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AM Best affirms credit ratings of The Travelers Companies, Inc. and most subsidiaries

OLDWICK, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#insurance—AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A++ (Superior) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICR) of “aa+” (Superior) of the main subsidiaries of The Travelers Companies, Inc. (TRV) (headquartered in New York, NY) [NYSE: TRV], collectively known as Travelers Group (Travelers). In addition, AM Best has affirmed the FSR of A++ (Superior) and the Long-Term ICRs of “aa+” (Superior) of Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America (TCSA) (Hartford, CT) and Travelers Insurance Company of Canada (TICC) (Toronto, Ontario, Canada). Concurrently, AM Best has affirmed the FSR of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term ICR of “a-” (Excellent) of First Floridian Auto and Home Insurance Company (First Floridian) (Tampa, FL).

AM Best also has affirmed the Long-Term ICRs and the Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings (Long-Term IR) of “a+” (Excellent) of TRV and its two wholly owned downstream holding companies, Travelers Property Casualty Corp. and Travelers Insurance Group Holdings Inc. (both headquartered in Hartford, CT). All outstanding securities issued by the two downstream holding companies are guaranteed by TRV. At the same time, AM Best has affirmed all other Long-Term IRs and Short-Term Issue Credit Ratings (Short-Term IR) guaranteed by TRV, as well as TRV’s indicative Long-Term IRs. The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

 

Lastly, AM Best has revised the outlook to positive from stable for the Long-Term ICR and affirmed the FSR of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term ICR of “a” (Excellent) of The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company (Dominion) (Toronto, Ontario, Canada). The outlook of the FSR is stable.

 

The ratings of Travelers reflect the group’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strongest, as well as its very strong operating performance, favorable business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM).

 

Travelers’ risk-adjusted capitalization is strongly supportive of the group’s ratings and exceeds the threshold for the strongest assessment level by a wide margin, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). The assessment of Travelers’ balance sheet strength reflects its strong loss reserve position, the benefits derived from the conservative investment portfolio, the use of a comprehensive reinsurance program, which utilizes high quality reinsurance partners, and the additional financial flexibility available through its ultimate parent, TRV.

 

Travelers’ very strong operating performance reflects consistently profitable results driven by strong underwriting and investment results. Travelers’ has reported positive underwriting income in each of the most recent 10 years.

 

Travelers is the second largest commercial lines insurer in the United States based on 2022 direct premiums written and one of the top 10 largest U.S. personal lines insurers. Overall, Travelers is the sixth largest property/casualty (P/C) writer in the United States. Travelers maintains a broad spread of risk in that it offers a wide array of P/C coverages spread geographically in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Canada, England, Ireland, Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands.

 

The ratings of TCSA reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strongest, as well as its very strong operating performance, favorable business profile and appropriate ERM.

 

The ratings of TICC reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strongest, as well as its strong operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate ERM. The ratings also reflect the implicit support it receives from its ultimate parent, TRV.

 

The ratings of First Floridian reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its marginal operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate ERM. The ratings also reflect the implicit support it receives from its ultimate parent, TRV.

 

The ratings of Dominion reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strongest, as well as its marginal operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate ERM. The ratings also reflect the implicit support it receives from its ultimate parent, TRV. The positive outlook on Dominion’s Long-Term ICR reflects the company’s profitable operating performance in recent periods, as evidenced by positive net income in each of the most recent three years with loss ratios that compare favorably with those of the industry. Results have been influenced by favorable underwriting performance, as reflected by a five-year average combined ratio below 100, relatively in line with industry peers.

 

The ratings of TRV and its two wholly owned downstream holding companies are reflective of its modest financial leverage ratios, strong coverage ratios, ample liquidity and overall financial flexibility.

 

A complete listing of The Travelers Companies, Inc.’s FSRs, Long-Term ICRs and Long- and Short-Term IRs also is available.

 

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best’s website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best’s Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best’s Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best’s Credit Ratings, Best’s Performance Assessments, Best’s Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best’s Ratings & Assessments.

