Latest news with #PowerMoves
Technical.ly
6 days ago
- Business
- Technical.ly
Robotics company Sojo Industries expands presence in PA with new production site
Power Moves is a recurring series where we chart the comings and goings of talent across the region. Got a new hire, gig or promotion? Email us at philly@ Several Southeastern Pennsylvania companies made mid-summer announcements about changes to their physical presence in the region. One of the bigger moves: Robotics company Sojo Industries is opening a new, 215k-sq.-ft. production facility in Langhorne Pennsylvania. And Ben Franklin Technology Partners is shifting its HQ from longtime home the Navy Yard to a new space in Center City. Plus, the University City Science Center announced its annual Nucleus Awards recipients, who will be honored this fall. Check out all the details and more power moves below the chart, where we look at the top 10 desirable skills for jobs right now and how many job postings request each skill. Sojo Industries expands PA footprint with new production facility Robotics company Sojo Industries announced the opening of a new production facility in Langhorne Pennsylvania. The 215,000-square-foot space will store products, put together product variety packs and assemble Sojo Flight 'rovers,' which are robotic platform conveyors that Sojo sends out to third-party facilities. The space will also be home to the company's customer success, product management and commercial departments. The company also has production facilities across the country in Texas, Indiana and California. This new space triples its footprint in Pennsylvania, as its headquarters is based in Bristol, PA. 'We're committed to growing here and we're also investing in the local economy by adding jobs in assembly, shipping and receiving, and automation technology,' founder and CEO Barak Bar-Cohen told 'This facility deepens our roots in Pennsylvania and reinforces our commitment to making it a long-term hub for our operations, innovation, and customer partnerships.' The four year old company has raised about $63 million to date, including a $40 million Series B earlier this summer. Ben Franklin Technology Partners leaving the Navy Yard after 25 years Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania will be moving this winter from its longtime office at the Navy Yard to a new space in Center City. The original vision for BFTP's Navy Yard space was to build an innovation hub for local companies, Scott Nissenbaum, president and CEO of Ben Franklin, told But the building didn't have much functional space to host those activities. The location was also inconvenient for a lot of the founders BFTP works with. The Navy Yard is difficult to access by public transportation and generally far from the action of the rest of the startup community, he said. BFTP's new office at 1600 Market Street is a more central location and has plenty of space to host, including a large classroom and board room. BFTP is hoping to expand programming for founders and invite more partners to come visit, Nissenbaum said. 'The goal would be to help reinforce the collaboration, the meeting and convening,' he said. The Navy Yard has been in the spotlight over the last few years as more development plans are announced, including millions of dollars invested from the state to expand manufacturing capabilities. 'What they're building down there, it can easily become a city within a city,' Nissenbaum said. 'But it wasn't about startups. The startup community from the Science Center down Market Street. There's much more activity there.' University City Science Center announces 2025 Nucleus Award Winners University City Science Center selected the four winners of its annual Nucleus Awards, recognizing leaders in Philly's innovation ecosystem. Nicholas A. Siciliano, CEO and cofounder of Vittoria Biotherapeutics, won the commercialization award. Investment firm 1315 Capital will take home the capital award. The cultivator award goes to Steven Hess, data analytics manager for PECO. The winner of this year's convener award is Donna Frisby-Greenwood, SVP of Philadelphia scientific advancement at Pew Charitable Trusts. 'Our 2025 Nucleus honorees are driving real change – bringing groundbreaking technologies to market, fueling investment, building and convening communities, and preparing the next generation of STEM leaders,' Tiffany Wilson, President and CEO of the Science Center, said. 'Their work reflects the values at the heart of the Science Center: innovation and impact.' More Power Moves: Biotech company Radiant Biotherapeutics announced Deborah Geraghty as its new CEO and president. The company is headquartered in both Chester County and Toronto. Serpent Robotics, which is developing a robotic system to assist tree cutters, was the overall winner of the Pennovation Accelerator's annual pitch day. Earable Intelligence, which is developing a wearable device that can detect seizures, won best pitch. Venture studio United Effects Ventures announced Paula Fontana as its new chief marketing officer. Global financial services company SEI chose Amy Sliwinski as the company's new executive vice president and chief people officer. Laurel Miller is the new executive director of Temple University's Institute of Business and Information Technology, taking over from founding executive director Munir Mandviwalla. Malvern-based marketing-as-a-service firm 2X appointed Amber Tobias as SVP of Corporate Development. The Science Center announced four new board members, Joseph G. Cacchione, Edward A. Chiosso, Anthony Lowman and Carol Lee Mitchell. The org's busy summer also includes partnerships with Oribiotech, bioMerieux and Pristinology to provide youth micro internships through its FirstHand educational program. Gene therapy company GemmaBio Therapeutics is partnering with the Department of Health in Abu Dhabi to establish manufacturing and research centers in the Middle East. The Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia selected Christopher Franklin as the new chair of its board of directors.
