Connect with us

Technology

SIMONA AMERICA Group Advances Sustainability Commitments with SBTi Validation As Part of SIMONA AG

Published

on

Reduction of CO2 emissions by 42% by 2030 (Scope 1 and 2)SIMONA’s contribution to restricting global warming to 1.5 degreesSignificant milestone in the execution of SIMONA’s sustainability strategy

ATLANTA, Feb. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — SIMONA AMERICA Group, a subsidiary of SIMONA AG, is proud to announce that the company’s ambitious greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets have been officially validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). This milestone underscores SIMONA’s commitment to reducing its environmental footprint and contributing to the global effort to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

SIMONA first signed up to the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi) at the beginning of 2024. The rationale behind this move was to ensure an effective reduction in the company’s carbon footprint, while also making a positive contribution to global climate change mitigation. In joining the SBTi, SIMONA has taken responsibility for the environment and set itself long-term goals that are both quantifiable and based on scientific principles.

As part of these science-based targets, SIMONA has pledged to reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 42% in absolute terms by 2030, using 2022 as the baseline year. Additionally, the company has committed to reducing Scope 3 emissions from purchased goods and services by 51.6% per ton of manufactured product within the same timeframe. The SBTi has recognized these targets as ambitious and aligned with the latest climate science and objectives of the Paris Agreement.

“The SBTi’s confirmation of our climate targets is a significant achievement within our sustainability strategy. It illustrates that we are on the right track when it comes to making a genuine contribution to global climate change mitigation. Working closely with our partners and customers, we are doing everything in our power to achieve our goals in a determined and effective manner,” said Johannes Kappler, Head of Sustainability at SIMONA AG.

At SIMONA AMERICA Group, sustainability remains a top priority across all facilities, operations, and product offerings. Through the increased use of renewable energy, process efficiency improvements, and material innovation—including the expansion of the TERREFORM® line for the aerospace industry and the installation of more than 3,300 solar panels at the Archbald, PA facility—SIMONA AMERICA Group is actively contributing to the company’s broader carbon reduction goals.

“SIMONA has started its sustainability journey much like every other company—by gathering a baseline for carbon accounting,” said Autumn Werner, Sustainability Manager for SIMONA AMERICA Group. “However, with SBTi validation, we have also added accountability to ensure that our efforts lead to real emission reductions while supporting the global goal of restricting warming to 1.5 degrees.”

Werner further emphasized the importance of industry-wide collaboration in sustainability: “SIMONA’s work towards becoming sustainable doesn’t just stop at products—it extends to real efforts across all of our facilities to drive meaningful emission reductions. The SBTi validation keeps us on track and aligns us with the many other companies committed to measurable, science-based climate action.”

To achieve these ambitious targets, SIMONA AMERICA Group is implementing specific initiatives, including transitioning to green electricity, optimizing production processes, and increasing the use of sustainable raw materials. Additionally, efforts to integrate post-industrial and customer waste into new products further reinforce the company’s circular economy approach.

The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) was established in 2015 as a collaboration between the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), the United Nations Global Compact, the World Resources Institute (WRI), and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). It provides companies with the framework to set rigorous emissions reduction targets in line with the latest climate science.

As SIMONA AMERICA Group continues to advance its sustainability strategy, the company remains committed to meaningful, science-backed actions that drive measurable impact for the environment and the industries it serves.

About SIMONA AMERICA Group

SIMONA AMERICA Group is a diversified manufacturer of high-quality thermoplastic products designed to provide innovative solutions and world-class customer service throughout the United States. As a subsidiary of SIMONA AG, the company is dedicated to sustainability, excellence, and advancing material technologies across multiple industries.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/simona-america-group-advances-sustainability-commitments-with-sbti-validation-as-part-of-simona-ag-302370366.html

SOURCE SIMONA AMERICA Group

Continue Reading

Technology

AmeriTrust Solutions Expands Point-of-Care Medicaid Application Support to All 50 States

Published

on

By

Available today, the platform gives hospitals and RCM partners a practical way to help eligible patients pursue coverage without a major IT project.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — AmeriTrust Solutions today announced that its Medicaid application platform is available across all 50 U.S. states. As hospitals and revenue cycle management (RCM) partners prepare for Medicaid changes under H.R.1, the platform gives them a practical way to help eligible patients pursue coverage and address uncompensated care at the point of care.

The platform addresses a source of uncompensated care that begins before billing: patients who may qualify for Medicaid but never complete an application. By simplifying the process when the need for coverage is immediate, AmeriTrust Solutions helps patients overcome application barriers and gives hospitals a path to reimbursement for care that might otherwise be written off.

