French-American Chamber of Commerce Texas - Magazine Covid19

MEMBERS SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY

PRODUCED BY THE FRENCH-AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HOUSTON

CELEBRATING THE SOLIDARITY OF OUR COMMUNITY

Dear French-American community Members,

The COVID-19 pandemic is hitting hard in the US and the sanitary crisis has triggered an economic recession, especially disastrous in Houston with low-record crude prices in addition.

Many French companies in Houston and American member companies of the Chamber of commerce are struggling to keep alive their business and to keep their employees.

However, amid this unprecedented multi-crisis and in spite of all the problems each business is struggling with, the value of solidarity has not been forgotten. FACC member companies have set up many inspiring initiatives and have tapped on their expertise to help Texas and the US to overcome the crisis These actions demonstrate the leadership and the creativity of our member companies and entrepreneurs and their commitment to help communities.

This issue of the FACC magazine celebrates this momentum of solidarity for the US and outlines the deep friendship between the French business community and the US.The FACC community can be very proud of these impactful actions. Congratulations and thanks to all of you !And I wish you all the best to get through this crisis.

Franck Avice President, FACC Houston

CONTENT

In response to COVID-19, FACC members and network showed resiliency and supported our community, sharing equipment, knowledge, time, creative ideas and solutions... Helpful resources to face this unprecedented crisis Discover all the initiatives to handle this outbreak!

06. Schlumberger

10. 11. Total Haynes&Boone 12. JLL 14. Air Liquide

18. Engie 21. Shearman & Sterling

22.

25.

28. KPMG

31.

35.

36.

3

42.

34. Medical Z & Ecom

Kinkō

8. French Consulate

FACC Houston

Rice

Westlake Chemical

Marc Garbey & French Tech

Flo Paris

"The current crisis is of such magnitude you can't just be a spectator. I feel very proud of the way our employees have come together to help, and to support local healthcare workers in the communities where we live and work.”

Mohamed Kermoud Vice president of HSE at Schlumberger

SCHLUMBERGER FACILITY PRODUCES HAND SANITIZER FOR FRONTLINE RESPONDERS

In response to COVID-19, Schlumberger's business unit in Broussard, Louisiana, is using part of its manufacturing facility to produce hand sanitizer. The facility is a leading manufacturer of oilfield blended chemical products and has supporting services that include quality control laboratories, an extensive supply chain and a logistical network.

In response to COVID-19, Schlumberger's business unit in Broussard, Louisiana, is using part of its manufacturing facility to produce hand sanitizer. The facility is a leading manufacturer of oilfield blended chemical products and has supporting services that include quality control laboratories, an extensive supply chain and a logistical network.

Teamwork and collaboration across business functions expedited the setup of production at the facility. This included qualification of raw materials, facility registration and documentation in accordance with guidance from regulatory authorities Producing hand sanitizer involves blending the raw materials according to the approved formulation from the World Health Organization (WHO) which includes isopropanol, the main ingredient of hand sanitizer

"By adjusting the manufacturing processes at the facility in Broussard, to date, more than 2,000 gallons of hand sanitizer have been manufactured and donated to community health centers, frontline responders and local authorities as well as our own locations in Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, North Dakota and Texas,” says Karin Fisher,PlantManager

“Health and safety are always a priority at Schlumberger,“ notes Alen Corak, North America Offshore, Drilling Operations Manager and Acting Manager Director for North Gulf Coast, who is the team leader for this initiative “With the impact of COVID-19, we are committed to helping our local communities,” he continues, “and I am proud of the way our teams quickly collaborated to produce hand sanitizer for donation to frontline responders ” There are plans to increase production and donate hand sanitizer to other communities across the company ’ s operations

HealthcareclinicreceivinghandsanitizermadebytheSchlumberger facilityinLouisiana

3D PRINTING TO CREATE PPE

Schlumberger teams around the world have quickly responded to help provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to hospitals and front-line healthcare providers

From the first requests for PPE from local healthcare communities, employees approached the company for guidance on how to help Immediate action was taken by several of our facilities in France “Our teams collaborated to identify available protective equipment to donate, and also to determine how to quickly produce other PPE using 3D printers to donate to healthcare providers,” notes Roland Renaud, health, safety and environment (HSE) leader for Schlumberger in France.

The company ’ s engineering community put their expertise into practice to create and test prototype PPE for healthcare workers The manufacturing of PPE was initiated on the company ’ s 3D printers, with additional production of parts done by employees who have their own 3D printers at home Workspaces at technology centers in France have been dedicated to the assembly of protective face shields,

for example, by the fiber optics team at the Schlumberger Riboud Product Center.

In addition, Schlumberger engineers have printed a door-opening device that enables nurses to avoid direct contact with door handles in the hospital

The additive manufacturing team in Sugar Land, Texas is also using their 3D printers towards making face shields for healthcare providers

At other locations the company is providing material to make PPE using 3D printing. For example, in Ecuador, material has been provided to a community organization for the 3D printing of protective face shields

An enterprising employee from the Schlumberger Cambridge Research Centre (SCR) in Cambridge, UK, is using their own 3D printers at home to manufacture face shield components to help UK healthcare workers The employee reports that “To date I have produced headbands for over 300 face shields and the SCR has donated materials that will enable production of approximately 500 more that will be donated to doctors, nurses and healthcare providers through a local supplier coordinating the sterilization and assembly of the PPE.”

