How to keep your business on track with annual financial checkups

The market and the businesses operating in it are in a state of constant flux. Keeping up with these changes requires forecasts and budgets. Clarus Partners’ Michael Stevenson discusses the role of annual financial checkups and how to conduct them to stay on top of market realities and company goals.

Why the time you take to refresh each day is so valuable

Forgive me if you’ve heard this story before, but I have a twist on its lesson. There is a legendary story of a lumberjack contest between two men. The first man in the contest was your stereotypical lumberjack — young, muscle-bound, bearded, clad in plaid weighing in at 250 pounds and standing 6 feet 5 […]

How fitness trackers can motivate employees to be more active

Incorporating fitness trackers into a wellness program is a good way to create a long-term culture of health within an organization. Veronica Hawkins of Medical Mutual discusses the benefits, how to encourage participation and why many workers have already embraced devices as part of their daily physical activity.

Businesses will see nearly half a penny per kilowatt-hour increase this month

Most electricity users that entered into contracts before September 2015 will see an increase up to half a penny per kilowatt-hour (kWh) on their July bill. That can mean tens of thousands of dollars in additional charges to large users and have significant impact on any operating budget. “Every million kilowatt hours will cost around […]

Estate planning 101: Stop and think about the pieces

Many people don’t understand that when it comes to transferring property after death a will does not cover all assets. When designing someone’s estate plan, it’s critical to look at the different types of property so the decedent’s intentions will be carried out correctly. Mary Jo ‘MJ’ Baum, an attorney at Semanoff Ormsby Greenberg & Torchia, LLC, explains.

Why you must always learn from your mistakes

Unlike many baby boomers, I have had a number of careers. I think I am on my sixth or seventh. Most people in my generation have had two to three jobs in their lifetimes. This next generation is expected to have six to seven, with at least three career shifts before they graduate into their […]

The plan to remake Akron should build on existing strengths

With Mayor Dan Horrigan settling into city hall, there has been much talk about Akron’s “new day,” and enthusiasm around bringing fresh perspective to economic development. And then comes the hard part: determining the best next step. What actions will create enduring community prosperity? A look at some of the communities that have enjoyed success […]

Why the venture capital world needs more female and minority entrepreneurs

It may come as a surprise that just 3 percent of U.S. startups backed by venture capital are led by women. And only 1 percent are headed by African-Americans. In comparison, things aren’t much better at our nation’s largest biggest businesses, where there are only 20 female CEOs in the S&P 500 and five African American CEOs in the Fortune 500.

Unstacking the deck: Overcoming bias in the workplace

Bias and stereotyping are prominent topics as the U.S. presidential primary candidates — on both sides — try to appeal to various constituencies. Many of us cringe at the bold comments encompassing gender, LGBT, race, age, religion, ethnicity, socioeconomic status and country of origin. But perhaps we should also regard the situation as an opportunity for each of us to assess our attitudes and beliefs toward others.