Exceptional volunteers and youth recognized for their resilience, leadership and life-changing relationships

TAMPA, Fla., June 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA), the preeminent one-to-one youth mentoring organization in the United States, announced the recipients of the 2026 Big and Little of the Year awards during the organization’s annual National Conference in Atlanta, Georgia on June 18.

Selected from thousands of mentoring matches across the country, the 2026 honorees exemplify the transformative impact of one-to-one mentorship and the power of consistent, supportive relationships.

The 2026 BBBSA Bigs and Littles of the Year are:

Jaleesa (Big) and Jaime (Little) from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana

Jaime and Jaleesa’s match began during a difficult period in Jaime’s life following the traumatic loss of her father. Seeking additional support for her daughter, Jaime’s mother enrolled her in Big Brothers Big Sisters, which matched her with Jaleesa. Over the years, their relationship has evolved into a deep sisterhood rooted in trust, encouragement, and shared growth.

“Jaleesa is literally my big sister,” Jaime shared. “She has always been there. She’s always been a constant.”

Jaleesa’s mentorship helped Jaime navigate her grief and inspired her to discover new experiences and pursue ambitious goals for her future. Jaime now plans to attend Indiana University to study astronomy and accounting with aspirations of becoming an astronaut. She credits her Big Sister and the BBBSA organization with helping open doors to internships, professional mentorship opportunities and personal growth.

“What I would say to Jaleesa to thank her for her time with me is that I couldn’t really express it into words,” Jaime said. “Her presence alone just makes me happy.”

For Jaleesa, becoming a Big Sister was deeply personal. Raised by a single mother and surrounded by supportive adults who helped shape her own childhood, she wanted to provide that same sense of stability and encouragement to another young person.

“I wanted to be someone that she could turn to and trust,” Jaleesa said. “I think we’ve really grown together.”

Matt (Big) and Sterling (Little) from Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area matched Matt and Sterling when Sterling was just eight years old. Shortly after they met Sterling was diagnosed with leukemia, dramatically reshaping the early days of their relationship. Throughout hospital stays, treatments and recovery, Matt remained a steady presence in Sterling’s life.

“When I was first diagnosed with leukemia, Matt would always come visit and hang out and play games with me in the hospital,” Sterling said. “It felt like I had a buddy there with me.”

Playing video games in hospital rooms, talking through life’s challenges and learning to play baseball together, the two built a bond grounded in consistency, trust and friendship. Years later, their story had a full circle moment when Matt underwent brain surgery and Sterling was able to support him through the experience.

“It was really sweet to see how he wanted to care for me,” Matt said. “I’m really proud for both of us to be out on the other side.”

Over nearly a decade together as Big and Little, Matt and Sterling have supported one another through milestones, hardships and personal growth.

Sterling says the relationship helped him build confidence, strengthen his social skills and become the person he is today.

“One word I would use to describe Matt is longevity,” Sterling said. “He’s always been there for me.”

Matt encourages others considering mentorship to simply take the first step.

“Mentorship doesn’t mean always having the right answer,” Matt said. “It just means showing up.”

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America presents these prestigious awards annually to celebrate outstanding mentoring matches that embody the organization’s mission. These two pairs join a distinguished legacy of Bigs and Littles whose stories demonstrate how consistent, caring relationships can overcome profound challenges and open pathways to brighter futures for both youth and the adults who mentor them

“The mentoring relationships showcased in our Bigs and Littles of the Year represent the very best of our mission,” said Artis Stevens, President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. “Jaleesa, Jaime, Matt and Sterling show us that mentorship is the power of one caring adult showing up with unwavering belief and commitment to empowering young people. Their stories remind us of the importance of expanding access to these life-changing connections so every young person can experience the joy, hope and possibility that comes from knowing someone is truly in their corner.” 

About Big Brothers Big Sisters of America

Founded in 1904, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA) is the largest and most experienced youth mentoring organization in the United States. The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. Big Brothers Big Sisters’ evidence-based approach is designed to create positive youth outcomes, including educational success, avoidance of risky behaviors, higher aspirations, greater confidence, and improved relationships. Big Brothers Big Sisters serves more than 5,000 communities across all 50 states.

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SOURCE Big Brothers Big Sisters of America

Appoints industry veteran Michael Zacka as Interim Chief Executive Officer, Robert Villaquiran retiring after 42 years in packaging industry

Initiates search process to identify next CEO

LONDON, June 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Klöckner Pentaplast (“kp” or the “Company”) today announced that Michael Zacka, a current member of the Company’s Board of Directors, has been appointed Interim Chief Executive Officer, effective June 22, 2026. He succeeds Roberto Villaquiran, who has decided to retire from the Company after 42 years in the packaging industry. The Board has initiated a search to identify the next CEO.