Meanwhile, employees at company locations worldwide have been organizing donations of PPE to hospitals, industry safety organizations, and local authorities. For example, in Ecuador, France, Italy, Norway, Mexico, Thailand, and the United States, donations have included thousands of items of PPE including disposable coveralls, safety glasses, gloves, hand sanitizer, masks, face shields, stretchers, and disposable thermometer protectors

Schlumberger employees at facilities worldwide are continuing to respond to calls from their local communities on how to help during the COVID-19 pandemic Learn about Schlumberger virus outbreak management plan and explore helpful resources here

Thecompany’sengineeringcommunityputtheirexpertiseintopracticetomanufacturePPEon3Dprinters

TOTAL

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT & CONTRIBUTIONS DURING THE PANDEMIC

Total is supporting the communities where they operate by donating supplies to first responders

The Total Foundation in the U S has an annual initiative that gives employees the opportunity to nominate a charitable organization for a nominal donation. This year there is a special focus on COVID-19 related efforts.

Total has been overwhelmed by the numerous accounts of our employees working to support their communities individually From making and donating face coverings, writing letters to those in isolation or providing resources and support to those who are unable while maintaining social distancing

IN ACTION DURING COVID-19 HAYNES & BOONE

Haynes & Boone raised funds for other charities in various offices to cover meals, prepackaged groceries, laundry service and newscrubsformedicalworkers.

Haynes & Boone assembled a multidisciplinary, multi-office COVID-19 task force fortheirclients.Thetaskforcehasservedasa resource for clients, and Haynes & Boone firm attorneys have also contributed hundreds of helpful articles, webcasts and podcast episodes for their clients and friends, that can be found on their dedicated COVID-19 resourcespage

+$100,000 donationdriveforFeedingAmerica,anonprofit umbrellaorganizationformorethan200food banksthatfeedmorethan46millionpeople nationwide+assistedthatorganizationon numerouslegalissues,includinglabor,employee benefits,FDA,andfinancematters.

Lawyersvolunteeredtohelpprepare willsandancillarydocumentsfor medicalworkersofSanAntonio’s UniversityHealthSystem.

+50

JLL EMPLOYEES RAISE $40,000

FOR GREATER HOUSTON COVID-19 RECOVERY FUND

JLL employees pitched in to raise $40,000 to support people in the Houston community who are dealing with loss of income or other negative consequences related to the COVID-19 pandemic. As most JLL employees worked from home this spring, they were also eager to find a way to help others who were struggling financially, so they launched a fundraising campaign on behalf of the Greater Houston COVID-19 Recovery Fund.

A joint effort by the United Way of Greater Houston and the Greater Houston Community Foundation, the fund was established to help those facing the most severe hardships to recover from the devastating economic impact of pandemic

the effort, so once $30,000 was raised, they each contributed $5,000, to get to the goal of $40,000

“I am so proud that our employees stepped up in such a big way, ” Bellow said. “The Greater Houston

To date, the fund has invested $2 3 million in more than 30 trusted nonprofit partners and grassroots organizations that support food insecure households, those who need emergency financial assistance, domestic violence survivors and the

Championed by the company ’ s Houston president, Dan Bellow, the campaign included an online giving link which automatically added a matching contribution from JLL Bellow and JLL Managing Director Ronnie Deyo committed to challenge gifts for

Covid-19 Recovery Fund is providing much-needed support to many individuals and families across our community, and I am pleased that JLL could be a part of it.”

As the local economy struggles through its second month of pandemic-related recession, the Greater Houston COVID-19 Recovery Fund has reached $13.8 million in donations The generous response from corporations, foundations and individuals comes as the area ’ s most vulnerable families and individuals continue to struggle to afford urgent necessities

homeless population. A new, larger round of investments are being prepared by the fund task force to be distributed later this month

Coronavirus resources and stories: Navigate (re)entry to prepare your workplace, your asset(s) and your people for the next normal in a Covid19 world: More details here

TO SAVE LIVES 10,000 VENTILATORS IN 50 DAYS

AirLiquideleadstheFrenchconsortiumwithGroupePSA, Valeo and Schneider Electric to producing 10,000 ventilators Air Liquide Medical Systems (ALMS) between April and mid-May with the help some 30 procurement and manufacturing specialists in response to a request fromtheFrenchGovernment.

The major challenge is to secured the supply of the 300 essential components for the manufacture of those ventilators, by calling on specialist input from 100 nationalpartnercompanies.

The mobilization of the 4 major groups is a unique situation but a crucial factor for success with each of themcontributingitsownexpertise.

“

OXYGEN DEMAND IN UNITED STATES AIRGAS KEEPING UP WITH

For weeks, Airgas Healthcare teams have been fully mobilized, helping hospitals throughout New York City manage to treat a surge of patients and continually providing medical oxygen On a daily basis, Airgas drivers are weaving more than 20 cylinder trucks through the New York City streets to deliver a daily average of 2,700 cylinders to customers On the ground, Airgas bulk field technicians have been heroically working behind the scenes to help hospital bulk systems keep up with unprecedented demands As bulk oxygen deliveries to New York City hospitals climbed to a peak on March 31 with more than double the daily rate of deliveries, the bulk field technicians worked hard to make sure the systems functioned accordingly

When the team isn’t making adjustments on fixed bulk systems, they’re busy working to place portable trailersmany of which are helping hospitals boost storage capacity, vaporization and pressure So far, the team has placed eight portable systems in the New York City area

These portables were repositioned and retested for medical oxygen use as Airgas initiated preparations in early March The largest and most rapid install thus far is at the Westchester County Center Alternate Care Facility in White Plains, New York, a 110-bed temporary facility being housed inside the Westchester County Center and across four tents in the center’s parking lot

I’ve been amazed, but not surprised, by this impressive team,” said Rich Cassano, VP Bulk Sales and Operations - Airgas East Region. “They’ve taken charge, demonstrated leadership and taken full ownership of their projects, helping New York City area hospital customers handle a medical surge that we ’ ve never collectively faced before. Their attitudes and commitment under pressure have taken it to the next level and are a real testament to the innovative energy and customer dedication we have at Airgas."

