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Business, Editor's Picks, Experts, Financial

Closing the Employment Gap – How Local Companies Are Missing Out on Disability Inclusion

Miami is known for its booming economy, vibrant culture, and diverse workforce, but there’s a silent issue plaguing many of its businesses: the failure to embrace disability inclusion. Professionals with disabilities represent an untapped talent pool that local companies continue to overlook, leaving these businesses at a competitive disadvantage. This oversight not only highlights a lack of inclusivity but also signifies an economic missed opportunity. However, Miami could lead the way in disability inclusion in the future. In Miami-Dade County, the unemployment rate for people with disabilities stands at 15.6%, affecting nearly 9,775 individuals ​(Florida Chamber of Commerce). Compare that with the general population, where employment rates are far higher, and a stark disparity emerges. What this means for Miami, a city known for breaking boundaries, is that we are missing out on a large pool of untapped talent—professionals whose skills could drive innovation and diversity in our economy. The Untapped Potential of Blind Professionals Blind, visually impaired as well as other professionals with disabilities offer unique perspectives that can lead to breakthrough solutions in the workplace. Studies have shown that diverse teams, including those with individuals who have disabilities, tend to outperform their peers. A report by Accenture in partnership with Disability-In and The American Foundation for the Blind found that companies with inclusive hiring practices experienced a 28% increase in revenue and doubled their net income compared to their competitors. Yet, despite this compelling business case, blind professionals remain underrepresented. Nationally, while 70% of the general population is employed, only 44% of working-age blind adults have jobs​. Miami, in particular, lags in this area, and addressing this gap is not only a matter of equity but also of economic strategy. Why Miami Is Poised to Lead As the Magic City continues to grow as a hub for tech, finance, and tourism, now is the time for local businesses to step up and embrace the talents of people with disabilities. Miami’s commitment to diversity positions the city to become a leader in disability inclusion, setting an example for other metropolitan areas. But what will it take to bridge this employment gap? First, we must challenge outdated misconceptions about the productivity and capabilities of blind professionals. One persistent myth is that hiring people with disabilities is costly. However, research from the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) reveals that the average one-time cost of accommodations is just $500 ​as per the study. In many cases, no accommodations are required at all, and when they are, they often lead to higher productivity and retention, benefiting the entire workforce. Real-World Success Stories Several global companies have already paved the way, proving that hiring blind professionals is not only feasible but advantageous. Microsoft, for example, has developed accessibility tools that allow blind employees to work more efficiently, contributing to the company’s broader innovation goals​ (Bureau of Labor Statistics). Amazon has also been a leader in this space, partnering with the American Foundation for the Blind to implement features like screen readers and voice-activated shopping assistants that benefit both employees and customers​. The Miami Business Community: A Call to Action For Miami to fully capitalize on the talent of blind professionals, local businesses must take proactive steps. Dr. Kirk Adams, a leading advocate for the inclusion of professionals with disabilities and former CEO of the American Foundation for the Blind, has emphasized that businesses have much to gain from employing individuals with disabilities. His research highlights the tangible benefits, including enhanced innovation and problem-solving capabilities, that blind professionals bring to the table​. “The integration of professionals with disabilities into the workforce is not just a matter of social good—it’s a business imperative. These individuals bring diverse perspectives that can catalyze innovation and drive significant organizational change”. So, how can Miami’s businesses make these changes? The first step is education. Dr. Kirk Adams suggests that leaders need to invest in training programs for management and human resources teams to reduce bias and improve understanding of disability inclusion. Miami, with its thriving business community, can benefit from forming partnerships with organizations like the National Federation of the Blind and local advocacy groups. These collaborations will provide invaluable resources and expertise on accessible hiring practices​. Building an Inclusive Workforce in Miami Creating an inclusive workforce requires more than just compliance with legal mandates. It involves fostering a corporate culture where diversity is celebrated, and all employees feel valued for their contributions. Local businesses can lead this movement by offering accessible technology and flexible working arrangements. Not only does this create a more inclusive environment for blind professionals, but it also improves the overall workplace culture, enhancing job satisfaction for everyone. In a city as dynamic as Miami, where creativity and diversity fuel our economic engine, there is no reason why individuals with disabilities should remain on the sidelines. The data is clear: inclusive workplaces are more innovative, productive, and financially successful. It’s time for Miami’s business leaders to harness the potential of blind professionals and make our city a national leader in disability inclusion. A Roadmap for the Future Miami stands at a crossroads. We can either continue to allow outdated perceptions to hold us back, or we can embrace the future by recognizing the value that blind and visually impaired professionals bring to the workforce. The path to inclusion may require some initial investment, but the rewards—both economic and social—are undeniable. Miami can lead the way, showing the world that diversity and inclusion are not just buzzwords but the keys to our continued success.

