Mark Selles is an award-winning landscape designer and Executive Director and Senior Landscape Designer at DeSignia Inc in Kannapolis, North Carolina. He has built his career on discipline, craftsmanship, and steady leadership in an industry often driven by trends.

From a young age, Selles was drawn to gardening, camping, fishing, and building mechanical devices. He enjoyed working with his hands and understanding how things functioned. That early interest in both nature and engineering shaped his professional path. Today, he blends practical design with creative vision.

Selles believes strong landscape design must reflect the architecture of a home and support how people use the space. He has written about the difference between style and fashion in landscaping, arguing that trends fade but disciplined design endures. His approach focuses on quality over quantity and careful attention to detail.

Much of his growth came through experience. Early career challenges became learning moments. He continues to submit himself to certification processes and ongoing education. He values humility and believes arrogance is a barrier to progress.

Beyond design, Selles is also an inventor. He holds a patent for a mower blade sharpener that sharpens three blades at once, reflecting his practical engineering mindset.

For Selles, leadership is rooted in character. Faith, accountability, and teamwork guide his decisions. He measures success simply: a completed landscape that works well, looks right, and leaves the client genuinely satisfied.

In Conversation with Mark Selles: Discipline, Design and Leadership

Q: Let’s start at the beginning. What first drew you to landscape design?

I have always loved the outdoors. As a child, I enjoyed gardening, camping, fishing, and spending time at the beach. I also liked building mechanical things. I was curious about how things worked. Landscape design felt like a natural blend of those interests. It allowed me to work outside while still thinking structurally and creatively.

Q: How did those early interests shape your career?

They gave me a practical mindset. I do not see landscaping as decoration. I see it as structure, movement, and function. A landscape must reflect the style of the home, but it must also work in real life. Walkways, elevations, plant placement — all of it has purpose.

Q: You have written about style and fashion in landscaping. What is the difference?

Fashion changes. Twenty-five years ago, everyone wanted Bradford Pear trees. Then Knock-out Roses became popular. Trends come and go. Style should be tied to the architecture of the home. If you design with discipline and follow a clear strategy, the result can outlast fashion.

Q: Were there defining challenges early in your career?

Certainly. Often, issues arose from lack of experience. Those moments forced me to learn. I developed better forms, stronger design strategies, and clearer processes. Failure has been a motivator for me. It pushes you to improve.

Q: How would you describe your leadership style at DeSignia Inc?

Quality over quantity. Attention to detail. I believe in providing the same level of work to everyone, regardless of status. I also rely on my team. When challenges arise, we talk through client needs and site conditions together.

Q: You also hold a patent. How did that come about?

I enjoy mechanical and prototype engineering. I designed a mower blade sharpener that sharpens three blades at once. It reflects how I think. I look for efficiency and improvement in systems, whether that is equipment or design.

Q: How do you stay current in the industry?

I submit to certification processes that require recertification and continuing education. That means seminars and personal study. One of the biggest risks in any field is arrogance. You must stay open to learning.

Q: What role does character play in your work?

Character defines everything. Work and personal life influence each other. If your character is weak, your work will reflect it. For me, faith is foundational. It shapes my work ethic and how I treat people.

Q: How do you measure success?

When I visit a completed site, and the client is happy, and the space looks right — that is success. The design must function well and age well. Landscaping is living art. It grows and evolves.

Q: What advice would you give someone entering the industry?

Stay teachable. Work hard. Pay attention to details. Do not chase trends without understanding structure. Develop discipline. Over time, that foundation will speak for itself.

You ever meet a business owner who says, “We’re fine, all our sales come from one platform,” and your stomach tightens a little? Not because they’re wrong today. But because you’ve seen how fast “fine” can flip.

Here’s the thing: single-channel success feels efficient right up until it becomes fragile. One algorithm tweak. One policy change. One shipping disruption. And suddenly revenue isn’t dipping — it’s gasping.

I’ve watched perfectly healthy SMEs wobble because their entire pipeline ran through one door. Diversification used to be a growth strategy. Now it’s resilience strategy.

The Hidden Fragility Of Single-Channel Success

A lot of founders mistake stability for safety. Sales look consistent. Costs are predictable. The platform works. Why complicate it?

But single-channel businesses are structurally exposed. If 80% of your revenue flows from one marketplace, ad platform, or distributor, you’re effectively renting your business model. And landlords change terms.

