Think Consulting

MLB All-Star Game Impact This week, Major League Baseball’s “Midsummer Classic” takes place in Arlington, Texas at the home of the Texas Rangers. The game has grown into a multi-day event, tonight is the much-anticipated Home Run Derby. For baseball fans, it is a “must watch” event! To the teams that will compete in the game, the outcome is meaningless other than bragging rights, it is simply an exhibition game. However, regardless of which team wins, the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) surely will be the BIG winner! The economic impact of hosting a major sporting event is significant, even more when it is a global event like the MLB All-Star game. The Fort Worth Report estimates the direct and indirect economic impact at $85 million! Thousands of fans will travel to the local area, patronizing area hotels, restaurants, retailers, and transportation services. Additionally, the economic impact can have a lasting effect long after the game is over. The broadcast of the game will provide national and global exposure which can attract attention from tourists, investors, and businesses and help showcase the local culture, which leaves a lasting impression. So, even though the game has yet to be played, the BIG winner has already been determined! Play Ball! https://lnkd.in/eFUp3aEN #CommunityImpact #SportsEconomics #EconomicImpact #RegionalEconomy #MLBAllStarGame 

Think – A CMS Focused Business to Know Recently, OrangeSlices AI included Think in their article “CMS focused small businesses to know”. The article spotlighted businesses that were the most viewed on their partner platform. The article states, “These businesses are winning, growing, and driving some of the key missions of Federal agencies, and are among those to watch as you consider potential vendors, partners, and employers, in the months and years ahead.”  At Think, we are incredibly proud of the impactful work we are doing for CMS. We are honored to support CMS in their vital efforts to improve health outcomes and enhance the well-being of communities across the nation. Together, we are making a difference, and we remain committed to continuing our support and collaboration to achieve even greater results in the future. Think's John Harkins, Sr. Strategic Director of Growth, commented on our work, “Supporting Centers for Medicaid and Medicare is not just about healthcare, it’s about upholding our responsibility to ensure the well-being of our community. It’s about recognizing that everyone deserves access to quality healthcare. It’s about empathy, compassion, and the fundamental belief in human dignity.” Thank you to Orange Slices for including us in the article: https://lnkd.in/eMnZ86Nj https://lnkd.in/guX_5JDA #FedHealth #CMS #ThinkDifferently 

Think Welcomes Grace Epperson to the Team!     Think is proud to announce Grace Epperson has joined our team as an Executive Advisor. In her role at Think, Grace will work with clients to enable successful marketing programs, maximize ROI, and drive organizational success by bringing people, processes, data, and technology together.     Grace brings over 25 years of experience, having served as a Chief Analytics Officer for a business services firm supporting dozens of publishing affiliates. During her tenure, she built the data analytics function for a global organization that exceeded $1B in annual revenue, leading a large team of data scientists, architects, engineers, developers, BI analysts, and customer success partners who supported 700+ users with data services, self-service analytics, on-demand dashboards and reporting, predictive analytics, and custom analyses.    In addition, Grace has served as a VP, Client Partner for Fortune 100 companies, maximizing the use and value of customer data platforms, as well as serving as a Chief Operating Officer for a large publication.     In client engagements, Grace applies her deep understanding of digital direct marketing, information publishing, and data analytics to help her clients solve problems and meet their objectives. Her areas of expertise include optimizing marketing performance, audience segmentation, analyzing customer journeys, strategic testing, predictive modeling, data visualization, and reporting.    In her free time, Grace enjoys spending time with her husband Leroy, and their two daughters. She loves volleyball, traveling, ethnic foods, online shopping, board games, and staycations with friends and family. In addition, Grace volunteers with The Tyanna Foundation.     Are you looking for ways to maximize your marketing data to make confident decisions that grow your business? To start the conversation with Grace and the Think Team, contact us here: https://lnkd.in/ejwMR8UB     #Marketing #ROI #DataAnalytics #DigitalDirectMarketing #OptimizingMarketPerformance #AudienceSegmentation #AnalyzingCustomerJourneys #StrategicTesting #PredictiveModeling #DataVisualization #Reporting #RevenueGrowth #Productivity #Optimization #Innovation  

Happy 4th of July! Independence Day, known in the US as the 4th of July, is the day that commemorates the ratification of the Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, which established the United States of America. Today marks the United States 248th birthday! From all of us on the Think Team, best wishes for a Happy and Safe 4th of July! #Happy4thOfJuly #IndependenceDay #USA #RedWhiteAndBlue #StarsAndStripes #Independence #Freedom #Liberty #LandOfTheFree #HomeOfTheBrave 

