthropic arm, the Southern Company Gas Foundation, awarded more than $11 million in financial gifts last year to over 600 nonprofit organizations in communities across the company’s service territory. 

Collectively these gifts positively impacted approximately 4.5 million people across Georgia, Illinois, Tennessee and Virginia. Donations and grants were awarded to nonprofits that aligned with the foundation’s four strategic priorities: social justice, economic mobility, environmental stewardship and community enrichment.

“Investing in progress and opportunities to positively transform and grow communities is central to our company,” said James Y. (Jim) Kerr II, Southern Company Gas chairman, president and chief executive officer. “We are intentionally focused on initiatives that fuel possibilities and advance opportunity for the betterment of those we serve. That’s why our company and foundation have directed more than $50 million in giving to communities throughout our service areas since 2020.”

Southern Company Gas, its family of local distribution companies – Atlanta Gas Light, Chattanooga Gas, Nicor Gas and Virginia Natural Gas – its marketing business Georgia Natural Gas, its charitable foundation and its employees have collaborated with community partners to address local challenges through charitable giving and transformative volunteer experiences for more than 160 years and counting.

“We seek to be citizens where we live, work and serve. While meaningful financial contributions are key to supporting community efforts, our engagement stems beyond to include the time and talent of our people. We partner with organizations to provide holistic support to our communities, often driving programming, making connections to resources and volunteering to support projects and initiatives across our service footprint,” said Serena Levy, Southern Company Gas Foundation president and Southern Company Gas vice president of corporate impact.

Major gifts included donations that aided justice-impacted individuals successfully returning to society; supported workforce development programs training people to work in needed, skill-based jobs; grew reforestation of native species and conserved environmentally fragile areas; funded scholarships for secondary education and wrap-around programming for K-12 students; and supported health and human services for those most in need. 

The foundation, the company and its employees also pledged approximately $700,000 to United Way and its affiliated local chapters. These contributions will help combat food insecurity and provide access to critical resources such as health and wellness, education and housing initiatives.

The company’s employee resource groups also worked with Southern Company Gas Foundation leadership to direct $100,000 to nonprofit organizations aligned with their respective areas of focus in 2024. Furthermore, charitable giving in 2024 was complemented by more than 900 employees volunteering their time. From mid-November to mid-December alone, company volunteers spent time at more than 50 events supporting nonprofits to make the holiday season brighter for families in need.

For more information on community initiatives across the Southern Company Gas footprint, visit southerncompanygas.com/communityengagement.

About Southern Company Gas

Southern Company Gas is a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE:SO), America’s premier energy company.  Southern Company Gas serves approximately 4.4 million natural gas utility customers through its regulated distribution companies in four states and approximately 600,000 retail customers through its companies that market natural gas.  Other nonutility businesses include investments in interstate pipelines and ownership and operation of natural gas storage facilities.  For more information, visit southerncompanygas.com.

About the Southern Company Gas Foundation

The Southern Company Gas Foundation and its six subsidiaries in Georgia, Illinois, Tennessee and Virginia are committed to supporting the communities where Southern Company Gas employees live, work and serve. Its mission is to advance social justice, enable economic mobility, care for the environment and provide community assistance. The foundation is a private, nonprofit organization funded by an endowment from Southern Company Gas.

SOURCE Southern Company Gas

For further information: Arsenio O. Ward, C: 404.694.6446, x2arward@southernco.com

Originally published in Radius Recycling’s 2024 Sustainability Report

In fiscal 2024, Radius facilities processed and recycled millions of metric tons of metals that originated from end-of-life vehicles, as well as appliances, construction and manufacturing materials, and industrial and commercial by-products.

Once at our recycling operations, we separate metals into ferrous and nonferrous categories, process those materials, and sell them to customers around the world. We sell ferrous metals to international and domestic steel mills, including the Company’s steel manufacturing operation, Cascade Steel Rolling Mills in McMinnville, Oregon.

Many nonferrous metals, such as aluminum and copper, undergo further processing using advanced metals recovery technology systems at our major recycling operations. 

These advanced metals recovery technology systems enable us to extract more nonferrous metals from our shredding activities. Employed across our major recycling operations, these technologies improve the efficiency of our processes to meet global metal content and quality requirements on a cost-effective basis and create production optionality by enabling us to create furnace-ready products based on demand and price.

Since fiscal 2019, we have invested $135 million in advanced metals recovery technologies, including magnetic, density separation, x-ray fluorescence, and sizing technologies which have allowed us to diversify our product offerings and competitively meet the needs of both domestic and international customers.

Learn more

Originally published by Forbes

While artificial intelligence has become increasingly present in contemporary business operations over the past two years, the term might still trigger images of dystopian films like I, Robot or Blade Runner. Hollywood’s larger-than-life portrayals of AI catastrophe, while cinematically compelling, obscure a more nuanced reality: the genuine risk lies not in AI itself, but in failing to harness its potential.

