The budget blueprint recently approved by the Senate, designed to advance tax policies and other priorities, faces opposition from some House Republicans, who are concerned that it does not do enough to ensure spending cuts. The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors supports the Senate resolution, which extends the 2017 tax cuts. NAW is urging House lawmakers to approve the measure, saying it is "essential to preventing a massive, automatic tax hike on Americans and lays the groundwork for Congress to make the Trump Tax Cuts permanent for small businesses and workers."

R.S. Hughes CEO Bill Matthews plans to retire May 1, after an 18-year career with the company that includes four as CEO and chairman. Chief Revenue Officer John Mathis has been appointed president effective April 1, assuming full operational and strategic leadership, and reporting directly to R.S. Hughes' board of directors.

Small business confidence declined for a third consecutive month in March, with the National Federation of Independent Business' Small Business Optimism Index dropping 3.3 points to 97.4, marking the lowest level since October and the largest decline since June 2022. Declining optimism reflects rising concerns over trade policy, particularly after the announcement last week of steep tariffs. The share of business owners expecting better conditions over the next three months fell to 21%, and just 3% are anticipating higher sales.

Team behavior can be categorized into four animal types -- dolphins, lions, elephants and lemurs -- under the Zookeeper framework in which leaders, or "zookeepers," understand and optimize team dynamics by focusing on behavioral traits rather than personality tests, says Darcy Blessing-Williams, managing director of Nivalmi Consulting, in an MDM podcast. Blessing-Williams emphasizes that culture is a competitive advantage, and she plans to discuss the framework at the upcoming SHIFT Conference in Denver next month.

Matt Gregory, senior vice president of voice and mobility at Infios, discusses the benefits of gamification in warehouse operations amid labor shortages. Gregory highlights how gamification can boost employee engagement by introducing game-design elements such as challenges and leaderboards, noting that it can reduce absenteeism by 81% and turnover by up to 43%, according to a Gallup report.

Strong, strategic supplier relationships are crucial for procurement success, aiding in risk mitigation, compliance and innovation. Alexandra Lafaurie, vice president of product management at Jaggaer, emphasizes the role of digitization in enhancing supplier communication amid geopolitical uncertainties. "Businesses have clearly grasped the importance of supply chain relationships to prevent risk, but the benefits can actually span so much further than simply avoiding bottlenecks or production halts," Lafaurie says.

B2B marketers should focus on demonstrating the long-term financial impact of brand investment instead of measuring ROI at a tactical level, writes Ardath Albee. Albee notes how short-term metrics such as email returns and display ad leads fail to capture the complexity of B2B buying processes and advocates for metrics such as customer acquisition cost and lifetime value.

McKinsey CFO Yuval Atsmon says President Donald Trump's tariffs are likely to cause short-term disruptions in corporate profits and supply chains, with geopolitical risk and rising costs as major concerns. Atsmon notes that while European responses have varied, many companies are facing significant planning challenges due to the uncertainty.

Prioritize your organization's greatest asset — your people. NAW's premier education programs, such as the online Management Academy and the in-depth Distribution Leadership Program at THE Ohio State University, are designed to equip your high-potential employees with the skills and insights they need to lead and succeed. Ensure your rising stars are prepared to drive your business forward by investing in their growth today. Learn more about how NAW can help you develop the leaders of tomorrow.

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