The Sentinel: Business Strategy

Leadership Summit aims to equip local business leaders with tools for success

ST. JOSEPH - Kevin Martlage, the president of Nextier Advisors, is set to host a one-day Leadership Summit in St. Joseph on Jan. 22. Designed for both seasoned and emerging leaders, the event promises a full day of professional development, networking, and strategic collaboration with peers from across the region.

The summit will run from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., offering a streamlined schedule that balances intensive learning with respect for attendees’ work-life priorities.

“We designed the summit timeline so that it will allow leaders to attend while also being conscious of the all-important work-life balance,” Martlage said.

A veteran of corporate giants Xerox and FedEx, Martlage brings a wealth of experience in organizational leadership. During his tenure at both companies, he worked alongside top executives and received extensive training in management and leadership strategies. Yet, he acknowledges that his early career approach to leadership lacked alignment with his teams.

“Sure, I would attempt to utilize some of the concepts and theories, but I never seemed to be fully on the same page as those I was leading and those I reported to,” he said.

It was a shift to the nonprofit sector that transformed Martlage’s perspective. As director of certification at the International Society of Arboriculture, he discovered the critical importance of awareness, perception, and alignment in leadership. By tailoring his approach to the unique communication styles and decision-making processes of his team, Martlage fostered a culture of cohesion and high performance.

Participants will explore strategies for building trust, managing conflict, and addressing disruptive workplace behaviors—critical skills for leaders striving to cultivate a productive and harmonious work environment.

“I began to focus more on the reactions that I received and the business relationships instead of the output or the goals,” he explained. “I focused on understanding my team and how they liked to interact, receive information, make decisions, and work toward goals, which allowed me to adjust my approach to better support them in their career journey.”

The results, he said, were undeniable: a unified team that achieved milestones once thought out of reach.

Today, Martlage leads Nextier Advisors, a consultancy specializing in leadership development, executive coaching, and organizational strategy. Through his work, he has helped dozens of businesses and leaders achieve measurable success, and the upcoming Leadership Summit marks the launch of a new chapter in his mission to empower others.

The summit’s agenda is ambitious. Participants will explore strategies for building trust, managing conflict, and addressing disruptive workplace behaviors—critical skills for leaders striving to cultivate a productive and harmonious work environment.

“We are going to focus on a concept I call Mischief™, which is all about how to identify and address potentially disruptive behaviors in the workplace as you continue to build a cohesive and supportive work environment,” Martlage said.

Attendees will leave the summit armed with practical tools, including a personalized leadership development action plan and frameworks designed to enhance team dynamics.

“My hope with this summit is to provide impactful and affordable training right here in Central Illinois using the key leadership development concepts I provide to my clients across the country,” he said.

Martlage emphasized that the summit’s interactive format will set it apart. Participants can expect group exercises, dynamic discussions, and opportunities to connect with fellow leaders. Coffee and donuts, along with a catered lunch, will be provided, and an optional happy hour from 4 to 5:30 p.m. will offer additional networking opportunities.

The cost of registration is $249 per person, with details and online sign-up available at www.nextieradvisors.com.

For Martlage, the event is more than a workshop—it’s a chance to help leaders unlock their potential and redefine their impact.

“I use the analogy of flashlights and mirrors a lot,” he said. “As a leader and coach, it is my job to help shine the flashlight on areas of opportunity for someone to consider when it comes to the impact they wish to make, while also holding up the mirror so they can reflect on what they may need to adjust or be aware of to help lead their organization and team.”

With a career spanning both corporate and nonprofit sectors, Martlage has provided consulting services to organizations ranging from municipal leadership teams in southern Indiana to boards of directors and executive teams across North America. His guiding principle, he said, is simple: “Awareness grants you choice.”

Whether the summit becomes an annual fixture or inspires new initiatives, Martlage is confident that its impact will resonate long after Jan. 22.

“The success and impact this approach has had on my current and past clients is something that I feel is unique,” he said. “The key to the impact and success the training and information provide my clients is the power of awareness.”

