Hi Dawn,
With the unemployment rate at a near 50-year low and employers expecting to hire 5.8 percent more college graduates from the Class of 2020 than from the previous graduating cohort, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2020’s Best Places to Find a Job as well as accompanying videos.
To determine the strongest local job markets in the U.S., WalletHub compared more than 180 cities across 31 key metrics. The data set ranges from job opportunities to employment growth to monthly average starting salary.
Best Cities for Jobs
Worst Cities for Jobs
1. Scottsdale, AZ
173. Cleveland, OH
2. South Burlington, VT
174. Anchorage, AK
3. San Francisco, CA
175. Gulfport, MS
4. Austin, TX
176. Toledo, OH
5. Fremont, CA
177. Huntington, WV
6. Chandler, AZ
178. Brownsville, TX
7. Boston, MA
179. Stockton, CA
8. Tempe, AZ
180. Newark, NJ
9. Portland, ME
181. Fayetteville, NC
10. Boise, ID
182. Detroit, MI
Best vs. Worst
To view the full report and your city’s rank, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/best-cities-for-jobs/2173/
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Immigration and the Prison Industrial Complex
by Andrew Moss
830 words
In the past year, the struggle over immigration rights continued along a broad array of fronts. There were significant setbacks, such as the implementation of the "Remain in Mexico" policy that made asylum nearly impossible to attain. But there were also victories, such as a federal judge's ruling in November that required the government to provide health services to thousands of parents and children traumatized by the family separations carried out in accordance with the Trump administration's "zero-tolerance" policy.
As we head into a new decade, it is useful to map the ongoing struggles in order to see the broader landscape of conflict, and there is one concept, that of the prison industrial complex (or PIC), that can help provide such a map. The concept of PIC was developed by scholars and activists associated with the prison abolition movement, and the abolitionist organization Critical Resistance offers this clear definition: "the prison industrial complex is a term we use to describe the overlapping interests of government and industry that use surveillance, policing, and imprisonment as solutions to economic, social, and political problems."
If we look over some of the major battlefields involved in immigration, the concept of the PIC can help pinpoint major areas where corporate interests and government overlap. These include detention, surveillance, consulting services, and border wall construction.
With respect to detention, it's important to note that 52,000 people are currently incarcerated in America's detention facilities, and that about two-thirds of them are kept in for-profit facilities run by corporations like the GEO Group and CoreCivic. The business in for-profit detention runs to about $3 billion a year, and the companies involved have made substantial campaign contributions ($1.7 million in 2016, $1.9 million in 2018). They have also actively lobbied both federal and local officials for years. The private detention facilities have been cited in numerous grievances and a number of reports for a wide range of abuses, including medical negligence, inedible food, and sexual assault and abuse. Reports have continued to surface about deaths in detention of both migrant adults and children.
With regard to surveillance, there has been a growing awareness in the past year-and-a-half of the role that tech companies have played in identifying and tracking immigrants. Particular attention has focused on the software company Palantir, which has a $38 million contract with ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) to provide data analytics and data case management. It's likely that these kinds of data services were employed in the kind of workplace raids carried out by ICE last August at companies in Mississippi. Moreover, it should be noted that Palantir's programs are hosted by Amazon's web services subsidiary, and the ICE connections of both companies have been targeted for protest by both employees and activists. Other tech companies, such as the software developer Github, have also been targeted for protests for their connections to ICE, and it's likely that such protests will continue into the coming year.
Yet another corporate area continuing to exert influence over the implementation of immigration policy involves consulting services. Major companies like Booz Allen Hamilton, Deloitte Consulting, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and McKinsey & Company have contracted with ICE, and it is the latter which has gained the most notoriety for its connections. McKinsey concluded a $20 million contract with ICE in July, 2018 amidst intense controversy over the family separations and other abuses associated with the Trump administration's zero tolerance policy. McKinsey consultants, it turned out, had recommended significant cuts in detention facilities for food services, medical care, and staffing. It currently has contracts with Customs and Border Protection.
Finally, with many asylum seekers trapped in unsafe conditions in Mexico under the "Remain in Mexico" policy, it's appropriate to include the construction of Donald Trump's border wall as part of immigration's prison industrial complex. Of particular relevance is the recent decision by the Pentagon's Inspector General to investigate the awarding of a $400 million contract to a North Dakota Company, Fisher Sand and Gravel, that Trump had personally lobbied for, despite the fact that it had never been awarded a construction contract before, and despite the fact that military officials had raised objections about the company's standards.
Certainly, immigration's prison industrial complex predates the Trump administration. For-profit detention facilities date back to the early 1980's, and surveillance and the fortification of the border have been going on for years. But Trump has pushed government/industry relations more sharply into an anti-immigrant direction, using racist messaging to criminalize migrants and shrink asylum and immigration to new lows.