Technical.ly
7 days ago
- Business
- Technical.ly
Carnegie Mellon names interim leaders for renowned startup and tech research centers
Power Moves is a recurring series where we chart the comings and goings of talent across the region. Got a new hire, gig or promotion? Email us at pittsburgh@ Carnegie Mellon University is entering a new chapter in its efforts to support entrepreneurship and innovation. The university is searching for new leadership at two of its prominent centers — the Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship and the Block Center for Technology and Society — following the departures of both founding directors in recent weeks. Meanwhile, local startup founders are being recognized for their work. Duolingo CEO Luis von Ahn has joined the board of design platform giant Figma and Krystal Biotech cofounder Suma Krishnan earned a spot on Forbes' 50 Over 50 list. Read on below the chart for the latest updates on who's stepping up in Pittsburgh's innovation ecosystem. [Graph] Leadership changes at CMU's entrepreneurship and tech centers Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) is undergoing two major leadership transitions that could influence its approach to entrepreneurship and innovation moving forward. In late June, Dave Mawhinney, founding executive director of CMU's Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, announced he was stepping down from the role and returning to CMU faculty as a professor of entrepreneurship. While the university conducts a national search for his successor, Meredith Grelli, director of CMU's Project Olympus Incubator Program, will serve as interim director. Launched in 2016, the Swartz Center supports entrepreneurship education and CMU startups through initiatives like the Tartan Entrepreneurs Fund and the Venture Bridge pre-seed accelerator, among others. 'What [Dave] has done to elevate and expand entrepreneurship at CMU is remarkable,' said Jim Swartz, founder of the global venture capital firm Accel, whose $31M a decade ago made the center possible. 'He built a center, and a community, that is vibrant, forward-looking and committed to real impact. I'm proud of what we've accomplished together, and grateful to Dave for leading and shaping the center's success over the years. Without question, Dave Mawhinney has personally changed the importance and trajectory of entrepreneurship at CMU forever.' Just a few weeks later, Ramayya Krishnan, founding faculty director of CMU's Block Center for Technology and Society, also announced he would step down in July. After five years leading the center's research on policy for emerging technologies, Krishnan will stay involved with many of its initiatives. In the interim, Kirsten Martin, Dean of the Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy, will take over as faculty director. 'The Block Center has always been about turning research into impact,' said Keith Block, founding donor of the Block Center. 'Professor Ramayya Krishnan brought that vision to life with integrity and purpose —building a center that is helping shape how we think about the future of work, technology,and society. I'm grateful for his leadership and look forward to what's ahead under Dean Martin's direction.' Duolingo CEO joins board of design platform Figma Duolingo's CEO Luis von Ahn joined the board of design software company Figma in July, shortly before it debuted on the stock market. When Figma announced Ahn's appointment, the company credited him with driving Duolingo's growth and its fun, approachable design since he cofounded the company in 2011. The two companies already had a relationship before Ahn's board appointment. Duolingo was a Figma customer and collaborated with the company on its viral 2024 Super Bowl commercial. 'For a long time I've had a founder crush on Luis,' said Figma's CEO Dylan Field in a prepared statement. 'Duolingo's dedication to design and craft is exemplary, and Figma has learned so much from Duolingo as a customer. This all stems from Luis who famously sits with his design team, and despite his computer science background, is a champion for design across the industry.' Ahn joined the board at the same time as Anthropic's chief product officer Mike Kriege, now serving alongside top executives from Mozilla, ServiceNow and Cisco Systems, among other companies. Before the company went public on July 31, Ahn received 48,179 shares of Figma stock, according to a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. The shares, which would have been valued at more than $1.5 million during Figma's initial public offering, were granted as part of a restricted stock unit award, which is a common type of compensation for board members. Krystal Biotech founder recognized by Forbes Local founder Suma Krishnan was recently recognized by the Forbes 2025 50 Over 50 list for her role in building one of Pittsburgh's most successful biotech companies. Krishnan's company, Krystal Biotech, is best known for its FDA-approved topical gene therapy for dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa — a rare genetic disorder that causes extremely fragile skin. The company is currently valued at over $4.5 billion, according to PitchBook. Krishnan, an organic chemist by training, launched the company in 2016 with her husband, using about $5 million from previous biotech ventures. 'You have to be brave and bold to do this,' Krishnan told Forbes. 'I was never afraid of risk-taking. I never felt like I needed a stable job.' More power moves: CMU named Tania Castañeda as its next vice provost for enrollment management and dean of admission, starting Aug. 25. Castañeda joins from Columbia University where she held a similar role. Point Park University appointed Becky Spritz as the new dean of its School of Arts and Sciences. Spritz brings over 20 years of experience in higher education from Roger Williams University. Pittsburgh Scholar House, a local nonprofit focused on supporting single parents earning college degrees, named Daren Ellerbee as its new CEO. Ellerbee previously led the Pittsburgh Innovation Team at Johns Hopkins' Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation. Pittsburgh Magazine's 2025 40 Under 40 list recognized several leaders in the local innovation scene, including the Moonshot Museum's executive director Jimyse Lyn Brown, PECA Labs founder Arush Kalra, Hellbender Vinyl founder Jeff Betten, Christopher Dunkers, nference's Biran Urban and Howmet Aerospace's Gina Govojdean.
