Initiatives, Inc.

Initiatives, Inc. Initiatives outsources business development services to companies and organizations wanting to expand or break into new markets. We pull rather than push.

Initiatives was established in 2005 in response to the growing need for strategic business development services for a variety of organizations. Unlike consulting firms that advise from the outside, Initiatives places a high emphasis on accountability and results by doing. We first understand our clients and then we integrate into their target markets so our clients understand them. Acquiring the r

ight talent with the ability to create a market strategy and successfully execute it remains problematic and out of reach for many organizations. Large corporations generally have the resources and expertise to hire, train, develop and retain top-level market research, sales and account teams to drive major sales and marketing projects. Initiatives provides that same level of expertise on an outsourced basis. We effectively call on “C-level” officers such as CEOs, COOs, CFOs and public officials. We ask the right questions and get the right answers from the right people. From that, we develop and execute market-based strategies that drive results. Outsourcing is commonly done in areas of accounting, human resources, legal counsel, engineering, and for a variety of other services. Initiatives takes the outsourcing concept a step further by providing strategic business development services that work. Over the years, we have proven ourselves by successfully serving private investors, large medium and small companies, unions, universities, and public/private partnerships.

More evidence we are now in a talent-driven economy..."These incentive programs mark a shift from an older economic-deve...
10/09/2021

More evidence we are now in a talent-driven economy...

"These incentive programs mark a shift from an older economic-development model: trying to persuade companies, rather than individuals, to relocate. In some cases, communities say they are hurting more for people than for jobs. They also hope an influx of skilled workers will make them look more appealing to large employers. It is also hard not to join the fray."



From Topeka to Bemidji, Minn., localities try to boost populations with offers of cash, free coffee and grandparent stand-ins. ‘They’re giving me $10,000.’

Initiatives, Inc. is proud to be a part of the Junction for Military/Civilian Innovation (JMCI) in Junction City, KS.A k...
09/23/2021

Initiatives, Inc. is proud to be a part of the Junction for Military/Civilian Innovation (JMCI) in Junction City, KS.

A key differentiator is the JMCI leverages artificial intelligence and machine learning technology to effectively transition ~2,500 exiting soldiers annually from Fort Riley into 21st century civilian jobs that will produce a new talent base serving Junction City, the State of Kansas, and the greater Midwest region.

Not only will this process provide an initial overview of the attributes and skills for soldiers coming out of Fort Riley, but it will provide personalized learning recommendations that lead to predictable career outcomes.

The purpose is to translate military backgrounds successfully into key, civilian roles, and to prevent highly qualified soldiers from being overlooked by conventional recruiting methods.

Junction City and a network of the largest regional employers join forces to match Fort Riley Soldiers-in-transition with civilian career paths JUNCTION CITY, KAN. (SEPTEMBER 23, 2021) — Active-duty service members at Fort Riley, Kansas—one of the largest U.S. military installations—will recei...

Canadian National is now outbidding Canadian Pacific's $25 billion bid for Kansas City Southern with a $30 billion bid. ...
04/21/2021

Canadian National is now outbidding Canadian Pacific's $25 billion bid for Kansas City Southern with a $30 billion bid. Canadian National's key assets are its ownership of a route that can bypass Chicago's congested rail network which can enhance rail competition overall and save days in travel time, and it also has a larger rail footprint with less rail overlap with KCS.

This article points out that while railroad valuations are high, they represent both a long-term opportunity for a scarce asset that cannot be replicated. "Their networks represent natural monopolies that are impossible to replicate. The industry’s cash cow, hauling coal from mines to power plants, has been dying for years, but the fight against global warming makes them an attractive option for inland transport in terms of energy efficiency compared with trucks."

Both companies would make Kansas City their U.S. headquarters.

A bidding duel for Kansas City Southern, possibly the only major U.S. railroad available, highlights the sector’s unique attractions.

The WSJ looked at 53 large metros over one million. Among the best, Kansas City MO/KS ranks #6. "Other cities that emer...
04/10/2021

The WSJ looked at 53 large metros over one million. Among the best, Kansas City MO/KS ranks #6.

"Other cities that emerged as beacons to job seekers and businesses during the pandemic were, like Salt Lake City, located far from the coasts. Hubs in the Southwest and Midwest such as Austin, Denver, Indianapolis and Kansas City minimized employment losses, kept unemployment relatively low and retained and attracted workers in a year when the U.S. lost more than 9 million jobs.”

“Some expect the top performers in 2020 to consolidate their gains. 'Coming out of the pandemic, and out of this recession, their edge is probably only going to get larger,' said Moody’s Analytics economist Adam Kamins. Moody’s Analytics provided data for The Wall Street Journal’s rankings.”

Hubs located far from the coasts emerged as beacons to job seekers and businesses during the pandemic.

The Feds are the largest employer in Kansas City, employing directly or through contracts, 41,500 people exceeding $3 bi...
04/07/2021

The Feds are the largest employer in Kansas City, employing directly or through contracts, 41,500 people exceeding $3 billion in payroll. Government lacks cutting edge tech talent, competing with the private sector, which pays more.

Major points of the WSJ article are:
· Government has to embrace AI for us to remain a world superpower
· AI is a set of skills and knowledge necessary across all applications and functions of government
· Lack of AI talent has led to a waste of money, lost time, lost opportunities for agencies

The Challenge:

· 4½ times of the government’s IT workers are over 60 as under 30. Most are contractors
· AI literacy is needed for decision makers in government, not just those close to the technology
· Before a graduate can get their first interview , they are hired in the private sector. It also takes ~12 to 18 months to be cleared

Potential Solutions:
· Create a National Reserve Digital Corps with private sector talent to work less than 40 days a year
· Offer a tuition-free, education with a five-year service obligation

How can we meet this need in our region?