HAND SANITIZER PRODUCTION

In times of hardship and uncertainty, Air Liquide has proven to step up in a way that brings strength and positivity to the community and organization. With many colleagues and customers being challenged on the front lines each day, ensuring they have proper PPE and hygiene materials, remains a priority. At the Dallas Chemical Center (DCC) the ALEUS team came together with the goal to ensure essential and frontline workers were supplied with hand sanitizer.

Demand for hand sanitizer has remained constant during the COVID-19 pandemic, not only among the public, but essential and front line workers. Noticing the high demand and lack of supply available, long time customer and partner, Texas Instruments (TI), approached ALEUS with the request to produce hand sanitizer for TI front line workers.

As luck would have it, all of the necessary solvents to produce hand sanitizer such as, IPA, Peroxide, DI water and glycerol, were all available to the ALEUS team. Recognizing the opportunity at hand, ALEUS quickly transitioned operations to produce hand sanitizer at the volume needed to support TI front line workers. To date, ALEUS has produced 270 one gallon bottles of hand sanitizer. “It is imperative now more than ever to do our part during this pandemic to meet the needs of our customers and patients, as they critically rely on our products and services,” Terry Humphrey, President, ALEUS said. “The ALEUS team made a swift decision to take a proactive approach during this crisis, and develop a new product with our customers well-being in mind.”

This extraordinary effort to repurpose materials and alter operations, showcase ALEUS’s drive and ability to adapt, ultimately positioning Air Liquide to come out of this crisis a stronger and more agile organization.

ENGIE NORTH AMERICA'S MOBILIZATION DURING THE CRISIS MEDICAL EQUIPMENTS

New York City

At the beginning of the crisis, ENGIE's team at Unity has mobilized electricians on site to help the Federal Emergency Management Agency increase capacity for patient intensive care for two hospitals in NYC (Roosevelt Island & Bronx) Unity is working with North Star, a national General Contractor, to provide Coler Hospital on Roosevelt Island and North Central Bronx Hospital with the much-needed expanded ICU space. Unity’s role is to ensure the newly adapted space is powered and set up for ICU patient care, which includes enabling the use of ventilator equipment. At Coler Hospital, Unity helped recommission four previously abandoned floors in two buildings – two floors in each. The work included ensuring there is enough power and providing modifications and repair work as needed At North Central Bronx Hospital, five floors in the building are being converted for additional ICU rooms. A team of Unity electricians is helping complete three phases of work: recommissioning, demolition, and rebuild.

ENGIE's Donnelly Mechanical team is installing oxygen lines to 475 more beds in the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens that has been converted into a temporary hospital to meet the needs for overflow hospital space in treating the coronavirus.

ENGIE's Unity Team is completing electrical configuration work at Lincoln Hospital in the South of Bronx while it triples the number of intensive care beds As the only public hospital in the South Bronx, Lincoln Hospital is dramatically expanding its intensive care unit space from 34 beds to more than 140 beds to accommodate coronavirus patients.

Detroit

ENGIE's Conti Team provided electrical services transforming Detroit’s TCF Center into a 1000-bed field hospital for non-critical coronavirus patients.

Boston

ENGIE's teams continue to operate the utility system for five Harvard- affiliated hospitals Five world-renowned Harvard-affiliated hospitals rely on ENGIE, through the Longwood MATEP (Medical Area Total Energy Plant) team to provide safe, reliable and continuous supply of electricity, steam and chilled water -- critical services for the hospital clinicians and support staff who are providing extraordinary treatment and care to their patients.

Northeastern U.S.

ENGIE’s air balancing teams from H.T. Lyons, Inc. worked with three hospitals to install over 100 terminal highefficiency particulate air units and prepare regular patient rooms for COVID-19 treatment.

Michigan

ENGIE's Conti Team helps Ford Motor Company to set-up a production line to manufacture life-saving ventilators

Joining the autoworkers, a team of electrical and mechanical workers from our contracting company, Conti, is helping Ford Motor Company prepare its production line in Ypsilanti, Michigan for manufacturing 50,000 ventilators within 100 days, and up to 30,000 per month thereafter Indicon, also part of, supplied needed components and engineering expertise. ENGIE, supplied needed components and engineering expertise.

SUPPORT TO AUTOMAKERS FOR ANSWERING THE CALL TO ACCELERATE PRODUCTION OF LIFE-SAVING MEDICAL EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING VENTILATORS.

