Harrisburg University of Science And Technology: STEM University Caters Degree Programs That Lead To Great Careers
Digital Version Building block for Dr. Eric Darr to get into STEM It’s not the technology that changed the world, but the dreams behind it. People who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do. Along similar lines, Dr. Eric Darr’s fascination with science and technology and how the world works led him to enter STEM education. Therefore he involves in teaching other people about how the world works and new technologies that change the world. Evolution Of The Education Sector Leading Toward The Development Of The Programs The significant transformation that’s happened recently, as a response to COVID, is the moving of education into a virtual world using technology to connect instructors to students, and students to each other. Dr. Darr thinks that technology transformed the way education is delivered, and the possibilities for merging time and space. STEM Education has taken advantage of technologies to reach students around the world, and therefore the development of their programs is not limited by geography. With faculty who dwell all over the globe HU’s programs extend across the world. So, geographical limitations, from the teacher and student side, are something that doesn’t have to be considered in the development of their programs. They can develop and design programs that reach anywhere and are taught by people who live anywhere. And Harrisburg University just tries to find the best. So, he thinks that’s a tremendous boon in how one should think about and formulate their programs. The Essence Behind Establishing Harrisburg University Of Science And Technology Harrisburg University of Science and Technology is a private research university in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It is a STEM-focused institution with branches in Philadelphia and Panama. It was established in 2001 to provide STEM-focused certificate and degree programs. Harrisburg University has been granted Middle States Commission on Higher Education accreditation. Harrisburg University has over 7,000 students, including over 3,754 international students. Harrisburg University of Science and Technology offers 28 bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, as well as doctoral and certificate programs. Harrisburg University of Science and Technology’s vision is to provide undergraduate and graduate academic programs for a diverse range of learners, utilizing student-centered, technologically advanced, and experiential learning designs that emphasize student success, with a strong emphasis on specific interdisciplinary competencies and strong links to career development. The desired outcome is the emergence of highly qualified, technically proficient graduates with knowledge of applied science and technology-related fields. The University has achieved this goal up to a point. However, meeting the needs of the workforce, assisting entrepreneurs, and establishing new businesses is a never-ending goal. So, while they have done a lot to develop a workforce and produce graduates who frequently do great things and assist new businesses, there is always more to be done. Occurrence And The Impact Associated With STEM Dr. Darr’s first sophisticated STEM experience occurred when he was an undergrad and was assigned to work on a glider as part of a NASA project. He would have been bored just learning mechanical engineering theories and formulas if he hadn’t been able to work on this glider, so it all became more real and enjoyable. As a result, that experience is why Harrisburg University does what it does in providing students with hands-on experience. That is what gives it substance. That is what drives people. It also alters perceptions of how science and technology work. Skill Set Engraved In The Students While Studying At STEM STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths) is becoming an increasingly important term in education and the global economy. This is because future careers will almost certainly revolve around STEM fields while also requiring 21st-Century skills such as critical thinking, creativity, cultural awareness, collaboration, and problem-solving. According to Dr. Darr, no great scientific discovery or new technology is ever created by a single person. It’s almost always a collaborative effort. People who live thousands of miles apart can collaborate. The University’s students work in teams, whether they are all together in a classroom or distributed across the United States. Along with information literacy, critical thinking, and decision-making, this is an excellent skill for students to learn. These are life skills, not just skills for working in science and technology. STEM Acting as an Instrument in Changing the Present Society STEM education extends beyond the classroom. It provides a skill set that governs how we think and act. STEM education, which combines science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, assists us in addressing the world’s current challenges. Let’s look at what STEM means in a global context and how it affects our society’s development. STEM education has already changed the world. Whether it’s different ways of banking, self-driving autonomous cars, or the way we listen to music or participate in entertainment, we must be adept at adapting to technology and being life-long learners. It has already altered our society in numerous ways. The rate of change has accelerated and is likely to accelerate further. We are living longer lives, curing diseases that we could never cure before, and changing the way we travel around the world and interact with others. All of this is likely to change dramatically over the next ten years. It’s incredible what we’re on the verge of. Women Considering STEM Careers There is a critical need for as many smart, talented people as possible in STEM fields. Women, according to Dr. Darr, will find great role models and opportunities. There has never been a better time to be fascinated by science and technology. Role models and mentors are critical for young women trying to advance in their careers. Women, according to Dr. Darr, will find great role models and opportunities in STEM fields. That is significant! The Way the University Emphasizes the Ideals Required to Establish a Diverse and Inclusive Workplace Diversity and inclusion are extremely important to the university and are even part of its mission statement. Businesses all over the world recognize the value of workplace diversity and inclusion.
