Latest news with #BrianLewis
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
2025 NBA Draft: Would the Nets be the perfect fit for Dylan Harper?
The Brooklyn Nets have some important decisions to make before the 2025 NBA Draft comes around in June and they will have to do something with their five draft picks. Brooklyn will have four picks in the first round, including the eighth overall pick, but it's fair to wonder if a certain Rutgers player would be perfect for the Nets if the team were to select him. Brian Lewis of the New York Post recently said on X to user "Aces" that Rutgers guard Dylan Harper would be the first player taken in most drafts outside of the upcoming 2025 edition. Lewis went on to say that Harper would be "perfect" for the Nets, according to the scouts that he has talked to thus far. In the upcoming Draft, Harper seems to be the consensus second player taken after Duke forward Cooper Flagg and it makes sense given how much hype precedes Flagg. Advertisement In his latest mock draft for Bleacher Report, Jonathan Wasserman projected Harper to be taken by the San Antonio Spurs with the second overall pick and one would be hard-pressed to find a mock draft that doesn't have Harper off the board by the time the third overall pick comes around. As this relates to the Nets, it's important to note that there are reports suggesting that Brooklyn could attempt to move up in the Draft. However, Lewis himself reiterated that multiple people believe that it's unlikely that the Nets would be able to get the No. 2 pick. Harper, 19, is coming off a freshman season at Rutgers in which he put himself firmly in the top-3 of the Draft after averaging 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 48.4% from the field and 33.3% from three-point land. Harper put forth that kind of production while playing alongside forward Ace Bailey, who is widely projected to be taken in the top-4 of June's Draft. While it's considered unlikely that the Nets would be able to get in position to take Harper in the Draft, if Brooklyn were able to get Harper somehow, it's easy to see why he would be perfect for a Nets team that is still looking for its point guard of the future. "The positional size, strength and length are obvious selling points and advantage creators for a ball-handler that can change directions and gears as well as Harper," Wasserman wrote. This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: 2025 NBA Draft: Would the Nets be the perfect fit for Dylan Harper?
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Nets may be able to pull off 2025 NBA Draft trade with the Rockets
Nets may be able to pull off 2025 NBA Draft trade with the Rockets The Brooklyn Nets have a number of matters to attend to ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft in June, especially with them having four picks in the first round. Brooklyn did not get the result they were hoping for in the Lottery as they ended up with the eighth overall pick, but it seems like there may be an opportunity for them to get another bite at the Lottery apple. Brian Lewis of the New York Post reported earlier this month that the prevailing belief from other teams is that the Nets could be trying to acquire another Lottery pick in this Draft. Lewis' reporting seemingly confirmed what NBA insider Jake Fischer reported in that Brooklyn was assumed to be a team looking to move up while Lewis left the door open for the Nets to potentially use forward Cam Johnson to get something else in the Draft. "So league sources expect the Rockets to look into trading this pick, whether it's a trade way up, a trade out for a star or a trade out for a group of future picks similar to what the Spurs received from the Timberwolves when Minnesota moved up for Rob Dillingham last year," Yahoo! Sports' Kevin O'Conner reported during his latest mock draft article. For those who need a refresher, the Minnesota Timberwolves traded first-round picks in 2030 and 2031 to the San Antonio Spurs on the night of the Draft in exchange for the right to draft Rob Dillingham with the eighth overall pick. If the Rockets were looking to trade back in the Draft or out of it completely, the Nets have the 19th, 26th, and 27th overall picks in this draft along with plenty of first-round picks to use in the next few years. While O'Connor's report could give Brooklyn the hope that they can acquire another first-round pick in the Lottery, it's fair to note that Houston could do a number of things with the 10th overall pick, including trading up in the draft or using it to get Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. Ironically, the last time the Nets and the Rockets did business together, it involved swapping picks to help each franchise get what they wanted.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Intellicheck Inc (IDN) Q1 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: Strong Recurring Revenue Growth Amid ...