Indiana

ENGIE's Conti Team is involved in an Emergency Ventilator Project for General Motors (GM) A team of electrical and mechanical workers from ENGIE contracting company, Conti, provides resources to convert an existing General Motors facility in Kokomo, Indiana to produce 200,000 life-saving respirators General Motors has identified the process plan by working with an existing respirator manufacturer, Ventec Life Systems (GM’s facility and process is expected to increase output 14x versus that facility, comparatively). Conti’s work includes facility upgrades to provide a “clean room ” environment for production and installation of specialty equipment and tooling to perform the tasks

More details: ENGIE website

CHARITY & ENGIE'S COMMITMENTS

ENGIE North America will contribute with $100,000 on 3 areas: in New York to NYC Health & Hospitals, in Houston to The Houston Food Bank, and in California to the United Ways of California

Houston

To The Houston Food Bank, which is distributing emergency food boxes and produce to partner agencies where lines are long for food assistance and has begun direct deliveries to homebound people with little or no access to food resources The Food Bank has also hired displaced restaurant workers to assist with the sorting and boxing of food supplies.

NewYork

To NYC Health & Hospitals, to help doctors, nurses, and other frontline health care workers providing care to all New Yorkers. Donations will support: meals for these caregivers; groceries for families of healthcare workers; and other necessities

California

To the United Ways of California, where a Statewide Relief Fund was set up to support those impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic. Money raised will help families impacted by quarantine, disruption of income, and other challenges, while ensuring the equitable distribution of philanthropic resources through coordinated community relief.

GLOBAL SIGNATURE PRO BONO & COMMUNITY SERVICE INITIATIVE

SHEARMAN & STERLING

Pro bono legal work and community service have been at the heart of Shearman & Sterling since the firm’s founding nearly 150yearsago

Shearman lawyers and business service professionals across four continents have developed a cohesive, multi-faceted, charitable response that includes volunteerism, awarenessbuilding,legaladviceandfundraising Around the world, firm personnel are donating funds to hospitals or helping to procure personal protective equipment directly from manufacturers to get it to healthcare workers on the front lines. Shearman legal and business services professionalsareprovidingsupporttofamiliesinneedandtheir attorneys are supporting nonprofit organizations and small businesseswithmyriadlegalneeds

In Texas specifically, the firm's personnel participated in a hunger relief fundraising effort in Austin, Dallas and Houston to benefit the Central Texas, North Texas and Houston Food Banks, respectively. Lawyers in the Texas offices are also providing pro bono assistance to small businesses through a virtual COVID-19 relief clinic, while other lawyers have advised nonprofits on a variety of issues, including the use of esignaturesastheyareforcedtoworkremotely.

Moredetailshere

ASTHECOVID-19PANDEMIC CONTINUESTOINFLICT ECONOMICCHALLENGESAND HUMANSUFFERINGAROUND THEWORLD,SHEARMAN& STERLINGHASLAUNCHEDA FIRM-WIDEGLOBALSIGNATURE PROBONO&COMMUNITY SERVICEINITIATIVETOPROVIDE CRITICALSUPPORTANDRELIEF INFIVECOREAREAS: FOOD,MEDICALSUPPLIES, FAMILYSUPPORT,NONPROFIT ASSISTANCE,ANDSMALL BUSINESSASSISTANCE.

RICE UNIVERSITY

RESEARCH RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

AspartofacoordinatedefforttocombatCOVID19, Rice University is committed to conducting pathbreaking research in biomedicine, engineering, social sciences, humanities and other fields tohelpendthepandemicandpreparefor similaroutbreaksinthefuture

$1M

FUND FOR COVID-19 RESEARCH

RiceUniversityhaslaunchedauniversity-wideresearchacceleratorfundtocombat theCOVID-19pandemic.With$500,000ininitialfundsandagoaltoraise$1million, thegrantprogramwillenableRicefacultytopursuearangeofimportantinitiatives withmaximumspeedandflexibility PleaseconsidersupportingRicefacultyintheir effortstoaddresstheimmediateandlong-termeffectsoftheglobalcrisis

RICE UNIVERSITY ENGINEERS ‘MACGYVER’ AN INEXPENSIVE VENTILATOR FOR CORONAVIRUS PATIENTS

Rice University engineers are building a prototype of a ventilator using 3-D printed parts and hobby-store materials for possible use by coronavirus patients in dire need of breathing machines The invention could be a stopgap for hospitals around the country in need of thousands of ventilators as the crush of Covid-19 cases climbs in the coming weeks “It’s a rolling tide of disaster,” said Rohith Malya, an emergency medicine doctor at Baylor College of Medicine and adjunct assistant professor of bioengineering at Rice, a Houston research university. The ventilator, nicknamed ApolloBVM, weighs 8 pounds and could be mass-produced for less than $200 each, said Dr Malya, who advised the team, made up of a Rice undergraduate and five faculty and staff members It could be used at hospitals short on conventional ventilators in the coming days, possibly in Houston, under emergency use authorization, he added. The Food and Drug Administration has relaxed some restrictions on lifesaving equipment, given the extreme need.

3D printed gears

Readout screen

Visitors to the ApolloBVM website will be asked to register before they can download the do-it-yourself plans so they can be kept up to date as the project progresses With the novel coronavirus gaining steam and a shortage of ventilators not only in the United States but around the world, ApolloBVM could help COVID-19 patients who are lesscritically ill while they await availability of a standard hospital ventilator “This is going to make a difference in hospitals that run out of ventilators,” said Dr Rohith Malya, adviser to the Rice engineering team.

THE EIGHT-POUND MACHINE USES PARTS

Covid-19 patients in intensive care often require ventilators for several days to help them breathe, given the huge strain the virus puts on the lungs, Dr. Malya said.

