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    Granite Countertop Market to Witness a Pronounce Growth During 2022 to 2028 – NewsOrigins

    - August 20, 2022 by Mr HomeBuilder

    The business intelligence specific technology overview 0f most agile notation of the Granite Countertop market sheds light on the leading growth drivers, restraints & shortcomings, and other expansion opportunities that are expected to define the growth trajectory of this business vertical in the ensuing years.

    The recent report on the Granite Countertop market examines historical and present growth trends to assist stakeholders in measuring and increasing their revenues until 2028. Growth rate estimations for this marketplace are also provided in the report based on primary and secondary research methods.

    By examining the product categories and geographical environment, the document offers market size and annual share at both the regional and national levels. As part of the competitive study, the research report includes thorough descriptions of the various businesses operating in this business space.

    Request Sample Copy of this Report @ https://www.newsorigins.com/request-sample/47600

    Market segmentation and coverage

    Product Modules:

    Application scope:

    Regional landscape: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East & Africa

    Competitive analysis

    The key players shaping the Granite Countertop market's competitive landscape are

    A summary of the industry value chain

    In addition to distinguishing qualities, this report lists traders, consumers, and other vital business-related information in order to highlight end users who are very valuable and to make it possible to apply cost-management techniques for each product or service life.

    FAQs:

    Request Customization for This Report @ https://www.newsorigins.com/request-for-customization/47600

    More here:
    Granite Countertop Market to Witness a Pronounce Growth During 2022 to 2028 - NewsOrigins

    Construction begins on second phase of Edison Midtown condos in Phoenix – Daily Independent

    - August 20, 2022 by Mr HomeBuilder

    INDEPENDENT NEWSMEDIA

    Ameris Construction has started building Edison Midtown Phase II, a 60-unit multifamily development at 3131 N. Central Ave., Phoenix.

    The development will complete the project, which includes the existing Edison Midtown Phase I, which opened in 2018 and is sold out, according to a release announcing the recent second-phase groundbreaking.

    Its a great time to build a new construction, multifamily for-sale product, Dale Regehr of Tannin Developments stated in the release. There is very little of this type of inventory in the market at the present time.

    The condominiums will consist of one-bedroom, two-bedroom and two-bedroom plus den units. The condos feature ceilings up to 11 feet, hard-surface flooring throughout, kitchens with stainless steel appliances and quartz countertops.

    Twenty of the 60 condominiums in Phase II have been sold, according to the release.

    The builder estimates the project will be completed in 2023.

    We are thrilled to be able to complete a project thats been on pause for nearly six years now. This will be the only for-sale product in downtown Phoenix at the time of completion - which is a big deal in todays real estate market, said Chris Jones, Ameris Construction president and partner.

    For more: info@liveatedison.com.

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    Construction begins on second phase of Edison Midtown condos in Phoenix - Daily Independent

    Affordable Housing Lottery Ends Soon for Trio At 27-19 Thomson Avenue In Long Island City, Queens – New York YIMBY

    - August 20, 2022 by Mr HomeBuilder

    The affordable housing lottery is closing and applications are due for Trio, a ten-story mixed-use building at 27-19 Thomson Avenue in Long Island City, Queens. Apply now via NYC Housing Connect for 11 units, eligible to residents at 130 percent of the area median income (AMI), ranging in income from $88,835 to $187,330. Gross monthly rents for studios are $2,591, one-bedrooms are $2,738, and two-bedrooms are $3,223, and all residents get two months of free rent on the initial lease term for all units. The structure is developed by Thomson Development and designed by Andres Escobar, and yields a total of 30 residences and 5,039 square feet of lower-level retail space.

    Trio at 27-19 Thomson Avenue in Long Island City, Queens via NYC Housing Connect

    Trio at 27-19 Thomson Avenue in Long Island City, Queens via NYC Housing Connect

    Trio at 27-19 Thomson Avenue in Long Island City, Queens via NYC Housing Connect

    At 130 percent of the AMI, there is one studio, seven one-bedrooms, and three two-bedrooms available. Residences feature floor-to-ceiling windows, oak floors, and spacious living areas. Kitchens have quartz countertops, ceramic backsplashes, Grohe fixtures, and Bosch appliances. Bathrooms come equipped with radiant heated floors, Toto Neorest automatic toilets, and Bosch washer and dryers.

    Trio at 27-19 Thomson Avenue in Long Island City, Queens via NYC Housing Connect

    Trio at 27-19 Thomson Avenue in Long Island City, Queens via NYC Housing Connect

    Trio at 27-19 Thomson Avenue in Long Island City, Queens via NYC Housing Connect

    Amenities at Trio include a rooftop terrace furnished with BBQ grills and lounge areas, a fitness center with Peloton bikes, a lobby with doorman and concierge, a media room, an Amazon hub, bike storage lockers, a recreation room, and common area Wi-Fi.

    Prospective renters must meet income and household size requirements to apply for these apartments. Applications must be postmarked or submitted online no later than August 29, 2022.

    Subscribe to YIMBYs daily e-mail

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    Affordable Housing Lottery Ends Soon for Trio At 27-19 Thomson Avenue In Long Island City, Queens - New York YIMBY

    Houzz – Home Design, Decorating and Remodeling Ideas and Inspiration …

    - August 20, 2022 by Mr HomeBuilder

    Even if you're the kind of person who makes everything a DIY project, there's always a point when a home remodeling or decorating project could use a professional set of eyes. Whether you are redoing your backyard, need some help planning your living room or can't figure out where to put the kitchen sink, a quality home professional can help you do it right. Hiring a qualified home professional puts their years of schooling, certifications, training and experience right at your fingertips.

    But before you start sending out dozens of emails and making phone calls, sit down and think about your project. What's your budget? What is the scope of your project? Will you need more than one type of professional to complete your home improvement project? Can you afford to complete the full project now, or should you tackle it bit by bit?

    Once you've settled on your projects priorities, budget and scope, it's time to start researching home design professionals. Don't sell yourself short and settle on the first professional you set your sights on. Make sure that you're working with someone local, who can get to the jobsite easily and efficiently. Look into the persons reviews, ask to speak with former clients and to see previous jobs in person. Take a good look at their portfolio photos: How similar are these projects to your own? Be honest that mansion might look beautiful, but it might not have a lot in common with your little bungalow.

    Reach out to multiple professionals especially for larger projects and don't settle for the first bid you hear. Comparing multiple professionals' bids and experiences can help you find the one thats best for you. Ask a lot of questions now, so you won't have unexpected answers later.