Release Date: May 13, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Intellicheck Inc (NASDAQ:IDN) has significantly increased its recurring revenue stream from under $2 million to almost $20 million annually. The company is making progress in migrating clients from Azure to AWS, which is expected to result in cloud savings and improved data analytics. Intellicheck Inc (NASDAQ:IDN) is diversifying its client base beyond retail credit cards into sectors like retail banking, title insurance, auto, and logistics. The company has appointed Tim Poolin as Senior Vice President of Sales, who has a strong track record in driving revenue and fostering client relationships. Gross margins remain strong at around 90%, with an adjusted gross margin of 91.8% in Q1 2025, indicating scalability and efficiency. Retail revenue has decreased by 26% from Q1 2024, reflecting challenges in the retail sector. The company is still in the process of integrating new clients and systems, which can delay revenue realization. Economic conditions have led to a decrease in consumer confidence, impacting retail purchases. The company faces challenges in penetrating new markets and requires time to establish itself in sectors like logistics and background checks. There is a reliance on resellers for market penetration, which may limit direct control over sales processes and customer relationships. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 4 Warning Signs with BOM:500245. Q: How much of the title market does Intellicheck currently penetrate, and what is the potential for growth in this area? A: (Brian Lewis, CEO) Intellicheck currently has exposure to about 40% of the title market. The revenue from title insurance is up about 350% in Q1, split between direct large clients and smaller clients through resellers. The company is optimistic about further growth as they continue to integrate with large clients and expand through reseller partnerships. Q: Outside of credit cards, what are Intellicheck's next three largest verticals? A: (Brian Lewis, CEO) The next largest verticals are banking, auto, and age-restricted products. Revenue from retail banking has increased by about 50% compared to Q1 of last year, indicating significant growth in that sector. Q: What is the current exposure to retail, and how is it impacting Intellicheck's growth? A: (Brian Lewis, CEO) Retail exposure has decreased, with revenue from retail down 26% from Q1 of 2024. This decline is due to some customers going out of business and general retail challenges. However, the diversification into other markets has been beneficial, and the company is well-positioned to benefit from any economic turnaround. Q: What drove the increase in deferred revenue and fast RPOs in the recent quarter? A: (Brian Lewis, CEO) The increase is largely due to a shift in pricing models, where customers, particularly large banks, are signing multi-year contracts and paying upfront, either annually or quarterly. This change from billing in arrears to upfront payments has contributed to the increase. Q: Can you provide an update on the large social media customer and the regional bank's anticipated rollout? A: (Brian Lewis, CEO) The social media customer is satisfied with Intellicheck's services but has variable volume needs. The large regional bank has agreed to terms, and the company is currently going through procurement processes. The bank continues to use Intellicheck's services in the digital space, and an announcement will be made once the paperwork is finalized. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Sign in to access your portfolio
CBC
15-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Ontario's former chief economist on what's missing in Ford's 2025 budget
The Ontario government's 2025 budget includes a $14.6-billion deficit and $33 billion in planned infrastructure investment planned for the next fiscal year. Brian Lewis, Ontario's former chief economist, breaks down what's missing from Ford's budget and if it is possible for the PCs to achieve balance.