Ordinary ventilators, which blow oxygenated air directly into a patient’s lungs at a controlled rate and volume, can weigh hundreds of pounds and cost tens of thousands of dollars They take five to 10 days to manufacture, depending on global supply-chain processes, and require hundreds of different parts, Dr Malya said The ventilator the Rice engineering team is building has 80% of the functionality of a full-size ventilator, he said, and could be used for the less severely ill The automated ventilator could also replace the practice of manually pumping air into patients’ lungs using devices known as bag-valve masks, he said Medical professionals can tire rapidly doing it, and risk infecting themselves as well

AVAILABLE IN HOBBY SHOPS AND COULD BE MASS-PRODUCED FOR LESS THAN $200 A PIECE

From left to right, Thomas Herring, Fernando Cruz and Danny Blacker

WESTLAKE CONTRIBUTES

$1 MILLION

TO GREATER HOUSTON COVID-19 RECOVERY FUND

“AspartoftheHoustoncommunity,whichhas beenWestlake’shomeandgivenussomuch,we feelitisaprivilegetohelpinthistimeofneed," saidWestlakePresidentandCEOAlbertChao, whoisalsopresidentofthecharitable foundationestablishedin1999bytheChao family.

Westlake and the Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Foundation contributed a combined $1 million to the Greater-Houston COVID-19 Recovery Fund This fund was established by the United Way of Greater Houston and the Greater Houston Community Foundation to provide emergency assistance, like access to food, shelter and healthcare, for individuals adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic

ASSISTING COMMUNITIES WITH COVID-19

SUPPORTING MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS

Westlake provided COVID-19 relief through donating much-needed medical supplies to workers on the frontlines in the local communities

Kentucky

The Calvert City location responded to a call to action made by the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and the Kentucky Governor's Labor Cabinet by donating respiratory masks to area hospitals. With the help of Petter Supply Company, they were able to obtain and donate approximately 400 N95 masks Kentucky's U S Senator Rand Paul sent a letter of gratitude to Plant Manager David Huyck for its donation

"Thank you so much for the work that your team at Westlake did to donate disposable respirators to area health care facilities this week," the senator wrote. "Positive stories like these provide a great snapshot of the robust community spirit of Kentucky – and of our nation – that will help us all get through the COVID-19 pandemic," Senator Paul.

Westlake Natrium plant donated COVID-19 response packages to assist three local healthcare organizations in New Martinsville, West Virginia Wetzel County

West Virginia

Hospital, Marshall County OES (Fire, EMS, and Law Enforcement) and EZ Care Clinic received packages each containing N95 masks, Monogoggles and disposable gloves

Westlake Plaquemine, Louisiana site donated N95 masks, along with Tyvek suits, paper and shop towels, gloves, safety goggles and disinfectants to the Ochsner healthcare system, which is Louisiana's largest non-profit, academic healthcare system.

Baptist Health Paducah Hospital received a portion of the masks donated From left to right: Kyle Henderson, Business Manager of Plumber and Steamfitters Local 184; David Huyck, Westlake Director of Operations Region III; and Lora Croley, Executive Director of Philanthropy at Baptist Health

Italy

"We as Vinnolit would like to thank the employees in the health care and nursing facilities for their great commitment in this health crisis situation. As a company from the region, it is a special concern of ours to support them,"

Spain & Germany

The Westlake Global Compounds colleagues in Spain donated disposable suits to Hospital de Mollet del Valles in Barcelona

These suits will be used by doctors and nurses to protect themselves from infection. The Vinnolit colleagues in Germany have responded to the shortage of PPE (personal protective equipment) by donating a total of 2400 respiratory protection masks to hospital and retirement home workers. Masks were sent to clinics and care facilities in both Burghausen and Ismaning, where Vinnolit operates, among other nearby cities The Corona Crisis Management Team of the Rhine-Erft District also received a donation of masks

Through Resilia Srl, Westlake Global Compounds operating unit in the greater Milan region, Westlake contributed financial assistance to the Croce Rossa Italiana (the Italian Red Cross) to provide needed support to residents in that area

The organization's president, Dr. Angelo Maria Bianchi, sent a letter of appreciation that stated, “We would like to state our deep gratitude to Westlake Company [for its] support in this critical period for our Country and for all the National Health system, where we are delivering our support and service to all people in need. GRAZIE, (Thank you) for supporting us to improve Varese Red Cross activities, useful to protect and care [for] everyone ' s Health!"

Vinnolit Managing Director Dr. Karl-Martin Schellerer said.

TheFFP2masksdonatedbyVinnolithelpprotectthestaffoftheCorona CenterClinicMühldorffrompossibleinfection

KPMG in the U.S. and the KPMG U.S. Foundation Inc. have pledged to donate over $2 million to support nonprofit organizations impacted by COVID-19.

“We remain deeply committed to serving and supporting our communities during this challenge our world is facing,” said KPMG U S Chairman and CEO Lynne Doughtie

“I’m also proud of our many partners and professionals across the country who are stepping up to help their local communities at this time in so many different ways ”

The firm recently announced its plans to help local and national nonprofit organizations with the following charitable funds provided by the KPMG U S Foundation Inc

KPMG U.S. AND KPMG U.S. FOUNDATION PLEDGE OVER $2 MILLION TO NON-PROFITS IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19

"I’m proud of our many partners and professionals across the country who are stepping up to help their local communities at this time in so many different ways.