    Find a home design professional on Houzz. Narrow down your search by type of professional and location. Browse portfolio photos, read client reviews and contact each professional for more information. Check out the information in the specialized professional sections too for tips on how to hire the right professional for your project.

    Go here to read the rest:
    Houzz - Home Design, Decorating and Remodeling Ideas and Inspiration ...

    25 Fantastic Home Remodeling Statistics for Every Homeowner – ComfyLiving

    - August 20, 2022 by Mr HomeBuilder

    If you own a home, you know that there are few things more exciting than embarking on a remodeling project. Of course, it takes a lot of hard work and can become quite costly. So before you start your latest project to create the perfect kitchen unit, take a read through the following home remodeling statistics and facts.

    In this article, youll find some interesting info on home improvement projects. For example, well give you all the details on home improvement in America, some insight into the home improvement industry, and some interesting facts on DIY and home remodeling.

    Right, its time to dive right into these 25 facts and stats about home improvement to get you in the mood for some DIY!

    In this section, well be looking at the United States in particular. Well be discussing facts and statistics to do with home remodeling in the country.

    (Houzz & Home)

    A further 14% of homeowners who were renovating were millennials, and around 0.3% were Generation Z homeowners.

    (Houzz & Home)

    Other challenges included keeping to the budget theyd set, sourcing the correct products, facing unexpected issues, keeping to a schedule, financing the renovation, educating themselves, and choosing style details.

    (Houzz & Home)

    Existing home remodeling statistics show that the kitchen remains the most popular and expensive room in the home to renovate or remodel. This is no doubt because of all the fittings, utilities, and equipment that require upgrading.

    (Forbes)

    Furthermore, around 40% of the 137 million homes in the country are about 50 years old or older. This means their looks likely need updating and the existing infrastructure needs work.

    (NAHB)

    In addition to this information, we also know that around 38% of the total number of houses were built before 1970, which means that between 1970 and 1980, around 12% or more US houses were built. The home renovation statistics from before 2022 give us a good idea of how old most American houses are.

    (Consumer Reports)

    The five projects include putting in an alarm system; updating the heating, plumbing, and electrical units; putting in a new roof; installing gas and smoke sensors; and, finally, installing a generator. All of these will help with reducing your home insurance premiums.

    (JCHS of Harvard University)

    System upgrades were the second most popular, accounting for 15.7% of improvements. General property improvements were the third most popular and accounted for 13.7% of improvements.

    (JCHS of Harvard University)

    This home remodeling fact is from 2013, and it looks like married couples with children between the ages of 55 and 64 spend the most on home improvements.

    (JCHS of Harvard University)

    34% of all DIY home improvements were done by homeowners under the age of 34. 21% were done by people between the ages of 35 and 44, 18% were done by those between the ages of 45 and 54, and 14% were done by people between the ages of 55 and 64.

    (HousingWire)

    The other four cities are Philadelphia, Washington DC, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

    (JCHS of Harvard University)

    Home remodeling data shows that these people spent around 4.4% of their earnings on home improvement, whereas homeowners who earn the most only spent around 1.5% of their total income on improving their homes.

    Here, well be focusing on the home improvement industry as a whole.

    (Statista)

    Furthermore, sales from home centers in 2018 in the United States amounted to around $244 billion. This is only a section of the home renovations market.

    (Statista)

    If you take into account all the different types of stores selling DIY products, these sales amounted to around $407.1 billion. This shows a portion of home improvement revenue.

    (Statista)

    This impressive number was achieved by just one of the top-ranking DIY retailers in the United States in one year. Home Depot is one of the most popular hardware stores in the United States.

    (Statista)

    They were rated 840 out of 1,000 in customer satisfaction in 2019. Other highly ranked companies in this category were Menards, Lowes, and Home Depot.

    (US Department of Labor)

    There were 4,779 deaths among those working in the private sector. This works out to around 1,008 construction-related deaths in the US in that year.

    (US Department of Labor)

    These four include fatal falls, being hit by objects, being caught between objects or structures, and electrocution, according to construction industry and home improvement injury statistics.

    (JCHS of Harvard University)

    This is even larger than during the housing boom that happened between 2004 and 2007, when growth per year was at around 4.6%.

    (Statista)

    By 2023, worldwide revenue for the smart home security market alone is expected to be about $31 billion.

    How much do people spend on home improvement? In this section, well be exploring the amount of money used when it comes to home remodeling.

    (Global Market Insights)

    It was expected to grow in the following yearspreviously projected to climb at a CAGR of 4.5%. However, the market might have taken a dip in 2020 due to current circumstances, according to home improvement market research.

    (JCHS of Harvard University)

    Furthermore, its anticipated that by 2024, it will register at more than $5 trillion, according to home remodeling statistics.

    (Forbes)

    Home improvement is becoming increasingly popular, and people seem willing to spend quite a bit on renovations and remodels, according to home improvement industry analysis.

    (Build Review)

    In US dollars, that works out to around $69.27 billion. However, with much of the world on lockdown in 2020 due to the novel coronavirus, we may find that the home remodeling statistics for 2020 are very different from what was expected.

    (JCHS of Harvard University)

    The improvements included interior and exterior replacements, system upgrades, kitchen remodels, disaster repairs, and more.

    (Statista)

    This didnt vary by much compared to the previous year, which reached $1 trillion.

    We hope youve found these 25 home remodeling statistics leading up to 2022 helpful and interesting. You should now have a more in-depth knowledge of the home remodeling industry, the costs involved, and even some fun industry facts. When its time to start your own remodeling project, you should be more than prepared.

    (Statista)

    The amount the average American spends on home refurbishment, exterior home renovation, and other home renovation projects is on the rise. In 2018, they spent around $7,560 on home improvement endeavors. This was up $900 from the previous year.

    Home improvement projects can be anything from a kitchen remodel to a bathroom renovation. These also include security system upgrades and appliance updates.

    (Global Market Insights)

    Worldwide, the size of the home improvement market in 2018 was worth around $800 billion. Its expected to grow even more in the next few years, with a 4.5% CAGR at least until 2025.

    (Millionacres)

    According to DIY industry statistics from 2018, the average homeowner in the United States spends around $1,105 a year on house maintenance. An additional $416 is spent on emergencies around the home, which can include urgent maintenance projects.

    (Realtor Magazine)

    Kitchen renovations are the most popular home improvement. This is likely because theres a lot to do in the kitchen, with so many appliances and features to update and upgrade as the years go on.

    Home remodeling statistics show that other popular home improvements outside remodeling the entire house are bathroom renovations, adding bedrooms or rooms, replacing doors or windows, building decks, doing repairs, finishing basements, and fixing or replacing roofing.

