SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " exec " 3,471 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
Alda Center Celebrates 10 Years of Leadership and Initiatives
The Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University is celebrating 10 years under the leadership of Executive Director Laura Lindenfeld.
YouTube is upending Hollywood — and Alphabet might be the best entertainment bet
The creator economy has turned the entertainment industry on its head this year, with YouTubers now directing box-office hits. Are entertainment giants like Disney (DIS) and Netflix (NFLX) still the stocks to buy? Gerber Kawasaki Wealth & Investment Management CEO Ross Gerber and his expert panel weigh in on the rise of creator-led projects taking hold in the film industry. Today's Market Hang panel consists of Yahoo Finance's Julie Hyman, Business Insider Today executive editor Dan DeFrancesco, Baird investment strategist Ross Mayfield, and SlateStone Wealth partner and chief market strategist Kenny Polcari.
Redefining Workflows with Microsoft AI & Power Platform: Start with Business Goals, Not Technology
Microsoft executives Leon Welicki and Dona Sarkar joined Innovia Consulting’s Shawn Dorward to discuss practical AI adoption strategies, emphasizing leadership, clear business goals, and choosing the right technologies to improve enterprise workflows.
Leaders in faith, tech, business discuss AI at Catholic U
Taylor Black is a builder. Black, founding executive director of The Catholic University of America’s Leonum Institute for AI and Emerging Technologies in Washington, is a self-described venture architect at Microsoft — leading cross-company initiatives for the next generation of groundbreaking technologies.
Kennedy Center Appoints Director Role to Entertainment Executive Rick Canny
Donald Trump’s deserted Kennedy Center has given a longtime insider a plum artistic-director job, even as the president threatens to tear down the shuttered landmark. Rick Canny, an entertainment exec...
Avatar Entertainment Adapting Vicente Vallés Novel ‘La Caza Del Ejector’ As TV Series
EXCLUSIVE: Avatar Entertainment has acquired rights to Spanish journalist Vicente Vallés’ novel Hunting the Executioner (La Caza del Ejecutor). The London- and L.A.-based production and management com...
Avatar Entertainment Adapting Novel 'La Caza Del Ejector' As TV Series
Avatar Entertainment has acquired rights to Spanish journalist Vicente Vallés' novel 'Hunting the Executioner' ('La Caza del Ejecutor')
Avatar Entertainment Adapting Novel 'La Caza Del Ejector' As TV Series
Avatar Entertainment has acquired rights to Spanish journalist Vicente Vallés' novel 'Hunting the Executioner' ('La Caza del Ejecutor')
Executive Women of NJ to honor 48 business leaders
The Executive Women of New Jersey named 48 honorees to be recognized at the 2026 Salute to Policy Makers gala.
Confido Health nabs $12.5M to scale agentic AI across PE-backed medical groups
Confido Health is expanding beyond AI voice agents to build out an agentic AI operating system that can execute administrative workflows across a medical practice. | The company secured a $12.5 million series A extension following its $10 million series A round announced in September to continue scaling an AI platform for end-to-end healthcare operations.
PROFILE: Ben Sio
New President of CenterState CEO Brings Nearly Two Decades of Experience to Drive CNY Growth By Stefan Yablonski Ben Sio serves as president of the CenterState Corporation for Economic Opportunity — or CenterState CEO. The independent Syracuse-based nonprofit is committed to creating inclusive, equitable and sustainable economic growth in Central New York. “I started in this position in March, so it has been six months. I’m in my 19th year with CenterState,” he said in August. As president, he is responsible for overseeing the organization’s administration and governance, while leading and executing its vision to be an effective advocate, exceptional employer and a force for positive outcomes for the community. He previously served as chief of staff and senior vice president of strategy, policy and planning, overseeing the organization’s long-term strategic planning, consulting, corporate governance, fundraising and development, land-use planning and government relations. In his years with the organization, Sio has led or supported many high-profile strategic initiatives including the creation of the CNY Rising Plan, the launch of the NUAIR Alliance and the region’s UAS strategy, the creation of the Micron-enabled Community Priorities Document and the recently awarded NY Smart I Corridor Tech Hub. “When we decided to split Rob’s [Simpson] role into two positions, he has the CEO title and I got the president title. Rob remains focused on forward looking vision strategy for the organization and I’m more focused on the day-to-day operations,” he explained. “I’m also responsible for building consensus around strategic needs and priorities and managing the change necessary to drive execution. It’s an eventful job. “The experiment that we call CenterState is always evolving and shifting and addressing where we see market demand and market failure. “If we see something in our economy that isn’t going the way we think it should go, then whether it is housing development or workforce development or something else, we are always figuring out how to step into these situations and address those challenges.” “We are the largest ever in terms of staff that we have ever been. We are no longer the 20-person organization we were when we started out many, many years ago,” he said. “There are more day-to-day things to take care of. But also there is just so much happening in the community right now that is pulling CenterState and our expertise in so many directions. I tell people if we were bored and not busy, then I’d be really concerned about what we are doing. But we are not bored. We’ve certainly got our hands full — and that is a good thing.” CenterState has now approximately 63 employees on its staff, according to recent nonprofit database records. It’s involved in myriad programs, ranging from Genius NY, a business accelerator competition for uncrewed systems, IoT and robotics startups, to CenterState Up Start, a collaborative business development program that connects local, service-based businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs to the tools and networks that help them thrive. CNY Guy Through and Through A Central New York guy through and through, Sio was born and raised in Skaneateles. “My mom was a teacher, an art teacher. My father worked for many, many years with National Grid. He was there through the transition from Niagara Mohawk to National Grid,” he said. “Neither of my parents were touched by cutbacks and job loss. But I grew up going through that transition and being concerned that there were rounds of layoffs. My childhood connection to the economy here in Central New York … years ago it was on the decline. There were people that lived here that were concerned about losing their job. They were thinking they lived in a place that didn’t show much promise.” That narrative translated to his generation, he added. “The kids that grew up in the ‘90s in Central New York were very much told, directly or indirectly, by their parents, that they had to go somewhere else to find economic opportunity. That is what I grew up thinking,” he said. “I only went a few miles down Route 20 for college — in Geneva, New York; I graduated from Hobart and William Smith College with a bachelor’s degree in public policy and political science. “I got real interested in regional economies; because what makes regional economy is what makes the economy successful. And when I graduated, I had an opportunity to move to Washington, DC and work down there at a nonprofit doing this work.” However, he decided to stay in Central New York. “I got hired two weeks after I graduated. I got hired by the Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce. At the time it was one of two entities doing economic development in Central New York — [the Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce and the Metropolitan Development Association] — and it eventually became CenterState CEO,” he said, referring to 2010 merger between the two organizations. During his time at CenterState, Sio has also split time at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C., where he supported communities developing export and foreign direct investment (FDI), a long-term cross-border investment where an individual or company from one country buys a lasting stake or control in a business located in another country. The program — known as Global Cities Initiative — was designed to help leaders in major U.S. and international metropolitan areas reorient their local economies toward global markets. “Early on in my tenure at CenterState, we had done a lot of work with the Brookings Institution, just regional planning stuff. We worked with them on developing a regional export plan, to export more products out of Central New York and a larger business plan for the region. They hired me on to help replicate those plans in different parts of the country,”Sio explained. “So, I worked there for three or four years. I worked for CenterState, but I was technically loaned to Brookings for a period of time to help them do this work elsewhere.” Family ties “My wife is Carly. We have been married 14 years. We have two kids, a 3-year-old and a 7-year-old. “With a 3-year-old and a 7-year-old, fun is a relative term these days. We do a lot of hiking. The kids this summer got very interested in waterfalls. We’ve hit every waterfall we could in a short hike — we’ve done Skaneateles and some others.” “I do woodworking and wood turning — it’s a branch of woodworking; you use a wood lathe. My big thing there is making wood bowls. I do that in most of my free time, which is not much,” he quipped. “I like to get into my woodshop and make a bowl and decompress and turn off the rest of the world for a little bit. I usually do it late at night when the house is quiet. It is definitely my escape from the day to day. I make a lot of bowls; all different sizes, all different species of wood. It’s a fun thing to do for me.” He gives away many of his creations. “They are mostly gifts — I don’t really sell them. I really don’t have time to go set up a booth at a fair or craft show. I usually give them away. I donate them to different things. If you are in my periphery, you’ve likely received a salad bowl from me as a gift. I just need to find something to do with all the stuff that I create,” he said. Lifelines Name: Benjamin Sio Position: President, CenterState CEO Birth Date: Not provided Birth place: Syracuse Residence: Westvale Education: Hobart and William Smith Colleges in the Finger Lakes Affiliations: Member of the boards of Skaneateles Festival, Greccio Foundation, Interfaith Works, CNY Community Foundation Personal/family: Married with two kids Hobbies: Woodworking and woodturning
ON THE JOB: ‘Where Do You See Your Career or Business in 3 to 5 Years?’