As resistance to his policies continues, it will be helpful to invoke the concept of the prison industrial complex as a way of seeing the big picture. The PIC offers a lens for seeing how any particular protest is related to a broader struggle on behalf of certain values and understandings: that immigration is essential to the continued vitality of the nation, and that inclusion, enfranchisement, and human rights – not fear and criminalization – are keys to a democratic future.
–end–
Andrew Moss, syndicated by PeaceVoice, is an emeritus professor (English, Nonviolence Studies) at the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.
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Happy New Year! I just wanted to circle back on my note from earlier this week around new consumer rights legislation in California.
The Electronic Transactions Association (ETA) released a new whitepaper earlier this week that unpacks the new California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) – lots of changes for consumers/companies which means new requirements for collecting personal data and more.
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January is National Blood Donor Month:
A North Carolina Family is Celebrating Blood Donors and Organ Donors on Their Son’s One-Year Double Lung Transplantaversary
January 2, 2020 -- January is designated as National Blood Donor Month by The American Red Cross. During this month, all are encouraged to give blood, which is typically in short supply at this time of the year due to the holidays and an increase in communicable illnesses. A COTA family in North Carolina will be forever grateful to the blood donors whose blood was used throughout their son’s transplant journey and his life-saving transplant that occurred last year on January 16th.
Charla and Trevor Buchanan of Robbinsville, North Carolina, are stepping into 2020 hoping and praying this is a year of no medical emergencies, no surgeries, no complications and no setbacks for their son, Charlton, who will be celebrating his 26th birthday in September -- a dream come true for this family.
According to Charla, “For 24 years we have been on a Cystic Fibrosis (CF) journey … but more than that, we have been on a faith journey. Our son, Charlton, was born with CF, which is a progressive, genetic disease that causes persistent lung infections and an overall inability to thrive. From his premature birth until very recently, Charlton’s life has consisted of daily physical and respiratory therapy, medications, quarterly clinic visits to UNC Medical Center in Chapel Hill and annual (sometimes bi-annual) hospital stays. Although his treatment regimen has been incredibly time consuming (2-4 hours daily), Charlton seldom complained as a little boy … as a teenager … or as a young adult. He has always had a positive attitude and has lived a full and active life. In fact, many people never knew he was battling a challenging and life-threatening disease.”
Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder that primarily affects the lungs, but also the pancreas, liver, kidneys and intestines. Long-term issues include difficulty breathing and coughing up mucus as a result of frequent lung infections. CF is an inherited disease, and while there is promising research, there is no known cure.
Even with a multitude of CF-related challenges, Charlton attended and graduated from Robbinsville (NC) High School. He then attended Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina, and received a degree in computer information systems on May 12, 2018. Charlton was hired by the Graham County (NC) government to work in its Information Technology Department. His life definitely seemed to be moving in the right direction. His friends and family were thrilled for this young man who simply was not going to let anything stand in his way … including his battle with Cystic Fibrosis.
However, 2018 proved to be one of the hardest years of Charlton’s life due to nine hospitalizations. His lung function rapidly declined, and with each hospital stay, increasing amounts of oxygen were required. During a challenging two-week hospital stay in December, Charlton’s transplant team decided it was time to list Charlton for a double lung transplant while he was still healthy enough to thrive and before there was further lung decline. Charla, Trevor and many other family members and friends knew this would one day be his reality, but the news took everyone by surprise.
Charlton was officially listed for new lungs on January 9, 2019. One week later on January 16th, the Buchanan family received ‘the call’ telling them lungs were available. Charla posted this update on Facebook, “Transplant day has been long for everyone. We are all excited and want to hear good news, but the only news so far is that the surgery is going well and it will still be a long wait. On January 17th she updated, “Charlton is out of surgery and in recovery. He woke up easily, was taken off the ventilator, took his first breath with lungs that are NOT diseased with Cystic Fibrosis -- and never will be. To say we are amazed, awed and blown away is an understatement.”
Charlton’s post-transplant recovery was nothing less than amazing. On the second day after his double lung transplant, Charlton was moved to the stepdown unit and walked five laps. On day three post transplant he was able to eat real food. Eight days after his transplant, Charlton was discharged to medical housing close to the transplant center. According to Charla, this recovery timeline tied for the shortest UNC Medical Center record for a double lung transplant patient.
In the midst of this whirlwind a transplant social worker at UNC Medical Center had introduced the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) to the Buchanans and suggested they might want to consider fundraising for the transplant-related medical costs they would be facing. On January 11th, Charla called COTA to learn more and to ask many good questions about how COTA might be able to help. On January 29th, Charla and Trevor returned the paperwork and officially became part of the COTA Family.
The Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) works with individuals of any age with single gene disorders, such as Cystic Fibrosis, Polycystic Kidney Disease and Sickle Cell Anemia. COTA uniquely understands that parents who care for a child or young adult before, during and after a life-saving transplant have enough to deal with, so COTA’s model shifts the responsibility for fundraising to a community team of trained volunteers. Another plus? COTA funds are available for a lifetime. On February 22nd, a COTA fundraising specialist trained volunteers in Robbinsville for the COTA for Team Charlton campaign and walked the group of attendees through the entire COTA fundraising process. This group of family members and friends quickly got to work organizing fundraisers for COTA to help with mounting transplant-related expenses.
According to Charla, “From the moment we reached out to COTA, we were set at ease. Every staff member we spoke to was so reassuring and helpful, patiently answering the multitude of questions and listening intently to our concerns. Charlton received his transplant so quickly that we had not yet had time to officially become part of COTA. When we reached out a week after his transplant … our minds in a whirlwind … they made the process so easy. Very soon after that we began receiving much-needed support and our team of volunteers began fundraising with COTA’s guidance and support.”
“As our COTA team of volunteers began to raise funds in honor of Charlton, we were relieved to share that COTA is a 501(c)3 charity so all contributions to COTA are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law, and COTA funds are available for a lifetime,” Charla said. “Our volunteers were given a fundraising website at no charge and I used the COTA site to blog medical updates to our friends and family.”
Charlton remained in the Chapel Hill area, some 315 miles from their home, for three months. On April 10, 2019, Charlton was released to return home to Robbinsville. Charla blogged on the Team Charlton COTA website, “WE ARE HOME!!! Twelve weeks to the day after his transplant. Charlton even went back to work today. He feels great and has been hiking and enjoying time with friends. His lung function numbers continue to climb higher than they have been in more than two years with his oxygen levels staying at 100%.”
Recently Charlton updated his friends, family and social media followers on how things are going post-transplant. Here is the list of accomplishments he shared:
“It is overwhelming to hear the word ‘transplant’ but even more overwhelming to learn about the related expenses. From the moment we learned about the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) and reached out prior to our son’s transplant, we were instantly set at ease. COTA is more like a family than an organization. COTA does not simply assist with transplant-related expenses, they give peace of mind. And to a family in crisis, that gift is priceless! It is hard to describe the reassurance in knowing COTA will be there for Charlton … for a lifetime,” Charla said.
“COTA allows us to breathe easier every day because we do not have to focus on the financial aspects of Charlton’s disease and treatment, but can enjoy the journey of healing,” she said.
Charlton continues to thrive in every aspect. At his ten month post-transplant follow-up appointment, the doctors told him he was doing so well he did not need to come back until his one-year checkup. He never coughs any more, and he is currently at his heaviest weight. Charlton is eating well, working out at least three times a week and overall feeling great. He goes to work every day and is very active doing the things he enjoys, which include hiking, fishing, snowboarding, rock climbing, traveling, going to concerts, hanging out with friends and family, and actively participating in his church. Charlton is living life to the fullest and is now planning for a bright future -- something he was previously reluctant to do.
Mom Charla reflected, “Looking back at pictures from last year at this time, it is very humbling to realize how low he actually was and now how far he has come. This lung transplant has truly been a life-saving gift in so many ways, and COTA has been there through every step of the process. We now understand why a transplant anniversary is celebrated.”
Happy 1st Transplantaversary, Charlton, from your COTA Family!
For more information about the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA),
or to find a COTA family in your area, please email kim@cota.org.
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How To Plan For Healthcare Costs
That Could Derail Your Retirement
People work for decades with a hopeful eye toward retirement. But while many try to envision their retirement years as a blissful time of fun and relaxation, no one has a crystal ball showing exactly what all the expenses will look like.
This is especially true of health care.
Fidelity’s annual Retiree Health Care Cost Estimate projected that a 65-year-old couple retiring in 2019 could expect $285,000 in health care and medical expenses during their retirement. An Edward Jones survey showed many Americans are concerned about health care expenses in retirement, particularly baby boomers.
“People spend their healthy years accumulating all their wealth,” says Michael Macke (www.petrosplanning.com), vice president and co-owner of Petros Financial Group. “They work hard and save, building their nest egg.
“But when you retire, you wind up spending a lot of your wealth on your health. In talking with people about retirement for 25 years, health care is always their top concern. To most people it’s the great unknown that can derail the best-laid plans. You never know when you’re going to get sick or come down with a disease. What kind of care will be required, and most of all, what is it going to cost?”
How do you plan for that great unknown — health care costs in retirement? Macke offers these tips:
Make extra wiggle room for the “what-if” medical expenses. “When planning a long-term budget, most people just look at their baseline monthly expenses, but it’s wise to have a discussion about how health care costs can fit in during retirement,” Macke says. “Budgeting for a potential additional expense of $350 to $500 per month in the future can help you be better prepared to handle that ‘what-if’ scenario.”