    Continue reading here:
    25 Fantastic Home Remodeling Statistics for Every Homeowner - ComfyLiving

    Mitchell City Council approves bid to turn old pool room at Rec Center into fitness area – Mitchell Republic

    - August 20, 2022 by Mr HomeBuilder

    MITCHELL After being sidelined for several years, the old pool room inside the Mitchell Recreation Center will be getting a facelift and transforming into a fitness room.

    The Mitchell City Council approved Mueller Lumbers $627,040 bid on Monday to take the project on, which entails remodeling some of the walls in the old pool room and installing heating and air conditioning units.

    All of the walls will be redone, along with a new ceiling. There will be a bunch of electronics to become a workout facility when its done, Public Works Director Joe Schroeder said of the project.

    Parks and Recreation Director Kevin Nelson said the project will also install a heating and air conditioning system in the back gym of the Recreation Center. Nelson added that more workout equipment will be brought into the fitness room.

    The approved bid for the project revealed how drastically construction costs have increased in recent years, as it came in roughly $216,000 over the budgeted amount. Puetz Design Build submitted the only other bid, which came in at a little under $769,000.

    Considering the previous bids on the project that were much lower did not include the HVAC systems, Schroeder said it contributed to the higher bids this time around. The city had received bids for the old pool room project roughly a year ago, but they were rejected after the city opted to shelve the project.

    Schroeder pointed to the rising costs of construction material like hardware as major factors for the most recent bids coming in as high as they were.

    They are saying equipment and other items are at least starting to level. What theyre saying is the smaller stuff like hardware is still skyrocketing, Schroeder said. As far as the building world goes, prices are still increasing.

    Mayor Bob Everson characterized the construction industry as very volatile and said its become challenging for city officials to put an accurate price tag on projects for budgeting purposes.

    In response to a question from the council whether the project could be shelved once again in hopes of construction and building materials tapering off below where they are now, Nelson indicated costs are expected to consistently rise

    One of the contractors indicated he had normally seen product price increases of 3% per year. But as of the last two years, they have been going up 22% per year, Nelson said.

    The project completion date is set for November 2023.

    View post:
    Mitchell City Council approves bid to turn old pool room at Rec Center into fitness area - Mitchell Republic

    OKCPS Board of Ed. approves resolution calling for school bond election – KFOR Oklahoma City

    - August 20, 2022 by Mr HomeBuilder

    SITEFEEDER PATTERNBond Project(s)Emerson North HSALTERNATIVEOffice And Outdoor Court RenovationEmerson South HSALTERNATIVERestrooms, Parking, And Outdoor Area RenovationPutnam Heights AcademyALTERNATIVEOutdoor Play Area RenovationBelle Isle Enterprise MS5th & 6thAPPLICATIONBuilding To Be RepurposedBelle Isle Enterprise MS7th & 8thAPPLICATION5 Classroom & Competitive Gymnasium AdditionBelle Isle High School(9th to 12th)APPLICATIONNew Belle Isle High SchoolClassen SAS HS at NortheastAPPLICATIONCafeteria Renovation And New Outdoor Eating CourtyardClassen SAS MSAPPLICATIONCafeteria Renovation And New Outdoor Eating CourtyardAuditorium RenovationSoutheast HSAPPLICATIONCafeteria Renovation And Outdoor Eating CourtyardAuditorium & Aviation Program Space RenovationsSoutheast MSAPPLICATION4 Classroom AdditionAdelaide Lee ESCHHSNew Elementary School Combined With ShidlerBodine ESCHHSTrack And Fencing RenovationCapitol Hill HSCHHSNew High SchoolCapitol Hill MSCHHSNew Middle School Combined With WheelerCesar Chavez ESCHHSSoccer Field RenovationFillmore ESCHHSTrack & Fencing RenovationNew Walking TrailHayes ESCHHSParking, Fence, And Media Center RenovationHeronville ESCHHSParking And Bus Lane ReconfigurationShidler ESCHHSNew Elementary School Combined With Adelaide LeeWebster MSCHHS2 Classroom AdditionWheeler MSCHHSNew Middle School Combined With Capitol HillDouglass HSDOUGLASSMiller Stadium Press Box And Softball FieldFlexible Space AdditionEugene Field ESDOUGLASSMain Entrance Renovation and Perimeter FenceFD Moon MSDOUGLASSOutdoor Learning AreaGym & Locker Room RenovationHorace Mann Pre- KDOUGLASSBuilding To Be RepurposedMartin Luther King ESDOUGLASSParking And Playground Surface RenovationThelma Parks ESDOUGLASSRenovate Outdoor Play Area And New Walking TrailWilson ESDOUGLASSRepurposing Of GymnatoriumBritton ESJMEHS2 Classroom AdditionJohn Marshall Enterprise HSJMEHSPractice Field RenovationFlexible Space AdditionJohn Marshall Enterprise MSJMEHSMedia Center RenovationMulti-Building RenovationJohnson Pre-KJMEHSBuilding To Be RepurposedMonroe ESJMEHSParking And Fence RenovationCreate New Drop-Off AreaNichols Hills Enterprise ESJMEHS4 Classroom AdditionQuail Creek ESJMEHS6 Classroom AdditionRidgeview ESJMEHSWalking Trail And Shade AreaBuchanan ESNW CLASSENUpdate Parking, Outdoor Play Area, And FenceCleveland ESNW CLASSENParking And Track RenovationEsperanza ESNW CLASSENFencing And Acoustical Gym RenovationHawthorne ESNW CLASSENPerimeter Fence And Outdoor ClassroomKaiser ESNW CLASSEN2 Classroom Addition And Parking Lot RenovationMark Twain ESNW CLASSENHalf-Court And West Parking Lot RenovationMary Golda Ross MSNW CLASSENUpgrade Fine Arts AreaNW Classen HSNW CLASSEN16 Classroom AdditionFemale Softball FacilityFlexible Space AdditionRockwood ESNW CLASSENFence Renovation And New Outdoor ClassroomTaft 5th Grade at LinwoodNW CLASSENBuilding To Be RepurposedNew Middle School Combined With TaftTaft MSNW CLASSENNew Middle School Combined With LinwoodVan Buren ESNW CLASSENConnect Sidewalks To Create Walking TrailUpgrade FenceVan Buren Pre- KNW CLASSENBuilding To Be RepurposedSandy L. Garrett Early Childhood at GatewoodNW CLASSENParking ImprovementsRogers MSSTAR SPENCERGym And Locker Room RenovationPractice Field AdditionSpencer ESSTAR SPENCERDrop-Off Lane And Outdoor Area RenovationStar Spencer HSSTAR SPENCERTwidwell Stadium RenovationCompetitive GymFlexible Space AdditionsWillowbrook ESSTAR SPENCEROutdoor Classroom And New Walking TrailAdams ESUS GRANTRenovate Drop-Off And Outdoor Play AreaArthur ESUS GRANTCreate A Walking TrailParking And Fence RenovationCoolidge ESUS GRANTParking And Courtyard RedesignHillcrest ESUS GRANTRestroom, Track, And Fence RenovationJefferson MSUS GRANT3 Classroom AdditionLocker Room RenovationCompetitive Gym AdditionPrairie Queen ESUS GRANTParking And Outdoor Play Area RenovationRoosevelt MSUS GRANTGym And Locker Room RenovationSouthern Hills ESUS GRANTParking Lot Renovation And New Walking TrailUS Grant HSUS GRANT12 Classroom Addition and New Little Generals AreaCafeteria Expansion And Outdoor Eating AreaFlexible Space Addition

