Human-centered business: How to talk about identity, diversity & justice

Human-centered business: How to talk about identity, diversity & justice

Facing a need to create more human-centered workplaces that are structured around a culture of care, belonging & inclusion, more organizations are emphasizing diversity and justice initiatives There is no doubt that businesses has become more human-centered since 2020, driven by the restrictions of the pandemic and the increasing diversity of Generations Z and Y. In addition, another multiplier-effect has been the shift in views of capitalism that are urging a focus on the needs of stakeholders — employees, customers, investors, suppliers, and the local communities in which companies operate — rather than just shareholders. Similarly, the greater priority on the well-being of employees stemming from the pandemic is influencing how the cultures of organizations are perceived by employees. Indeed, these employees themselves, often from a wider array of backgrounds, increasingly have varying preferences in where and when they work. Clearly, employees’ expectations are changing faster than are company cultures, which now must play catch up to meet them. This dynamic fosters a need to create more human-centered workplaces that are structured around a culture of care, respect, belonging, and inclusion. Building cultures of inclusion The difficulty in trying to move a company’s culture to meet these needs while […]

Instacart Plans Small-Business Service, Taking Aim at Amazon and Walmart

Instacart Plans Small-Business Service, Taking Aim at Amazon and Walmart

Instacart is gearing up to launch a version of its site tailored to small businesses, a person familiar with the matter said, representing a challenge to Amazon and Walmart as the delivery giant looks to boost revenue ahead of potentially going public. The small-business offering, which the company is developing under the name Instacart Business, would display a curated selection of items such as office supplies, cleaning products and snacks, the person said. The move could help Instacart broaden its appeal beyond home grocery deliveries and comes as the company has been in a holding pattern on a long-awaited initial public offering. Instacart has been keeping its IPO paperwork up to date and could push forward once market conditions improve, The Information reported on Tuesday.

Morris County Celebrates Success of Small Business Grant Program

Morris County Celebrates Success of Small Business Grant Program

Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce Cleared for $15,000 Grant With Valentine’s Day 2023 marking one year since the Morris County Small Business Grant Program launched, the Board of County Commissioners presented one of the program’s final grant approvals to the Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce (PACC) at its headquarters as local dignitaries and business owners gathered this morning for a celebration. “On behalf of our Board of Directors and myself, we are honored to receive the Morris County Small Business Grant and to be recognized as a leading organization that supports our community. We would also like to thank our Morris County Commissioners and the supporters of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021,” said Robert Peluso, President of the Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce. The Morris County Board of County Commissioners launched the Small Business Grant Program exactly one year ago, on Valentine’s Day 2022, with the slogan, “We Love Small Businesses.” It was a unique use of federal ARPA funding to aid local small companies, entrepreneurs and non-profits impacted by the pandemic. “We were not included for the first round of COVID funding provided by the U.S. Government. We (the Commissioners) decided to make unique use of […]

Telecom Italia sees return to core profit growth as home business improves

Telecom Italia sees return to core profit growth as home business improves

Telecom Italia’s logo is seen at the headquarters in Rozzano neighbourhood of Milan, Italy, May 25, 2016. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini MILAN, Feb 14 (Reuters) – Telecom Italia (TIM) (TLIT.MI) said on Tuesday it sees core profit returning to grow this year by a "mid single-digit" percentage thanks to signs of improvement in its battered home business which cushioned a decline of income in 2022. In setting new financial targets, TIM confirmed its turnaround strategy, centred on a reorganisation into several units in order to sell assets and cut its debt pile. "Thanks to the better-than-expected results recorded in 2022, the plan envisages further acceleration at group level," it said in a statement, forecasting "low single digit" growth in 2023 in group revenues from services. Its domestic business is back to growth in 2023 after six years, TIM said. Italy’s biggest phone group reported a 10.6% drop in earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) including lease costs to 5 billion euros for 2022. That compares with a "low-teens" decrease targeted by TIM and was in line with an average forecast in a company-provided consensus. Group service revenue rose 1.3% to 14.6 billion euros, exceeding analyst expectations for a rise […]

Washington, D.C., unveils new small-business portal

Washington, D.C., unveils new small-business portal

The District of Columbia unveiled a beta version of a digital services portal designed to help small businesses open in the nation’s capital. Washington D.C. Chief Technology Officer Lindsey Parker presents a new small-business licensing portal on Feb. 14, 2023, at a Microsoft office in downtown Washington. (Benjamin Freed / Scoop News Group) District of Columbia officials on Tuesday showed off a new website designed as a portal to help small businesses navigate the many bureaucratic and legal processes of setting up shop in the nation’s capital. The new D.C. Business Licensing Portal , which is still considered to be in its beta phase, is the first major project completed by the city’s relatively new digital services team . It’s meant to give small-business operators a replacement to what was once a thicket of forms requiring applicants to jump from agency to agency with little guidance. The project comes as D.C. officials look to rebuild a downtown economy still wounded by the coronavirus pandemic. Lindsey Parker, the district’s chief technology officer and assistant city administrator, said the business portal is designed to offer businesspeople a reprieve from navigating registration forms and licenses required by disparate city agencies and previously […]

