Author: Zenergy

Why Clear HR Communication Is a Strategic Business Lever

Post author By Zenergy
Post date March 2, 2026

For many organizations, HR communication is treated as a support function — something that happens after decisions are made, policies are set, or programs are launched.

In reality, communication is one of the most powerful levers HR teams have to influence cost, engagement, and long-term business outcomes.

Benefits programs, wellness initiatives, and employee supports don’t fail because they’re poorly designed. More often, they fail because employees don’t fully understand them, don’t recognize their value, or don’t know how to use them effectively.

Clear, targeted HR communication goes beyond merely sharing information. It shapes behavior, perception, and trust. Below are the core principles organizations should consider when building HR communication strategies that support both employees and business outcomes.

Communication Is an Underused Cost-Management Tool

Rising benefits costs have pushed many organizations to look closely at plan design, vendor negotiations, and coverage changes. What’s often overlooked is the role communication plays in how benefits are actually used.

When employees don’t understand how their plan works, they’re more likely to:

• Use benefits inefficiently or inappropriately

• Miss preventative care or wellness resources

• Underestimate the value of what’s being offered

• View changes as cuts rather than adjustments

When understanding breaks down, behavior follows — and costs often rise as a result, even when programs are well designed. Clear, timely communication helps employees understand not just what benefits they have, but how to use them effectively, and why certain decisions are made.

Transparency doesn’t mean discouraging use. It means building awareness around how benefits work, how claims impact overall costs, and how individual choices contribute to program sustainability.

One Message Doesn’t Fit Everyone

Many HR communications fall short because they assume a single message will resonate equally across the organization.

In reality, employees engage with information differently depending on role, life stage, location, and level of familiarity with benefits or wellness programs.

Effective HR communication strategies often include:

• Segmented messaging tailored to specific audiences

• Clear visual tools that simplify complex information

• Coordinated campaigns rather than one-off announcements

• Consistent language across HR, leadership, and external partners

When messaging is relevant and accessible, employees are far more likely to engage — and far less likely to tune out.

Awareness Is a Prerequisite for Impact

Engagement doesn’t start with participation — it starts with understanding. Even the strongest wellness or benefits strategy will fail to achieve results if employees aren’t aware of the resources available to them.

HR teams often invest heavily in programs but underestimate the effort required to:

• Explain how resources fit into employees’ day-to-day lives

• Reinforce messaging over time

• Connect programs to real employee needs

• Make information easy to find when and where it’s needed

Communication is more than a single touchpoint. It’s an ongoing process that supports adoption, confidence, and sustained use.

Measuring What Matters in HR Communication

Clear communication shouldn’t be treated as a ‘soft’ effort that can’t be measured.

Establishing the right KPIs allows HR teams to understand whether messaging is being seen, understood, and acted upon — and where adjustments are needed.

Meaningful indicators may include:

• Open and click-through rates on internal communications

• Attendance or participation in programs following outreach

• Engagement trends over time, not just one campaign

• Follow-up actions taken after communication is shared

These metrics help validate what’s working, identify gaps, and move conversations beyond opinion toward evidence-based improvement.

Communication Builds Trust

Benefits adjustments, cost containment strategies, or wellness initiatives can be sensitive topics. Without clear communication, even well-intentioned changes can erode trust.

Employees are more likely to respond positively when communication:

• Explains the why behind decisions

• Acknowledges employee concerns

• Is consistent and transparent

• Reinforces the organization’s investment in employee well-being

When employees understand the value of their benefits and the thinking behind changes, they’re more likely to engage responsibly — and view HR as a partner rather than a gatekeeper.

Making HR Communication a Strategic Priority

Clarity may be the core of communications, but it’s also about alignment.

When HR messaging is thoughtful, targeted, and measurable, it supports:

• Better use of benefits and wellness programs

• More informed employee decision-making

• Stronger engagement and trust

• Greater return on investment across HR initiatives

Organizations that treat communication as a strategic function (and not an afterthought) are better positioned to manage costs, support employees, and adapt as needs evolve.

Zenergy works with organizations to bring clarity, structure, and strategy to complex communications — including HR, benefits, and employee engagement initiatives.

If your programs are strong but engagement is falling short, it may be time to look at how the message is actually landing. Contact us.

Zenergy Communications
info@zenergycom.com

Uncategorized

Web Design Essentials — Part 2: Execution, Infrastructure & Performance

Post author By Zenergy
Post date February 23, 2026

Whether you are designing or redesigning a website, even the most strategically organized approach can fall short if critical execution details are overlooked.

Once a website moves from planning into build, launch, and optimization, technical and operational decisions play a defining role in how the site will perform. Not just on launch day, but long after.