Global College Malta: Developing People To Their True Potential For Over A Decade
Digital Version When universities were set up about a century ago, scholars established the primary purpose of these institutions was to teach wisdom and enlightenment to the students. At the time exclusively for a select group of the elite and wealthy. As we hop onto the time train and reach modern times, that primary purpose has several sub-purposes branched out. Today, an institution’s primary purpose is to provide wisdom and education; but also to shape a canvas of a clear mind into something magical. To provide a diverse, warm, and welcoming environment where a student can be nurtured into utmost growth. Two of the most essential purposes of higher education are students’ character development and their preparation for real-life demands. One could argue that they should already be established before enrolling in college. Still, the education systems at pre-university levels need to provide students with the chance to learn about themselves and experience continuous character development. Headquartered in Malta, Global College Malta is one of the most prominent and cutting-edge private institutions in the Mediterranean region. The institution is famous for providing outstanding, post-graduate, and undergraduate programs. The goal of comprehensive, top-notch education and cross-disciplinary curricula is to get students ready for a fulfilling and highly gratifying job. Strength At The Core Established in 2012, Global College Malta aspires to give its students the knowledge and abilities they need to thrive in a globally competitive environment. Whatever course one decides to take, the institution wishes success and a wonderful, fulfilling educational experience. All through these years, Global College Malta has established healthy connections with several universities in Europe, North America, and Asia to ensure that their students receive global education in its purest form. Global College Malta offers specifically created, top-notch business and management courses, all of which are geared to improve employability. Specifically, in the areas of Business Management, Accounting, Finance, Health & Social Care Events & Tourism Management. The institution believes that its core strength lies in the recognized expertise and teaching abilities of its reputable academics from all over the world. A faculty that provides a wealth of comprehensive and cutting-edge teaching, business, and industry. The school is very proud to welcome new students. They interact with students through a distinctive learning experience and work with them to help shape a bright future because they see every student as the next generation of industry leaders. The actions and decisions made by the college line up perfectly with its motto “Developing People To Their True Potential.” This mission is the cornerstone owned and protected by the college which is reflected in every step taken at the Study World Global College Malta. A remarkable group of people who are dedicated to making a meaningful difference make up the institution. It has always taken great pleasure in its commitment to providing motivating and excellent student teaching and learning thanks to its highly certified and experienced teachers. Not from their backgrounds or prior experiences, but our students will benefit from the intellectual challenge and the chance to grow as individuals because of how it is taught and how it is approached. “At GCM, we believe in shaping & creating business leaders, entrepreneurs and so We support and welcome business ideas from the students. We provide expert guidance, comprehensive business plan formulation support, connections to alumni in related areas of the proposed business, introduction to investors and venture capitalists thus creating a perfect launching pad for budding entrepreneurs at our college.” Leading With Leadership For an institution responsible for making future innovative business leaders, the institution needs its innovative leader to lead the way. Dr. Vidhya Vinod is currently the President and Group CEO and is in charge of leading and managing the Study World Group as a whole. She has led from the front and developed a devoted, enthusiastic, and execution-focused team that has been crucial to the success of the collaboration with Heriot-Watt University. Being one of the youngest women CEOs in the region, Dr. Vidhya Vinod is the proud founder of the Study World Group and has the vision of enhancing lives through international education for all. Dr. Vidhya, after completing her Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and a Master’s in Computer Application, started her academic career as a lecturer in UAE. She played a key role in setting up the first foreign University- Heriot-Watt University, in Dubai. Over the last 10 years, the college has enjoyed immense success and growth. Dr. Vidhya has added real academic and professional value to the lives of several students and professionals. “At this time, the World desperately needs the skills, knowledge, and ability to work and live together that you have acquired during your time with Global College Malta.” Dr. Vidhya works to inspire the entire GCM with her innovative management skills. She has the vision to establish the college as the largest higher education institution in her region. Aiming towards making reputed and commercially viable international education available to students from different parts of the world. A Walk Through The Campus Global College Malta being true to the “global” in their name, has students from all over. Making the campus a vibrant rainbow of ethnicities, backgrounds, attitudes, and approaches. The College is committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment where all people feel supported and valued, enabling them not only to succeed but also thrive. For its international students, numerous celebrations rejoice. For various regional festivals and other events that hold importance to the students from their respective roots. This creates perfect cohesion among students as well as provides glimpses of cultural diversity. A student is faced with numerous challenges as they embark on their college or uni journey. Students must devote their complete attention to university life. The students should always review the course syllabus, maintain their confidence, and examine the various assignment forms. On top of that, adjusting themselves to the campus and between their peers puts even more pressure on these minds. What they need during such
Gagan Arora: From Transforming the Industry to Building an Empire
Gagan, is a first-generation software entrepreneur, a tenacious leader, and a tech evangelist who has successfully built himself as a well-known brand name in the industry. He is Boston University Certified and the seven-time recipient of the BEST CEO award. He is the Chairman of the Foreign Investors Council’s Delhi Chapter and the Director-Global Education for the Asian Arab Chamber of Commerce, servicing 52 countries. Mr. Gagan Arora, founder and CEO of Vertex Group, is a pioneer in providing aided sales and marketing services to BPOs, BPMs, IT solution providers, and financial and accountancy firms. What’s the inspiration behind Vertex Group? Would you like to mention some of the highlights from your journey? I have spearheaded Vertex Group‘s expansion into six countries in just five years, earning numerous honors including “World’s Greatest Leaders 2021-22”, 40 UNDER 40, and Asia’s Youngest Entrepreneur by Asia One, which was highlighted on CNBC and ET Now. I have also been named as one of India’s Top 100 Influencers by GMI and Forbes two times in a row. I am usually inspired when the utterly impossible becomes possible by embracing the challenge with a never-say-die mindset, no matter how difficult things grow. My desire to prove myself has driven me to build the best work environment possible, expand, and spread our message around the world. If I hear a story from someone who has overcome the odds, worked hard, focused, fulfilled on their word, and has been relentless in changing the world to make it a better place, I feel unbelievably inspired and uplifted. Three words that describe my entrepreneurial journey are Upward, Learning, and Evolving. Since the inception of my journey as an entrepreneur, I have been upward with the challenges coming my way considering my setbacks and failures as new learnings that allowed me to evolve and create a bigger picture of my vision. Deprived of any financial or psychological support, although my circumstances were homeless my vision was not. I had a crystal-clear vision of setting a trend of innovation and technology by using the best of my day-to-day business knowledge. To give wings to my passion I took a leap of faith and left my job, sacrificed the comfort of a monthly salary and perks, and invested money to achieve one true dream. Success to me came in the form of waves that had highs and lows but my keen determination to not settle for anything less kept me going despite a few initial failures. With a strong vision and the will to transform the industry, I laid the pillars of my dream in a small garage in Florida with a team of two, and have since, expanded my footprints across seven countries with