Latest news with #OSB
Al Bawaba
10 hours ago
- Business
- Al Bawaba
Empowering Women in the Informal Sector: AUB Celebrates QUDWA Graduates and Holds Panel Discussion on Women's Work in Lebanon
The Center for Women in Business at the Suliman S. Olayan School of Business (OSB) at the American University of Beirut (AUB) hosted a graduation ceremony marking the completion of QUDWA—an initiative supporting women in Lebanon's informal event honored twenty women from across Lebanon who successfully completed the QUDWA program. Over the past five years, these women have launched and grown their own businesses in regions including Tripoli, South Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley, and is designed to empower women working informally by equipping them with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to transition into the formal economy. Through targeted training delivered by experts from the OSB faculty, the program fosters inclusive, sustainable, and dignified economic opportunities for women the ceremony, Dr. Nada Khaddage-Soboh, director of the Center for Women in Business, highlighted the challenges women face in the informal sector and reaffirmed the center's commitment to creating meaningful impact. She noted, 'We believe that investing in women is an investment in the prosperity of entire communities and the promise of generational transformation—contributing directly to AUB's mission of changing the world.'OSB Dean Yusuf Sidani praised the QUDWA program and shared reflections on the broader journey of women in business education. He emphasized the importance of trust, support, and inclusive leadership, stating, 'It was in 1923 that the first female student joined the School of Commerce at AUB, as it was called back then. This reflects broader patterns seen across disciplines—engineering, medicine, and more. We must continue to create space for women to thrive.'In her keynote address, Lebanese Minister of Social Affairs Haneen El Sayed called for systemic reforms to enable real economic equity. She stressed the importance of legal and structural support for women, noting, 'Our laws must serve everyone. That means gender-responsive labor regulations, flexible work options, and paternity leave that's more than a token—it's a right. It also means building affordable childcare so women can participate in the economy fully and fairly.'Certificates of completion were awarded to the graduates, as well as to OSB faculty members who contributed to the program: Leila Khauli, Dr. Hania Hammoud, Dr. Jessy Kfoury, Dr. Marwan Wahbi, and Dr. Neveen event also featured a panel discussion titled 'Women's Work in Lebanon: Status, Challenges, and the Path Forward' that brought together thought leaders from academia, business, and the public sector, including Dr. Najat Aoun Saliba, member of the Lebanese Parliament; Professor Ali Fakih, chair of the Department of Economics at the Lebanese American University; Asmahan Zein, CEO of Ardi Ardak SAL; and Rima Freiji, chairwoman of Tanmia Lebanon and president of the Lebanese Private Sector panel opened with remarks by Professor Lama Moussawi, associate dean for research at OSB, who presented key statistics on male and female participation in both the formal and informal labor markets in Lebanon, the MENA region, and globally. 'This indicates the importance of giving informal employment specific attention and underscores the relevance of the project's goals and the Center for Women in Business' mission,' she reflected on the vital roles women play in sustaining their families and communities amid Lebanon's ongoing socioeconomic crisis. The conversation explored the challenges of visibility, recognition, and policy integration for women working Najat Aoun Saliba articulated the need for action, stating: 'We have a long way to go, but we must start by acknowledging the women working informally—like the 20 QUDWA participants and many others—who are doing their best from home with limited resources. They serve our communities yet remain unseen. Academia, the public sector, and the private sector must come together to recognize and formalize their presence.'From an academic lens, Professor Ali Fakih provided regional context, noting: 'When comparing Lebanon to other MENA countries, we are below the regional average. Female participation in the informal sector across the MENA region averages around 68 percent, placing us below countries like Jordan.'Rima Freiji emphasized the importance of formalizing microbusinesses to protect Lebanon's formal economy. 'At the Lebanese Private Sector Network, our mission includes protecting the formal economy. We see widespread unfair and illegal practices—labor, business, and even criminal—fueled by a growing cash economy. Our challenge is to bridge the gap between informal and formal and explore actionable solutions,' she the panel, Asmahan Zein expressed her belief in the strength of women as a catalyst for Lebanon's recovery: 'With the presence and support of women, Lebanon will overcome its struggles and rise to fulfill its potential.' The celebration concluded with the QUDWA Market at OSB, where graduates showcased their products, applying the branding, marketing, and customer engagement skills developed during the program.
