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Lessons from COVID-19
For most of us, March 13 marked the one-year anniversary of our worlds ceasing to operate normally. We remember institutions closing, schools shuttering, and that last day in the office. These pandemic times have compelled me to reflect, learn and remember. I was making ham biscuits for Easter when I heard Merle Haggard’s song, “Are […]
Better times ahead
Back in the early 1980s, a co-worker of mine and his wife became first-time homeowners. They felt pretty good about getting their new house and signing a mortgage note at a whopping 18% interest rate! By today’s standards, that’s pretty unthinkable. While much time has passed since those days, we’ve had only six new presidents […]
5 ways Va. can put people back to work and transform higher education
It’s tempting these days to believe that once COVID-19 is contained, the U.S. economy will bounce back quickly, replenishing jobs and incomes lost in the pandemic. Yet there are early warning signs that when the labor market fully reopens, some high-demand jobs may be hard to fill even with millions of Americans looking for work. […]
OurView: It’s time to speak up
Whenever there is injustice, business pays the price. Can you say his name? George Floyd. The Confederate generals have taken multiple beatings in Virginia and elsewhere. Is it time for their statues to be gone? The business community needs to say “yes,” if for no other reason than because it’s good business. Virginia Business would […]
Gov. Northam, sign the Virginia Values Act
As a business leader, I’ve seen firsthand how treating people with respect, dignity and fairness is a key to success. And as a lifelong Virginian, I know that achieving equality for all in the commonwealth has had a troubled history. That’s why I was personally moved to know our lawmakers passed the Virginia Values Act. […]
Should I bank online or in person?
The advancement of technology has changed the way consumers buy, sell and do most things — including how they bank. According to a GOBankingRates survey completed last year, 49 percent of respondents prefer in-person banking, while 51 percent favor a digital method (online or mobile). While some consumers do prefer one banking channel over the […]
The recession that wasn’t
What if they held a recession and no one showed up? Last summer, economic experts began ringing warning bells of an impending downturn, as evidenced by an inverted yield curve of short-term Treasury bills vs. long-term Treasury notes. And when one combined the inverted yield rate, said to be perhaps the most accurate predictor of […]
Realizing Dreams and Filling Jobs
This session, General Assembly members are considering a proposal that would help close the commonwealth’s skills gap by providing workforce scholarships to individuals without access to the community college education required to gain these skills. This proposal is a win-win-win: assisting students, growing businesses and developing our communities. We are describing Governor Ralph Northam&[...]
Do Virginians have more confidence in the housing market in 2020?
Are you thinking about making a move this year? Whether buying a first home, upgrading or downsizing, Virginians are entering 2020 with a positive outlook on the real estate market. According to a December 2019 real estate report by Roanoke College, almost 40% more respondents are positive about markets today compared to the same time […]