a powerful workforce of over 1500+ people. Now, as a President of the Group and a leader, I have taken all of my experience and learnings to make a huge impact, growing my current company from 2 employees to more than 1500, with international offices in the United States, United Kingdom, Philippines, Nepal, Middle East, and Africa. Please brief us in detail about the current scenario of the business. How have the customer preferences changed over the years? With the increasing demand for technology, India’s IT solutions sector has the potential to become the world’s next space center. Advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and others have shrunk the distance between the virtual and real worlds, resulting in an interoperable platform between Information Technology (IT) and actual physical activities. Over and above past human-machine interactions, machine-machine real-time communication is now conceivable. With the rise in processing capability of the chips, visualization and simulation tools have advanced significantly. A wide range of complicated, customized, and modular goods can be designed and immediately conveyed to the machines that will follow. Thus, embedded systems, factories, and workers link via the Internet of Things to collaborate in a cyber-physical environment. Society is rapidly moving from analog processes to digitalized technologies which have opened new ways for businesses to improve and evolve together with their customers. Also, it offers the possibility to link the worldwide economy and build a network in which every business can find its place. Your smartphone is a perfect example of digital transformation. It allows you to use different digital services like social media, which are yet an example of digital transformation because they have changed our way of communicating with each other. Big data or machine learning are other examples that are especially relevant for businesses that want to learn more about their customers. They offer completely new perspectives on your customers’ behavior that you can use to grow your business. With digital transformation businesses are taking an important step toward getting to know customers better. Pen and paper are outdated. Today you can collect important information via smart applications that offer endless possibilities. Customers’ expectations have changed, thus traditional marketing channels like PR and distribution are starting to lose their impact. Social media is critical for both marketing your items and communicating with your customers. Customer care is now available not only by phone and email but also through social media. As a result, customers have come to expect significantly faster responses to their inquiries. It would not be inaccurate to argue that digital transformation serves as a vehicle for taking your company to the next level. What are the unique challenges your company is currently facing? How have they affected your company? With the changing business environment, no industry is immune to unknown difficulties. The Covid-19 pandemic has built a new reality that is complex, ambiguous, and full of possibilities. Uncertainty regarding the future is one of the most pressing issues we face today. The unprecedented waves of Covid-19 have had a negative impact on employees’ physical and emotional well-being, as they are constantly threatened by the loss that pandemic uncertainties could have on them and their families, thereby hurting employee productivity. The work-from-home culture necessitated that corporate culture is built in such a
Esther Riveroll: Transforming Data Management in the Digital Age
About the Author A sports lover, trained for a cross country marathon of 45Kms, and passionate about mathematics to keep challenging her brain, Esther at a very young age realized that she was born to be a leader. After graduating high school, she cracked a position at IBM where her path in technology began. She sees failure as learning and an opportunity to do things differently, “it is just that you are preparing yourself to grow,” she says. Big data analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning are transforming economies and innovation on a revolutionary scale. They have great economic potential. Indeed, some have already hailed data as “the new oil.” This may be an imperfect analogy, but it does capture the excitement and high expectations surrounding the data-driven economy. The prospect of extracting lucrative insights from rapidly growing pools of data is galvanizing entrepreneurs and investors in all sectors of industry. Esther Riveroll, Founder and CEO at Alldatum Business, brings a sophisticated capacity to collect, organize, control, and commercialize stores of data and intellectual property to help businesses with data governance. She accompanies them on their path to a successful digital transformation getting value on their data, as well as responding to the challenges presented by the digital economy and data management initiatives. Please tell us about your educational/professional background. Who inspired you to become a business leader? Would you like to mention some of the highlights from your journey? When I was 18, I studied at the “Colegio de Bachilleres”, a high school in Mexico that gives you a technical specialty and mine was accounting. This school did not have a direct pass to the government universities and my parents did not have the money to pay me for a private university, so I took the exam at UNAM Public school and I was not selected. There were students from another high school who had a direct pass and the career I had chosen which was “Applied Mathematics and Computing” was fashionable, I was not fortunate enough to be chosen. I had to work in the meantime in the Collective Transport System (Metro) for a year. There I realized that I did not want to be an administrative assistant, that I wanted to be a leader of something, and also with everything I saw, I realized that I wanted to help create a better world. After that year I took the exam again and now I was accepted. I taught aerobics classes daily (3 hours) to help my family. I loved sports, I trained for a Mexico – Cuernavaca cross country marathon (45 KMS) and that was my passion. I loved exercise so much that my friend from college was upset with me because I was always doing homework at the last moment. At that time, I wanted to put in a gym and I loved to make people happy through exercise and music which is also my passion. In this process, I had a car accident that stopped for a while the opportunity to continue teaching classes and that was where I received the message that my mission was not teaching aerobics, that I had to start to focus more on my professional career and that was when I tried harder in the University. I love mathematics, to challenge my brain to solve problems, the more difficult I like it and that also I was passionate about. When I was finishing school I wanted to work in a company that was the IT biggest Company, where I could learn more and be challenged. That’s where I found out back then that it was IBM and a friend’s sister took my resume to IBM. I went on a scholarship and that’s where my path in technology began. Since I was at school I always had the opportunity to be a leader. I was a group leader in secondary school for the 3 years in a row, and I loved it because I have the firm conviction that being a leader you can train and help people, and create high-potential teams. My first position as a manager was when I thought I was ready, I asked my manager at IBM what do I have to do to become a manager and he assigned me goals that I met and they gave me a management position. I learned that if you want something you need to ask for it. There is a lot of responsibility in being a leader because you become an example and inspiration for others, but if you do it well, you can create opportunities and a better world. When was Alldatum Business established? What are the prominent services/solutions offered by the company? Alldatum Business is a proudly Mexican company created in 2016. Our passion is to deliver and help customers derive value from their information and collaborate with them on their data strategy. Headquartered in Mexico City, Alldatum brings value to customers by being a business partner that accompanies them on their path to a successful digital transformation getting value on their data, as well as responding to the challenges presented by the digital economy and data management initiatives. We help companies to obtain the best information from their systems, and the vision of the data they don’t have today but need for future growth. create value with this data and thus share this data to the lines of business and the analytical area to make better decisions. We transform the data into wisdom for the companies. Data projects are not only technological projects. Many customers need help to understand all about the data and the best strategy to get value from it. Sometimes their first pain is on the silos and integration of their information, sometimes they do not have the data they need, sometimes they had internal political situations that are difficult to manage, and the owners do not want to share the data, the data is poor on quality, and many other situations.