In Part 1, we focused on the strategic foundations that shape whether a website design succeeds or struggles. If you haven’t read Part 1, you can find it here.

Part 2 focuses on the execution details that protect scalability, stability, and lasting performance.

1. URL Structure Is a Long-Term Decision

URL structure refers to how pages are named and organized within a website — everything that comes after the domain name. It affects how easily users navigate content and how clearly search engines understand the relationship between pages.

Clear, logical URLs help users orient themselves quickly. They signal where someone is on the site and what kind of content they can expect next. From an SEO perspective, URLs provide context to search engines, reinforcing site hierarchy and helping preserve visibility over time.

Problems arise when URL decisions are made late, inconsistently, or without a long-term plan. During redesigns, in particular, pages are often renamed, reorganized, or consolidated. If URLs change without careful planning and redirects, search rankings can drop, bookmarked pages break, and internal links lose value.

Strong URL strategies:

• Reflect clear hierarchy and intent

• Support future growth, not just current content

• Preserve search equity through thoughtful planning and redirects

Once a site is live, URLs are difficult to change without consequences. Treating them as a structural foundation and not a launch-day detail prevents avoidable disruption down the road.

2. eCommerce: What Teams Often Forget

eCommerce designs are often approached as a front-end exercise, focusing on product pages, visuals, and checkout screens. But in reality, transactional sites are operational systems that connect marketing, sales, inventory, fulfillment, and analytics, and many issues don’t surface until after launch once real users begin navigating the site and real orders start flowing.

Common gaps include:

• Product structures that don’t scale as catalogs expand

• Filtering and categorization that break down as inventories grow or vary by location

• Checkout flows that introduce friction, especially on mobile

• Backend systems that aren’t designed to support multi-warehouse inventory, PIMs, or DAMs

Behind the scenes, integration readiness is critical. eCommerce sites often rely on connections to inventory systems, pricing logic, fulfillment workflows, and analytics. When these integrations aren’t fully considered during design, teams are left manually fixing issues, reconciling data, or discovering blind spots in reporting.

Successful eCommerce designs treat the website as a connected operational platform and not just a sales interface, ensuring the structure, systems, and workflows can support real-world use at scale.

3. Hosting Is Part of the Brand Experience

Hosting decisions directly influence website performance, reliability, and trust.

Page speed, downtime, and stability are often tied to hosting capacity. Underpowered or poorly configured hosting environments can struggle during traffic spikes, slow down as content libraries grow, or fail under peak demand. From a user’s perspective, this shows up as lag, broken pages, or inconsistent performance — all of which quietly erode confidence.

Hosting also plays a role in SEO. Search engines factor site speed, uptime, and performance consistency into rankings. A website that looks great but runs on weak infrastructure can lose visibility simply because it performs poorly in real conditions.

Strong hosting choices consider:

• How the site performs under traffic spikes

• Whether the environment can scale as content, features, and integrations grow

• Uptime expectations and reliability standards

• Alignment with performance and SEO goals defined earlier in the project

Treating hosting as a strategic decision, rather than a last-minute technical checkbox, helps ensure the site can support growth without compromise.

4. Security Is a Foundational Requirement

Security is often assumed rather than intentionally planned — until something goes wrong.

Website redesigns introduce particular risk because they involve change: new code, new integrations, new plugins, new access permissions, and often new environments. Each of these shifts can create vulnerabilities if security isn’t considered alongside design and development decisions.

Modern websites are increasingly complex, handling user data, third-party integrations, and administrative access, making security an essential part of site health and user trust.

Key considerations include:

• Clearly defined access controls and permissions

• Ongoing updates, monitoring, and maintenance plans

• Protection against vulnerabilities introduced during migrations or feature changes

• Clear ownership for ongoing security responsibility after launch

Security planning isn’t about fear, it’s about resilience. A secure site protects users, content, and the organization’s reputation.

5. Backups, Stability & Risk Planning

Having backups isn’t the same as being protected.

Many teams assume backups exist, only to discover gaps during updates, launches, or migrations — common design moments when sites are most vulnerable to data loss or downtime.

Effective risk planning includes:

• Verified, automated backups that are tested regularly

• Clear recovery processes, not just backup files

• Understanding exactly what’s backed up — and how often

• Stability planning during updates, migrations, and feature rollouts

When stability and recovery are planned upfront, teams gain confidence to evolve the site without fear of costly setbacks.

6. Post-Launch Analytics That Actually Matter

Launch day is the point where real insight begins. Until a site is live, assumptions drive decisions. Once users start interacting with it, behavior reveals what’s actually working.

The first 30–90 days after launch are especially important. This is when teams can see how users move through the site, where friction appears, and whether the design is supporting its intended goals.

