Past Issues

While there’s never a shortage of controversial issues to wrestle with on a national scope, one contentious matter that undoubtedly goes to the forefront is the topic of Internet regulation and how much intervention should be imposed by the federal government.

At loggerheads are traditional entities such as publishers, film studios and music industry producers versus new media giants such as Google, Facebook and Twitter, who want information to continue flowing, unfettered. The dispute comes down to one thing—money. Property creators/owners feel they are being ripped off by piracy advocates who often make intellectual property available to the public free of charge. Of course, it’s never really free. Most of those sites make their money through a variety of means, including click-thru ads, page advertisements, videos, and sharing email lists with various online marketers.

The government has largely kept clear of this thorny issue for quite some time, but it’s evident that’s not going to be the case much longer. Recently several congressmen have brought forth legislation, looking to have their bills passed into law. It’s still very much in the elementary stages at this point, but the stone has begun to turn and its picking up momentum with each revolution as it heads down a steep hill.

For those unaware of the terms SOPA, PIPA and OPEN, you can read about at that in this edition. Such types of acronyms are going to become far more well-known in the coming months and years based on their potential to change the way we send and receive information through cyberspace in the future.

Also in this issue of ABJ, the Republican leadership candidates weigh in on President Barack Obama’s decision to halt the Keystone XL Pipeline project between this country and Canada to which Newt Gingrich calls it a “stunningly stupid thing to do.”

Additionally, your feedback on what we are doing is always welcomed and appreciated. If there’s a feature story or business news issue that you believe warrants being elevated to the forefront, let us know. I cannot guarantee we’ll be able to accommodate each idea, but we’ll certainly review all requests. Your voice matters to us.

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“We believe the debts of the following nations, among others, are not sustainable in the current economic environment: Greece, Italy, Japan, Ireland, Iceland, Belgium, Portugal, France...”

It’s a frightening statement, made even more so when you know that it was said by Kyle Bass of Hayman Capital Management in the company’s annual letter to shareholders. Like almost no one else, Bass understands the big picture, predicting the housing collapse and making his investors a lot of money in 2008, and has been in front of the curve throughout this European debt crisis.

In a candid interview with James Rickards, author of Currency Wars: The Making of the Next Global Crisis, monetary policies home and abroad have to be examined carefully in order to quell the damage and how money is now used as a weapon for protecting national interests.

Although we cannot help situations in countries a continent away, here at home we can continue to export, import, manufacture, and consume, and as these pages of the American Business Journal can attest to excellence in business domestically.

It’s not a product of chance that the U.S. has such a strong entrepreneurial base. As we learn in our conversation with Kathy Cloninger during her last week as CEO of the Girl Scouts, over 70 per cent of female business owners in the U.S. are former Girl Scouts themselves, having honed their skills selling cookies as youngsters.

Something to think about next time the Girl Scouts come to your door.

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Working in the digital industry, we here at ABJ collectively bow our heads in honor of Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple Inc. In his short life, Jobs achieved what we all aspire to, to make a positive impact, to leave the world a better place, or, to use his own words, "to put a ding in the universe."

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Despite deals mad e in Washington that raised the federal debt ceiling and an agreement to bail out Greece (again), the markets revealed an indelible sense of non-confidence. This sentiment was not assuaged by S&P downgrading the U.S. credit rating from AAA to AA status.

The events of the past few weeks illustrate how important confidence and perceived confidence is to our economy.

In a speech to the nation, President Obama pointed out something that we at ABJ are proud to promote: our citizens’ ‘perseverance…courage, and willingness to shoulder the burdens we face”.

In these pages are companies that embody the spirit needed shake the cobwebs off and move our economy forward. Business initiatives such as Big Sky Economic Development, for example, work diligently to ensure the maximum potential is taken from the abundant natural resources that surround them.

President Obama cited Warren Buffett, who knows a thing or two about good investments, who said, “If there were a quadruple-A rating, I’d give the United States that.”

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As America continues to struggle while pulling itself out of the recession, here at the American Business Journal we find ourselves asking the question: what is the answer? Despite the vast number of great American businesses that have triumphed in times of adversity, financial illiteracy and the related economic effects is a lingering problem.

Our cover story this issue investigates a growing movement that stresses the importance of financial education. Read about an innovative entrepreneur, Susan Beacham, who shaped her business around these principles, as we examine the state of financial literacy in America.

Always keeping abreast of new business opportunities, the largest expansion of generic top level domain names (gTLDs) thus far is about to hit the Internet. ABJ is thrilled to have a legal contribution this month from William Schultz, a specialist in online trademark and copyright litigation matters. Check out the article on page 12 for all the information your business needs to know about this new ruling.

Our monthly State Focus takes us to Georgia, where we profile some strong municipalities, and follow an innovative park revitalization initiative in Atlanta. And as always, ABJ continues to profile many more of those innovative and successful companies that are the foundation of our business community.

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There are moments , some of them unthinkable, when events happen that force the entire global community to stop—and watch.

Millions of people all over the world have been glued to TV coverage of devastation and tragedy that has rocked Japan following the massive earthquake and tsunami on March 11.

Though we cannot control these events, and those other incomprehensible natural disasters that have shaken us so far in 2011, we can come together as a global community to help those in a time of need.

We dedicate this month’s ABJ to those people affected by natural disasters, our friends in Japan and our friends in other countries who have been affected by similar calamities.