Ellen Voie: Driving The Women Workforce With Positive Work Culture
Today, people’s idea of success is driven by personal ambition. However, it turns out to be a foolish way of doing business. Ellen Voie, CEO & Founder of Women In Trucking Association, Inc. has another way of achieving success without being fired by ambition. She is concerned about everything around that helps her to not hold anything back and do naturally her best. This is a woman’s way of operating an organization, and this is becoming the best way to operate the world. Women & Softer Economics In 2007, Ellen founded Women In Trucking Association as a nonprofit trade/professional organization. She explains, at that time women comprised about three percent of the driver population and had very little representation in board rooms or the C-Suite. The sentiment at that time was that the industry was just being gender-neutral and hired the best candidates. However, it was apparent that there was not a level playing field. There was unconscious bias in the hiring and promotion of female executives, and for female commercial drivers, the playing field was anything but level. Showers were communal for men, restrooms for women were scarce, trucks were designed for men and there were no women’s uniforms. The most critical area was the lack of data. Since women were considered “statistically insignificant” in trucking, it was difficult to break the information down by gender. Over the years, the Women In Trucking Association has worked with universities and private entities to look at the differences between men and women in transportation careers. Now, it is known that women take fewer risks, both in the boardroom and in the cab of a truck. Women make decisions differently, and women have different values when it comes to working for a trucking company. Women are more collaborative and better at team building. These are all positive attributes that weren’t noted in the past. Different But Inspiring Unlike other girls, Elle has been interested in less traditional activities, such as woodworking, auto mechanics, drafting, and welding. After graduating from school, she was hired at a steel fabricating plant to draw material handling equipment. Working efficiently, she was offered a promotion to move into the traffic (shipping) department and advanced to Traffic Manager. There, she earned a diploma in Traffic & Transportation Management which gave her a great deal of insight into how the supply chain works. Along with family responsibilities, she used her skills as a consultant to motor carriers in central Wisconsin. During that time she earned her bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree in Communication. ‘Women with both human skills as well as the language skills which are fundamental to any business rise faster.’ This principle helped her hired to lead the Trucker Buddy program, a nonprofit organization that matches professional drivers with elementary classrooms. After six years, she was recruited by a large carrier in the Midwest as the Manager of Retention and Recruiting Programs. Her job was to initiate corporate-level programs to attract and retain nontraditional groups, which included women. What the innovation space needs, ‘understanding the gap in any workforce.’ Keeping the mantra in her mind she spent a great deal of time trying to understand what women are looking for in a carrier and what makes them leave the industry. While earning her private pilot’s license, she belonged to a women’s aviation group that prompted her to start the Women In Trucking Association. Reinventing Against Disparity Although women make up 50% or more of the human population, women business owner statistics do not match up. Women entrepreneurs who are entering the workspace still need to negotiate levels of male-dominated industries to bring their ideas to life. Women In Trucking has over 6,000 members in ten countries where about fifteen percent of them are men and they support the mission. They provide insight through surveys, research, and partnering with other organizations that want people to better understand gender diversity in transportation careers. The goal is to be a resource for the industry and for the government. As a trade/professional organization, Women In Trucking Association is here to serve its members. Involved in the transportation environment, connectivity is empowering them to build better businesses. They believe in transparency and are responsive to feedback. If a client does not feel they can provide value to their company or career advancement, they won’t renew their membership, so feedback is crucial. They are constantly asking their members what issues are important to them and how they can better represent them. Most importantly, they use their insight to make changes in the industry by quantifying their experiences which gives them measurable goals. Overcoming The Uncertainties Despite such devotion, Ellen admits that she has seen a difficult time responding to criticisms. She cannot help but often take these criticisms personally. She faces a hard time when people try to attack them for something they dislike instead of engaging in a conversation to resolve issues. The world is at a stage where gender equality is becoming the major aspect of every industry. Women In Trucking Association is on a mission to provide jobs and aware women that they can play a very important part in softening economic activity. They are still working virtually with great efficiency even amid the pandemic, especially hiring self-motivated people. They are not bound to have set work hours, or even vacation schedules, as everyone is expected to complete their duties without the need for oversight. Millions of business owners across the world faced at least some level of challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Women In Trucking Association was moved too to take unwanted decisions. For instance, they had to cancel their in-person event in 2020 and switched to a virtual conference. They had over 600 enthusiastic registered attendees, which fueled them to continue to provide a virtual option. Similarly, in 2021, they had over 800 at their in-person event in Dallas and hundreds more who participated in all or parts of the virtual conference. From Ellen’s Seat Having a laid strong foundation, Women
David Goldberg: A Man on a Mission to Heal and Help the Community
Digital Version The healthcare industry was at the middle of everything during the pandemic. It experienced a seismic change, transforming all aspects of the healthcare system. It has been widening in an unprecedented fashion. With the positive changes, the industry has faced challenges. However, despite multiple challenges, the industry has staunchly served people. The industry continues to alleviate human suffering, whilst maintaining an overall healthy community. David Goldberg, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mon Health System, strongly believes in community health and customer feedback that drives development for both the patient and provider. David has served the healthcare industry for a considerable period, a truly passionate entrepreneur in the business. The following cover story paints the picture of this entrepreneur’s success story – how he became one of the finest leaders of the healthcare industry with a rich experience. About David Goldberg David Goldberg serves as Mon Health System’s President and Chief Executive Officer, as well as Executive Vice President of Vandalia Health. David has nearly 20 