CHARLOTTE, NC — Robert Thompson shows up at the SouthPark Mall to begin his workday long before the stores are open and when the only people there are mall walkers, according to WCNC-TV.
Those early bird exercisers who pace the mall at dawn do not need soft jazz music playing through the mall's PA system to entertain them, they have Thompson and his opera music, the story stated.
Thompson was never trained in the art, but found his niche after realizing that singing a song he had once heard was to the liking of the mall walkers, the story noted.
Now, all of the mall walkers know Thompson, not for his talent in keeping their mall clean, but for his talent in singing, and they look forward to listening to him in the wee hours of every morning, the story added.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Proctor & Gamble investing in new plants
ALBANY, GA — Proctor & Gamble is eliminating two paper machines within the next month from its Albany plant and is investing in alternate locations in Utah, Wisconsin, Missouri and Pennsylvania, according to the Albany Herald.
Continuing operations at the Albany plant is no longer feasible for the company because of the rising costs to ship raw goods from Canada to the Southeast United States and because of Georgia's taxation on energy usage, the story stated.
Plant Manager Trey Bloodworth said: "Georgia is one of 10 states that still have the tax on energy used in manufacturing,” Bloodworth said. “None of the competing in-house paper plants have that tax. Missouri had it and they repealed it. Wisconsin had it and also repealed it. We’re competing against sister plants for volume and now they have a bigger cost advantage over us."
Health care costs are also affecting the plant's bottom line as they are 19 percent higher at the Albany plant than Proctor & Gamble's national average, the story noted.
Without help from the Georgia General Assembly to "level the playing field" so the Albany plant can compete with sister plants across the U.S., it is likely the plant's profitability will continue to dwindle, the story added.
Continuing operations at the Albany plant is no longer feasible for the company because of the rising costs to ship raw goods from Canada to the Southeast United States and because of Georgia's taxation on energy usage, the story stated.
Plant Manager Trey Bloodworth said: "Georgia is one of 10 states that still have the tax on energy used in manufacturing,” Bloodworth said. “None of the competing in-house paper plants have that tax. Missouri had it and they repealed it. Wisconsin had it and also repealed it. We’re competing against sister plants for volume and now they have a bigger cost advantage over us."
Health care costs are also affecting the plant's bottom line as they are 19 percent higher at the Albany plant than Proctor & Gamble's national average, the story noted.
Without help from the Georgia General Assembly to "level the playing field" so the Albany plant can compete with sister plants across the U.S., it is likely the plant's profitability will continue to dwindle, the story added.
3M offers buyouts to 3,600 employees
MAPLEWOOD, MINNESOTA — 3M is offering early retirement buyout packages to 3,600 of its non-union U.S. employees, according to the Pioneer Press.
Packages are being offered to 11 percent of 3M's total workforce and are based on an employee's age and their years of service, the story stated.
Lenny Sanicola, a benefits expert at human resources consulting firm WorldatWork, said: "It just goes to show how tough it is out there. Larger companies often turn to early retirement offers because they can save more money in pension expenses with such programs. One thing you have to be careful of: You don't want to diminish your work force so that when things turn around you're at a competitive disadvantage. There may be key talent they need to retain."
More than half of 3M's workforce now operates outside of the U.S. and the company is unsure how many U.S. employees will accept the early retirement offer, the story noted.
Eligible employees have until May 31 to make the decision whether or not to accept the buyout offer, the story added.
Packages are being offered to 11 percent of 3M's total workforce and are based on an employee's age and their years of service, the story stated.
Lenny Sanicola, a benefits expert at human resources consulting firm WorldatWork, said: "It just goes to show how tough it is out there. Larger companies often turn to early retirement offers because they can save more money in pension expenses with such programs. One thing you have to be careful of: You don't want to diminish your work force so that when things turn around you're at a competitive disadvantage. There may be key talent they need to retain."
More than half of 3M's workforce now operates outside of the U.S. and the company is unsure how many U.S. employees will accept the early retirement offer, the story noted.
Eligible employees have until May 31 to make the decision whether or not to accept the buyout offer, the story added.
America's first LEED-certified arena
MIAMI — The American Airlines Arena is the first in the country to be certified green by the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, according to the Miami Herald.
The American Airlines Arena is a concert and event venue and home to the National Basketball Association's (NBA) Miami Heat, the story stated.
The news of the certification was announced by Mayor Manny Diaz yesterday in a press conference with Miami Heat President of Business Operations Eric Woolworth, the story noted.
To obtain LEED certification, buildings must meet stringent standards for sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality, the story added.
The American Airlines Arena is a concert and event venue and home to the National Basketball Association's (NBA) Miami Heat, the story stated.