Mr. Zacka is a highly experienced global executive with more than three decades of leadership across the consumer goods, packaging and industrial sectors. He brings a strong track record of driving value creation through commercial and operational excellence, innovation, productivity and talent development.

“Over the past year, kp has transformed its balance sheet, establishing a strong financial foundation and enhancing its ability to better meet the evolving needs of its customers,” said Andrew Berlin, Chairman of the Board. “The Company’s next CEO will be responsible for building on our momentum and leveraging our competitive advantages to drive continued innovation for customers worldwide. As this search proceeds, we are fortunate to be able to tap into Michael’s strong record of leadership and driving meaningful value creation. Looking ahead, our team remains fully focused on deepening collaboration with customers and partners across the value chain to advance a differentiated portfolio of sustainable, high-performance packaging and film solutions and reinforce our leadership position in the industry.”

Mr. Berlin continued, “On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Roberto for his contributions to kp, particularly his leadership in guiding our teams through the Company’s restructuring process and helping position the business for its next chapter. We wish him all the best in his future endeavours.”

“I am honoured to serve as Interim CEO and appreciate the Board’s confidence and support at this critical time for kp,” said Mr. Zacka. “As we continue to move the Company forward and unlock its full potential, I am eager to roll up my sleeves alongside the leadership team to execute our value creation strategy rooted in operational excellence and differentiated customer service and innovation.”

About Michael Zacka

Michael Zacka is a global C-Suite leader with more than 30 years of leadership experience across the consumer goods, packaging and industrial sectors. He most recently served as President of EMEA and Asia Pacific at Amcor plc, where he oversaw a portfolio business exceeding €5 billion in revenue across more than 30 countries, 80 manufacturing sites, with over 19,000 employees.

Mr. Zacka has a proven track record of driving transformation and shareholder value through operational excellence, innovation, and disciplined capital allocation, including leading major restructurings, M&A integrations, and divestitures. Previously, as Amcor’s Chief Commercial Officer, he led global commercial and sustainability strategies, helping position the company as an industry leader in recyclable and reusable packaging.

Prior to Amcor, Michael held senior leadership roles at Tetra Pak across North America and Asia Pacific. He serves on the board and audit committee of Nouryon and holds a Bachelor of Business from Griffith University, along with executive education from IMD and Ashridge Business School.

About Klöckner Pentaplast 

Focused on delivering its vision: The Sustainable Protection of Everyday Needs, kp is a global leader in rigid and flexible packaging and specialty film solutions, serving the pharmaceutical, medical device, food, beverage and card markets, amongst others. With a broad and innovative portfolio of packaging and product films and services, kp plays an integral role in the customer value chain by safeguarding product integrity, assuring safety and consumer health, improving sustainability, and protecting brand reputation. kp’s “Investing in Better” sustainability strategy solidifies its commitment to achieving ten clear targets for long-term improvement by increasing the recycling and recyclability of products, cutting carbon emissions and continuous improvement in employee engagement, safety, and diversity, equity and inclusion.

For five consecutive years, kp has held a gold rating from EcoVadis, the leading platform for environmental, social and ethical performance ratings. This ranks kp in the top 1% of companies rated in the manufacturing of plastics products sector.

Founded in 1965, kp has 27 plants in 16 countries and employs over 5,000 people committed to serving customers worldwide in over 60 locations. kp is proud to have celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2025.

For more information visit: www.kpfilms.com

Media contacts:
Hilary Barnes
Group Director, Global Communications
kpinfo@kpfilms.com

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SOURCE Klöckner Pentaplast

New research warns of $143 billion in revenue at risk in the U.S. alone, as clients expect AI-driven value from providersCompanies at risk of losing 24% of talent within two years if their firms fail to deliver on AIAt the same time, one third of lawyers, accountants and compliance professionals are using unsanctioned AI, creating invisible risks organizations cannot monitor or control

TORONTO, June 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Thomson Reuters (Nasdaq/TSX:TRI), a global content and technology company, today released its 2026 Future of Professionals report which warns of the financial cost of failing to effectively implement AI across the legal, tax and audit and risk professions. The findings, based on a global survey of 1,800 professionals, show a widening gap between AI ambition and reality, one that is now carrying material consequences with up to $143 billion in client revenue at risk in the U.S. alone* and talent considering leaving.