    Read more from the original source:
    OKCPS Board of Ed. approves resolution calling for school bond election - KFOR Oklahoma City

    Wow House: A Retreat Nestled In The Rolling Hills Of Upper Makefield – Patch

    - August 20, 2022 by Mr HomeBuilder

    NEWTOWN, PA Designed by renowned architect, Ann Capron, this luxury old-world style provincial country home is nestled in the beautiful surroundings of Upper Makefield Township.

    Listing Description: Welcome to beautifully renovated 9 Weatherfield Drive, offering 6,461 square feet of new living space. The owners have professionally fashioned an enhanced level of luxury to complement the salient architecture of 9 Weatherfield.

    Built by renowned home builder, George Michael, 9 Weatherfields location within the scenic rolling hills and farmland of Upper Makefield provides a welcoming retreat-like setting. Weatherfield Drive winds naturally through the estate community leading to a bend where the property driveway curves and rises slightly to the rustic Pennsylvania bluestone steps.

    One enters through solid, well-crafted double Addison iron doors with operable double pane tempered glass inserts. New polished Italian porcelain tiles grace an exquisite entry hall highlighted by classic style millwork and new black wrought iron balusters, complemented from above with a stately candle-style black tiered chandelier. The theme continues into the adjacent living areas, all of which feature traditional, refinished natural red oak floors and the elegant custom millwork. Quality of workmanship is present throughout.

    Extensive remodeling includes new HardiPlank facade, smart home technology, exterior video surveillance system, new architectural roof, new windows with plantation shutters, in-law/au pair suite with second kitchen, gym and wine room. All baths are professionally enriched with upscale Restoration Hardware home fixtures and vanities. Door hardware has also been upgraded.

    Facing SW, the imperial roof lines and generous window sizes welcome you to neutral color palettes woven into a modern, bright and stunning interior design. The tranquil, natural setting of 9 Weatherfield imbues a personal connection to the perennial cottage style gardens accessible through double French doors located off the dining room and kitchen where one finds the added feature of a butler pantry transitioning both rooms. Pleasant emotions are nurtured by natural daylight filling the home with cascading rays throughout.

    The kitchen offers granite countertops with under cabinet lighting on the perimeter. An extraordinary quartzite island, accented with new Restoration Hardware lighting, is the focal point.

    Both the Living Room and Family Room feature stately windows with plantation shutters and empire style columns which showcase the transition to their respective lower levels offering a sense of privacy and intimacy for relaxing in comfort. Four fireplaces (MBR, LR, FR and in law/au pair suite) provide alternate sources for heat. Stately windows with plantation shutters. All projects, and there were many, have been completed using the finest materials and attention to detail.

    Even the garage received special consideration with a new epoxy finished floor. And by the way, the garage doors are extra wide for ease of parking recreational vehicles. One can enjoy themselves with the comfort of knowing the home renovations are done, allowing for time better spent with family and friends.

    Upper Makefield is recognized for the ambience of the local historic communities with riverside dining, farmland and parks. 9 Weatherfield offers close proximity for commuting to Princeton (30 min), Philadelphia (45 min) and NYC (90 min.). Air travel is serviced through Philadelphia, Newark and Trenton-Mercer airports.

    Elegant in design and presentation, with function where it matters most, move effortlessly into your beautiful like-new home in lieu of waiting on new construction. 9 Weatherfield Drive offers chic contemporary styling fashioned within the historic legacy of Washington Crossing. Be sure to view the video presentation on this entire home, including stunning evening footage! Owners can settle quickly.

    Listed by: Greg Schwind, Regional Sales Center

    For more information click here. See more photos of the listing below, courtesy of Regional Sales Center:

    For more real estate news, follow Patch on Facebook

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    Wow House: A Retreat Nestled In The Rolling Hills Of Upper Makefield - Patch

    Enhancement strategy for effective vascular regeneration following myocardial infarction through a dual stem cell approach | Experimental &…

    - August 20, 2022 by Mr HomeBuilder

    Generation of CD31+ endothelial cells derived from hiPSCs and their in vitro characterization

    Several previous studies reported successful generation of ECs from hiPSCs (hiPSC-ECs) using a combination of small molecules, including a GSK3 inhibitor22. Based on previous reports, we generated hiPSC-ECs from hiPSCs using the GSK3 inhibitor CHIR99021 (Supplementary materials and methods, Supplementary Fig. 1a). To produce hiPSC-ECs expressing green fluorescence protein (GFP) to facilitate cell tracking in the heart tissues in further experiments, we produced hiPSCs expressing GFP signals by transfecting GFP lentiviral particles, enriched them by FACS based on GFP expression, and used them to differentiate into ECs (Supplementary Fig. 1b). qRT-PCR results verified that the expression level of OCT4, a pluripotency marker, was significantly reduced, and the expression level of CD31, a specific marker for EC, was significantly increased in the hiPSCs differentiating into the EC lineage (Supplementary Fig. 1c, Supplementary Table 1). On differentiation Day 7, we observed that approximately 25.08% of the differentiating hiPSC-ECs were positive for human CD31 antibody, and subsequently, we enriched these CD31+ cells by FACS. Following FACS, the enriched CD31+ hiPSC-ECs were maintained in human endothelial serum-free medium with cytokines, including VEGF, to maintain their characteristics as EC lineage cells (Supplementary Fig. 1c). The CD31+ hiPSC-ECs displayed a typical cobblestone-like EC morphology and expressed similar mRNA levels of EC-specific markers, such as cluster of differentiation 31 (CD31), vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-Cadherin), Von Willebrand factor (vWF) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2), compared with human umbilical cord endothelial cells (HUVECs) (Supplementary Fig. 1c, d). The results from flow cytometry analysis further demonstrated that the CD31+ hiPSC-ECs were 97.19% and 85.53% positive for CD31 and CD144, respectively (Supplementary Fig. 1e). In addition, the immunofluorescence results confirmed that the CD31+ hiPSC-ECs expressed abundant levels of the CD31 and vWF proteins (Supplementary Fig. 1f). At the functional level, the CD31+ hiPSC-ECs displayed the capacity for uptake of Ac-LDL (Supplementary Fig. 1g) and the formation of a capillary-like network on top of Matrigel (Supplementary Fig. 1h).