The scale of the problem is substantial: U.S. community hospitals provided $42.7 billion in uncompensated care in 2020, according to the American Hospital Association.

Uninsured encounters are often written off as uncompensated care, even when patients may qualify for Medicaid. Long applications, confusing questions and information patients struggle to gather can stand between them and coverage, leaving hospitals without payment for care that could otherwise qualify for reimbursement.

“Hospitals already know what uncompensated care is costing them,” said Peter Justen, founder and CEO of AmeriTrust Solutions. “They need a practical way to help eligible patients get covered and create a path to payment for the care they provide. That starts with an application patients can actually finish.”

AmeriTrust Solutions uses verified third-party data to prefill available information and plain-language questions to guide patients through what remains. Patients review and certify their information before submission through the state’s existing process. The state makes every eligibility decision.

Available today, the platform is designed for straightforward deployment alongside existing hospital workflows, without a major IT project or replacement of state eligibility systems. Hospitals can begin submitting applications as soon as the platform is live, creating the potential for Medicaid reimbursement within weeks, depending on state eligibility decisions and claims processing. Hospitals can offer the experience under their own brand, giving existing teams a straightforward way to help patients complete applications at intake or the bedside.

RCM partners can add this capability to their hospital offering without developing Medicaid application technology internally. That gives them another way to support hospital clients serving uninsured and self-pay patients, with a focus on helping more applications reach submission.

As healthcare organizations evaluate AI and other new technologies, AmeriTrust Solutions puts the emphasis on a clear, guided application process and the value it can deliver. The platform uses verified information, relevant questions and applicant review to make a complex administrative task more manageable.

“The questions hospital leaders are asking are straightforward: What will this do for us, and how soon can we put it to work?” Justen said. “Our focus is helping patients complete applications now, so hospitals can begin addressing the coverage gaps that contribute to uncompensated care.”

Hospitals and RCM partners can learn more about the platform and discuss deployment at ameritrustsolutions.com/.

About AmeriTrust Solutions
AmeriTrust Solutions helps hospitals and RCM partners reduce uncompensated care by simplifying Medicaid applications at the point of care. Verified data prefill and guided questions help patients complete more accurate applications for submission through existing state eligibility processes. By reducing administrative burden and helping eligible patients access coverage, the company creates a clearer path to reimbursement—supporting rural hospital financial stability and helping preserve local access to care. Visit https://ameritrustsolutions.com/

Media contact
Tina Burgess
AmeriTrust Solutions
(202) 770-0272
pr@ameritrustsolutions.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ameritrust-solutions-expands-point-of-care-medicaid-application-support-to-all-50-states-302917246.html

SOURCE AmeriTrust Solutions

Continue Reading

Technology

University of Phoenix highlights career-focused, transfer credit-friendly degree programs

Published

on

By

University data highlights affordability as students apply transfer credits toward business, management, healthcare, technology and other career-focused degree programs while reducing education costs

PHOENIX, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — University of Phoenix is recognizing National Transfer Student Week by highlighting the degree programs receiving the highest volumes of transfer credits, demonstrating how adult learners are benefiting from affordability, transparency and certainty as they apply previously earned academic credit toward career-focused degrees. Many of these programs align with occupational fields projected for growth by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, underscoring how students are building on prior academic achievements while pursuing educational pathways connected to workforce needs.

According to University transfer-credit data for the past year, students applied more than 525,000 accepted transfer credits to the Bachelor of Science in Management program and more than 275,000 accepted transfer credits to the Bachelor of Science in Business program. University data also shows associate and bachelor students saved an average of more than $12,010 through transferred credits, excluding military students, underscoring the role transfer pathways can play in making higher education more affordable.

“Transfer credit can help students do more than save time and money,” said Devin Andrews, vice president, Office of Admissions and Evaluations. “It can help them continue making progress toward degrees that align with their professional goals. By recognizing eligible transfer credit, we help students build on what they have already accomplished and focus on the education and skills needed for the next phase of their careers.”

As University of Phoenix celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2026, the institution is reflecting five decades of helping working adults build on previous academic achievement and professional experience rather than start over. Today, transfer-credit pathways remain an important part of that mission, helping eligible students reduce costs while pursuing degrees aligned with career goals.

Students apply transfer credits across career-focused degree programs

University transfer-credit data shows students are applying significant volumes of transfer credit toward degree programs aligned with business, management, healthcare, public service and technology careers.

