Latest news with #Rodewald
Business Wire
06-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
EY US Unveils Liza Rodewald, CEO of Instant Teams, as an Entrepreneur Of The Year
RALEIGH, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ernst & Young LLP has announced the finalists for the prestigious Entrepreneur Of The Year 2025 Southeast Award. Military Spouse CX Teams that make Brands Stronger. Share Liza Rodewald, CEO of Instant Teams, is recognized for redefining CX talent solutions and how modern, remote CX teams are built—empowering brands through a cutting-edge marketplace that combines technology, community, and purpose. An independent panel of judges selected Liza Rodewald among 36 finalists for their entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, growth and lasting impact in building long-term value. 'We've reimagined how brands connect with CX talent—specifically military spouse professionals,' said Rodewald. 'We are a strategic partner to companies focused on rethinking how talent is identified and activated, proving that when you leverage both technology and community, social impact and business performance go hand in hand.' Entrepreneur Of The Year honors bold, innovative founders like Liza who've raised capital to scale their companies and transformed industries and communities through entrepreneurial vision. Regional award winners will be announced on June 25 during a special celebration in Atlanta, GA and will become lifetime members of an esteemed community of Entrepreneur Of The Year alumni from around the world. Sponsors Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards include presenting sponsors PNC Bank, Cresa, LLC, Marsh USA, and SAP. In the Southeast, sponsors also include VACO, LLC as the regional Platinum sponsor; ADP and King & Spalding as the regional Gold sponsors; and Babbit Bodner as the regional Silver sponsor. About EY // Entrepreneur Of The Year EY is building a better working world by creating new value for clients, people, society and the planet, while building trust in capital markets. Founded in 1986, Entrepreneur Of The Year has celebrated more than 11,000 ambitious visionaries who are leading successful, dynamic businesses in the US, and it has since expanded to nearly 60 countries globally. About Instant Teams Instant Teams is a CX Talent Marketplace. Through its comprehensive suite of solutions—including BPO and outsourcing services (with temp-to-perm options), a targeted job board, and brand marketing opportunities—Instant Teams delivers high-performing CX teams that strengthen brands. Committed to its mission, the company empowers military families by providing remote CX employment opportunities that enhance financial wellness and career growth.
Reuters
13-03-2025
- Science
- Reuters
Many US bird species seen as reaching population 'tipping point'
Summary Duck populations have trended downward in recent years Trouble is seen across various habitats for birds in US Water birds such as herons and egrets show increases WASHINGTON, March 13 (Reuters) - U.S. bird populations are experiencing alarming declines due to factors such as habitat loss and climate change, according to a new report identifying 112 species that have reached a "tipping point," including 42 with perilously low numbers and steep downward trends. Even duck populations, which have been considered a conservation success story, have trended downward in recent years, though they are still higher than 1970 levels, according to the report, released on Thursday by a group of science and conservation organizations. here. The report looked at 718 species using population data such as the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's eBird Status and Trends project, the U.S. Geological Survey's Breeding Bird Survey and National Audubon Society avian counts. "Roughly one in three bird species (229 species) in the U.S. requires urgent conservation attention, and these species represent the major habitats and systems in the U.S. and include species that we've long considered to be common and abundant," said Amanda Rodewald, faculty director of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Center for Avian Population Studies. The report identified species that have reached a "tipping point," having lost more than 50% of their numbers within the past half-century. Among those, it listed 33 "yellow alert" species with long-term population losses but relatively stable recent trends, 37 "orange alert" species with long-term losses that accelerated within the past decade and 42 "red alert" species with dangerously low numbers and precipitous declines. Some of these red alert species included the mottled duck, Allen's hummingbird, yellow-billed loon, red-faced cormorant, greater sage-grouse, Florida scrub jay, Baird's sparrow, saltmarsh sparrow, mountain plover, Hawaiian petrel, Bicknell's thrush, Cassia crossbill, pink-footed shearwater, tricolored blackbird and golden-cheeked warbler. Some of these birds already have protections under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. "Habitat loss and degradation remain the most important contributors to declines of birds and other species," Rodewald said. Other factors cited in population declines included climate change, invasive species, pollution, and bird collisions, for instance with wind turbine blades and buildings. The report found that avian populations are decreasing in almost every habitat, including grasslands and arid regions. Shorebirds are the group with the most "tipping point" species, at 19. "It represents a huge biodiversity loss," said Michael Parr, president of the American Bird Conservancy. "The only bright spot is water birds such as herons and egrets that show some increases," Parr added. Some examples of common birds now in decline include the chimney swift, wood thrush, grasshopper sparrow, eastern meadowlark, common grackle, barn swallow, blackpoll warbler, herring gull and bobolink. "We have brought bird populations back from the brink before and we can do it again," said Marshall Johnson, the National Audubon Society's chief conservation officer, pointing to the bald eagle as an example of conservation success. "Not only do birds play an important role in our ecosystems, they're also incredibly important parts of our lives," he said. "Protecting birds is good for the environment, local economies, and it's good for people."
