Sweetwater County EDC
Sweetwater County is bustling with activity. Home to major mining and industrial development projects, the Wyoming community is moving forward to embrace new economic opportunities. After profiling Sweetwater County in 2019, Business in Focus checked back in to hear the latest on a range of projects.
WOW! Mobile Boutique
WOW! Mobile Boutique has made a mark on the industry with its customer-centric service that emphasizes fair, honest advice. The cell phone and tablet provider’s kiosks have become a fixture in malls throughout Canada, and the brand’s popularity continues to grow. After featuring WOW! Mobile Boutique in March 2020, Business in Focus caught back up with the retailer to learn the latest news.
City of Largo, FL
The City of Largo enjoys a prime location nestled between the sunny shores of Florida’s Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. “We are located close to a lot of great things,” says Mayor Woody Brown. From water sports, fishing, nature preserves, and amusement parks to museums, NFL football, and aquariums, the surrounding area has it all.
City of Salem, MA
Salem, Massachusetts has earned the tagline ‘Still Making History.’ “We are rooted in history,” says Director of Planning and Community Development Tom Daniel. Founded in 1626, Salem is best known for the infamous witch trials of 1692, which still captivate the public and draw tourists to the community three centuries later.
Waseca County, MN
After featuring Waseca County, Minnesota in 2017, we checked back in with the community this month to hear the latest developments. Several exciting new programs and expansions are underway, but a key factor that has not changed is the high quality of life.
Bell and Howell
As a next-generation service organization, Bell and Howell has been investing in the tools, technology, and training needed to help customers increase efficiency and reduce operational costs.
The Evolution of Retail Under Pressure
The COVID-19 pandemic changed the face of retail in 2020—and possibly forever. Unprecedented challenges led to adopting new trends throughout the industry and strengthened or sped up the adoption of others. From a major spike in e-commerce and contactless shopping to the development of new retail technologies, shopping in 2021 is an evolving experience that promises to continue to push the envelope to deliver what today’s consumers expect and demand.
Shawnee Forward Inc.
Located just thirty minutes from the greater Oklahoma City metro area and Tinker Air Force Base, Shawnee enjoys an ideal balance between urban advantages and rural living. A thriving downtown, university, regional airport, multiple tribal facilities, and a number of large industrial employers provide plenty of opportunities within the city limits.
City of Brownsville, TX
As the second most historic city in the state of Texas, Brownsville has old roots and modern, forward-thinking industries. This community of both the past and future enjoys the unique position of being the only city in the world with five methods of international trade: air, sea, road, rail, and space.
The Biosciences Industry and the COVID-19 Crisis
The life sciences industry has taken a remarkable journey over the last year. From rapid adaptation at the outset of the global pandemic to unprecedented vaccine advancements, the sector has been at the forefront of the fight. COVID-19 created new challenges—and opportunities—that will leave a lasting mark on the industry and continue to push it forward.
City of Smyrna, GA
Known as Jonquil City for the thousands of bright yellow flowers that bloom throughout the community every spring, Smyrna, Georgia boasts charming neighborhoods, a revitalized downtown, and 304 acres of park and green space. Some may remember Smyrna as the hometown of Julia Roberts, but the community deserves a place on the map for far more than Hollywood trivia.
Allen Parish, LA
Allen Parish, Louisiana is home to a wealth of Cajun traditions and unique tourist attractions. After featuring the community several times in the past, Business in Focus caught back up with Allen Parish Tourist Commission’s Executive Director Adagria Haddock to get the scoop on the Parish’s new Cultural Center and hear the latest news.
C-COM Satellite Systems
With customers in 106 different countries, C-COM Satellite Systems is a global leader in the development and deployment of commercial grade, mobile satellite-based technology. The Ottawa-based company helps people around the world access high-speed Internet, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and video services from their vehicles, while stationary.