For more information about the upcoming Nextier Advisors Leadership Summit contact Kevin Martlage at kmartlage1@gmail.com

Marketing your side gig, make a big splash with a small business shower

A shower can be a fun way to meet other small business owners, expand your client base, and celebrate a milestone with your business venture. Be creative and select a theme for your next small business open house.

Photo: Andrea Piacquadio/PEXELS

BPT - Starting a small business is no small feat. It requires vision, passion, dedication and an appreciation that your business is a vital part of local, national and global communities. Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are the backbone of economies globally. According to the World Economic Forum, SMBs make up 90% of all companies and create nearly 70% of jobs and gross domestic products worldwide.

Considering the importance and impact of SMBs and the grit and determination it takes to establish your own, small business owners and gig workers deserve to be celebrated. One fun way many founders are commemorating this accomplishment is by throwing a "small business shower."

What is a small business shower?

Small business showers are celebrations that recognize the biggest milestone in an entrepreneur's career - starting or scaling a business. A shower brings together friends, family, colleagues and the broader community to help support and cheer on those embarking on a new career journey, whether they are an experienced business owner entering a new market or a "solopreneur" starting their first business. By offering encouragement, business connections or resources and perhaps even financial support, throwing a small business shower is a fun way to celebrate your accomplishments while preparing to propel your business forward.

Why should I throw a shower?

You may feel a little shy about throwing a small business shower. However, we throw celebrations for so many life events, from birthdays to weddings to baby showers. Why not recognize the hard work that goes into starting or expanding a business? If you're still unsure, consider how small business showers can create an impact beyond the business owner alone. By bringing together a community of friends, family and like-minded local business owners who can offer advice and encouragement, a network of powerful, collaborative, and supportive individuals is formed. These gatherings are a great reminder of how important it is to invest in each other's success and growth - and what can be accomplished when we do.

How do I throw one?

There's no right or wrong way to throw a small business shower. The event can be virtual, in-person or both. You can host the event at home, in your business space or at your favorite restaurant.

However you choose to throw your shower, have fun putting it together. Consider creating eye-catching invites, incorporating thoughtful decorations, making or catering food and setting up engaging games for your guests. Then, enjoy! And who knows? Maybe it will inspire someone you know to start their own business.

Take Nana Agyemang - CEO of EveryStylishGirl and contributing social editor at NY Mag and The Cut. She recently threw a small business shower for herself when she knew she needed a serious tech partner to bring her vision to life. By collaborating with HP, she was able to not only execute the perfect small business shower but also demonstrate the power of identifying the right partners to support throughout your business journey.

Finding the right partner to jumpstart your business

As you reflect on your business, it is important to think about how you're preparing for success and future growth. One of the most critical elements to ensure your success is finding the right partners from the beginning, especially when it comes to technology.

The right tech partner will understand the unique challenges and opportunities entrepreneurs face throughout their business journey, creating an environment where leaders can navigate any challenge and drive their business to success. In doing so, they can also empower SMB owners to celebrate their successes while providing premium, reliable and quality technology.

For instance, Agyemang was able to simplify the preparations for her shower with tech that made her vision come to life with the help of HP. She easily designed and printed high-quality invitations, vision board materials and decorations using her HP OfficeJet Pro 8135e printer and HP Spectre x360 14 laptop.

In the same way that SMBs need a community to support them, they also need the right business partners who believe in their potential. "It is so important to have a partner that will grow with you as your business expands," says Nana. "It's been great seeing brands like HP get involved in supporting small businesses and encouraging them to celebrate their wins."

Your accomplishments deserve recognition. Let these tips inspire you to commemorate these moments and bring your own small business shower to life.

To learn about how HP is supporting and celebrating small businesses here.

Building an app can help you grow your business, here's how to do it right

Photo: relexahotels/Pixabay

StatePoint - In today’s world, apps are crucial for business growth and customer experience. They enable shopping, appointment setting and customer service interactions. In fact, around three-quarters of U.S. adults say they buy things online using a smartphone, according to Pew Research, which means if you don’t have an app for your business, you’re leaving money on the table. However, if building one sounds daunting, experts say there is good news -- artificial intelligence can help.