Open a Health Savings Account (HSA). An HSA offers tax advantages such as deductible contributions and tax-free withdrawals for qualified medical expenses. “The funds from your HSA can be used to pay for Medicare premiums and long-term care insurance premiums,” Macke says. “Those who are 55 or older can make a catch-up contribution of $1,000 a year in addition to the maximum contribution limit (which is $3,500 annually for individual coverage and $7,000 for family coverage).”
Manage Medicare annually. “Every year, you should be reviewing Medicare plans. You need to figure out which plan is best for you based on your health as well as what’s covered and what isn’t in each option.” Macke says. “Some plans may cost a little more but would save you on doctor’s visits and co-pays. Also, remember that your part B and D premiums could be higher based on your annual income from two years prior. Make sure you are working with a tax planner and retirement planner to manage your income, which may include distributions from retirement accounts. Being aware of these limits could save you money! Your health changes constantly as do your options for Medicare coverage. Make sure you are evaluating each year.”
Pay attention to your health. Sounds simple, but a healthy lifestyle is the best way to reduce the chance of health complications and costly bills in retirement. “Don’t miss annual checkups with both your doctor and dentist,” Macke says. “Adhere to a reasonable diet and fitness regimen. And don’t discount the dentist. Cardiovascular disease shows up in the gums first.”
“Unexpected medical expenses later in life threaten our physical health and our financial health,” Macke says. “Therefore, it’s vital to be proactive and plan as early as possible in order to protect your retirement you’ve worked so hard for.”
About Michael Macke, CFP®
Michael Macke (www.petrosplanning.com) is vice president, owner and principal advisor of Petros Financial Group, Tax & Wealth Advisors. He has been a Certified Financial Planner® practitioner since 2005 and has over 20 years of experience in banking and financial services. Macke believes that the best financial plans are holistic in nature and incorporate all aspects of your financial life, including: investments, insurance, tax planning, Social Security strategies, Medicare and estate planning. Macke is also founder and president of Petros Advisory Services, a registered investment advisor firm.
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QuoteWizard analyzed FEMA natural disaster data to find states that have experienced the highest rate increase of natural disasters from the year 1980 to 1999 compared with 2000 to 2017 and found natural disasters have increased 165% nationwide.
Utah was found to have one of the highest rate increases in the nation over the last 4 decades.
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*For a review copy of The WOW Factor Workplace or an interview with Deb Boelkes, please contact Dottie DeHart, DeHart & Company Public Relations, at (828) 325-4966 or simply reply to this email.
Ten Ways to Create a WOW Culture (and Retain Your Best Talent) in 2020
Are you creating what Deb Boelkes calls a "WOW factor workplace"? If not, watch out: You're at risk of losing your best people. Here, she suggests ten things leaders
should do—or stop doing—to turn your culture around this year.
Jacksonville, FL (January 2020)—January is the perfect time to start thinking about your workplace culture. A positive one produces happy, engaged employees who give their best efforts, challenge themselves to grow, and consistently meet goals and delight customers. A toxic one creates miserable, unmotivated clock-watchers and job-board checkers. Deb Boelkes says shoring up your culture—making sure your company is a place where the best and brightest can thrive—is probably the single most important thing you can focus on this year.
"In a strong economy like ours, people have their pick of good jobs," says Boelkes, author of The WOW Factor Workplace: How to Create a Best Place to Work Culture (Business World Rising, December 2019, ISBN: 978-1-734-07610-3, $19.95). "If your culture is one of disengagement and toxicity, your most talented workers will be looking to leave. You'll be left with mediocre and low performers who have little incentive to do more than the bare minimum."
The bad news is that leaders often aren't aware their culture isn't what it should be. The good news is that they can change that. When leaders consistently motivate and inspire employees, fill them with purpose, challenge them, and make them feel safe and supported, what Boelkes calls the "WOW factor" manifests, grows, and permeates the entire culture.
Any type of company can create a "Best Place to Work" culture—also known as a WOW factor workplace—when leaders commit to being role models who train and inspire employees to create extraordinary products and deliver impeccable service at a great value (regardless of the price). This creates an unparalleled experience for both employees and customers, making both groups feel special, appreciated, and respected.
To start creating a culture of WOW in 2020, follow this advice.
Stop allowing a**holes and idiots to thrive. (Hire slow and fire fast.) When your company is made up of talented, enthusiastic, hardworking people, employees won't want to leave. That's why you should hire only people who will fit in with the culture you're creating—and get rid of bullies and others who create a toxic culture. You may be reluctant to fire someone you yourself hired, but don't wait till they do maximum damage. Fire him or her now.
"I love the simple yet effective mantra of Todd Wilcox, chairman of Patriot Defense: 'No assholes, no idiots,'" says Boelkes. "These no-nonsense standards guarantee that everyone supports each other, has the right attitude, and wants to do what's best for the company."
