🪴Plant lady cashes out; UTA model improves cancer cure rate; Golf balls flagged

817 BIZ is a free newsletter bringing you a quick read of local business info every Mon, Wed and Fri. Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up and get the next issue with this link. If this email doesn’t look right, click the link at the top right.

📣NEWS OF THE DAY:

TechFW member Meg Renninger has sold online business Southside Plants to undisclosed serial investors out of Florida. Renninger said the sales price was "low seven figures. Not retirement money, just pat on the back and go-back-to-work money.

UT Arlington principal investigator Dr. Suvra Pal says previous studies modeling the probability of a cancer cure—also called the cure rate—"used a generalized linear model." A new statistical modeling method published by Pal and his student is said to be 30% more effective in predicting who will be cured of cancer and who will need further treatment.

The U.S. Military has grounded its fleet of Bell Boeing V-22 Ospreys after a fatal crash of a CV-22 near Yakushima, Japan, on Nov. 29. The tiltrotor crashed during a routine training mission, claiming the lives of all eight on board. The Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) said the preliminary investigation indicated a potential material failure had caused the accident.

General Motors CEO Mary Barra sent a memo to staff this week saying employees must commute into GM on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday each week if they live within 50 miles of an office. Some top executives live out of state and it will be up to Barra how often they have to go into an office.

The Fort Worth Convention Center’s telecommunications partner, Hospitality Network, is investing $895,000 in the venue’s WiFi infrastructure to meet the increasing digital demands of meeting attendees. The investment will allow the city to attract and retain more meetings and event business.

Dan Berce, president and chief executive at GM Financial, has been named the Auto Finance Executive of the Year. Berce led AmeriCredit starting in 2005 and GM Financial since 2010, when General Motors acquired the subprime lender. The Auto Finance Executive of the Year is chosen through nominations submitted by industry members and the senior editorial team at Auto Finance News.

Dr. Yolanda Becker, Professor of Medical Education and Surgery and Director of Career and Professional Development at the Burnett School of Medicine at Texas Christian University, has joined LifeGift as Vice President and Chief Medical Officer and as a member of the organization’s strategic governance team. LifeGift offers hope to individuals needing organ transplants in 109 Texas counties.

A Colleyville couple has made a charitable gift to the Texas Tech School of Accounting. In honor of the donation, the school will be re-named the Terry Lyons School of Accounting.

Schwab Advisor Services, in partnership with the Charles Schwab Foundation, has announced a five-year Platinum commitment to the BLX program, a 501c(3) organization that provides an entry point to the financial planning profession for Black and Latinx individuals to increase diversity in the industry.

The City of Fort Worth is reviewing its take-home-vehicle policy. Last year, the city’s police department was over its gas and maintenance budget by $2 million.

People on the move:

• Nanoscope Therapeutics: Appoints Glenn Sblendorio as Chairman of the Board

• Primal Health: Names Melissa Bustillos as Chief Human Resources Officer

• Digital Elevator: Hires Benaiah Brown as Manager of Operations

• LEAGUE Real Estate: Promotes Nicole Clifton to Brokerage Director

• Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber: Adds Ximena Arista-Zapata as Marketing and Communications Manager; Isabella Lozano as Executive Assistant and Office Manager; Cristian ArguetaSoto as Minority Business Enterprise Specialist

Bonuses are back. According to a survey by staffing firm Robert Half, 96% of employers expect to award a year-end bonus compared to 57% in 2022. Of those, 54% said they will be offering more than they did a year ago, while 37% plan to keep the amount around the same.

Golf balls currently utilized will be banned for USGA professional and amateur play by 2030. For decades, better technology has allowed golfers to hit balls longer, with critics arguing that it affects course layouts and spectator viewing. Rules for golf ball design will change by 2028 for pros and 2030 for amateurs. The changes are expected to cut 15 yards off pros’ drives.

McDonalds is testing a CosMc’s chain, an alien-themed, beverage-focused, to-go restaurant spinoff. With four drive-through lanes, it will offer small bites but no burgers or fries. The chain is based on an alien character from a 1980s McDonald’s commercial. The first location opens in Chicago next week, and nine more in Texas are slated to open during 2024.

A bunch of softies: Toy sales are down 8% year-over-year, but plush toys are up 4%, according to research firm Circana.

Today in history: 2010 – The American aerospace venture SpaceX became the first commercial company to release a spacecraft—the Dragon capsule—into orbit and successfully return it to earth.

Nothing to do with business: How much does the Chipmunks Christmas song earn annually? A staple of the holiday season, the novelty song from the late 1950s became a hit and launched the Alvin and the Chipmunks franchise. The four Chipmunks movies have grossed $1.4 billion, including 112 million streams. The song’s endurance is lucrative: Billboard estimated it brings in $300,000 annually.

Some links may expire after initial posting or be paywall protected. 817 BIZ thanks its sponsors, become one.