“AI enhances app development through code generation, chatbots, process optimization, content creation, user stories and prototype generation. Anyone, even with little to no experience, can quickly and cost-effectively develop an app using AI,” says Sachin Dev Duggal, founder and chief wizard at Builder.ai, an AI-powered composable software platform that allows every business and entrepreneur to become digitally powered.

Despite the relative ease of developing an app harnessing today’s AI tech, it’s nevertheless important to get your app right. With over 77% of users uninstalling an app within the first three days after download, according to WifiTalents, you’ll want to ensure your app provides your users with real value.

So, before building your app, first consider how it will help customers, and how it will help you solve your short- and long-term business objectives. Asking yourself these questions can give you clarity on the type of app you need, how you will fund and maintain your app, and how it will function.

When you are ready to begin development, here are the benefits you can anticipate by using AI to meet your objectives:

Rapid development: AI-driven platforms significantly reduce development time.
Unlimited customizations: AI app development platforms offer pre-built, customizable modules.
High performance: AI creates high-performance apps with fast load times and smooth user experiences.
Cost efficiency: AI reduces the need for extensive developer hiring, lowering costs.
Error reduction: Around 66% of software projects fail. The primary cause? Human error.
Seamless articulation: New AI technology allows you to speak directly with the development platform, enabling you to convey your ideas and instructions effortlessly, making app development more intuitive and efficient.

So, how do you actually use AI to build your app? In the case of Builder.ai, it’s as simple as following these simple steps:

1. Choose and customize a base template.
2. Review and finalize features.
3. Identify the app’s platform (Android, iOS, desktop) and build a timeline.
4. Establish a payment plan.
5. Match with a product expert for guidance.
6. Review and monitor the app’s progress.
7. Launch your app.
8. Leverage data from your app to optimize business.

To learn more about developing your app with Builder.ai, visit https://www.builder.ai/.

“AI automates repetitive tasks, code generation, bug detection and testing, resulting in shorter development cycles and reduced costs while maintaining high quality. By giving everyone, regardless of their tech knowledge the power to build applications, we’re removing the barriers that have traditionally stopped individuals and business owners from unlocking their potential,” says Duggal.

Commentary |
It’s not ‘Inflation’ — We’re just getting ripped off

These corporate giants have no plans to bring prices down anytime soon.

by Lindsay Owens & Elizabeth Pancotti

Many Americans are still experiencing the sticker shock they first faced two years ago when inflation hit its peak. But if inflation is down now, why are families still feeling the pinch?

The answer lies in corporate profits — and we have the data to prove it.

Our new report for the Groundwork Collaborative finds that corporate profits accounted for more than half — 53 percent — of inflation from April to September 2023. That’s an astronomical percentage. Corporate profits drove just 11 percent of price growth in the four decades prior to the pandemic.

Businesses have been quick to blame rising costs on supply chain shocks from the pandemic and the war in Ukraine. But two years later, our economy has mostly returned to normal. In some cases, companies’ costs to make things and stock shelves have actually decreased.

Let’s demonstrate with one glaring example: diapers.

The hyper-consolidated diaper industry is dominated by just two companies, Procter & Gamble and Kimberly-Clark, which own well-known diaper brands like Pampers, Huggies, and Luvs. The cost of wood pulp, a key ingredient for making diapers absorbent, did spike during the pandemic, increasing by more than 50 percent between 2020 and 2021.

Corporate profits accounted for more than half of recent price increases. To stamp out inflation once and for all, we need to crack down on price gouging.

But last year it declined by 25 percent. Did that drop in costs lead Procter & Gamble and Kimberly-Clark to lower their prices? Far from it. Diaper prices have increased to nearly $22 on average.

These corporate giants have no plans to bring prices down anytime soon. In fact, their own executives are openly bragging about how they’re going to “expand margins” on earnings calls. Procter & Gamble predicted $800 million in windfall profits as input costs decline. Kimberly-Clark’s CEO said the company has “a lot of opportunity” to expand margins over time.

It’s not just diapers — while many corporations were quick to pass along rising costs, they’ve been in no hurry to pass along their savings. A recent survey from the Richmond Fed and Duke University revealed that 60 percent of companies plan to hike prices this year by more than they did before the pandemic, even though their costs have moderated.

