Latest news with #Mazzarella
USA Today
2 days ago
- General
- USA Today
Former USA TODAY editor David Mazzarella, who helped give paper its hard news edge, dies
Known as 'Mazz' to the staff, he brought a hard-news approach to USA TODAY in the 1990s. Former USA TODAY editor David Mazzarella, who helped propel the newspaper to its strongest circulation years in the late 1990s, passed away on July 17 after complications resulting from a fall. He was 87. Mazzarella, a seasoned war correspondent, editor and AP reporter in Europe, was with USA TODAY from its improbable beginnings in the early 1980s to an impactful five-year stint as editor in chief from 1994-99 at the dawn of the digital age. Known as 'Mazz' to the staff, he brought a hard-news approach to USA TODAY, too often known more for its bright graphics and layouts rather than its journalism. Under Mazzarella, the newspaper's approach expanded what had been pushed by former editors, featuring investigations into air bag safety, the wave of arsons at Black churches and reports on AIDS in Africa. Mazzarella had a street fighter's instinct, honed during his years as a circulation manager in 1983, where he was tasked with persuading hostile New York City union bosses and politicians to allow USA TODAY boxes at hundreds of street corners. Rapidly replacing the vending machines as they were destroyed by M-80 firecrackers or otherwise vandalized, Mazzarella said later: 'We wore them down.' "He had competed in New York. He knew what being disrespected was about," former USA TODAY president and publisher Tom Curley said in a 2007 interview for 'The Making of McPaper,' a book about USA TODAY. "And he had a fix on what the paper needed to do with its soul, which was to get better at news." Named newspaper's editor in 1994 He was named head of USA TODAY's International editions before being selected as the newspaper's editor in 1994. Few in the newsrooms knew who he was, but Mazzarella made his mark immediately, insisting on a strict adherence to professionalism, clarity and openness to presenting fresh political takes on Washington stories. At one point, Mazzarella ordered the newsroom to tamp down on its wall-to-wall coverage of OJ Simpson, a prescient realization that the story was becoming more circus than courtroom. And he once wondered why a story about Madonna's new hair color was a story at all. 'I spent many hours with him when the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal broke,' remembered former Washington editor Bill Sternberg. 'He was focused on ensuring that the coverage was fair and competitive, not lurid.' Mazzarella instituted late afternoon "bullpen" meetings, where reporters and editors were asked to explain why their stories deserved to be on Page One. The questioning was so precise that some staffers were shaken by the inquiries. 'Woe is you if you went in unprepared,' former National Editor Lee Ann Hamilton recalled. 'Great coverage became less the exception, more the expected,' former managing editor of News Hal Ritter said. 'He believed in us,'' agreed former executive editor Susan Weiss. "I would like to think that era awakened some talent among the staff," Mazzarella said in an interview later. The hard-news approach seemed to work on the bottom line. Circulation was often 2 million copies a day or higher, and ad revenue soared. 'Best newspaper editor no one's ever heard of' "USA TODAY is getting perceptibly better all the time," wrote the American Journalism Review in 1997, during the heart of Mazzarella's influence. Mazzarella, said media critic Howard Kurtz, might be 'the best newspaper editor in America no one's ever heard of.' He did this while never losing a ready smile and amiable relations with most staff members, even as the specter of layoffs began to infect the industry as a whole. Mazzarella was proud of his Italian-American heritage (born in Newark), often recalling his favorite restaurants in Rome, writing a memoir about his mother, Benigna, titled, 'Always Eat the Hard Crust of the Bread,' and emphasizing the third syllable when he pronounced political correspondent Richard Benedetto's name. Said Benedetto upon hearing of Mazzarella's death: "Not only was he one of the best newsmen ever, he also was a kind, sincere and generous soul, a loyal and trusted friend and mentor, an impeccable role model, a credit to his Italian American heritage and just plain one of the kindest gentlemen I ever met." Mazzarella retired in 1999, just as the newspaper's focus began to shift to digital platforms. He became an ombudsman for Stars and Stripes, the Defense Department's daily newspaper, and an advocate for the newspaper's First Amendment rights within the closely watched military environment. Mazzarella is survived by his wife, Christine Wells, a former senior vice president of The Freedom Forum; three daughters, and two grandchildren. Mazzarella and Kitty Uksti divorced in 1995. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, Aug. 2 at 11 a.m. at Holy Rosary Church, 595 Third Street St. NW, Washington, D.C.