Post-launch analytics should:

• Align directly with the site’s established goals, so performance is evaluated against purpose

• Focus on user behavior, such as engagement, drop-off points, and conversion paths

• Monitor early performance signals, including page load speed, bounce rates, and completion of key actions

• Inform iteration and optimization, replacing subjective feedback with evidence-based decisions

When analytics are used this way, they become a tool for refinement and improvement. Teams gain clarity on what to adjust, what to protect, and where to invest next.

Designing for What Comes Next

A successful website isn’t defined by launch day. It’s defined by how well the site performs, scales, and adapts over time.

When execution details are treated with the same strategic intent as messaging and design, organizations protect their investment and avoid costly rework.

Zenergy helps organizations think beyond launch and aesthetics — approaching websites as long-term systems, from structure and infrastructure to performance, governance, and ongoing optimization.

Let’s talk before small web design oversights become big issues.

Zenergy Communications
info@zenergycom.com

Uncategorized

Game-Changing TFL on Plywood Solution, EverPly+, Unveiled by Garnica and Genesis Products

Post author By Zenergy
Post date February 19, 2026

Raleigh, North Carolina – February 19, 2026 – Garnica, a leading manufacturer of premium sustainable plywood recently announced the launch of EverPly+, an advanced thermally fused laminate (TFL) on plywood solution developed in collaboration with Genesis Products. The panels were showcased at the Kitchen & Bathroom Industry Show (KBIS) 2026, one of the industry’s leading events, in Orlando earlier this month.

EverPly+ combines Genesis’s expertise in decorative surface systems with Garnica’s high-performance, sustainably-sourced plywood. The result is a solution engineered to address longstanding challenges in decorative panel fabrication, including thickness variability, core consistency, weight, and durability. While TFL is commonly applied to particleboard or MDF, plywood has historically been more difficult to use due to core variability, splicing requirements, and machining limitations. EverPly+ overcomes these barriers by using Garnica’s virtually void-free Efficiency Poplar plywood as the core, enabling:

Precise thickness accuracy for consistent fabrication and assembly.
Lightweight performance. EverPly+ is approximately 15% lighter than particleboard.
Improved machinability and extended tool life due to a less abrasive core.
Enhanced strength and moisture resistance compared to traditional composite substrates.

“This collaboration reflects Garnica’s long-term commitment to engineering high-performance solutions that also meet the sustainability expectations of modern construction and design,” said Álvaro González, CEO of Garnica. “As material expectations continue to evolve across cabinetry, closets and interior construction, EverPly+ represents a step toward more integrated, performance-driven panel solutions for the North American market.”

“By pairing our decorative surface expertise with Garnica’s advanced plywood technology, we are delivering a solution that simplifies specification while improving real-world performance for manufacturers and designers,” added Jon Wenger, CEO of Genesis Products.

EverPly+ demonstrates how responsibly-sourced plywood can deliver precision and durability without compromising on aesthetics.

About Garnica

Garnica is a global leader in the production of innovative and high-quality plywood, designed to meet the needs of the most demanding customers. Rooted in a strong respect for nature, people, and the community, the company works with wood from sustainable and renewable sources to preserve ecological balance. With over 1,100 employees, Garnica operates a total of seven production centers in Spain and France, strategically located to the main poplar plantation basins in Europe. Additionally, it has three offices including its headquarters in Logroño (La Rioja), support offices in Madrid, Spain and Raleigh in the United States. To strengthen its international presence, Garnica opened a warehouse in Savannah, US in 2024.

About Genesis Products

Genesis Products is a leading supplier of laminated panels, wood components and custom molded solutions serving OEMs across a growing spectrum of industries including RV, Manufactured Housing, Building Materials, Healthcare, Office & Education, Cabinet & Storage, Furniture, Transportation, and Heavy Truck.

– 30 –

Media Contact:

Zenergy Communications

media@zenergycom.com

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Here’s what matters more than the next ‘great idea’

Post author By Zenergy
Post date February 12, 2026

Pulse by Zenergy

Ideas in Action

Your monthly dose of expert insights, trends, and strategies in marketing and communications.

This month’s theme: Commitment

Commitment is often mistaken for intensity: working harder, moving faster, saying yes more often. In reality, commitment is often quieter and more deliberate. It shows up in consistency, follow-through, and in the decisions organizations continue to make long after the initial excitement fades.

In business, commitment is what turns strategy into practice and relationships into partnerships. It’s what sustains momentum when results take time and progress isn’t immediately visible. Organizations that treat commitment as an operating principle — both internally and externally — tend to see stronger results. Consistently meeting internal deadlines builds trust within teams and extends that reliability to clients.

