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The past year has been a wake-up call for U.S. manufacturers. As global tensions, new tariffs, and regulatory crackdowns change the landscape, supply chain compliance is moving from a back-office concern to a boardroom priority. However, despite increased government attention, many manufacturers still feel that their ability to manage these risks is lower than ever, and the reasons are both practical and strategic. Complexity is the new normal Today's manufacturers operate in a world that is more complex than ever before. Sourcing materials across continents, managing vendor networks, and making international payments has become the norm, all while trying to…
Imagine your right leg becoming 20 times stronger overnight. At first it feels like a miracle. Move faster and jump higher than ever before. But soon my back hurts. My left foot can't keep up. The spine twists to absorb forces that it cannot normally handle. Your back will tighten and stay upright. Strength is real, but so is new pain. If you suddenly feel a new force in an area of your own body, you will realize that something needs to be adjusted. At least for now, there is no mass market for bionic legs. However, technological advances are…
Within the past four months, two of the world's top biopharmaceutical manufacturers, Eli Lilly & Company and AstraZeneca, have announced plans to establish large new operations in Virginia, garnering attention from both the biopharmaceutical industry and the larger business community. A series of announcements quickly came together that would bring hundreds of jobs and billions of dollars in investment, raising the question, “Why Virginia?” The answer is that the federal strategy behind the biopharmaceutical boom has been years in the making. For decades, Virginia has tailored its education, workforce, research and development, locations and logistics to the needs of an…
Small business owners are feeling the pinch amid new inflation statistics, rising interest rates and renewed tariff wars. Financial pressures are increasing on many fronts, from rising input costs to shifting consumer demand to new regulatory fees. Confidence among small businesses has fallen to its lowest level since the 2008 financial crisis, underscoring how fragile their survival is in today's volatile economy. Against this backdrop, the difference between a thriving business and a struggling business comes down to one thing: adapting and implementing strategies that turn challenges into opportunities for resilience and growth. Some business owners have completely panicked and…
Having done eight acquisitions in 10 years and grown Grote Company Family of Brands from a regional manufacturer to a global network with 11 locations, I can tell you this: Building market dominance through serial acquisitions isn’t about being the most aggressive buyer or having the deepest pockets. It’s about thinking in decades rather than quarters, and building something that compounds over time. Over the years, I’ve learned what actually works versus what just sounds good when it comes to acquisitions. Here are a few of those lessons. 1. Start Building Relationships Now, Not When You Need Them The biggest…
Finance executives are among the highest paid members of the C-suite and are often right behind operational executives. This competitive compensation position has been sustained by steady increases in CFO cash compensation since at least 2019, even through the economically volatile COVID-19 pandemic. But the just-released numbers suggest a deeper insight: Changes in CFO bonuses are the basis of this positive momentum. According to chief executiveAccording to the new U.S. Private Companies 2025-26 CEO and Senior Executive Compensation Report, the average annual change in CFO base pay and bonus from 2019 to 2026 is 3.6% and 6.0%, respectively. In layman's…
Amid constant change and uncertainty, it can be difficult to know which direction to take. But for François Nantel, president of Mitsubishi HC Capital Canada, a financial firm based in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, a time of crisis means it's time to stand your ground. This strategy was battle-tested for Nantel during the pandemic. “At a time when many companies were leaving, we redoubled our commitment to our customers and employees.” As a result, the company achieved double-digit growth during that period. In an interview, Nantel provided further insight into his leadership philosophy, why he always puts people first, and where the…
There are few names in the sporting world that command as much respect as Jonny Wilkinson. A rugby union giant, Wilkinson is best known for his iconic drop goal in the closing stages of the 2003 Rugby World Cup final, which gave England their first-ever world title. But his accomplishments go far beyond that singular moment. Wilkinson won 91 caps for England, scored over 1,100 international points, won two Heineken Cups, a Top 14 Championship and toured twice with the British & Irish Lions. Wilkinson's greatness lay not only in his statistics, but also in his relentless pursuit of excellence.…
The war for talent is no longer fought domestically. The battlefield has changed for CEOs. AI and technology skills shortages, wage inflation, and increasing regulatory pressure are reshaping the rules of the game. The government's latest mandate regarding H1-B visas has created new hurdles in attracting talent to the United States. CEOs who cling to the old strategy of importing talent to the United States will be beaten out not only in jobs but also in innovation and growth. Pebl surveyed more than 400 HR executives to find out how quickly the trends are changing. 71% of executives expect to…
If you want your business to truly create value through AI, you need to start with your people. Vaughn replaced 80% of the mid-cap software company's employees during its transition to AI, en route to dramatically improving every part of its operations. He says there's one thing that's essential to success, and that's “a person who believes in how existential it is. That's the difference.” Sonita LonteauDirector of Sunrun and TrueBlue. Sway Ventures Advisor. Former HP Technology Executive Rother agreed, saying, “We ended up spending 90 percent of our time on HR topics, from change management to upskilling to change…