Business
Inside Margarita Howard’s HX5 SkillBridge Pipeline
The Air Force changed the math of military-to-civilian hiring this spring. On March 31, 2026, the Department of the Air Force began capping how long airmen and guardians can spend in the Defense Department’s SkillBridge program before they leave the service, tying the maximum to rank.
Junior enlisted members and officers through the rank of O-3 can train for up to 120 days; more senior personnel are held to 90. The earlier policy let nearly everyone use the full 180-day window. For a contractor that recruits through SkillBridge, the change shortens the runway for turning a transitioning service member into a hire.
Margarita Howard, founder and chief executive of HX5, has spent five years running a veteran pipeline built to work inside that kind of limit.
HX5 is a defense and aerospace services contractor that Howard started in 2004. It employs close to 1,000 people, working primarily with the Department of Defense and NASA. Veterans account for more than 30% of that workforce. Howard, an Air Force veteran, tends to describe that share as a point of pride but, also as a fix for a recruiting problem her corner of the industry has struggled to solve any other way.
How a SkillBridge Placement Becomes a Cleared Role at HX5
HX5 entered the SkillBridge network in 2021 through the Hiring Our Heroes Corporate Fellowship Program, a twelve-week track that places a service member with an employer four days a week and reserves the fifth for professional development.
Through that program, the Defense Department keeps paying the fellow’s military salary and benefits until the end of active duty, so the host company carries no direct labor cost. But the fellow steps into an actual assignment rather than a shadowing arrangement, and is measured against the same standards as the permanent staff working beside them.
Howard hires two Hiring Our Heroes Corporate Fellowship Program fellows a year rather than running a large intake. Each placement is matched to a specific contract and a specific clearance requirement, so the twelve weeks function as a working tryout in both directions. The company learns whether a fellow’s background maps onto the program they would actually staff, while the fellow learns whether the role and the site are what they want. When the fit holds, the fellowship can convert into a permanent, cleared position, and the candidate starts that job already knowing the team and the contract.
Government Experience Shortens the Onboarding Curve
The reason the model pays off is what a candidate brings on the first day. A fellow transitioning out of uniform usually arrives with an active security clearance and, more important, with firsthand knowledge of how a government program actually runs: how a contracting officer evaluates performance, what a compliance deadline means when an agency mission depends on it, how a secured environment differs from a commercial office. Those are the parts of the job that take a strong commercial hire months to absorb, and that a service member has already lived. At the site level, that experience compresses onboarding from a long ramp into a short one.
It is also why Howard guards hiring so closely. She has said the hardest responsibility for her to delegate as the company grew was personnel, because “much of our success has been because of the people that we’ve hired.” What she eventually handed off was the volume, not the standard. The job, as she came to see it, was “less about being involved in every single hire and more about creating a culture, finding people that would share our vision, support our mission.” A veteran who has spent a career inside the mission tends to clear that bar before the interview starts.
Once a fellow converts, HX5 leans on the same internal machinery it uses to hold knowledge in a workforce where many employees stay a decade or more.
“We also have our mentorship programs where senior employees mentor newer hires, ensuring that knowledge transfers happen quickly and consistently from within,” Howard said.
Margarita Howard’s Practical Case for Veteran Hiring
The market explains the urgency. Cleared, technically credentialed talent has been the binding constraint across aerospace and defense for years, and the candidates HX5 needs sit at the narrow intersection of clearance, technical skill, and direct agency experience. SkillBridge delivers people who already hold the clearance and the experience, which is why Howard treats veteran hiring as workforce strategy rather than goodwill.
The approach has a federal scorecard behind it. In 2025 the Department of Labor awarded HX5 its HIRE Vets Gold Medallion, the government’s only veteran-employment recognition tied to measured hiring and retention rather than intent. The 30% veteran share and a high fellowship-to-hire conversion rate are the kind of numbers that distinction rewards.
But those results now have to be produced in a tighter environment. The Defense Department has tightened the criteria partner organizations must meet and pushed them toward structured enrollment and real hiring commitments, and the Air Force’s new rank-based caps shorten the time a fellow has to begin with. A program built around bulk intake and open-ended auditions has less room than it did a year ago. A program built the way Howard built hers, small, matched to specific roles, and aimed at conversion from the outset, is largely already operating to the standard the rules now require.