Commitment is What Happens After the Strategy is Set

Many organizations invest significant time defining strategy, vision, and goals. Fewer invest the same energy in what comes next: sustained commitment to execution.

Where commitment breaks down, initiatives stall. Messaging becomes inconsistent. Priorities shift prematurely. Teams lose confidence in what’s worth investing in.

Try This: The Commitment Test

Before approving a new initiative, campaign, or shift in direction this quarter, run it through a simple commitment filter:

1. Time test
Would we still support this six months from now if early results are quiet?

2. Resource test
Are we willing to assign real ownership and budget or is this a ‘nice-to-have’?

3. Consistency test
Does this reinforce what we’ve already said we stand for, or pull us in a new direction?

4. Trade-off test
What are we willing to pause or stop to make room for this?

If an initiative can’t pass at least three of the four, it may be an idea worth parking.

Key takeaway: Commitment isn’t about doing more. It’s about choosing fewer things and backing them long enough to matter.

“Commitment is an act, not a word.”

– Jean-Paul Sartre –

This Month's Theme: Architecture and Design

#IndustryInsight

In 2026, architecture and design firms aren’t competing on aesthetics alone — they’re competing on how clearly they reduce uncertainty for clients.

Across residential, commercial, and institutional projects, clients are navigating tighter budgets, longer approval timelines, and more stakeholders at the table. As a result, many are choosing firms based on one question: “Who will make this easier to get done?”

We’re seeing three shifts in how A&D firms are positioning themselves to win:

1. From portfolio-led to problem-led marketing

Clients increasingly want to see how firms think through constraints; zoning, approvals, timelines, cost pressures — not just finished projects. Firms that frame their work around challenges solved (rather than images alone) are standing out earlier in the selection process.

2. From broad capability to selective focus

Generalist positioning is losing ground. Firms that clearly signal what they can and cannot take on, whether that’s project size, sector, or geography, are being perceived as more credible, not less. Clarity is reducing friction in client decision-making.

3. From reactive business development to visible momentum

Rather than only marketing when chasing RFPs, firms that maintain a steady public presence are staying top of mind when opportunities arise.

What this means for A&D firms:
The firms winning consistently are the ones making it easier for clients to understand fit, feasibility, and confidence before the first meeting ever happens.

If you’re rethinking how your firm communicates fit, feasibility, and confidence, Zenergy works with architecture and design teams to clarify positioning, strengthen visibility, and support growth.

Connect with us to continue the conversation.

#Poll: Which aspect of commitment matters most at work?

Answer our poll here.

Reach 250,000+ Attendees at Toronto's ICFF – Lavazza IncluCity Festival 2026

Every summer, Toronto becomes a cultural playground — and this year, your brand could be part of the city’s most unforgettable celebration.

The 15th edition of the ICFF – Lavazza IncluCity Festival returns from June 11 to July 19, 2026, transforming the Distillery District into a six-week showcase of cinema, music, food, sport, and innovation.

With 250,000+ attendees, 150+ films, 50+ live concerts, World Cup watch parties, and interactive brand activations, ICFF offers a powerful platform to connect with experience-driven audiences at one of Canada’s most vibrant summer festivals.

Sponsorship opportunities are now open. We’d love to explore how your brand can be part of this milestone 15th edition.

📩 Contact us to learn more: info@zenergycom.com

Commitment Is How Trust Is Built

Trust isn’t created through one strong campaign or announcement. It’s built through repeated signals over time.

Organizations that communicate commitment clearly tend to:

• Build stronger relationships with media, clients, and stakeholders

• Navigate uncertainty with greater credibility

• Maintain confidence during periods of change or scrutiny

When commitment is visible, audiences know what you stand for and what you won’t compromise. Without it, even strong strategies risk appearing opportunistic or inconsistent.

Action to consider: Look at your external communications over the last six months. Do they reinforce a steady commitment, or do they reflect frequent shifts in focus?Zenergy works with organizations to express commitment clearly through PR, strategic messaging, media training, and reputation management.

Let’s talk about how your commitment shows up externally.

Share Your Perspective with 20,000+ Readers!

#BeOurGuest

Have an insight, lesson, or point of view worth sharing? Pulse by Zenergy welcomes guest contributors who want to spark thoughtful conversation around strategy, communications, and leadership.

Get in touch to learn more.

Planning a Website Redesign or New Build? Read This First

#ZenergyBlog

Websites are often an organization’s first impression — long before a call, meeting, or email.

A new design should strengthen that impression, not just modernize it.

Before jumping into visuals, there are strategic questions every team should answer around purpose, structure, performance, and alignment.

We’ve outlined the essentials to consider before a website redesign or new build, from defining objectives and success metrics to messaging, navigation, SEO, and post-launch planning.