years of senior healthcare leadership experience. He previously served as Senior Vice President with Highmark Health’s Allegheny Health Network (AHN), ran two hospitals as interim-CEO and former interim-President of Highmark Home and Community Services (HMHCS) in Pittsburgh, PA. David’s extensive healthcare administrative background includes serving as President of two hospitals and Service Line Executive for Cardiovascular and Behavioral Health Services at Tenet Health’s Baptist Health System in San Antonio, TX. He also served in various senior roles ending as System Pediatric Vice President and Administrator with Inova Health System at Inova Children’s Hospital in Falls Church, VA. David earned his master’s degree in health systems management from George Mason University and a bachelor’s degree in political science from West Virginia University. A recipient of several professional awards, he remained active in healthcare, professionally and in community activities throughout his career. More recently, David has become the Fairmont State University Vice Chair, serves on the WV Hospital Association Board, Chair for Hazel House of Hope, Highmark Caring Place Board, Advisory Board member for West Virginia University School of Public Health and Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, Board of Directors for Morgantown Area Partnership, and a member of the Board for the Marion County Chamber of Commerce. David and his wife Noel, also a WVU graduate, have two daughters, Reagan and Ryan. Source of Inspiration David is a former Shriners’ patient, which eventually makes healthcare personal to him. He draws inspiration from his college years and professional opportunities that helped him to work and make things better. His parents have instilled a helping and improvement-driven mindset and that is how he supports others in their journey and mission. On Current Business Scenario Healthcare is a much-needed industry. Not only that, it is an immensely under pressure industry. The mission to bolster the opportunity to heal, help, and foster wellness is impracticable without the right alignment between patient and provider. With the shift from volume to value-based care and the growing focus on population health, the hard work should be fastened on to improve outcomes and community wellness whilst the business model pays on a “sick care” base. In due course, this evolution can bring about cost reduction, also ensuring proper utilization of services while enhancing overall outcomes. Challenges Company is Facing There are slew of challenges our company is confronting – the post-pandemic world, the “great resignation”, the stress caregivers feel delivering care, and economic head winds – all these factors are playing in and impacting the pillars of stability and sustainability. Narrowing the focus on service and quality brings about revenue, and we have never been more energized about what the future will bring for improved cost of care, workforce development, and community health. Company’s Establishment Mon Health System was formed in 1982 to aid in strategic planning and to manage all its affiliated entities under one common philosophy. On Motivation and Productivity in Workspace It is important to reflect upon customer feedback; hence, we always review what our customers say and feel. We have colleagues, patients, providers, family members, and community neighbors that we gauge our progress through. Buildings do not treat people, people treat people, so we need to be focused on our patients and colleagues to maintain a positive environment to help and heal. Criticism or disagreement are vital feedback to learn from. You cannot fix an issue if you do not know there is one and we must ensure that we listen and pay attention to all our stakeholders. A just culture is vital to ensure balance and access for all points of view to improve the experience for the patient, colleague, and community. Customer Satisfaction and the Impact of Customer Feedback on the Company’s Strategy We survey patients as they use inpatient or outpatient services throughout the healthcare journey. We also have patient family advisory councils to ensure the patient perspective is always in the center of what we do. The customers feedback and insights are always vital. We cannot do what we do without ensuring we hear the positives and opportunities our patients experience. Healthcare is a core necessity and mission driven. A healthy community is defined by socio-economic, health status, and positive infrastructure so we need to stay focused on our patients’ well-being. Products and Services Mon Health System, part of Vandalia Health, is an integrated network of physician clinics, outpatient centers and hospitals in North Central West Virginia that works together to make healthcare more accessible and affordable to the communities it serves. It includes six hospitals – its flagship, Mon Health Medical Center in Morgantown; Mon Health Preston Memorial Hospital in Kingwood; Mon Health Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital in Weston; Mon Health Marion Neighborhood Hospital in White Hall; affiliate, Grafton City Hospital in Grafton; affiliate, Highland-Clarksburg Hospital in Harrison County; Mon Health – DASCO Home Medical Equipment in Morgantown and Weston; and The Village at Heritage Point. Mon Health System is also part of many Joint Ventures such as Acuity Hospital of
Dana Achartz: Making the Roads Safer, One Driver at a Time
Digital Version Safety in the Trucking Industry Transportation has always been a key element in moving America forward. If all of the trucks in the United States stopped for just one day, we would all feel the impact. According to the “Transport Services Global Market Report 2022: By Purpose, By Destination, By End-Use Industry” report, the transportation industry values up to billions, expected to grow by $7,210.41 billion in 2022. Commercial Transport Inc. is a family-owned industry-leading motor carrier with outstanding safety records and customer satisfaction. In its early years, Commercial Transport Inc. operated as a coal and gravel enterprise before moving cement, rock, and now food-grade dry bulk goods and petroleum products. Where It All Started Commercial Transport Inc. (CTI) is a unique family owned operation. Started in 1940 by Alfred White and his brother Robert White. The business evolved and has been passed down to many generations. Talking with Dana Achartz, the Director of Safety for Commercial Transport Inc., the company has flourished in terms of its policies and procedures, growth and employee base. Climbing the Corporate Ladder to Success Dana Achartz first started in the trucking industry almost 20 years ago. Through her journey, she has seen multiple changes within the industry from regulations, technology and experienced many obstacles drivers face moving freight across the country. Throughout her career, she advanced her roles and positions embracing change and improving safety in transportation. She climbed her way up the corporate ladder starting off as a log auditor, supervisor, management, as a director, and even as a safety consultant for a reputable insurance company. As someone in her 20s, she paved her path and won several national safety awards and honors. As she approaches her 40s, she has shifted her sights to a mentoring role to help the younger generations who will be the future leaders of the industry. The trucking industry offers many opportunities. You have to always be on top of your “A game” as trucking is constantly