 

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

 

Copyright © 2023 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Contacts

Elizabeth Blamble
Senior Financial Analyst
+1 908 882 1661
elizabeth.blamble@ambest.com

Christopher Sharkey
Associate Director, Public Relations
+1 908 882 2310
christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

Michael Lagomarsino, CFA, FRM
Senior Director
+1 908 882 1993
michael.lagomarsino@ambest.com

Al Slavin
Senior Public Relations Specialist
+1 908 882 2318
al.slavin@ambest.com

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Business International & World Lifestyle Technology

SHI International and Casey Murphy Goalkeeping Academy announce brand ambassador partnership

Global IT solution provider and USWNT goalkeeper join forces to teach, inspire and challenge young soccer players while also promoting effective enterprise cybersecurity solutions

 

SOMERSET, N.J. & AUCKLAND, New Zealand — (BUSINESS WIRE) — SHI International, one of the world’s largest IT solutions providers, and top National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) goalkeeper Casey Murphy, today announced a mutual brand ambassador partnership. Officially an agreement between SHI and Casey Murphy Goalkeeping Academy (CMGK), the partnership will help fortify the resources available to CMGK coaches and players while making one of the world’s best defenders the face of SHI’s cybersecurity practice.

 

Starting 13 games as goalkeeper for the North Carolina Courage this season, Murphy led the NWSL with seven clean sheets before becoming one of three goalkeepers named to the United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) set to compete in the FIFA Women’s World Cup later this month. Playing for the national team at various levels, Murphy (27), has 10 shutouts in 14 caps with the USWNT senior team, making her the quickest goalkeeper to achieve double-digit clean sheets.

 

In the 2022 off-season, Murphy established CMGK with the goal of inspiring players ages 7–18 to take ownership of their own player development and build confidence by focusing on consistent, incremental improvement. First introduced at CMGK’s inaugural clinic in Murphy’s hometown of Bridgewater, NJ in January, CMGK’s core values stress an honest reflection of one’s skills combined with a growth mindset and open communication with other players and coaches. This combination helps CMGK players pave the path that others want to follow.

 

“Casey is not just a world-class athlete, but also an inspiring business owner who is committed to nurturing the next generation of soccer players,” said Thai Lee, President and CEO of SHI International. “We began this partnership with a small sponsorship of their first clinic and after witnessing the positive effect Casey has on young players, we wanted to expand our support. On the pitch, Casey’s ability to anticipate and defend against attacks also aligns perfectly with our own cybersecurity approach. There’s no better partner to help inform customers of SHI’s cybersecurity practice than our new Minister of Defense!”

 

A native of Bridgewater, New Jersey, Murphy closed an exceptional amateur career by playing three years for Rutgers University where she was twice named Big 10 Goalkeeper of the Year. Between SHI’s long-standing partnership with Rutgers, including naming rights to the stadium since 2019, and with Bridgewater serving as home to scores of SHI’s 2,000+ New Jersey-based employees, the partnership was a natural fit.

 

“This partnership will make a significant difference in the lives of young soccer players and I am proud to represent a company that is so committed to providing and supporting robust defensive strategies and execution,” said Murphy. “Teaming up with a fellow business owner who turned a small IT company into one of the largest woman-owned businesses in America, right in my own backyard, made this partnership a no-brainer.”

 

The announcement of SHI’s latest brand partnership comes on the eve of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and just over a week after second-year professional golfer and SHI brand ambassador Allisen Corpuz won her first professional tournament, becoming the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open Champion.

 

ABOUT SHI

SHI International Corp. is a $14 billion transformational technology solutions provider serving the needs of more than 17,000 corporate, enterprise, public sector and academic customer organizations around the world. It helps companies achieve business goals through the use of technologies ranging from software licensing and end user computing devices to innovative cloud and edge solutions. With over 6,000 employees worldwide, SHI is the largest Minority and Woman Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) in the U.S.