CNBC
26-06-2025
- Business
- CNBC
I studied 400 highly successful leaders—5 skills you need to sharpen in the age of AI: Stanford business lecturer
The rapid advancement of AI is reshaping industries, redefining job roles, and making adaptability more critical than ever. The question isn't whether it will impact your career, but how you can prepare yourself to thrive in this evolving landscape. As a lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business and the author of "The Systems Leader," I've spent 23 years studying how professionals can navigate disruptive changes. Resilience in the AI era requires a combination of continuous learning, adaptability and relationship-building. After studying over 400 leaders from around the world, here are the five best habits I've seen for future success: The most successful people, the ones who build thriving careers amid uncertainty, actively seek out new knowledge and skillsets. They understand that ignoring changes you don't like, especially when it comes to technology, is a dangerous trap that can lead to obsolescence. Break out of your usual information bubbles. Resist the urge to stick exclusively with people from the same background who all see the world the same way. Take a class on AI or connect with colleagues who are in different stages of their careers, especially younger folks who are immersed in technology. AI is good at logic and data analysis, but it doesn't have the capacity for genuine emotional understanding. One of the leaders I spoke to for my research was Kathy Mazzarella, the CEO of Graybar, a company that specializes in supply chain management. She has been described as leading with an "iron fist in a soft glove." Mazzarella told me that while it's important to hold people accountable, when she sees someone struggling at work, she'll start with an open conversation before making any big staffing decisions. Deciding between ambition and kindness is a false choice; successful people find a way to do both. Whether it's a skills gap, a job mismatch, or someone going through a personal challenge, how you handle each of those scenarios will not be the same. Being able to understand your place in a broader ecosystem is an increasingly critical skill. For example, Seth Bodnar, the President of the University of Montana, needs to balance a variety of constituents, from students to alumni to faculty to administrators to the government to employers and even the cities in which his campuses reside. How to balance the needs of each party, and how each interacts with others, helps ensure that friction between key parties can be reduced if it flares up. Success comes from recognizing how different sectors influence one another, and how innovation often comes from outside traditional silos. One thing I encourage companies to do is draw an influence map of their ecosystem, and look for where key constituents both influence others, and are also dependent upon others. This can help visualize very complex dynamics in their ecosystem. The most effective professionals build strong relationships inside and outside their organization to gain critical insights that they might otherwise miss. Internally, colleagues across departments provide key insights that challenge assumptions and reveal inefficiencies. An engineer may see customer obstacles differently than a marketer, and frontline employees often identify operational gaps that executives might overlook. Seeking input from people at all levels sharpens decision-making and helps prevent costly oversights. Externally, industry peers, mentors, and customers offer outside perspectives that can be just as valuable. Because they aren't embedded in your company's culture, they're more likely to ask tough questions, point out emerging trends, or challenge conventional thinking. The AI revolution is real, and rather than fearing this, we should see it as a chance to evolve and grow. During a visit to my class in 2021, Corie Barry, the CEO of Best Buy, offered some valuable advice: "You can't fall in love with how you do business today." The only employees who thrive over time are the ones who are willing to do things completely different from the past. By cultivating human skills, understanding industry ecosystems, embracing change, and focusing on internal and external relationships, you can build a career that not only survives but thrives in the age of AI.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Hay bales on Bradenton Beach safeguard sea turtles