“For the next three to five years, I am looking to grow Oswego County Opportunities’ support for the county’s economic development to fight poverty and take advantage of the major investments that are coming to the area.” — Kevin Dean, Executive director, Oswego County Opportunities, Fulton “I love what I’m doing. I’m trying to do this as long as they let me. It’s so exciting to walk the floors at the various factories, talk with community leaders and be part of the solutions to their business problems. As we do this work with manufacturers and community members, we are helping the next generation have these great jobs in skilled manufacturing. I’d like to have the same job title for years to come. I’ve watched the last five years with awe and it makes me proud and excited to be from Upstate New York. I want to keep being part of the conversation that, yes, we can do it in Upstate New York.” — Randy Wolken, President and CEO, Manufacturing Association of Central New York (MACNY) “I oversee the Rochester and Syracuse offices. We’re seeing continual growth as there are more and more job seekers and companies that are looking to fill positions as the economy grows. I’d like to have another Upstate New York office in our region to help promote people under me. I want to see that happen. With an increase in the job market, that is what the end goal is here for sure. We currently have offices in Rochester, Buffalo, Syracuse and Albany, among more than 300 worldwide.” — Briana Calabrese, Marketing director and vice president of finance & accounting and administrative & customer support, Robert Half Recruiters & Employment Agency, Syracuse “Hopefully, we’ll continue to grow by word of mouth. I just took over a couple of years ago. I was an employee for 27 years. Business is great and we’re up on sales from where we were last year and I’m hoping that continues to happen. I get an overwhelming response from people who say they want to support local businesses. It’s my objective when people walk out the door that they want to come back. In a small town like this, it’s crucial. I see myself in five years doing exactly what I’m doing now: sticking with it and trying to grow Fulton Screen Printing.” — Tim Stone, Owner, Fulton Screen Printing, Fulton “I am 85 years old and teach four fitness classes a week and swim four times a week. I hope to live to be 90 — if I can do that, I won’t complain. The older I get, the less afraid I am of dying. What I don’t want to do is get some sickness where I’m lingering and I’m in pain and it just goes on and on. I expect to be exercising as much as I can and I hope I will know when I need to back off to accommodate different problems I may have when I’m older. For a short time, I got up at 6 a.m. to jog for a half hour every morning. But I had to avoid dogs, so I quit jogging. I hope to be able to swim for life. When I swim for half an hour, whatever problems I have wash away. I will still be working in exercise in five years. I also write research articles. It challenges my mind. You have to challenge your mind and body and have some kind of goals and reasons to go on living. My wife died three and a half years ago, so I try to go out and do things, even though she’s no longer here.” — Fred Wilson. Certified personal trainer at Fitness After 50 and leader of senior fitness classes, Syracuse “I expect to continue working as a local financial adviser professional for the next several years. I really enjoy working with my clients and consider it a privilege to come to work every day, helping my clients reach their financial goals.” — Randy L. Zeigler, Certified financial planner practitioner, chartered financial consultant and private wealth adviser, Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC, Oswego “I see myself doing something with young people. I want to open an after-school program as a safe space for high schoolers where they can get tutored, behavioral health, get something to eat. I want to do something with policy. I have thought of doing something with neurodivergent kids where kids can run some kind of business. I want to do anything with community like therapy and psychotherapy. I want to still be able to offer those services to people. At 55, I’m not sure how much I will do. I will see what happens after graduation from Keuka College.” — Della Joyce Smith, Master’s student, Syracuse “I think the core of the gym is in personal training. I don’t see that changing. People will still need a gym and personal training will stay. There may be some loss to AI as there is in just about every industry, but there’s always been the ability to go online and get a workout. I don’t think AI will cut into business any more than the internet has. I think the class structure is shifting. Large group classes might be fading away for a while. I see more people going to specialized classes like Pilates. I wouldn’t be surprised if maybe the traditional classes like boot camps started to fade away. It’s important to adapt. Maybe someday I’ll need to get some new kinds of classes. Everything tends to go in cycles.” — Ryan Vollmer, Certified personal trainer and owner Edge Strength and Conditioning, Syracuse “I have been growing my firm at 24% a year. In five years, we may be purchasing or building a new office building to accommodate the new growth. Right now, our focus is on growth and adding team members, mostly financial advisers and administrative staff.” — Terri Krueger, Chartered financial consultant and senior financial adviser with Orla Wealth Management in Syracuse “Over the next three to five years, I see TDO continuing to experience steady, sustainable growth as new industries establish and expand their presence across Central New York. These investments will create new opportunities throughout the regional manufacturing supply chain, and TDO will continue evolving our capabilities to help both existing manufacturers and emerging industries grow, compete, and succeed.” — Jim D’Agostino, CEO and executive director Central New York TDO (Train, Develop, Optimize), Liverpool
BUSINESS UPDATE: Port Perseveres Despite Tariffs’ Negative Impact
‘We are hanging tough ... in an environment that is incredibly difficult to do business in right now,” the port’s director says By Stefan Yablonski Tariffs imposed by the Trump administration have hurt the Port of Oswego by slashing Canadian aluminum cargo volumes and reducing revenue. “We’re doing good. We are hanging tough. It is a tough time for our line of business in general, you know with these tariffs and the amount of Canadian aluminum that we see through our docks,” said the new executive director, Tom Drumm. “Compared to 2025, we are doing exceedingly well in traffic coming in; not necessarily the volumes we were seeing, but yeah we are hanging tough in an environment that is incredibly difficult to do business in right now.” “I don’t know where people get these numbers to be honest. We have never publicly stated how much our revenue is down or up or left to right. We don’t have a strong sense of those revenue numbers until the shipping season really closes up. We won’t have an accurate picture of the revenue standpoint until after the shipping season, typically in late November,” he added. “What I can tell you is several of our Canadian vessels that carry the aluminum cells — the volume of aluminum on those vessels we have seen decreasing. That is attributed to a few factors. One is where Novelis is in in their restart process. Novelis is rocking and rolling right now. They are starting to pull a lot of aluminum from the port of Oswego, the aluminum that they roll down into coils. “Another factor plainly is the tariffs. Canadian aluminum is tariffed at 50%. So, on those vessels we are seeing lower numbers than we would like. We’d like to see vessels carrying roughly 10,000 metric tons of aluminum. Over the course of this year, we have seen more in the range of 4,000 to 6,000. “Every piece of that aluminum that we receive here by vessel at the port is from Canada and is subsequently hit with the 50% tariff. It directly affects us because we’ve received less volume than we would traditionally see pre-tariff times.” When the port receives less aluminum from those vessels it means less hours for the ILA (International Longshoremen Association) as far as folks that work on the dock, he said. When cargo declines, it affects everyone, fewer hours for longshoremen, fewer loads for truck drivers, fewer rail shipments and less business for local suppliers. “Outside of the aluminum that comes in by vessel, the port topped out at having roughly 4,600 aluminum ingots stored on site at the port. That project had never been done before. The port of Oswego had never had that many of those size ingots in our yard,” he said. “It has been a busy summer for the ILA. Would we like to see more work for them? Sure. They are working all those barges when they come in, but as opposed to working 15 hours they might be working seven or eight hours. It hasn’t been a distinct decline in ILA hours. There has been plenty of work to keep our guys busy throughout the summer.” More salt “We just brought salt back to the port in several, several years. Around Harborfest time at one point we had a salt barge here with about 24,000 metric tons of rock salt and we had an aluminum barge here the same week. We had close to 40 men working,” he said. “Yeah, the other products definitely keep us busy. The salt project was a massive project, one that we are proud of. I’ve got 24,000 metric tons of salt on site that has to go somewhere — that’s going to be another project.” It is important for the port to continue to look at different products, different commodities to try to diversify some of its revenue, he said, adding, “We have done a pretty good job of that in my first five months here … particularly with the rock salt we have on site right now. It is important to continue to try to stand out and work through some projects outside our usual business. I enjoy it. It is a challenge every single day we put our head down and we try our best.”
