For small businesses looking to work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District, the easiest way is to listen to the excitement and passion coming from the voice of Tonya Willis, the office of small business programs chief. PRINT | E-MAIL For small businesses looking to work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District, the easiest way is to listen to the excitement and passion coming from the voice of Tonya Willis, the office of small business programs chief. Willis, with her infectious smile and energy, leads the small business program efforts and relishes her role as a facilitator to others. “I love to connect small businesses with the government and keep them in the forefront of government thoughts, said Willis. “We create contracts with different entities and are always thinking about how to employ and engage small businesses.” It’s an important job, as the number of small businesses in the United States as of 2022 is 32.5 million and comprises 99.9% of all American businesses, according to the Small Business Association. In fiscal year 2022, the district had a successful year, obligating 760 contracts totaling $293 million with 61% of contract dollars obligated to […]

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1. Choose a Business Name You must form your business with a formal business name, so start by choosing a name for your business. This could be a brand name you want to use publicly or just a name you’ll use officially for the business entity. You can choose almost any name you want for your business, as long as it: Is not being used by another business entity registered in Alabama. You can use the state’s business entity search to see if your name is available in Alabama . Doesn’t include words or abbreviations that imply it’s a different kind of business entity than it is. For example, an LLC can’t include “Corp.” or “Inc.” in the name. Doesn’t imply it’s a bank, trust, insurance or public service company or a profession that requires a license, such as an architect, a doctor or an engineer. Your registered business name is required to include words or abbreviations that indicate the structure of the business, including: Corporation : Corporation, incorporated, Corp. or Inc. Limited liability company : Limited liability company, L.L.C. or LLC Limited partnership : Limited partnership, L.P. or LP Limited liability partnership : Limited liability partnership, L.L.P. or […]

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Apple ( AAPL ) stock has five underappreciated catalysts that could drive it higher over the next 12 months, according to investment firm Morgan Stanley. They include Apple’s first new product category launch in eight years. On Friday, Morgan Stanley analyst Erik Woodring reiterated his overweight, or buy, rating on Apple stock, calling it a "top pick." He also raised his price target to 180 from 175. In morning trades on the stock market today , Apple stock climbed 2.7% to 149.89. "We see a catalyst-rich event path over the next 12 months that is underappreciated by investors," Woodring said in a note to clients. Those catalysts include reaccelerating iPhone and services growth and improving gross profit margins. He also sees two major product launches and the possible introduction of an iPhone subscription program. Apple Stock Faces Challenges Near Term But Apple stock has some challenges to overcome in the meantime, he said. "In the near term, weaker consumer electronics spending, a challenging macro backdrop, FX (foreign exchange) headwinds, iPhone production shortages, and lingering Covid restrictions are headwinds that are likely to result in Apple’s first fiscal year of revenue and EPS (earnings per share) declines since 2019," Woodring […]

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Alice Rolli served as assistant commissioner of strategy for the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development under former Gov. Bill Haslam. Her experience includes managing Sen. Lamar Alexander’s 2014 campaign and leading strategy for education technology companies. Rolli spearheaded a petition effort to prevent development around Fort Negley in 2017. Alice Rolli, a former aide to Gov. Bill Haslam and campaign manager for Sen. Lamar Alexander, is the latest candidate to enter the race to be Nashville’s next mayor. Rolli announced her campaign Friday, joining a growing list of candidates to launch mayoral runs after sitting Nashville Mayor John Cooper revealed he would not seek a second term . "This is a campaign about listening to residents across the county and together setting priorities for our city’s next chapter," Rolli said in a statement announcing her mayoral bid. Her professional experience in business and education strategy spans public and private sectors. Rolli served as an assistant commissioner of strategy for the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development under Haslam. Her experience with political campaigns includes managing Alexander’s successful 2014 U.S. Senate campaign and serving as senior adviser for Randy Boyd’s unsuccessful 2018 bid for Tennessee governor. Rolli […]