Nahar Net
17 hours ago
- Business
- Nahar Net
Empowering women in informal sector: AUB celebrates QUDWA graduates
by Naharnet Newsdesk 08 August 2025, 12:24 The Center for Women in Business at the Suliman S. Olayan School of Business (OSB) at the American University of Beirut (AUB) hosted a graduation ceremony marking the completion of QUDWA—an initiative supporting women in Lebanon's informal sector. The event honored twenty women from across Lebanon who successfully completed the QUDWA program. Over the past five years, these women have launched and grown their own businesses in regions including Tripoli, South Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley, and Baalbeck-Hermel. QUDWA is designed to empower women working informally by equipping them with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to transition into the formal economy. Through targeted training delivered by experts from the OSB faculty, the program fosters inclusive, sustainable, and dignified economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs. Opening the ceremony, Dr. Nada Khaddage-Soboh, director of the Center for Women in Business, highlighted the challenges women face in the informal sector and reaffirmed the center's commitment to creating meaningful impact. She noted, 'We believe that investing in women is an investment in the prosperity of entire communities and the promise of generational transformation—contributing directly to AUB's mission of changing the world.' OSB Dean Yusuf Sidani praised the QUDWA program and shared reflections on the broader journey of women in business education. He emphasized the importance of trust, support, and inclusive leadership, stating, 'It was in 1923 that the first female student joined the School of Commerce at AUB, as it was called back then. This reflects broader patterns seen across disciplines—engineering, medicine, and more. We must continue to create space for women to thrive.' In her keynote address, Lebanese Minister of Social Affairs Haneen El Sayed called for systemic reforms to enable real economic equity. She stressed the importance of legal and structural support for women, noting, 'Our laws must serve everyone. That means gender-responsive labor regulations, flexible work options, and paternity leave that's more than a token—it's a right. It also means building affordable childcare so women can participate in the economy fully and fairly.' Certificates of completion were awarded to the graduates, as well as to OSB faculty members who contributed to the program: Leila Khauli, Dr. Hania Hammoud, Dr. Jessy Kfoury, Dr. Marwan Wahbi, and Dr. Neveen Ahmed. The event also featured a panel discussion titled 'Women's Work in Lebanon: Status, Challenges, and the Path Forward' that brought together thought leaders from academia, business, and the public sector, including Dr. Najat Aoun Saliba, member of the Lebanese Parliament; Professor Ali Fakih, chair of the Department of Economics at the Lebanese American University; Asmahan Zein, CEO of Ardi Ardak SAL; and Rima Freiji, chairwoman of Tanmia Lebanon and president of the Lebanese Private Sector Network. The panel opened with remarks by Professor Lama Moussawi, associate dean for research at OSB, who presented key statistics on male and female participation in both the formal and informal labor markets in Lebanon, the MENA region, and globally. 'This indicates the importance of giving informal employment specific attention and underscores the relevance of the project's goals and the Center for Women in Business' mission,' she remarked. Panelists reflected on the vital roles women play in sustaining their families and communities amid Lebanon's ongoing socioeconomic crisis. The conversation explored the challenges of visibility, recognition, and policy integration for women working informally. Dr. Najat Aoun Saliba articulated the need for action, stating: 'We have a long way to go, but we must start by acknowledging the women working informally—like the 20 QUDWA participants and many others—who are doing their best from home with limited resources. They serve our communities yet remain unseen. Academia, the public sector, and the private sector must come together to recognize and formalize their presence.' From an academic lens, Professor Ali Fakih provided regional context, noting: 'When comparing Lebanon to other MENA countries, we are below the regional average. Female participation in the informal sector across the MENA region averages around 68 percent, placing us below countries like Jordan.' Rima Freiji emphasized the importance of formalizing microbusinesses to protect Lebanon's formal economy. 'At the Lebanese Private Sector Network, our mission includes protecting the formal economy. We see widespread unfair and illegal practices—labor, business, and even criminal—fueled by a growing cash economy. Our challenge is to bridge the gap between informal and formal and explore actionable solutions,' she said. Closing the panel, Asmahan Zein expressed her belief in the strength of women as a catalyst for Lebanon's recovery: 'With the presence and support of women, Lebanon will overcome its struggles and rise to fulfill its potential.' The celebration concluded with the QUDWA Market at OSB, where graduates showcased their products, applying the branding, marketing, and customer engagement skills developed during the program.
