How to plan for the surge of family-run business ownership transitions
Few challenges are thornier for family business owners than preparing for a transition of ownership. It’s a time for facing tough choices about the company’s future leaders and how the new owner will finance the transfer. “About 70 percent of family-owned businesses will change hands over the next 10 years as the baby boomers retire,” […]
7 tips to drive innovation at your company
The lifeblood of business growth is innovation — but knowing this is the easy part. It’s a whole other ballgame to actually drive innovation within your organization on a consistent basis. Your company could suffer if you’re the only one who comes up with the next big idea. Smart leaders build organizations that think for […]
A mathematical approach: RMU professors built predictive modeling tools to help place natural gas stations
It’s a moment of panic for drivers: You suddenly notice the warning light on your fuel gauge, but you don’t know when it came on or how close you are to the nearest gas station. Now, imagine you drive a compressed or liquefied natural gas-powered vehicle. The Pittsburgh region, for example, has only five natural […]
Stephan Liozu: Distinguishing yourself — Do you know your company’s ‘true’ differentiation?
As a CEO, I met with many strategic suppliers during performance review meetings, contract negotiation meetings and social events. During negotiation meetings, I had one simple question: What makes you unique and why should we buy from you — and not your competitors? That was a destabilizing question for many salespeople. They were caught unprepared […]
Jerry Azarkman – Keep your head above water when the times get tough
In business, as in life, there are turning points. Sometimes they mean good days are ahead for your company. At other times, unfortunately, they represent the beginning of a more difficult stretch for you and your employees. As business owners, we have the responsibility to make these turns and convert the challenges into opportunities. When […]
Building Stronger Communities: Tyler's Light
Tyler’s Light creates its own blueprint for the silent stigma of addiction Wayne Campbell, the founder and president of Tyler’s Light, knew when he started the nonprofit in 2011 the group needed to be about more than his son’s death, which shocked the Pickerington community. In order to create longevity, the organization had to become […]
Craig Vodnik – Why you need to be careful when hiring friends and family
When you’re looking to build your team in business, it’s only natural to look toward your friends and family for both money and time. Friends and family are the ones who stick with you through the highs and lows of entrepreneurship — from that first customer to the cash crunch. Fortunately, when starting cleverbridge, I […]
Michael Jarrett: How a gridiron coach taught a future entrepreneur how to run a company
During the past 15 years as an entrepreneur, I’ve had the opportunity to meet and know people who have helped me immensely along the way. But my first opportunity for learning how to lead an organization from good to great came when I was a senior captain for Larry Kehres, the recently retired, and legendary, […]
Why accountability matters for Rick Fezell, both with his team at EY and his crew back home
Why does a man who has been managing partner of the Midwest Region for EY for less than a year jump into Lake Michigan on a cold, winter’s day in January? Why does he climb the 2,109-steps of Willis Tower and bring his wife along for the trek to the top? If you’re Rick Fezell, you […]
How telemedicine and telehealth are increasing access
When it comes to telemedicine and telehealth, the future is most definitely now. Advances in technology have spurred advances in telemedicine and carry with it the potential to increase access to care, improve quality and reduce costs.“Telehealth solutions have the capacity to improve the quality of care, improve access to care and reduce the cost […]