News from April 2024


White House Roundtable Celebrates Record-Breaking Investment in Small Businesses

WASHINGTON – SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman led a roundtable at the White House to mark the beginning of the 2024 National Small Business Week. The event aimed to announce the release of the SBA’s Fiscal Year 2023 Procurement Scorecard and showcase the Biden-Harris Administration's dedication to supporting small businesses since taking office.Administrator Guzman, alongside National Economic Council Director Lael Brainard and White House Domestic Policy Advisor Neera Tanden, highlighted the achievements in small business contracting. The SBA Administrator...

Palo Alto Networks named a leader in Gartner Magic Quadrant for two straight years

Palo Alto Networks, a global cybersecurity company based in Santa Clara, California, has earned the distinction of being recognized as a Leader in the 2024 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Security Service Edge (SSE). This marks the second consecutive year that the company has achieved this prestigious position in the Magic Quadrant.

Medfluence Senior Director of Business Development: ‘The significance of patient experience in ENT medicine has never been greater’

Greg Caesar, Senior Director of Business Development at Medfluence, said he and his team will be attending the upcoming American Osteopathic Colleges of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery (AOCOO-HNS) Annual Clinical Assembly and pointed out strategies they have been seeing from successful practices ahead of the event. He made his statement to Patient Daily on April 1.

Louisiana Small Business Owner Named 2024 National Small Business Person of the Year

WASHINGTON – Today, Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice in President Biden’s Cabinet for America’s more than 33 million small businesses, named Iam C. Tucker of Integrated Logistical Support, Inc. (ILSI) in Louisiana as the National Small Business Person of the Year for 2024 at the National Small Business Week (NSBW) awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.Administrator Guzman expressed her admiration for the winner, stating, "The SBA is proud to recognize 2024 National Small Business Person of the Year Iam...

Biden-Harris Administration Awards Record-Breaking $178 Billion in Federal Procurement Opportunities to Small Businesses

WASHINGTON – The Biden-Harris Administration has set a new milestone by awarding a record-breaking $178.6 billion in federal procurement opportunities to small businesses, exceeding the Fiscal Year 2023 small business contracting goal of 23%. This achievement was highlighted by SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman during a roundtable discussion to mark National Small Business Week.Administrator Guzman emphasized the administration's commitment to supporting small businesses, stating, "Through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, we have championed...

UN's new insurance forum more resilient to antitrust attacks, says chair

The United Nations' recently launched net-zero insurance initiative is more resistant to antitrust attacks than its predecessor, the Net-Zero Insurance Alliance (NZIA), according to Butch Bacani, chairman of the new initiative. The UN disbanded the NZIA on April 25 due to allegations of antitrust violations and replaced it with the Forum for Insurance Transition to Net Zero (FIT). Bacani, who also oversees insurance for the UN Environment Programme Finance initiative, serves as chair.

Progressive Insurance® Announces Over 10,000 Job Openings to Accommodate Continued Growth in 2024

Progressive Insurance has revealed plans to hire thousands of individuals for various roles across the United States in 2024. The company, known for its progressive and inclusive company culture, is actively seeking qualified candidates to support its expanding customer base.Bill Clawson, Progressive's Chief Human Resources Officer, emphasized the importance of the company's workforce, stating, "Our talented group of more than 60,000 employees across the country are at the forefront of what we do, and we're committed to meeting the needs of our current employees as well...

Progressive Insurance® Seeks to Fill Over 10,000 Job Roles in 2024 Amid Continued Growth

Progressive Insurance has announced plans to hire thousands of job seekers for various roles across the country in 2024 as part of its continued growth. The company reported a significant increase in total revenue in 2023 and has maintained this growth into the new calendar year, prompting the need for more employees to support its expanding customer base.Bill Clawson, Progressive Chief Human Resources Officer, emphasized the importance of their workforce by stating, “Our talented group of more than 60,000 employees across the country are at the forefront of what we do,...

Adobe’s Photoshop update increases integration with AI

Adobe has recently launched its Photoshop (beta), featuring the advanced Generative Fill with Reference Image. The update was unveiled last week at Adobe MAX London.

New AAA Five Diamonds Shine with Style and Sophistication

Two hotels and four restaurants have recently been added to AAA's prestigious Five Diamonds list. Among them are Emeril’s in New Orleans, Louisiana, Jungsik in New York, New York, Le Hatley Restaurant in North Hatley, Quebec, Canada, Mandarin Oriental Boston in Boston, Massachusetts, Mugen in Honolulu, Hawaii, and Raffles Boston, also located in Boston, Massachusetts.In a statement, AAA highlighted the significance of the Five Diamond designation, stating that they offer "ultimate luxury and leading-edge cuisine." This recognition is reserved for establishments that excel...