The Brief The 2024 hurricane season washed away sand dunes, sea oats and other vegetation which helped protect nesting sea turtles. Hay bales are now used to help block light and keep turtles on the right track. A female loggerhead sea turtle was recently rescued from inside a swimming pool after bypassing two fences. BRADENTON BEACH, Fla. - Bradenton Beach saw extreme damage from hurricanes Helene and Milton. Not only were homes and businesses destroyed, but were the beach dunes and all the vegetation that helps protect the coastline and the animals that visit the beach, including sea turtles. Right now, as Florida enters peak nesting season, Manatee County came up with a unique idea to protect nesting. OTHER NEWS: Turtle nests delay temporary fix to Manasota Key Road Hurricane Helene's storm surge washed away dunes, sea oats and local vegetation. All played a role in protecting sea turtles and their hatchlings from light that can disorient or confuse them. What they're saying "We were all trying to find out about what we could do to help the turtles so we could keep them from getting into the road. We wanted to be proactive, we wanted to be preventative and make sure the turtles were safe," said Kristen Mazzarella, the Executive Director of the Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird monitoring. The backstory Manatee County Natural Resources came up with the idea. Crews went to work and staked organic, seed-free hay as barriers for the turtles. Seed-free hay ensures nothing will take root on Bradenton Beach that doesn't belong there and helps keep the beach as natural as possible. The Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch was pleased with the idea. "The hay bales are here blocking the rock revetments, so the hatchlings can make their way into the rock revetments. Also, it's blocking the adult turtles from getting into the road. There's a lot of areas they'd have direct access into the road, and it's turning them to a different direction," said Mazzarella. With the hay bales now in place, Manatee County and the Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch are asking visitors to keep their hands off and let the hay do its job. In keeping the turtles safe through another nesting season with a few new challenges. What's next As of June 5, 2024, the Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch documented 149 turtle nests along the beaches of Anna Maria Island. If you find a sea turtle in distress (adult or hatchling), call AMITW at 941-301-8434 or FWC at 888-404-3922. The Source Information was gathered by FOX 13's Kimberly Kuizon. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter Follow FOX 13 on YouTube
Malaysian Reserve
24-04-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Graybar Announces First Quarter Results
Achieves Highest Q1 Net Sales in Company History Begins Deployment of New ERP System ST. LOUIS, April 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Graybar, a leading distributor of electrical, industrial, automation and connectivity products and provider of related supply chain management and logistics services, today announced its first quarter financial results. Graybar, which celebrates its 100th anniversary as an independent company this year, reported $2.95 billion in net sales for the first quarter, an increase of 7.9% over the prior year. This marks the highest first quarter net sales in company history and the third highest net sales in any quarter. Graybar reported $100.9 million in net income for the quarter, a 4.1% decrease compared to the same period last year. The decline was partially attributable to continued investments in Graybar Connect, the company's multi-year transformation project. 'We achieved growth in the first quarter and made significant strides with Graybar Connect,' said Kathleen M. Mazzarella, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Graybar. 'One key accomplishment was the recent launch of our new ERP system, which will be fully deployed later this year. This marks a major milestone in our ongoing business transformation, designed to keep our company healthy and growing for the future.' In addition to its ERP system implementation, Graybar noted several other achievements during the first quarter of 2025: Offered the Graybar Construction Trades Scholarship for the sixth consecutive year while increasing the award amount to $2,500 (up from $1,000). This scholarship helps individuals pursuing a career in the skilled trades. Recognized as a Top Workplaces USA Award winner by Energage and USA TODAY for the fifth consecutive year. Named to Fortune World's Most Admired Companies List for the 23rd year. Mazzarella added, 'Because of Graybar's unique employee ownership structure, we can invest for the long term, even as we navigate ongoing economic uncertainty. We believe our strategic investments in Graybar Connect will deliver tremendous value for our company and our customers. In addition, we continue to pursue acquisitions and other opportunities to strengthen our capabilities and drive sustained growth.' About GraybarGraybar, a Fortune 500 corporation and one of the largest employee-owned companies in North America, is a leader in the distribution of high quality electrical, industrial, automation and connectivity products, and specializes in related supply chain management and logistics services. Through its network of 350 North American distribution facilities, it stocks and sells products from thousands of manufacturers, helping its customers power, network, automate and secure their facilities with speed, intelligence and efficiency. For more information, visit or call 1-800-GRAYBAR. Media Contact:Tim Sommer(314)