Time Business News
01-08-2025
- Business
- Time Business News
Ravi Teja Avireneni Earns IFGICT Fellowship
In the highly specialized world of enterprise technology, a few individuals distinguish themselves not just through technical skill, but through a proven track record of innovation and leadership. Ravi Teja Avireneni is a prime example. With over a decade of experience dedicated to mastering complex systems, he has become a leading authority in Oracle Fusion Middleware, cloud infrastructure, and enterprise architecture. His remarkable career, spanning various Fortune 500 companies and industries like healthcare and telecommunications, has now been recognized with the highest honor from the International Federation of Global ICT (IFGICT): a prestigious IFGICT Fellowship. This fellowship is a powerful testament to Ravi Avireneni's profound impact. His professional journey is a masterclass in combining deep technical knowledge with strategic foresight. Throughout his career, he has been a driving force behind the design and support of highly available systems, ensuring business continuity in large-scale middleware infrastructures. From acting as a subject matter expert on Oracle Fusion Middleware to providing strategic guidance on application architecture, Ravi has consistently delivered solutions that bridge the gap between technical excellence and tangible business value. Ravi Avireneni's expertise is not confined to a single technology stack; rather, it is defined by a versatile and forward-thinking approach. His deep knowledge of Oracle Fusion Middleware components, including SOA Suite, OSB, BPEL, and OBIEE, has been the cornerstone of his career. He has spent years installing, configuring, tuning, and managing these environments, ensuring they perform at peak efficiency across various versions. A key highlight of his career has been his role in leading major cloud transformations. Ravi's proficiency in Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) and AWS has been instrumental in helping organizations modernize their technology stacks. A notable achievement was his leadership in a complex migration of Oracle Fusion Middleware components from OCI Classic to OCI Gen2. This successful transition showcased his ability to navigate the complexities of cloud-native architectures and implement robust, scalable solutions. In a world where speed and reliability are paramount, Ravi Avireneni has consistently championed automation and high-availability architecture. His technical toolkit includes infrastructure-as-code capabilities using Terraform and CloudFormation, along with extensive automation experience with tools like Jenkins, WLST, and Ansible. This expertise has been critical in streamlining deployments, reducing manual maintenance, and building resilient CI/CD pipelines that support both on-premises and cloud environments. He is also a master of performance optimization. His skills in JVM tuning, memory management, and WebLogic clustering have been crucial for maintaining system stability and ensuring optimal performance for enterprise applications. He has implemented robust monitoring strategies using tools like OEM 13c, Splunk, and AppDynamics, allowing for proactive system health management and quick resolution of critical incidents. His ability to build and manage highly available architectures, combined with his expertise in SSL/TLS configuration and SSO integration, has helped organizations fortify their systems against downtime and security vulnerabilities. The IFGICT Fellowship is the pinnacle of recognition in the global ICT community. It is awarded to professionals who have demonstrated significant contributions to advancing information and communication technology on a global scale. For Ravi Teja Avireneni, this prestigious honor acknowledges a career built on a foundation of technical excellence, strategic leadership, and tangible impact. This fellowship specifically recognizes his extensive experience in managing large-scale middleware infrastructures, his proven track record in reducing downtime, and his success in streamlining deployments through automation. It celebrates his leadership in complex cloud migrations, his ability to build resilient CI/CD pipelines, and his reputation for quickly resolving critical incidents. Furthermore, the IFGICT Fellowship honors his mentorship of junior engineers and his commitment to knowledge sharing, which has contributed to the broader technology community. It is a recognition of his ability to align technological improvements with critical business continuity goals. As Ravi Avireneni joins the distinguished ranks of IFGICT Fellows, his career stands as a powerful testament to the impact of combining deep technical expertise with strategic vision. His proficiency across a wide array of technologies—from C++ and Java to Python, modern cloud platforms, and automation tools—positions him as a leader perfectly equipped to navigate the ever-evolving technology landscape. The fellowship not only honors his past achievements in Oracle Fusion Middleware administration, cloud infrastructure, and enterprise architecture but also recognizes his potential for continued influence in shaping the future of enterprise technology. As organizations worldwide continue their journey toward digital transformation, the expertise and leadership of professionals like Ravi Teja Avireneni will be instrumental in driving innovation and operational excellence in the global ICT community. His journey from technical expert to a global leader is an inspiration, highlighting the importance of continuous learning, strategic thinking, and a relentless commitment to excellence. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Malaysian Reserve