Apple Intelligence
Business, Experts, Tech

Apple and OpenAI: Why Embracing AI is No Longer Optional

The recent partnership between Apple and OpenAI has already made headlines, signaling a significant leap forward in the integration of artificial intelligence into our daily lives. However, the real story isn’t just about the technological advancements. It’s about why this partnership underscores the imperative for everyone—individuals, businesses, and entire industries—to fully embrace AI now. The era of artificial intelligence is here, and it’s as integral to our future as the air we breathe. AI: The New Essential Artificial intelligence is no longer a futuristic concept; it’s a present reality that’s reshaping every aspect of our world. The Apple-OpenAI partnership is a clear indication that AI is now a fundamental component of modern technology. It’s embedded in the devices we use, the services we rely on, and the infrastructure that supports our lives. Ignoring its potential is no longer an option. Why You Need to Embrace AI Now The Role of Organizations Like the Global AI Council In this rapidly evolving landscape, organizations like the Global AI Council play a crucial role. They are not just observers; they are active participants shaping the ethical, responsible, and inclusive development of AI. “The Apple-OpenAI partnership signifies a monumental step forward in the integration of AI into our daily lives,” said Diana Lammerts, Global Director of Communications for the Global AI Council. “By combining their strengths, Apple and OpenAI are not only driving technological progress but also setting new standards for ethical AI deployment and user privacy. Organizations like the Global AI Council are essential in this journey, ensuring that AI development benefits all of humanity while adhering to the highest ethical standards.” Why AI Educational Organizations are Important and How We Benefit Today’s Announcement: Apple Intelligence and OpenAI In their latest announcement, Apple introduced Apple Intelligence, a suite of AI-driven features integrated across their product line. This initiative exemplifies how AI can enhance user experience and device functionality. By leveraging OpenAI’s technologies, Apple is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, making their devices smarter and more intuitive. What’s next? The message is clear: AI is here to stay, and its integration into our lives is inevitable. The time to start working with AI is now. Whether you’re an individual looking to improve your daily life, a business aiming to stay competitive, or an industry leader driving innovation, embracing AI is crucial. As we move forward, it’s essential to engage with AI thoughtfully and responsibly. The Global AI Council and other organizations are committed to guiding this journey, ensuring that the development and deployment of AI are aligned with ethical standards and benefit all of humanity. The future is AI-powered.