👉 Click here to read the full blog.

What We're Reading

“Vibrant, dynamic, and contemporary”: How the look of the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 was created

The return of the intuitive designer in the age of AI

How rising retail brands use influencers to combat digital overload

Best and worst Super Bowl commercials of 2026 as rated by experts

What the Perplexity-Amazon lawsuit could mean for digital advertising

Local ≠ small brand impact

#FeelGoodStory

At speeds reaching 90 mph, downhill skiing is one of the most dangerous sports in the world.

Now, athletes competing at this year’s Winter Olympics in Italy will wear smart airbag vests that deploy during serious crashes — helping protect skiers without slowing them down.

It’s a powerful example of how innovation can push performance forward while putting safety first.

Read the full story here.

“Commitment is choosing what matters most — and continuing to show up for it, even when progress isn’t immediate.”

Linda Farha
President and Founder
Zenergy Communications

Uncategorized

Planning a Website Redesign or New Build? Read this first

Post author By Zenergy
Post date February 9, 2026

For many organizations, a website is the first place people learn who you are, what you do, and how you position yourself. Before a sales call, before a meeting, before an email is answered, your website is often doing the work of a modern receptionist: setting expectations, directing visitors, and shaping credibility.

What many teams underestimate is that designing a website isn’t just a creative exercise. It’s a business infrastructure project that touches messaging, navigation, performance, and internal workflows all at once.

When designs underperform, it’s rarely because of design quality alone. More often, the strategic thinking behind the project was never fully clarified. Project directors chase aesthetics instead of outcomes, and the design ends up amplifying whatever thinking already exists — good or bad.

So, before starting a website redesign or new build, these are the essentials that should be considered.

1. Start With Why — Not How

If you can’t clearly answer why you’re launching a new site or redesigning, you’re not ready to move forward. Success should be tied to clear business goals and measurable outcomes — not opinions, preferences, or trends.

Common (but weak) reasons include:

• “It deels outdated”

• “Our competitors redesigned”

• “We want something more modern”

Stronger reasons are grounded in purpose:

• The site no longer supports business goals

• Messaging no longer reflects positioning

• User behavior has changed

• Conversion paths are unclear or ineffective

A website overhaul doesn’t fix underlying problems — it amplifies them. If goals are unclear or success isn’t defined, a new site tends to make those gaps more visible.

2. Clarify the Role of Your Website

Trying to make a website do everything usually means it does no one thing particularly well. Before design begins, teams need to agree on the role the website plays within the business and the customer journey. In other words: what job is the site meant to perform?

Is it primarily meant to:

• Act as a lead-generation tool

• Educate and inform audiences

• Support sales conversations

• Serve investors, partners, or other stakeholders

Strong websites don’t try to serve every audience the same way. Rather than presenting everything at once, they guide different audiences through intentional paths — much like a receptionist directing visitors to the right resource.

Clearly defining the role a website plays becomes increasingly important as sites grow more complex. Modern sites rarely operate in isolation; they connect to internal systems, content libraries, sales tools, and partner resources. When a website is treated as a standalone deliverable instead of part of a broader operational ecosystem, it often struggles to scale over time.

3. Define What Success Looks Like

Once the objectives of the website are clear, success needs to be defined. Without clear targets, a new design is just a visual reset. Teams should align on what success means for the website before design begins — and how it will be measured after launch.

That might include outcomes such as:

• Generating more qualified leads

• Improving conversion rates

• Increasing engagement with priority audiences

• Clarifying pathways to key content

• Improving performance metrics like load speed or bounce rate

Without agreed-upon targets, design decisions become subjective — and it becomes difficult to assess whether the new site is performing better than the one it replaced.

4. Messaging Comes Before Design

Once goals and success metrics are defined, the next critical step is ensuring the website clearly communicates what it’s meant to say.

Many websites fail because:

• Design is finalized before messaging is clearly defined

• Content is treated as a later step rather than a foundation

• Teams assume visuals will fix clarity issues

Design should support messaging, not mask confusion. Clear positioning improves user experience far more than animation, motion, or visual effects alone.

The most effective websites don’t start with inspiration boards or the latest trends. They start with audience needs and key messaging — and then use design, structure, and features to reinforce understanding.

5. Navigation is a Trust Signal

Users don’t read websites, they scan them. And when internal teams struggle to agree on navigation, that confusion almost always shows up for users.

Poor navigation:

• Creates friction and hesitation

• Increases bounce rates

• Signals disorganization or lack of focus

Good navigation:

• Reflects how users actually think and search

• Prioritizes clarity over clever labels

• Guides action naturally toward next steps

6. SEO and Performance Should Be Built In — Not Bolted On

SEO and performance should be considered early in the design process. They directly affect how easily people find your site, how they experience it, and whether it supports lead flow and revenue.