"

KPMG U.S. Chairman and CEO Lynne Doughtie.

$1 million in KPMG U S Foundation funds for a KPMG Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) COVID-19 campaign to aid 501c-3 organizations across the country Selected organizations will be focused on health and wellness and lifelong learningcentered activities that are directly supporting COVID-19 relief

$500,000 in an additional donation from the U.S. firm will go to support the DRF COVID-19 launch, which is now open to all U.S. KPMG partners and employees for personal contributions.

$400,000 in KPMG U.S. Foundation Community Impact Grants – for the first time, the KPMG U.S. Foundation is providing 800 grants in the amount of $500 each to charitable nonprofit organizations actively supported by KPMG U.S. employees

$130,000 in COVID-19 Relief Grants – These grants, funded by the KPMG U S Foundation, Inc reserves, are being equally disbursed to 501c-3 organizations where we have existing relationships at the national level To date, the following nonprofits have received $10,000 grants:

American Cancer Society

American Heart Association

Beta Alpha Psi

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America

Boys & Girls Clubs of America

First Book

Girls Who Code

Junior Achievement

NAF

National Multiple Sclerosis Society

The Pack Shack

Through the DRF, we have the opportunity to help nonprofit organizations continue to operate and provide valuable services in our communities when they are needed most,” said Blane Ruschak, KPMG U.S. Foundation President.

Established in 1992 by the KPMG U.S. Foundation, Inc., the DRF has provided $7.5 million to date in loans and grants to assist KPMG employees and organizations participating in relief efforts in a community where a disaster occurs.

More Details Here

“Doing what matters, when it matters most, is core to our values and culture at KPMG,” added Rob Arning, KPMG U.S. Foundation Chairman and Client Care Executive. “Our primary focus continues to be supporting and caring for our people, our clients, and the communities where we live and work.”

FRENCH-AMERICAN COLLABORATION

Marc Garbey

Professor of Surgery, Academic InstituteFull Professor of Computational Science in Surgery, Methodist Weill Cornell Medical College His philosophy in science is to solve one problem at a time and start from the real application with interdisciplinary collaborations led by the final application.

TEXAS

Marc joined Houston Methodist in 2015 as Scientific Director of the newly formed Center for Computational Surgery He Founded ORintelligence, a digital

healthcare startup based in the Texas Medical Center in Houston Thanks to numerous clinical studies in high volume specialized clinics, the ORintelligence’s team has developed an AI driven, People Friendly Solution proven to improve clinics’ flow, efficiency, and outcomes

MATHEMATICS TO ASSIST HOSPITALS AND PROTECT THE STAFF

Facing the outbreak, Marc Garbey led two research projects to provide useful data for hospitals' managers, allowing the most efficient processes and protection for all the hospital staff and patients

FRANCE

Marc is also a faculty of LaSIE, UMR-CNRS 7356 University of la Rochelle, and worked regularly with GEPROVAS, (groupe europeen de recherche sur les prothèses appliquées a la chirurgie vasculaire), in Stratsbourg

To speed up the scientific communication, two manuscripts have been posted by medrxiv.org The preprint server for health sciences and currently reviewed SIAM News, the news journal of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) will published an update on this research in its June edition

A Model of Workflow in the Hospital During a Pandemic to Assist Management

Marc Garbey, Guillaume Joerger, Shannon Furr,Vid Fikfak

A Systems Approach to Assess Transport and Diffusion of Hazardous Airborne Particles in a Large Surgical Suite: Potential Impacts on Viral Airborne Transmission

Marc Garbey, Guillaume Joerger, Shannon Furr

DAMORPHE, HOUSTONIAN ENERGY STARTUP DESIGNED AND BUILT VENTILATORS Engineers designed ventilators that can support patients for days.

Damorphe is a Houstonian startup engineering materials with IA Facing the Covid outbreak, the team of engineers decided to develop a ventilator that can be used for long term need – running uninterrupted and unsupervised for days and weeks, The goal was to alleviate the shortage of ventilator and provide a machine that would be as performant as the best on the market

The design and architecture sources and uses easily available parts to prevent shortages of critical components as highvolume manufacturing of the device scales up

The pressure on the need of ventilators in the US has decreased However, a kit version of a performant ventilator can help in case of a new peak and can be very useful for developing countries, The Hospital grade ventilators typically cost around $50,000 Many efforts in response to the coronavirus have produced devices with an order of magnitude saving in cost –approximately $5,000 Damorphe device and architecture promises to reduce that price point of $5,000 by at least 50% to be as accessible as possible.

The French Tech Network, lead by Marc Garbey, assisted the team to test the ventilators with the Houston Methodist Institute for Technology, Innovation and Education.

On the pictures, some test of Intubation on the medical mannequin to try the prototypes of ventilator at the Methodist Hospital MITIE

MEDICAL Z

Medical Z, a french owned family business is the worldwide leader in world-class therapeutic garments for the treatment of burn victims and plastic surgery.

While the health of employees, customers, partners and families is a top priority, the company has taken special measures to adapt its activities to produce Cloth Face Masks.

The Medical Z face mask can be washed and reused The mask is not intended to stop in the intake of the virus, but to limit the spread from asymptomatic carriers to others in public.

Medical Z website

ECOM CHEMICALS

Ecom Chemicals is an independent and global chemical brokerage company The company has decided to stand against Covid-19.

