Montana Gordon

Check out this great article written about the CEO Academy of Kansas City!

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Take a look at this insightful article from the #KansasCityBusinessJournal exploring the trends that will shape the return to office in 2025! A must-read for anyone preparing for the next chapter of the workforce!

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The impact of the Taylor + Travis effect on many local small businesses is pure alchemy. Thank you USA TODAY for covering the sweetest elements of something that happens once every few lifetimes, with Mollie Lothman and Cassidy Garr.🎂🏅🏈 #smallbusiness #mclainsmarket #bakery #growth #kansascity

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🛒 Hy-Vee is optimizing supply chain execution and inventory management to elevate the grocery shopping experience across its stores! With Manhattan Associates’s advanced solutions, Hy-Vee, Inc. gains real-time visibility and precision in inventory, allowing them to keep shelves stocked and respond quickly to changing shopper demand. This means fresher produce, better-stocked aisles, and a smoother shopping trip for everyone. We're proud to support Hy-Vee as they transform grocery operations for their communities! Read more: https://ow.ly/MF2h50Uf64J #freshproduce #coldchain #inventory #warehouses #transportation #tms #wms

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In January 2025, Kansas will reduce its state sales tax on food to 0%. Since 2023, it has gradually been reduced from 6.5%, one of the highest sales tax rates on food in the nation. However, local sales taxes still apply. Research links grocery sales taxes to higher food insecurity and poorer health outcomes, especially for low-income households. Explore how food sales taxes impacts health and how Kansas compares to other states in KHI's latest brief. 📖 Read more: https://lnkd.in/gZppJyVQ #KsLeg #KsHealth #HungerFreeKansas Kansas Health Foundation | United Methodist Health Ministry Fund

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We are excited to announce Danny O’Halloran, a Des Moines native, as the new ISU Startup Factory Entrepreneur-In-Residence. In his new role, Danny will serve as a key member of the teaching team, facilitating industry connections and providing valuable mentorship to cohort members as they navigate the entrepreneurial landscape. Danny’s entrepreneurial journey began at 13 with a videography business, followed by ventures in streetwear and, most notably, the founding of MetaFuel, a company that automated fuel tax compliance for trucking companies. Under his leadership, MetaFuel secured funding from Techstars, angel investors, and the State of Iowa. After dissolving MetaFuel, Danny launched a consulting business, advising corporations, nonprofits, and startups on strategy, pitch development, and early market entry. Danny's hands-on experience allows him to offer practical advice on navigating early-stage challenges, building strong teams, and competing in crowded markets. “One thing I often share with founders is that timing tends to be one of the biggest elements that you will never be able to control. You had your idea when you had your idea, and sometimes the market's just not ready for it,” said Danny. “I think there is so much to be learned from something that was a failure because you did things correctly. If one market isn’t a fit, you can move on and still gain valuable insights. There’s a lot you can learn from not getting that big exit.” He hopes to pass these lessons to new founders, helping build their confidence. Looking forward to his new role, Danny expressed his enthusiasm for helping Startup Factory companies find their ‘aha’ moments. “Figuring out the pieces that have been blocking their progress or unlocking a new way of looking at their problem is exciting to me,” he said. “When it comes to cohort 16, you’ve got a wide array of people and technologies, and I think there’s potential for each of these founders to figure out the next step to moving their business forward, and I’m excited to be a part of that.” Peter Hong, Director of the ISU Startup Factory, added, “Danny adds a fresh perspective to the experienced Startup Factory teaching team. He rounds out the team with his interest and experience using web based tools to organize all the different pieces of input that entrepreneurs must deal with especially in determining product market fit.” Welcome to the Startup Factory team, Danny!

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The Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI) recently conducted its Quarterly Business Survey, gathering insights from Iowa’s business leaders as they prepare for 2025. Here are some key highlights: 🔹 Capital Expenditures: Over 70% plan Q1 2025 investments, showing strong growth confidence. 🔹 Sales Expectations: 55% expect stable sales; 40% foresee growth. 🔹 Workforce Trends: 57% expect stable employee numbers. 🔹 Policy Concerns: Nearly 80% worry about tariffs affecting costs. For a deeper dive into the findings, read the full press release: https://bit.ly/3BSkSW4

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Had an awesome experience at Nebraska Furniture Mart today. I was so nervous, this was the first time that I have ever gone to buy furniture for a bedroom since losing my vision. Upon entering the store, security quickly assisted me in finding a sales rep. Once I was paired up, they asked me lots of questions to figure out what type of bedroom I envisioned. I then showed him the room dimensions provided by the apartment so we could ensure everything would fit. The goal was to find a new bed, dresser, and nightstand. It wasn't exactly a quick process, even though the sales rep knew kind of what to show me, I had to go explore each item by touch. If I found something I liked, the rep would give me the price and check if it was in stock or not. After some time, I landed on my bedroom options. Now, the fun part. Trying out matrasses. It only took me about 3 tries to land on the one I wanted to buy. Did some information gathering and the rep processed the payment, scheduled shipping, and printed out a confirmation receipt. This is what inclusion looks like, no judgement, no pain, accessibility from start to finish, patient, no pressuring reps, etc. I believe I had the same experience or at least as close to the same experience as any other customer would have had. Let me tell you, this is one of the rare times I get to say that. This store was located in The Colony, Texas. Keep it up NFM! #Accessibility #InclusiveShopping #Inclusion #DisabilityInclusion #Stores #NFM #TheColonyTX

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Fast-growing St. Louis Park-based Delaget, a software developer that provides analytics and financial reporting for restaurants, was acquired for $132 million by PAR Technology Corp.