Beauty, Experts, MSM Online, Skin Care

One on One with Skin Care Expert Dr. Aaron Kosins

Dr. Aaron Kosins holds a dual Medical Degree (M.D.) and a Masters degree in Business Administration (MBA) in Entrepreneurship. He is a highly credentialed expert on skin care, cosmetic dermatology, plastic and cosmetic surgery and medical aesthetics. He is also highly regarded for his expertise in Rhinoplasty and Breast & Body Contouring and frequently attends prestigious conferences around the world to speak about new techniques and technologies. In addition to operating a thriving surgical practice in Newport Beach, California, Dr. Kosins has trained extensively with acclaimed skincare pioneer, Dr. Zein Obagi and is a co-owner of ZO Skin Centre at Fashion Island, Newport Beach.  MSM caught up with Dr. Kosins for an in depth interview about plastic surgery, the dos and don’ts, the hype and the facts about non-invasive treatments and much more.   Why did you choose to become a plastic surgeon?  I chose to become a Plastic Surgeon because when I was a student, the Plastic Surgeons did the most incredible surgeries I had ever seen.  During the first surgery I ever watched, there was a patient that had a cancer of his jaw bone.  After it was removed, the guy had almost no jaw.  Then, I watched the surgeons transfer a patient’s leg bone to become their part of their jaw!  I thought, “How cool was that?  I want to be able to do that.” When women choose a plastic surgeon what are the key essentials to look out for? The number one essential is to look at your Plastic Surgeon’s reputation.  It is one thing to get a referral from a friend, but you want to make sure that he/she has a good reputation in the community AND in the medical community.  You can go online, look at reviews, view his/her website, etc.  Second, you want to make sure that the surgeon is a specialist in the particular procedure that you want.  In my practice, I specialize in rhinoplasty as well as breast and body contouring.  You can go on my website and look at hundreds of before/after photos.  The surgeon should understand your wishes, be able to communicate well, and then show you dozens of patients that he/she has worked on with your same issues. You are known as one of the best there is in the field of the so called “nose-job”. While the excellent ones can not even be spotted we see way too many bad ones or one that leaves the face more symmetrical but also more boring with no edge. What’s important about getting the right nose job and what is unique about your approach? Rhinoplasty is a true specialty within Plastic Surgery.  It is the most difficult operation that we do, and every single nose has different features that require a more sophisticated way of creating a beautiful result.  If you are interested in getting a rhinoplasty, you need to do your homework and go to a rhinoplasty specialist – a surgeon who devotes more than 50% of his/her practice to this operation.  Look at the doctor’s before/after photos and credentials.  Make sure he/she is board certified.  Look at the educational piece, meaning that you want a surgeon that is on the cutting edge of the specialty.  I spend one week out of every month either lecturing nationally or internationally.  I then spend time with the best surgeon in that state or country.  Learning and improving is the most important thing a rhinoplasty surgeon can do.  He/she should also be an active participant in forwarding the specialty.  As the editor of the rhinoplasty section of the Aesthetic Surgery Journal, I see all the news advances coming across the board.  This is hugely beneficial in making sure that I keep getting better and better. Two new things about my approach that are unique are Piezosurgery and the treatment of patients with difficult skin.  I no longer “break” my patients’ bones.  Piezosurgery is an existing technology that we have just now started to use in rhinoplasty.  Small saws are used that cut bone but not skin.  So I can move a patient’s bones (to narrow or straighten the nose) without trauma.  This is more accurate and causes less swelling and bruising.  Also this year I have been giving a lot of lectures on treating people who have thick and oily skin.  These patients often get suboptimal results because the skin acts like a thick blanket and little definition can be seen.  Using creams and sometimes medication I have been able to shrink the soft tissue/skin of the nose and this has been proven with ultrasound.  Both of these things are totally new and exciting to offer to my patients. What about the non-surgical nose job many doctors offer now which only uses derma fillers to shape the nose? I am not a fan of this for a few reasons.  First, the nose is full of blood vessels and in the wrong hands, filler can cause whole subunits of the nose to turn black and die!  At every rhinoplasty meeting I go to there is lectures on how to deal with filler complications.  Also, filler is soft and the nose consists of bone and cartilage.  The unique definition of the nose can’t really be achieved by injecting soft, gelatinous material.  Even in the best hands these procedures need to be repeated 2-3 times per year.  If you think about this, it is extremely expensive over time with suboptimal results.  Because of this, I have NEVER put filler in the nose.  In fact, I am seeing a whole new group of patients who need surgical rhinoplasty after having bad “non-surgical” or filler rhinoplasty.  I have to melt the filler (if possible) before surgery or remove it during surgery before I can create the ideal nose. We all see there is a great push by beauty docs to get more biz by pushing non-suriginal procedures, some of those patients then later stay with that doc for surgical procedures. What is your take on this? In general, I just don’t buy it.  The face ages in 3 ways – the skin ages,

