Daily Archives: October 19, 2024

Alpha HD Trailers named Business of the Year: OCAD celebrates community with Community Awards Night

The Oelwein Chamber and Area Development hosted their 2024 Community Awards night at Transco Events on Frederick Wednesday evening during Business After Five commemorating the successful businesses in Oelwein and those that serve their community relentlessly.OCAD Executive Director Deb Howard opened the ceremony with a welcome to the new events center as attendees enjoyed dinner of soups, hors d’oeuvres and desserts. Sarah Lewis, events center committee member and OCAD board member and future president, gave an update as to happenings in the downtown corridor.Lewis gave thanks to all OCAD board members and recognized and thanked the Oelwein OCAD Ambassadors, typically known as the “Red Coats.” This group welcomes new businesses to Oelwein upon opening. Recently, the group has been quite busy, having multiple openings in the last two months alone.

Meadville handles business in 56-7 victory at Bender Field

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It was senior night at Bender Field on Friday and Meadville’s seniors had plenty to celebrate,Meadville defeated Warren 56-7 in a Region 6 matchup against Warren. The Bulldogs led 56-0 at halftime and allowed their junior varsity players to play the second half, which had quarters shortened to eight minutes. “We came out after a tough loss to General McLane last week and we wanted to get back and have some success,” Meadville head coach Ray Collins. “You want to show that you’ve shaken off the loss and see your kids execute and play hard and we did that. I was really happy with that.”
Meadville forced a three-and-out on Warren’s first drive. The ‘Dogs then scored on their first offensive play when AJ Feleppa hit a wide-open Amari Grenaway for a 43-yard pitch and catch. Shutting down Warren’s offense and scoring in just a few plays was a theme for Meadville. The Bulldogs scored four touchdowns in the first and second quarters. Warren managed a few first downs, but only got past half field on a drive aided by three Meadville penalties. “Warren is a young football team. It’s a group that’s struggling and trying to find their identity. So it was good in the sense that it got us back in the win column,” Collins said. “I am really happy for the seniors. These are guys that started their careers out 7, 8 years ago playing little gridders here. To see them play their final game on this field and for them to get a win and some individual success was good to see.”Jordan Lawrence, Bradyn Miller and Grenaway each scored a rushing touchdown in the first quarter. In the second quarter, Lawrence added another rushing touchdown and returned a fumble 21 yards for a score. Jacoby Thompson scored two touchdowns on the ground. In the half, Lawrence ran four times for 155 yards, Thompson three times for 45 yards and Miller three times for 37 yards. As a team, the starters averaged 20.75 yards per carry. Defensively, Landon Carter intercepted a pass. Meadville moved to 5-4 overall and 3-1 in region play with the win. The Bulldogs will play Erie, a Class 6A team, for a regular season finale on Friday.  “I want to put together a good week of practice. This is the time of the year where it gets dark early, it’s cold out, I know open gyms for basketball start to whisper to the guys a little bit. But we have a lot of unfinished business left to take care of,” Collins said. “I’d like to see this season continue and the only way it’s going to is we have to continue to get better. We need head up to Erie, have a good showing up there and get a close win against a quality opponent so we know where we’re at going into the first week of November.” Warren 0 0 0 7 — 7Meadville 28 28 0 0 — 56First QuarterM — AJ Feleppa 43-yard pass to Amari Grenaway (Simon Farrelly-Jackson XP).

Absa Bank partners with BEN Africa to promote ethical business practices

Absa Bank Ghana Limited has partnered with BEN Africa (Business Ethics Network Africa) to support the BEN Africa Conference, a leading ethics conference scheduled for November 2024. The conference will be hosted in Ghana, in collaboration with the Ghana Communications Technology University. The BEN Africa Conference, which was originally established at Nelson Mandela University Business…

Swiss International University Announces the Acquisition of SDBS Swiss Distance Business School

SIU expands its global education reach by acquiring SDBS, which will improve online learning for students worldwide.

SIU has made a strategic move to acquire SDBS Swiss Distance Business School, with the obvious goal of expanding its active and premium online education services for students from around the world. It is in this broader vision of making learning flexible and accessible to meet today’s increasingly diverse student needs that SIU acquired the SDBS Swiss Distance Business School.

SDBS Swiss Distance Business School is regarded as one of the leading academies in the sphere of online business education. It develops the courses as an ideal instrument for all students seeking the necessary skills and core competencies to meet challenges within international business. It has been particularly successful in attracting working professionals, international students, and those in need of the flexibility that online learning can offer. With rich curriculum content hosted on state-of-the-art online platforms, SDBS has made sure that none of its students miss out on an excellent learning experience, irrespective of geographical location.

Swiss International University, accredited as an institution of higher learning by the Ministry of Justice in 2024, has grown rapidly into a dynamic force in global education. The university was created between 2024 and 2025 by the merger of several prestigious institutes and academies from different countries. Until now, the roots of SIU date back to 1999 when it took up the mission of providing quality higher education, accessible to students from all over the world regardless of geographical constraints.

This acquisition of SDBS Swiss Distance Business School is in line with the mission of SIU. SIU believes that with SDBS in its portfolio, online education reach will considerably rise upwards. More students can access the world-class programs of SIU both on campus and online. This widens the opportunities of SIU to offer high-class, personalized education to students from all over the world.

With this development, the SDBS has now become a part of SIU, opening up newer avenues for growth and innovation. The School will therefore enjoy better access to the extensive resources, worldwide network, and academic expertise that SIU has for expanding its offerings of programs to reach out to a greater number of students across the world. With this merger, SDBS will be well-positioned to play an active role in the aspiration of SIU to emerge as one of the leading providers of distance education.