Common pitfalls include:

• URLs changing without proper redirect mapping

• Existing search equity being lost overnight

• Page speed and performance being overlooked until close to launch

• Analytics not properly configured or validated after launch

Web designs that treat SEO, performance, and measurement as afterthoughts often experience visibility drops that take months or longer to recover from. If success can’t be measured, it can’t be managed.

7. Internal Alignment is the Hidden Make-or-Break Factor

Web design delays are rarely technical. They’re more often the result of how decisions are made, owned, and aligned internally across teams.

Common issues include:

• Too many decision-makers

• No clear owner

• Endless revisions

• Conflicting opinions

The most successful web builds establish clear decision authority, defined roles, and alignment early, not at the approval stage. Without this foundation, timelines slip, budgets stretch, and momentum is lost.

8. The launch is the Beginning, Not the End

A new website or redesign is not a finish line; it’s the start of an ongoing performance cycle.

After launch, teams should be prepared to:

• Monitor user behavior

• Review performance data

• Refine content

• Optimize pathways

Many sites lose momentum post-launch because ownership, training, and optimization responsibilities were never clearly defined. The most effective websites continue to evolve as real users interact with them.

Design With Intention

A website redesign or new build is one of the most visible investments an organization can make. When approached intentionally, it strengthens credibility, improves performance, and supports long-term growth. When rushed or misaligned, it becomes a costly reset.

Whether you’re considering a full web revamp or questioning whether your current site is still doing its job, Zenergy helps teams approach website projects strategically — from messaging and structure to execution and launch.

In Part 2, we look beyond strategy to the execution details that protect performance, scalability, and long-term value. Read Part 2 here.

Let’s talk before design begins.

Zenergy Communications
info@zenergycom.com

Uncategorized

Garnica Appoints Jonathan Martínez as Chief Human Resources Officer

Post author By Zenergy
Post date February 5, 2026

Logroño, Spain, February 5, 2026 — Garnica, a leading manufacturer of premium sustainable plywood, recently announced the appointment of Jonathan Martínez as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). He has been part of Garnica’s leadership team since 2021.

As CHRO, he is responsible for aligning talent and organizational development with Garnica’s long-term strategy, supporting sustainable growth, and strengthening the company’s corporate culture across all operations.

With over 20 years of experience in human resources, Jonathan has built his career across several industrial sectors including packaging, automotive, recycling, and the paper industry. He has also led HR functions in large production plants, managed multi-site operations, and contributed to international industrial projects and growth initiatives.

“Jonathan brings deep industrial HR expertise and a strong understanding of complex, high-demand operating environments,” said Álvaro González, CEO of Garnica. “His experience leading people strategies across multiple sectors and geographies has been instrumental in supporting Garnica’s growth and transformation and this appointment reinforces the strategic role of people and culture in our business. At this time I am especially proud to note the completion our C-level team through internal appointments, recognizing the talent, commitment, and long-term dedication of the people who grow with Garnica.”

“Garnica is a company with a strong operational base and a clear commitment to sustainable growth,” added Jonathan. “In my role as CHRO, my priority is to ensure that our strategy supports the business, empowers our teams, and fosters an environment of safety, continuous improvement and professional development as we navigate ongoing transformation.”

Martínez holds a Law degree and a Master’s in Human Resources and Occupational Risk Prevention, with specializations in Safety, Hygiene, Ergonomics, and Psychosociology. He also completed an Executive MBA at ESIC Business & Marketing School in Zaragoza.

As Chief Human Resources Officer, Martínez will focus on operational excellence in people management, talent development, workplace improvement, and supporting Garnica’s strategic and transformation initiatives.

About Garnica

– 30 –

Media Contact:

Zenergy Communications

media@zenergycom.com

Uncategorized

TEST -Fractional MARCOM: A Marketing Department Built for Growth. Not Overhead.

Post author By Zenergy
Post date

Strategic leadership and execution, without the cost and complexity of building a full internal MARCOM team.

Waiting for the right time to fix your marketing gaps? The reality is there’s no better time than right now. In fact, by putting it off, you may be losing visibility, potential leads, and market position.

Zenergy works as an extension of your organization to provide the strategy, content, digital marketing, design and communications support needed to build visibility and drive growth.

Most growing companies face the same problem: they know they need stronger marketing and communications, but building a full internal team is expensive, time-consuming and difficult to structure.

Zenergy’s fractional MARCOM team model provides:

Strategic marketing leadership
North American market entry support
Multilingual content and thought leadership development
Digital marketing and social media
Design and brand support
Public relations and visibility initiatives
Internal communications support

The result is a structured, consistent marketing presence that supports your business goals.

