Harnessing the power of AI to do your job more efficiently
Posted On June 25, 2024
We all know that artificial intelligence holds great promise in helping us work faster – and some worry that it may one day take our jobs. Those familiar with AI will tell you that it won’t take your job. But someone who knows how to use AI will. But what, exactly, can it do? How, exactly, can we use it to do our jobs more efficiently? Our guest in a recent episode of “What’s Working with Cam Marston” was Kai Gray, an AI enthusiast in south Alabama who can tell us just that. Gray’s company, Motive ESG, helps companies address… Read More
Categories: Blog, What's Working with Cam Marston, Work
Remote work and hybrid schedules are here to stay
Posted On February 19, 2024
If you want to know about work-from-home trends, Nick Bloom is the guy to ask. The William Eberle Professor of Economics at Stanford University, Bloom has been studying those trends for about 20 years. And Bloom says the hybrid work model is here to stay. Bloom, our guest in a recent episode of “What’s Working with Cam Marston,” recently shared the reasons for this in a guest essay in the New York Times entitled: “The five-day office week is dead.” After the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic subsided, people started returning to the office. But the return-to-office numbers leveled off… Read More
Categories: Blog, What's Working with Cam Marston, Work, Workplace
Brent Barkin shares the art of thoughtfully switching careers
Posted On October 31, 2023
Ever thought about changing careers? Most of us don’t have the luxury of taking the time to explore what we’d really like to do, and what we’d be good at doing. But what if you did? Brent Barkin found himself in just such a situation. Barkin had been a guest on “What’s Working with Cam Marston” when he was running his family business, Shoe Station. Now that his family has sold that business, and he’s completed a stint working for the company that took it over, he stopped back in to share with us what he’s doing now – and… Read More
Categories: Blog, What's Working with Cam Marston, Work
AI: The next step in the evolution of logistics & supply chain management
Posted On October 17, 2023
Some would say the invention that’s had the greatest impact on logistics and supply chain management is the shipping container. Others might point to UPC bar codes. The advent and ultimate applications of artificial intelligence may add a new contender for the title. Our guest in a recent episode of “What’s Working with Cam Marston” was Shashank Rao, the Jim W. Thompson Professor in the Department of Supply Chain Management at Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business. He says AI presents the next step in streamlining the supply chain. Artificial intelligence is that next iteration that is looking to make… Read More
Categories: Blog, What's Working with Cam Marston, Work
The art of survival through multiple changes in ownership
Posted On June 30, 2023
If you work in the corporate world, the potential for a transfer in ownership of your company is a fact of life. Surviving a change in ownership is not a given. Surviving several changes of ownership? That may be considered a talent. Our guest in the latest episode of “What’s Working with Cam Marston” has done just that. Matt Peat is Vice President of Sales for Transhield, which makes custom wraps for boats, military vehicles and industrial equipment. Its products can be made to order for clients like boat manufacturers or the military, and they’re also available in universal sizes… Read More
Categories: Blog, What's Working with Cam Marston, Work, Workplace
CEO of Outokumpu discusses workplace, energy, technology challenges
Posted On May 13, 2023
As the CEO of one of the world’s largest producers of stainless steel, Heikki Malinen has a unique view of trends in the worlds of business and industry. Some of those trends he finds concerning, and at least one big technological transition he believes will be seismic. Malinen, our guest in the latest episode of “What’s Working with Cam Marston,” is the CEO of Outokumpu, which is based in Helsinki, Finland, but has facilities throughout Europe and North America, including one right up the road from me in Calvert, Alabama. The largest stainless steel producer in the Western Hemisphere, Outokumpu… Read More
Categories: Blog, Podcast, What's Working with Cam Marston, Work, Workplace
Why creating a strong workplace culture should be your top priority
Posted On March 5, 2023
We’ve talked a lot in my podcasts about workplace culture. It’s always been an important piece of a successful business, but as we’ve emerged from the pandemic, it may now be the most important factor to long-term success. Our guest in the latest episode of “What’s Working with Cam Marston” certainly thinks so. Richard Jolly is an associate clinical professor of management and organization at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. Jolly, who is also a Director of the consulting firm Stokes & Jolly Ltd., says creating a positive workplace culture is more than a desire or a goal for… Read More
Categories: Blog, Podcast, What's Working with Cam Marston, Work, Workplace
When optimization becomes the enemy of strategic planning and vision
Posted On February 12, 2023
We’ve all heard the phrase “not being able to see the forest for the trees.” Many of us don’t realize how we’re actually guilty of it, however, particularly in business. The focus on short-term success, optimizing our processes and production, can ultimately hinder the longer view, our planning for a better, perhaps transformative, future. Our guest in the latest episode of “What’s Working with Cam Marston” has written a book about just that – and the steps to avoiding it. Marty Strong is a former Navy SEAL who has become a sought-after consultant, speaker and author, as well as the… Read More
Categories: Blog, Podcast, What's Working with Cam Marston, Work
How a plumbing business became a multi-faceted construction and disaster recovery company
Posted On January 19, 2023
How does a small plumbing company become a massive construction and disaster recovery business with about 200 employees, offices in five states and work lined up throughout the Western Hemisphere? In the case of Persons Services Corp., it happened through a succession that was fueled by the new generation adding new expertise to chase new opportunities. Our guest in the latest episode of “What’s Working with Cam Marston,” Buddy Persons, is President and CEO of Mobile-based Persons Services Corp., and Managing Director of Persons Development Company. The company was founded in 1978 by Persons’ father, Paul E. Persons, Sr., as… Read More
Categories: Blog, Entrepreneurship, Podcast, Succession Planning, What's Working with Cam Marston, Work
The Modern House: Answering the call to help the homeless through coffee
Posted On January 2, 2023
Why would someone open a coffee shop when they don’t even drink coffee? For Troy Whetstone, it’s a means to an end – and what he was called to do. Whetstone, our guest in a recent episode of “What’s Working with Cam Marston,” is CEO of The Modern House Coffee Shop in Birmingham. With the help of a pastor and other members of his community, Whetstone opened the shop in 2016 as a way to help the homeless. An exercise in social entrepreneurship, The Modern House Coffee Shop hires homeless people and trains them with the job skills and social… Read More
Categories: Blog, Charity, church, Entrepreneurship, Podcast, What's Working with Cam Marston, Work