Tag: business

IGT Fuels Educational Technology Growth

Young students from the IGT After School Advantage Centre at Dunrobin Primary School eagerly gather around a drone and meteorological equipment, engaging in hands-on learning about technology, weather forecasting, and environmental science at The UWI Faculty of Science and Technology’s Science Festival.

“Inever thought I could be a scientist until today,” whispered an awestruck student as she programmed a robot for the first time at The University of the West Indies (UWI) Science Festival. Her experience, alongside 49 other students from underserved communities, was made possible through International Game Technology’s (IGT) strategic investment in Caribbean educational technology (EdTech). The company strategically chose March 14 — Albert Einstein’s birthday and worldwide Science Education Day — for the students’ attendance, adding symbolic weight to an already transformative experience.

“EdTech is revolutionising education, and IGT is proud to be at the forefront of this transformation. Sponsoring ASA students for The UWI Science Festival is part of our broader mission to integrate technology into learning and create sustainable pathways for success,” said Debbie Green, general manager of IGT Jamaica.

After School Advantage (ASA) is the company’s flagship community initiative, devoted to providing youth with access to technology at digital learning centres in communities where IGT operates. The programme ensures students have access to participate in science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) educational opportunities while developing the knowledge and skills for the jobs of tomorrow. Since 2011, IGT and its subsidiaries have opened 40 ASA computer labs across the English-speaking Caribbean. As part of the company’s ongoing commitment to supporting its global communities, IGT aims to continually enhance the technological awareness of students and prepare them to contribute to the social and infrastructural development of the Caribbean.

The UWI Science Festival serves as a platform for students to engage with cutting-edge technologies and scientific concepts through interactive experiences. Professor Tannecia Stephenson, deputy dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology and lead on the Science Festival, emphasised the impact of IGT’s support.“IGT’s support enables more students, particularly in underserved schools, to participate in the Science Festival’s immersive STEM experiences. Through experiments, tours, and expert talks, students gain exposure to science applications and career paths. This investment nurtures future innovators poised to create solutions for global and regional challenges,” she said.

The festival is aligned with The UWI’s strategic approach to education and innovation.“The UWI’s Triple A strategy — Access, Alignment, and Agility — guides its approach to STEM education and innovation. The festival highlights research, industry partnerships, and technologies, engaging students from Jamaica and the Caribbean. This aligns with initiatives like the BOOST Scholarship programme for science teachers in underserved schools and the ‘FiWi Science’ initiative, which celebrates Jamaica’s scientific culture and legacy,” Professor Stephenson explained.

IGT’s sponsorship enables students from diverse backgrounds to access educational experiences that might otherwise be beyond their reach. By exposing them to emerging technologies and scientific advancements, the company is playing a crucial role in shaping the future workforce of the Caribbean.

“By exposing students to emerging technologies and scientific advancements, we are nurturing a generation of critical thinkers and problem solvers who will drive the Caribbean’s technological evolution,” Green added.

Through this partnership, IGT and The UWI are not only enhancing students’ technical skills but alsofostering an entrepreneurial mindset that will be essential for success in an increasingly digital economy. The initiative exemplifies how private sector involvement in education can accelerate the adoption of EdTech solutions and create opportunities for sustainable development across the region.

International Game Technology (IGT) Jamaica General Manager Debbie Green lifts a young student from the IGT After School Advantage Centre at Dunrobin Primary School for a closer look through a powerful telescope during the festival. Surrounded by his fellow students, this hands-on experience nurtures students’ love for astronomy and inspires the next generation to explore the wonders of the universe.

GAP effects leadership changes at Kingston airport

Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (GAP), operators of the Norman Manley and Sangster international airports and the PAC Kingston Airport Limited (PACKAL), has effected significant leadership changes.

These appointments, actualised as of April 1, aim at delivering the best possible customer service and excellence in airport management and operations.

Chiefly, seasoned Mexican aviation professional, Fernando Vistrain, will assume the role of GAP country manager for Jamaica.

According to the Guadalajara-based airport operators, Vistrain brings a wealth of experience to the position. He joined GAP in 2003 and has held various key positions within the organisation, demonstrating exemplary leadership and dedication throughout his career.

Mr. Fernando Vistrain, Country Manager for Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico (GAP) for Jamaica

Vistrain’s extensive experience in aviation security, operations management, and strategic leadership makes him the ideal candidate to lead our operations in Jamaica. His track record of success, coupled with his deep understanding of the industry, will be invaluable as we continue to enhance the services and facilities at Norman Manley International Airport.