How We Work

MARCOM Gap Audit. We begin with a short diagnostic of your current marketing and communications capabilities (most companies score below 25).

Strategic Priorities. Together we identify the most important areas to strengthen (i.e. messaging, visibility, content, digital presence or campaigns).

Fractional MARCOM Support. Our team integrates with your organization to deliver ongoing strategy and execution.

Measurable Progress. We track activity and results to ensure that the marketing and communications efforts support tangible business objectives.

We provide full-circle support or collaborate where needed, working as a seamless extension of your team.

MARCOM Gap Audit Assessment

Take Zenergy’s complimentary MARCOM Gap Audit Assessment and discover the opportunities to strengthen your marketing, communications, and business visibility.

Take the assessment

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2026 SALARY INCREASES: CANADIAN BUDGET FORECASTS REMAIN TIGHTLY ALIGNED WITH SUMMER PROJECTIONS

Post author By Zenergy
Post date January 21, 2026

Average increases of 3.0% projected for 2026.
Employers increasingly pressed to rethink compensation and total rewards strategies amid ongoing uncertainty.
42% of organizations plan to secure additional budgets to address compensation challenges.
Slow but steady decline in salary increase budgets observed since 2023.

Toronto, Ontario, January 21, 2026 – Normandin Beaudry, a leader in actuarial and total rewards consulting services, has released the findings of its Salary Increase Pulse Survey, with nearly 400 Canadian organizations participating during the last quarter of 2025. Results indicate that Canadian organizations are expected to continue slightly scaling back their salary increase budgets, with an average projected increase of 3.0% in 2026, excluding salary freezes. This is a further reduction of 0.1% compared to results from summer 2025.

“As economic and trade uncertainty continues to shape Canada’s market, organizations are taking a cautious, gradual approach to salary increase budgets. At the same time, heightened expectations for transparency are pushing organizations to refine and clearly articulate the holistic employee experience and total rewards they offer,” said Darcy Clark, Senior Principal, Compensation at Normandin Beaudry.

HIGHLIGHTS

Organizations making salary budget changes have varying intentions

Results indicate that nearly three-quarters of organizations (74%) are not planning any changes to their initial salary increase budget projections from last summer. For the 26% of participating organizations planning adjustments to their initial budget, more than half will be making a reduction and the rest are intending to increase their initial budget.

The Canadian national average salary increase budget, originally projected at 3.1% excluding wage freezes, has now decreased by 0.1%. This reduction is aligned with the steady decline observed since 2023. In addition to the traditional salary increase budget, 42% of respondents have allocated an average of 0.8% of payroll for additional budget funds.

Total rewards strategies at centre of employee experience

Organizations are also focusing internally on their total rewards foundations in 2026, with strategies aimed at:

Employee engagement: 58%
Compliance with legislative requirements (pay equity and transparency): 47%
Employee communication: 42%

With employees expecting greater levels of transparency, organizations are focused on developing and refining their broader employee experience and total reward strategies.

Workforce increases projected

Other economic indicators remain positive with almost half of organizations (47%) expecting their annual incentive plan to pay at or above target and 35% of organizations planning an increase in their workforce during 2026.

The full report and interactive tool, with details by province, industry sector, size and type of organization, are available on the Normandin Beaudry website.

About Normandin Beaudry

Founded in 1992, Normandin Beaudry is recognized for its leading-edge total rewards consulting services. Independent and wholly owned by an ever-growing number of its professionals, Normandin Beaudry has an ownership structure that puts it in a unique position as one of the few major firms in the field with exclusively Canadian interests. From offices in Montreal, Toronto and Quebec City, a team of over 350 professionals serves an enviable list of clients across Canada that includes organizations of all sizes and industries from the private, public, para-public and not-for-profit sectors.

Excellence spans the globe! As an independent and equal shareholder in MBWL International since 2023, Normandin Beaudry’s reach now extends to 50+ countries.

About our compensation expertise

Normandin Beaudry’s team of over 40 compensation consultants is one of the largest in Canada. Through the sound and innovative use of data and technology, our versatile and creative experts provide clients with unique and simple solutions that address their strategic and operational needs. For more details, visit https://www.normandin-beaudry.ca/en/areas-of-expertise/compensation/

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Media Contact:

Zenergy Communications

media@zenergycom.com

Uncategorized

Garnica Appoints Jaime Álvarez as Chief Marketing Officer

Post author By Zenergy
Post date January 20, 2026

Logroño, Spain – January 20, 2026 — Garnica, a leading manufacturer of premium sustainable plywood, recently announced the appointment of Jaime Álvarez as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). In his new role, Jaime will lead Garnica’s global marketing strategy, with a focus on brand development, market expansion, and aligning the company’s value proposition with the evolving needs of architects, designers, and industry partners worldwide.