The company has been focused on sourcing ppe and medical supplies directly from manufacturers in order to deliver medical facilities and any companies that would need to protect their employees.

Ecom Chemicals website

LOCAL BEAUTY BRAND DONATES CLEAN AND CRUELTY- FREE HAND SANITIZER

The fledgling brand was doing well in the all-natural beauty space when COVID-19 hit, and they knew they had to use their knowledge and resources to help So, Kinkō switched their focus to developing a hand sanitizer that kills germs and is safe for the skin

The result is a hand sanitizer that is clean, vegan, and cruelty-free

Now that the hand sanitizer has been developed and packaged, it is being given to those who need it most Kinkō is donating its hand sanitizer to hospitals, medical facilities, and homeless shelters across Texas They will also be giving donations to small businesses across the nation on a firstcome, first-serve basis

“MOST OF THE RAW MATERIALS IN OUR FORMULA ARE ALSO IN OUR DEODORANTS, SO WE HAD THEM IN STOCK,” COSTE SAYS "STANDARD HAND SANITIZERS CONTAIN CARBOMER AND GLYCERIN, SO IT HAS BEEN HARDER TO SOURCE THOSE MATERIALS, BUT WE USE ALTERNATIVE INGREDIENTS THAT FEEL MUCH BETTER ON THE SKIN.”

Fanny Coste created personal care brand Kinkō in order to restore that balance and promote better skin health Kinkō means balance in Japanese As she was constantly getting requests from French friends for a natural deodorant roll-on that would be effective even during the grueling Texas summer, she partnered with native Texan and 20-year beauty biz veteran Chelsi Oestreich, and they released Kinkō Balancing Deodorant online last summer

Sweating is a natural and necessary process but it does not have to lead to odor. Sweat is initially odorless and it is only when in contact with specific bacteria that odor is produced. Powered by Microbiomix™, a patent-pending blend of prebiotics and postbiotics that balances the skin microbiome and pH, Kinkō Balancing Deodorant is an aluminum-free, all-natural bodyresponsive formula that brings a novel and safer approach to the prevention of body odor

In February, Kinkō successfully launched on shopping channel HSN as a winner of QVC/HSN The Big Find competition.

Fanny Coste (right) is the CEO of Cosmevia LLC and she founded personal care brand Kinkō after an international career in beauty spanning 20 years She holds a MSc in Cosmetic Science and a MSc in Bioengineering

FLO PARIS

Flo Paris Bakery was impacted by the situation like any other company.

Being a family business, Flo Paris Bakery decided to keep the main restaurant open and create a new schedule for its employees.

The goal was to make ensure the job of most employees. The Chef created a new menu and catering menu more adapted to the Covid context

To help the local community, Flo Paris distributed free Sunday breakfast and brunch around its Westheimer location The bakery also gave food to some associations in need

Flo Paris Website

LA MISSION DU CONSULAT PENDANT LA CRISE DU CORONAVIRUS

Depuis le début de la crise liée au coronavirus, la communauté française au Texas, en Arkansas et en Oklahoma a vu sa vie quotidienne profondément altérée. L’équipe du Consulat général s ’est adaptée à ce nouveau contexte de différentes manières :

Comme dans l’ensemble du réseau consulaire, des missions prioritaires ont été définies : protection consulaire (au sens large) et services d’urgence, notamment pour les titres de voyage Le travail de veille a été intensifié pour mieux anticiper les évolutions de la crise pandémique et ses conséquences sur la circonscription.

THE CONSULATE’S MISSION DURING THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS

Since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis, the daily life of the French community in Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma has been deeply affected The Consulate General has adapted to this new context in several ways:

- As for the rest of the French consular network, priorities were established with a focus on consular protection and emergency services, especially in the delivery of travel documents. Monitoring of the crisis was put in place in order to anticipate the evolution of the pandemic and its consequences in our area.

- Un plan de continuité de l’activité consulaire a été défini avec le double objectif de protéger les agents et de préserver la continuité du service public Dès le 14 mars, une nouvelle organisation en « bordées » a été mise en place et a rapidement évolué vers un fonctionnement en télétravail pour l’ensemble des agents. De nouveaux outils, notamment pour la réponse téléphonique, ont été déployés

- Le fonctionnement en réseau est aussi essentiel dans la gestion de cette crise atypique. D’une part avec le réseau du Ministère des Affaires Etrangères (notamment son centre de crise et de soutien) de l’ambassade et des 9 autres consulats

A contingency plan for Consular activities was defined with two main objectives: the protection of their staff and the continuity of public service On March 14th , 2 weekly rotating teams were set up but this quickly evolved into remote working for all staff members New tools were deployed to make our emergency call center more effective.

- Efficient communication remained an essential part of managing this unusual crisis On one hand in liaising with the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs (in particular its Crisis and Support Center), the Embassy and the other 9 Consulates

généraux aux Etats-Unis; d’autre part avec le réseau local composé des consuls honoraires et des chefs d’ilot et en liaison avec les conseillers consulaires, les associations et autres relais de la circonscription La FACC Houston et les CCEF comptent parmi ces relais indispensables.

Plusieurs phases peuvent être distinguées depuis le début de la crise.