Beauty, Experts, LIFESTYLE, Makeup & Hair, MSM Online

6 Halloween Makeup Inspirations From The Pros

By Gisel Habibnejad Halloween is not just about the costumes anymore. The better the face makeup, the more realistic and, let’s face it—just plain awesome. You can turn the most basic costume into something unique with a twist, like a zombie ballerina or a vampire Elvis Presley. Of course, you’ll need the right products… None of those oily paints that come from costume stores. Something professional will ensure a long-lasting effect for all your hard work.  The talented makeup artists at MAC show us how we can turn boring costumes into beautiful art with these six creative looks. 1. Egyptian Goddess by Schuron Womack 2. Pop Icon by Lyle Reimer 3. Ice Queen by Lacie Dawn 4. Black Cat by Tu Dang 5. Day of the Dead by Marissa Jade Willinsky 6. Zombie by Matt King

Beauty, Digital Edition, Experts, Makeup & Hair, The Issue

Rob Scheppy: Shimmery Shadows & Matte Makeup

CELEBRITY MAKEUP ARTIST LAUNCHES ‘TINI BEAUTY SHADOW PALETTE By Gisel Habibnejad Rob Scheppy, makeup artist and hair stylist to the stars, is anything but ordinary when it comes to makeup. He’s behind the show-stopping makeup trends seen on everyone from the Kardashians to Heidi Klum to Mariah Carey, and so much more. What began as small gigs in Miami took him all the way to Los Angeles where he grew his high profile clientele list. Now, women everywhere can finally be blessed with his magical touch by using his latest makeup venture – Rob Scheppy for ‘Tini Beauty Shadow Palette ($39.50). Rob’s love for makeup and beauty products began as a child, “I grew up in a house full of sisters so I was exposed early to makeup and beauty products, and became fascinated.” His first big break came when he was working at a fashion show, where he was approached with the opportunity to work at the 2008 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in Miami. At the show, he was also granted the opportunity to do makeup for celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian, and Kristin Cavallari. Now, let’s talk about his highly sought after eye shadow palette! Rob Scheppy for ‘Tini Beauty Shadow Palette contains an array of shades that can easily be transformed from day to night, all in one palette. “I wanted a palette of my must-haves as an artist – versatile shades that can be mixed and matched and used in different combinations to create a custom look for any occasion.” What’s his favorite combination of shadows, you ask? Cinnamon-Tini and White Russian. ‘Tini Beauty colors are famously named after cocktails, and this palette is no exception. Rob and the ‘Tini Beauty team researched cocktail names to match each color. Use the matte shades for a daytime look, then switch it up with the shimmery tones for that Hollywood glam nighttime gleam. For summer, his favorite trend is “the warm, subtle shimmer of Rosé Champagne on the lid, on the crease, and along the lash line. Combine this with a dab of Pearl Fizz in the inner corners and brow bones. So easy, fresh, and alluring.” The colors can be used dry, for shadow application and blending; or wet, as an upper lash line eyeliner. To get the best results and use from his palette, he recommends Tweezerman’s shadow brushes to apply and blend the colors when dry. If used as liner, the angled brush works best to get that precise cat-eyed look when wet. Rob has done makeup for a variety of clients and media outlets, such as commercials, major ad campaigns, music videos, TV shows, and more. But, his favorites have to be magazines and weddings, “major magazine covers always make me proud, but being chosen to do clients’ weddings have to be the most meaningful.” His favorite beauty icon is Madonna. He always feels inspired by her trendsetting ways as a risk-taker, re-inventor, and artist. When asked if he would partner up with other beauty brands in the future, he responded positively with: “I love all things makeup, so you never know!” We can’t wait to see what the future holds for this talented artist. The Rob Scheppy for ‘Tini Beauty Shadow Palette is available at tinibeauty.com