Make adjustments and break things to make WOW happen. Adjustments are made all the time in WOW factor workplaces to make things even better than they already are. The adage "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" is NOT the way WOW factor workplaces become WOW factor workplaces. Sometimes you must break things intentionally to make continuous dramatic improvements that enable WOW to happen.
"You may have to move an employee from one position to another, for example," says Boelkes. "If someone isn't thriving, you owe it to him or her and to the company to make a change."
Encourage your employees to interview elsewhere...really! Boelkes is a strong believer in a piece of advice she learned early in her career: Always be interviewing. While this applies to managers seeking the best possible job candidates, she says it also applies to employees. Everyone should interview elsewhere from time to time. This is one way to ensure neither the employee nor the business gets complacent. It's crucial for employees to know their value to the outside world.
"Likewise, organizations should be made aware if they are not keeping up with competitive marketplace opportunities," says Boelkes. "You certainly don't want to wait until your best team members have accepted another position elsewhere to finally offer them a raise or a promotion. By then, their hearts and minds are out the door."
Start mentoring in the moment. Mentoring should happen every single day, not just a few times a year during performance reviews. That's why Todd Wilcox recommends that leaders should have a smaller number of direct reports—more like five or six instead of fifteen or twenty. With a smaller group, leaders can talk to their mentees every single day.
"There are limited resources," says Wilcox. "You don't have enough time to talk to more than four or five or six people in a single day. If you're not talking to people every single day, then I would argue you're not effectively communicating, managing, mentoring, and developing them."
Set high expectations and hold your people to them. WOW factor workplaces have a well-documented set of behavioral standards and performance expectations. When someone isn't meeting these expectations, leaders will collaborate with him or her to develop an improvement plan that spells out SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Reasonable, and Time-bound). Each party is responsible for holding the other accountable to his or her end of the bargain. The underperformer must either get his or her act together or move on to something else.
"I have had to look dear friends in the eye and tell them they couldn't keep a job because of something they'd done," says Colleen Barrett, president emeritus and corporate secretary of Southwest Airlines. "Or I couldn't recommend them for another, and I still retained the friendship. You know, that's hard. But if you're just honest with people, I think the worst disservice you can do is NOT tell somebody when they are not making the grade. That's just ridiculous."
Refuse to tolerate excuses (from yourself and from others). Some people hold themselves back. They may think they aren't as good as others or as prepared as others to assume a leadership role. Maybe they haven't had as much education or they're from a low-income family or any of a whole variety of reasons. Don't let this happen. Tell employees they don't need to have had a model upbringing or have earned a PhD to live up to their potential. They can do their best work with what they have right now. No excuses. They'll be amazed at what they can achieve with their talent and wherewithal alone.
"We were dirt-poor," says Patriot Defense's Todd Wilcox. "My mother qualified for food stamps and aid for dependent children, but she was adamant she would not do that. She put us to work as kids. I started working when I was thirteen years old as a dishwasher, and I've been working my entire life ever since. It was self-determination. Take charge. Provide for yourself. Be accountable for the decisions you make. Those were things she taught us along the way."
Help employees connect to purpose and meaning. Britt Berrett, former president of Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas (named one of the "Top 50 Best Places to Work in the State of Texas"), explains the value of purpose in healthcare: "When I get exhausted, I'll go to the lobby. I'll watch the patients walk in and out. They are scared. They're going to be entering a new environment. We'll poke and prod them all night long. If I, as a leader, can understand my role in blessing their lives, if it can give me purpose and meaning, then I'll be much more purposeful in my efforts. That's invigorating."
Nudge people out of their comfort zones. Strong leaders look for the potential in employees and push them out of their comfort zones. They show employees that they have faith in them. They mentor them along the way. When you do this, employees are inspired to make the best use of their talents and push past their perceived limitations.
"When I was a senior systems engineer at AT&T Information Systems, I was supporting the top sales rep, Phil," says Boelkes. "My job was to make sure what Phil sold performed as expected. When he quit, his sales manager, Betty, offered me the job. When I said I wasn't cut out for sales, she replied, 'You obviously don't know why Phil was so successful. It's all because of you. You can still be you, only better, as a sales rep.' Betty's vision and persistent encouragement changed the trajectory of my career. Never again was I afraid to take on challenges."
Make them feel like they belong. Garry Ridge, CEO of WD-40, talks about fostering belonging. He says, "People feel like they belong here because we are doing things every day to help them be better. We help educate them. We help them deal with their stresses of life. Just last Friday, we had a lunch-and-learn. We had someone giving people a two-hour session on stress management. We had massage therapists in here during that time. We want people to be feeling good about themselves in many ways, not just emotionally but physically. I think what's great is in our last employee opinion survey—with a 99 percent positive response globally—the number-one measure was: 'At WD-40 Company, I'm treated with respect and dignity.'"