    To determine if the CD31+ hiPSC-ECs (hiPSC-ECs afterward) could form de novo vessels via a vasculogenesis-dependent mechanism in MI-induced hearts, we intramyocardially injected hiPSC-ECs at two different sites in the border zone of the MI-induced rat hearts. MI was generated by ligation of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery in the heart. hiPSC-ECs continuously expressing the green fluorescence (GFP) signal were used for tracking purposes. To visualize the functional vessels in the MI-induced hearts, we performed perfusion staining with isolection-B4 (IB4) conjugated with a red fluorescent dye, rhodamine, into the heart prior to tissue harvest 8 weeks after injection with hiPSC-ECs. Fluorescent image analyses showed that the number of IB4+ capillaries in the hiPSC-EC-injected hearts was significantly higher than that in the MI control hearts (Fig. 1a).

    a Representative images of blood vessels stained with IB4-rhodamine (red) in the infarct zone, border zone, and remote zone and at 8 weeks after injection of hiPSC-ECs and their quantification summary. For quantification, the number of capillaries in five randomly selected fields (mm2) in each heart was counted. n=5. *p<0.05. Scale bars: 100m. b Representative image of blood vessels newly formed by iPSC-ECs-GFP (green), IB4-rhodamine (red) and DAPI (blue). Scale bars: 20m. cj Rats undergoing MI were intramyocardially injected with hiPSC-ECs or control cells, followed by echocardiography analysis. c The schematic timeline from MI modeling and transplantation of iPSC-EC to measurement of cardiac function. d Left ventricular ejection fraction (EF), (e) left fractional shortening (FS), (f) left ventricular internal diastolic dimension (LVIDd), (g) left ventricular internal systolic dimension (LVIDs), (h) septal wall thickness (SWT), (i) posterior wall thickness (PWT), and (j) relative wall thickness (RWT). n=6. *p<0.05. k Representative images showing cardiac fibrosis after staining with Massons trichrome in the hearts harvested 8 weeks after cell treatment. Quantification results of cardiac fibrosis (l) and viable myocardium (m). n=5. *p<0.05. Scale bars: 2000m.

    Next, to evaluate the potential and magnitude of the contribution of hiPSC-ECs to vasculogenesis in the MI hearts, we traced the GFP and RFP signals from hiPSC-ECs within cardiac tissues. Confocal microscopy images demonstrated a considerable number of vessels, double-positive for both IB4 and GFP signals from hiPSC-ECs, in the infarct region of the heart tissues receiving hiPSC-ECs at 8 weeks post-injection. Interestingly, a substantial number of hiPSC-ECs were incorporated into the host capillary network, and many of them were located in the perivascular area (Fig. 1b). The results clearly suggest that hiPSC-ECs could reconstruct de novo vessels in ischemic hearts.

    Given that vascular regeneration improved through vasculogenesis leads to functional recovery from MI, we hypothesized that intramyocardial injection of hiPSC-ECs into MI hearts may promote cardiac function. Subsequently, we performed serial echocardiography to evaluate left ventricular (LV) function and cardiac remodeling from PRE (1-week post-MI and prior to cell treatment), and 2, 4, and 8 weeks after cell treatment. In this study, we employed a MI model that cells were transplanted one week after induction of MI to mimic the clinical situation of MI patients as close as possible. The results of echocardiography demonstrated that both ejection fraction (EF) and fractional shortening (FS) in all experimental groups were significantly lower compared with the sham group that did not receive any intervention. (Supplementary Fig. 2ag). Of importance, the hearts receiving hiPSC-ECs displayed significantly higher EF and FS than those in the MI control group until 8 weeks after the cell treatment (Fig. 1cd). Among several parameters for cardiac remodeling, such as left ventricular internal diastolic dimension (LVIDd), left ventricular internal systolic dimension (LVISd), septal wall thickness (SWT), posterior wall thickness (PWT), and relative wall thickness (RWT), the LVIDd and LVIDs in the hiPSC-EC-treated hearts were significantly lower than those in MI control hearts, indicating that hiPSC-ECs protected the hearts from adverse cardiac remodeling. (Fig. 1ei and Supplementary Fig. 2h). Similarly, the results of Massons trichrome staining obtained using cardiac tissue harvested at 8 weeks post-cell treatment showed that the area of fibrosis (%) in the hiPSC-EC-injected group was considerably smaller and the viable myocardium (%) was larger than that in the MI control group (Fig. 1jm). Based on these results, we confirmed that hiPSC-ECs can directly contribute to de novo vessel formation in vivo in MI-exposed hearts, resulting in enhanced cardiac function.

    Subsequently, we investigated our central hypothesis of whether simultaneous induction of both vasculogenesis and angiogenesis could lead to comprehensive vascular regeneration and functional improvement in the MIhearts. Since we already verified that hiPSC-ECs successfully achieved vasculogenesis in the MI hearts, we sought to identify an additional cellular source that can induce complementary angiogenesis from the blood vessels in the host heart and finally decided to test genetically modified human mesenchymal stem cells engineered to continuously release human SDF-1 protein (SDF-eMSCs)23. The SDF-eMSCs were indistinguishable from normal BM-MSCs. The SDF-eMSCs exhibited a homogeneous spindle-shaped cell morphology, representing hMSCs (Supplementary materials and methods, Supplementary Fig. 3a). The SDF-eMSCs had a high proliferative potential based on the gradual increase in population doubling levels (PDL) during the culture times compared to normal BM-MSCs24 (Supplementary Fig. 3b). The SDF-eMSCs expressed several markers specific for human MSCs, such as CD90, CD44, CD105 and CD73, without the expression of CD34, CD11b, CD19, CD45 and HLA-DR (Supplementary Fig. 3c). The SDF-eMSCs stably secreted human SDF-1 protein, as determined by human SDF-1 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) analysis (Supplementary Fig. 3d). The results from SDF-eMSC karyotyping revealed a normal human karyotype of the SDF-eMSCs without chromosomal abnormalities, suggesting the genetic stability of the SDF-eMSCs (Supplementary Fig. 3e).