The acquisition is a milestone for both organizations and testifies to the common commitment of both toward accessible, quality education. Being part of SIU, SDBS will continue operating under its highly recognized brand and benefit from the wider university’s strategic vision.

The acquisition of Swiss International University is another achievement in the work pursued by the SDBS Swiss Distance Business School for leadership in educational services on the international scene. SIU is a source of unrivaled education and will offer new learning opportunities-from traditional campus-based to innovative online programs-to students worldwide.

Who says you can’t mix business with pleasure? On a work trip to Chicago, it’s easy

Alan Behr
Tribune News Service
There I was, at another lawyers’ gathering, listening to yet another recitation about how AI will change everything from our legal rights to our socks. Halfway through, I realized: For once the conference room did not look as dreary as an anteroom of an oversized funeral home. This one was quite distinctive, with charcoal gray wooden paneling and tan fabric wall coverings framing clean shelves lighted in amber and displaying Japanese-style vases. I should have expected no less because I had been brought to the Nobu, the only five-star hotel in the West Loop neighborhood of Chicago.So impressed was I with this unexpected divergence from the banal, I did friends in town a favor by calling to say I would not be crashing in their spare room after all. Instead, I rolled my carry-on to the front desk, where I learned the hotel was a member of the Leading Hotels of the World — and, as luck would have it, I belong to their Leaders Club. This was obviously an invitation from providence to book a short stay. I rolled onward, into a “Zen Suite,” thereby detouring my business trip into an ad hoc experience of elegance.If that sounds self-indulgent, consider that business travel is not just tiring and professionally demanding. If what you are mostly doing is working somewhere other than home and maybe dining at restaurants you have not visited before, that is barely even what a travel writer would call travel — or trouble to write about. Being cut off from the familiar and having to look and sound your best while in a professional setting can also bring on a disquieting sense of loneliness, even in a crowded meeting room.

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Indoor pool at the Nobu Hotel Chicago the blue lights change to green and back. (Alan Behr/TNS)

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Tribune News Service Finishing touches are applied to dishes at the open sushi kitchen at Nobu restaurant. (Alan Behr/TNS)

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If you go  Nobu Hotel Chicago, 155 North Peoria Street, Chicago; book the hotel through Leading Hotels of the World, lhw.com/hotel/nobu-chicago-il; 800-223-6800. Nobu restaurant: 312-779-8800. For information on Seadog Cruises, 600 East Grand Avenue, Chicago (Navy Pier): 312-321-1241; navypier.org/plan-your-visit/buy-tickets/ American Writers Museum, 180 North Michigan Avenue; americanwritersmuseum.org. Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago; 312-742-2000. Free to all

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5 Reasons Why Starting A Business At 50+ Is A Smart Move

Many people assume that starting a business is a young person’s game, but nothing could be further from the truth. If you’re over 50 and thinking about entrepreneurship, now might be the perfect time to take the leap. In fact, starting a business at this stage in life can offer unique advantages that younger entrepreneurs may not have, making it a brilliant move both personally and professionally.

Here’s why starting a business at 50 could be one of the best decisions you’ll ever make:
1. A Wealth of Experience
By the time you hit 50, you’ve accumulated years of experience, both in your career and in life. This is a powerful asset when it comes to entrepreneurship. You understand industry dynamics, have learned from past mistakes, and have seen firsthand what works and what doesn’t. You’ve likely developed invaluable skills in leadership, problem-solving, and decision-making that will help you run a business more efficiently than a younger entrepreneur just starting out.

Plus, you have a deep understanding of customer needs, market trends, and workplace dynamics that someone fresh out of college simply hasn’t had the time to acquire. Your career experiences give you a competitive edge and can help you navigate the complexities of running a business.

2. Financial Stability
Most people in their 50s have achieved a level of financial stability that younger entrepreneurs often lack. You may have paid off major debts like a mortgage or student loans and have savings or access to credit that can be used to fund your business. This financial cushion allows you to take calculated risks without the stress of wondering how you’ll pay the bills.

Being financially responsible at this stage in life gives you the discipline needed to manage a business effectively. You’ve likely learned the importance of budgeting, saving, and investing over the years, making it easier to manage cash flow and avoid the financial pitfalls that many new businesses face.

3. Clarity and Focus
In your 50s you likely have a clearer sense of purpose and direction. You know your strengths and weaknesses, what excites you, and what you don’t want to do. This clarity allows you to choose a business idea that aligns with your passions and skills, making the journey more fulfilling.

You’re also at a stage in life where you’ve developed the focus and discipline needed to stay committed to your goals. This is especially important in business, where persistence is key to overcoming challenges and building long-term success.
4. Time for a New Chapter
For many people over 50, starting a business is about more than just money; it’s about redefining the next chapter of their lives. With your children grown or career goals achieved, this could be the time to focus on a project that excites you and gives you purpose. Starting a business allows you to pursue your passions, turn a hobby into a career, or make a real impact in a field you care deeply about.
This stage of life is often referred to as a “second act.” Unlike younger entrepreneurs, who may be driven by the need to prove themselves, you have the freedom to shape your business around your lifestyle, passions, and values.
5. The Best Way to Build Wealth
If you’re thinking about retirement or looking for ways to ensure financial security, owning a business is one of the best paths to wealth creation. As I’ve said before, the common denominator among the wealthiest people is business ownership. When you’re over 50, you’re in a prime position to create a business that can build wealth, not only for yourself but for your family as well.
This is about creating generational wealth, building something that can be passed down or sold for a significant profit. With the right approach, your business can be a major contributor to your long-term financial health.
The bottom line is that starting a business at 50 is not only possible but also an incredibly rewarding experience. Your experience, network, and financial stability give you a significant advantage. You can redefine your career on your terms and build something meaningful and profitable.