 

About Casey Murphy Goalkeeper Academy

CMGK is dedicated to helping young soccer players own their dreams and achieve greatness. Our focus is on inspiring players to improve rather than prove themselves. We believe embracing challenges and reflecting on their craft helps players take ownership of their development and build confidence. We value how each player responds to mistakes, fostering pride in personal growth. Through open dialogue with our coaches, we support the players through their journey, providing opportunities to learn, gain self-belief, and enjoy the process of improvement.

 

For more information, visit https://www.SHI.com and https://cmgksoccer.com/

 

Press Resources

SHI Blog: http://blog.SHI.com
SHI Twitter Handle: @SHI_Intl

CMGK Instagram: caseymurphy_goalkeeping
CMGK Facebook: Casey Murphy Goalkeeping

Contacts

Gregory FCA for SHI International

Matt McLoughlin

610.228.2123

Matt@GregoryFCA.com

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Business Education Lifestyle Technology

From college drop-out to owning multiple seven-figure businesses: serial entrepreneur weighs in

Jordan Lintz has an extraordinary journey of dropping out of college to owning three seven-figure businesses at 26, and this is why it is important to question traditional life paths.

 

Lintz stepped out of his economics class with an idea. From dropping out of college in his second year to owning three highly successful companies: HighKey Holdings Inc., which includes HighKey Technology Inc., HighKey Agency Inc., and HighKey Clout Inc., Jordan has demonstrated his exceptional entrepreneurial prowess.

His journey began three years ago with establishing HighKey Technology, an e-commerce brand specializing in consumer electronics. Within its second year of operation, HighKey Technology surpassed seven figures in revenue, paving the way for the launch of his social media marketing agency, HighKey Agency.

 

Jordan’s expertise in networking and sales has led to the establishment of his third company, HighKey Clout. Within just six months, HighKey Clout reached seven figures in revenue, capitalizing on an identified market gap and seizing the opportunity to work with celebrities like Lil Yachty, Bhad Bhabie, Trippie Redd, Rich The Kid, and Snoop Dog.

 

With his firsthand experience and deep understanding of the entrepreneur landscape, Jordan and his 23-year-old brother and partner Luke Lintz are well-positioned to discuss the significance of alternative life paths and deconstruct the myth that college is the end-all guarantee to success.

 

Jordan is available for immediate interviews to discuss the following:

 

  • Why young people should consider alternatives to College

  • How many societal expectations keep you from achieving your full potential

  • The long-term vision required for entrepreneurial success

 

His experiences establishing and scaling multiple businesses from the ground up and his extensive network of high-level clients and celebrity collaborations further enrich his insights.

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Art & Life Business Culture Environment Lifestyle Regulations & Security

From natural hair to biological sex, July 1 brings new employment laws to your workplace

CHICAGO — When it comes to employment laws, human resource experts know that July is the new January. This is because many employment rules and regulations often go into effect on July 1.

 

The same is true for this year. Rob Wilson, human resources expert and President of Employco USA, can speak to the new regulations that has hit many states in July, including:

 

  • Reproductive Health: “Nevada is going to require all employers that offer health insurance plans to only offer plans that cover contraception,” says Wilson. “If you are a Nevada-based company and your health insurance for your employees doesn’t cover contraceptive services, you have to change this or risk penalty.”

 

  • Biological Sex: “Starting on July 1, Kansas SB 180 goes into effect,” says Wilson. “This bill states that for the purposes of any state laws and regulations, biological sex is defined as the sex which was observed at a person’s birth. This will have an impact on everything from an employee’s identification documents to sex-segregated spaces in the workplace.”   
  • Artificial Intelligence: “Employers in New York have until July 5 to use an independent auditing service to test their A.I. tools for any potential bias or discrimination that may exist,” says Wilson. “They want proof from employers that their A.I. is not racist.”  
  • Anti-Semitism: “Starting July 31, Arkansas has given employers a newly updated definition of antisemitism that is to be used when determining whether or not antisemitism occurred in the workplace,” says Wilson.  
  • Workplace Violence: “In Utah, employers will now have the right to get a workplace violence protection order against any ex-employee who demonstrated violent or abusive behavior on the job,” says Wilson.