La mise en place du dispositif a été rapide (16-18 mars), permettant ensuite la gestion du retour anticipé des Français de passage et des étudiants : du 17 mars au 12 avril, 455 appels et 286 courriels ont été traités en 24/7 (deux lignes dédiées en plus du service de réponse téléphonique d’urgence) permettant de régler, avec le concours précieux d’Air France, des situations parfois très complexes

General in the United-States. On the other hand, in liaising with the local network of Honorary Consuls and regional safety coordinators, alongside elected Consular representatives, French associations and other community relays within our district The FACC Houston and the CCEF (Conseillers du Commerce Extérieur) are an essential part of this network

Since the beginning of the crisis, several distinct phases have emerged.

The Consulate was quick to set up a new organization (March 16-18), and the first phase included assisting French citizens (travelers and students) to find flights to go home; from March 17th to April 12th, they processed 455 calls and 286 email messages on a 24/7 basis (2 dedicated lines were added to the existing emergency telephone response line) which enabled them to resolve several very difficult situations, with the precious support of Air France.

En parallèle, le consulat et les services de l’ambassade présents à Houston ont été mobilisés pour renforcer l’analyse de l’évolution de la crise et l’information destinée à la communauté française. Outre une communication régulière par courriel et sur les réseaux sociaux, une rubrique dédiée à la crise du Covid-19 a été créée sur le site Internet houston consulfrance org avec de nombreuses informations pratiques et les réponses aux questions les plus fréquentes, notamment sur la question des déplacements internationaux. Des informations sont également disponibles sur les aides locales aux entreprises et sur le dispositif exceptionnel d’aide sociale mis en place pour les Français de l’étranger

A noter pour la communauté économique, la création par le Service économique régional d’une communauté Linkedin spécifique (pour la rejoindre, contacter le consulat). Sans oublier les propositions culturelles en ligne pour s’évader un peu…

In addition, the Consulate and Embassy services based in Houston were mobilized to monitor the evolving crisis and share essential information with the French community Besides daily communication by email and/or social media, a Covid-19 section was added to the website houston.consulfrance.org with practical information, answers to frequently asked questions such as the ones related to international travel. Other resources regarding loan programs available to businesses or the economic impact payment issued by the French government to French citizens living abroad were also widely shared

The Economic department also set up a dedicated LinkedIn account to assist businesses and share information during the Covid-19 pandemic And in order to allow for escape, the Cultural services gathered educational and cultural resources (in French of course) available online.

L’évolution de la situation locale a permis au consulat de reprendre partiellement ses services depuis le 12 mai dont l’instruction et la délivrance des passeports et cartes nationales d’identité. Afin d’assurer la sécurité des usagers, de nouvelles modalités d’accueil ont été mises en place et la prise de rendez-vous est désormais obligatoire.

En résumé, l’ambition du consulat est d’être à l’écoute et au service de la communauté française et de continuer à l’informer au mieux durant cette crise, notamment sur les dispositifs d’appui face à ses conséquences économiques et sociales.

Enfin, si vous ne l’avez pas déjà fait, le consulat vous invite à vous inscrire au registre des Français à l’étranger. L’inscription, simple et rapide se fait en ligne et c ’est un préalable indispensable pour qu'il puisse vous connaître et vous faire bénéficier de leur appui et de leurs services.

On May 12th, the Consulate was able to re-open and offer a limited array of services including the issuance of passports and ID cards In order to guarantee the safety of the visitors, social distancing guidelines were put in place and an appointment is now mandatory before visiting the Consulate

Consulate's mission is to listen and serve the French community, to inform as best as possible especially in times of crisis, with an emphasis on financial and social assistance programs available.

If you are a French national living abroad, you are invited to visit the website and register online. It is a simple and quick process allowing them to assist and serve you better.

#Flatten the curve

FACC HOUSTON

SUPPORTING OUR MEMBERS TO DEAL WITH COVID-19 IMPACTS

KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE AND INFORMED

ASSISTANCE TO SMALL BUSINESSES

WEBINARS SERIES

DEDICATED CONTENTS WITH TIPS & TOOLS

ENTREPRENEUR DISCUSSION

ACTINGASAFACILITATOR

TODEVELOPBUSINESSCONNECTIONS

&TOFURTHERINGBUSINESSOPPORTUNITIESBETWEEN HOUSTONANDFRANCE.

ASK US ANYTHING contact@facchouston.org

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Support our members on their business endeavor in Houston

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A DYNAMIC BOARD OF DIRECTORS COMMITTED TO THE MISSION OF THE FRENCH-AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Marie Helene Ben Samoun Partner and Managing Mary Anne Brelinsky President EDF Energy Services

Dennis Petito FACC Honorary Chairman

Alexis Andres Consul General of France in Houston

Richard De Moucheron HR Director Global Operation

Ed Hirs Managing Director

Elizabeth Hunter Managing Director & Senior Banker

Kimberly Johnston National Tax Partner - Energy

Marie Maitre Communications Advisor

Stephen Newton Partner

Arlecia Williams Regional Sales Director

Marie-Nathalie Contou-Carrere Research Advisor for Industry Partners

Bruce Rutherford Managing Director

Laurent Pagnon V al

Gwenaelle Huet CEO

John Eldridge FACC Chairman Partner, Senior Counsel

Jerome Pelletan CFO & Senior VP, Global Functions

Jean-François Bonneté CEO

Jacques Fox Chef and Owner

Stephen Vuong Nguyen VP Business Banking

Franck Avice FACC President

Patrick De Talancé Head of Oil & Gas North America

Nicolas De Coignac Senior Vice President, CEO North America

Franck Trochet VP Finances US

Manuel Orillac Corporate Transactions Partner