The US Army Corps of Engineers announced Monday that the Fort McHenry Federal Channel into the Baltimore, Md., port is fully operational following the March collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. "We've cleared the Fort McHenry Federal Channel for safe transit," said Col. Estee Pinchasin, Baltimore District Commander.

Grainger's investment in AI has accelerated its digital transformation and given the distribution giant detailed insight into customer behavior and created operational efficiency and additional opportunities for digital sales, says Chief Product Officer Brian Walker. Grainger's AI investment required internal resources and technology but has provided a competitive advantage with customer and product information, enabled faster search and more comprehensive product discovery and increased organizational ability.

HVAC equipment and supply distributor Winsupply has purchased Phoenix-based General Metals Manufacturing & Supply, a manufacturer, fabricator and distributor of HVAC equipment that has three locations in Arizona. Winsupply President Jeff Dice said the company "looks forward to investing in General Metals and expanding in the Phoenix market."

Global trade is showing signs of recovery, with Tradeshift's Q1 Index of Global Trade Health showing total transaction volumes up one point from the previous quarter. Tradeshift noted it was "the third consecutive quarter of upward momentum after a prolonged period of sluggish activity." However, suppliers still face challenges in capitalizing on this growth due to supply chain disruptions, liquidity issues, increased costs and geopolitical tensions.

The International Longshoreman's Association has paused labor talks with the US Maritime Alliance in response to certain terminal operators using automated machinery in some ports. The ILA says the use of automated systems violated a previous agreement and vowed to halt labor negotiations impacting some 45,000 dockworkers until the issue has been resolved.

A strong sales culture can boost results and help sales managers motivate their teams, writes Loyd Ford, president and chief strategic officer at Rainmaker Pathway Consulting Works. "A sales manager's job isn't about teaching selling," Ford notes. "It is about teaching selling and action."

Innovation is not just about new ideas, it's about leading change that can upend the way things are normally done. To succeed in this area, leaders need to create an environment that's open to trying new things, provides rewards to employees for taking chances, and offers the requisite technology and training.

A teammate who chronically complains may be addicted to such negative thinking, so leaders must create a boundary, have compassion for them and redirect the conversation toward positive solution-seeking, writes Ilene Cohen, a psychotherapist who teaches in the Department of Counseling at Barry University. "By understanding the reasons behind their behavior and using strategic approaches to redirect conversations, you can create healthier relationships while protecting yourself from the negative effects of constant complaining," Cohen concludes.

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