SPECIAL REPORT: Tough Business
A string of vacant restaurant buildings shows that many restaurants in the region are struggling — and several are closing By Stefan Yablonski [caption id=attachment_11132 align=alignright width=401] Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill on Route 31 in Clay closed its doors in April. It had been in operation since at least 2008.[/caption] By their nature, most restaurants have a limited life. An astonishing 60% go out of business within three years of opening, largely due to fundamental flaws in the planning of the operation. But even restaurants that experience years of success almost always face eventual closure. The restaurant business is very hard and because of both personal factors and external factors beyond anyone’s control, restaurants don’t last forever. For many restaurants, age is a big factor, according to Kenneth Walsleben, professor of practice, entrepreneurship and emerging enterprises at Syracuse University. “The owners have been at it for 20 or 25 years, if not longer, they want some time to themselves,” he said. Such was the case for Jocko’s Famous Ritz Diner in Oswego. Jocko Reitz bought the building in the late 1970s from Robert Shapiro. However, when he stepped away from the business, it eventually closed. [caption id=attachment_11142 align=alignright width=402] For nearly 80 years, Vona’s Restaurant passed through three generations of family in Oswego. It closed its doors on Dec. 31, 2025.[/caption] For nearly 80 years, Vona’s passed through three generations of family in Oswego. Vona’s Restaurant officially closed its doors on Dec. 31, 2025, when no family member wanted to take over. It is on the market. The Ruby Tuesday in Oswego operated for about two decades before permanently closing in April 2026. The restaurant faced multiple temporary health department closures in 2024 and 2025 due to persistent fruit fly and foundation pest issues. Management posted a final closure notice on the doors in mid-April 2026 and the building was put up for sale. The same pattern has been happening in Onondaga County. The big building once used by Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill on Route 31 in Clay remains empty, more than six months after the restaurant closed its doors in April. It had been in operation since at least 2008. [caption id=attachment_11130 align=alignright width=401] Ruby Tuesday in Oswego operated for about two decades before permanently closing in April 2026.[/caption] Just down the road from Smokey Bones, the popular Outback Steakhouse closed in August 2024. Another restaurant took its place, La Cocina Mexican Restaurant, but it closed shortly after. The building sits empty. Other very popular restaurants in the northern suburbs of Syracuse have recently closed. Among them, Fireside by the River in Baldwinsville and Primo Nestico’s Bistro Bar in North Syracuse. “I haven’t really paid attention to the Syracuse area. There has always been some turnover, but there probably has never been a tougher time to be a restauranter than now. It’s just brutal,” Walsleben said. In the first year, roughly 20% to 25% of restaurants close or change hands, according to the National Restaurant Association. [caption id=attachment_11122 align=alignright width=401] Outback Steakhouse closed in August 2024. Another restaurant took its place, La Cocina Mexican Restaurant, but it closed shortly after. The building sits empty.[/caption] “Depending on what statistics you look at, you’ll find that any business has a high mortality rate in the first year. That is just the nature of entrepreneurship,” Walsleben said. “There are certain ones that are getting hit hard while others are more fruitful. “And when you look at the restaurant industry you have to factor in labor which is a large part — typically a third of your expenses — and those costs are going up. And there is always turnover which means investing money to train people. Then you’ve got food costs, which is also a third of the typical restaurant budget. Since the pandemic labor has gone up 41%, food costs have gone up 35%. That’s a big tight squeeze righty there. That’s two-thirds of your budget that has gone up 35% to 40% in the last few years. And then the only way you can make that work is to raise the prices.” The National Restaurant Association reports menu prices are up 36% since February of 2020. In a survey released by the association, more than eight in 10 restaurant owners reported that their food, beverage and labor costs are now higher than before the pandemic. You have to deal with the reality of are the customers willing to pay for that? Walsleben added. Restaurants historically have very thin margins; their profit margin is about 5%. “You have a third that goes into food, a third that goes into labor and about 28%, 29% that goes into everything else — overhead, insurance etc. So that brings you down to your 5% leftover,” he said. “Everything is going up. Customer expectations are going up and people aren’t going to spend that much more. So, you have a tight squeeze here,” Walsleben continued. “Restaurants who use delivery apps, they pay a fee to those guys. Those guys don’t work for free. So, you can kind of see where the squeeze comes from.” Stuck in the middle There are pockets of opportunity; the two extremes of the market can make a profit. But the middle gets squeezed out. “If you are a low-end fast-food kind of place, there is room for that. People have changed their budgets. They are still going out, but they are not spending more,” according to Walsleben. “The high end remains positive. If you have a restaurant that brings a specific experience … a great food product or you are catering to high end customers who aren’t so budget conscious, those patrons are going to expect a high-end experience. They expect excellent food every time. They are expecting excellent service. If you can meet those expectations there is room for you at the top. It’s just the guys in the middle are getting the squeeze from both ends. Tough competition, customer expectations, costs are up. Menu items, you can’t raise the prices as much as you need to. That is why you are seeing a lot of restaurants baling out.” The ones that can adapt quickly are the ones who are doing OK. “Success is heavily dependent on the strength of a restaurant’s concept development and the planning of its execution. Eventually things aren’t always new. Things change. So, if you are in the restaurant business you have got to change your menu — keep things new, fresh and update your meals. It is very fickle industry. One year carbs are out, the next year berries are out. Everybody’s diet changes — constantly chasing the latest phase. You have got to adjust your menu and move with those modifications. If you have a static menu that you have used the last couple years that hasn’t changed except for the pricing, you’ve got a problem,” he said. A lot of times these buildings are singular purpose, he added. “You have a commercially viable kitchen and you got a seating area. There is not a lot of other businesses that cater to that type of a layout. So, it’s pretty common to see another restaurant slide in,” he said. One of the things a banker learns early on is you don’t lend money to restaurants … because they fail so quickly. It is very hard to predict who the winners will be. So, if you are a restaurant in addition to all the other challenges, it is very difficult to get loans, according to Walsleben. “You might work really well in the kitchen. But that doesn’t mean you are a great businessperson,” he said. “Restaurants can fail because the owner didn’t know how to manage things properly. There are a lot of challenges. “There is opportunity at the high end and the low end. But in the middle, that’s the death valley. There are just so many things working against you. You really need to have something that will pull people in and continue to pull people in because you to constantly have to change. Think about a theme and a product that is unique to the area people don’t travel that far these days you have to be able to deliver it in an innovative fashion and keep updating to keep people coming in the door.” Out of Business? How Fast? Do nine out of 10 restaurants fail in their first year, as commonly claimed? No. Survival analysis of 1.9 million longitudinal microdata for 81,000 full-service restaurants in a 20-year U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics non public census of business establishments in the western US shows that only 17% of independently owned full-service restaurant startups failed in their first year, compared with 19% for all other service-providing startups, according to ResearchGate. The median lifespan of restaurants is about 4.5 years, slightly longer than that of other service businesses (4.25 years). However, the median lifespan of a restaurant startup with 5 or fewer employees is 3.75 years, slightly shorter than that of other service businesses of the same startup size (4.0 years). What Makes a Restaurant Successful? Opening and maintaining a successful restaurant is not as easy as creating a great menu and serving excellent food. It takes more than that, according to local restaurant owners who have been in business for decades in the region. They all agree that there are some guidelines to running a successful restaurant. • Quality food: Successful restaurants know exactly what they serve and who they serve it to. Delivering the same great taste every single time builds loyal customers. • Smooth operations: Friendly greetings and attentive staff make guests feel welcome from the moment they walk in. Hiring staff for personality and training for skill ensures reliable, caring service. • Smart marketing: Exceptional food and experiences naturally get people talking and sharing online. Word of mouth can help entice customers. Consistent social media and targeted advertising brings in new and repeat guests also. The menu is what keeps patrons coming back to Mimi’s Diner in Fulton, located at 201 N. Second St. “We locally source our produce and our meats. Our chicken and biscuits is a popular, popular special,” said Richard Tagliareni, the third-generation owner and general manager. “It’s all homemade. We have consistently served quality food.” His grandfather started the business more than 55 years ago. Mimi’s is engrained in the community. They cater to the community and are very involved in everything from the schools to local events. The first Mimi’s Drive-In opened in Mexico. Then a second in Oswego and then Fulton. Fulton’s Mimi’s is the only one left. “The last couple of weeks have been kind of slower than normal. October is usually a busier month for us People will start coming back around again. Also, the price of gas is affecting some things,” Tagliareni added. “We try to keep our prices in line. You go out to eat, you’re going to spend about a hundred bucks or so for two people for dinner. You come here to Mimi’s you are probably for two people for dinner it’s between $50 and $60. We are trying to keep our prices in line. We did have to increase our prices a little bit but things are looking OK.” For the Press Box, 29 E. First St., Oswego, it’s also about great food and a family atmosphere. “Our sports bar and restaurant was established in 1984,” said Alison Canale Scanlon, manager. “I think putting the time into everything makes a big difference and treating people like family when they walk into your restaurant. That’s how we have always operated since 1984.” “It’s the family oriented aspect,” she added. “Consistency, quality and presentation of our food — that’s the secret to a successful restaurant. We try to be very consistent with it. We treat people like family when they come in; because we know how we want to be treated when we go to a restaurant. We treat people the same or better.”