 

Also, upcoming:  

 

  • Natural Hair: “The CROWN Act goes into effect on August 1,” says Wilson. “Under this act, it is illegal for an employer to discriminate against an employee or potential employee because of their natural hair. This means that dreadlocks, twist, locs, and other natural hairstyles will be protected in the workplace.”
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Business Environment Lifestyle Technology

Entrepreneur introduces Truly Office – A privacy-first, budget-friendly, user-centric office suite

Visionary entrepreneur and business strategist Ronnie Teja announces the launch of Truly Office, a trailblazing, privacy-centric office suite set to redefine the intersection of productivity, affordability, and data sovereignty. The upcoming launch in August 2023 has already sparked intrigue and anticipation across the industry.
PHOTO:  Truly Office embodies the ethos, “Your Data. Your Rules.” To that end, privacy is not merely an add-on but the foundational bedrock of this revolutionary platform. “We believe in an uncompromising commitment to privacy and data sovereignty in today’s digital world. Truly Office ensures that your data stays yours,” asserts Ronnie Teja.

 

Our digital landscape has become a fertile breeding ground for tools that double as silent observers, prying into user data without permission. Office suite solutions are at the epicenter of this invasion of privacy, a situation further compounded by the labyrinthine web of subscriptions, upgrades, and hidden costs that customers are forced to navigate. In this backdrop, Truly Office emerges as a beacon of change, marrying simplicity, affordability, and functionality without compromising user data sovereignty.

 

Truly Office harnesses cutting-edge technology to create an office suite that respects user choice, catalyzes collaboration, and bolsters productivity. The suite’s customizable packages represent a seismic shift from the one-size-fits-all model prevalent in today’s office software solutions.

 

Beyond privacy, Truly Office seeks to democratize the digital workspace by providing an intuitive, high-performing user experience that doesn’t strain your budget. It’s not just about getting work done; it’s about empowering users to be their most productive selves, on their own terms. The suite is offered on a lifetime purchase basis, eschewing the need for expensive upgrades or recurring subscription fees. In line with this, Truly Office users will receive biannual updates, ensuring they stay ahead of the curve without added financial burden.

 

The Truly Office suite is a holistic amalgamation of productivity applications, each designed with the end-user in mind. It includes an advanced word processor, a spreadsheet editor, a presentation builder, an email client, and collaborative tools. As such, Truly Office positions itself as the go-to alternative for businesses seeking to optimize productivity affordably and securely.

 

As he unveiled Truly Office at the recent press conference, Ronnie Teja shared, “The creation of Truly Office signifies the dawn of a new era in business operations. This journey has been thrilling, and we’re confident our product encapsulates this energy. We’re committed to positively impacting a billion lives through secure, straightforward, and affordable tech solutions, with Truly Office serving as our flagship offering.”

 

 

Visit https://trulyoffice.com/ for the latest updates and further information on the launch.

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Business Economics Healthcare Lifestyle Perks Technology

COVID-19 accelerates omnichannel shopping trend

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the trend towards omnichannel shopping, with consumers utilizing multiple channels and devices before making a purchase decision.

 

Businesses must understand the importance of creating a seamless and personalized experience that respects the consumers’ buying cycle with the help of technology or they may lose big on their revenue.

 

 

With the integration of omnichannel strategies, e-commerce businesses are now expected to account for 22.3% of all retail sales, with online retail sales projected to reach $6.51 trillion in 2023.

 

“Omnichannel is more than just multiple purchasing options. It’s a personalized journey that respects the consumer’s buying cycle and immerses them in a tailored experience through harmonious channels,” says Mikel Lindsaar, CEO and Founder of StoreConnect.

 

To succeed in an omnichannel world, businesses need a customer-centric focus.