    To investigate whether SDF-eMSCs could augment the angiogenic potential of ECs, we performed various types of in vitro experimental analyses with SDF-eMSCs. Among the first, to determine whether SDF-eMSCs influenced the gene expression associated with ECs and angiogenic properties, we treated 30% conditioned media (CM) harvested from cultured SDF-eMSCs or BM-MSCs to the cultured hiPSC-ECs for 3 days and performed qRT-PCR analyses. The expression levels of stromal-derived factor-1 alpha (SDF-1), tyrosine kinase with Ig and epidermal growth factor homology domain 2 (Tie-2), vWF, E-selectin (CD62), and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) were significantly higher in the hiPSC-ECs treated with SDF-eMSC-CM than in the hiPSC-ECs exposed to BM-MSC-CM (Fig. 2a). In particular, the increased expression of E-selectin and ICAM-1 is known to be involved in angiogenesis in the presence of activated ECs25,26,27,28,29. Next, in EC migration assays, as shown in Fig. 2, the addition of conditioned media from the SDF-eMSCs (SDF-eMSC-CM) significantly enhanced the migration of hiPSC-ECs or HUVECs compared with the migration of the ECs treated with CM from human bone marrow-derived MSCs (BM-MSC-CM), suggesting that cytokines released from the SDF-eMSCs bolster the mobility of ECs (Fig. 2b and Supplementary Fig. 4a). In addition, to test whether SDF-eMSCs directly promote the angiogenic potential of ECs, we performed Matrigel tube formation assays, a representative experiment to evaluate the vessel formation potential of cells. The results from Matrigel tube formation assays demonstrated that the number of branches formed in both the hiPSC-ECs and the HUVECs treated with 30% CM harvested from the cultured SDF-eMSCs was significantly greater than that in the BM-MSC-CM-treated ECs (Fig. 2c and Supplementary Fig. 4b). Interestingly, treatment with SDF-eMSC-CM not only promoted tube formation by the hiPSC-ECs but also contributed to the maintenance of vessels formed from the hiPSC-ECs. Unlike the hiPSC-EC-generated vessels exposed to BM-MSC-CM that began to disrupt the vessel structure within 24h of vessel formation, treatment with SDF-eMSC-CM supported the integrity of vessels for up to 48h.

    a qRT-PCR analysis of relative mRNA expression associated with ECs and angiogenesis in the hiPSC-ECs treated with the conditioned media (CM) from cultured bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSC-CM) or SDF engineered MSCs (SDF-eMSC-CM) for 3 days. The y-axis represents the relative mRNA expression of target genes to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). n=3. *p<0.05. b EC migration assay. Representative images of migrated hiPSC-ECs and quantification of the migrated area (%). The hiPSC-ECs were placed in transwells (top), and regular media (EGM, EBM) or the conditioned media (CM) collected from different cell sources (BM-MSC-CM and SDF-eMSC-CM) were placed in transwells (bottom) for 7h. n=3. *p<0.05. c Tube formation assay. The hiPSC-ECs were cultured in 24-well plates coated with Geltrex with regular media (EGM, EBM) or conditioned media (CM) (BM-MSC-CM and SDF-eMSC-CM) for 9, 24, or 48h. Representative images of tube formation and quantification summary for the number of junctions. n=3. *p<0.05.

    To provide a cellular reservoir where SDF-eMSC-PAs can constantly release SDF-1 to MI hearts, we produced a patch encapsulating SDF-eMSC (SDF-eMSC-PA) by mixing SDF-eMSCs with a 2% heart-derived decellularized extracellular matrix (hdECM)-based bioink and loaded it onto the polycaprolactone (PCL) mesh (Fig. 3 and Supplementary Fig. 5). Subsequently, to confirm whether SDF-eMSC-PAs are functional and can efficiently release SDF-1, we cultured SDF-eMSC-PAs in vitro for 28 days (Supplementary Fig. 5a) and collected supernatants at various time points for three days to generate the release kinetics of the SDF1-eMSC-PAs using the SDF-1 ELISA kit. The cumulative release curve showed that although the initial concentration of SDF-1 was higher in the SDF-cytokine-PAs (300ng/ml) than in the SDF-eMSC-PAs on Day 0, no SDF-1 was detectable in the SDF-cytokine-PAs from Day 7. However, the expression of SDF-1 released from the SDF-eMSC-PAs increased consistently until Day 21 (Supplementary Fig. 5b), suggesting that SDF-eMSCs continuously secreted SDF-1 within the patch.

    a Procedures for manufacturing a cardiac patch encapsulating SDF-engineered MSCs (SDF-eMSC-PA) with a polycaprolactone (PCL) platform produced by a 3D printing system. b Optical image within the hdECM patch. SDF-eMSC-PAs were prelabeled with the red florescence dye DiI for tracing. Scale bars: 1mm. c Image of epicardially transplanted SDF-eMSC-PAs in the MI-induced heart. d Macroscopic view of hearts at 8 weeks after PA transplantation.