Mom-and-Pop Business Owners Grapple with Harsh Times
Report shows small business owners in NYS less optimistic about the economy. Taxes, inflation, labor costs and competition from larger businesses are major concerns right now, they say By Aaron Gifford [caption id=attachment_11067 align=alignright width=300] Ashley Ranslow is director for New York state at The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB).[/caption] Owners of mom-and-pop businesses in New York state have been less optimistic lately than their peers in other parts of the country, a recent report indicates. The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), based on a survey of 11,000 of its members in the Empire State, reported that taxes, inflation, labor costs and competition from larger businesses are major concerns right now. “Indeed, while taxes are a major problem in New York and the United States overall, New York small businesses notably are struggling more with the state’s onerous, multi-level tax burden,” Ashley Ranslow, NFIB’s director for New York state, said in the July report. Compared with surveys of business owners in other states, far fewer New York respondents rated their businesses as in excellent or good health. The report also said labor costs here are about 25% higher than the national average and are the “single most important problem” facing businesses. One respondent to the New York-specific survey complained that too much red tape, taxes and laws that restrict high-yielding companies have stifled their operation’s growth. Others said high disability and workers’ compensation insurance costs, alarming increases in utility rates and excessive building regulations are discouraging. Statewide, New York has a gross domestic product of $2.53 trillion (third in the nation, followed by Texas, $2.90 trillion; and California, $4.25 trillion), a per capita income of $90,500 (sixth) and an unemployment rate of 4.6% (34th). There are 2.4 million small businesses that employ 3.9 million people. [caption id=attachment_11112 align=alignright width=451] Member of the Greater Liverpool Chamber of Commerce gather at one of the several functions the chamber organizes monthly. “Everyone in this business community encourages each other to shop local. Everyone just wants to see each other succeed,” says Megan Wilmot, the chamber director[/caption] “New York state boasts one of the largest, wealthiest and most diverse cities in the world — and that’s still only about half the state’s population,” the report said. “In other words, the state is both its iconic city and so much more — geographically, demographically, economically. But New York is not without its challenges, challenges that include notably high taxes and other weaknesses that impact the small business environment,” it said. The report includes an optimism index that compares responses from New York (NFIB) members with those of their peers in other states across several categories. This ranges from plans to increase employment to expectations for higher sales, to plans to increase inventory or expand. The scores for Empire State business owners were lower in most categories, but they did score higher than the national average in noting that they have current employment openings, and that they are hopeful that the economy will improve. “The metrics so far paint a picture of a state with a series of challenges for small businesses, from a slightly below national average Optimism Index to a more seriously below national business health to very substantially below national Employment Index. What is going on with businesses that are creating these differences?” the report stated. In Central New York, the regional labor force comprises nearly 398,000 workers. The median household income here is $71,463, and the gross domestic product for the region last year totaled $61.3 billion, according to the CenterState CEO economic development and research organization. About half of the region’s labor force works for small and mid-sized businesses, although the number of people employed in that sector has decreased by 7% since 2010, according to CenterState’s 2026 economic forecast report. “While record-high employment in large-scale enterprises provides a strong foundation for Central New York,” the report says, “the long-term health of communities depends on a thriving small business sector to serve as a stabilizer.” Area employers identify several barriers to Central New York’s anticipated growth, including lack of specialized or skilled workers, government regulations, unaffordable housing options and long-term construction disruptions. In the city of Syracuse, the number of jobs in retail trade decreased by 1,500 or 4.7% between July 2025 and this past July. By contrast, the number of jobs in the leisure and hospitality sector increased by 2.5% or 700 jobs, in the same annual period, according to the New York State Department of Labor. Still, there’s plenty of interest for new businesses across Central New York. U.S. Census figures show that the number of applications for new businesses in all four counties increased significantly in the past 20 years. In Cayuga County, there were 324 applications in 2005 compared to 470 last year. In Madison County, the number increased from 385 to 480; Onondaga County, from 2411 to 4132; and Oswego County, from 553 to 836. Downtown Cazenovia is exemplary of Madison County’s trend: In the past year, the village welcomed a bait shop, a thrift store, a vitamin infusion center, a pizzeria, a Pilates studio and an Italian restaurant. A candy store is scheduled to open on the main drag in the months ahead. Oswego’s list of interesting new businesses in the past year includes a bubble tea shop, a hot dog eatery in Fulton, a specialty grocery store that features New York state products in Mexico, a beauty and esthetics studio in Hannibal and a hardware and farm supply store in Sandy Creek. In Onondaga County, the Liverpool area has also enjoyed a steady stream of new shops and eateries in recent years. That suburban community is unique in that, unlike neighboring communities, most of the restaurants are family-owned and not part of a national chain. [caption id=attachment_11116 align=alignright width=300] Megan Wilmot is the executive director of the Greater Liverpool’s Chamber of Commerce.[/caption] Megan Wilmot, executive director of the Greater Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, said independent business owners in her community maintain a strong sense of pride in holding their own against national companies. The chamber helps boost morale with red carpet events, ribbon cuttings, coffee hours and five-year anniversary celebrations for participating businesses. “We have built such a strong community,” Wilmot said. “Everyone in this business community encourages each other to shop local. Everyone just wants to see each other succeed.” In Syracuse, the downtown retail occupancy rate last year was about 82%, a slight improvement from 2024, according to the Downtown Syracuse Committee’s most recent annual report. Buildings with the largest amount of vacant space included The Galleries, One Park Place, and Equitable Towers, though not all of those spaces are designated for retail use. New businesses that opened in downtown Syracuse last year: Better with Time Clothing, Dakshin Curry & Biriyani, Havana Tattoo Society, Milano Bean Café, Miss Daisy, Pausa Coffee, Sweets for Babe, The Society CNY and Yafah Beauty Studio. The Destiny USA mall’s occupancy rate decreased from 80% in 2023 to 72% by the end of 2024, according to Integra Realty Resources. That leaves more than a quarter of the mall’s retail space vacant. “Looking ahead, the retail market is expected to see minimal rent growth, with vacancy rates likely remaining stable in community and neighborhood centers but continuing to rise in enclosed malls,” Integra’s report said. “New construction activity is low and redevelopment plans for former malls like Shoppingtown and Great Northern are still in the planning stages. The proposed Micron chip plant may spur development, but challenges remain in finding co-developers for large-scale projects.” Nationally, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce expects that small businesses will remain resilient and see their sales and revenues eventually improve. That organization, in a recent national survey, found that 25% of small business owners expect the economy to improve in 2027, while 45% indicated that they plan to increase employment in the next 12 months. And 69% said they believe their small business is in good shape and 70% said they are comfortable with their current cash flow. Thirty-one percent of small businesses reported raising their prices in July and 28% are planning to raise their prices within the next three to four months, the report said. Twelve percent indicated that this is a good time to expand their business. “Small business owners voice optimism for future revenues and hiring,” the report said. “High costs continue to be a wet blanket on reinvestment.” The NFIB reported in July that Main Street, despite gas price hikes, “is OK … for now.” Its small business economics trend report said sales across the country have been strong compared to last year, but continued inflation and higher prices from mom-and-pop establishments are causing some “cracks” to show. “If costs stay this high for much longer, reduced investment will have a tangible economic impact,” the report said. “The status quo is OK, but the outlook? The outlook is uncertain.”