With over 15 years of experience in marketing and commercial strategy, Jaime began his career in the consumer electronics technology sector, where he led product marketing initiatives and strategic projects. His professional background includes full-scope marketing management, pricing strategy, product development, business intelligence, and the execution of growth and digital transformation initiatives.

“Jaime has played a central role in shaping Garnica’s marketing, pricing, and product strategy over the past decade,” said Álvaro González, CEO of Garnica. “His extensive understanding of our business, combined with his strategic mindset and experience across global markets, positions him to lead our marketing department as we continue to grow internationally. This final appointment to our C-level team reflects our commitment to developing talent from within and building a leadership team rooted in dedication, continuity, and shared values.”

“I am excited to step into this new role and help build a strong, consistent global brand while staying closely aligned with the needs of our customers and partners,” said Álvarez. “Garnica has a clear value proposition rooted in innovation, sustainability, and performance, and I look forward to working across teams to ensure that value is clearly communicated and delivered in every market we serve.”

Alvarez holds a degree in International Economics and a Master’s in Marketing and Commercial Management from ESIC Business & Marketing School. He has also completed specialized programs in Digital Marketing at IESE Business School and international studies at the University of Warsaw.

As Chief Marketing Officer, Jaime will focus on strengthening Garnica’s global brand, supporting market-led growth, and reinforcing alignment between product innovation, sustainability, and customer needs across regions.

About Garnica

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Media Contact:

Zenergy Communications

media@zenergycom.com

Uncategorized

Expo Design Announces Strategic Alliance with INT.DESIGN

Post author By Zenergy
Post date January 20, 2026

COLLABORATIVE EXPERTISE IN DESIGN, ARCHITECTURE, AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT SET TO DELIVER UNPRECEDENTED VALUE TO EXHIBITORS AND VISITORS

Montréal, Québec – January 20, 2026 – Expo Design, the leading tradeshow dedicated to interior and exterior design materials, is pleased to announce its strategic alliance with INT.DESIGN, the flagship platform of PID Agency in anticipation of its 11^th edition taking place in Montreal on October 7 and 8, 2026.

Produced by Design Spec Rep (DSR), Expo Design has become the must-attend event for architects, designers, cabinetmakers, woodworkers, manufacturers, distributors, contractors, and other industry professionals seeking inspiration, innovation, and networking opportunities.

“Expo Design is the ultimate event for industry professionals to connect with clients, prospects, and suppliers. This new relationship with PID Agency who has been active in the design industry for nearly 40 years, will enable the show to progress to its natural next level,” said Johanne Munger, Director and Events Manager at Design Spec Rep.

Most notably, PID Agency was the driving force behind SIDIM – The Design Show for over 30 years and is well known for its industry platforms INT.DESIGN and the GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN, which celebrate creativity and excellence in design, architecture, landscape, and the built environment. In 2026, one of the two annual GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN Galas will take place on October 8, immediately following the closing of Expo Design, and will bring together over 550 professionals, clients, and suppliers from the industry.

Brigitte Gadoury, Co-President, of Agence PID continued: “We have chosen to unite with Expo Design recognized for the quality of its event, team and leadership. Together, we will develop complementary content that will give the show a distinctive and attractive identity. This initiative aligns with our commitment to promote excellence in the fields of design, architecture, landscape, and the built environment.”

Companies and brands wishing to exhibit at the show are encouraged to email expodesign@cpcl.ca for more information.

About INT.DESIGN (Agence PID)

PID Agency is a Quebec-based media and communications agency with nearly 40 years of experience in the design, architecture, landscape, and built environment sectors. Recognized for its strong design-driven DNA, the agency is a trusted partner to the design industry. Through its flagship platforms—the GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN awards program and the INT.DESIGN magazine and digital portal—PID Agency connects designers, studios, manufacturers, and brands with a global audience, fostering creativity, visibility, and dialogue across international markets. Its initiatives actively contribute to the international positioning and influence of the Canadian design ecosystem.

About Expo Design

Expo Design, produced by Design Spec Rep (DSR), was created to meet the needs of companies targeting designers, architects, and woodworkers by creating a trade show focused entirely on relevant materials. Considered a not to be missed event for industry insiders including architects, designers, kitchen designers, cabinetmakers, woodworkers, manufacturers, contractors, builders/promoters, and other related professionals, Expo Design is the perfect place for companies to launch new product, present their latest innovations, and connect with clients, prospects, and industry professionals.

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Media contact:

Zenergy Communications

media@zenergycom.com

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