The news of the certification was announced by Mayor Manny Diaz yesterday in a press conference with Miami Heat President of Business Operations Eric Woolworth, the story noted.
To obtain LEED certification, buildings must meet stringent standards for sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality, the story added.
University offers LEED-AP preparation courses
COLUMBIA, SC — Two-day preparation courses for individuals preparing for the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED-AP) exam are now being offered through the Office of Academic Enrichment and Conferences at the University of South Carolina, according to the Charleston Regional Business Journal.
The preparation courses include a complete review of LEED credits, worksheets, a practice exam and strategies for passing the exam, the story stated.
According to the story, classes will take place April 20-21; June 9-10; Sept. 1-2; Oct. 13-14; and Nov. 23-24.
The courses are administered by LEED Accredited Professionals from Everblue Energy Inc., an official education provider for the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the story noted.
Preparation course participants will receive continuing education credit (CEC), the story added.
For fee and registration information, contact the university’s Academic Enrichment and Conferences office at (803) 777-9444.
The preparation courses include a complete review of LEED credits, worksheets, a practice exam and strategies for passing the exam, the story stated.
According to the story, classes will take place April 20-21; June 9-10; Sept. 1-2; Oct. 13-14; and Nov. 23-24.
The courses are administered by LEED Accredited Professionals from Everblue Energy Inc., an official education provider for the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the story noted.
Preparation course participants will receive continuing education credit (CEC), the story added.
For fee and registration information, contact the university’s Academic Enrichment and Conferences office at (803) 777-9444.
MRSA infection prompts parental notification
RICHMOND, KY — The confirmation that a seventh-grader contracted Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) prompted Model Laboratory School to send a letter home to the parents of all 685 students to warn them of the infection, according to the Richmond Register.
After learning of the incident, the school immediately followed its MRSA incident protocol by notifying the Madison County Health Department and sanitizing common areas of the school, the story stated.
Christie Green of the Madison County Health Department said: "MRSA is not a readily transmittable disease. It requires skin-to-skin contact with an open wound or skin-to-surface contact with surfaces contaminated by an open wound. If a staph-infected wound is kept properly covered with clean, dry bandages, there is very minimal risk to the people around them in schools or workplaces."
Under state and federal laws, it is not mandatory for schools or other institutions to report cases of MRSA, the story noted.
The Model Parents Organization has scheduled a meeting for April 20 to discuss the incident and to ease the worries of some, the story added.
After learning of the incident, the school immediately followed its MRSA incident protocol by notifying the Madison County Health Department and sanitizing common areas of the school, the story stated.
Christie Green of the Madison County Health Department said: "MRSA is not a readily transmittable disease. It requires skin-to-skin contact with an open wound or skin-to-surface contact with surfaces contaminated by an open wound. If a staph-infected wound is kept properly covered with clean, dry bandages, there is very minimal risk to the people around them in schools or workplaces."
Under state and federal laws, it is not mandatory for schools or other institutions to report cases of MRSA, the story noted.
The Model Parents Organization has scheduled a meeting for April 20 to discuss the incident and to ease the worries of some, the story added.
Kimberly-Clark hosts cruise to benefit the United Way
IRVING, TX — Kimberly-Clark will host the first “Kimberly-Clark United Cruise” May 30 to benefit the United Way, according to The Dispatch.
All cars, trucks and motorcycles are invited to participate in the event that will begin at Kimberly-Clark's plant on Clyde Fitzgerald Road in Linwood at 11 a.m. and travel 35 miles to the Richard Childress Racing Museum, the story stated.
According to the story, the cost to participate is $20 and includes a T-shirt, live entertainment and a hot dog lunch.
Donna Lane, United Way campaign director, said: "Kimberly-Clark is no doubt our top producer in not only what they give but the number of events they do. United Way is blessed to have management support and help from so many employees that care about this community."
Advanced registration is available by calling Dennis at (972) 248-7303; registrations will also be taken the day of the event beginning at 10 a.m., the story noted.
Last year, Kimberly-Clark raised $132,006 for the United Way, the story added.
All cars, trucks and motorcycles are invited to participate in the event that will begin at Kimberly-Clark's plant on Clyde Fitzgerald Road in Linwood at 11 a.m. and travel 35 miles to the Richard Childress Racing Museum, the story stated.
According to the story, the cost to participate is $20 and includes a T-shirt, live entertainment and a hot dog lunch.
Donna Lane, United Way campaign director, said: "Kimberly-Clark is no doubt our top producer in not only what they give but the number of events they do. United Way is blessed to have management support and help from so many employees that care about this community."
Advanced registration is available by calling Dennis at (972) 248-7303; registrations will also be taken the day of the event beginning at 10 a.m., the story noted.
Last year, Kimberly-Clark raised $132,006 for the United Way, the story added.
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