“We’re seeing a clear divide emerge,” said Steve Hasker, President and CEO of Thomson Reuters. “Firms that are operationalizing AI are pulling ahead. Those that aren’t are starting to take on real risk, across talent, clients, and financial performance. Closing that execution gap is now a business imperative for professional firms.”

AI adoption is not the issue. 74% of professionals are already using AI tools every week, but organizations are struggling to translate that usage into real value. In fact, 91% of professionals believe their organizations are falling short of what AI can deliver, leading to unintended consequences such as one-third of lawyers, accountants, and compliance professionals saying they turn to unsanctioned tools, creating invisible, unmanaged risk.

Even where an AI strategy exists, execution is lagging: 35% say ambitions are not reflected in their day-to-day work, and nearly one in five say their organization still lacks a clear strategy. This gap between promise and reality is beginning to affect talent, with one in four professionals saying they would consider leaving within two years if they don’t see the value they expect. Clients are reaching the same conclusion: 78% now see AI-enabled quality improvements as essential, yet just 6% believe most providers are delivering. As a result, nearly a third are preparing to reassess those provider relationships within the next 12 months.

These pressures are building faster than many leaders recognize, and are showing up in three interconnected areas:

Shadow AI is creating risk exposure

A third of lawyers, accountants and compliance professionals are using AI their organization has not approved, rising to 41% among those who say their organization is moving too slowly on AI.96% say their AI must safeguard confidential data, 94% require verified authoritative content, and 90% need outputs they can explain and defend.Yet 41% lack access to professional-grade tools that meet these standards.

 Talent is leaving

One in four professionals (24%) who are experiencing a gap between what AI technology is capable of, and what their organization is delivering are considering leaving within two years; and 13% within 12 months.Yet almost half of senior leaders believe meaningful talent pressure is still at least three years away.62% say access to professional-grade AI would be a factor in accepting a new role. Among those already using it, nearly one in three would turn a role down without it.

Clients are not waiting

78% of corporate clients now consider AI-enabled quality improvements very important or essential, yet just 6% say most of their providers deliver it.Within 12 months, 32% will be reconsidering provider relationships, with a third putting more than $1 million in annual work at risk, amounting to a combined ~$143 billion in U.S. legal and accounting revenue under active reconsideration based on AI delivery.

“Not all AI is created equal. In professions where there is real liability, the standard has to be much higher,” said Steve Hasker, President and CEO of Thomson Reuters. “When outputs shape legal judgments, regulatory filings, or client advice, ‘almost right’ isn’t good enough. That’s why we build what we call Fiduciary‑Grade AI, technology professionals can verify, trust, and ultimately stand behind.” 

Read the full Future of Professionals report 2026 here.

The technology is ready. The gap is in execution, and the benchmark is now accountability. Thomson Reuters defines this as Fiduciary-Grade™ AI, built on authoritative, domain‑specific content; rigorous privacy and security; subject-matter expertise; outputs that are transparent and verifiable; and access to real-time human support.

About Thomson Reuters
Thomson Reuters (TSX/Nasdaq: TRI) informs the way forward by bringing together the trusted content and technology that people and organizations need to make the right decisions. The company serves professionals across legal, tax, accounting, compliance, government, and media. Its products combine highly specialized software and insights to empower professionals with the data, intelligence, and solutions needed to make informed decisions, and to help institutions in their pursuit of justice, truth, and transparency. Reuters, part of Thomson Reuters, is a world leading provider of trusted journalism and news. For more information, visit thomsonreuters.com.

About the Future of Professionals Report 2026
Now in its fourth year, the Thomson Reuters Future of Professionals Report is an annual study of how technology is reshaping professional work. The findings in the 2026 report are based on a global survey of 1,816 professionals across law, tax, audit, accounting, compliance, risk, and global trade, conducted in March – April 2026. Respondents span private practice firms as well as in-house corporate and government departments across 62 countries. For more information visit http://www.thomsonreuters.com/en/institute/future-of-professionals-2026/report.  

Notes to Editors
* According to Future of Professionals data, within 12 months, 32% of corporate clients will be reconsidering their professional service provider relationships, with a third saying this will put more than $1 million in annual work at risk. Applied to the U.S. legal and CPA markets, this puts a combined ~$143 billion in client revenue in active reconsideration.

Media Contact
Samina Ansari, Corporate Communications
Samina.ansari@thomsonreuters.com

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SOURCE Thomson Reuters