changing. Being passionate about what you do truly makes your career enjoyable. Being part of a great team and sharing the same vision will bring the company and its people success. Dana empowers her team and together they make things happen. Leading with her motto, “My passion is my superpower”, she truly enjoys her line of work. What she values the most is through her safety training and awareness, she believes at some point throughout her career, at least one life has been saved. We all value life. What more could you ask for? Not All Hero’s Wear Capes The world felt the power of the pandemic. The one good thing (if any) that came out of the pandemic is that it taught everyone just how important the trucking industry is. Stores had empty shelves. Shortages across the country, nationwide. Trucker’s couldn’t stop and they didn’t. They had to move America. Truck drivers became the hero’s. They got in their trucks every single day, moved goods across the country so our families had what we needed to survive. Dana personally believes that everyone is essential and they just have to find their way in the work world and discover something they enjoy doing. When you enjoy what you do, most days will come easy to you. Working isn’t about making money. It should be about passionate and daily happiness. Making a difference in the world. Enjoying what you do for a living, makes daily events fun and almost like a hobby. Trucking can be a very rewarding career. I’m thankful for every single driver out there moving freight. I’m thankful for the farmers for getting food ready to put on our tables. Not all heroes wear capes, some drive a truck. Facing the Driver Shortage The trucking community faces a driver shortage. We need drivers. That’s a common concern in our industry. If it wasn’t for the drivers, we wouldn’t be here. You need to always be grateful for your front lines. They’re the reason you have a job. Transportation as an industry has been facing a driver shortage for years. There’s plenty of freight out there, but not enough people to move it. Trucking is such an exciting profession. You can do so many things in this industry. The opportunities to advance are endless. It’s also a great way to see our amazing country and see the beauty of Mother Nature. Dana’s solution to this is to work on driver retention. Strengthening employee culture and morale is the best approach in today’s market. Treating your employees as your work family keeps the culture positive. We spend so much of our lives with our work family, we need to appreciate everything they do. People feel more encouraged and loyal to the company when they are appreciated for their hard work. Culture plays a vital role in the company’s success. If everyone is working together and shares the same vision, you’ll be successful. Who doesn’t like the feeling of accomplishment? Working hard and achieving greatness with your team is an amazing thing and should be celebrated. Unity in the Workplace Dana feels strongly about keeping her team united. Your team will experience each high and low the company will go through together. The team shares the same goals and achieves their milestones simultaneously. Hearing and giving attention to every opinion your team has is important. It allows everyone to speak up and communicate. It allows out of the box perspectives. A good team collaboration solves problems and difficulties. Everyone contributes and feels like part of the solution. Aww, and there’s the feeling of accomplishment for all. A person’s quality or character matters greatly when you want to expand your team or work family. We spend a significant portion of our lives with those we work with. You’re not always going to agree on everything and that’s ok. That’s great as it allows growth. When a disagreement happens, you should always handle confrontation as soon as issues arises to avoid further
Colin Brown: Serving Best Vehicle Insurance Against Eventualities
Business is booming and for the first time in two years an Underwriting Agency has made huge advances with many new auto products and services with great ideas, solutions, and technology. The growth in the last 24 months has defied the pandemic restrictions and Colin Brown, CEO & Founder of Stratford Underwriting Agency Inc. shares the same story. There are very few people with as deep an understanding of vehicle insurance as Colin Brown. From emigrating to investing 22 years of his life in a company, Mr. Brown claims to provide services against monopolies in the industry. Please tell us about your educational/professional background. Who inspired you to become a business leader? Would you like to mention some of the highlights from your journey? I emigrated from Ulster in October 1973. I had a degree in Geology and Geography from Queens University Belfast. I started my career as a management trainee at the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) in January 1974 and the Corporation opened for business in March 1974. I worked at ICBC for 22 years and resigned as Chief Underwriter in 1995. During that time, I became a Chartered Insurance Professional, a Chartered Arbitrator, and also received an MA in Liberal Studies from Simon Fraser University. In 1995, following my resignation, I founded Canadian Direct Insurance (CDI). CDI was the first direct writer in Western Canada and sold optional auto insurance coverage by phone and internet in competition with ICBC which is a quasi-monopoly. At the outset, CDI was a wholly-owned subsidiary of HSBC. It turned profitable in its fifth year and 2005 was sold to Canadian Western Bank (CWB) for $25 million, or 1.25 of book value. CWB were great owners and after a change in leadership in 2015, sold CDI to Intact (Canada’s largest insurer) for $200 million, or 2.5 times book value. CDI had additionally previously issued dividends of $35 million to the bank already to protect CDI’s capital ratio. It was a massive success. I was appointed Executive Officer of Intact, but I retired in 2016 at the age of 66. Please brief us in detail about the current scenario of the business. How have the customer preferences changed over the years? The auto insurance business in BC is dominated by ICBC. They have a monopoly on “the basic” which is the minimum cover that you have to buy to put a vehicle on the road. They also sell almost 90% of “optional” which are the add-ons for collision cover, comprehensive, etc. That optional market is worth $2.5 billion in BC. CDI had been the largest seller of optional. Following my retirement, I did a little consulting but was approached several times to start another company. I finally did so in 2018 and founded Stratford Underwriting Agency Inc. We are a Managing General Agency (MGA), essentially a wholesaler of niche products that are otherwise hard to find. Stratford started in 2020 with its own BC auto product (CDI 2.0), underwritten by a major reinsurer that I had worked with for 20 years. Customer preferences have not changed in this regard, they still want a viable option to a government monopoly. A better product, more bells and whistles, and a lower price. We sell through a network of 200 independent brokers. What are the prominent products/services offered by the company? How are they different from your competitors’ offerings? Stratford’s two current products are differentiated in price. Both offer products very similar to our competitors but priced better. Our products have better coverages in key areas that make them more attractive and in addition offer better features. This is achieved