 

Technology should reduce complexity and allow businesses to build an immersive unified experience for their customers. They need to choose an e-commerce platform that connects workflows, integrates with third-party solutions, and offers automation tools to scale faster across channels. The technology should incorporate:

  • One-click channel integration – One-click channel integration eliminates technical barriers to selling on popular platforms and helps in focusing on growing that channel rather than the development work behind it.
  • Cross-channel automation – Cross-channel automation helps in automating workflows to save time and reduce the manual work necessary to manage multiple channels.
  • Multi-channel payment gateways and POS – A robust POS system is needed to connect pop-up or brick-and-mortar sales with online sales through a centralized reporting hub.

 

For e-commerce businesses, it’s crucial to assess various channels and integrate them effectively into their ecosystem. Failure to do so can result in missed opportunities for growth, reduced customer satisfaction, and ultimately, decreased revenue. By carefully evaluating and optimizing their channels, businesses can ensure they are reaching their target audience and providing a seamless customer experience across all touchpoints.

 

Mikel Lindsaar, CEO and Founder of StoreConnect can speak on the following:

  1. What specific benefits can businesses expect to gain from the seamless integration, in terms of time savings and increased data accuracy?
  2. Are there any limitations or considerations that businesses should be aware of when integrating their existing systems with your e-commerce platform?
  3. What level of technical expertise is required for businesses to implement and manage the integration with the leading payment gateways, ERP platforms, and other software packages?
  4. Any examples or case studies of businesses that have successfully implemented the integration and experienced significant improvements in their operations?
  5. What are the leading payment gateways and ERP platforms that your ecommerce platform seamlessly integrates with?

About StoreConnect

Mikel Lindsaar, CEO and Founder of StoreConnect, is an experienced technology entrepreneur whose mission is to infuse small and medium-sized businesses with the power to be successful in eCommerce 3.0 and scale to meet growing demand. Small businesses can’t waste time setting up their business on a platform only to repeat the process by changing platforms when they want to scale, nor do they want to waste time figuring out how to integrate multiple platforms. StoreConnect (built on the World’s Number 1 CRM, Salesforce) gives clients a complete, powerful, configurable eCommerce and CRM solution where they can manage their website, online and in-store sales, provide amazing customer service, run all their digital marketing campaigns and have up-to-date detailed metrics, reporting and full understanding of their customer. They were awarded Salesforce’s 2021 International Partner Innovation Award of the year for the Retail sector. They are changing the ease with which small businesses are run — with a manageable price tag. StoreConnect is Time. Well Spent. For more information, visit https://getStoreConnect.com/

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Business Culture Education Lifestyle Programs & Events Technology

Disruptive digital marketing agencies harness power of PR affiliate program for client success

TAMPA, Fla. — In terms of establishing their organization’s position and showcasing their subject matter expertise through thought-leadership and content marketing, business leaders possess a clear vision.

 

However, the issue lies in the fact that a majority of individuals, including marketing agencies, lack a proper understanding of public relations (PR) and frequently misinterpret it when attempting to employ it.

 

 

There is a misinterpretation of the concept of thought leadership; often failing to recognize that it must be earned. The remedy lies in a strategy unveiled by crisis management expert Karla Jo Helms of JOTO PR Disruptors, which “ignites the marketing plan by harnessing the influence of public relations to attain third-party credibility and establish thought leadership.”

 

Helms notes that by using powerful targeted communication channels to communicate your story to thousands, hundreds of thousands or millions of people—before and while marketing is promoting a client’s goods and services ─ trust and credibility are established so people are more interested and comfortable in doing business with the client.

 

So, WHAT does PR offer to a marketing strategy? “Marketing is driven by four ‘p’s: product, price, place, and promotion. (2) What is missing? A FIFTH ‘p’; public perception,” notes Helms.

