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Donald Racey founded ENGAGE Energy & Industrial Consulting in 2015 and brings the unique ability to guide organizations through large-scale transformation and operational excellence initiatives. Don is the primary architect behind ENGAGE’s innovative project implementation approach, and he is a passionate advocate for socially conscious and sustainable business processes.
ENGAGE Energy & Industrial Consulting delivers and implements proven practical solutions to improve the financial and operational efficiency of energy and industrial organizations.
We are seasoned professionals dedicated to helping energy and industrial companies re-imagine ways to drive value and profitability. By providing deep industry perspective, insightful advice, and continuous support, Don and his team create value out of risk, and show you how to reduce costs, improve productivity and increase profits through our process.
In this episode Doin steps up to the One Mic Stand for a primer and resources on ESG. Key takeaways include:
Sustainability and environmental practices in the tech industry. (0:01) ESG reporting requirements for companies, with focus on small and mid-sized businesses. (7:31) ESG compliance and federal funding for Appalachian manufacturers. (11:45) ESG practices in business, including the importance of documenting and reporting progress. (16:46) Learn more at https://engageeic.com/.

Small business owners know better than anyone the importance of being flexible to meet the needs of their customers. Whether meeting with clients in the office or out in the field, working remotely, or-on-the go, constant connectivity and collaboration is more important than ever before. So, what does this mean for small businesses?  
 
Connections matter, but it’s not just about networking with the right people. Success depends on having the right technology that lets businesses seamlessly connect with customers, suppliers, and employees. 
  
To offer guidance to our local small businesses here in Pittsburgh this National Small Business Week (April 28 - May 4, 2024), Vedran Ruzic, Director, Comcast Business, Keystone, steps up to the One Mic Stand to detail  steps every small business owner should follow to ensure they are creating the right connections – and giving their business the best chance to succeed.
 
Want to learn more? Keep reading below!  
  
Step 1: Get Online 
The first step for most small businesses is to simply to set up an Internet connection. The specific connectivity needs—such as the amount of bandwidth or mobile solutions—will vary from business to business. For instance, a small office with a handful of employees likely has very different bandwidth and connection needs than a 100-seat restaurant with a state-of-the-art point-of-sale (POS) system and a robust Wi-Fi network for its patrons to peruse while dining.
  
Step 2: Add More Layers of Technology 
A speedy and reliable Internet connection can help support a broad range of powerful, business-grade technology tools that can give companies insights into how to run their business more efficiently. 
 
For example, a retailer might use Wi-Fi-enabled data analytics tools to understand customer foot traffic patterns in brick-and-mortar store locations. This can provide insights into peak traffic periods and areas of interest to consumers within the store while also enabling the retailer to make smarter decisions around everything from staffing to inventory management.
  
Step 3: Lock up Critical Data 
Data security should always be a top focus. After all, it’s not just big companies fraudsters are targeting. According to the 2023 Comcast Business Small Business Cybersecurity Report, the company blocked more than 390 million phishing attacks targeting small businesses in the second quarter of 2023.  
  
As a first line of defense, small businesses should make sure their Internet provider offers security solutions that help protect devices on the network from threats like malware, phishing scams, ransomware, and botnet attacks. And don’t forget about mobile devices and smartphones both of which can present a security risk that should be factored into the overall cybersecurity plan. 
 
Step 4: Leave Room for Growth 
As small businesses grow, expand, and enter new markets, they need a technology infrastructure that can keep pace. That’s why businesses need to ensure the technology they choose is flexible and compatible across multiple locations and can be monitored centrally. The right connectivity partner can help manage that growth, whether for a restaurant with multiple locations or a company with a broadly distributed workforce. 
 
Step 5: Select a Strong Mobile Phone Provider  
Choosing the best business mobile partner is different than selecting a personal mobile provider. The top factors small businesses should consider include: 
·       Flexibility: A good mobile provider offers flexibility in their plans, allowing small businesses to customize based on their business requirements. That flexibility should extend beyond the original purchase and scale and flex to toggle, mix, and match between unlimited or by-the-gig data options. Importantly, find providers that give more savings as the company grows, with discounts that increase as more lines are added.
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The TechVibe Neighborhood Tour (TNT) kicks off this Sunday (4/28) at the Huntington Bank in Sewickley! Our first guest is Sewickley-based CUSTOS IQ, an Offensive Cybersecurity organization, providing MSSP Services, Security Assessments, Large-Scale Data-Center Consulting and Market leading API Security Tools.
Tune in to learn how CUSTOS IQ's organization wide, forward defense philosophy is aimed at managing customer risk, proactively preventing intrusion, maximizing productivity and decreasing downtime. Plus learn how Huntington Bank has become a pillar in the Sewickley Valley.
The Sewickley TNT will feature CoSage on 5/5 and Sewickley Academy on 5/12, so keep tuning in!​

S&B USA boasts a 75-year history of successfully delivered heavy civil development and construction projects throughout the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. In the past decade, Its growth has allowed it to tackle bigger projects than ever before, and it is currently spearheading two Mega P3 projects: the largest bundled bridge project delivered under a P3 agreement (PennDOT Major Bridges) and the first green-financed, split delivery, large-scale flood protection resiliency P3 (Fargo-Moorhead Flood Diversion Channel).

S&B currently operates as the United States entity of its multi-domestic parent company, Shikun & Binui Ltd. With its Pittsburgh presence growing, Haggai Dror and Grant Irvine stepped up to the One Mic Stand to tell us more about S&B's growth and detail some of the amazing construction projects here in Pittsburgh and beyond.
Hear Haggai and Grant discuss:
Shikun & Binui's history, from infrastructure development in Israel to international expansion. (3:40) Infrastructure growth and projects in Pittsburgh. (11:43) Infrastructure upgrade, sustainability and technology adoption. (14:55) Infrastructure investment and safety upgrades for bridges and ports. (18:19) A significant flood diversion channel project in Fargo, North Dakota. (21:45)

PeopleOne Health aims to set a new standard in healthcare delivery that removes administrative waste and safeguards highly personalized doctor-patient relationships. It combines enhanced primary care, lifestyle coaching, pharmacy consultation and additional support to meet the majority of Americans' typical healthcare needs all for a single monthly fee and no out-of-pocket cost.
PeopleOne CEO and CoFounder Jordan Taradash steps up to the One Mic Stand to detail:
Disrupting healthcare with a direct pay model. (0:05) Revolutionizing healthcare with personalized, tech-enabled primary care. (5:08) Healthcare economics and self-insurance for employers. (8:36) Primary care health centers offering comprehensive care teams and proactive engagement. (11:53) Healthcare system, data analysis, and preventive care. (16:19) Jordan holds a BS in finance from The Pennsylvania State University, and a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from the University of Pittsburgh. His primary role is to drive a positively disruptive vision that meets the needs and goals of all of PeopleOne's stakeholders.
"There is a deep and rapidly transforming relationship between organizations and the people who power those organizations. We are here to maximize the value both parties realize in that relationship."

Cyburgh is set for May 1, convening top cybersecurity thought leaders and practitioners for a full day of mindsharing and know how.
Ethical Intruder Founder David Kane stops by TechVibe Radio this Sunday to preview Cyburgh and what's on tap for Pittsburgh's biggest cybersecurity event. David is one of the nation's recognized cybersecurity experts and provides key insights into local hiring trends across the the cybersecurity industry.
David says companies need to look at a candidate's passion and ethusiasm for problem solving and lifelong learning more than just being a perfect technical and experience fit.
So much to learn, so get your cyber geek on with us!