Business
Despite supply concerns, world sugar prices keep steady

But one analyst says there’s more upside than downside risk to the market.
Business
Stock Market Today: Dow Rises On Iran Comments; SpaceX Rival Rocket Lab Dives
The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the other major stock indexes traded mixed Tuesday, after it was reported the U.S. and Iran had reached “some sort of an arrangement” for a peace deal. Meanwhile, SpaceX rival Rocket Lab (RKLB) was a big earnings loser on the stock market today. Just after Tuesday’s open, the Dow industrials rose 0.3%, as the…
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Business
Solar eclipse chasers scramble for glasses as stocks run low
Even just a small part of the Sun breaking through the glasses can harm your eyes, the Royal College of Ophthalmologists has warned, adding that the safest way to watch the event is indirectly – such as through a livestream or broadcast.
“Crucially, the retina has no pain receptors, so people will not feel the damage as it happens,” explains the college’s president Mohamed Elalfy.
The college reported around 70 cases of people experiencing vision problems after watching 1999’s eclipse – around 40% of those affected had looked at it for less than a minute.
Anyone who notices a change in their vision after looking at the Sun should seek advice from an eye-care professional.
If you cannot get your hands on proper glasses, the advice is to not simply opt for everyday sunglasses instead.
Imo Bell, a planetarium astronomer at The Royal Observatory Greenwich, says the specialist glasses are “very, very different” to regular sunglasses, which will not offer protection.
“They block out so much light that you can’t see anything through them except the Sun,” she told the PA news agency.
The UKHSA explains that regular sunglasses can also reduce glare and make it more comfortable for you to look at the Sun for longer – causing more damage.
You should not use binoculars, telescopes or the viewfinder of a camera even with your eclipse glasses on, because their magnifying effect can nullify the protection of the glasses and damage your sight.
For those without glasses or wanting to watch directly, you can do so using a pinhole projector.
You can make a simple one with a single sheet of card or something more ambitious using a cardboard box.
“We’re not going to get one this good for a really long time,” says Bell. “So, it’s important not to miss it, and to be prepared.”
Business
Nearly 30,000 Pounds Of Argentine Beef Recalled In Florida And Texas Over Missed Import Inspection
WASHINGTON — A Florida-based meat importer is recalling nearly 30,000 pounds of raw beef products brought in from Argentina after the shipment entered the United States without undergoing a federally required reinspection, agriculture officials said.
Corte Argentino USA LLC, based in Aventura, Florida, is recalling approximately 29,628 pounds of raw beef products that were imported from Argentina “without the benefit of import reinspection into the United States,” the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, known as FSIS, announced Friday.
Under standard federal procedure, imported meat shipments must first clear U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service before undergoing a separate reinspection by FSIS once they arrive in the country. That reinspection process examines shipping documentation, product labeling, packaging integrity and the general condition of the meat, and can include sampling for contaminants. In this case, the beef bypassed that final FSIS check before reaching distributors and retailers.
FSIS said the lapse was discovered during the agency’s routine inspection activities rather than through any report of illness or a foodborne outbreak investigation. The agency said there have been no confirmed reports of illness or injury linked to consumption of the recalled products.
The affected beef was produced between May 15 and May 20, 2026, and carries use-by or freeze-by dates ranging from September 15 to September 20, 2026. The recalled products were distributed to distributors and retailers across Florida and Texas, according to FSIS.
The recall covers several cuts of boneless beef packed in varying weights of cardboard boxes under the “FrigorIfico Gorina SAIC” label, including Top Sirloin Butt, marketed under its Spanish-language name “Cuadril Sin Tapa”; Eye Round, or “Peceto”; Topside Cap Off, or “Nalga AD S/Tapa”; Flat, or “Carnaza Cuadrada”; and Knuckle, or “Bola de Lomo.” All of the affected packaging bears the Argentinian establishment number “EST. N° OF. 2025” and the shipping mark “26644-AA,” details FSIS says consumers should check against any beef products they may have purchased from the listed lots.