Robin Divine’s Journey in healthcare leadership
For Robin Divine, a career in healthcare was never far from home. “I grew up around healthcare,” Divine said. As the daughter of a pediatrician in Albuquerque, Divine spent summers working in her father’s office, gaining an early appreciation for the...
PredictX Launches New Travel Policy Analyzer and Optimizer
Tool helps managers see where policy changes can deliver savings
Take2Eton, a TMC, Expands Energy and Marine Travel Business Into Scotland
Move said to build on Texas-based operation
Chuck Lorre claims CBS ‘hated’ Melissa McCarthy for lead role on “Mike & Molly”
The “King of Sitcoms” says network executives wanted “a hot young woman” in the titular role.
Byrum Brown's Turnovers Headline Joel Gordon's Concerns Before Georgia
Auburn offensive coordinator Joel Gordon addressed three major concerns ahead of facing No. 1 Georgia: Byrum Brown's interceptions, slow offensive adjustments and pre-snap penalties. The Tigers must improve their decision-making and execution to compete in Athens.
Varela Joins Republic Business Credit as Senior Vice President, Account Executive
Republic Business Credit added Jorge Varela to its recourse portfolio client management team as senior vice president, account executive. Based in Chicago,
Bloomington Convention Center project on track for 2027 events
Visit Bloomington Executive Director Mike McAfee said the $52 million expansion could help Bloomington compete for small and midsize conventions that do not require the capacity of larger venues in Indianapolis.
AFP.com
Reply[EXM, STAR: REY] introduces Symbiosis , anAI-driven operating modeldesigned for enterprises integrating generative AI and agentic systems into their operating processes. Supported by adedicated platform, Symbiosisconnects strategy, portfolio management and execution, helping organisations align priorities...
Kotek signs executive order to preserve health care access amid Medicaid cuts
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek signed an executive order on Tuesday directing state agencies to take immediate action to preserve affordable healthcare access in the state.
Saudi national accused of planting recording device in OpenAI executive conference room
Federal prosecutors allege the device was planted in a conference room used for confidential discussions about OpenAI's proprietary research, product plans and business opportunities.
SBA, DOW Sign Agreement on Small Business Defense Capital
SBA and DOW have signed an agreement to expand defense industrial base small businesses' access to loans and equity investments.
DOW Unveils Initiatives Under White House Science Strategy
DOW has rolled out initiatives under the White House science strategy, covering research reform, STEM talent and innovation security.
Gov. Tina Kotek issues new executive order on healthcare access, costs
Gov. Tina Kotek on Oct. 13 issued a wide ranging executive order aimed at protecting access to healthcare ahead of looming federal changes.
When 1 + 1 = 1: The Miserable Math Behind Many Media Mergers
(Welcome to the “Most Important Story of the Week”, my bi-weekly strategy column analyzing the most important (but often not buzziest) news story of the last two weeks. I’m the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a former streaming executive who now analyzes business strategy in the entertainment industry. Please subscribe.) The last few issues of this newsletter have circled two topics: September’s streaming viewership and all the Paramount/Skydance/Warner Bros./Discovery merger news. I’m happy to say on the Streaming Ratings Report front, we’ll be all caught up by early next week, then the SRR will come out on a tight weekly schedule. Then, after today, I’ll have slayed my PSWbD dragon. It’s such a big story, it demanded multiple issues. With the announcement of a name (just Skydance) and executive team, though, I think we can almost close the book on this story. In terms of topics, it becomes just another studio to cover. So today, I have one last set of takes on that merger. As I’ve sat with it, reading about who was staying and who was going, a big worry crystallized in my brain, and I gotta get that take out. Plus, I still owe you a host of “ugliness” that didn’t fit in my previous “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly” takes. Let’s dive in! Subscribe Most Important Story of the Week - As Paramount Shuffles Deck Chairs, Will They Build or Consolidate? On social media—I try to avoid most social media platforms, but sometimes I end up checking in—the best joke I saw about the announcement of the new name of Skydance was from fellow reporter Claire Atkinson who pointed out… Yeah, I laughed out loud at that one. Later, though, I saw another Twitter response (that later got deleted, so I can’t shout the person out) that did give me pause. The person noted that the Titanic film made the better analogy: a super expensive project everyone in the town doubted that went on to conquer the globe. So yeah: on one hand, the image of the Titanic recalls the actual ship and its infamous end, but that clip is from a movie which proved the doubters wrong. So for all the skepticism of the latest massive media merger, one could wonder which way this one goes. Does it crash like the Titanic or rise to glory like Titanic, the movie? Either way, this deal is “Titanic”, looking at the massive debt required to close the deal, which is not going well when it comes to borrowing costs for Paramount… …or borrowing costs for Oracle. But I’ve started to get worried about another outcome: the sum of this merger will be smaller and weaker and less profitable than its former parts. In other words, one plus one won’t equal three or two, but an even smaller number. Skydance paid to take a traditional studio off the board, but they won’t really capture the upside. Let me explain what I mean, but first, let’s look at the series of news that inspired this thought. Skydance Sets Its Leadership Team As soon as the Paramount-Skydance-Warner Bros.-Discovery merger closed, the new leadership team announced a new name—Skydance, which I’ll use going forward—and a new executive leadership team. You’ve probably read through all the executive shuffling, but if you haven’t, here’s a quick, incomplete summary, in rough order of importance: Mattel’s CEO Ynon Kreiz—who previously ran Maker Studios—joined as co-CEO with David Ellison. HBO/HBO Max’s Casey Bloys will stay and run streaming. Former head of streaming for Paramount-Skydance Cindy Holland—who was also at Netflix—will depart. The former heads of Warner Bros.—Pam Abdy and Mike De Luca—are out. The film studios will be run by Dana Goldstein and Josh Greenstein. George Cheeks of Paramount will run Skydance TV, controlling all the TV production units. In comic book news, the DC films will still be run by Peter Gunn and Peter Safran. Lastly, the head of CNN, Mark Thompson, will stay in place. Let’s quickly opine on the particulars before diving into the broad ramifications. We’re just getting started with this issue, but the rest is for paid subscribers of the Entertainment Strategy Guy, so if you’d like to find out… Who I like and dislike in their next gigs… Why I think this consolidation will likely leave Skydance worse off… The math behind which mergers succeed and which don’t… A lot more ugliness in this merger… And a whole lot more... ...please subscribe! We can only keep doing this great work with your support.