    To finally determine whether simultaneous induction of both vasculogenesis and angiogenesis by using hiPSC-ECs and SDF-eMSC-PAs could lead to comprehensive vascular regeneration and functional improvement in MI-induced hearts, we induced MI by LAD ligation after the formation of five experimental groups as follows: (1) MI control, (2) SDF-eMSC-PA implanted epicardium of MI hearts (PA only, 1106), (3) hiPSC-ECs, intramyocardial injection (EC only, 1106), and (4) combined platform of hiPSC-ECs and SDF-eMSC-PA (EC+PA, 1106 in each) (Fig. 4). We first performed serial echocardiography for all experimental groups at pre, 2, 4 and 8 weeks after cell treatment. All experimental groups were significantly reduced compared with that in the sham group (Supplementary Fig. 6ag). Of interest, cardiac function in the EC+PA group was significantly preserved until 8 weeks compared with its cardiac function at pre, but cardiac function in other groups, such as the control, hiPSC-EC alone and SDF-eMSC-PA alone groups, continuously decreased until 8 weeks. (Fig. 4ad). Adverse cardiac remodeling determined by the LVIDd, LVIDs, SWT, PWT, and RWT was notably reduced in the EC+PA group compared with the other groups (Fig. 4ei and Supplementary Fig. 6h). To further evaluate cardiac function more precisely, we performed LV hemodynamic measurements using an invasive pressure-volume (PV) catheter, which can measure the hemodynamic pressure and volume of the LV. The results of the PV loop at 8 weeks post-cell treatment showed that the EC+PA group had significantly improved cardiac function and prevented adverse cardiac remodeling compared with the other groups (Fig. 5). The two parameters of general cardiac function, stroke volume (SV) and cardiac output (CO), were significantly higher (Fig. 5ac), and the maximum volume (V max), which is the cardiac remodeling index measured at the maximum diastole, was significantly lower in the EC+PA group than in the other groups (Fig. 5d). Although the pressure max (P max) measured at the maximum systole did not differ significantly between groups, the maximum rate of pressure change (dP/dtmax) and the minimum rate of pressure change (dP/dtmin), which indicate the pressure change in LV per second, were increased in the EC+PA group. (Fig. 5ef and Supplementary Fig. 7a). Temporal variation in the occluded inferior vena cava (IVC) was used to evaluate load-independent intrinsic cardiac contractibility. The end-diastolic pressure-volume relationship (EDPVR), which indicates the absence of diastolic dysfunction, did not differ between the groups, whereas the slope of the end-systolic pressure volume relationship (ESPVR), which indicates cardiac contractibility, was significantly improved in the EC+PA group compared with the other groups (Fig. 5gh and Supplementary Fig. 7b). Collectively, these results from LV hemodynamic measurements consistently demonstrate that treatment with the combined platform with hiPSC-ECs and SDF-eMSC-PAs improves cardiac repair in MI hearts.

    a Left ventricular ejection fraction (EF). b EF delta change at 8 weeks after cell treatment. c Left fractional shortening (FS). d FS delta change at 8 weeks after cell treatment. e Left ventricular internal diastolic dimension (LVIDd). f Left ventricular internal systolic dimension (LVIDs). g Septal wall thickness (SWT). h Posterior wall thickness (PWT). i Relative wall thickness (RWT). n=611. *p<0.05.

    a Representative images of the hemodynamic pressure and volume (PV) curve at steady state at 8 weeks post-cell treatment. b Stroke volume (SV). c Cardiac output (CO). d Volume max (V max) defining the amount of blood volume in the LV at end-diastole. e dP/dtmax refers to the maximal rate of pressure changes during systole. f The minimal rate of pressure changes during diastole (dP/dtmin). g Slope of end-systolic pressure volume relationship (ESPVR) indicating the intrinsic cardiac contractibility as measured by transient inferior vena cava (IVC) occlusion. h Slope of end-diastolic pressure volume relationship (EDPVR). n=4. *p<0.05.

    Next, we investigated the in vivo behavior of intramyocardially implanted hiPSC-ECs in the presence or absence of SDF-eMSC-PAs. Since hiPSC-ECs constantly express GFP, we could track their fate in heart tissue sections. Confocal microscopic examination of heart tissues harvested at 8 weeks after cell treatment demonstrated that implantation of SDF-eMSC-PAs significantly improved the retention and engraftment of intramyocardially injected GFP-positive hiPSC-ECs. Quantitatively, the proportion of GFP-positive hiPSC-ECs in the EC+PA group was substantially higher than that in the EC group (Fig. 6a). Of interest, while the hiPSC-ECs in the hiPSC-ECs alone group were localized near the injection sites, the hiPSC-ECs in the EC+PA group were distributed throughout the regions of the left ventricle. Given the ability of SDF-eMSC-PAs to improve the survival and retention of injected hiPSC-ECs, we sought to examine whether SDF-eMSC-PAs exerted direct cytoprotective effects in hiPSC-ECs in vitro. Ischemic injury was simulated by exposing hiPSC-ECs to H2O2 (500M). Administration of CM from SDF-eMSCs (SDF-eMSC-CM) significantly improved the viability of both hiPSC-ECs and HUVECs as determined by the LIVE/DEAD assay and CCK-8 assay (Supplementary Fig. 8af). Treatment with SDF-eMSC-CM substantially increased the number of viable cells, suggesting that SDF-eMSC-CM exerts direct cytoprotective effects on ECs against ischemic insults. Subsequently, we performed thorough histological analyses using heart tissues harvested 8 weeks post-cell treatment to examine whether SDF-eMSC-PAs could concurrently promote hPSC-EC-dependent vasculogenesis as well as angiogenesis of host blood vessels. IB4 conjugated with rhodamine was systemically injected to identify the functional endothelium in these experiments. Initially, confocal images demonstrated that the number of total IB4-positive (IB4+) capillaries in both the border zone and infarct zone of the hearts in the EC+PA group was substantially higher than that in the other groups, including the EC group (Fig. 6b). The number of vessels that were GFP negative but positive for IB4 (GFP-/IB4+) was also significantly higher than that in other groups, including the EC-only group (Fig. 6c). These results suggest that the combined approach significantly promoted the angiogenesis of host vessels in MI hearts. More importantly, the number of de novo vessels formed by hiPSC-ECs-GFP+ was substantially higher in the EC+PA group than in the EC-only group, indicating that SDF-eMSC-PAs facilitates hiPSC-EC-dependent vasculogenesis (Fig. 6de and Supplementary Fig. 9a). Notably, the number of larger blood vessels (diameter range: >5 m), one of the indicators of functional blood vessels in the EC+PA group, was significantly higher than that in the EC group. Of interest, many of those larger vessels in the EC+PA group displayed abundant expression of -SMA, a marker for smooth muscle cells, suggesting that these larger vessels (CD31+/-SMA+) may be arteriole-like vessels, indicating that SDF-eMSC-PA played certain roles in vascular ingrowth and maturation (Fig. 6eg and Supplementary Fig. 9b).

    a Representative image of hiPSC-ECs-GFP within the infarct area at 8 weeks post-cell treatment and their quantification summary. n=3. *p<0.05. Scale bars: 1000m. b Representative images of blood vessels stained with IB4-rhodamine (red) in the infarct zone (IZ), border zone (BZ), and remote zone at 8 weeks after cell treatment and a summary of their quantification. n=57. *p<0.05. Scale bars: 100m. c Representative images of blood vessels negative for GFP but positive for IB4 (GFP-/IB4+) in the infarcted area and their quantification summary. hiPSC-ECs-GFP (green), IB4-rhodamine (red) and DAPI (blue). n=5. *p<0.05. Scale bars: 20m. d, e Representative images of GFP and IB4 (GFP+/IB4+)-positive blood vessels in the infarcted area and their quantification. hiPSC-ECs-GFP (green), IB4-rhodamine (red) and DAPI (blue). n=5. *p<0.05. Scale bars: 20m. f, g Diameter of hiPSC-EC-derived GFP-positive blood vessels in the infarcted area and border zone. n=5. *p<0.05.