FSIS said it is concerned that some of the recalled beef may still be sitting in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers, given the timing of the recall relative to the products’ extended shelf life. The agency is urging anyone who purchased the affected beef not to consume it, and instead to either discard the product or return it to the place of purchase for a refund.
Anyone who has concerns about illness or injury after consuming the recalled beef is being advised to contact a healthcare provider. FSIS also noted that it routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks following an announcement like Friday’s, verifying that the recalling company has properly notified its customers and confirming that the affected product has been removed from sale. A full retail distribution list for the recalled beef is expected to be posted on the FSIS website once it becomes available.
Consumers with general food safety questions can contact the USDA’s toll-free Meat and Poultry Hotline, while those looking to report a specific problem with a meat, poultry or egg product can do so through the agency’s online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System, which operates around the clock.
Friday’s recall adds to a steady stream of federal food recalls in recent weeks tied to a range of safety and regulatory issues. Just days earlier, more than 3,200 pounds of pastrami and corned beef products were recalled over possible listeria contamination, underscoring how frequently meat and poultry recalls occur even as reported illness rates connected to any single recall generally remain rare.
Import reinspection lapses like the one identified in Friday’s recall are considered a distinct category of food safety issue separate from contamination-driven recalls. Rather than indicating that a product is confirmed to be unsafe, a missed reinspection means federal verification of the shipment’s documentation, labeling and condition never took place as required, leaving the product’s safety status effectively unconfirmed by regulators at the time it entered the supply chain. FSIS has characterized such lapses as serious enough to warrant a full recall specifically because the agency cannot verify after the fact that the product met all import requirements, even in the absence of any specific evidence of contamination.
Corte Argentino USA LLC has not issued additional public comment beyond the information included in the FSIS recall notice. Consumers and members of the media with questions about the recall have been directed to contact the company’s general manager, Eial Kaplun, through information listed in the official FSIS announcement.
The recall is limited to the specific production dates, lot codes and shipping mark identified by FSIS, meaning not all Corte Argentino USA beef products are affected, only those matching the details tied to the flagged shipment. Consumers who are uncertain whether beef products in their possession match the recalled lots are advised to check packaging closely against the establishment number and shipping mark cited in the recall notice, or to contact their retailer directly for further verification.
FSIS has not indicated whether additional shipments beyond the identified lot are under review as part of the recall, and the agency said it will continue to provide updates on its website as the situation develops, including the retail distribution list once it becomes available for public review.
Business
Diamond Hill Mid Cap Fund Q2 2026 Commentary (MUTF:DHPAX)
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Business
10 Reasons Buyers May Want To Wait For Apple’s Rumored Foldable iPhone Instead Of Galaxy Z Fold 8 Now
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 hit store shelves this month, but with Apple widely expected to unveil its first foldable iPhone within weeks, tech analysts say shoppers weighing a premium foldable purchase face a genuine timing question.
Samsung unveiled the Z Fold 8 lineup at a Galaxy Unpacked event in London on July 22, restructuring its foldable strategy in the process. The company split its flagship foldable into two models: a wider, more compact Z Fold 8 starting at $1,899.99 for 256GB, and a taller, more traditional Z Fold 8 Ultra starting around $2,099. Both became available for purchase in early August. Meanwhile, Apple has not yet confirmed its own foldable device, but a wide range of supply-chain analysts and industry reporters expect the company to unveil what is widely being called the iPhone Fold, or possibly iPhone Ultra, at a September event alongside the iPhone 18 lineup.
Here are 10 reasons analysts and reviewers say some buyers may want to hold off on Samsung’s device and wait to see what Apple brings to market.
First, Apple’s foldable is expected to arrive within roughly six to eight weeks of the Z Fold 8’s launch, according to multiple supply-chain reports, meaning buyers on the fence face a relatively short wait rather than a year-long gap.
Second, reporting from analysts including JPMorgan’s Samik Chatterjee points to a starting price of around $1,999 for Apple’s device, positioning it competitively against Samsung’s lineup rather than at a significant premium, based on currently available leaks.