Scarlett Johansson-Produced ‘Assassins’ Competition Show Greenlit at Peacock
The competition series will be executive produced by Johansson, Brien Meagher and Rhett Bachner for B17 Entertainment
Why experts are urging parents to prepare kids for possible livestreamed execution
Graphic video could be clipped, copied and pushed into children’s social feeds even if the original stream is restricted.
Microsoft’s top science exec is leaving to fulfill a childhood dream: Joining a Formula 1 team
Peter Lee, the longtime Microsoft Research leader, plans to join the Mercedes Formula 1 team in a newly created AI advisor role. He'll work on physics problems for the team's car, predictive models and how F1's regulators might govern AI.
Michael Jordan jersey sets $14 million record for basketball memorabilia
Pennsylvania-based Hunt Auctions announced the private treaty sale Monday and identified the buyer as Miami real estate executive Ron Firman.
Peacock expanding ‘On the Bench’ to every Monday night NBA game
Peacock is putting every Monday night NBA game “On the Bench.” NBC Sports executive producer Sam Flood told Sports Media Watch’s Derek Futterman that “On the Bench,” the format that plants an analyst beside each team’s bench instead of at the broadcast table, will be deployed for every Monday night game on Peacock this season…
Rory McIlroy Announces Career News After Recent ESPN Deal
Rory McIlroy has new career news less than two weeks after TMRW Sports renewed its deal with ESPN. McIlroy co-founded TMRW Sports with Tiger Woods and sports executive Mike McCarley. The company created TGL, the indoor team golf league. ESPN and TMRW Sports announced a multi-year extension of their U.S. media rights agreement on Oct. […] The post Rory McIlroy Announces Career News After Recent ESPN Deal appeared first on HEAVY.
Bank of America names new business banking market executive for Fort Worth
Bank of America announced today the naming of Kashif “Kash” Qamruddin as the new Senior Vice President and Business Banking Market Executive for Fort
Aon names Siccardi to new global execution role
Aon on Tuesday named Leonora Siccardi global chief execution officer for its risk capital and human capital businesses, a newly created position aimed at coordinating strategy and operations across…
The surprising psychology of morbid curiosity
US defence secretary Pete Hegseth’s plan to livestream the execution of Nidal Malik Hasan has incurred condemnation from human rights groups and politicians on all sides. But according to Coltan Scrivner, an author and psychologist at Arizona State University and expert on morbid curiosity, people are still likely to watch in large numbers. He explains why we are drawn to dark and disturbing content, and Madeleine Finlay tells Ian Sample how consuming this kind of material can harm observers’ mental health
USC’s Themed Entertainment Program Hires Epic Universe Creative Exec Steve Tatham as Director
The program, part of USC School of Cinematic Arts’ Interactive Media & Games Division, is a proving ground for future theme park creatives.
Debra Lienhardt, RWJBarnabas Health Executive Vice President, Chief Business Development and Legal Officer, Named Finalist for New Jersey Legal Awards
Debra Lienhardt, Executive Vice President, Chief Business Development and Legal Officer at RWJBarnabas Health, has been named a finalist in the “In-House Impact” category of the 2026 New Jersey Legal Awards, presented by the New Jersey Law Journal. The recognition highlights her strategic leadership, innovative approach to legal and business development, and contributions to advancing healthcare across New Jersey.
Debra Lienhardt, RWJBarnabas Health Executive Vice President, Chief Business Development and Legal Officer, Named Finalist for New Jersey Legal Awards
Debra Lienhardt, Executive Vice President, Chief Business Development and Legal Officer at RWJBarnabas Health, has been named a finalist in the “In-House Impact” category of the 2026 New Jersey Legal Awards, presented by the New Jersey Law Journal. The recognition highlights her strategic leadership, innovative approach to legal and business development, and contributions to advancing healthcare across New Jersey.
Aviva appoints Slabbert to dual leadership roles
U.K.-headquartered Aviva plc has appointed Johan Slabbert as managing director of its global corporate and specialty business and chief executive of Aviva Syndicates, effective Dec. 1…
Bethenny Frankel Reveals Launch of New Business Venture Bethenny Media
According to a series of new posts on LinkedIn, the reality TV veteran is staffing up the company with senior executives — including hiring a former staffer from Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine.
Retiring DMI CEO Barb O'Brien: How Dairy Checkoff Shifted from ‘Got Milk?’ to a $13B Demand Engine
The Dairy Management Inc. executive reflects on 25-year journey from advertising campaigns to science-driven partnerships that put dairy demand ahead of supply.
Uber executive overseeing robotaxi push to leave amid leadership departures
An Uber Technologies Inc. executive overseeing the company’s global autonomous efforts across ride-hailing and delivery will depart next month, the latest in a string of leadership departures in the division this year.
Kayak for Business in Partnership With Mesh Payments
Deal promises to make booking a business trip as easy as a personal one
Tenfold Leader Fellowship announces first cohort
Ten executives have been named to former Mayor Paul TenHaken's first cohort of the Tenfold Leader Fellowship.
Analysts eye RevMed’s pancreatic cancer launch, Merck’s data blitz for Q3 earnings
Bellwether Johnson & Johnson will kick off the third quarter earnings reporting period on Tuesday, with analysts searching for news on business development, launch execution and more.
Concept Life Sciences appoints Dr Adrijana Vinter as Chief Executive Officer
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Adrijana Vinter as Chief Executive Officer. Dr Vinter brings more than 20 years of experience spanning medicinal chemistry research, commercial development and executive leadership in the pharmaceutical and contract research industry sectors.
Colorado protects the places that sustain us
Across the country, communities are confronting difficult questions about their future. How do they protect the places that make their communities livable? Keep rivers healthy and drinking water clean? Prepare for wildfire? Ensure every child has a safe place to play outside? As president and chief executive of Trust for Public Land, a national nonprofit […]
Progress Stopped: Titans’ Latest Defeat Offers Few Positives
For weeks, Tennessee Titans head coach Robert Saleh has preached progress, pointing to improvements in the team's execution and understanding of the system. However, the Titans' latest defeat, a 26-3 loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday, leaves little evidence that the team is moving in the right direction.
WNBA gives Cheryl Reeve another award after playoff collapse and years of outspoken left-wing politics
Cheryl Reeve won WNBA Executive of the Year for a third time, but the Lynx's historic first-round playoff sweep raises questions about the honor.
The Supply Side: Walmart execs bullish despite high fuel prices
Consumers face higher energy prices and other challenges, but Walmart U.S. CEO David Guggina said at a recent Goldman Sachs investor conference that the consumer is resilient. And Walmart is...
An Ad Targeting Susan Collins’s Opponent, Troy Jackson, Airs in the Wrong Portland
An executive with the Republican super PAC that paid for the ad attacking Troy Jackson, the Democratic Senate candidate in Maine, blamed its vendor for running the ad in Oregon.