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KC: A Great Place for the Liquor Business! Kansas City is on the map for the liquor industry, and it’s easy to see why. With our central location and top-notch distribution network, KC is the perfect hub for getting products to market across the country. Plus, the city’s food and beverage scene are booming, with nearly 27,000 people working in breweries, distilleries, and liquor stores​. What’s really exciting is how tech is mixing with tradition here. With big players like Google investing heavily in the area, there’s a lot of innovation happening. Whether it’s improving distribution with data or spicing up marketing strategies, there’s so much potential for growth​. So, if you’re in the liquor business or thinking about jumping in, Kansas City is definitely the place to be right now. Lots of room to grow, great community, and endless opportunities to tap into! #KansasCity #LiquorIndustry #CraftSpirits #BusinessGrowth #DistributionHub #Innovation

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Shopping at Kroger? Make it count for more! It’s easy to support Harmony through Kroger's Community Rewards program. Here's how... 1. Create your account at Kroger. 2. Link your Shopper’s Card to Harmony Family Center. 3. Start shopping! With every purchase you make, a portion of your spending helps us strengthen our mission, enabling more individuals to live their best lives. Simply select Harmony Family Center as your nonprofit of choice and swipe your card—it's that simple to make a difference! Get started here! https://lnkd.in/e2XfzS3

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🧀🚀 We helped launch the world's largest cheese platform! Elevating brand awareness through Marketing, Digital Media, SEO, and more. Discover how we did it in this case study #CheeseLovers #DigitalMarketing #BrandAwareness #SuccessStory

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🚜Silos only have a place on Iowa farms and not so much in marketing projects. But yet, marketing today often looks disconnected like this: "Let's run these ads!" 🎯 "Maybe we should publish a blog post?" ✍️ "Did you hear so and so is doing a podcast now?" 🎙️ And don't forget the constant pressure: "We need more lead generation!" 📈 Here's the truth: These tactics CAN work. But there's a better way... The secret? A holistic marketing approach! 🌟 Instead of isolated campaigns, focus on a broader demand generation strategy. This approach: 🔗Integrates multiple channels 🎭Creates a cohesive brand experience 📊Drives sustainable growth Ready to elevate your marketing game? Let's discuss how to transform your tactics into a powerful, unified strategy! 💪 https://hubs.ly/Q02GDcXl0

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2024 Kansas Business UI Upgrade Webinar Follow-up: Thank you to everyone who was able to join us on the webinar last week. Below is a letter from the Kansas Department of Labor outlining additional information about the upgrade as well as the link to the recorded webinar and other materials which may be helpful. If there are any questions, please reach out to 📧 office@ksshrm.com ... Dear Kansas SHRM and Kansas Chamber, We are writing to inform you of upcoming changes to the Kansas Department of Labor’s (KDOL) Unemployment Insurance (UI) Tax system. To enhance your experience, we will be launching a new online system for UI Tax on Nov. 19, 2024. Please note the important details and timeline below. Dates to Remember: 📌 Nov. 11: KDOL will be closed in observance of Veterans Day. 📌 Nov. 13: The KDOL Employer website will be unavailable starting at 5 p.m. for system upgrades. 📌 Nov. 19: The new website will open at 8 a.m., and the new UI Tax system will be fully operational. What You Need to Know When We Reopen: ➡ New Online Account Setup for Employers: All employers will be required to create a username and password to access the updated portal. Multiple authorized users can be added as part of the registration process. ➡Third-Party Administrators (TPAs): TPAs will not need to create new credentials. Existing usernames will be automatically migrated. ➡Updated UI Tax Account Number Format: Employers will keep their UI Tax account number, but going forward it will be in a 10-digit format, with one 0 (zero) at the beginning and three 0s (zeroes) at the end. For example, the current Kansas UI Tax account number of 123456 will become 0123456000. Stay Informed! To find the latest information, visit //dol.ks.gov/UITE-Resources. If you have additional questions, please contact the Employer Help Line at (785) 296-5027 or KDOL.uitax@ks.gov Thank you for your patience and cooperation during this transition. We are excited about the improved functionality and features of the new UI Tax system, and we look forward to serving you better.   Sincerely, The Kansas Department of Labor Webinar Recording - https://lnkd.in/g-ipG5-y

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Finance professors like Jon Garfinkel at The University of Iowa Tippie College of Business are using Breakout’s AI-powered small-group discussion platform to gain visibility into group work. When you’re teaching over 500 students, getting a sense of each individual’s progress can be a bear. Breakout’s AI insights gave Jon a deeper understanding of every student’s progress without having to sit through hours of discussions. As Jon puts it, “I think Breakout Learning's assessment of the student performance … as well as the way that they reported it to me, did stuff that I just can't do on my own. Which is exactly what I'm looking for.” Watch the full video to learn more about Jon’s experience managing small-group discussions in large classrooms with Breakout! #SmallGroupDiscussions #HigherEd #AIinEducation

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U.S. grocery retailer Hy-Vee has transformed its distribution network by implementing @Manhattan Associates advanced supply chain solutions, including inventory, warehouse and transportation management. 📦 Since adopting Manhattan’s transportation management system in 2021, the regional grocery retailer has achieved a 3% reduction in delivery miles and a 20% increase in on-time deliveries, according to SVP of Distribution Matt Beenblossom. 💬 "The confidence we have in our queuing now has allowed us to make adjustments with our retail window ordering and maximize the number of deliveries to each store," Beenblossom shared in a recent statement. 🔗 Learn more about how Manhattan’s solutions are empowering businesses like Hy-Vee to optimize operations and exceed delivery expectations. https://ow.ly/zxEk50Ukf0F

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