Urge employees to go beyond the expected to delight customers. Donald Stamets, general manager for Solage, an Auberge resort in Calistoga, CA, allows employees to take the lead in this area with his Expected, Requested, and Delighted philosophy. He encourages staff to go above and beyond what the customer expects and try to delight them at every turn. For instance, if a guest is sick, employees can bring them tissues and chicken soup without asking a manager.
Boelkes says she experienced Stamets' "beyond the expected" philosophy when he was the general manager for an Omni resort and she selected them to host her dad's birthday. They were prepared with a tray of Bloody Marys (her dad's favorite drink), and the breakfast chef (Miss Donnie) led him into the kitchen and made him a special omelet. "It was as though we were the only guests in the place, and Miss Donnie had nothing more important to do than ensure my dad had the birthday celebration of a lifetime," she reflects.
"You can always improve if your culture isn't yet where you want it to be," concludes Boelkes. "The year 2020 is a fresh start. Commit to start moving in a positive direction and build a culture that will make you and everyone on your team feel lucky to work for such a great organization."
# # #
About the Author:
Deb Boelkes is not just a role model heartfelt leader; she's the ultimate authority on creating best places to work, with 25+ years in Fortune 150 high-tech firms, leading superstar business development and professional services teams. As an entrepreneur, she has accelerated advancement for women to senior leadership. Deb has delighted and inspired over 1,000 audiences across North America.
About the Book:
The WOW Factor Workplace: How to Create a Best Place to Work Culture (Business World Rising, December 2019, ISBN: 978-1-734-07610-3, $19.95) is available from major online booksellers.
For more information, please visit www.businessworldrising.com.
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SENSORIA HEALTH AND REJOINT ANNOUNCE
FIRST PERSONALIZED END-TO-END KNEE REPLACEMENT SURGERY EXPERIENCE WITH ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING &
REMOTE PATIENT REHAB MONITORING
Custom 3D Printed Cobalt Chrome Prosthetic Knee Combined with Sensoria Health Patient Monitoring System Revolutionize Total Knee Replacement (TKR) Surgery
Remote Patient Rehab System Includes New Smart Knee Brace, Textile Pressure Sensor Infused Socks, Remote Monitoring Cloud & Mobile Apps
Reduces Rehab Time, Pain and Risk of Requiring Corrective Surgery
Press Release: http://www.thomas-pr.com/sensoriahealth/sensoriahealthces2020release.html
Las Vegas, NV, January 2, 2020 -- Sensoria Health www.sensoriahealth.com, the leading developer of Internet of Things (IoT) for the Human Body, Internet of Me (IoMe), and AI software solutions that improve patient’s lives, will be announcing next week at CES 2020 the first end-to-end knee replacement surgery experience, the Sensoria Health Remote Patient Rehab System, featuring the new Sensoria Smart Knee Brace, Sensoria Sock v2.0 embedded with textile pressure sensors and Sensoria® Core microelectronics, Remote Monitoring Cloud and Mobile Apps. The Sensoria Health Rehab System monitors knee range of motion, patient balance, repetitions, adherence and other biometric and physiological parameters (i.e. KOOS score) proven to reduce rehab time, pain, risk of requiring additional corrective surgeries, and increase patient mobility.
Made of soft neoprene, the new Sensoria Health Smart Knee Brace can baseline the patient before surgery, and along with the washable smart socks, remotely monitors post-op rehab for optimal recovery time and results. Sensoria Health is exhibiting at CES 2020 at the Sands Eureka Park, Italian Pavilion Booth #52722 (stand #15).
Sensoria smart socks with Sensoria® Core and embedded foot sensors - Sensoria Health Smart Knee Brace
By 2030, 11 Million Americans will Have Knee or Hip Replacement Surgery
According to the National Institutes of Health, at the end of this decade, by 2030, about 11 million Americans will have hip or knee replacement surgery, making them the nation’s most common elective surgical procedures. Researchers attribute the increase in joint replacement surgeries to aging baby boomers, higher rates of diagnosis, treatments for arthritis, demands for improved mobility, and younger individuals undergoing these procedures, coupled with improvements in life expectancy. Most patients will outlive their implants and require expensive revision surgeries. The majority of the individuals (70%) who have undergone total hip or knee replacement surgery are alive today.
“In 2020, one million Americans will go through Total Knee Replacement (TKR) surgery. We are excited to partner with REJOINT to provide our new Remote Patient Rehab System and help resolve a true quality of life issue. Up until now, TKR procedures did not offer personalization and were often subject to side effects, such as pain, re-hospitalization, and reduced patient mobility,” said Davide Vigano, CEO, Sensoria Health. “It is estimated that over 500,000 adults living with knee implants have undergone revision surgeries. Even as the number of knee replacements and corrective surgeries have increased, safety assurances to protect patients have remained limited. With Sensoria Health’s Remote Patient Rehab System, patients undergoing TKR surgery will have better surgical outcomes, shorter rehab and recovery times and a more vibrant life with less pain and increased mobility.”