Business Journals
25-07-2025
- Business
- Business Journals
5 new leaders to know in Greater Washington
We've rounded up some pf the region's newly minted leaders for the latest installment of the Washington Business Journal's Power Moves series.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Why Shaquille O'Neal decided to join the Reebok executive team
Shaquille O'Neal was a dominant force in the NBA, a 7-foot-1 gentle giant who shattered boards, racked up four titles and left an indelible mark as one of the best centers in basketball history. But since his retirement in 2011, Shaq has shown that his impact goes far beyond sports. Now, in the business world, from offices and boardrooms, Shaq is focused on remaining the most dominant ever. Advertisement Beyond his impressive height, one of O'Neal's most distinguishing traits is his sense of humor. In the "Power Moves with Shaquille O'Neal" Netflix series, which premiered on June 4, he acknowledges that his mindset is '80% humor and 20% seriousness' when it comes to running his businesses. That doesn't mean he doesn't take his responsibilities seriously. In fact, he believes that some people tried to exploit his outgoing nature when he first started his business ventures. 'Yes, a lot of people try to take advantage and that just drives me to do more things,' O'Neal told L.A. Times en Español. Shaquille O'Neal walks on the court before Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Pacers and Thunder in Oklahoma City. (Julio Cortez / Associated Press) He is accustomed to people trying to exploit his perceived weaknesses. Advertisement "They always said, 'With the way he shoots free throws, he'll never win a championship.' OK, maybe that's true, but I'm going to dominate the game so much that free throws don't even matter." He brings the same mentality to his position at Reebok, where he is president of basketball — a position he assumed in 2023 — and is leading a push to bring relevance back to a brand that once bet on him to be a star. "When I went to Nike, they said, 'Yeah, we wanted to give you your own sneakers, but we gave them to another guy.' And I said, 'Excuse me? To this guy?' And then when I went to Reebok, they said, 'We believe in you, we're going to give you your own shoes,'" O'Neal recalls. That loyalty was not forgotten. Today, 30 years after signing with Reebok as a player, O'Neal is back, not to launch retro updates of his shoes, but to make decisions, train a new generation of athletes and reshape the brand's place in a fiercely competitive market. Advertisement Shaq didn't join Reebok's executive team just for nostalgia's sake. His vision is clear: Take a chance like they took a chance on him in the 1990s. Read more: Shaqramento State or Shaq State? O'Neal becomes GM of Sacramento State basketball program "They took a chance on young Shaq. He took a chance on young AI [Allen Iverson]. He took a chance on young Shawn Kemp. And we turned the plan into a dominant number two. Never number one, but never number three," O'Neal explained. With that logic, the former player decided not to bet Reebok's current NBA marketing budget all on one superstar. Advertisement "I wanted to go the traditional route. 'Hey, let's go for Shai [Gilgeous-Alexander]. Let's go for Jaylen Brown.' But when you talk to agents, these guys want big numbers. ... You're going to spend 85 or 90% of the budget," O'Neal said. His team — including his son, Shareef — convinced O'Neal to invest in emerging talent with a strong social media presence and a mindset of their own. Case in point is WNBA Chicago Sky player Angel Reese, who signed with Reebok in 2023. "Angel reminds me of AI. She's going to do it her way, the way she wants to do it. She doesn't care what anyone else says," O'Neal said. Shaquille O'Neal, left, and Allen Iverson watch the NBA Rookie Challenge on Feb. 18, 2005, at the Pepsi Center in Denver. (Mark Terrill / Associated Press) He sees Reese not only as a great athlete, but as an influential figure who embodies the disruptive spirit he wants to restore in the Reebok brand. Advertisement O'Neal isn't just impressed by what he sees on the court. He's looking for something more. "I'm looking for someone who isn't getting the recognition he deserves," he said. "We live in a world where, once they get noticed by one or two guys, they stick with them forever." He said he was underestimated in his early days. Despite being selected with the first pick in the 1992 draft and making an immediate impact with the Orlando Magic, he said during early career business meetings "they never looked at me. They always looked at my manager. It was like, 'Do you think he understands business?'" That prompted him to study business administration and