Photo: Israel Albornoz/Unsplash

Corporations across industries, from housing to groceries and used cars, are juicing their profit margins even as the cost of doing business goes down. And they’re not hiding the ball. Since the summer of 2021, Groundwork began listening in on hundreds of corporate earnings calls where we heard CEO after CEO boasting about their ability to raise prices on consumers.

Now we hear something slightly different: CEOs crowing about keeping their prices high while their costs go down.

PepsiCo raised its prices on snacks and beverages by roughly 15 percent twice in the last year while bragging to shareholders that their profit margins will grow as input costs come down. Tyson’s earnings report flaunted how their higher prices have “more than offset” their higher costs. The CFO of Hershey said last quarter that pricing gains more than offset inflation and higher costs.

So what can we do about it?

The Biden administration has taken important steps to rein in corporate profiteering and address the longstanding affordability crisis, from eliminating junk fees to strengthening global supply chains and cracking down on corporate concentration.

With the 2017 Trump tax cuts set to expire, Congress should also take this opportunity to raise taxes on corporations. Taxing profits helps disincentivize price gouging and profiteering because large corporations will have to send a greater share of their windfall to Uncle Sam.

We’ve come a long way in bringing inflation down since its peak in 2022. But stamping out inflation once and for all will require a concerted effort to rein in the corporate profiteering.

Elizabeth Pancotti

Lindsay Owens

Lindsay Owens is the Executive Director of the Groundwork Collaborative. Elizabeth Pancotti is Strategic Advisor to Groundwork. This op-ed was distributed by OtherWords.org.

Managing cashflow for your small business to keep it alive

Small business owner working from his desk

In today's capitalization market, you are more likely to attract investors if your business is already "cashflow positive." Owners should be vigilant in keeping costs down and look for opportunities to grow comfortably.

Photo: Rohann Agalawatte/Burst

StatePoint Media - Intelligent cashflow management is the essential fuel of startups and digital businesses, particularly in a challenging economy. According to experts, it can mean the difference between surviving, thriving and failure.

“Poor cashflow management will kill your business. In fact, it’s killed some of the biggest businesses in the world. No matter how fast you’re growing, you could be destined for the startup graveyard if your outgoings exceed your revenues,” says Dominic Wells, serial entrepreneur and CEO and founder of Onfolio Holdings, a leading online conglomerate that acquires and manages a diversified portfolio of online business holdings.

To help startups and digital businesses not only survive a downturn, but remain profitable while accelerating growth, Wells is sharing some top actionable insights for the current moment:

1. Know that capital is harder to secure.
While during periods of low interest rates, it was possible to burn through capital, that’s no longer the case. “Don’t assume you can just raise more money. Investors are avoiding businesses that aren’t already cashflow positive,” says Wells.

2. Change your priorities.
Founders must review spending line items and identify the areas generating the greatest returns. Double down on those. Cut or reduce your spending elsewhere.

3. Focus on short-term growth.
Certainty beats speculation right now and investors are choosing businesses that will generate near-term certainty with monthly recurring revenue over those with potential long-term growth.

4. Make profitability your number one goal.
Aim to be profitable enough to pay yourself a decent salary, cover business overheads and keep cash in reserve. If you’re looking for a buyer or investor, have solid numbers to show them. In Onfolio’s case, the investment criteria are established businesses generating annual profits over $500,000 in sectors and niches with high-growth potential. Without the metrics to support why you deserve funding, investors and buyers aren’t lurking around the next corner, ready to leap out with a check.

“It’s not easy to execute, but your goal is simple. Keep asking yourself, ‘are we profitable?’ If the answer is no, do everything you can to get there quickly,” says Wells.

5. Become more financially secure.
At a time when many operations are cutting costs, making your service indispensable to customers so that they stay with you, or even spend more money, can help make you more financially secure. It’s time to deploy strategies and technology that generate more revenue from your current customers. For example, if you’re a website owner without a subscription upsell, now is the time to implement one.

For more tips and insights and to learn more about digital company acquisition, visit onfolio.com.

“New challenges arise for small business owners and digital companies during downturns,” says Wells. “Being savvy about the current climate can mean not just your survival, but your continued success.”

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