Same but different

Politicians often say that government should run more like a business. We also hear this same call from corporate boardrooms. Certainly core business principles, such as productivity, a keen eye on the bottom line and customer service, should exist in the public and private sector. Akron-Canton Airport is a public entity with a publicly appointed […]

The “i” in team

Patrick Lencioni, in his book, “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team,” said, “Not finance. Not strategy. Not technology. It is teamwork that remains the ultimate competitive advantage, both because it is so powerful and so rare.” If you could get all the people in an organization rowing in the same direction, you could dominate any […]

Re-evaluating our progress

It’s natural, on occasion, to pause and take stock of where we are, where we’ve been and where we want to go. At GAR Foundation, we invest in Greater Akron to promote quality of life, education and economic opportunities for its people in a culturally vibrant community because the health of our economy is a […]

The Village Network and Richard Graziano seek to calm the effects of child abuse

  “The future of any society depends on its ability to foster the healthy development of the next generation,” says Richard Graziano, president and CEO of The Village Network. Abuse, neglect, domestic violence and family dysfunction, however, have long-term effects on children that negatively impact the health and social well-being of the nation. According to […]

How to recover after losing your contact mid sale

Turnover is commonplace and inevitable in all businesses. This can be troublesome when trying to close a deal because the sales process is a long and winding road with many potential paths. It is especially frustrating when you are working closely with someone through this painstaking process, getting tantalizingly closer to a possible sale when […]

Keep it simple

More often than not, strategic plans consist of five to 50 pages containing precise, highly granular details. Like male peacocks strutting through a harem of hens, management presents the plan to the employees, board of directors and shareholders while our magnificent tail feathers are in full bloom for all to admire. Let’s face it, as […]