Sensoria Health Remote Patient Rehab System Features:
Personalized Medicine Partnership with REJOINT for Prosthetic Knee Replacement
Sensoria Health is also announcing at CES 2020 a partnership with REJOINT, who is developing the first personalized prosthetic knee under an innovation grant by the European Commission. REJOINT and Sensoria Health will showcase and announce the first personalized 3D printed and personalized knee replacement prosthetic device at CES. Custom designed for each patient and made of cobalt chrome, the new implantable prosthetic device is developed with innovative Formula One Racing-derived additive manufacturing techniques, built in Bologna (Italy), close to the Ferrari and Lamborghini headquarters. The new prosthetic knee is undergoing clinical validation at Humanitas in Milan (Italy) by Prof. Maurilio Marcacci, and will be available in 2021 in Europe and the United States.
Each REJOINT knee will come bundled with the Sensoria Patient Rehab System to provide patients and clinicians and end-to-end personalized experience and reduce time to full recovery.
Software and Sensor Infused IoT Footwear, Apparel, & Accessories at CES
At CES, Sensoria Health will also be announcing availability of its unique healthcare SDK and IoMe device that can enable multiple clinical patient monitoring scenarios. The SDK includes a HIPAA compliant cloud system and Sensoria® Core mission-specific adapter designed to connect to sensor-infused footwear and garments.
Sensoria Health will be at CES 2020 in Las Vegas from January 7-10, 2020 at Booth #52722 Eureka Park, Sands, Italian Pavilion, Stand 15. To schedule press meetings at CES or for more information, contact: Karen Thomas/Eva Yutani, Thomas PR (631) 549-7575 kthomas@thomaspr.com or eyutani@thomaspr.com. Sensorial Health CES Booth Location Map (Italian Pavilion): https://ces20.mapyourshow.com/8_0/floorplan/index.cfm?hallID=M&selectedBooth=booth~52722
Availability
The Sensoria Health Remote Patient Rehab System will be available Q2 2020 through medical professionals and online, with pricing to be determined. For more information about Sensoria Health, see the website: www.sensoriahealth.com.
About Sensoria Health
Sensoria Health’s vision is “The Garment is The Computer®.” Sensoria Health’s proprietary sensor-infused smart garments, Sensoria® Core microelectronics, and cloud system enable smart footwear and clothing products to convert data into actionable information for patients in real-time. Sensoria Health develops and markets biometric sensing footwear technologies for consumers and patient activity monitoring. Through textile and pressure sensors inserted in a sock or a shoe, Sensoria powered IoMe (Internet of Me) wearables collect data on the physical activity of gait-impaired patients to improve their lives. For more information on Sensoria in healthcare, see: www.sensoriahealth.com.
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ROBOSENSE 125-LASER BEAM SOLID-STATE LIDAR: RS-LiDAR-M1
IS OFFICIALLY ON SALE PRICED AT $1,898
World’s First Smart LiDAR Sensor Will Be Demonstrated at CES 2020
with On-Vehicle Public Road Test
Press Release: http://www.thomas-pr.com/robosense/robosensem1releaseces2020.html
January 2, 2020, Shenzhen, China -- RoboSense http://www.robosense.ai, the world’s leading autonomous driving LiDAR perception solution provider, announced today that the solid-state LiDAR RS-LiDAR-M1Simple (Simple Sensor Version) is now ready for customer delivery, priced at $1,898. The new RS-LiDAR-M1Simple is less than half the size of the previous version, with dimensions of 4.3” x 1.9” x 4.7” (110mm x 50mm x 120mm), and is equipped with enhanced hardware performance virtually equal to the serial production version provided to OEMs. The main body design of this automotive-grade solid-state LiDAR is finalized and ready for shipment.
In addition, RoboSense will demonstrate the world’s first smart solid-state LiDAR, the RS-LiDAR-M1Smart (Smart Sensor Version), at CES 2020 in Las Vegas, Booth 6138, LVCC North Hall from Jan 7-10, 2020 with an on-vehicle public road test. Products will be available for ordering by key customers. The RS-LiDAR-M1Smart main body is embedded with an AI perception algorithm that fully takes advantage of LiDAR’s potential to transform conventional 3D LiDAR sensors to a full data analysis and comprehension system, outputting semantic-level structured environment information in real-time to be used directly for autonomous vehicle decision making.
The RS-LiDAR-M1 family inherits the performance advantages of traditional mechanical LiDAR, simultaneously also taking into consideration requirements for the mass production of vehicles. The RS-LiDAR-M1 family meets every automotive-grade requirement, including intelligence, low cost, stability, simplified structure and small size, vehicle body design friendliness, and algorithm processed semantic-level perception output results.
“The RS-LiDAR-M1 is an optimal choice for the serial production of self-driving cars, far superior to mechanical LiDAR. The sooner solid-state LiDAR is used, the sooner production will be accelerated to mass-market levels,” said Mark Qiu, RoboSense COO.