Forbes
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Why Culinary Labels Don't Easily Capture 3-Times James Beard Nominee Brian Lewis
Brian Lewis (left) at The Cottage Westport preparing a meal with sous chef Nick Guerra. EPG Creative Brian Lewis, a 2025 James Beard nominee for Best Chef Northeast for The Cottage restaurant he runs in Westport, Ct., says culinary labels often fall short of capturing the essence of his cooking style. He says Modern American doesn't quite apply, nor does New American and scoffs at Farm to Table, which has become a cliché. Finally, Lewis admits his style is 'European-based, a heartfelt expression of my cooking.' But a New York Times restaurant review back in April 2016 described Lewis' cooking at The Cottage as, 'While the menu may be a bit showoffish, the food itself, a patchwork of many cultures, is expertly prepared. We didn't have any disappointments, at either dinner or brunch.' Indeed Lewis is a three-time James Beard finalist since he was nominated for Best Chef Northeast in 2018 and again in 2022. Asked what being nominated a third time means to him, he says, 'I've been cooking since I was 14 and I'm 57-years-old now, and this award validates what I do, but I still feel as if I'm just getting started.' Indeed he runs 4 restaurants including 2 versions of The Cottage restaurant in Westport and Greenwich, Ct., and 2 of OKO, a Japanese eatery in Westport and Rye, N.Y. He says his cooking style relies on 'the very best seasonal ingredients, both hyper-local and supporting farmers across the country who I have worked with over the years.' A three-time James Beard nominee, Brian Lewis is known for his eclectic cooking style and making a name for himself in suburban communities in Connecticut and Westchester. Local Sourcing Works Regarding local sourcing, he collaborates with Susie Flores of Stonington Kep Company and Hunter Peterson of Saugatuck Oyster Company. He buys hyper-local clams, crab, eel, snails, sugar kelp. Some of his specialty dishes at The Cottage include: veal sweetbreads, which includes combining ingredients such as thyme, acorn, and milk (not a complete list); bread & butter de la mer, or house-made butter melting with shellfish; and millstone bacon & eggs, which pays homage to the classic bacon and egg flavor. Lewis has a strong culinary pedigree. He was raised in Somers, N.Y., played football, but an injury led him to work at Mona Trattoria, under chef Tom Elia, in Somers. Lewis started washing dishes but soon worked his way up the chef's ladder and took pride in preparing parmigiano Reggiano. Culinary Training Pays Off Studying at the Culinary Institute of America and at Johnson and Wales University in hospitality management sharpened his skills. At Johnson and Wales, he learned that 'While being the artist feeds your passion, being the art dealer feeds your freedom.' Then he became the executive chef at the Bedford Post Inn in Bedford, N.Y., which was co-owned by actor Richard Gere, his then wife actress Carey Lowell and their business partner. It was a breakfast and lunch spot serving hyper-local food at night, and he was involved 'from the ground up,' planning the restaurant and menu. Why the Suburbs Work For His Eateries Which led Lewis to open The Cottage at the end of 2015, having bought the space from chef Bill Taibe, who ran Le Farm in that space. Since he lived in Wilton, Ct., Westport was close by and could ensure him relying on the local farms and resources of Fairfield County. Westport also fit because it was a 'town with a clientele who would connect with my cooking and allow me the freedom to cook as if I were back in Manhattan.' He says people in Westport 'are not just looking for a meal but also a community.' He chose Greenwich, Ct. as the second location for The Cottage, rather than Boston, which had been considered, because it enabled him to stay close and local. Brian Lewis co-owns The Cottage and OKO with Full House Hospitality and his business partner Kirk Saari. OKO emerged from Lewis' love of Japanese culture and cuisine. Lewis admits that it was 'outside of his comfort zone,' but it has worked. OKO specializes in Japanese curated dishes such as nigiri sushi and temaki, and avoiding more Western-style maki rolls. The name of his Japanese eatery OKO is not an acronym but stems from his then 4-year-old twins Jude and Jax. Lewis was experimenting with a savory street food dish Okonomiyaki, which nearly everyone had a hard time pronouncing. But one day, while playing, his sons exclaimed OKO and the name stuck. The average dinner check at The Cottage is $75 per guest, and the target audience is guests from 30 years to 75 years, with a recent influx of 20-something guests, mostly post-Covid families who relocated from NYC, date nights and foodies. The Cottage Westport serves 54 people, and Cottage Greenwich, 62 total. He has a staff of 105 employees working at its 4 eateries. But Lewis isn't done yet. He's at the outset of devising a third brand, to be located likely in Darien, Ct, or 'up Route 95,' he says, with a menu that is being developed. If he were to win the James Beard Award in his third attempt, he says, 'It would bring me to tears. I'd be beyond grateful, and it would give us the greenlight to just keep going.'