  • Third-party endorsement gains goodwill and trust for your brand, increasing gross
    income
  • Marketing sign-up and conversion rates increase, also increasing ROI
  • Friction during shorter sales conversions is reduced
  • Complete metrics showing how much press is needed to make an impact is the bridge for marketing and public relations
  • In short, customer acquisition costs (CAC) are reduced

 

 

The Great Consolidation 

Outside of selling products and services, every business has a story to tell – and the court of public opinion has an insatiable appetite for information. To gain exposure for a client, think of yourself as an ‘internal reporter’ and open your eyes and ears to what is going on in your client’s company, their industry or community. Look for:

  • Introduction of a new product or service – or a new business
  • Newsjacking a recent breaking news event
  • Speaking or exhibiting at a conference or event
  • Releasing findings of a new study or research
  • Developing a new technology or unique procedure for an industry
  • Rebranding a business
  • Financial news such as the addition of a new investor

 

Each of these has the potential to be exploited into real, NEW news through a blitz campaign. How does real news factor into exposure? As an example, key industry media usually attend a convention. Getting interest before, during and after the event can increase the success at the convention. Also, big breaking headlines regarding such news as an economic issue, new legislation or story of harm to a population segment that has far-reaching effects on which a client’s technology, product or service will have significant positive impact can create a firestorm of media interest.

 

Professional Affiliation

Marketing agencies interested in learning how to amplify their client’s exposure and marketing campaigns by 10X as a professional affiliate of JOTO PR Disruptors should reach out to the veterans at JOTO PR. Thus far, the organization has enlisted the participation of four digital marketing agencies across the technology industry, and intends to support the collaboration of 18 agencies by 2024.

 

About JOTO PR Disruptors™:  

After doing marketing research on a cross-section majority of 5,000 CEOs of fast-growth trajectory companies and finding out exactly how they used PR, how they measure it and how they wanted the PR industry to be different, PR veteran and innovator Karla Jo Helms created JoTo PR and established its entire business model on those research findings. Astute in recognizing industry changes since its launch in 2009, JoTo PR’s team utilizes newly established patterns to create timely Anti-PR® campaigns comprising the mathematical precision of crisis management techniques with the latest media algorithms. This unique skill enables them to continue to increase their market share and improve return on investment (ROI) for their clients, year after year—beating usual industry standards. Based in Tampa Bay, Florida, JoTo PR is an established international public relations agency. Today, all processes of JoTo are streamlined Anti-PR services that have become the hallmark of the JoTo PR name. For more information, visit JoTo PR online at http://www.jotopr.com

 

About Karla Jo Helms:  

Karla Jo Helms is the Chief Evangelist and Anti-PR Strategist for JOTO PR Disruptors™.

Karla Jo learned firsthand how unforgiving business can be when millions of dollars are on the line—and how the control of public opinion often determines whether one company is happily chosen, or another is brutally rejected.

Being an alumni of crisis management, Karla Jo has worked with litigation attorneys, private investigators and the media to help restore companies of goodwill back into the good graces of public opinion—Karla Jo operates on the ethic of getting it right the first time, not relying on second chances and doing what it takes to excel.

Karla Jo has patterned her agency on the perfect balance of crisis management, entrepreneurial insight and proven public relations experience. Helms speaks globally on public relations, how the PR industry itself has lost its way and how, in the right hands, corporations can harness the power of Anti-PR to drive markets and impact market perception.

 

References: 

  1. Mudd, Jason. “Thought Leadership and Content Marketing are the New Public Relations”, The Business Journals, 12 April 2023, bizjournals.com/bizjournals/how-to/marketing/2023/04/thought-leadership-content-marketing-new-pr.html.
  2. Barone, Adam. “Marketing Strategy: What it is, How it Works, How to Create One”, Investopedia, 15 May 2023, investopedia.com/terms/m/marketing-strategy.asp#:~:text=A%20marketing%20strategy%20contains%20the,price%2C%20place%2C%20and%20promotion.
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Business Education Lifestyle Regulations & Security Technology

Top project management consultant warns against A.I. misuse

Dr. Te Wu has spent the better part of two decades managing projects of all sizes for Fortune 500 companies, the U.S. Government, and cause-driven non-profit organizations. He is renowned for taking even the most dynamic and purpose-driven organizations to greater heights of innovation, growth, efficiency and profitability.

