It is that time of year again, folks! As we round the
Thanksgiving corner and break into one of the busiest shopping weekends of the
year, don’t let Black Friday and Cyber Monday distract you from the opportunity
to support our country’s small businesses on Small Business Saturday, observed
on Saturday, November 30th this year.
What is Small Business Saturday? Simply put, it is a day to
support small businesses and communities throughout the country. The idea is
that, as consumers, we play a key role in facilitating the success of our
nation’s small businesses.
Small Business Saturday was the brainchild of the credit
card giant American Express, who set out to promote this idea to help our
communities thrive and stay vibrant. According to their website, since it
started in 2010, consumers have reported spending an estimated $103 billion
across all Small Business Saturdays combined.
Sabre88 is proud to be a small business supporter. Sabre88
believes that in order to be a member of a sustainable community both locally
and globally it is important to participate in and contribute to ongoing
activities within that community.
As a small business, we at Sabre88 are tremendously thankful
for the support of our customers and clients. The successes and achievements we
have made over the last ten years would not have been possible without said
support.
Pass on the support this Saturday, as it goes beyond the
material goods or services purchased. Whether dining at a local café or finding
a new niche clothing shop in town, any contribution will be felt by the
families and communities in which those small businesses reside. Join the
movement and Shop Small!
https://sabre88.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/sabre88_bc_logo_trans-Copy.png00Nakira Whiteheadhttps://sabre88.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/sabre88_bc_logo_trans-Copy.pngNakira Whitehead2019-11-29 11:59:082021-03-24 15:52:56Sabre88 Supports Small Business Saturday
The Social Security Administration and Inspector General launch an online form to report Social Security-related scams.
These scams—in which fraudulent callers mislead victims
into making cash or gift card payments to avoid arrest for purported Social
Security number problems—skyrocketed over the past year to become the number
one type of fraud reported to the Federal Trade Commission and the Social
Security Administration.
Social Security and the Office of the Inspector General (OIG)
will use the new online form to capture data that will be analyzed and used to
identify the source of the scams. Officials said the end goal is to disrupt the
scammers and reduce the number of scam victims reported.
“We are taking action to raise awareness and
prevent scammers from harming Americans,” Social Security Commissioner
Saul said. “I am deeply
troubled that our country has not been able to stop these crooks from deceiving
some of the most vulnerable members of our society.”
You can report any type of phone scams, including live calls,
robocalls and text scams. You can also report email, mail and in-person scams.
“Awareness is our best hope to thwart the scammers,”
said Inspector General Ennis. “Tell your friends and family about them and
report them to us when you receive them, but most importantly, just hang up and
ignore the calls.”
Social Security employees do
occasionally contact people–generally those who have ongoing business with the
agency–by telephone for business purposes. However, Social Security
employees will never threaten a person, or promise a Social Security benefit
approval, or increase, in exchange for information or money. In those
cases, the call is fraudulent and people should just hang up.
Generally, the agency
mainly calls people who have recently applied for a Social Security
benefit, someone who is already receiving payments and requires an update to
their record, or a person who has requested a phone call from the agency.
If a person is not in one of these situations, they normally would not receive
a call from the agency.
Social Security will not:
· Tell you that your
Social Security number has been suspended.
· Contact you to
demand an immediate payment.
· Ask you for credit
or debit card numbers over the phone.
· Require a specific
means of debt repayment, like a prepaid debit card, a retail gift card, or
cash.
· Demand that you
pay a Social Security debt without the ability to appeal the amount you owe.
· Promise a Social
Security benefit approval, or increase, in exchange for information or money.
If there is a problem with a person’s Social
Security number or record, in most cases Social Security will mail a
letter. If a person needs to submit payments to Social Security, the
agency will send a letter with instructions and payment options. People should
never provide information or payment over the phone or Internet unless they are
certain of who is receiving it.
The Social Security OIG
will also continue to take reports of fraud, waste, and abuse in Social
Security’s programs and operations. A separate online form for those
reports remains available at their website.
Company included in Initiative for a Competitive Inner City Ranking; list to be published in Fortune
Newark, November 15, 2019 – The Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) announced that Newark’s Sabre88 LLC has made the 2019 Inner City 100 list of the fastest-growing inner city businesses in America based on revenue growth.
The list was revealed at the 2019 ICIC National Conference in Boston on November 13. The full list is available on Fortune’s website here. Sabre88, led by CEO Robert Cottingham Jr., was ranked 52 based on its five-year growth rate of 113.82%. Its 2018 revenue was $27,730,226.
“It is a great honor to be included on the
IC100 list,” said Robert Cottingham Jr. “It is gratifying and rewarding to be
recognized alongside national leaders from so many industries.”
ICIC
is a national Boston-based nonprofit created by
Harvard Business School Professor Michael Porter in 1994 on the premise that under-resourced communities have vast,
untapped potential, purchasing power and labor markets, which can only be
realized by small business owners who are growing and creating high-quality
jobs. Over the past 25 years, ICIC has built a foundation for inclusive
economic prosperity, proving Porter’s theory time and again.
