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Michael Wahlstrom with UnitedHealthcare talks about the Surest Health Plan and the importance of making health insurance easier to understand .

 

Attorney General Chris Carr, along with a bipartisan coalition of 50 other attorneys general, issued the following joint statement condemning political violence in response to today’s election:

“Regardless of the outcome of Tuesday’s election, we expect that Americans will respond peacefully and we condemn any acts of violence related to the results. A peaceful transfer of power is the highest testament to the rule of law, a tradition that stands at the heart of our nation’s stability. As Attorneys General, we affirm our commitment to protect our communities and uphold the democratic principles we serve. 

“We call upon every American to vote, participate in civil discourse and, above all, respect the integrity of the democratic process. Let us come together after this election not divided by outcomes but united in our shared commitment to the rule of law and safety of all Americans. Violence has no place in the democratic process; we will exercise our authority to enforce the law against any illegal acts that threaten it.”

Participating States and Territories 

Alabama, Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, U.S. Virgin Islands, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming

President Trump Wins!

Republicans Sweep the US Elections While Democrat polling companies predicted Kamala Harris was the favorite and would win last night’s Presidential election, Americans turned up in force to reject her and her party. Donald K Trump won the US Presidential Election in what could be termed a landslide, as the Republicans swept the House and…

Top Trending Stocks Today

Top Trending Stocks to Assess With the big Trump Presidency win crystalized today, we see a big shift in US companies and especially small US companies. The Russell 2000 for instance, for small caps, is up an incredible 6.3%. The anticipation of lower interest rates (sketchy forecast) has driven some enthusiasm for small business. And…

CEOs are facing mounting pressure to deliver—or increasingly risk being shown the door. The correlation is growing between total shareholder returns (TSR) and CEOs staying on the job: 42% of S&P 500 companies that changed CEOs in 2024 had a TSR that fell below the 25th percentile, indicating low performance. This share marks a steady increase from 30% in 2017.

That is according to a new report by The Conference Board, ESGAUGE, Heidrick & Struggles, and Semler Brossy. The study examines several aspects of CEO succession, including a gender analysis: While the share of women CEOs has grown, the vast majority (69%) of incoming female CEOs are being hired by smaller firms with less than $5 billion in revenue. Only one appointment was made at a company with over $25 billion in revenue.

The study also reveals that CEOs are staying in their roles longer. For example, succession rates for those aged 64 and older dropped by 8% in 2024. “The fact that CEOs are staying longer may point to a ‘retirement cliff’ on the horizon. Boards need to refine their succession strategies to ensure they’re prepared for a potential wave of leadership transitions in the near future,” said Matteo Tonello, coauthor of the report and Head of TCB Benchmarking and Analytics at The Conference Board.

Additional findings include:

CEO Succession and Firm Performance

There’s a growing link between total shareholder returns and whether CEOs are shown the door:

• S&P 500: 42% of companies that changed CEOs in 2024 had a TSR that fell below the 25th percentile, indicating low firm performance. This share has steadily increased from 30% in 2017. 

• Russell 3000: Nearly half (45%) of companies that changed CEOs had a TSR below the 25th percentile, increasing from 29% in 2017.

• Increased pressure on underperforming CEOs: “The gap in succession rates between low- and high-performing companies has widened significantly. It’s a clear signal to CEOs: Deliver value or face heightened scrutiny. However, boards should be cautious about overemphasizing short-term results at the expense of long-term strategy and sustainability,” said Lyndon Taylor, Partner at Heidrick & Struggles.

Women CEOs

The number of female CEOs has steadily risen in recent years, but significant progress remains:

• S&P 500: Women held 10% of CEO positions in 2024, a 4-percentage-point increase since 2018.

• Russell 3000: Women held 8% of CEO positions, a 3-percentage-point increase since 2018.

• Despite gains, more work to be done: “To truly move the needle, larger firms should consider examining their talent pipelines and succession planning processes. The rapid increase of women on boards shows more change is possible,” said Blair Jones, coauthor of the report and Managing Director at Semler Brossy.

Internal vs. External CEO Hires

Companies continue to favor internal promotions for CEO openings:

• S&P 500: 77% of new CEOs were internal hires in 2024.

• Russell 3000: 59% were internal hires.

