?? Sterling Scores at the Foggies

Welcome to “Lunchtime Reads,” your monthly dispatch from Sterling Communications on what clicks in tech PR and sustainable innovation.

We’re very proud to share that Sterling Communications captured the 2024 Campaign of the Year award at The Foggies. The annual award competition is hosted by the San Francisco Bay Area chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and honors the top public relations campaigns, agencies, and professionals making a lasting impact in the industry. Sterling was recognized for our work representing?Sakuu, an innovative startup serving the battery manufacturing industry.

???Sterling Spotlight

Sterling managed the nomination process for Sakuu and UbiSim to?TIME Magazine’s Best Inventions of 2024. Both companies made the coveted list:?Sakuu for breakthrough battery manufacturing technology and UbiSim for?virtual reality training software for nursing.

Sakuu was also named FII Innovator 2024 at “Davos in the Desert,” aka the FII8 global investment conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Additionally, Sakuu was included in a BloombergNEF report on disruptors in the battery technology market, while S&P AutoTechInsight and?Green Car Congress covered Sakuu’s partnership with ELEQTRION to advance the development of aluminum-ion battery technology for energy storage solutions and e-mobility applications.

BigDataWire, MarketScreener, and TMCNet covered Hakkoda’s new AI-driven services on Amazon Web Services (AWS), including a business intelligence (BI) modernization solution that leverages generative AI to help companies migrate and rationalize their reporting ecosystems and achieve impressive cost and time savings.?

San Jose Water invests an average of $140M annually in improving water service infrastructure, as reported in WaterOnline. The company’s Emergency Water Distribution Unit (EWDU) was highlighted in Water Finance & Management. SJW’s President was featured in the ValiantCEO profile Tanya Moniz-Witten: Leading the Charge for Clean Water and Operational Excellence. Additionally, SJW recently won the Digital Innovation category at the Institute of Asset Management (IAM) North American Conference Excellence Awards and was named to Silicon Valley Business Journal’s list of Largest Corporate Philanthropists in Silicon Valley. Veea won a 2024 IoT Edge Computing Excellence Award from IoT Evolution World. In addition, The Fast Mode covered the company’s hybrid edge-cloud “Internet of Forests” initiative demonstrated at COP16 with O.N.E. Amazon, AECOM, and the Colombian government.

???In the News

• Gartner: Top 10 strategic technology trends for 2025 - Network World
• Cable companies ask 5th Circuit to block FTC’s click-to-cancel rule - Ars Technica
• AI-powered transcription tool used in hospitals invents things no one ever said - The Verge
• What Donald Trump’s win will mean for Big Tech - WIRED
• At COP29, the sun sets on U.S. climate leadership - The New Yorker
• Why do they flock to Turkey Trots? Runners count the reasons - The AP

?? November Fun Facts

• National Diabetes Month is observed in November to raise awareness about how the diabetes epidemic impacts millions of??? Americans.?
• November’s birthstone is the topaz, which ancient Greeks believed could make a wearer invisible! ???
• “Le Beaujolais nouveau est arrivé!” ?? on November 21 this year — Beaujolais Nouveau Day is always the third Thursday of the month (and it just so happens that the lively French red pairs well with roast turkey).
• ?? November 24 is the day to enjoy the overlooked deliciousness of sardines and their many health benefits.?
• Since 2011, Turtle Adoption Day has been held every November 27. ??
• The Black Friday moniker for our post-Thanksgiving shopping frenzy ??originated in Philadelphia circa 1966.

????Mark Your Calendars

• November 21 -?Ag Tech for Climate is a panel discussion organized by the Climate Tech Action Network (CTAN) in San Francisco.
• December 2-6 - Generative AI is among the hot topics at AWS re:Invent, taking place at multiple venues along the Las Vegas strip.
• December 3 - Wired Magazine’s The Big Interview is a free conference in San Francisco showcasing the people, platforms, technologies, and ideas that are shaping the future.
• December 4 - The San Francisco chapters of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)? and the American Marketing Association (AMA) are holding their annual Jingle, Mix & Mingle holiday party in North Beach.
• December 10 - PRSA Silicon Valley’s 17th annual Media Predicts dinner celebration, scholarship fundraiser, and media panel takes place in San Carlos at the Hiller Aviation Museum.
• December 11 - Sterling Communications presents?Communicating Value at the Edge:?a?free, 60-minute webinar with Tom Williams, VP of Worldwide Sales & Marketing at Veea, and James Christopherson, Account Director at Sterling Communications, on the critical importance of conveying tangible value to enhance customer engagement?and drive market awareness. Innovative strategies and real-world examples covering?today’s fast-paced digital landscape are featured. Register today!

???Volunteer Opportunities

• Habitat for Humanity - In honor of Former President Jimmy Carter’s recent 100th birthday, find a Habitat project near you to help build affordable housing.
• Martha’s Kitchen - Help Martha’s Kitchen reach its goal of providing hot meals and grocery programs to nearly 250,000 each month.
• Miracle Messages - Volunteer from anywhere in the world as a phone buddy or digital detective to help your unhoused neighbors connect with their families for the holidays.
• Sacred Heart Community Service - Volunteer, donate, and spread holiday joy in San Jose.
• Second Harvest - Volunteer at one of several locations serving the Silicon Valley community to help sort or distribute food to those in need.?
• United Ways of California - There are 28 regional United Ways in California. Find your local office to learn about impact programs and how to support life-changing services in your community.

Wishing you all a joyful?Thanksgiving holiday!