Fernando holds a diploma in Industrial Processes and a BSC in Aeronautical Engineering from Instituto Politécnico Nacional in Mexico City. He also holds a Master of Business Administration from the Universidad Anáhuac, Mexico City. Currently, he is pursuing a master’s degree in Human Resources Management, Vistrain is committed to furthering his expertise and contributing to the continued success of Kingston Airport Limited.

Additionally, Sitara English-Bayfield will take over as CEO at Kingston Airport Limited.

Mrs. Sitara English-Bayfield will take over as the Chief Executive Officer of Kingston Airport Limited.

English-Bayfield is an accomplished professional with a strong finance and administration background. She has been serving KAL since October 2019, functioning as its director of finance and administration, where she has demonstrated exceptional leadership and strategic vision.

With over a decade of experience in financial management and project planning within the aviation industry, English-Bayfield brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her new role. Her proven track record of success and dedication to excellence make her the perfect candidate to lead Kingston Airport Limited into its next phase of growth and development.

Additionally, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Economics and a master’s degree in Economics from the University of the West Indies, Mona. She also holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Finance and Financial Law. English-Bayfield is a certified International Airport Professional (IAP), having completed the requirements of the Airport Management Professional Accreditation Program (AMPAP) offered jointly by the Airports Council International and the International Civil Aviation Organization.

Cocktails With… Judette Coward Puglisi

cocktails-with

To introduce their latest financial package solution, notably JMMB Her Wealth, last Wednesday at the Spanish Court Worthington securities broker and dealer Jamaica Money Market Brokers tapped Mango Media Caribbean Managing Director Judette Coward Puglisi to deliver the keynote address. Wearing her country’s most celebrated designer, Meiling, the Trinbagonian media, communications & public relations specialist encouraged prospective JMMB Her Wealth investors at the launch event to secure their futures, while sharing gems from her own life reserves.

What is your favourite beverage?

Hot chocolate. How else to discover why I am the way I am except at the bottom of a cup? When I’m done, it’s usually time for deep thinking.

Is the election of hotel & real-estate tycoon Donald Trump a triumph for social media fame or a cautionary tale?

It’s a reality circus mixed with large doses of a global horror story thrown in for bad measure.

Is the boosting of a country’s economy the right get-out-jail-free card?

Only if it is accompanied by the increased productivity of its people.

What personality archetypes must make up a team that can best support what you do?

The Loyalist: will work with you without question over a weekend.

The Thinker: is solution-oriented will make any entrepreneur feel less alone.

The Connector: will open doors, so crucial to success.

The Clone: because you always need someone who is just like you.

The Debater: because challenge is a good thing; it prevents group think.

Are tough life lessons crucial to growth?

This presupposes that lessons must be tough in order to learn or grow; if that was true, prisons would not have repeat offenders. A tough or easy lesson is often irrelevant; growth is about an individual’s willingness to do so.

What’s the one book you’ve always wanted to read but have never gotten around to?

We Should All Be Feminists by Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, a book-length essay. If you have ever watched her

TED Talk you would know why this is at the top of my list. Plus, I am a lipstick-wearing feminist.

Do long hours guarantee success?

No, they don’t, and believe me, I learned that lesson late in the game! I think focused work without interruption makes for a better, more meaningful type of success with limited opportunities for burnout.

How can an entrepreneur identify when he or she has outgrown hustlin’?

When your quotation is accepted without question or negotiation. The hustlin’ stops and the innovation can begin.

What is the one office process you continue to enjoy, no matter your hierarchical rank?

Don’t laugh, but mopping the front entrance. I think because it’s the first point of entry to our building and for me it means “you are welcome”.

Are emotions and figures the only ingredients necessary for a successful communications exchange?

Shared stories and conversation are the common coins of communion.

If you had to choose: speed at the expense of details or vice-versa?

Details. Because speed does not mean a thing if inaccuracy is allowed to run around like a Pokemon gamer.

Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/lifestyle/Cocktails-With—-Judette-Coward-Puglisi_87061

First Global Bank Using Technology For Banking Solutions

firstglobalopen20161013c

Banking on the Go!  GraceKennedy Group CEO Don Wehby holds up a mobile phone to emphasise the ease of doing business on the go.  He was speaking at the official opening of First Global Bank’s Liguanea Branch on October 9, 2016.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kingston, Jamaica – Thursday, October 13, 2016: GraceKennedy Group CEO, Don Wehby has said relevant, cutting-edge technology is central to improving controls, drive operational standards and customer service across all subsidiaries.

