Recent Articles
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A galaxy not so far away: An inside look at Disney’s new Star Wars theme…
Julie Anne Wells Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementEver since Disney announced that it would add a Star Wars theme park to Disney World and Disneyland, fans have been waiting with bated breath to hear more about it. The curtain has finally lifted a little on the plans for Galaxy’s Edge, and we’ve got the scoop on what guests can expect. Buckle your seatbelts and prepare to launch into hyperdrive through this very detailed Disney adventure.
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What the 2019 Skytrax World Airport Awards mean for US airports
Matt Falcus Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementThe much-anticipated Skytrax World Airport Awards have been announced for 2019 and yet again there is little change among the world’s best airports, with no U.S. airports in the top 10. For the seventh consecutive year, Singapore Changi Airport has taken the crown as the world’s best facility. Denver is the top-rated airport in the United States. It credits five consecutive years of passenger traffic growth as the reason for its popularity. Yet, with Denver at position 32 in the global list, why are America's airports again so far behind those in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa?
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New bill looks to alleviate Texas’ feral hog problem, but will anything…
John McAdams Recreation & LeisureThe Texas Legislature is back in session for the first time since 2017. Compared to the furor surrounding the use of poison to control the feral hog population in Texas during the last session of the legislature, things are relatively quiet regarding legislation directly related to outdoor activities this time around. However, two identical bills in the House and Senate might look interesting for residents concerned about the feral hog problem in Texas: House Bill 3550 and Senate Bill 317. Introduced by Rep. John Cyrier and Sen. Bryan Hughes, HB 3550 and SB 317 would remove the existing requirement to possess a hunting license to kill feral hogs on private land in Texas.
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5 tests for an effective communication thread
Mark MacDonald Religious CommunityImagine if your church maintained focus on a solution to its community. Something that instantly got the community's attention and made the church relevant and needed. And then used those content "fences" to make the congregation known for something. That's what I call a communication thread. This is a brand promise or brand story that is maintained and controlled so that it unites ministries and tears down the ministry silos within our local churches. Some people call it a tagline, slogan, or positioning statement. But those concepts sound so temporary. A long-term thread works as long as it's "effective." What are those criteria? Here's a five-question test to prove your thread will work over several years.
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Deloitte survey recommends focusing on extended enterprise risk
Terri Williams Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementAccording to a new Deloitte survey, 90% of respondents rely on third parties for some part of their business, and 70% have a moderate to high level of dependency on external entities that might include third, fourth or fifth parties. However, it appears that companies aren't holding these external entities to the same standards: almost half of respondents said their organization had an external entity risk incident within the past three years. What are some of these extended enterprise risks, and how can they be mitigated?
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Interior designer hiring slows, salaries rise
Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesAfter several years of substantial gains, beginning in 2015, the pace of interior designer hiring has slowed. According to the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data, between May 2017 and May 2018, tthe U.S. labor force added only 1,000 new interior designer jobs. That's an increase of less than 2%, and only about a third of the number of positions added between May 2016 and May 2017. Given anecdotal reports of firms in recent years having difficulty hiring needed talent, this slowdown may be an indication that the profession is nearing full employment, rather than a declining demand for designers.
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The critical link between HR and retail success
Catherine Iste RetailWhy go to the store when you can buy online? Presumably, there is something about the in-person experience that is more convenient, helpful or in some other way better than making the purchase from our phone or desktop. In many cases, this benefit relates directly to interpersonal interactions. Human resources can play an important role in linking the customer's experience with retail success.
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3 ways to avoid new leadership failures
Simma Lieberman Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementRecently, three distraught managers from three different organizations called to ask my advice with the same issue. New senior leaders were brought into each of these organizations with devastating consequences. They may have been hired for the great results they got in their old organizations, but they were all on track to lose their best people in their new organizations. Does this sound familiar? Have you experienced this in your organization as an employee or as the new leader?
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Tax credits, jobs slashed as GM adds new electric SUV plant
Michelle R. Matisons ManufacturingAuto giant General Motors has announced it will begin manufacturing a new electric vehicle (EV), with the news coming shortly after previously reported plant closures took effect. Meanwhile, the IRS has confirmed that an electric car subsidy is now being phased out. Layoffs from the plant closures have been a thorn in the side of the Trump administration's spotlight on Rust Belt manufacturing jobs. Despite monthly reports, the U.S. manufacturing sector faces attrition that can't be obscured by political machinations, and the GM controversy proves this.
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What you need to know about Amazon’s growing ad business
Emma Fitzpatrick MarketingWhen you think of digital ads (especially search), Google undoubtedly comes to mind. But the numbers may have you second-guessing your instinct. This year, Amazon’s U.S. ad business is projected to grow more than 50%. That means Amazon ads will make up more than 8% of the digital ad market. Next year, that number is projected to grow to 10%, according to a 2019 eMarketer report. Amazon is officially the No. 3 digital ad platform in the U.S., with U.S. retailers spending $4.61 billion on Amazon ads in 2019.