• In-house experience remains valuable: “Internal candidates are often favored due to their extensive institutional knowledge and understanding of company culture. Yet, our research shows that firms facing performance declines tend to recruit externally, likely because their new insights can catalyze transformation,” said Jason Schloetzer, coauthor of the report and professor at Georgetown University.

It pays to stay put: At larger companies, nearly 30% of incoming CEOs have 20+ years at the company:

• S&P 500: The share of incoming “insider” CEOs with +20 years of tenure-in-company is 27% in 2024, up from 18% in 2022. Average tenure of incoming internal CEOs is 17 years.

• Russell 3000: Average tenure is 10 years.

Incoming CEOs are paid less than externally hired ones:

• S&P 500 and Russell 3000: On average, externally hired CEOs were paid 33% more than internal CEOs in 2023.

• External hires need more incentives: “Internal candidates are often new to the job, and their long-term incentive plan tends to increase their pay as they gain skills in the role. Moreover, internal candidates have already accumulated equity in the company, whereas outside hires need upfront grants to replace the equity from their prior job,” said Umesh Tiwari, Executive Director of ESGAUGE.

Note: Findings are based on proxy statements by Russell 3000 and S&P 500 companies up to October 20, 2024.

 

The Kennesaw State Department of Athletics is proud to announce the upcoming induction of three members for the Hall of Fame Class of 2024. This year’s class is comprised of Chandler Burks, Max Pentecost and Mike Sansing. Two female athletes were also voted into the Hall of Fame, but have deferred their induction until next year’s ceremony, and they will be announced when the full 2025 class is revealed. 
 
“We are proud to announce the addition of these three outstanding individuals to our Hall of Fame for everything they have accomplished and contributed to Kennesaw State Athletics,” said Director of Athletics Milton Overton. “This group is especially notable for including those who helped bridge our jump into Division I, inductees who reached the NCAA Tournament, and our first-ever representation by our football program.”
 
The ceremony will take place on the evening of Friday, Nov. 15 at the NorthStar Church in Kennesaw, and the class will be introduced during the Nov. 16 football game against Sam Houston.
 
Chandler Burks will be the inaugural member of the KSU football program to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. As Kennesaw State’s first-ever football signee, Burks helped build the foundation of the Kennesaw State program during his five years on campus (2013-18). As the most decorated player in program history, he was the FCS’ leader in rushing touchdowns with 29 scores in 2018, which was a new FCS single-season record by a quarterback, and went on to be named the 2018 FCS National Performer of the Year at the College Football Performance Awards and finished runner-up for the Walter Payton Award as the top offense player at the FCS level. Burks led the Owls to the FCS Quarterfinals for the second-straight season. During his three-plus seasons as the signal caller for the Owls, he threw for 3,638 yards and 33 touchdowns, which tops the Kennesaw State record book. He also finished his career with 2,813 rushing yards and 56 rushing touchdowns, played in 42 career contests, and had an astounding 31-6 record as the starting quarterback. As the back-to-back Big South Offensive Player of the Year, Burks goes down as the only player in conference history to also win the Big South Scholar-Athlete of the Year award in the same season, doing so in 2017 and 2018. Currently, he is the co-offensive coordinator for Kennesaw State and is tied for the youngest offensive coordinator at the FBS level.a

Max Pentecost was the highest-ever MLB draft pick out of Kennesaw State, as he was the 11^th overall pick of the 2014 draft by the Toronto Blue Jays. But Pentecost was making history before that, as he led the Owls to a historic run to the NCAA Super Regionals in the 2014 NCAA Tournament after winning its first-ever regional final by knocking off Alabama twice in the Tallahassee Regional. A consensus First-Team All-American (American Baseball Coaches Association, Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball, National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, Perfect Game), he was the Johnny Bench Award Winner in 2014 after setting new school records for hits (113) and batting average (.422). He led the Owls to a school-record 40-win season in 2014 (40-24), and was named 2014 Atlantic Sun Player. Currently, he ranks first on the KSU record charts for career doubles (53) and most caught runners (22), second for most RBI in a season with 61 and fifth in all-time batting average (.343).