RS-LiDAR-M1 Family Features:
The RS-LiDAR-M1Smart is a comprehensive system with sensor hardware, AI point cloud algorithm, and chipsets, which provides an end-to-end customer environment perception solution. RoboSense’s powerful AI perception algorithm injects the sensor with structured semantic-level comprehensive information, focusing on the perception of moving objects.
The RS-LiDAR-M1Smart Features:
Availability and Pricing
The hardware-only version of RS-LiDAR-M1 is currently available for customers, with a retail price of $1898. RoboSense will deliver current orders from key customers and upgrade the production line in Q1 2020, completing retail product delivery by Q1 2020. The smart sensor version of the RS-LiDAR-M1 is currently available for key customers who have purchased the solid-state LiDAR A-C Sample Kit, and will be available to all customers after Q1 2020. For orders or to contact a RoboSense account manager, visit www.robosense.ai/buy.
About RoboSense
The world’s leading autonomous driving LiDAR perception solution provider, RoboSense supplies LiDAR technologies to a wide range of domestic and international autonomous driving technology companies, OEMs, and tier 1 suppliers. RoboSense technologies are widely used in autonomous driving logistics vehicles, buses, and passenger cars, with partners including SAIC, BAIC, Baidu, Cainiao Network, JD.com, Samsung, ControlWorks, Aidrivers, and more. In China, RoboSense has received more than 300 million RMB in strategic investments from Alibaba’s Cainiao Network, SAIC, and BAIC, making RoboSense Asia’s number one LiDAR company, with the largest funding in China’s LiDAR industry. RoboSense has won numerous international awards, including the CES 2020 and 2019 Innovation Awards, the 2019 AutoSens Award, and the 2019 Stevie Award - Gold Award. For more information on RoboSense, see the website at: http://www.robosense.ai.
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How Complaining Customers Can Become
Your Business’ Best Friends
Dealing with customer complaints isn’t a business owner’s favorite task, but that sometimes stressful part of running a company can provide opportunities to improve the business for the long run, experts say.
“Turning those complaints into positives depends largely on two factors,” says Alex Zlatin, CEO of Maxim Software Systems (www.alexzlatin.com). “One, how well business owners and their team handle unhappy customers directly one-on-one, and two, devising solutions for specific customer issues that keep coming up.”
In terms of direct customer service, studies show complaining customers could end up being some of a business’ best customers. Harvard Business Review found that those who have a complaint handled in under five minutes spend more on future purchases.
As for developing long-term solutions for common problems customers bring up, Zlatin says a business should make a habit of documenting all customer complaints, then discuss those issues as a team. Another way, he adds, is to send out customer surveys that include a wide range of questions geared to improving the company’s processes and customer service.
”The bottom line is, the way a business handles its customer complaints determines its success or failure in an increasingly competitive marketplace,” Zlatin says. “Businesses that turn complaints into opportunities for building closer relationships with customers are the ones that are most likely to grow and prosper. Prompt and systematic handling of customer complaints has a positive impact on the major business areas.”
Zlatin says dealing with customer complaints effectively can help a business in the following ways:
Earns customer loyalty. When customers tell you about a problem they’ve had with your company, they expect you to correct it – and if you do, they might show their appreciation with future purchases. “If you don’t correct it promptly,” Zlatin says, “there’s a good chance you will lose them. Show you care by being patient, listening, asking questions and getting all the information possible to make it right. They’ll see that you truly want them to have a valued experience, and this will make them more likely to stay loyal to your business.”
Attracts more customers. Ignoring customer complaints altogether or putting them on low priority can cost a business dearly. “Annoyed customers might share a bad experience on social media or in person, turning potential buyers away,” Zlatin says. “But if you use customer complaints to make several positive changes in your business, current customers will notice and perhaps be your best recruiters. Your customer base will see that your business is more efficient, resulting in a better overall experience, and leading to referrals.”
Boosts overall performance. “Taking action based on customer complaints helps you improve your processes,” Zlatin says. “Issues you otherwise might not have realized you had will no longer hold your business back. Anything customers tell you will provide insight into how you can better meet their needs, operate more efficiently, and grow your business.”
“Don’t take customer complaints personally,” Zlatin says. “But do take them seriously. If you don’t, they’ll think you don’t value their business or opinions. Before long, you won’t be complaining about customers’ complaints, but about having fewer customers.”
About Alex Zlatin
Alex Zlatin, author of the book Responsible Dental Ownership (www.alexzlatin.com), had more than 13 years of management experience before he accepted the position of CEO of dental practice management company Maxim Software Systems. He earned his MBA at Edinburgh Business School and a B.Sc. in Technology Management at HIT in Israel. His company helps struggling dental professionals take control of their practices and reach the next level of success with responsible leadership strategies.
