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MADISON, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--First Business Financial Services, Inc. (the “Company” or “First Business Bank”) (Nasdaq: FBIZ) announced its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend on its common stock of $0.29 per share which is equivalent to a dividend yield of 22% based on Friday’s market close price of $51.66. The quarterly dividend represents a 16% increase over the quarterly dividend declared in October 2024 and marks the 13th consecutive annual dividend raise. Based on

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- #ASW25--New data from PartnerCentric, the largest independent partnership marketing agency in the U.S., brings unprecedented transparency into publisher contributions amidst growing scrutiny of browser extensions. The latest addition to PartnerCentric’s innovative FUSE Incrementality™, Conversion Origination1, a measure added in 2024, is actively helping advertisers identify true sales drivers—not just last-click beneficiaries—ensuring fair compensation and stronger influence

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ELIQUENT Life Sciences (ELIQUENT), a global regulatory, quality, and safety consulting firm, today announced the appointment of Rob Wojciechowski as Chief Operations Officer (COO). In this new role, Rob will oversee the company’s strategic initiatives across its regulatory, quality, and compliance practice areas, further positioning ELIQUENT to meet the growing global demand for integrated regulatory, quality, and safety solutions across diverse markets. “Rob’s expe

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Braze (Nasdaq: BRZE), the leading customer engagement platform that empowers brands to Be Absolutely Engaging™, today announced a record for customer bookings in the quarter and fiscal year ended January 31, 2025 and a leadership change for the new fiscal year. Braze President and Chief Commercial Officer, Myles Kleeger, will be stepping down from his position after 10 years of exceptional leadership in the role. Kleeger will remain available to the company as Preside

MILWAUKEE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fiserv, Inc. (NYSE: FI), a leading global provider of payments and financial services technology, has published the Fiserv Small Business Index for January 2025. Nationally, the seasonally adjusted Index for January was 147, a one-point increase from December. Sales growth persisting through January was a welcome start to the new year for small businesses, many of which were coming off a strong holiday season. Businesses in the services sector had a particularly stro

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Santander Bank, N.A. (“Santander Bank” or “the Bank”) today announced that the Openbank digital bank platform topped $2 billion in total deposits* since going to market in the United States in the fourth quarter of 2024. This achievement represents a significant milestone in the Santander US business strategy to efficiently boost national deposit acquisition that will fuel its leading Auto lending franchise and transform its Retail Bank. The business also launched a 202

HOUSTON & DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Renegade Infrastructure LLC (“Renegade”) today announced an inaugural equity capital commitment from management and Energy Spectrum Partners VIII LP (“Energy Spectrum”). Headquartered in Houston and established in late 2024, Renegade is an independent energy company focused on the development and/or acquisition of midstream energy infrastructure for oil and gas producers operating in various basins across North America. Renegade is pursuing acquisition opportu

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Schulte Roth & Zabel (“Schulte” or “the firm”), a leading global law firm focused on private capital, is pleased to announce that John Fitzgerald has joined the firm as a partner in the Investment Management Group in the New York office. With nearly 25 years of experience, John is a highly regarded authority in the Investment Company Act of 1940 ("the ‘40 Act") and related investment products. His deep knowledge will support the growing demand from private investm

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CW Advisors, LLC (“CWA”), a registered investment advisor (“RIA”), headquartered in Boston, announces it has acquired Aspire Wealth Management, Inc. (“Aspire”) and Fernwood Investment Management, LLC (“Fernwood”). Aspire, located in Waltham, Massachusetts, and Fernwood, located in Quincy, Massachusetts, both serve high-net-worth clients, providing financial planning and investment management. The deals add more than $800 million in assets under management to CWA. Terms

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Chimera Investment Corporation (NYSE: CIM) announced that on January 31, 2025 it had sponsored CIM 2025-I1, a $287.7 million securitization of residential mortgage investor loans. The loans had a weighted average coupon of 7.9%, with weighted average FICO scores of 748, and LTV ratio of 64%. Securities issued by CIM 2025-I1, with an aggregate balance of approximately $275.7 million, were sold in a private placement to institutional investors. These senior securities r

WASHINGTON & LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Greenhall Capital Partners, LLC (“Greenhall”), an operationally-focused control private equity firm that pursues buyouts in the middle market, today announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Johnson Communications, LLC (“Johnson” or the “Company”), a leading digital infrastructure wireless service provider that specializes in rural fiber-optic telecom deployment. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The acquisition recognizes J

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The suit alleges defendants issued false statements re: ModivCare business and prospects, resulting in its stock trading at inflated prices.

