Think Consulting

Data Centers: Rapid Growth and Challenges As data centers are rapidly expanding, the demand for electricity is becoming a real concern. Recently, the expansion of data center infrastructure has led to remarkable growth, however this has highlighted critical issues regarding the energy supply. Data centers consume 10 to 50 times the energy per floor space compared to typical commercial office buildings, according to the U.S. Energy Department. A large data center can require 100 megawatts or more, with some proposals even projecting up to 1,000 megawatts; enough to power 6,000 to 8,000 homes!  Currently, data centers account for over 4% of the total U.S. electricity load but that number could rise to 9% by 2030. A large portion of this growth can be attributed to the rapidly increasing use of AI which demands roughly 10 times the power of traditional internet searches, while generating AI-created music, photos, and videos requires even more. This increasing demand poses a significant challenge for the existing power grid and sustainable development. As the demand for electricity is becoming greater and greater, significant upgrades to the electrical infrastructure will be required, specifically in areas that are planning data center expansion. Stay tuned... #DataCenters #Data #Energy #Power #Innovate #Infrastructure #Business #Projects #Electricity #ElectricalInfrastructure  

Movie Theaters BIG Week Movie Theaters worldwide have had a great week thanks to Deadpool and Wolverine! After one week at the box office, Forbes reports that the Marvel Studios movie is already slated to become the second-biggest film of 2024 behind Inside Out 2. In addition, by the end of last weekend, the film officially became the highest-grossing R-rated movie ever in the U.S. & Canada. Depending on how ticket sales continue, it could get close to Joker for the title of biggest R-rated movie in global box office history. For fans that are waiting to stream the movie at home, they may be waiting a while! Due to the film's ongoing box office success, it likely won’t be available on the Disney Streaming platform for at least three months, so at-home streaming fans may have to wait until late October or later. For movie theaters, Investopedia reports Deadpool & Wolverine ticket sales have been a big boost for an industry still experiencing attendance well below pre-pandemic levels. Hollywood closed July with its best month in a year and its first $1 billion month since July 2023. However, even with the big month, there are still reminders of the slow start to the year as AMC Theatres posted a $32.8 million loss for the second quarter of 2024. https://lnkd.in/eC4FEXYj https://lnkd.in/eMQ3AJvm https://lnkd.in/evCGRZDq

Emerging Technologies Series: Beta Technologies BETA TECHNOLOGIES (BETA) is at the forefront of revolutionizing the aviation industry with its cutting-edge electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Headquartered in Burlington, Vermont, they have quickly emerged as a leader in sustainable aviation solutions, pushing the boundaries of what electric aircraft can achieve. BETA is dedicated to developing eVTOL aircraft that offer a more sustainable alternative to traditional aviation. Their flagship project, ALIA-250, is a testament to their innovative approach. The ALIA-250 is designed to transport cargo and passengers with zero emissions, making it a crucial player in the transition to cleaner, more efficient air travel. Their ALIA-250 prototype represents a significant milestone in BETA journey, boasting several unique features: Vertical Takeoff and Landing: The eVTOL capability allows the ALIA-250 to take off and land in confined spaces, eliminating the need for traditional runways and expanding its operational potential. Efficient Design: With a fixed-wing design and distributed electric propulsion, the ALIA-250 is optimized for energy efficiency and range. Its innovative design allows it to achieve higher speeds and longer distances than many other eVTOL aircraft. Battery Technology: The ALIA-250 is powered by advanced lithium-ion batteries that provide the necessary energy density and longevity for commercial operations. BETA is continually researching and developing improved battery systems to enhance performance further. In 2021, BETA entered a partnership with UPS to develop electric cargo aircraft. This collaboration aims to transform the logistics industry by introducing more sustainable and efficient delivery methods. Beyond cargo, they are exploring various applications for their eVTOL technology, including medical transport and regional air mobility. These solutions can significantly reduce travel times and emissions for short-to-medium haul flights. Sustainability has always been at the core of the BETA mission. By developing electric aircraft, they are addressing the aviation industry's environmental impact. Their eVTOL aircraft are designed to operate quietly and efficiently, reducing noise pollution and reliance on fossil fuels. Moving forward, BETA will continue to innovate and expand its capabilities. With ongoing research and development, their goal is to enhance their eVTOL aircraft's performance, range, and affordability. Their vision is to create a future where electric aviation is commonplace, contributing to a cleaner and more connected world. They are positioned as leaders in the future of aviation, and we’ll be watching! https://www.beta.team/ #AviationInnovation #EmergingTechnology  

The End of an Era Last week, Southwest Airlines announced that the discount airline will be making several changes to their service in 2025. The most intriguing change is that after 50+ years, they will be ending their “open seating” policy on flights, which differentiated them from every other commercial airline.     For many, the question is, why would they make this change after all this time? In a press release, Southwest cited extensive research and customer preference, specifically on longer flights. Their research was definitive with an overwhelming 80% of current customers and 86% of potential customers in favor of an assigned seat. Of course, this will change their existing boarding process but Southwest is confident that the new process will not compromise their existing operational efficiency. The decision to update the seating and boarding model is part of their ongoing modernization efforts. https://lnkd.in/gQT8EgK2 What do you think of this policy change? Please vote in our poll below: 