Third, multiple outlets, including MacRumors and Macworld, report Apple is targeting a crease-free inner display, an engineering goal the company has reportedly pursued “regardless of cost,” according to supply-chain sourcing. Visible creases remain one of the most commonly cited complaints about existing foldable phones, including Samsung’s lineup, making a crease-free panel a potentially meaningful differentiator if Apple delivers on the claim.
Fourth, Apple’s foldable is rumored to feature a titanium-and-aluminum body engineered for a closed thickness competitive with the thinnest foldables currently on the market, addressing another common criticism of the category: that folding phones remain noticeably bulkier than standard smartphones when closed.
Fifth, buyers loyal to Apple’s ecosystem, including iMessage, FaceTime, AirDrop and continuity features across Mac and iPad devices, would gain access to a foldable form factor without leaving the platform, a factor that matters significantly for a large segment of premium smartphone buyers who have little interest in switching to Android regardless of hardware specifications.
Sixth, rumored specifications point to a roughly 7.8-inch inner display and 5.5-inch outer display for Apple’s device, dimensions comparable to Samsung’s more traditional Z Fold 8 Ultra model, meaning buyers would not necessarily sacrifice screen real estate by waiting.
Seventh, Apple’s foldable is expected to run on the company’s A20 or A20 Pro chip alongside a new Apple C2 modem, giving it access to Apple’s latest silicon rather than a chip shared with a prior generation of standard iPhones, according to spec leaks compiled by multiple outlets.
Eighth, some reports indicate Apple’s device will feature dual 48-megapixel rear cameras, a notable upgrade path for a first-generation foldable and one that would put its rear camera resolution on par with Samsung’s current flagship foldable offerings.
Ninth, Apple has historically waited to enter established hardware categories until it believes it can meaningfully differentiate its product, a pattern reflected in its approach to smartwatches, wireless earbuds and tablets. Analysts covering the foldable space have noted that Apple’s decision to enter the category years after Samsung suggests the company believes it has solved specific engineering problems, such as the crease and hinge durability, that have persisted across earlier generations of foldable phones from multiple manufacturers.
Tenth, buyers focused specifically on long-term software support may also factor in Apple’s typical multi-year update commitment for iPhones, which has generally extended longer than the support windows offered on most Android devices, including Samsung’s foldables, though Samsung has also expanded its own software support commitments in recent years.
Reviewers have also cautioned that waiting carries its own risks. Because Apple’s foldable would be a first-generation product, some analysts expect early units to face the kind of growing pains common to first-generation hardware, including limited initial stock tied to reported production yield issues and a smaller app ecosystem optimized for the folding form factor compared with Samsung’s more mature software experience, refined across eight generations of Z Fold devices since 2019.
Pricing also remains a genuine unknown for Apple’s device until the company confirms it directly. While a $1,999 starting price has been the most frequently cited figure across recent analyst notes, some earlier reports had suggested a range as high as $2,399, and Apple has not disclosed any details on trade-in or carrier promotions that could meaningfully offset the cost for buyers switching from an existing device.
For now, neither Apple’s final pricing, exact launch date, nor full specifications have been officially confirmed, and all comparisons between the rumored iPhone Fold and Samsung’s already-released Z Fold 8 remain based on leaks and analyst projections rather than confirmed details from Apple itself. Industry watchers say Apple’s September event, where the company is widely expected to unveil its full iPhone 18 lineup alongside its first foldable device, should resolve most of the remaining uncertainty for buyers deciding between the two ecosystems.
Business
Earnings call transcript: Fennec beats Q2 2026 estimates as shares jump premarket

Earnings call transcript: Fennec beats Q2 2026 estimates as shares jump premarket
Business
FDA proposes to redefine GRAS

If enacted, the proposal would do away with self-affirmed process.
Business
Microsoft Vs. AMD: Investors May Be Watching The Wrong Variables (Panel Regression) (MSFT)
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Business
Earnings call transcript: AECOM Q3 2026 revenue tops forecasts, EPS misses

Earnings call transcript: AECOM Q3 2026 revenue tops forecasts, EPS misses
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