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The American Business Journal has started 2011 off with a bang. As recession is still looming and worry surmounts, the extraordinary companies we profile are proof that there is no country in the world for business like here. We continually hear from those that not only survived the recession— they flourished.

The United States is the epitome of diversification. There is no sector, no industry, and no business that doesn’t have a part somewhere across this vast and diverse land. This was the inspiration for our new ‘State Focus’ section. Every issue we find the story within a state and find out what makes it a wonderfully unique place to do business. This issue we feature Texas, the economic powerhouse which has proven to be much more than just an oil state. Check out our interview with the Mayor of Houston, Annise D. Parker on page 24.

The entrepreneurial spirit is on fire in America for 2011 and here at The American Business Journal our focus is fuelling that momentum. This issue features some great contributions about critical elements of commerce. Richard Binhammer, Dell Computer’s social media expert, gives us some great insights into making social media work for business. We hear from the Canadian American Business Council about the critical relationship with our neighbours to the North and what it means for the private sector. Business, after all, is what built America.

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The festive spirit is in full swing here at ABJ; the offices are decked out and we are busy wrapping up the year. The success of the magazine this year has to be credited to the outstanding companies we have had the pleasure to profile, companies that keep the economic outlook ever-optimistic despite environmental, political and economic challenges. We are happy to do our part to showcase the hard working entrepreneurs whose determination to thrive (despite the recession) has been an enduring inspiration.

In anticipation of continuing down this path, ABJ is preparing for a great year. We have bold plans for 2011. Due to the overwhelming number of positive stories in the U.S., ABJ will be going to a bi-monthly format in order to get them to you. Our editorial team is growing and our content will feature more information than ever to help you ride the wave in the good times and batten down the hatches in the bad.

It’s a very interesting time to be in the digital realm. WikiLeaks are releasing information daily that have real world repercussions on the global banking systems. Cables are soon to be released with details on our own banking systems that are causing a lot of people anxiety. Mark Zuckerberg has taken a famously aggressive stance that we are evolving into a society with less privacy. Companies are well advised to harness the juggernaut that is the internet with more focus than ever. In 2011 we will be dealing with a lot of the challenges and benefits associated with technology and online media, and we have a very exciting interview to bring you, on that note, in our next issue (stay tuned!)

Meanwhile, we hope you enjoy the rich content we present in the Winter edition of ABJ. May your spirits be as high as the price of gold.

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It’s an interesting time to be doing business in the U.S. Amid many conflicting reports on the economy, Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner said early this month that the country is in fact (get ready), showing signs of stability. Why? Companies are hiring again. In an interview with Bloomberg Television in New York, he said: “We have some more work to do, but I think the economy is definitely getting stronger.”

Though damage has been done, and there is a lot of work to do, there are reasons to be optimistic in this climate of uncertainty. In March, employment increased the most in three years and the unemployment rate was improving. Payrolls have increased and there were posted increases in hiring in many industries, especially in manufacturing and healthcare. All in all, reasons to look towards a better future.

This month, ABJ reflects that positive future, as we look at management tactics in a new era, and focus on some very innovative companies in healthcare, food and drink, and entertainment industries. Take a look, and remember—the best is yet to come for American businesses.

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As we dive head-first into the summer months, I’m reminded that those of us with office jobs often don’t have the benefits of enjoying the outdoors.

Sure, we might walk home from work, or spend time on a patio on the weekend. But for the most part, we spend most of our time indoors, in front of a computer, plugging away.

But what if we took a step back, and tried to even out our weekdays with a little attention to our personal lives?

Balancing our work and private lives may be the key to a happier life. This is a theory subscribed to by our cover interviewee this month — Mereille Guiliano, author of French Women Don’t Get Fat, and Women, Work, and the Art of Savoir Faire.

Guiliano spoke to me about living life, and enjoying the finer things, like eating a homecooked meal, and turning off your Blackberry to have some space from work. She’s certainly an authority on balance, having worked towards it throughout her professional career.

In any case, we invite you to take a time out, peruse the interview, and have a good read, as ABJ highlights the best in business.

Have a good summer, and remember to stop and smell the roses.

 

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In part two of ABJ's management series, we look at the intertwined relationship between an organization's culture and their employees' productivity. In speaking with experts, Antonia McGuire uncovers a clear link between chronic fatigue and the implications to the bottom line. Read on to find out what managers can do and why North Americans have much to learn from those living in Australia.

Focusing on the state of Ohio, we bring you a profile on the young, ambitious Senator Sherrod Brown, who is leaving his mark in history. In our company focus, we put the spotlight on various organizations who share their success stories.

Last but not least, read our monthly lifestyle column to learn about the return on investment when it comes to weight loss in the workplace.

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After the world’s economic leaders met in Iqaluit, N.W.T. to reaffirm their commitment to banking regulation last month, the spotlight is now on America’s failing system. When the housing market tanked and banks claimed bankruptcy because too many people couldn’t make their mortgage payments, the feds stepped in to save those banks “too big to fail” with a massive bailout package.

With President Barack Obama’s firm push for a banking bill to pass and a filibuster looming up in Capitol Hill, ABJ breaks down the problem that was missed by the media, how the end result will impact the banks’ bottom line and ultimately, the customer.

Focusing on the state of North Dakota, we bring you an exclusive interview with U.S. Governor John Hoeven, who has recently announced his run for a seat in the Senate this fall. In our company focus section, we put the spotlight on various organizations who share their success stories.

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