“Inner City 100 companies are forces of economic
opportunity, optimism and transformation in their communities, and Sabre88 LLC
is a shining example,” said ICIC CEO Steve Grossman. “It leads the way in innovation, job creation
and economic revitalization and it’s an honor to recognize the company’s
leadership. In
addition to excellence in business, these pioneering entrepreneurs have
demonstrated a deep commitment to and passion for their local communities,
which significantly impacts the well-being of their local economies.”
ICIC’s Inner City 100 list has long celebrated
entrepreneurship in under resourced communities. Since its inception, ICIC’s list
has recognized over 1,000 companies. The 2019 winners employed 8,743
people as of 2018. The Inner City 100 program opens doors for other budding
entrepreneurs from under resourced communities and stimulates inclusive
economic prosperity through recognition, networking and learning.
2019 Inner City 100 by the numbers:
Average growth rate of 227% between 2014 and 2018
Represent 47 cities in 25 states
Created 4,299 new jobs in the last five years
86% of those jobs are full-time
On average, 33% of employees live in same neighborhood as the company
Average company age: 17 years
Average 2018 revenue: $12.2 million
31% of companies are women-led
38% of companies are minority-led
Represent 19 industries
2019 Inner City 100 and Sabre88:
This year, Sabre88 celebrates its sixth time being recognized on the ICIC’s Inner CIty 100 list. In fact, having been on the list 5+ times, Sabre88 is recognized in the ICIC’s Hall of Fame. This is no small feat, as Lauren Cataldo of the ICIC states, “being part of the Hall of Fame is truly an impressive achievement! We were so happy to recognize Sabre88 during the National Conference for its continued growth, and for being on the list six times!”
As of 2019, 1,023 Inner City 100 winners have been recognized. Of those winners, only 92 have been recognized as Hall of Fame winners.
To add perspective to the gravity of this achievement, only 46 companies have ever been recognized on the Inner City 100 list six times. Fewer than 4.5% of companies to make the list have done so six times as Sabre88 now has.
CEOs from the winning companies were invited to the 2019
ICIC National Conference. The event provided an opportunity to network and
learn from current ICIC program participants, small business alumni and other high-growth
small business owners. Past winners have reported connecting with multi-million-dollar
investors as a result of appearing on the Inner City 100 list and attending the
conference.
Inner City 100 Methodology: The Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) defines inner cities as core urban areas with higher unemployment and poverty rates and lower median incomes than the surrounding metropolitan statistical areas. Every year, ICIC identifies, ranks, and awards the 100 fastest growing businesses located in America’s inner cities. In 2019, companies were ranked by revenue growth over the five-year period between 2014 and 2018.
About ICIC:
ICIC is a national
nonprofit founded in 1994 by Harvard Business School professor Michael E.
Porter. ICIC drives inclusive economic prosperity in under-resourced
communities through innovative research and programs to create jobs, income and
wealth for local residents.
Through its research on inner city economies, ICIC provides businesses,
governments and investors with the most comprehensive and actionable
information in the field about urban market opportunities. Now in its 25th
year, the
organization supports urban businesses through the Inner City 100, Inner City Capital
Connections, Goldman
Sachs 10,000 Small Businessesprogram, and Santander Bank’s Cultivate Small Business program.
https://sabre88.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/sabre88_bc_logo_trans-Copy.png00Nakira Whiteheadhttps://sabre88.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/sabre88_bc_logo_trans-Copy.pngNakira Whitehead2019-11-15 11:10:452021-03-24 16:00:12NEWARK’S SABRE88 LLC NAMED ONE OF NATION’S FASTEST-GROWING INNER CITY BUSINESSES
Faced
with exponential data growth, stakeholders in both the public and private
sectors struggle to effectively sort, analyze and leverage data to improve
systems and services. In this new ecosystem of big data, many IT pros are
turning to advanced analytics solutions, including artificial intelligence and
machine learning, to help offload some of this data analysis burden and
fundamentally change the way we interpret and use data.
For the federal government,
though, in order for these AI capabilities to be effectively implemented,
agencies will require additional resources to locate the data most relevant to
improving services and advancing missions. This is where data hunters can play
a key role.
What
is a data hunter?
Data hunters look for
external sources of data that can be combined with internal information to
generate new insights and optimize processes for the federal government. Often
disguised under several different job titles including data acquisition
specialists and data scouts, data hunters are those who have a firm grasp of
agencies’ needs or challenges and then move to analyze that data accordingly.
Hunters use their knowledge
of both the agency and the external environment to identify which new—often
external—data sources could be helpful in addressing a particular issue. They
then apply their practical skills to get the data and/or develop the new data
streams and make them available to the organization, making them an upstream
partner of data scientists and analysts.