Euronews
10-03-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Why is far-right AfD dominating in northeast Germany?
In the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the far-right Alternative for Germany party surged in popularity during the recent snap elections. Euronews examines why. ADVERTISEMENT Germany's snap elections, which took place just two weeks ago, saw the far-right party, Alternative for Germany (AfD), win its best-ever result. In the north-eastern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the AfD was the strongest party. In Pasewalk, it won 40.4% of the votes. The quaint city, dotted with a mix of traditional houses and prefabricated flats constructed between World War II and German reunification, is some 90 minutes by train from downtown Berlin. It's quiet and immaculately clean, with a lot of care put into community activities. The residents all know each other and are jovial and friendly. Yet the mayor of Pasewalk, Danny Rodewald, tells Euronews that people in the region feel unheard at a federal level. "As small municipalities in our region, we are underfunded. We need better financial support," he said. Rodewald said recreational facilities are lacking in the city, which is home to around 10,000 residents, many of whom are over 60. While schools, healthcare facilities and hospitals are well developed, he says more investment, including into new housing, is needed. "As a small regional centre, we need support in housing construction — not just social housing, but also regular, commercial housing development. Because I would like to attract city dwellers to move here to the countryside," he explained. Rodewald is keen to stress that the city offers a decent quality of life and that while the AfD won twice the amount of votes at 35% than the second strongest party, the CDU at 17.7%, it doesn't mean that residents are unhappy with their lives. The small city of Pasewalk Liv Stroud Federal vs local governments The snap election at the end of February was for the federal government, which is separate from the state level. Residents in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern told Euronews that they wanted to see an end to the war because they didn't understand why taxpaying money was being spent on weapons for Ukraine when homeless Germans were lacking support and food prices had exploded. These decisions are made at a federal level and not the state one. "I think there are quite a few citizens who are dissatisfied, but not necessarily with local politics. This was a federal election, and you can't directly apply those results to Pasewalk," chairperson of the local Social Democratic (SPD) association and lawyer, Michael Ammon, told Euronews. "And yes, there are certainly things that haven't gone as they should have, and that's why citizens have unfortunately turned away from the major parties," he added. Ammon says that the new government, when it is formed, need to do all it can to revive the economy. "That's difficult enough because there are some factors we simply cannot control. The war in Ukraine, for example, we cannot influence that directly. Prices must come down, bureaucracy must be reduced, and hopefully, that will be achieved," he explained. ADVERTISEMENT Ammon says that if the centre-left SPD and centre-right CDU, who are in the process of discussing forming a coalition, manage to put policies in place to solve Germany's economic crisis, "the AfD, with the rest of their policies, won't really appeal to the voters who supported them this time." Cities vs rural areas A record 75% of Groß Luckow voted for AfD, the most in all of Germany. The village of 200 residents lies far away from amenities such as shops and is a 15-minute drive from Pasewalk. Many of the villages in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern are isolated. One resident, Detlef, a farmer who plans to retire later this year, is pleased with the rise of the AfD. "The AfD is doing well. But whether anything will come of it, something has to happen. For years, we've only been deceived and cheated here. Promises, always more promises," Detlef told Euronews as he tended to his garden. ADVERTISEMENT "But nothing is actually promised. Prices for all kinds of food have become so expensive." Groß Luckow Liv Stroud "The AfD here, they want things to be better. They want foreigners out — people who don't belong here. What are they doing here? They just take our money. They don't want to work. They get apartments, everything is handed to them, while in the big cities, we have homeless people," he added. Detlef is critical of the governments, especially the previous CDU and SPD governments, and hopes that if AfD comes into power, things will change. The AfD has already taken down the election posters in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, whilst other parties such as the Greens, CDU, and liberal Free Democrats (FDP) have not. ADVERTISEMENT Enrico Komning, is an AfD directly-elected member of parliament for Groß Luckow, has told Euronews in a written statement that a shortage of skilled workers, high taxes and energy costs, poor infrastructure and bureaucracy is crippling the region. "Structurally weak regions like eastern Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania rely primarily on small and medium-sized businesses, often with only a handful of employees," Komning said, adding that the area is economically reliant on tourism along the coast in its district of lakes, agriculture and skilled trades. He also blamed poor infrastructure for the lack of economic development, pointing to incomplete motorway construction linking cities and larger cities in the area that are still not connected by high-speed trains. "It is unacceptable that in 2025 we still have to talk about dead spots in large parts of rural areas," Komning pointed out. ADVERTISEMENT "In September 2026, there will be state elections in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. There is a great opportunity for a change of policy," he said. For now, the pressure will be on for the new German government to revive the economy, especially if they want to bring voters back to the established parties.