management and get serious about his financial education. Advertisement 'I just thought, 'Let me get a degree ... so you know I understand that I'm in charge of my own destiny,'' O'Neal said. Now, as president of Reebok basketball, he also values athletes' family ties, their work ethic, their environment and their desire to represent something bigger than themselves. "I like the people, the moms, the dads, the coaches. People want to be represented in a certain way," O'Neal said. Read more: Shaquille O'Neal drops a bomb on Jimmy Fallon: A recent viral moment was indeed about No. 2 He doesn't presume to have all the answers. He admits he's had to adapt and learn. Advertisement "It's just about challenges. I've always been one to step up to meet them. ... I had to learn a lot, learn about this business," he said. To appeal to the broadest group of customers, he has relied on a close circle of advisors that includes his son, Shareef. "I had to bring in my son to help me identify with the crazy Generation Z, because they do what they want. They follow their own path. They have their own rules," O'Neal said. While still a strong, determined figure, O'Neal has learned to accept feedback from others. 'I don't think my best quality is listening,' he admits. But in his new role, he's had to let go of some of his old-school style and trust his team. Advertisement O'Neal was one of the most dominant players the NBA has ever seen. Now he's one of the most successful athletes in the business world. His investment portfolio includes franchises of businesses such as Papa John's, Five Guys, 24 Hour Fitness and his own line of products and apparel. He also holds commercial endorsement contracts with brands such as Icy Hot, The General insurance and Carnival Cruises, among others. But his business success has not been linear. Read more: What feud? Shaq agrees to walk Dwight Howard out at Hall of Fame induction: 'That's my guy' 'On the road to success, there are many failures and you simply have to try to have more successes than failures,' he said. Advertisement His secret has been to surround himself with skilled people. "I have great teammates," O'Neal said. "My friend wins a championship by herself. It's called delegation." Shaq has turned his image into a global brand, but he insists the key has been staying true to his values. It all revolves around his family. 'I am who you think I am. I realized I couldn't have done any of this without my family and their blessings,' he says. He said his faith and personal values help him manage the impact of his success. "I said it about seven years ago, never call me famous," O'Neal said. "Celebrities are jerks. I just want to be a normal person. I'm a respectful person. I love kids. I love the elderly. I love helping those in need. I love making people smile. So the answer to the question of how I keep my feet on the ground, you know exactly how I do it: Salaam-alaikum [Peace be upon you], brother." Advertisement Long before he joined he executive team, O'Neal played a major role in Reebok's success. In the early 1990s, while Nike and Adidas were building giant empires, Reebok bet on O'Neal and Iverson, and managed to position itself as a serious alternative, especially among urban youth. But over time, the brand lost ground. Now, with O'Neal leading the renaissance of its basketball division, Reebok wants to regain that lost space. It doesn't intend to compete directly with Nike or Adidas for big stars, but to create an ecosystem of its own. "It's not about a gamble. It's about making the right decision," O'Neal said. O'Neal has been many things: NBA champion, most valuable player, All-Star, entrepreneur, commentator, DJ, actor, honorary police officer, philanthropist. But perhaps his most powerful facet is that of a man who builds bridges, pushes others and constantly reinvents himself. Advertisement This new movement, he says, is strategic and personal. He is enjoying a reunion with the brand that believed in him and an opportunity to return the favor by helping Reebok connect with customers. This article first appeared in Spanish via L.A. Times en Español. Sign up for our weekly newsletter on all things Lakers. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
USA Today
20-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Thunder vs. Pacers winners and losers: NBA Finals going to Game 7