Brett Fischer, Kelly Jones, Chris Lee, Maruf Rahman, RWJBarnabas Health Leaders, Named Becker’s 2026 Rising Stars
Four rising executives at RWJBarnabas Health have been named to Becker’s Hospital Review’s Rising Stars: 188 Healthcare Leaders Under 40 list for 2026. They are: Brett Fischer, Senior Vice President of Business Development; Kelly Jones, Director of Revenue Cycle; Christopher Lee, Assistant Vice President of Public Policy and External Affairs; and Maruf Rahman, Vice President of Population Health and Community Health.
Fort Hood Victim’s Daughter Opposes Killer’s Livestreamed Execution, Says It’s Not for ‘Entertainment’
The execution of Nidal Hasan, who killed 13 people in 2009, could be streamed live, though President Trump has not made a final decision
Phillies' Alec Bohm's free agency gets a bleak outlook from an MLB executive
Alec Bohm's time with the Phillies is likely up, and his free agency is looking bleak.
Christianity teaches us not to turn executions into entertainment
(RNS) — The history of public executions suggests that when they are staged in free countries, they serve to degrade the citizens.
Chartway Credit Union promotes new chief operating officer
Virginia Beach’s Chartway Credit Union has created a chief operating officer position and promoted longtime executive Rob Keatts to fill it.
Banijay Execs Tout Global Entertainment Ambitions Following All3Media Merger
CANNES, France — Banijay Entertainment may be the world’s largest independent television production company, but its top executives say the recently merged entertainment powerhouse has ambitions that extend far beyond making television shows. “We are an entertainment company,” CEO Marco Bassetti said Oct. 12 during a keynote discussion at MIPCOM Cannes. “We aren’t anymore just … Continue reading "Banijay Execs Tout Global Entertainment Ambitions Following All3Media Merger"
Dauch restructures executive roles, hires new CFO
Dauch Corp. announced its plans to name a new chief financial officer on Monday, as well as a restructuring of its executive team as it makes succession planning moves.
Microsoft President says AI Needs Urgent Regulation
Brad Smith, President of Microsoft, calls for urgent AI regulation led by the UK as OpenAI, Anthropic and Google DeepMind back an industry slowdown
AECOM appoints Dwight Pullen to lead its global Transportation business
DALLAS (October 12, 2026) — AECOM (NYSE: ACM), the trusted global infrastructure leader, today announced it has appointed Dwight Pullen as Transportation Global Business Line Chief Executive, effective immediately. In this role, Mr. Pullen will lead AECOM’s global Transportation business, which is ranked No. 1 by Engineering News-Record. He assumes the role as AECOM pursues...
AACT NOW Reinforces Commitment and Pushes Touch-10
ACT NOW is reinforcing its commitment to nonpartisan voter outreach by expanding digital access to Touch-10, a program that asks employees of partner organizations to connect with 10 people they know, Executive Director Norma Flores-Ruiz said.
Unlike Sony, Nintendo Exec Says Switch 2 Maker Has No Plans To Abandon Physical: 'We Know How Much Fans Enjoy It'
Game key cards have helped the company bridge the divide
Federal officers carry out search at Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar’s DC-area home
Federal officers early on Monday executed a search warrant related to Rep. Ilhan Omar, the Minnesota congresswoman who has been the persistent target of ire from President Donald Trump’s administration.
GitLab warns of max severity code execution vulnerability
GitLab warned users today to immediately patch a maximum-severity vulnerability in the CI/CD Regular Expression Compiler that could let remote attackers run arbitrary code on targeted instances.
HOMETOWN HEALTH: ADHD in women often overlooked, experts say
ADHD affects executive functions such as focus, self-control and emotional management.
Henrico Business in Brief: Oct. 12, 2026
HHHunt announced a leadership transition that will take effect July 1, 2027. Buck Hunt will step down as chief executive officer and remain chairman. Chief Financial Officer Ann Kelly will become CEO, Steve Brant will become CFO, and Steve Fritz will remain chief operating officer. Clinic Properties purchased an 8,
Former Plaud exec raises $26M for AI app that listens to you in the background
Ambi is releasing apps for iPhone, Mac, and Apple Watch that enables ambient capture
Federal agents search Rep. Ilhan Omar’s home in criminal probe, AP sources say
The Justice Department said in a statement Monday that Homeland Security Investigations agents executed a judicially authorized search warrant
Nintendo executive confirms company has "no plans to ditch physical games"
"We go off of what the consumer prefers," says Nintendo's vice president and general manager for Latin America, Bill van Zyll.
(BPRW) SRT Entertainment Revives Knock’em Out The Box Records With 001myke’s Debut Album “SEVENTEEN” - “Picture Perfect” Official Music Video - Submitted for GRAMMY® Consideration
(Black PR Wire) SRT Entertainment has revived Knock’em Out The Box Records, the New York hip-hop label founded in 1989 by veteran record executive D.A. Johnson whose career includes Bellmark/Life, Malaco, eOne and C&C Music Factor...
Penn State Health names Leslyn Williamson interim chief nursing executive
Penn State Health has named veteran health care leader Leslyn Williamson as interim chief nursing executive, expanding her leadership responsibilities to include nursing strategy and oversight across…
InteleTravel Acquires 40Hammocks, Group Travel Automation Solution
Company will be relaunched as Groupr
Premier League executives discuss suspending Manchester City
Premier League executives were discussing on Sunday whether the league should immediately suspend Manchester City from the competition, but that option is viewed as almost impossible.Photo by Michael ...
Nintendo Refuses to Follow Sony’s Disc Exit, as Switch 2 Exec Says “There’s No Plans to Ditch Physical”
Nintendo's Bill van Zyll, GM in Latin America, promised there are no plans to ditch physical games for the Nintendo Switch 2.