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The CEO of The Naked Market (the incubator of Rob’s), Harrison Fugman, Priyanka Chopra, and Nick … [+] Rob’s Backstage Popcorn Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas have a penchant for investing in the food business. Over the last few years, Chopra has not only opened a NYC-based restaurant ( Sona ), but invested in InnerChef and Olipop while Jonas has invested in Saucey , Snackpass , Magic Spoon , and more. before founding Rob’s Backstage Popcorn with his bandmate brothers in 2021. “For me, Rob’s is rooted deeply with the band and even traces back to our New Jersey start,” says Jonas. He first tried the popcorn at the home of Rob Garbowsky, the dad of the Jonas Brothers’ former bassist (and current member of our management team) Greg Garbowsky, after a show. “I knew I had to convince them to bring this popcorn on tour with us and after years of Rob bringing it backstage for our friends and family to eat, we began to tweak the recipe and bring it to life with brand incubator, The Naked Market,” he says. “Now, we’re in over 8,000 stores just a year and a half later, which is a testament […]

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Executive Overview The second annual ARC Industrial Digital Transformation Top 25 report continues to highlight companies that are succeeding at integrating digital technology into all areas of business, fundamentally changing the way they operate and deliver value to customers. Based on a rigorous process using financial indicators, transformation indicators, and collective community intelligence, this report identifies and ranks leaders in this complex space. Methodology changes were introduced in this year’s report, including the addition of the ARC sustainability index, which is an expansion and replacement of the ESG index reported last year, a reduction in the weighting of the financial indicators and an increase in the weighting of the transformation indicators. Eight new companies joined this year’s list. Seven companies dropped off the list and several companies moved either up or down in this list. This movement is an expected outcome, especially given the year over year changing dynamics, and shifting weighting of the three main components of the analysis – financial indicators, transformation indicators, and collective intelligence. Digital transformation leaders can be found across many different industries, sharing common traits and visions, helping them overcome complex challenges to innovate and stay agile. The companies mentioned in this report […]

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Sound Image installed two 5m x 3m Christie LED videowalls and a Christie Spyder X80 image processor in a 126-seat executive conference centre for Edwards Lifesciences. The integrator worked with technology consultant Plannet to design the display system for the medical technology company in Irvine, California. Microphones were installed at each seat. Six cameras are used at the front and two in the rear of the room, in conjunction with the Spyder X80, which enables multi-window and self-configurable full auto-tracking during video calls. Edwards specified an off-board power supply and indicated that it required a fully redundant space that included full video production suite as well as self-serviceability. The two 1.2mm LED video walls were installed with redundant Christie E600 controllers.

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In this episode of Foresight Africa podcast, Gracelin Baskaran, a World Bank consultant and Bye-Fellow at Cambridge, discusses Africa’s rich natural resources, especially rare earth elements, and offers recommendations for how Africa’s nations can leverage these assets for the benefit of the continent. She also addresses South Africa’s economy and how climate change affects economic growth and debt.

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I’m a great believer that every challenge is really an opportunity. It is no secret that employers are struggling to recruit staff with the right skills for their organisations. If we could find a way of resolving that shortage, companies would be able to grow more easily, and their employees would have more opportunities for professional advancement. AICPA & CIMA’s research into the future direction of the accounting and finance profession has highlighted the importance of continually learning , unlearning , and relearning skills. This is because the modern workplace is evolving rapidly as a result of digitisation and changes to working practices that developed during the pandemic, such as remote working. The productivity gains that could result from exploiting the opportunities of the new business environment make the process of continued upskilling worthwhile for both workers and their employers. Unfortunately, the skills gap — the disparity between the skills the workforce has and the skills employers need — is currently widening, according to AICPA & CIMA research released in February. In the UK, one of the markets I lead for AICPA & CIMA, we commissioned polling which found that 82% of SME employers identified skills gaps within their […]

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For nearly 30 years, I have had the privilege of serving as president of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce. I’ve worked with thousands of Maine businesses and thousands of local industry leaders to improve prosperity for all Maine people. Our common goals have been to strengthen and grow our economy, to build enthusiasm for Maine entrepreneurship and ingenuity, to collaborate and problem-solve in overcoming challenges and to create opportunities for our young people, veterans and all Mainers to have good-paying jobs right here in the state they call home. A lift boat, right, that serves as a work platform assembles a wind turbine off Block Island, R.I., in 2021. The Maine Research Array, an offshore wind initiative, will cultivate a manufacturing industry that is expected to bring over $375 million in direct construction spending to Maine and create an estimated 3,250 good-paying jobs for Maine people. Michael Dwyer/Associated Press, File ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dana Connors is president of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce. As I prepare to pass the torch , I want to highlight an incredible economic opportunity that uniquely combines all the goals we’ve advanced as business advocates: Maine-made offshore wind. Offshore wind research and […]

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