Work-Life Balance Friday Happy Friday! As we continue our journey toward a balanced and fulfilling life, this week’s tip focuses on relaxation techniques to help you unwind after a busy week. Inspired by Calm, we would like to share the benefits of using music and breathing exercises to unwind after a busy week. Listening to soothing music or sounds helps to create a peaceful atmosphere to reduce stress. Along with that, practicing deep breathing exercises can further calm your mind and body. Practicing deep breathing regularly can build a consistent sense of calm and relaxation, making it easier to manage anxiety when it arises. To maximize your relaxation, choose a setting that you are most comfortable in, and let the calming sounds and breathing exercises help you ease into your weekend. #Calm #WorkWeek #Weekend #Friday #Balance #Wellness #HealthyHabits 

C-Suite Succession Planning Succession planning for C-Level Executives is a critical organizational function that is often overlooked until it is necessary. In these cases, organizations must scramble to catch up on plans that should have already been implemented. Succession planning for executives should be a carefully developed organizational plan, creating a strategic, ongoing process to identify and develop existing team members. These plans must align with the board’s vison for the organization and the priorities of the business and should be implemented for all C-level positions in advance, in case of a sudden leadership departure. When the time does arrive to replace a member of the C-suite, internal and external candidates should be evaluated to ensure the successor is the most appropriate executive for the position. Making the wrong hire or promotion can set your organization back months or even years. Do you have questions about succession planning? Our team can answer your questions and help build a framework for a successful, strategic succession plan. Contact the Think team: https://lnkd.in/ejwMR8UB #LeadershipDevelopment #SuccessionPlanning #TalentManagement #LeadershipPipeline #LeadershipTransition #LeadershipSuccession #OrganizationalGrowth #FutureReady   

Here at Think, several times a week, we get the question, “What exactly do you do?”. As simple as that question sounds, the answer usually takes a while! The reason the answer isn’t as simple as the question is because as Think has continued to grow over our 20 years, our services have as well. Over those years, we’ve come a long way from a few specific offerings to a much larger, more complex lineup of services. Along the way, our team has grown from a small group to a large team with diverse skill sets, industry backgrounds, and experience that gives us the ability to collaborate, solve and execute on our client’s most critical challenges. Today, our list of services includes: ·      Management Consulting & Executive Advisory ·      Project Management Office Solutions ·      Digital Transformation ·      Human Capital Management - Strategic Hiring & Organizational Alignment ·      TSA Execution & Integration Management ·      Project Rescue ·      M&A/ PMI ·      Innovation ·      Growth & Value Creation ·      Sales Transformation & Acceleration Whatever challenges your organization may be facing, the Think team is ready to roll up our sleeves to move your organization forward. Contact us directly at: https://lnkd.in/ejwMR8UB #ManagementConsulting #Executive Advisory #HumanCapitalManagement #StrategicHiring #OrganizationalAlignment #M&A #PMI #ProjectManagement #PMO #DigitalTransformation #Growth #ValueCreation #Innovation #ProjectRescue #SalesTransformation #SalesAcceleration

Global Tech Outage This morning, a WIRED article outlined a massive, global tech outage impacting Microsoft devices that was triggered by a software updated pushed out to customers by cybersecurity company, CrowdStrike. This specific outage is unique for several reasons: ·      The size: The outage is massive, impacting users globally ·      The reason: The outage does not appear to be malicious cyberattack, rather from a “misconfigured/corrupted update” pushed directly to customers from CrowdStrike.    ·      The systems impacted: The outage, so far, only appears to be impacting devices running Microsoft Windows, not other operating systems.    Here at Think, our first instinct was to huddle internally to discuss if any of our clients have been impacted and how we can help them. Due to the nature of the outage, our current options are limited to disaster recovery advisory for managing the incident from all angles instead of just the IT facing remediation, similar to how we work with clients that have experienced a breach. Of course, we’ll continue to monitor the situation and are hopeful that it will be remediated as soon as possible. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our team: https://lnkd.in/ejwMR8UB https://lnkd.in/g_aBryJ8 #TechCrisis #OutageAlert #SystemFailure #GlobalOutage #SystemDown

Yesterday, the Think Team attended the AFCEA Central Florida July 2024 Monthly Luncheon. Grace Douglas and Jacob Meyer continued to make connections in the group and enjoyed the DEA presentation. Grace commented, "Mike Furgason gave an insightful presentation on drug crimes in the US, and how the DEA is constantly battling the war on drugs. His passion to educate and protect students, hospitals, and the general public is inspiring!” #Networking #TampaBusiness #CentralFlorida #AFCEA