    To further investigate whether the vascular regeneration achieved by the combined platform (EC+PA) was sufficient to salvage the myocardium from ischemic insult, we quantified the viable myocardium by immunostaining for cardiac troponin T (cTnT) antibody using the heart tissues harvested from all experimental groups at 8 weeks post-cell treatment. The number of viable cTnT+ cardiomyocytes in the EC+PA group was significantly higher than that in the other groups (Fig. 7a). These results from histological analyses using heart tissues motivated us to test whether SDF-eMSCs (Supplementary Fig. 10a) could confer direct cytoprotective effects on cardiomyocytes against ischemic insults in vitro. Ischemic injury was simulated by exposing cardiomyocytes to H2O2 (500M). The results from both the LIVE/DEAD assay and the cholecystokinin-8 (CCK-8) assay demonstrated that the administration of SDF-eMSC-conditioned media (CM) significantly improved the viability of cultured cardiomyocytes isolated from neonatal rats (NRCM) against H2O2 treatment compared with other treatments. These results also suggest that SDF-eMSCs have direct cytoprotective effects against ischemic insults (Supplementary Fig. 11ac).

    a Representative immunostaining images of myocardium stained with cTnT (green) and DAPI (blue) at 8 weeks after cell treatment and quantification of the number of cTnT-positive cardiomyocytes. SDF-eMSCs labeled with DiI within the cardiac patch (red) n=5. *p<0.05. Scale bar: 300m. b Representative images of Massons trichrome staining using heart tissues harvested 8 weeks after cell treatment. c, d Quantification summary of a percentage of fibrosis and viable myocardium. n=5. *p<0.05. Scale bars: 2000m.

    Consequently, the combined treatment group showed a significant decrease in cardiac fibrosis. The results of Massons trichrome staining using cardiac tissue harvested at 8 weeks exhibited an area of fibrosis (%), which was significantly lower in the combined treatment groups than in the other groups (Fig. 7bd). Taken together, our results clearly suggested that the combined treatment resulted in comprehensive cardiac repair through enhanced vascular regeneration and that the SDF-eMSCs contributed at least to some extent indirect protection of myocardium from ischemic injury via consistent secretion of cytoprotective SDF cytokines.

    Read the rest here:
    Enhancement strategy for effective vascular regeneration following myocardial infarction through a dual stem cell approach | Experimental &...

    How to Create the Best Remote Work Policy for Your Company – Inc.

    - August 20, 2022 by Mr HomeBuilder

    As an Inc. contributor, I'm a bit biased--I happen to think theirs gives the best practical advice, surmising that the Airbnb Work Policy gives employees more autonomy. Others speak to a managerial perspective on various pros and cons. In Fortune's article, the author notes Elon Musk's remote policy: "Elon Musk says remote workers are just pretending to work. Turns out he's (sort of) right."We disagree, but that's beside the point.

    In fact, all these articles are a bit beside the point. Because for each individual employee, the situation is different, as is the job. A single mother whose childcare provider cancelled last-minute doesn't have a lot of leeway--and one who simply can't find affordable childcare has even less. A surgeon can't work remotely. Anyone who just tested positive for Covid can't meet in person.

    To be sure, companies need employees to be focused on the fundamental purpose: serving customers profitably. But often this does not depend on where the work is done. It depends on the work being done efficiently. Companies who rely on remote work policies that are concerned with where inevitably underserve customers or impose unrealistic ideals on their employees. Or both.

    But what if companies partner with their employees to serve customers--what we call economic engagement? Without partnership, a company busies itself with telling employees what to do, how to do it, and where to do it. No wonder companies that are in the top quartile of economic engagement have double the profit growth of their peers, as our research has shown: A Key Strategy to Double Your Profits.

    At One Week Bath, an independent bathroom remodeling company in Southern California, (full disclosure: I own 30% of the company), we focus solely on what needs to be done to serve our customers profitably. We learned from the pandemic that many jobs don't require time in the office. In response, we scaled down our office space and cost, enabling our employees to avoid twice-a-day LA rush hours and improving their quality of life. We also learned from the pandemic to meet every challenge with the same two principles:

    That's it. We reinforce the practice of partnership with our employees by openly and weekly discussing the company's financial results. We listen to employees' ideas on how to drive those results. We forecast those results together. And when the company succeeds, our incentive plan ensures that every employee shares in that profit.

    Some companies talk about employee engagement. We have economic engagement, and the best team in the industry. And those two basic principles? They allowed us to respond to our customers so well that our repeat and referral revenue soared through the worst of 2020-2021. And we did it without any layoffs and virtually no turnover.

    So, what's our stance on remote work? It's the same two principles--nothing more. Everything else is at the discretion of the employees. Some work--like receiving and staging product for upcoming jobs--is truly hands-on. Krystal and her warehouse team physically go in every day. Others prefer to work remotely and can, like Bonnie and her team in finance and administration. Sales and Design were already doing plenty of remote work. The crews were too, just like Southwest pilots.

    Some suggest employees need to be in the same room to build culture. But partnering with your employees, instead of treating them like hired hands, tends to align people profound ways. SWA boasts a legendary culture, with many of their members remote for decades. Or take our weekly meeting at OWB. Finishing jobs on time has been a challenge. A few weeks ago, crew leader Rudy announced he was wrapping up his job a day early, and the team erupted in spontaneous applause. Rachel said, "What you don't realize is that Rudy's project was the first sale I ever made, and that customer is really demanding. But I just got off the phone with him, and he's just raving about Rudy and his team." Applause gave way to all-out cheering.

    Some might say we're leaving inmates to run the facility. But we don't have a facility. We have a business where every employee has a direct stake in the profits. We don't have a remote work policy. In fact, we have very few "policies." We have smart people who we trust to make decisions, all aimed at serving our customers profitably. Sometimes a new decision improves our services to a customer. Sometimes it doesn't. But we allow our team the room to continually learn and improve.

    This also means Matt (our President and majority owner) and I spend a lot less time on administrative matters and much more on making the business better. It seems to be working. Two years ago, we were at 8 crews. Today we have 14--not to mention a record backlog, frequent referrals, and a robust remote operation. If you need policies, direct them toward serving customers profitably. Leave the rest to a well-motivated team; just make sure you're motivating them.

    The opinions expressed here by Inc.com columnists are their own, not those of Inc.com.

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    How to Create the Best Remote Work Policy for Your Company - Inc.

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