This parallel extends to climate change. Though we’re unlikely to witness the theatrical extremes of some of Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters, dismissing climate risks would be equally misguided. While neither AI nor climate change has manifested in Hollywood’s extreme scenarios, climate reality is encroaching on cinema’s doorstep – as evidenced by the recent devastating wildfires that swept through Sunset Boulevard, leaving much of Hollywood and northern Los Angeles in ruins.

Continue reading here. 

AMSTERDAM and HONG KONG and OAKLAND, Calif., January 31, 2025 /3BL/ – As part of the ongoing evolution of its member engagement and governance model, Cascale has expanded its membership engagement team to include Alexandra Rieger, senior director, manufacturer membership, and Joleen Ong, senior director, brand & retailer membership. This new structure reflects Cascale’s commitment to enhancing member engagement through a more tailored and equitable approach to serving the needs of its diverse membership. Alexandra Rieger and Joleen Ong bring extensive expertise in sustainability, supply chain dynamics, and human rights, and their appointments strengthen Cascale’s capacity to deliver meaningful support to members and drive impactful outcomes across the value chain.

The shift demonstrates Cascale’s ongoing commitment to transparency, accountability, and inclusive decision-making for all members, further elevating supplier and manufacturer voices while maintaining robust support for brand and retailer, and affiliate members. By fostering equitable partnerships and balancing the diverse needs of all stakeholders, Cascale is better positioned than ever to lead the consumer goods industry toward collaboration, regulatory alignment, and sustainability goals.

Andrew Martin, executive vice president at Cascale, commented, “We’re so excited to welcome Alexandra and Joleen to the Cascale team as we strengthen our commitment to more tailored and equitable member engagement. Their leadership will bring fresh perspectives, deepen our collaboration with members, and help us address the complex challenges facing the industry. With their vast experience and depth of expertise, Cascale is better positioned to empower members and advance meaningful progress across sustainability, innovation, and equitable partnership.”

Alexandra Rieger will oversee all aspects of manufacturer member engagement and impact, ensuring manufacturers are empowered with tools, resources, and support to drive industry transformation. She has cultivated over 20 years in global sourcing and supply chain leadership roles across the industry, leading manufacturers and brands like Brandix, MAS, Triumph, Gildan, and Levi Strauss.

“Joining Cascale represents an incredible opportunity to work alongside a vast membership base to advance sustainability and innovation across the value chain,” said Alexandra Rieger, senior director, manufacturer membership at Cascale. “Each supply chain has the potential to create value and an urgent responsibility to address the challenges facing the planet and its people. I’m excited to engage with manufacturers to amplify their voices, empower their contributions, and collectively drive meaningful change—particularly in areas like decarbonization and responsible sourcing. Together, we can orchestrate solutions that balance complexity, innovation, and impact.”

Joleen Ong will lead all aspects of brand & retailer member engagement, helping members drive sustainability impact through the use of Cascale’s Higg Index tools and programs. She brings over 15 years of experience in sustainability and human rights within the apparel and footwear industries and has extensive expertise in operationalizing the Higg Index tools across brands. She previously served as the sustainability director at Fanatics, where she led the integration of sustainability practices and responsible purchasing initiatives across the enterprise, and led the sustainable manufacturing and licensing programs at Columbia Sportswear Company.

Joleen Ong, senior director, brand & retailer membership at Cascale shared, “I’m honored to join Cascale and work alongside such a dedicated team committed to driving collective action across the apparel and consumer goods industry. By equipping brands and retailers with the tools and resources needed to combat climate change and support decent work for all, we have an incredible opportunity to create meaningful change at scale. I’m eager to leverage my experience at two Cascale member brands to build robust, inclusive listening channels and partner effectively with our members on this crucial journey toward a more sustainable future.”

ABOUT CASCALE

Cascale is the global nonprofit alliance empowering collaboration to drive equitable and restorative business practices in the consumer goods industry. Formerly known as the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, Cascale owns and develops the Higg Index, which is exclusively available on Worldly, the most comprehensive sustainability data and insights platform. Cascale unites over 300 retailers, brands, manufacturers, governments, academics, and NGO/nonprofit affiliates around the globe through one singular vision: To catalyze impact at scale and give back more than we take to the planet and its people.

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In this special bonus episode of ESG Talk recorded live at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Mandi McReynolds sits down with Jill Klindt, CFO of Workiva, to discuss the interplay between sustainability and financial performance. They explore how emerging tech like generative AI is revolutionizing regulatory compliance and business processes, the evolving roles of chief sustainability officers, and the importance of integrating non-financial data in achieving company goals. Tune in for insights on sustainable innovation, growth strategies, and the future of ESG reporting.

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ESG Talk is brought to you by Workiva, the world’s only unified platform for financial reporting, ESG, audit, and risk. Learn more at workiva.com.