 

He is available for interviews to give his informed take on how A.I. will significantly impact project management, both, for better and worse; and how corporations, nonprofits and the U.S. government can steer clear of its misuse in managing large scale projects.

 

As the project manager for OATS (Older Adult Technology Services) – a division of AARP, Guttmacher Institute – a leading research and policy organization committed to advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights worldwide, the United States Armed Forces, and many household name consumer brands from food to transportation; Wu and his firm PMO Advisory train employee teams, streamline project budgets, improve methodology and production, expedite project timelines and increase profits for high profile organizations.

 

Dr. Wu is the current chairperson of the Project Management Institute’s standards committee, where he is developing the newest standards for portfolio management, to be used worldwide, for the project management industry. He also a Tenured Professor of Project Management Studies at Montclair State University for graduate and undergraduate studies, and a Graduate Program Coordinator for his department.

 

Dr. Wu is hopeful about A.I.’s capabilities to streamline certain project management tasks, but warns that over-reliability on A.I. could have disastrous effects on large scale projects. Citing one example of where A.I. can be helpful, he says, “A project is an investment in the future. One of my clients is a worldwide Midwest manufacturing company with 6,500 employees. Their fan club and merchandising actually brings in almost 25% of their revenue, which is very unique.

 

We created a new office for them called ‘Strategic Projects,’ where we had six people go around the company, counting projects and assessing their costs. They stopped counting at 3,000 different projects. This is an example of where A.I. can help, in theory. A.I. can help you quickly analyze this data and help you make proposals for consolidation to avoid project overlap.”

 

Conversely, says Wu, “Over the next 20 years, we will still need human scrutiny to support A.I. Projects are typically new endeavors, so they might lack the sufficient data to program into an A.I. engine.”

 

He also warns, “If a company relies too much on the A.I. to choose, plan and execute large scale projects, over time they lose the very competence they need in order to analyze and scrutinize the data. The organization no longer has that capability, which is similar to what the outsourcing craze did to organizations in the 1990s and 2000s.”

 

Wu also points out that once we come to rely too heavily on A.I. to make our project management decisions for us, it may reduce our ability to cope with any type of unanticipated change or problem, adding, “A boat can carry people, but it can also sink people. When used responsibly, A.I. can increase insights and productivity, but when used recklessly it can harm a project. Finding that delicate balance will be the challenge.”

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Art & Life Business Culture Education Lifestyle

Get noticed by senior management: 10 uncommon insights

NEW LONDON, NH — As the president of a company with 65,000 employees and agents in 12 countries, Fred Sievert managed, hired and inspired individuals with diverse skillsets, credentials and personalities. He distills his decades of experience into the 10 characteristics of high-potential employees in his latest book, Fast-Starting a Career of Consequence.

 

“This book will arm you with advice that will enable you to quickly become noticed and recognized as a high-potential employee who is capable and ready for future advancement and expanded levels of responsibility,” Sievert writes in the book.

 

In Fast-Starting a Career of Consequence, Sievert elaborates on 10 practical and proven strategies that individuals can implement immediately to gain visibility and early success as they enter the workforce for the first time, move to a new company or re-enter the workforce after a period of absence.

 

“The advice applies equally well to small or large corporations and to entrepreneurial ventures,” he said, adding, “The book was inspired by a request for advice from my daughter on how to be identified as a high potential employee and advance her career as she languished in an entry-level position at her large global company. The advice proved to be very effective as she was rapidly promoted into positions with greater levels of responsibility.”

 

Chapters explore universal career-relevant topics such as: Demonstrating Commitment; Embracing the Company’s Vision and Mission; Developing Cultural and Organizational Awareness; Understanding the Financial Underpinnings of the Business; Demonstrating Strategic Thinking Capability; Over-preparing for Every Meeting; Making Every Presentation a Command Performance; and Balancing Faith, Family and Career.

 

Sievert drew upon his unique combination of experiences as a Christian executive, a mentor and a college instructor to develop a book packed with practical Christ-centered advice for those wishing to add a spiritual dimension to career pursuits.