Artificial intelligence can make the government more efficient and effective. But first, it has to hire the people who can make it all happen.

"Coming in at the top spot for the best city for remote work is Kansas City, MO. It scored well for both cost of living ...
04/02/2021

"Coming in at the top spot for the best city for remote work is Kansas City, MO. It scored well for both cost of living and average WiFi speed. In fact, according to our analysis, it has the fastest WiFi speeds in the country. That factor was weighted double in our study and made Kansas City stand out."

Remote work allows people to work from wherever they call home. We ranked the best cities for remote workers based on 5 factors.

It's coming folks. T-Mobile is prepping 85,000 cellular stations for 5G. Their plans include using it for connected ca...
03/24/2021

It's coming folks. T-Mobile is prepping 85,000 cellular stations for 5G. Their plans include using it for connected cars, factory machines and farm sensors.

They just launched a new product called WFX solutions. It allows their business customers to send workers a dedicated WiFi hot spot that connects home-bound workers over the air vs. cable networks.

Their broad network ranges from low-frequency airwaves suited for rural settings to ultrahigh-frequencies for cities that sandwich a midrange spectrum that balances high data speeds with geographic coverage.



Longtime tech boss Neville Ray’s responsibilities include prepping up to 85,000 cellular stations for faster cellular service.

"Canadian Pacific Railway’s proposed takeover of the Kansas City Southern railroad is a $29bn bet on smooth commerce bet...
03/23/2021

"Canadian Pacific Railway’s proposed takeover of the Kansas City Southern railroad is a $29bn bet on smooth commerce between Canada, the US and Mexico after the three countries replaced their contentious old trade pact with a new one."

Canadian Pacific Railway’s proposed takeover of the Kansas City Southern railroad is a $29bn bet on smooth commerce between Canada, the US and Mexico after the three countries replaced their contentious old trade pact with a new one.

"The combination, which faces a lengthy regulatory review, is a long-term wager on an interconnected North American econ...
03/22/2021

"The combination, which faces a lengthy regulatory review, is a long-term wager on an interconnected North American economy."

"The combined railway could reduce the need for trucks to link production sites and allow cargo to avoid congested California ports."

"Kansas City and Canadian Pacific currently have a single point where their two networks connect, in a Kansas City, MO facility they jointly operate. The merger could allow trains to interchange cars and potentially bypass Chicago, a busy and often congested hub in the U.S. freight system."

Canadian Pacific agreed to acquire Kansas City Southern in a merger valued at about $25 billion that would create the first freight-rail network linking Mexico, the U.S. and Canada.

Kansas City ranks #8 with 4.8% growth..."The analysis looks at migration patterns from April 2020 through February 2021...
03/18/2021

Kansas City ranks #8 with 4.8% growth...

"The analysis looks at migration patterns from April 2020 through February 2021, providing a snapshot of how Americans have adjusted to disruptions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

All of these top-10 cities share manageable housing prices, generally strong affordability and spacious geography. That sense of space became a huge asset in 2020, making it possible to get out and about even with all the health-related restrictions brought on by the pandemic.

Some heartland cities, such as Cleveland, Milwaukee and Kansas City, aren’t yet migration magnets, but the movement of people in and out of these cities in the past year has been much more favorable than in prior years.

Stephen Whitaker, a policy economist at the Cleveland Federal Reserve, recently analyzed urban migration trends using credit-card data. He found that dense city neighborhoods across the United States were losing out -- and a big drop in inflows was the primary reason. 'Hundreds of thousands of people who would have moved into an urban neighborhood in a typical year were unwilling or unable to do so in 2020,' he wrote."

Salt Lake City mayor Erin Mendenhall knows 2020 was a tough year for many people. So her recent State of the City speech touched on everything from the pandemic's burden to the need for better housing.

A quarter of the U.S. labor force is expected remain remote, with many more intending to work remotely a significant par...
03/07/2021

A quarter of the U.S. labor force is expected remain remote, with many more intending to work remotely a significant part of the time. It is providing a productivity boost to the U.S. economy as high as 2.5%. Major corporations are embracing remote work, saving money on office space, while having greater access to talent.

Over half of remote workers want significantly more affordable housing along with a lower cost of living and a higher quality of life, while not worrying about being tied to local wage rates.

“According to a recent survey by the San Francisco venture capitalist Kim-Mai Cutler of Initialized, the top location desired by companies in her firm’s high-tech portfolio is no longer the Bay Area but “in the cloud,” with teams and individual workers distributed remotely and among cities around the country.”

The economic multiplier effects from remote work means that each new work-from-home job leads to even more jobs in support services.

Smaller cities and communities are turning into “Zoom towns” and competing with coastal hubs as workers move to find more space and lower costs.

Home values have increased in the 100 largest metros in the country, but in some of the most affluent cities, San Jose; ...
03/07/2021

Home values have increased in the 100 largest metros in the country, but in some of the most affluent cities, San Jose; Seattle; New York; Boston; Austin; San Francisco; Washington, D.C.; Los Angeles; and Chicago, rent prices fell, and some sharply .



The reason? We have a lot of 30-year-olds who traditionally lived in major metropolitan city centers. They are now in their family formation years, making them prime homebuyers.

In America’s largest, richest cities, home prices and rents are going in opposite directions.

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11150 Overbrook Road
Leawood, KS
66211

Telephone

+19137098092

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