through smarter underwriting. Our primary product is designed to save 80% of BC motorists on their purchases. Currently, Stratford offers a full-service BC auto optional product and a replacement cost policy for the loss of value on new cars that may become a total loss. In 2021, we wrote a total of $27 million in premium, had revenue of $7 million, and lost $170,00 in our second year of business. We are very happy with that. We will write about $38 million in 2022 and make $1million+ in profit. We are developing two other non-auto products at this time. They will broaden our scope and spread our risk base. What are the unique challenges your company is currently facing? How have they affected your company? At the time we entered the marketplace, ICBC have declared BC to be a “no-fault” jurisdiction. Essentially cutting out the need for third-party liability cover and reducing the average premium available from $800 a policy to $500 a policy. This was effective May 1st, 2021. Stratford was forced to find a product to replace the lost premium. This was done in short order and a replacement cost policy was added in February 2021 and we sold $10 million worth of policies for the premium product in 2021. Opportunity and agility melded together on that one. What measures do you incorporate to ensure motivation and productivity within the workspace? How do you respond to criticism and disagreements? As a company, our system was designed to be flexible. It is in the cloud and supports working from home. We encourage attendance at the office as needed. Staff who can influence key indicators are incentivized appropriately. All staff is bonused on the corporate performance. We have an open office plan which encourages open discussion and deals with any issues as they arise. We have a complaints officer who responds to any customer complaints. What measures do you undertake to ensure optimum customer satisfaction? How much impact does the customer feedback have on the company’s strategies? We do have a complaints officer who is charged with dealing immediately with any issues that arise. As we sell through independent brokers, there are few complaints directly to us. Most would be claims disputes and there are formal procedures in place for dispute handling. If there is a consistent valid issue, we are quite at ease
Blaze Your Trail: Robert “Bob” Mong’s UNT Dallas, Pathway To Social Mobility
Digital Version Education is a dynamic industry. With constant developments, discoveries, inventions, and interventions, students need equally passionate leaders and universities that not only keep up with these changes but also implement them for the well-being of the students. The University of North Texas at Dallas is one of those places that broadens students’ perspectives while positively impacting the community. The University’s graduate and undergraduate degree programs have the lowest tuition rates in the Dallas area. UNT Dallas works to provide its students with practical professional experience in a variety of industries, including business, counseling, education, human services, law, and more. UNT Dallas is led by President Robert “Bob” Mong. He has served UNT Dallas since 2015. As a 1971 Haverford College graduate, he attended Stanford University’s Executive Program in the Graduate School of Business. Under his leadership, UNT Dallas has achieved greater heights including enrollment growth. Mong started his career and spent most of it as a journalist at The Dallas Morning News. As the paper grew in popularity, he gained experience as the paper’s Editor and Revenue General Manager. Bridging as a journalist, Mong was passionate about education and the industry. He developed udint appointment for higher education between The Dallas Morning News and various universities. He was chaired the National board of visitors at the Manship School at Louisiana State University since 2000. Under his new leadership the paper won nine Pulitzen prizes. In 2015, he was recruited as the President of UNT Dallas by the Former UNT System Chancellor, Lee Jackson. He was awarded various honors like the National Empathy Award for his contribution to making their community a better place to live. Choosing Colleges: How To Make The Decision? Choosing a college can be an overwhelming decision. Knowing that your future academic life depends on this one decision, making the right choice seems so difficult when many choices can please students. As someone with first-hand experience in the education sector for years, we raised the question to Bob Mong. Number One- Education is the single best determinant for future lifetime earnings premiums for those who achieve a bachelor’s degree or more. Go to college and complete college. Number Two- Believe in your growth potential and maintain a lifetime learning mindset. The world has never changed faster. The best way to keep up with it is not to be intimidated by change but to embrace it. Number Three- Learn self-care techniques to adapt to the inevitable stresses you will face in college and beyond. Too often, the most talented people fail to take care of themselves and let their physical and mental health slide. University Foundations/The Journey The University of North Texas at Dallas provides affordable education accompanied by innovative, high-quality academic programs that include opportunities for rich experiential learning. Created by the Texas Legislature to serve under-resourced markets in North Texas, It has been 12 years since UNT Dallas became independent. UNT Dallas offers its students the most cost-effective tuition plans in the Dallas area, enabling them to pursue a bachelor’s, master’s, or Juris doctoral degree while carrying the least debt possible. Thanks to the Office of Student Life, students can learn more about themselves, their peers, and the world we live in. UNT Dallas provides students with an environment that is innovative, holistic, and instructive Students will always be the priority and the heart of every initiative taken by the university. They aim to provide educational access and give students a variety of learning experiences. There is a range of partnerships with non-profit organizations, school districts, community institutions, and local business partners for students to benefit from. UNT Dallas has its main campus in Southern Dallas. The area has relatively low college graduation rates. A point that UNT Dallas is working to change. The UNT Dallas College of Law is located in Downtown Dallas. The current building was originally the Dallas City Hall from 1914 to 1978. Campus Environment UNT Dallas works towards making an environment where everyone feels accepted and welcome. UNT Dallas’ undergraduate, graduate school, and law school are campuses where diversity is fostered by our vision to be a pathway for upward economic mobility. The UNT Dallas leadership team proudly is among the most diverse cabinet in American higher education with a remarkable minority cabinet. More than 60% of the staff are diverse with four out of six deans being scholars of color. According to a national survey released in 2022, UNT Dallas was number 1 in North Texas and number 15 nationally among 1300 accredited colleges and universities for fostering upward economic mobility among graduates. The university opened its first residence hall in 2017 and a new $63 million student center in 2019. They work to create a community that values students and encourages both academic success and personal growth. The residence hall is built with the needs of the students in