Data hunters also play a
critical role in data governance and management. Because of their role making
data discoverable, data hunters can provide the feedback required to make sure
that data is maintained securely, which is a primary concern for most
government entities. They also need to be able to explain these issues to
others to ensure that data quality is maintained. Finally, they need the skills
to manipulate and manage data themselves to the required standards.
Data hunters are already an
important part of many data enterprises in the private sector. A recent webinar
from Forrester explored experience with data hunters among IT
professionals and found that nearly one-third of those on the webinar said that
their organization already had at least one data hunter role. Almost half (44%)
said that they had a formal process for sourcing external data. Though this
sample is not likely to be representative of the entire IT industry, it
certainly demonstrates early adoption of the new job role in the private sector
and is likely indicative that the trend will soon move to the federal
government, if it has not already.
The
Path Forward for Advanced Computing in Federal Government
Following the executive order
on artificial intelligence and the launch of AI.gov, the federal government is in a position to leverage
cutting-edge technologies to keep pace with citizens’ needs. To effectively
incorporate AI and ML technologies, however, agencies will require data hunters
to look beyond their traditional boundaries for data insights.
Data hunting can also help
solve challenges for federal benefits programs such as eligibility
verification. The government can take a “recipient-centric” approach that
incorporates contextual information from outside sources, in accordance with
privacy regulations, to understand when changes in a recipient’s life may have
altered their needs. Or in social services for example, child welfare
caseworkers assigned to families with children at risk of abuse or neglect can
make better-informed decisions when data external to the agency—like school
records, birth records and law enforcement/emergency services—can be brought to
bear to augment their internal data.
The ability to combine
internal and external data to glean deeper insights has myriad applications in
the public sector and will shape the way that the federal government’s services
are delivered moving forward.
In order to commemorate the “eleventh hour of the eleventh
day of the eleventh month” which marked the end of World War I, the United
States sets aside November 11th each year to honor those who have
served their county. Veterans Day, previously known as “Armistice Day,” is a
federal holiday reserved as a special time to express our gratitude for the
sacrifice that was made by our brothers and sisters both past and present for
our safety and freedom.
Sabre88 prides itself on holding firm to its core values, all
of which our Veterans embody. From our Veterans we see unrivaled and
inspirational teamwork and service to the community, we see cutting edge
technology and efficient communication, and we see accountability. This time of
year, all of us at Sabre88 tip our caps to those who have sacrificed everything
so that we can continue to honor and serve our customers and each other. We
would like to express our sincerest gratitude for the incredible men and women
whose actions have protected our freedoms and kept us safe.
At this time, we are proud to honor our very own Sabre88 Veterans:
https://sabre88.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/sabre88_bc_logo_trans-Copy.png00Nakira Whiteheadhttps://sabre88.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/sabre88_bc_logo_trans-Copy.pngNakira Whitehead2019-11-07 11:59:162021-03-24 16:07:42Sabre88 – Hats Off to the Veterans
U.S Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Jim Risch (R-ID)
introduced bipartisan legislation that would strengthen the Offices of Small
and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) which exist within each federal
agency to maximize contracting opportunities for small businesses.
Since many federal agencies have failed to fully
empower their OSDBUs and comply with the Small Business Act, the
Small Business Contracting Accountability Act would require those
non-compliant agencies to submit a report to the House and Senate Committees on
Small Business and Entrepreneurship detailing why the agency is not compliant,
as well as the specific actions that the agency will take to comply. Duckworth
serves on the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship.
“Small business are our nation’s job creators and
primary investors in our local economies, which is why it’s critical they have
a strong voice within our federal agencies,” Duckworth said. “I’m
glad to be working with Senator Risch on this bipartisan bill that would help
enforce existing law designed to enable small businesses across the country
better access contracting opportunities with the federal
government.”
“Many Federal agencies are required by law to maximize
opportunities to contract with America’s small businesses. When agency
officials fail to comply with the law, they should have to answer to the authorizing
committees,” said Risch. “I am proud to introduce the Small Business
Contracting Accountability Act of 2019, a bipartisan, common-sense approach
that will level the playing field for small businesses and hold Washington
bureaucrats accountable for failing to meet reasonable standards.”
Under the Small Business Contracting Accountability Act,
any non-compliant agency would have 120 days upon the enactment of this
legislation to submit their report, or 120 days after the Government
Accountability Office (GAO) submits another report on agency OSDBU compliance
to the Committees, whichever is later. If GAO issues another of these reports,
this legislation will also apply should the GAO find agencies non-compliant.
GAO is an independent, nonpartisan agency that provides Congress and federal
agencies with objective, reliable information.
https://sabre88.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/sabre88_bc_logo_trans-Copy.png00Nakira Whiteheadhttps://sabre88.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/sabre88_bc_logo_trans-Copy.pngNakira Whitehead2019-11-01 11:59:052021-03-24 16:12:00Tammy Duckworth and Jim Risch Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Promote Small Business Contracting Throughout the Federal Government
