On December 19, 1978, property and construction professionals gathered for a lunchtime carol service that raised $5,200 for homelessness and children's charities. Forty-seven years later, The Story of Christmas Appeal raised over $1.3 million in a single evening. The difference? They kept showing up, stayed focused, and treated seasonal generosity as the start of something bigger. What if your Christmas event became a decades-long commitment to your community?

Christmas is the most important season for nonprofits, but it only creates lasting impact when businesses treat giving as strategy, not charity. A recent Baltimore holiday giveaway serving 3,000 families shows what happens when corporate partners and nonprofits collaborate with real intention, infrastructure, and trust. Stronger communities. Stronger brands. Partnerships that last well past December.

Notre Dame went 10-2 and missed the College Football Playoff. Miami, same record, got in. The difference? Notre Dame's independence has become strategic isolation. While they protected autonomy, super-conferences built structural advantages into the system. Notre Dame secured a 2026 guarantee if ranked top 12, but the SEC and Big Ten now control the playoff format. When the rulebook changes again, will Notre Dame have a seat at the table or just another temporary deal?

Penn State's stalled coaching search reveals a critical business lesson: when one power broker controls your talent pipeline, you negotiate from behind. Super agent Jimmy Sexton has reportedly blocked Penn State's access to top candidates after the university fired his client James Franklin. The result? Two months without a hire while competitors filled vacancies in weeks. This isn't sports drama. It's what happens when a single gatekeeper owns your executive access.

Strategies nonprofits need for talent retention

Lane Kiffin's $91M LSU deal isn't just sports news—it's a masterclass in executive hiring. LSU pays $13M/year with 80% buyout protection and no mitigation clause. One coach now carries a CEO-level package in a market where coaching buyouts already top $100M per season. The lesson for business leaders? Your executive labor market may look less like your HR handbook and more like the SEC. A few roles truly move the scoreboard. If you don't know which roles are "Kiffin-level" an

AI is accelerating hiring decisions and legal exposure at the same pace. Recent studies confirm recruiters mirror AI biases, while new state laws in California, New York, Colorado, and Illinois now mandate regular audits, candidate notifications, and alternative assessments. The most common compliance failures: using unaudited tools, inadequate candidate notice, and letting AI serve as the primary decision-maker without proper human oversight.

The Society for Human Resource Management faces questions about its own workplace practices amid a federal lawsuit and internal concerns.​​​

This Thanksgiving, we're thinking about the leaders who chose to invest in their people. At UBC, we've seen organizations strengthen from within with better systems, clearer expectations, and strategic people plans that work. The results? Teams that thrive and performance that rises. To every client who trusted us with leadership searches, fractional HR, and workforce transformation, thank you. Looking ahead to 2025, we're ready to help you

When a single hire will determine commercial success or regulatory compliance, the process matters more than the job title. This post breaks down a real world approach to defining outcomes, mapping the micro-market, and creating a sourcing and onboarding plan that produces measurable impact.

AI has officially become the consulting industry’s great divide. According to McKinsey’s Superagency in the Workplace  report, nearly every major organization is investing in AI, but only 1 percent say they are mature in applying it. Boston Consulting Group’s Are You Generating Value from AI?  adds that firms using AI strategically are already outpacing competitors in both performance and profitability. The message is clear: AI alone is not the differentiator. Execution is. W

Hiring in nonprofits blends purpose with complexity. Leaders must balance faith-based values, cultural sensitivity, and legal compliance without losing sight of mission. At UBC, we help organizations navigate these tensions by creating HR frameworks that honor beliefs while meeting modern standards. Our approach ensures compliance, builds inclusive cultures, and aligns policies with daily practice, so purpose always leads.

Here's a 500-character insert for the blog: --- Breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women, but early detection saves lives. This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we encourage regular screenings, workplace education, and compassionate support for employees facing diagnosis. At UBC, we believe strong teams start with informed, supported individuals. Explore resources from the American Cancer Society and CDC to learn more about screening guidelines and

Why are funded nonprofits failing? In NYC, organizations like Catholic Charities shut down programs due to staff burnout, with turnover hitting 30%. The cause is not a lack of money; it is a broken HR model. This crisis is cutting essential community services nationwide, but some organizations have found a better way forward.

When you are building a company with 20 to 150 employees, every hire counts. The wrong hiring approach can slow momentum, drain...

The 4th of July reminds me that the heart of American business isn't just in Fortune 500 boardrooms, it's in the courage of entrepreneurs, the determination of small business owners, and the vision of nonprofits working to make their communities better. At UBC, our most rewarding partnerships have been with organizations that embody the American Dream in its purest form, proving that in America, you can still build something from nothing.

Celebrating 249 years of freedom and independence, which drive innovation and opportunity. Happy 4th of July!

The trades are short on talent and long on risk. Fractional HR keeps construction firms compliant, staffed, and project-ready.

Lessons from the field.