Against a backdrop of calls for social and structural change in the U.S., the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) determined, notably during Pride Month, that sexual orientation and gender identity are protected under federal law. In a landmark ...
Read More »Major ruling protects sexual orientation, gender identity
Cultivating productive conversations at work on diversity, inclusion in a time of social unrest
“I’m in charge of a diverse sales team which has been working remotely. Before the pandemic, we had some fun times and what I thought was a relatively harmonious work environment. Now that people are coming back to the office, ...
Read More »Marketing for small businesses without breaking the bank 
Small businesses and entrepreneurial ventures often face an array of challenges that they need to overcome using the limited resources that they have at their disposal. During the early stages of a business, financing, organizational setup and staffing may prove ...
Read More »Should Bills consider a name change, too?
Peter Jemison is a die-hard Buffalo Bills fan. Has been for decades. He’s also a proud Native American — a respected voice who has long managed the Ganondagan State Historic Site in Victor and fought injustices faced by the Senecas ...
Read More »Leveraging gifts in a low interest rate environment to save on estate taxes 
Interest rates are at historic lows. For taxpayers interested in estate planning, low interest rates provide an opportunity to leverage the value of gifts. Taxpayers may accordingly wish to consider making leveraged gifts now to potentially save on estate taxes ...
Read More »Region must stay committed to handling COVID-19 the right way
We are now more than halfway through a year we would all like to forget. As challenging as COVID-19 pandemic protocols have been for business and the community at large, the Rochester and Finger Lakes region has done things the ...
Read More »How do you make your business nimble and flexible — especially during a pandemic? 
“An organization’s ability to learn, and translate that learning into action rapidly, is the ultimate competitive advantage.” When the pandemic started, many companies’ first thought was how do they reduce their overhead and sustain some sense of revenue. There was ...
Read More »Despite clarification, questions remain on effect of NY’s travel advisory on paid sick leave 
Sadly, to date, New York State has experienced more than 25 percent of the United States’ total COVID-19-related deaths. To put things in perspective, if it was its own country, New York State would rank fifth among nations in deaths, ...
Read More »Hedging market risk in a diversified investment portfolio 
When we speak of hedging market risk in an otherwise diversified investment portfolio, what we’re really talking about is buying something whose value goes up, when the general market (i.e. stocks) goes down. There are several ways to accomplish this, ...
Read More »Nearly impossible to execute a coronavirus sports game-plan
The toughest assignment in 2020 sports has nothing to do with stopping Patrick Mahomes on third-and-one or pitching to Mike Trout with the bases loaded. No, the toughest assignment is trying to figure out how to keep those super-duper stars ...
Read More »Google’s algorithm changes favor expertise in a subject 
For brick-and-mortar retailers, real estate has always been a very important factor in their success. I remember learning in a college marketing course that the three most important decisions that any retail business will make are “location, location and location.” ...
Read More »Harness the power of social dynamics to build a safe and ethical workplace 
My heart was beating out of my chest. My palms were sweaty. My mouth was dry. And, for the first time in my life, I was literally paralyzed by fear and unable to move. Dressed in Nomex coveralls and clad ...
Read More »Region’s return-to-work transition means more innovation 
If you’d have asked a member of the Canandaigua Academy Class of 2020 what they’d be doing in late June, the answer would have likely included mention of a cap and a gown and walking across a stage to accept ...
Read More »Rochester metro area strongly positioned for recovery 
As state and local economies begin to reopen, attention increasingly shifts to identifying geographic areas best positioned to lead the recovery. Several analyses have been published in recent weeks, with two prominent examples produced by Bloomberg News and Moody’s Analytics. ...
Read More »Angrily, eagerly we prepare for a baseball season unlike any other
After three months of squabbling that resolved absolutely nothing, baseball is back. And I will be back, too, as a fan — though not necessarily with the same level of passion I once had. I’m sure my anger will eventually ...
Read More »