Thunder vs. Pacers winners and losers: NBA Finals going to Game 7 Show Caption Hide Caption Shaq talks NBA Finals matchup and NBA on TNT Shaquille O'Neal joins Sports Seriously to talk about all things NBA and his upcoming Netflix docu-series 'Power Moves'. Sports Seriously Two teams came to play in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. Just one met the moment. Indiana defeated Oklahoma City 108-91 in Game 6 Thursday, June 19. And with that, the Indiana Pacers are still alive, the Thunder were denied an NBA championship, and the NBA Finals heads to a Game 7 with history on the line. The Pacers have never won an NBA championship, and the Thunder are trying to win their first since relocating to Oklahoma City from Seattle in 2008. This back-and-forth series is defined by turnovers, 3-point shooting, stars stepping up and a lack of momentum carrying over from one game to the next. Here are the winners and losers from Game 6 between the Thunder and Pacers. Thunder-Pacers Game 6 winners Pacers swarm and smother on defense Indiana, on defense, looked almost like the Thunder. Oklahoma City posted the NBA's top-ranked defense in the regular season and built its brand on using active hands to deflect passes and force turnovers, rotating quickly and decisively to prevent open looks and staying aggressive along the perimeter. The Pacers forced the Thunder into 21 turnovers, leading to ample transition opportunities. Indiana swiped 16 steals — compared to only four by Oklahoma City. The Pacers, in fact, generated more steals than the Thunder had assists (14). Indiana actually dialed back its full-court pressure, which it had relied upon earlier in the series, instead opting to smother OKC with intent in the half court. T.J. McConnell, Obi Toppin and the Pacers bench shine again One of the telling stats of this NBA Finals for the Pacers has been bench points. Indiana's bench has now outscored Oklahoma City's in five of the six games thus far. And Thursday night's 48-37 advantage wasn't even indicative of the entire picture, given that the Thunder pulled their starters at the start of the fourth quarter. T.J. McConnell has been exceptional, a consistent spark and source of positive plays. He's the most efficient Pacer in half-court sets and his effort is infectious. He posted 12 points, nine rebounds, six assists and four steals, marking the first time a bench player has recorded those figures in an NBA Finals game, since starters and bench player stats were first tracked in 1970-71. Forward Obi Toppin, who has developed a steady, knockdown jumper, added 20 points and six rebounds. When the Pacers bench is playing like this, they are tough to beat. Indiana spreads the wealth The Pacers, as they have all series, have spread the ball and have been a team where the whole is greater than the parts. They had six players reach double figures in scoring. Indiana has now become the first team in NBA postseason history to have eight players with at least 200 points in a single playoffs: Pascal Siakam (456), Tyrese Haliburton (390), Myles Turner (311), Aaron Nesmith (288), Andrew Nembhard (272), Bennedict Mathurin (219), Obi Toppin (216) and T.J. McConnell (202). Thunder-Pacers Game 6 losers Thunder turnovers The Thunder had 21 turnovers, leading to 19 Pacers points. Can't happen and it happened for the second time in the series – the Thunder had 25 turnovers in their Game 1 loss. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander committed a career-high eight turnovers. He had more turnovers than made field goals (seven). 'They didn't pressure full court like they have been, which led to more turnovers. I didn't expect that,' Gilgeous-Alexander said. 'But whatever it is, they did it right. … They were definitely lower on the pickups. I'm not sure. Some of them I think was carelessness, not being as focused, not being engaged.' Thunder offense The Thunder's turnovers led to a discombobulated offense that never found a rhythm. Oklahoma City shot 41.9% from the field, 26.7% on 3-pointers and had just 14 assists on 31 made field goals. Ball movement wasn't there, shooting wasn't there, and it was just the second time in 22 playoff games the Thunder scored fewer than 100 points. Thunder starters were 1-for-13 on 3-pointers, Chet Holmgren scored just four points on 2-for-9 shooting and Alex Caruso didn't score. Thunder bench Oklahoma City's third unit of Isaiah Joe, Jaylin Williams, Ajay Mitchell, Dillon Jones and Ousmane Dieng played well in mop-up time, helping make the final score not as brutal as it could've been. However, Oklahoma City's scoring from the second unit was limited. Caruso, Aaron Wiggins, Cason Wallace and Kenrich Williams combined for 10 points on 3-for-12 shooting. Indiana's main reserves scored 41 points. Sports fans who aren't watching This is a fantastic series with compelling swings from game to game. Both teams have stars, depth, play hard and are well coached. That was true at the start of the playoffs and remains true through six games of the Finals. It has all the elements of basketball that a fan should want. Including a Game 7.