City of Bellevue, NE
Situated in the heart of the Great Plains, the City of Bellevue, Nebraska enjoys an ideal location along rolling hills overlooking the Missouri River with easy access to Omaha. From a thriving economy and highly ranked schools to over 600 acres of parkland and plenty of Midwestern hospitality, the community ticks all the boxes.
City of Auburn, AL
A walk down Auburn’s main thoroughfare is a nostalgic stroll back in time, to when families stopped at the corner drugstore’s soda fountain and neighbors knew each other’s names. Today, locals still enjoy camaraderie and cold drinks at Toomer’s Drugs, which set up shop on the corner of Magnolia Avenue in 1896. Located across the street from Auburn University, the beloved landmark is also a favorite with students, who are welcomed as part of the community during the school year. It is this mix of small-town charm, southern hospitality, and student culture that creates a thriving local scene for both young and old to enjoy.
Conscientious Consumerism and the Cosmetics Industry
The beauty market isn’t playing by the same old rules anymore. Conscientious consumerism has taken the industry by storm and is poised to realign industry values and branding strategies permanently. From sustainable packaging and transparent labeling to cruelty-free pledges and minimalism, this isn’t your parents’ cosmetics market.
Eisenmann
Eisenmann creates market-leading systems for surface finishing, air pollution control, process and high-temperature technologies, and anaerobic digestion. Headquartered in Germany, the company opened a branch in the United States in 1977 and has been active in America ever since.
KMJ Industrial Contractors
KMJ Industrial Contractors installs, relocates, restructures, and moves machinery anywhere in North America. In addition to machinery moving, the team and their industry partners specializes in electrical, mechanical and fabrication services as well as specialized transport, project management, and machinery storage.
Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport
Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport is taking flight. In 2019, the number of passengers leapt nearly ten percent from the previous year. This expansion is particularly noteworthy because it comes on the heels of 2018’s growth, when the number of passengers increased over twelve percent. That’s two years in a row of significant growth – enough to see a pattern forming.
WOW! mobile boutique™
When I caught up with Michael Cioffi, Director of People and Culture for WOW! mobile boutique™, he had just touched down in Cancun to set up a work retreat to reward the company’s most dedicated employees. “We are recognizing our top 50 associates across the country, taking them to an all-inclusive resort, wining and dining them, and thanking them for their contribution,” he said.
CURRENT EDITION
December 2022
PAST EDITIONS
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
Ambassatours Gray Line
In Atlantic Canada, tourism is rebounding as COVID restrictions ease, and Ambassatours Gray Line is ready to serve visitors. The company has built a reputation for more than 35 years as Atlantic Canada’s premier tourism offering. In its home of Halifax, boat and bus tours whisk passengers away on a historical journey of one of the nation’s oldest cities.
Town of Grand Falls–Windsor, Newfoundland and Labrador
Grand Falls–Windsor, centrally located on the island of Newfoundland, is a welcoming, family-oriented, business-friendly community with much to offer residents and visitors alike.
City of Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador
Located on the west coast of Newfoundland, Canada, the City of Corner Brook, with its thriving arts and cultural scene, natural attractions, and burgeoning cruise line industry, is poised to become a provincial leader in tourism. Boasting the province’s second-largest population behind St. John’s, this most northern city in Atlantic Canada offers year-round events and outdoor activities for visitors of all ages to enjoy.
Town of Conception Bay South, Newfoundland and Labrador
As the slogan goes, the Town of Conception Bay South, Newfoundland and Labrador, is a bright town with a bright future. Home to a population of 27,000 strong and counting, Conception Bay South is the second largest municipality in the province in terms of population, and third in population growth behind only Paradise and Clarenville.
Port Charlottetown, PE
“You can’t underestimate the significance of a port to a community, or in this case to the whole province,” says Mike Cochrane, CEO of the Charlottetown Harbour Authority Inc., which manages Port Charlottetown.
SFX Transport
There have been major changes at the East Coast trucking company that went by the name Seafood Express Transport when Business in Focus profiled the company in March 2021. For a start, the family-run business is now called SFX Transport, to better reflect the type of goods it hauls and to modernize the company moniker.
