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Axalta recently announced Dr. Carmen Flosbach and Dr. Michael Koerner have been elevated to Axalta Fellow, the highest honor that a scientist or engineer can earn within Axalta’s Technology function.
Through individual and collaborative contributions, Axalta Fellows have delivered commercial success with cutting-edge technologies and have had a strategic impact on Axalta’s businesses.
Flosbach has been a catalyst for innovation throughout her 30plus year career. As a leading expert in resin synthesis, she has delivered multiple new polymers for various different chemistry types including acrylic, aspartate, polycarbonate, polyester and polyurethane.
Koerner is Axalta’s technical expert in waterborne coatings and rheology and has spent 34 years with Axalta. He holds numerous patents and his innovations in waterborne technology have led to, or enhanced, waterborne coating technologies at Axalta.
Source: Axalta Louisiana could receive billions of dollars in new federal infrastructure spending despite a disagreement over the plan between the state's two U.S. senators.
U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-LA, was a lead negotiator in the roughly $1 trillion “Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act” proposal that reached bipartisan agreement July 28. The plan includes $550 billion in new spending on top of reauthorizing existing federal infrastructure programs at their highest funding levels.
“Louisiana has been impacted more than any other state by flooding and natural disasters these past few years. In addition to billions for roads and bridges, it includes $47 billion dollars to address resiliency and protect communities,” he said.
“This is the largest investment in roads, bridges, broadband and our coastline in the history of our state,” Cassidy added.
The legislation isn’t a done deal, though it passed a key milestone when 67 senators voted in favor of a procedural measure to advance the bill toward floor debate; 60 senators are needed for final passage. frastructure projects.
“It would fund more than $6 billion for Louisiana’s roads and highways,” he said, adding the state has 1,634 bridges and more
than 3,411 miles of highway in “poor condition.”
“Commute times are up 9.3% since 2011 and bad roads result in an average cost to drivers of $667 per year,” he said.
Another $6 billion will purportedly fund state highway improvements and $371 million will go to Louisiana’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund program and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, which includes $53 million for Lake Pontchartrain.
Funding for the state's airports and streamlined permitting processes are included, as are grants for erosion, flooding and habitat restoration along Louisiana's coastal shorelines.
U.S. Sen. John Kennedy, also a Louisiana Republican, voted against the bill along with 31 GOP colleagues. Sen. Mike Lee, R-UT, voiced the dissenting view, saying the full text has not been released and that the trillion-dollar spending package will only add to current “inflationary pressures and mounting federal debt.”
“Housing, food, gasoline and electricity are all becoming more expensive in large part because the federal government keeps spending more money than it has,” Lee said.
Despite concerns over what will appear in the finalized version of the Democratic-led bill, Cassidy said he received commitments for billions of dollars for Louisiana in-
CARSTAR Colorado Business Group Donates Restored Vehicle to Local Car Enthusiast Through Make-A-Wish Foundation
Stanton Gustavson’s wish was to restore his 1974 Datsun 240z.
The Colorado Business Group, a collective group of CARSTAR owners in the Colorado area, teamed up to perform approximately $18,000 worth of work to the vehicle, for this well-deserving resident.
“We restore cars drivers every day in our business, but none are more special than the ones we do with Make-A-Wish Foundation for wish recipients and their families,” said Gary Boesel, owner, CARSTAR Alpine Auto Body and CARSTAR Jordan Road Collision. “We have been honored to work with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to help make wishes come true for members of our community.”
This is the 19th vehicle donated and restored for this group of body shops through the MakeA-Wish Foundation. The team also helped grant five vehicle wishes in 2020, through the midst of the pandemic.
The CARSTAR Colorado Business Group also regularly sponsors local teams, gives back to the industry by donating to its local vocational schools and raises crucial funds and awareness for its charitable cause, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, through its annual golf tournament.
It also provided free vehicle sanitization to front line workers during the height of the pandemic in 2020. This group of premier collision repair owners is committed to giving back to the Colorado communities it serves.
Visit CARSTAR.com for more information.
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