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ares Management Corporation (NYSE: ARES) (“Ares”), a leading global alternative investment manager, announced today that its Ares European Strategic Income Fund (“AESIF”), an open-ended direct lending fund providing individual investors in Europe and Asia with access to Ares’ European direct lending strategy, exceeded €2.2 billion in total assets in its first full year, supported by capital raised primarily through the wealth channel. AESIF, first available to individua

MURFREESBORO, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Helix Traffic Solutions (“Helix”), a leading provider of traffic safety solutions throughout the United States, has announced its strategic acquisition of Mels Electric, based in Wilmer, Texas. The acquisition strengthens Helix’s position as a preferred traffic safety infrastructure partner for municipalities and roadway contractors and expands the company’s existing footprint in Texas. Transaction terms were not disclosed. Helix is majority-owned by Nonant

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ares Management Corporation (NYSE: ARES) (“Ares”), a leading global alternative investment manager, announced today that its Ares European Strategic Income Fund (“AESIF”), an open-ended direct lending fund providing individual investors in Europe and Asia with access to Ares’ European direct lending strategy, exceeded €2.2 billion in total assets in its first full year, supported by capital raised primarily through the wealth channel. AESIF, first available to individua

MONTEREY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kubota dealerships ranked highest in the 2025 Pied Piper PSI® Internet Lead Effectiveness® (ILE®) Compact Tractor Industry Study

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--XX-XY Athletics, the first athletic brand to stand up for women, launches "Real Girls Rock," a Big Game Ad honoring girls and women in sport.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)---- $IIPR #ClassAction--Attorney Advertising--Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized law firm, notifies investors that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. (“IIPR” or “the Company”) (NYSE: IIPR) and certain of its officers. Class Definition This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acqui

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)---- $FTAI #FTAI--Attorney Advertising--Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized law firm, notifies investors that a class action lawsuit has been filed against FTAI Aviation Ltd. (“FTAI Aviation” or “the Company”) (NASDAQ: FTAI) and certain of its officers. Class Definition This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired FTAI

In today’s fast-paced, chaotic business environment, it’s easy to lose your footing. Companies that embrace purpose as their guiding North Star are navigating the chaos and thriving in it – outperforming competitors, inspiring employees, and building lasting connections with customers.

What is Purpose?

Purpose is the guiding “why” that aligns your team, clarifies decision-making, and propels your business forward. A well-defined purpose creates resilience, focus, and growth without sacrificing efficiency or profitability. For businesses striving to navigate complexity, purpose is not just a nicety; it’s a necessity.

The Power of Business Purpose

According to a Harvard Business Review study, purpose-driven businesses grow three times faster than their competitors. They also experience 46% higher market share growth and see measurable gains in employee engagement, customer loyalty, and innovation. This is because purpose cuts through the noise and chaos; it gives business owners, managers, and teams clarity about what matters most.

Some Benefits of Purpose   

1. Employee Engagement and Retention – Purpose attracts, aligns, and retains talent with your business. When 70% of employees define their personal value through work, purpose-driven businesses should tap into this intrinsic motivation. Further, engaged employees are more productive and likely to advocate for your business, which is crucial for successful growth and organizational change.

2. Customer Loyalty and Market Position – Purpose can be a great differentiator in crowded markets as customers decide why they should choose your brand. Customers increasingly demand that companies act with integrity and make a positive impact. A purpose that resonates with customers and employees drives purchase, loyalty, repeat business, and perhaps premium pricing and referrals, which drive growth and profitability.

3. Resilience and Long-Term Growth – Purpose provides a compass and stabilizing force during challenging periods of disruption and change. It helps owners and managers prioritize, make tough decisions, better align teams and resources, and enable leaders to focus on profitable, strategic growth. According to multiple long-term studies, companies with a clear purpose outperform competitors by 40%.

Please share other benefits you have incurred by having a purpose driving your business.

Challenges of Purpose

1. Defining purpose is not easy. It must be real, not performative. A founder’s vision often drives purpose – simple, singular, and straightforward. Think about why – the cause or belief that drives your business.

2. Purpose must evolve as the business grows; purpose becomes more complex and must be integrated into strategy, culture, and operations, ensuring it informs everything from hiring and product/offering development to customer service and decision-making. To clarify a multifaceted purpose, consider these dimensions: the overarching reason the business exists, how the business solves problems or provides solutions for customers, and the key principles that guide decisions and behaviors. A multifaceted approach ensures that purpose is both unifying and adaptable, aligning your business across its growing complexity

Stakeholder Expectations

Business owners and managers often must balance diverse expectations from customers, employees, suppliers/vendors, investors, and other stakeholders. Purpose can be a standard, unifying thread that aligns stakeholders without compromising your business’ focus.

Summary, the purpose is your most significant competitive advantage. It grounds your business, aligns your team, and focuses your growth. Business owners and managers who embrace purpose find it easier to navigate the complexities of scaling, turning chaos into clarity and confusion into focus.

To succeed, define your purpose, commit to it, and watch your business thrive.