 

“During my career, and afterward, I mentored many young employees and executives

— at least 10 of whom went on to become presidents or CEOs of their organizations,” Sievert explained.

 

Ultimately, Sievert hopes to show others the value of nurturing a symbiotic relationship between faith and career.

 

“Since most of us will spend more than half of our waking hours at work, I really felt it was important to talk about ways in which you can bring and follow biblical principles in the workplace, and at the same time, get some really valuable business tips from a guy who’s been there,” he added.

 

About the Author

Raised in a lower-middle-class family that only occasionally spoke of God, Fred Sievert received an unexpected visit from God when he was 12. Despite his subsequent experiences as an adult, transitioning from a math teacher to the president of a Fortune 100 company — a journey driven by an aggressive pursuit of the American dream — his habit of thoughtful reflection and his spiritual longing from that one encounter in boyhood informed his decisions for the rest of his life.

 

In retirement, Sievert’s overwhelming passion is to positively impact the lives of others by writing and speaking about his faith and his business experience.

 

Sievert’s articles have appeared on MarketWatch.com, the Fox Business Blog and in The Guideposts Magazine. He has been featured by many major television and radio channels, including Fox News, Fox Business, Daystar Global TV and NBC. The 700 Club produced feature videos from two of the stories in his book, Grace Revealed. 

 

For more information, visit www.StoriesOfGodsGrace.com; follow the author on Facebook (fredsiev1) or Twitter (@FJSievert); or connect with him on LinkedIn (fred-sievert-9121727).

 

Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Fast-Starting-Career-Consequence-Christ-Centered-Re-entering/dp/1631953583/

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Forbes ‘promising young exec’ traded boardroom for sailboat; now shares secrets to finding balance

DENVER, Colo. ― In his enlightening new book, Surf the Seesaw: Unconventional Essays on Balance, Beauty, and Meaning in Life, business leader, tech founder and adventurer Scott Davis shares engaging stories from his existence off the beaten path. Each one reveals powerful truths about human nature, relationships, decision-making, parenting and the ever-pondered topic: the meaning of life.

 

“I would say that I wrote the book with my children and grandchildren in mind,” Davis said in a recent interview.

 

“With the idea of sharing a few handfuls of key concepts that when properly understood can transform a human lifetime into something spectacular — something with so many positive consequences that the universe’s norm of entropy will have a hard time erasing the evidence of the person’s existence.”

 

When he was 30, Forbes called him one of the country’s most promising young corporate executives, but Davis stepped off the career treadmill to spend years exploring the world. His adventures led him to remote shores in the South Pacific, the Atlantic and the Caribbean, where he faced many challenges, met many interesting people and saw many different models of meaningful living.

 

Inspired by his life and adventures, Surf the Seesaw is a collection of 30 thoughtful essays contemplating key concepts that drive the world — the common theme being active balance — including:

 

– Human nature and, in particular, common misconceptions about how the brain works

– Relationships and how to cultivate healthy ones without losing oneself in the process

– Decision-making and a few bad assumptions at the root of many regrettable choices

– Positive parenting to raise amazing kids

– The meaning of life and, specifically, how to create meaning in a universe dominated by chaos

 

Each thought-provoking essay concludes with an invitation to put core concepts into action, so readers can work toward more effective behaviors. For anyone searching for lasting satisfaction and meaning in life, Surf the Seesaw offers the essential toolkit needed to create balance, accountability and greater happiness.

 

 

Tripti Kandari of Foreword Reviews had this to say: “Featuring inspiring personal stories, Surf the Seesaw is an informative self-help work filled with recommendations for attaining personal balance in the face of perennial challenges.”

 

About the Author

Scott Davis’ adult life has followed an explorer’s wandering path: corporate leader, tech entrepreneur, adventurer, inventor and essayist.

 

 

Today, Davis spends much of his time writing and speaking on how to create a meaningful life, guiding friends and family on adventures, teaching boatbuilding, and occasionally making something interesting in his workshop.