We’ve seen it repeatedly. Algorithm shifts that bury organic reach overnight. If you’ve ever searched how to relist on Poshmark just to get fresh eyes on a listing again, you already understand how quickly visibility can become something you have to fight for.

And the tricky part is that none of this is malicious. Platforms optimize for their ecosystem, not your balance sheet. SMEs caught in the middle feel it first.

Take a hypothetical example. A retailer driving 90% of sales through one marketplace sees a category rule change. Their product suddenly needs new compliance documentation. Sales pause for 30 days. That’s not an inconvenience. That’s payroll risk.

Diversification Isn’t Growth, It’s Insurance

Let’s be real: most founders don’t diversify because they’re bored. They diversify because concentration risk is terrifying once you see it clearly.

Multi-channel presence spreads exposure. When one stream slows, others stabilize cash flow. It’s not about chasing every shiny platform. It’s about building redundancy into your revenue system.

I’ve seen brands triple their engagement by layering channels intelligently instead of doubling down on one. Direct site, marketplace presence, wholesale relationships, social commerce — each behaves differently under pressure.

What’s interesting is the geographic side effect. Different channels reach different regions and demographics.

A downturn in one market doesn’t hit every stream equally. That diversification softens economic shocks in ways spreadsheets rarely predict upfront.

It depends on your category, of course. Physical goods behave differently from digital services. But concentration risk exists everywhere.

Growth Gets Messy Before It Gets Stable

Nobody tells founders this part loudly enough: multi-channel expansion is operationally awkward at first. Inventory coordination gets complicated.

Pricing parity becomes a puzzle. Manual processes start cracking under volume. And that friction scares people back into simplicity.

But the complexity isn’t a sign diversification is wrong. It’s a signal your systems need to evolve. Early-stage SMEs often run on heroic manual effort. Founders patch gaps personally. That works at one channel. It collapses at three.

You know what works? Treating operations like infrastructure, not an afterthought. Standardized processes. Shared data layers. Clear inventory logic. Once the backbone exists, adding channels stops feeling chaotic.

The tricky part is timing. Invest too early, and you overspend. Invest too late and growth chokes. Most resilient businesses upgrade systems right as pain appears, not years after.

Automation Is The Quiet Growth Engine

There’s a romantic myth about scrappy founders doing everything by hand. And sure, hustle matters early. But sustainable scale runs on automation.

Streamlined stock management prevents overselling. Automated order routing reduces human error. Integrated reporting replaces spreadsheet archaeology at midnight. Administrative overhead shrinks while output grows.

On top of that, automation gives founders back cognitive space. Instead of chasing logistics fires, they focus on strategy. Product expansion. Partnerships. Brand positioning. The work that actually compounds.

I’ve watched teams cut operational hours by 40% just by connecting systems properly. Same revenue. Less chaos. Higher margins because mistakes dropped.

And mistakes are expensive. Duplicate shipments. Missed invoices. Pricing inconsistencies. They look small individually. Together, they bleed profit invisibly.

Data Stops Being Noise And Starts Being Guidance

Multi-channel businesses generate more data than single-channel ones. At first, that feels overwhelming. Dashboards multiply. Metrics compete. Signals blur.

But when integrated properly, that data becomes a strategic asset.

Cross-channel performance reveals demand patterns you’d never see in isolation. One platform might spike on weekends. Another might peak midweek. Combined, they stabilize production forecasting.

What’s interesting is how margin optimization emerges from comparison. You spot where logistics costs creep. Which channel tolerates premium pricing? Where discounts actually drive volume versus cannibalize profit.

Smarter forecasting follows naturally. Inventory aligns with real behavior instead of guesswork. Cash flow smooths. Risk shrinks.

And yes, analytics takes discipline. Bad data pipelines create false confidence. But good data turns diversification into a measurable advantage instead of a juggling act.

Resilience Is Built Before Disruption Arrives

Economic shocks don’t announce themselves politely. Supply chain interruptions. Currency swings. Platform crackdowns. Consumer behavior shifts. They land suddenly.

Diversified SMEs absorb those shocks differently. Revenue doesn’t vanish all at once. It redistributes. Adaptive businesses pivot faster because their infrastructure already supports multiple pathways.

That’s the real competitive edge. Not just survival, but optionality.

Adaptive models let you test emerging channels without betting the company. Infrastructure becomes a buffer, not a bottleneck. When markets change — and they always do — diversified businesses adjust instead of freezing.

But here’s the nuance: diversification isn’t about chasing every trend. It’s intentional expansion aligned with capacity.