mind, providing a distinctive experience while residing on campus. The University’s GPS UNT Dallas’ GPS- Guided Path to Success is a 5-Year Road Map to continue advancing the university’s mission of empowering students and transforming lives. The plan focuses on 5 principles to be followed while decision-making. By aligning their efforts with these principles, they hope to transition to their growth phase. The plan also includes being in sync with the newest technological or academic advancements as they come. This will make the trajectory move forward in the next few years in a holistic way. Academia And Programs A university’s faculty determines how strong it is. At UNT Dallas, you won’t find teachers who aren’t involved in the community. In reality, UNT Dallas is home to professors with expertise in various subjects, including business, counseling, education, human services, law, and more. The faculty members are dedicated to instructing, and they are each available to their students inside and outside of the classroom. Additionally, offered peer and professional counseling, tutoring, and advice services. Extracurricular Life Of Students UNT Dallas believes in offering students a range of activities, including involvement in student government,
Benjamin Talin: Embracing Digitalization More Than Just Digital
Like all successful businesses, MoreThanDigital.info was also founded in response to a market deficiency. Benjamin Talin was inspired to start his journey in this industry as he observed gaps and issues in it. He realized the importance of digitalization in his 20’s, started advising governments and ministries about SME challenges and other educational needs. With years of experience as a businessman, publisher, and international guest lecturer Benjamin established himself as a digital expert. He had already begun his journey when he started his first business at the age of 13. Not a boy but more a man he lived in the United States for a short period and settled back to Europe to study Business and Economics in Zurich. Building Knowledge Benjamin sought out challenges and even did not wait for challenges to confront them. This behavior distracted his attention from study and he became famous for never being at the university. Rather he chose to build more businesses without caring about failures. He even failed his first two start-ups in Switzerland and landed doing over a dozen of internships. Now, here is the catch, nothing goes in vain — he created his agency that turned into a company group including a consultancy company and other start-up projects. He did not stop there and opted to do a bachelor’s degree at Zurich University. With gained knowledge, he started teaching at different universities about entrepreneurship, new business models, and digitalization. The days got shinny when all these led to having lots of publications, keynotes, and guest lectures internationally. Inception And Challenges The first brick for MoreThanDigital was founded in 2017 when it started as a blog out of frustration. Now, it grew as the leading digital initiative in Europe and spreading arms across the world. Before formalizing strategies, the company provides yearly 2 Mio executives access to knowledge that is easy to understand and free for everyone. Being customer-obsessed fanatics they are winning the world with business knowledge services. While interviewing Benjamin he explained the current scenario of the businesses. According to him, within the last few years especially the last decade, there was an overwhelming flood of new technologies, new business models, and new challenges occurring in the market. Many entrepreneurs could not hold up with the speed and the dependence on good consultants, external freelancers, and partners. However, these uncertainties opened doors for lots of marketing and BS within the business world which were exploited because of ignorance. These opportunities changed customer preferences too for good. Benjamin believes that the Covid-19 pandemic was not too bad for them. He and his team kept their focus on things with optimism and hope attached. At a time when many businesses were trying to survive, the need for neutral information accelerated MoreThanDigital’s business and its platform. It was although hard as a lot of partners and supporters were struggling too, many personal objectives changed in the inner circle. They needed to develop a big project and MoreThanDigital Insights platform within these difficult times. Engage, Just Not Sell MoreThanDigital refrains from believing that everyone is a target. This behavior of attempting to appeal to everyone results in failing to connect with true potential customers. The company has a different approach, they engage their customer base and communicate the company’s central “why.” Working against the mainstream with limited resources is always hard for them because the circumstances put a lot of pressure on the team, partners, and everyone involved. The company’s common vision and mission statement #bethechange prove to be a cornerstone that dictates the important part of who they are and why people love to work with them. This helps to deal with challenges on daily basis but it hits hard to go where nobody has gone before. Constantly evaluating the path, where need to go, and what other decisions need to take care of are crucial as criticism plays its part. It is prevalent every single day and there are a lot of disagreements as they do not follow the rituals. Staying true to the ideology is critical no doubt but the result makes it worth investing time and energy. Identifying Customer Needs Taking a broad view of customer satisfaction benefits a business. Being at the center, the company always tries to communicate as much as possible with the members of their community. The most effective way is having 1on1 meetings including getting feedback from partners, members, and of course haters. They constantly align with the needs but always try to differentiate between the “greater good” they want to achieve and single biased views who want to take only advantage. The marketing model these days is undoubtedly 360 degree in nature as well as informed, up-to-date, targeted, and revolutionary. Adapting this principle as the backbone, MoreThanDigital helps as many members as possible to better deal with the future. So they keep trying to expand the platform for better information sharing. The company will soon launch MoreThanDigital Insights as a new powerful platform for companies to identify their weaknesses. In the future, TechValley and Academy are further cornerstones that will help grow the Company as a digital ecosystem which will eventually give more people access to the future. Benjamin’s Message To this end, no strategy would work if marketing is weak. Platforms and especially digital ecosystems are tough and indeed demanding. When someone wants to build multi-sided platforms and especially an ecosystem then they should brace themselves for a long ramp-up phase. They are not just by coincidence a difficult business model to manage as one has to manage the chicken-egg problem and needs to factor in many more stakeholders in the long run. Benjamin has a message for entrepreneurs seeking careers in the industry. “Starting with your own funds, bracing for years of hard work and little income, and also try to build the platform from point to point without sacrificing your values. Many outsell their vision and values for some investors and are then surprised that it didn’t work out. Sometimes staying