Business study story: From steering aircraft carriers to addiction centres
Alta DeRoo on her route from the navy to medicine and leadership via an executive MBA
The science, instinct and hard work behind Roosters’ success
Enter your email address to get each Tribune edition sent to your inbox Subscribe There’s a fair bit of unseen work that goes into winning an NRL premiership, dating back many months - just ask Simon Jones. The Sydney Roosters Head of Performance, who hails from Southland, has been in the thick of it. He played a lead role in guiding the 2026 champions through a marathon campaign that ended with a grand final win over the Newcastle Knights. The Roosters had to navigate the lengthy round-robin competition, including the pre-season, before playing through all four weeks of the finals series. It was a demanding stretch that tested the players and the staff responsible for keeping them on the field. “It is a hell of a beast, mate, to be honest,” Jones told The Roar Podcast. “There’s such a great group of staff there that know what they’re doing, and the boys are pretty professional.” Jones believed the Roosters managed the physical demands well, pointing to the health of the squad throughout the campaign and the decision to rest a significant portion of the playing group in the final round of the regular season. That call, made by head coach Trent Robinson and his coaching staff, proved valuable as the Roosters entered the finals with some energy in reserve. “We did finish the season physically where we needed to be, and we’d sort of had a pretty healthy squad all year,” Jones said. “To the team that do that, mate, mission accomplished, really.” It is the sort of work that often goes unnoticed when the spotlight falls on the players scoring tries and making match-winning plays, but Jones knows the cumulative effect of those decisions can be significant over a long season. After a win over Penrith had helped establish them as premiership favourites, losses to the Wests Tigers and Dolphins were followed by a defeat to the Panthers in the opening week of the finals. Rather than panic, the club refocused to position itself to challenge for the title. “The Tigers’ performance was probably the only one where you’re really quite disappointed because it’s hard to get to the top of the competition,” Jones told The Roar Podcast. “We had proof that we could; we knew what we needed to do. We just had to get back to that.” For Jones, the answer was not necessarily a radical change to the programme. It was about executing the basics consistently, both on the field and in preparation. “We just do the basics better than anybody else,” he said. “Whether that is actually the way you play the game or how you’re preparing, it’s just be really consistent, do the basics really, really well.” Like many professional sports teams, the Roosters are entrenched in sports science and performance data. The club has access to a range of information, including players’ sleep, GPS metrics and neuromuscular scores, helping staff assess how individuals are coping with training and competition. “We are very science-backed, and some people would say data-driven, but it’s people first,” he said. “The reason you collect all this data is to try and be the best for that person.” Jones said the club was also prepared to reconsider testing methods if they were not generating useful discussions or helping staff make better decisions. In an environment where technology is continually evolving, he believes experience and gut instinct remain important. “The data is no good unless you have conversations,” he said. “When you strip it right back, mate, trust the gut still and obviously, you know, just doing the basics really, really well.” The return of halfback Sam Walker provided a further example of the importance of individual determination and the work of the club’s medical team. Walker underwent ankle surgery late in the regular season, with his premiership campaign appearing in doubt. However, he was determined to return for the preliminary final. Jones said Walker was back at the training ground three days after surgery, walking freely enough to surprise those around him. While the surgeon’s work was crucial, Jones credited the halfback’s mindset as a major factor in the remarkable turnaround. “He was quite clear with Robbo after he got the surgery that he was going to make it back for the prelim finals,” Jones said. The Roosters’ performance programme also sits within a wider club culture that Jones believes is central to their success. Each season, players develop their own team mantra through a lengthy process facilitated by Robinson. It provides principles that the squad can connect to its actions on the field. Rather than simply carrying over the previous year’s wording after a successful campaign, the club repeats the process because the players’ ownership of it is what gives it meaning. “When it’s led, player-owned and player-led, mate, it’s really powerful,” Jones said. Get more from Logan Savory in the Substack app Available for iOS and Android Get the app Jones joined the Roosters in 2024 and said the environment had evolved as experienced players departed and younger members of the squad took on greater responsibility. Maintaining continuity in the club’s culture and preparation had helped the group navigate those changes. The premiership was a significant achievement for Jones, who acknowledged how difficult it was to win the NRL’s ultimate prize. However, he is already looking at how the performance programme can improve. “There’s still things within my role and things that I’d like to help improve at the club,” he said. For Jones and his team, the challenge now is to review the season, refine their systems and prepare for another campaign. The celebrations may have followed a memorable title win, but the work behind the scenes never really stops. The Southland Tribune is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe
Rambling about politics, Christa Pike and the changing times
Are we at risk of creating another convicted murderer with a fan club?
Business People: Hilton exec Mark Weinstein to lead Target marketing
RETAIL Target Corp., Minneapolis, announced that Mark Weinstein has joined the company as chief marketing and guest experience officer. Weinstein joins Target from Hilton, where he served as global chief marketing officer for all 28…
Inside the Financial Troubles of the Woman's Club of Hollywood
The 121-year-old nonprofit Woman’s Club of Hollywood is in financial turmoil due to a debt scandal involving its former executive director.
These execs think voice AI hasn't reached its ChatGPT moment yet
Voice AI's often misses important points for its context layer, and causes the whole pipeline to break
The most influential Republican in the state doesn’t hold office
The most influential Republican in Colorado right now is Michael Fields, executive director of Advance Colorado, a force in ballot-measure politics.
Goran Sasic on NBA Europe: “There, it’s a lot about entertainment and here it’s about devotion”
The executive director of the EuroLeague Head Coaches Board talked about the negotiations between EuroLeague and the NBA
‘SNL’ Mocks Trump’s Nobel Peace Prize Snub, Public Execution Plan
The NBC comedy show took aim at the president’s Nobel ambitions and Pete Hegseth’s proposal in its latest episode.
Commentary: Arkansas football challenges No. 15 Tennessee but falls flat in the final 5 minutes
The Razorbacks had a solid defensive game plan and 3 takeaways, and broke out a running attack in the third quarter, but end-game decisions and lack of execution proved costly.
Informanté on Instagram: "Namibia urged to harness growing space science opportunities Staff Reporter NAMIBIA is positioning itself to benefit from the growing space economy through new satellite infrastructure, proposed legislation and expanded education and training opportunities, with young people urged to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers. This was said by Dr Lisho Mundia, Deputy Executive Director for the Department of Higher Education, Training, Research and Innovation, who represented Education Minister Sanet Steenkamp at the official opening of World Space Week Namibia 2026 at the Windhoek High School Stadium on Monday. This year’s World Spac
1 likes, 0 comments - informante_news on October 10, 2026: "Namibia urged to harness growing space science opportunities Staff Reporter NAMIBIA is positioning itself to benefit from the growing space economy through new satellite infrastructure, proposed legislation and expanded education and training opportunities, with young people urged to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers. This was said by Dr Lisho Mundia, Deputy Executive Director for the Department of Higher Education, Training, Research and Innovation, who represented Education Minister Sanet Steenkamp at the official opening of World Space Week Namibia 2026 at the Windhoek High School Stadium on Monday. This year’s World Space Week is being held under the theme “Rocket Revolution”, reflecting the transformation of space technology from the first human-made satellite launched in 1957 to modern spacecraft, satellites, space stations and missions beyond Earth. Full story: https://informante.web.na/?p=401904 Photo: National Commission on Research, Science and Technology - (NCRST)".
Trump says he will ‘make a decision’ on Hegseth plan to live-stream execution
The Pentagon has said a firing squad for the Fort Hood shooter is scheduled for Dec. 3. “By showing it, maybe other people won’t be doing what he did,” the president said.
The Picklr files for bankruptcy, plans reorganization
Pickleball facility franchisor The Picklr has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, with committed financing from a group led by former MLS team exec Tom Neale.
What Netflix's 'The Altruists' gets wrong, according to former FTX exec
"The Altruists" is an eight-episode Netflix series dramatizing the rise and fall of the cryptocurrency exchange under former CEO Sam Bankman-Fried.
'It's not entertainment': Black soldier who survived 2009 Fort Hood shooting slams idea of livestreaming shooter's execution
Retired Army Sgt. Alonzo Lunsford says he'll attend Nidal Hassan's execution, but does not want it to be seen as "entertainment."
Netflix Executive Says AI Has Touched 300 Titles as Director Claims Budget Savings of Up to 40%
Netflix says it has used AI on about 300 titles, while director Kang Yoon-sung told a Busan festival panel that AI workflows can cut film…
Northern Virginia defense tech firm plans to increase staff by 25% or more
A recent survey from the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce and Pinkston found a third of business executives expect to do some hiring in the next six months. Tim Tkacz of Reston-based Blue Sky Innovators is one of them.
Week in Politics: Hegseth's livestream backlash; Greece ambassador Guilfoyle scandal
Bipartisan blowback on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's plans to livestream a military execution, plus a scandal involving Kimberly Guilfoyle, the US Ambassador to Greece.
New forensic science and protective medicine facility opens in Wauwatosa
WAUWATOSA — Gov. Tony Evers and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley joined local leaders Friday to celebrate the opening of a new forensic science and ... Read more
Trump awards science medal to Elon Musk, Jensen Huang
US President Donald Trump will award the National Medal of Science to Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and several other tech leaders, with major figures from the industry set to gather again on October 8, local time. The honors highlight Trump's push to spotlight technology executives as his administration emphasizes US innovation leadership.
Hotel executive checks in on the blows to Hawaiʻi's tourist business
Jerry Gibson, President of the Hawaiʻi Hotel Alliance, discusses rising travel costs and troubling tourism numbers.
Billi Hunt named Iowa State vice president for external relations
Billi Hunt, executive director of America’s Cultivation Corridor since 2018, has been named Iowa State University’s vice president for external relations, pending approval by the Iowa Board of Regents. Hunt, an Iowa State alumna, will begin her new role Oct. 12. Hunt has more than 25 years of experience in government affairs, strategic partnerships, communications,…