In this episode, Olive and Kayla, MBA students at Feliciano School of Business, delve into the ramifications of Planet Fitness's price hike and the shifting landscape of subscription utility. Uncover the truth behind rising rates, "shrink-flation," and its impact on consumer perception. Tune in as they navigate through the latest in business news and strategy!

In this episode, Olive and Kayla, MBA students at Feliciano School of Business, unravel the Planet Fitness price hike and the evolving landscape of subscription models. Dive into the discussion as they dissect the impact of utility on consumer perceptions and explore the broader implications of "shrink-flation". Tune in for insights and analysis on the latest business topics!

Join Olive and Kayla from Feliciano School of Business as they break down Planet Fitness's price increase and how it affects subscription services. Also, get the lowdown on "shrink-flation" and what it means for consumers. Tune in for a discussion on the latest business moves!

Olive and Kayla, MBA students at Feliciano School of Business, discuss re-commerce in giving products a second life. Plus, discover how advancements in AI can improve customer satisfaction and ultimately reduce returns. Tune in to this episode and be part of the exploration into the latest business news!

Olive and Kayla, MBA students at Feliciano School of Business, discuss the aftermath of Red Lobster's bankruptcy following the fallout from their endless shrimp deal. Plus, discover the strategic genius behind Costco's rotisserie chicken as a loss leader. Tune in to this episode and be part of the exploration into the latest business news!

Feliciano School of Business professors Todd Federman and David Axelrod from the Department of Economics discuss Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani's $700 million contract. The contract covers 10 years of play but will be paid out over 20 years. They explain how the contract is beneficial to both Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers through business concepts like present value, elasticity, inflation, and supply and demand.

Speaker Bios
Dr. Axelrod received his Ph.D. in Economics from Rutgers University in 1990, with the dissertation Three Essays on Latency in Economics and Decision Making. He has taught at Montclair State University as an adjunct professor since 2013. Previously, he worked in finance for twenty years as an economist, consultant and actuarial analyst, including positions with Falcon Management, Volvo Finance, and Crum & Forster. He has also produced research in health economics, and the nature of choice and well-being. Dr. Axelrod provides holonomic consultation and workshops. He plays electric bass, and has released over a dozen albums of original music.

After getting an MBA from Harvard, Todd Federman started his twenty-five year Wall Street career at Goldman Sachs as a bond trader. He then joined Drexel Burnham as both a bond and equity trader. After Drexel, Todd spent fifteen years at hedge fund Paloma Partners, managing a regional office and trading equities based on a proprietary technical trading model. After leaving Wall Street, he started a second career in education. Todd was an adjunct in the Mathematics department at MSU from 2009-2014 before joining the Economics department full time in the fall of 2014. Todd was also an independent Education Consultant. He ran professional development workshops, focused on showing teachers how to use Smart Boards effectively.

Why do Americans remain guarded about the economy's prospects when all signs point to a robust financial landscape? Together with Dr. David Axelrod from the Feliciano School of Business, we unravel this enigma. The economy is booming on paper—GDP is up, and joblessness is down—yet there's a palpable sense of unease about what lies ahead. We dissect the impact of inflation and higher interest rates, the weight of credit card debt, and why the inflationary burden isn't shared equally. Beyond the numbers, today's economic sentiment is colored by the long shadows of climate change and global unrest, factors that balance sheets have yet to fully account for.

Strap in for a thought-provoking ride as we probe the challenges of future economic planning amid present-day success stories. In our conversation with Dr. Axelrod, we confront the paradox of a future that's growing murkier even as our present metrics shine bright. Interest rates creep up, the divide between the haves and have-nots widens, and the cost of borrowing from tomorrow's promise increases—these are but a few of the complexities we navigate. Join us for a deep analysis that goes beyond the headlines, offering a sobering look at the fragility of consumer confidence and the seismic shifts that could redefine our economic landscape.

Dr. Axelrod received his Ph.D. in Economics from Rutgers University in 1990, with the dissertation Three Essays on Latency in Economics and Decision Making. He has taught at Montclair State University as an adjunct professor since 2013. Previously, he worked in finance for twenty years as an economist, consultant and actuarial analyst, including positions with Falcon Management, Volvo Finance, and Crum & Forster. He has also produced research in health economics, and the nature of choice and well-being. Dr. Axelrod provides holonomic consultation and workshops. He plays electric bass and has released over a dozen albums of original music.

Olive and Kayla, MBA students at Feliciano School of Business, dive into the Stanley cups phenomenon. In this casual conversation, they question the price of popularity and ask if it's time for the company to take a stand against overconsumption. Tune into this episode and be part of the discussion on all things Stanley!