Mike Sansing is the winningest and longest-tenured head coach in Kennesaw State Athletics history. He retired after the 2021 baseball season with a 1056-638 overall record. In his 30 years with the Owls, he led them to seven national tournaments, the school’s first-ever appearance in the 2014 NCAA Super Regionals after winning the Tallahassee Regional thanks to back-to-back wins over Alabama. Sansing also guided the Owls to the 1996 NCAA Division II national title as well as the 1994 NAIA championship title. He served as head coach during KSU’s move from NAIA to Division II to Division I, and during the four-year reclassification period in which the Owls were not eligible for NCAA tournament play, he still guided KSU to 116 wins, a pair of second-place conference finishes and saw eight players selected in the MLB Draft. In all, 66 of Sansing’s players have been drafted by MLB including first-rounder Max Pentecost.

Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) today announced the appointment of Joseph H. Carpenter IV as Vice President Law. Carpenter brings more than 22 years of experience in the rail industry, with expertise in managing complex litigation and driving strategic legal initiatives.

Reporting to Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer Jason Morris, Carpenter will lead the company’s law department, guiding legal efforts, advancing regulatory initiatives, and supporting Norfolk Southern’s long-term strategy.

“Joe Carpenter is a trusted leader with a deep understanding of Norfolk Southern, the rail industry, and the law,” Morris said. “His integrity, strategic insight, and collaborative leadership style make him an excellent choice for this crucial role. His expertise will help us navigate the opportunities and challenges ahead as we continue delivering value for our customers and communities.”

Carpenter joined Norfolk Southern in 2002, holding positions of increasing responsibility throughout his career. Most recently, he has served as Norfolk Southern’s Senior General Counsel Complex Litigation and Information Governance. His experience spans many significant incidents and regulatory challenges, as well as leadership in corporate litigation and transactional matters.

Carpenter is a graduate of Washington and Lee University School of Law, where he earned his Juris Doctor, and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Economics from Roanoke College. He serves on the Executive Committee of the National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel as well as the Executive Committee of the Roanoke College Board of Trustees.

 

The Georgia Hospital Association (GHA) is pleased to share that 14 CEOs from GHA-member hospitals, as well as GHA President and CEO Caylee Noggle, were included on Georgia Trend’s “GEORGIA 500” list of the state’s most influential leaders: 

• Chris Dorman, President and CEO, Southwell – Tifton

• Delvecchio Finley, President and CEO, Atrium Health Navicent – Macon

• John Haupert, President and CEO, Grady Health System – Atlanta

• Paul Hinchey, President and CEO, St. Joseph’s/Candler – Savannah

• Loy Howard, President and CEO, Tanner Health System – Carrollton

• Donna Hyland, President and CEO, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta – Atlanta

• Joon Lee, CEO, Emory Healthcare – Atlanta

• Jeff Myers, President and CEO, Hamilton Health Care System – Dalton

• Caylee Noggle, President and CEO, Georgia Hospital Association – Atlanta

• Bob Quattrocchi, President and CEO, Northside Hospital Health System – Sandy Springs

• Scott Raynes, President and CEO, Southeast Georgia Health System – Brunswick

• Candice Saunders, President and CEO, Wellstar Health System – Marietta

• Scott Steiner, President and CEO, Phoebe Putney Health System – Albany

• Kurt Stuenkel, President, Atrium Health Floyd – Rome

• Jonathan Watkins, President, City of Hope Cancer Center Atlanta – Atlanta

Recognized for their far-reaching impact on the state and its citizens, these leaders play a vital role in the health and wellbeing of their patients and communities. 

“It’s an honor, not only to be included on this list, but to also share this recognition with so many other exceptional leaders in the healthcare field across the state,” said GHA President and CEO Caylee Noggle. “I’m privileged to work on their behalf and on behalf of a healthier Georgia every day.” 

“Congratulations to each of these extraordinary leaders on this recognition,” said GHA Board Chair Mary Chatman. “They are difference-makers in the healthcare field, and we are grateful for their never-ending efforts to improve healthcare and ensure Georgia’s citizens can get the care they need. GHA is proud to partner with each of them as we continually work to advance healthcare in our state.”

Georgia Trend publishes its list of the most influential leaders annually and recognizes leaders from a variety of fields, including healthcare, agribusiness, education, the arts, communication, real estate, and transportation.

 

We’re excited to bring you more powerful features to help you make smarter real estate investment decisions with Mashvisor’s latest updates. The first part of In the Spotlight showcased filters…