16-07-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Georgia-Pacific Announces $191 Million CAD Capital Investment in Englehart OSB Mill
State-of-the-art facility improvements will reduce costs and downtime ENGLEHART, ON, July 15, 2025 /CNW/ — Georgia-Pacific today announces a new capital project for the company's Englehart OSB (Oriented Strand Board) mill in Ontario. The approximately $191 million CAD investment will fund a new log processing system and include the expansion and construction of a new finished goods warehouse. This investment comes as Englehart OSB celebrates its fifteenth anniversary as a Georgia-Pacific facility. The first board was produced at the mill in 1983. 'Georgia-Pacific is focused on the future and committed to exceeding the needs of our customers,' said David Neal, executive vice president, building products. 'This investment strengthens our operational capabilities and positions the Englehart mill for greater productivity in the years ahead. While we implement these improvements, the dedicated local team will continue operating the facility, ensuring we are able to meet current market demand.' 'By enhancing the log processing system and warehouse at the mill, we show our commitment to continuous improvement and our dedication to reinvesting in the mill, the town of Englehart, the surrounding communities, and our preferred partners,' said John Beers, president –structural panels. 'These improvements will continue our focus on staying competitive and ensures Englehart is an environmentally conscious, 21st century mill.' The processing system in an OSB mill takes raw wood materials and prepares them for producing OSB. This includes sorting logs, debarking, and cutting them into strands to prepare them for drying. Design and engineering work has started, and the project is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2027. About Georgia-Pacific Based in Atlanta, Georgia-Pacific and its subsidiaries are among the world's leading manufacturers and marketers of bath tissue, paper towels and napkins, tableware, paper-based packaging, cellulose and building products. Our familiar consumer brands include Angel Soft®, Brawny®, Dixie®, enMotion®, Quilted Northern®, Sparkle® and Vanity Fair®. Georgia-Pacific has long been a leading supplier of building products to lumber and building materials dealers and large do-it-yourself warehouse retailers. Its Georgia-Pacific Recycling subsidiary is among the world's largest traders of paper, metal and plastics. The company operates more than 150 facilities and employs approximately 30,000 people directly and creates more than 80,000 jobs indirectly. For more information, visit: For news, visit: Follow Georgia-Pacific on LinkedIn, Meta, Instagram, X and YouTube.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Georgia-Pacific Announces $140 Million USD Capital Investment in Englehart OSB Mill
State-of-the-art facility improvements will reduce costs and downtime ENGLEHART, ON, July 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia-Pacific today announces a new capital project for the company's Englehart OSB (Oriented Strand Board) mill in Ontario. The approximately $140 million USD ($191 million CAD) investment will fund a new log processing system and include the expansion and construction of a new finished goods warehouse. This investment comes as Englehart OSB celebrates its fifteenth anniversary as a Georgia-Pacific facility. The first board was produced at the mill in 1983. "Georgia-Pacific is focused on the future and committed to exceeding the needs of our customers," said David Neal, executive vice president, building products. "This investment strengthens our operational capabilities and positions the Englehart mill for greater productivity in the years ahead. While we implement these improvements, the dedicated local team will continue operating the facility, ensuring we are able to meet current market demand." "By enhancing the log processing system and warehouse at the mill, we show our commitment to continuous improvement and our dedication to reinvesting in the mill, the town of Englehart, the surrounding communities, and our preferred partners," said John Beers, president – structural panels. "These improvements will continue our focus on staying competitive and ensures Englehart is an environmentally conscious, 21st century mill." The processing system in an OSB mill takes raw wood materials and prepares them for producing OSB. This includes sorting logs, debarking, and cutting them into strands to prepare them for drying. Design and engineering work has started, and the project is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2027. About Georgia-PacificBased in Atlanta, Georgia-Pacific and its subsidiaries are among the world's leading manufacturers and marketers of bath tissue, paper towels and napkins, tableware, paper-based packaging, cellulose and building products. Our familiar consumer brands include Angel Soft®, Brawny®, Dixie®, enMotion®, Quilted Northern®, Sparkle® and Vanity Fair®. Georgia-Pacific has long been a leading supplier of building products to lumber and building materials dealers and large do-it-yourself warehouse retailers. Its Georgia-Pacific Recycling subsidiary is among the world's largest traders of paper, metal and plastics. The company operates more than 150 facilities and employs approximately 30,000 people directly and creates more than 80,000 jobs indirectly. For more information, visit: For news, visit: Follow Georgia-Pacific on LinkedIn, Meta, Instagram, X and YouTube. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Georgia-Pacific Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