Programs receiving the highest volumes of accepted transfer credits include:

Bachelor of Science in Management: 525,085 accepted transfer credits and 447,622 applied transfer credits.Bachelor of Science in Business: 275,745 accepted transfer credits and 243,281 applied transfer credits.Bachelor of Science in Health Administration: 165,159 accepted transfer credits.Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration: 159,810 accepted transfer credits and 139,898 applied transfer credits.Bachelor of Science in Information Technology: 140,604 accepted transfer credits.Bachelor of Science in Social Work: 135,583 accepted transfer credits.

These programs represent areas where students are frequently building on previously earned academic credits as they continue toward degree completion and career goals.

University of Phoenix transfer student Joshua Barron decided to earn his degree while working full time and raising his child. “I have always had a goal of earning my bachelor’s degree,” said Barron, who came to the University with previous college credit. “I transferred credits from another college and used self-paced provider options to accelerate my progress. What started as a goal became a clear path toward achieving the degree I wanted for my future.”

Affordable degree pathways align with growing workforce needs

Several of the University’s most popular transfer-friendly programs align with occupations projected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to experience faster-than-average employment growth through 2034. Management occupations, Healthcare occupations, and Information Technology occupations all fall into high-growth categories according to BLS projections.

Learn more about transfer-credit opportunities

Students interested in learning how previously earned credits may apply toward a degree program can learn more here.

About University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix is Built for Real Life. 50 Years Strong. The University innovates to help working adults enhance their careers and develop skills in a rapidly changing world through flexible online learning, relevant courses, academic AI pillars, and skills-mapped curriculum for associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. Active students and alumni have access to Career Services for Life® resources including career guidance and tools. For more information, visit phoenix.edu.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/university-of-phoenix-highlights-career-focused-transfer-credit-friendly-degree-programs-302917249.html

SOURCE University of Phoenix

Continue Reading

Technology

/C O R R E C T I O N – Verisave/

Published

on

By

In the news release, Verisave appoints Payments Veteran Chris Lefebvre as Chief Executive Officer to Drive Product Development and Growth, issued 22-Oct-2026 by Verisave over PR Newswire, we are advised by the company that changes have been made. The complete, corrected release follows, with additional details at the end:

Verisave appoints Payments Veteran Chris Lefebvre as Chief Executive Officer to Drive Product Development and Growth

SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Verisave, a leading provider of payments optimization solutions, today announced the appointment of Chris Lefebvre as Chief Executive Officer, effective October 1, 2026. Lefebvre, who joins from Fiserv, succeeds Jeremy Layton, who will transition into the role of Founder and Chief Commercial Officer to ensure strategic continuity.

Lefebvre brings more than 30 years of executive leadership across payments, financial services and technology, with a track record of guiding companies through growth, transformation and successful exits. He led financial services for a major retailer and was selected to serve on the Merchant Advisory Board for the card networks. As COO of BankServ, he led the company’s national expansion and its successful exit. Lefebvre has since held C-suite roles at eCommerce sales and marketing companies, after which he founded CRC, a management and strategy consulting firm serving regulated companies in healthcare, energy and financial services. Most recently, he served as Global Head of Relationship Management for Grocery, Petroleum, and Technology at Fiserv, and was instrumental in reshaping their client engagement strategy.

“I am extremely proud of the work Verisave has done over the years,” said Jeremy Layton, Verisave Founder and Chief Commercial Officer. “I am confident in our ability to continue bringing solutions and transparency to an industry that is largely unregulated and highly complex. Our clients increasingly need better solutions to control costs and manage their payments proactively. Chris brings deep payments expertise and a track record of building products and solutions around this need.”

“Verisave has built something rare: a trusted platform that delivers real and measurable value for its clients,” said Chris Lefebvre. “What drew me to the role is how much opportunity lies ahead, both in deepening our core solutions and expanding our reach across the broader financial ecosystem. I’m energized by the prospect of working with such a talented team as we look to accelerate Verisave’s growth and bring even greater value to our clients.”

About Verisave
Verisave is a payments optimization and consultancy firm, specializing in merchant account, payments stack, processing fee, and interchange fee solutions. Verisave identifies wasted spend and inefficiencies within the payments operations and merchant account settings, bringing significant direct and operational cost savings to clients. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, the company is backed by Ceto Capital. Learn more at verisave.com

Media Contact:
Samuel Barber
sam@pitchr.ai

Correction: A headshot of Chris Lefebvre has been added.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/verisave-appoints-payments-veteran-chris-lefebvre-as-chief-executive-officer-to-drive-product-development-and-growth-302917253.html

SOURCE Verisave

Continue Reading

Trending