Experts, Makeup & Hair, MSM Online

Miss Universe Style Illuminate Hair Care Line by CHI

By Gisel Habibnejad In case you missed it last night’s Miss Universe pageant, Miss Venezuela passed down her crown to Miss Colombia. Each contestant reigned from every part of the world, representing their unique cultures but they did have one thing in common – CHI Haircare styling products. Owner of CHI and Biosilk, Farouk Systems came up with an exclusive Miss Universe Style Illuminate Hair Care Line which was used to style each one of their beautiful tresses. So, do you want to know their beauty secrets? If you want to dry your hair faster while adding heat protectant, use the Set the Stage Blow Dry Spray ($15). Before curling your hair, apply the Work Your Style Flexible Hair Spray ($16). This amazing spray locks in your curls without leaving residue or making your hair stiff! When you’re finished using the Confidently Beautiful Titanium Curling Iron, add extra shine with the Moringa and Macadamia Oil ($15) to your crown worthy hair. If you prefer to go straight, their Confidently Beautiful Titanium Hairstyling Iron ($139.95) will do the trick. You can still add that Miss Universe big hair flare by flipping the iron on your ends. Don’t forget to finish off your look with the Spotlight Shine Spray ($15)! It can be applied on your hair and skin to give you that ultimate stage-friendly glow. The entire CHI Miss Universe Style Illuminate Hair Care Line can be purchased through www.missuniverse.com

Beauty, Experts, Makeup & Hair, MSM Online

Red Carpet Hair 2015 Predictions by CHI

By Gisel Habibnejad With red carpet season rapidly approaching, viewers anxiously await to see what the stars are wearing and the new beauty trends that will soon make their mark in the fashion world. Thankfully, CHI already made some predictions that we can swoon over until the first award show this Sunday.     “We will see romantic, soft waves with side parts for long and short hair,” says Tammy Mixon, Farouk Systems Global Board Artist and lead Hair Artist for Miss Universe. She uses BioSilk Silk Therapy and BioSilk Volumizing Therapy Texturizing Powder to achieve this look.                       One of the easiest and popular hair styles making its way on recent red carpets is the braid. It is the perfect way to complement a gorgeous gown to accomplish the “I didn’t have to try this hard to look this good” look. Lorena Garcia, Farouk Systems Creative Artist says, “waves will also dominate the award ceremonies – but will be sleek waves – nothing messy, as well as straight sleek looks, combed straight back or with a down the center part.”     Overall, I think it’s safe to say that when it comes to hair, simple yet elegant will always win this season.

Beauty, Experts

Breast Augmentation: Which Implant Is Best For Me?

  By Dr. Johnny Franco MD Breast augmentation was the most common cosmetic procedure performed by plastic surgeons in 2013 with almost 300,000 augmentations and this number continues to grow every year. It has become so popular as patients are extremely happy and the recovery is very easy. The hardest part of the process for women is deciding what implant size they wish to be after the augmentation. Patients most commonly say that they want to be the infamous “full C” or that they just want to be “natural but full.” These terms are not very descriptive and can mean a lot things to different people. I once had a patient tell me she wanted to be natural and then sent me a picture of Pamela Anderson as an example of what she wanted to look like after the surgery. There are several ways that I help patients decide which implant is best for them as no one implant is perfect for everyone. One of the benefits that women have today that was not available to them 10 years ago is the large range of options in implants. The first thing I have patients do when they are trying to decide on implants is actually try the implants on with bra and tank top. This gives patients a real feel for the size and weight of the actual implants. The newest method for helping patients decide on the correct implant is 3D imaging. This technology allows a patient to have her picture taken and then a virtual simulation is done so that the patient can see what they would look like with various implants. This is a great option if you don’t have a twin sister that has already had a breast augmentation as implants look different from patient to patient. The virtual technology allows the patient and surgeon to have a discussion about the look and size they desire after the procedure. The virtual simulations are available to patients after the consultation so that they can go back and look at the different virtual images for each size they are contemplating. Patients can view the images on their home computer, ipad or smart phone. Technology continues to make breast augmentation easier for patients. 3D imaging has improved the process for patients making the decision on what implant much easier. HAVE QUESTIONS? ASK DR. FRANCO: Johnny Franco MD jfranco@miamiplasticsurgery.com Miami Plastic Surgery www.miamiplasticsurgery.com Click here to view post on the July/August 2014 issue.

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