Happy Canada Day! Today our clients, partners, and friends from north of our border are celebrating Canada Day! It is a celebration of the anniversary of the Canadian Confederation that occurred on July 1, 1867, where 3 separate colonies were united into a single dominion called Canada! Wishing everyone a Happy Canada Day filled with fun, happiness, and cheer! #HappyCanadaDay 🍁

Work-Life Balance Friday Happy Friday! Our effort to promote a healthy Work-Life balance continues with another expert suggestion to help with destressing after work hours and on weekends. This week’s tip comes from @Calm Limit Screen Time Intentionally limiting screen time can improve mental health, productivity, and overall well-being. Four simple ways to limit your screen time are: Turn Off Notifications: Disable non-essential notifications to reduce the temptation to check your device frequently. Set Up No-Screen Zones: Designate certain areas of your home, like the bedroom or dining room, as no-screen zones to encourage more face-to-face interactions and better sleep habits. Create a Schedule: Allocate specific times for screen use, such as checking emails in the morning and evening, and limit recreational screen time to certain hours. Engage in Screen-Free Activities: Find hobbies and activities that don’t involve screens, such as reading physical books, exercising, cooking, or spending time outdoors. By implementing these strategies, you can create healthier screen habits and improve your overall well-being. #WorkLifeBalance #WorkLifeHarmony #PrioritizeBalance #FamilyAndFriends #ReduceScreenTime #Disconnect  

[Article] The new deal gives Think Consulting access to companies in Europe, Japan and Australia. #consulting #projectmanagement #maryland

Microsoft’s AI for Desktop Scanning: Convenience or Privacy Invasion? Microsoft has introduced an AI feature designed to capture images of users’ desktops to help locate old or misplaced files. This AI scans the desktop, recognizing file types and their locations to assist in decluttering and enhancing digital organization. While this can streamline file management and improve productivity by identifying duplicates and suggesting files for deletion, it also raises privacy concerns. Users might unknowingly expose sensitive information, such as personal documents or confidential work files, to the AI system, potentially leading to unintended data exposure. Despite Microsoft’s assurances that data collected by this feature is encrypted and used only to improve user experience, the practice highlights the delicate balance between convenience and privacy. Users should remain vigilant, reviewing permissions and utilizing security features to protect their data. It is crucial for technology providers to maintain transparency and consider offering clear opt-out options, ensuring that user consent and privacy are prioritized alongside technological advancements. Sometimes large companies push the boundaries on what is done with user data and what is deemed acceptable, so it’s always best for end users to err on the side of caution with these new, untested features. #TechPrivacy #DataSecurity #DigitalPrivacy #TechEthics 

Conversational, Generative AI at Home Last week, Reuters was first to publish an article detailing that Amazon is considering charging a monthly fee, possibly tiered, for a revamped version of their Alexa service that will include a conversational generative AI component. The article stated that this will be the first major overhaul of the technology since its introduction in 2014. The updated, “more intelligent and capable” version is being called “Remarkable Alexa”. The original “Classic Alexa” is currently free, but Amazon is considering charging a monthly fee between $5 to $10 for the updated version. As companies continue to develop AI platforms and products, their capabilities and “learning” functions will continue to increase. Consumers will need to weigh the pros and cons of this advancing technology when integrating into their everyday lives. Integrated AI components can complete some household tasks and provide information however, privacy concerns may arise as well when advanced generative AI is constantly monitoring end users’ conversations. Is this new technology for you? Are you interested in integrating a conversational, generative AI product in your home? Would you upgrade if you had to pay? #AI #ConversationalAI #GenerativeAI #FutureTech #PersonalAI https://lnkd.in/eMGyz32e

Port of Baltimore Recovery    Recently, Maryland Governor Wes Moore announced the full reopening of the Port of Baltimore, marking a significant milestone in Baltimore’s economic recovery. Since the collapse of the Key Bridge on March 26th, the economy has faced significant disruptions, costing an estimated $1.2 billion. The port’s reopening signifies hope to regain and even surpass previous economic momentum.    With estimated revenue of $192 million daily, or $70 billion annually, the economic impact of the port is roughly 13% of Maryland’s Gross Domestic Product. The ripple effect of this reopening will be felt across various sectors, from trade and commerce to job creation and infrastructure development.    This moment marks not only a return to operations but a significant step toward economic growth. The increased port activities aim to create jobs, enhance their logistics infrastructure, and offer new business opportunities, particularly for local Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) businesses.    Although it will be many years before the bridge can be replaced, the Port of Baltimore is back in business and the future looks bright!     🚗 #KeyBridge #Growth #Economy #Baltimore #Trade #Commerce #Development Photo Credit: Jim Watson / AFP - Getty Images file