Stacey Browning

More on our great conversation yesterday with our very own @Kris Gfell, AAIM's HR Business Manager based in Indianapolis, IN. Experience is the bedrock of effective HR, shaping communication and facilitating the evolution from functional role to strategic business partner. Deep experience provides context, foresight, and a nuanced understanding of organizational dynamics. This enables HR professionals to anticipate challenges, tailor communication strategies, and drive alignment between talent management and business goals. The best way to gain this experience? Dive into your business operations and learn all you can!

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Recently, IL Senator Tammy Duckworth spoke to the local business community in downtown Chicago, interviewed by a Crain's Chicago Business journalist. It was a pleasure to be in the room and hear her perspective on the opportunities and risks that face our local business community. My greatest takeaway from her insight is that Chicago is still thriving, but there are potential economic headwinds ahead. Unsurprisingly, the unpredictability of tariffs seems to make it impossible for business to make long-term decisions and have any great deal of certainty about the future. From a healthcare perspective, we’ve got to get ahead of potential closures of rural health providers that are set to be negatively impacted by recent legislation. This will impact employer-sponsored health plans and employee’s access to quality care. Proactive risk mitigation and healthcare management should be more top of mind than ever for businesses as we continue to venture into uncertain times.

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A few standout insights from Laurie Harbour in Milwaukee Business Journal on the manufacturing outlook: • Tariffs remain a factor (“More to come — they’re not going away”) • AI adoption is cautious, not disruptive — yet • Capital investment may return if volume picks up Manufacturers may still be guarded, but it sounds like many are finally ready to move from waiting to acting.

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Harry Hanelt, This session should be a powerful learning opportunity to manage AI as a true force-multiplier for finance.

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As employees return to the office and workplace norms continue to evolve, many employers are reassessing dress code policies. Speaking with the Indianapolis Business Journal, associate Colleen Schade (Naumovich) noted that political messages on clothing have come up for some clients. “That has come up with some frequency, and I always approach that with some caution,” Schade said. “There are some restrictions about what employers can prohibit — and oftentimes political things are related to workplace concerns, but not always." More: https://lnkd.in/gyU76XgU #EmploymentLaw

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A few standout insights from Laurie Harbour in Milwaukee Business Journal on the manufacturing outlook: • Tariffs remain a factor (“More to come — they’re not going away”) • AI adoption is cautious, not disruptive — yet • Capital investment may return if volume picks up Manufacturers may still be guarded, but it sounds like many are finally ready to move from waiting to acting.

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