Governor Abbott Highlights Ongoing Support For Texas Small Businesses

Governor Abbott Highlights Ongoing Support For Texas Small Businesses

Governor Greg Abbott today highlighted the importance of small businesses to Texas’ booming economy at the National Federation of Independent Business’ (NFIB) Small Business Day in Austin. The Governor also promised to work with the Texas legislature this session to bolster small business’ success. “Small businesses in Texas continue to drive our state’s economy, making Texas an economic powerhouse,” said Governor Abbott. “Thanks to our small businesses, Texas has been named the best state for business 18 years in a row, is the ninth-largest economy in the world, and has the fastest annual jobs growth rate in the nation. This session, we’ll ensure that Texas small businesses continue to fuel our booming economy." During his keynote address to over 160 business leaders, Governor Abbott noted that he will work with members of the Texas House and Senate to provide property tax relief, additional workforce development opportunities, and regulatory reform that will help small businesses continue to thrive in Texas’ mighty economy. NFIB’s Texas Small Business Day provides an opportunity for business owners to hear from legislators and industry professionals on the impact regulations and mandates have on their businesses through a variety of panels and speakers. Learn more about […]

People and Business: Feb. 15

People and Business: Feb. 15

The Morgan Stanley Downeast Group, based in Portland, was named to Forbes magazine’s 2023 list of America’s Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams. From left: Brian McHugh, Andrew Thomas, Jennifer Beecher, Lauren Stone, Michael Melo and Richard Rosu-Myles. Contributed / Morgan Stanley Hires, promotions, appointments Anderson Alf Anderson has been appointed as the associate state director for advocacy and outreach at the AARP Maine state office in Portland. He previously served as director of membership and marketing from 2015 to 2019, as well as executive director of the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce from 2019 to 2022. Dana Totman will serve as the interim executive director of Portland Trails. Totman was the CEO of Avesta Housing for 22 years. He founded the Maine Affordable Housing Coalition in 2000 and he was the deputy director of Maine State Housing from 1994 to 2000. Laurie Bragg is the new executive director of the Maine 4-H Foundation. She joined the foundation at the Magic Lantern Innovation Center as assistant director in March 2022 and recently left her position of outreach and program director at EPSCor at the University of Maine for nine years. Hodgskin Recognition Robin Hodgskin, a senior vice president and financial advisor […]

Community News – ShipRight wins South Portland Business of the Year award

Community News – ShipRight wins South Portland Business of the Year award

SOUTH PORTLAND — The city of South Portland is presenting its business and economic development awards on Feb. 15. ShipRight has been selected for the coveted Business of the Year Award, presented to a company with 25 or more employees that has most improved and strengthened the local business community. Courtesy image “We are very grateful to be recognized for this award”, said Drew Graham, president and founder of ShipRight, in a Feb. 14 news release. “We’ve successfully provided order fulfillment and customer engagement for the past 22 years, and recent marketplace changes have only accelerated the need for our services. “ According to the news release, “ShipRight was recognized for its longevity, its positive impact on the community, and its inclusive employment practices and employee engagement and retention policies. ShipRight was also mentioned for its successful ability to navigate the challenges of the recent pandemic while creating an ongoing economic growth engine in South Portland and Northern New England.” “Ideally we would love to do more with other Maine based businesses,” Graham said. The business and economic development committee receives dozens of nominations yearly for seven different award categories featuring small and large businesses and recognition for various […]

West Greenville soon to lose oldest Black-woman-owned florist after 35 years in business

West Greenville soon to lose oldest Black-woman-owned florist after 35 years in business

Pat Agnew is selling her flower shop after 35 years. Pat Agnew says her property will probably become a new development. Bouquets of roses and peace lilies are still standing spry along the showroom floor of Flowers by Pat, a flower shop wedged between West Greenville and the West End. But the business, owned by a Black woman, is soon to end as the longtime boutique is set to close. The building at 516 Arlington Ave. will likely be sold soon. Patricia Agnew, 73, owner of the florist shop, is ready to retire and close the business because of her age, underlying health conditions and the lack of consistent help. "I hate to give it up, but I want to live," said Agnew. "I’ve got a granddaughter at S.C. State that I want to see cross the stage, and that’s very important to me." Agnew will leave behind the personalized business relationships established on the west side of Greenville. She will say goodbye to a neighborhood she has decorated and defined with condolences, celebratory flowers, and just-because gestures since 1987. Pat and her husband, William, financed the property for $25,000, according to County Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and property […]

Al Whitmore, Intell Business Lead for BAE’s US Arm, Secures 6th Wash100 Win for Driving Growth in Military Training & Federal IT Markets

Al Whitmore, Intell Business Lead for BAE’s US Arm, Secures 6th Wash100 Win for Driving Growth in Military Training & Federal IT Markets

Executive Mosaic is honored to recognize Al Whitmore , president of the intelligence and security sector at BAE Systems Inc. , as a winner of the 2023 Wash100 Award for the company’s growth initiatives in military simulation training and federal information technology markets. He has led the McLean, Virginia-headquartered I&S organization since October 2017. “Al Whitmore has persevered as a winner of six consecutive Wash100 awards by maintaining BAE’s long-standing position of leadership in the industry and strategically partnering to achieve best-in-class integrated agency solutions,” said Jim Garrettson , CEO of Executive Mosaic and creator of the Wash100 Award. In March 2022, BAE acquired Bohemia Interactive Solutions for approximately $200 million to expand virtual and constructive simulation offerings in the military training market and integrated BISim into the business organization under Whitmore. The company won a five-year, $699 million contract in June to provide operations, maintenance, and management services to the U.S. Army’s Defense Supercomputing Resource Center . In the same month, one of the company’s biggest wins came through a $12 billion U.S. Air Force follow-on contract to continue sustainment work on the country’s intercontinental ballistic missile system over an 18-year period. In November, BAE and Purisolve, a […]