Struck by Lightning: How Businesses Can Become More Resilient – Triple-I and LPI

Fires resulting from lightning strikes cause a significant portion of commercial property insurance claims in the United States. Tim Harger, executive director of the Lightning Protection Institute (LPI), emphasized the importance of protecting businesses from the destructive consequences of lightning strikes, stating, "The potential consequences, such as business interruption, loss of revenue, and damage to reputation, can be devastating." He highlighted the significance of investing in a lightning protection system to prevent business interruption and safeguard...

Goldman Sachs President to Speak at Bernstein's 40th Annual Strategic Decisions Conference

NEW YORK, April 29, 2024 – The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE: GS) has announced that John E. Waldron, President and Chief Operating Officer, is set to speak at the Bernstein 40th Annual Strategic Decisions Conference on Thursday, May 30, 2024 at 8:00 a.m. (ET).Goldman Sachs, a renowned global financial institution, provides a wide range of financial services to various clients, including corporations, financial institutions, governments, and individuals. Established in 1869 and headquartered in New York, the firm has a presence in major financial hubs worldwide.In a...

Nurturing the next generation: 79 agricultural teachers named Golden Owl Award® finalists

Seventy-nine agricultural educators have been named finalists for the 2023-2024 Golden Owl Award, a prestigious recognition in the field of agricultural education. The finalists were selected from a pool of over 1,100 nominations across 11 states, including California, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and South Dakota.According to Brad Liggett, president of Agribusiness at Nationwide, "As the need grows for more ag educators across the nation, we are proud to thank and honor these hardworking agricultural teachers for...

U.S. Defense Department selects Intel Foundry for Phase Three of RAMP-C

Intel has announced that its Foundry has been selected for Phase Three of the U.S. Department of Defense's (DoD) Rapid Assured Microelectronics Prototypes—Commercial (RAMP-C) program. The DoD disclosed the award through the National Security Technology Accelerator’s consortium-based Strategic and Spectrum Missions Advanced Resilient Trusted Systems Other Transaction Authority (S2MARTS OTA) program.

State Farm Mobilizing Catastrophe Response to Recent Tornadoes and Severe Weather

State Farm has expressed deep concern for those affected by the recent severe weather events, including tornadoes in multiple states and hail storms in Texas. A spokesperson for State Farm stated, "Our hearts go out to the communities and families of all those who have been tragically affected by the recent severe weather." The company's primary focus is on ensuring the safety and well-being of all individuals in the impacted areas.In response to the natural disasters, State Farm has mobilized its catastrophe claim response team members to assist customers. They have also...

Amazon to launch drone delivery in Arizona

Amazon announced it will start operating a drone delivery service in the West Valley Phoenix Metro Area this year.

New Jersey law firms made more than $2 million in political contributions over last five years

A recent report by the American Tort Reform Association (ATRA) has examined the political contributions of New Jersey's top twenty plaintiff's law firms. The findings revealed that these firms collectively donated over $2 million to politicians and political action committees (PACs). ATRA President Sherman "Tiger" Joyce expressed concerns about the potential influence of these donations on legislative and judicial decisions. The report was released on March 21.

Report finds New Jersey attorneys spent $105 million on advertising in 2023

A recent report by the American Tort Reform Association (ATRA) reveals that lawyers in New Jersey spent $105.3 million on legal services advertisements in 2023. ATRA President Sherman "Tiger" Joyce attributes this to a strategy aimed at boosting settlements and payouts, which subsequently leads to larger paydays for the lawyers themselves. The report was released by ATRA on March 21.

PayPal pilots new checkout process feature

PayPal announced the testing of its new express checkout method, Fastlane by PayPal, which streamlines the checkout process for users when online shopping.

The Rise of Platformization in Cybersecurity

Amidst the ongoing debate over cybersecurity platforms versus best-of-breed point solutions, the cybersecurity industry is witnessing a shift towards a more integrated and consolidated approach. According to industry experts, platform solutions have faced criticism for offering capabilities that are only considered "good enough," while point solutions have inadvertently complicated the cybersecurity landscape.Platformization has emerged as a crucial element in modern cybersecurity strategies, aiming to streamline security functions, reduce complexity, and enhance overall...