According to Wehby, “Technology-based solutions are expected to reduce operating costs while providing convenience and value-added services to our customers.”

He was speaking on Sunday, October 9, 2016 at the official opening of First Global Bank Limited’s new Liguanea branch.

He highlighted some recent tech developments in several of the Group’s financial services companies including: multicurrency machines, interactive teller machines, a mobile banking app, internet-based solution at First Global; the roll out of GKGOnline at GK General Insurance Ltd; and the introduction of TeleSend and Deposit Direct at GraceKennedy Money Services. TeleSend makes money transfers via mobile phone and online functionalities possible, while Deposit Direct allows customers to receive remittances from overseas directly to their bank accounts.

Wehby believes one method through which GraceKennedy can continue to make worthwhile contributions to Jamaica’s growth, is through investing heavily in new technology.

“The Group has made significant investment in technology in all segments. This is expected to improve controls, drive operational efficiency and improve our customer service. We strongly believe that in addition to our hardworking staff members, we can continue to realise growth and success through using new technology as a business strategy that is in keeping with emerging trends and customer demands,” he affirms in an interview recently.

For years, the GraceKennedy Group has kept apace with new and advancing technology in all of its operations.

Wehby said within the GraceKennedy Group, First Global Bank boasts one of the major examples of how technology has totally revamped the operations of the entity.

He stated, “First Global Bank continues to be at the forefront of technology in the banking and financial services sector. Our hardware and software are continuously on the cutting edge and our human resources are second to none,” Wehby stated.

Wehby said the context of Jamaica’s social environment makes investment in technology essential as a way of reaching the unbanked, closing the digital divide and promoting financial inclusion.

“We note the steps being made by the Bank of Jamaica towards facilitating agency banking, with the latest element being the 2016 Banking Services Enforceable Code of Conduct. The sector is eager for all essential components to be put in place as, the convergence of both a sound structure to support and the technology to facilitate agency banking hold great potential for allowing more people to participate in regulated financial channels,” said Wehby.

###

Source: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20161024/first-global-bank-using-technology-banking-solutions

GRACEKENNEDY FOODS JAMAICA SHOWS STRONG GROWTH FOR THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF 2015

GraceKennedy Foods is reporting that its Foods segment in Jamaica has seen significant growth for the nine months ended September 30, over prior year. Areas specifically highlighted for mention included the company’s manufacturing and retail (Hi-Lo) segments, as well as Grace Foods & Services through its major consumer promotion for 2015.

“We refer to GK Foods – Jamaica, as the fortress of our business. This is where it all began and so we are firmly committed to ensuring that the fortress not only stands strong but continues to grow,” said GraceKennedy Group CEO, Don Wehby. He continued, “It is a fiercely competitive environment, but we have the right people in the right places, who are executing well on our strategy and we are seeing the results.”  Mr Wehby added that the focus for 2015 and beyond was to win the hearts and minds of customers, through great people. “Re-engaging our customers is a consistently high priority and we continue to work at this every day, because we know without our valued customers, we have no business,” he said.

 

GraceKennedy’s recently released third quarter results showed that the Food Trading segment  had revenue growth of 17% over the corresponding period last year. The company saw significant positive impact of its “Grace on the Move” promotional campaign in Jamaica.

 

The Group CEO also spoke to the strength of GK Foods Jamaica’s manufacturing arm, which was boosted by strong demand for products manufactured in Jamaica, efficiency gains, yield improvements and favourable commodity prices. All these factors combined resulted in higher profits when compared to prior year.

 

Grace Agro Processors (GAP), the company’s processing plant in Hounslow, St Elizabeth has been performing well despite the challenge of severe drought this year. As at the end of September, GAP had exported 38 metric tonnes of pepper mash. According to Mr Wehby, the 2016 outlook for GAP’s export business was expected to grow significantly, which would directly benefit local farmers with whom GAP partners.

 

“We are also very happy with what we have seen happening in our Hi-Lo stores,” said Mr Wehby. He noted the investment made in the chain through renovations completed in its Barbican and Manor Park Stores to the tune of J$265M. As a result of those investments, says Mr Wehby, Hi-Lo continues to deliver improved results not only in the renovated stores, but across the chain. Customer feedback has been very positive, he noted. The total amount to be invested by GraceKennedy for further Hi-Lo store renovations is J$1B.

 

“We’re looking forward to the Christmas season, as we know how popular our Grace hams are, and we believe that’s an area we will do really well in. Our aim is to finish the year by sustaining the strong performance and growth we have seen so far,” said Mr Wehby.