Feliciano School of Business faculty members in the department of Information Management and Business Analytics, Dr. Mahmoud ElHussini and Dr. George Elias discuss issues and problems being faced by business professionals. On this podcast, they again discuss what your body language says about you. Dr. Moe and Dr. George breakdown issues and problems being encountered by entrepreneurs, executives, and all levels of managers.

Co-Hosts Background:

Mahmoud (Moe) Elhussini, MS, MBA, DBA, is an Instructor Specialist at Montclair State University. He is also the president and founder of The Growth Coach Allentown - Somerville. A consulting and business coaching company. Moe has worked in data & operations management for over a decade. He then switched to business consulting, helping companies build ERP and customer interface systems. After that he transitioned into international business development, helping companies manage their internal organic growth or through mergers and strategic alliances. Moe has published a couple of handbooks, one on emotional intelligence and another on servant leadership. He is currently working on a third that revolves around overcoming sales objections. Moe has a BA in Biology from Rutgers University, an MBA in Global Management, and MS in Information Management, and a DBA in Geopolitics and Strategy. At Montclair University, Moe is part of the Information Management and Business Analytics Department. He teaches Business Decision Making, Operations Management, and Statistics in Business courses.

George Elias, Ph.D., PMP is Chief Systems Engineer for Space and Airborne Systems leading initiatives in integrated spectrum management and mission avionics at L3Harris Technologies. Additionally, Dr. Elias is as an adjunct professor at Montclair State University’s department of information management & business analytics where he teaches business operations and statistics. Dr. Elias is experienced in leading the development and production of complex hardware and software system solutions including: electronic warfare systems, communication systems, and space systems. Previously, Dr. Elias served as the Director of Capture Excellence & Business Development Operations for the Electronic Warfare Sector. As an L3Harris Technologies Certified Enterprise Capture Lead, Dr. Elias was responsible for directing large, complex pursuits across the enterprise. In addition to systems engineering and business development, Dr. Elias has held roles in finance, quality assurance, operations/manufacturing, modeling and simulation, project engineering, program management, and Internal Research and Development (IRAD). Dr. Elias has a Doctorate in Systems Engineering, a Masters Certificate in Project Management, and a Masters in Computer Science from Stevens Institute of Technology. Additionally, Dr. Elias has a Bachelors in Computer Information Systems from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey & New Jersey Institute of Technology. Finally, Dr. Elias has a Mini-MBA from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey.

Feliciano School of Business faculty members in the department of Information Management and Business Analytics, Dr. Mahmoud ElHussini and Dr. George Elias discuss issues and problems being faced by business professionals. On this podcast, they again discuss what your body language says about you. Dr. Moe and Dr. George breakdown issues and problems being encountered by entrepreneurs, executives, and all levels of managers.

Co-Hosts Background:

Mahmoud (Moe) Elhussini, MS, MBA, DBA, is an Instructor Specialist at Montclair State University. He is also the president and founder of The Growth Coach Allentown - Somerville. A consulting and business coaching company. Moe has worked in data & operations management for over a decade. He then switched to business consulting, helping companies build ERP and customer interface systems. After that he transitioned into international business development, helping companies manage their internal organic growth or through mergers and strategic alliances. Moe has published a couple of handbooks, one on emotional intelligence and another on servant leadership. He is currently working on a third that revolves around overcoming sales objections. Moe has a BA in Biology from Rutgers University, an MBA in Global Management, and MS in Information Management, and a DBA in Geopolitics and Strategy. At Montclair University, Moe is part of the Information Management and Business Analytics Department. He teaches Business Decision Making, Operations Management, and Statistics in Business courses.

George Elias, Ph.D., PMP is Chief Systems Engineer for Space and Airborne Systems leading initiatives in integrated spectrum management and mission avionics at L3Harris Technologies. Additionally, Dr. Elias is as an adjunct professor at Montclair State University’s department of information management & business analytics where he teaches business operations and statistics. Dr. Elias is experienced in leading the development and production of complex hardware and software system solutions including: electronic warfare systems, communication systems, and space systems. Previously, Dr. Elias served as the Director of Capture Excellence & Business Development Operations for the Electronic Warfare Sector. As an L3Harris Technologies Certified Enterprise Capture Lead, Dr. Elias was responsible for directing large, complex pursuits across the enterprise. In addition to systems engineering and business development, Dr. Elias has held roles in finance, quality assurance, operations/manufacturing, modeling and simulation, project engineering, program management, and Internal Research and Development (IRAD). Dr. Elias has a Doctorate in Systems Engineering, a Masters Certificate in Project Management, and a Masters in Computer Science from Stevens Institute of Technology. Additionally, Dr. Elias has a Bachelors in Computer Information Systems from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey & New Jersey Institute of Technology. Finally, Dr. Elias has a Mini-MBA from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey.