2017 was an eventful year here at Nestlé. We launched innovative products, had new learnings on the joy of pizza, broke Guinness World Records, and welcomed new members to our family.

We know you had a busy year too — so in case you missed any of our biggest stories, we’ve got a quick roundup of the highlights for you.

Team Members at The Venetian, The Palazzo and Sands Expo participated in the Green Ideas Challenge conducted by the property sustainability team. Approximately 180 ideas were submitted from various departments, and the goal is to implement the top three ideas in 2018.

Results from the 2017 Strategic Directions: Natural Gas Industry Report survey signal that in order to realize natural gas storage potential, industry organizations will first need to manage the array of associated federal and state regulations.

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption announced today that Mary Schell, chief public affairs officer for The Wendy’s Company, has been elected as chair of its board of trustees. Todd Penegor, president and chief executive officer of The Wendy’s Company, has been elected vice chair.

Mr Sunny Verghese last week officially took up his role as the new Chair of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), the global, CEO-led organization dedicated to accelerating the transition to a sustainable world.

Ed-tech isn’t just about digitizing books and training manuals for a tablet. It’s about using technology to deliver new forms of learning and teaching. It’s about personalizing and accelerating learning for everyone, everywhere, at any time.

Smithfield Foods, Inc. is proud to announce that it has fulfilled its industry-leading commitment of providing group housing systems for pregnant sows on all company-owned farms in the United States.

Watch the virtual reality video that transports viewers to a company sow farm.

The Arbor Day Foundation has announced finalists for its bi-annual recognition program with the winners to be announced prior to National Arbor Day on April 27, 2018. Since 1972, the Foundation has presented awards for work at the international, national, state, and community levels to recognize conservation efforts such as tree planting and care, Arbor Day celebrations, education, community projects, and roadside beautification.

Food safety risk assessment has been historically associated with the identification of hazards in food using Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP), and food defense, now identified as Threat Analysis/Critical Control Points (TACCP) by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI.) An additional risk assessment, Vulnerability Analysis/Critical Control Points (VACCP), has been added to the mix to assess the risk of vulnerability to food fraud, following international incidents of intentional adulteration. For instance, in 2008, melamine was added to infant formula to artificially increase the protein content, resulting in infant deaths and serious illness, and leading to massive recalls. This article highlights the similarities and differences among the three assessments.

Bob Daylor is a civil engineer and senior consultant for land development and land tenure issues at Tetra Tech. He has 50 years’ experience in facility planning, design, and construction and specializes in master planning and permitting projects at the water’s edge and in or near ecologically-sensitive landscapes. He holds professional registrations in civil engineering and land surveying and has held several elected and appointed city and regional planning positions.