Too many channels without operational maturity create fragility of a different kind. Balance matters. Depth and breadth grow together.

The Uncomfortable Truth Founders Eventually Accept

Resilient SMEs look less elegant than single-channel darlings. More moving parts. More systems. More decisions. From the outside, it can seem messy.

But under the surface, that complexity distributes risk. It transforms dependency into flexibility. And flexibility is what keeps businesses alive through cycles nobody can predict.

The irony is that diversification feels inefficient in calm markets. Focus wins short-term. But resilience wins in the long term. And long-term is where real businesses live.

Here’s the thing: the goal isn’t to avoid disruption. That’s impossible. The goal is to design a business that bends instead of breaks. Diversified sales channels aren’t just a growth lever anymore. They’re structural insurance for the modern SME.

House members from both parties joined to introduce legislation Wednesday aimed at incentivizing companies to train their employees to utilize artificial intelligence.

Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., introduced the AI Workforce Training Act along with Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y. If passed, the legislation would create a tax credit for companies who invest in AI trainings for their employees.

“If quantum computing and AI are the future, our workforce can’t be left behind. This workforce tax credit gives them the training they need to compete for the high-paying tech jobs of tomorrow, right here at home,” Lawler said in a statement.

According to the text of the bill, companies would be allowed to claim a tax credit equal to 30% of qualified expenses, up to $2,500 per employee per year, for costs related to teaching workers how to use, manage and build AI systems.

AI OUT OF CONTROL? HOW A SINGLE ARTICLE IS SENDING SHOCK WAVES WITH AN APOCALYPTIC WARNING

Rep. Mike Lawler leaves a meeting of the House Republican Conference in the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

The legislation also directs the Departments of Treasury, Labor and Commerce to launch a public outreach campaign to make businesses aware of the tax credit.

“AI is already changing how we work and that transformation will keep getting faster, and we can’t let the American worker get left behind,” Gottheimer said in a statement. “Change is coming, and if we want America to continue to lead the world in AI innovation, we need to make sure American workers are ready for the jobs of the future.”

The legislation comes as members of Congress continue to debate how the country should address AI innovations.

SANDERS SAYS ‘SCIENCE-FICTION FEAR’ OF AI RUNNING THE WORLD ‘NOT QUITE SO OUTRAGEOUS’

Rep. Josh Gottheimer is pushing for Congress to address AI. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., told FOX Business last week that she is concerned about potential job losses.

“I am deeply concerned about AI and what it’s going to mean when people go out one day for lunch and come back and their jobs aren’t there anymore, and that happens to millions and millions of people. Now is the moment when we need to be preparing,” Warren told FOX Business.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., says she is worried about AI costing jobs. (Michael A. McCoy/Getty Images)

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Pressed on what large-scale displacement could mean for the middle class, Warren – the ranking member of the Senate Banking Committee – issued a stark warning.

“We lost more than 100,000 manufacturing jobs last year,” she said. “If AI comes in on top of that and literally wipes out the income for millions of families we’re going to see a full-blown crisis right here in this country. If you know the bad weather is threatening out there, now’s the time to prepare for it.”

Read the full legislation below (App users click here)

Humanoid robots from leading Chinese firms delivered a jaw-dropping martial arts spectacle during the annual Spring Festival Gala on Feb. 16, 2026, blending traditional kung fu with cutting-edge robotics in a high-energy routine that captivated hundreds of millions of viewers and underscored China’s rapid advances in embodied AI.

The performance, part of the China Media Group’s (CMG) four-hour broadcast marking the start of the Lunar New Year — the Year of the Fire Horse — featured dozens of robots executing synchronized stunts, backflips, weapon handling and sparring alongside young human martial artists from Henan’s Tagou Martial Arts School. Not a single robot faltered, even during complex sequences involving nunchucks, staffs, swordplay, Drunken Fist and rapid formation changes at speeds up to 3 meters per second.

Unitree Robotics stole much of the show with its G1 and H2 models, achieving what the company called the world’s first fully autonomous humanoid robot swarm martial arts performance. Upgrades including triangular LiDAR sensors, dexterous hands and over 90% motion-learning accuracy enabled precise, expressive moves and seamless recovery from perturbations. The robots performed Liuhe Fist, staff sparring, nunchaku routines and even wall-assisted flips and aerial acrobatics in real time, far surpassing the simpler handkerchief-twirling displays of Unitree bots at the 2025 gala.

Other firms contributed: Noetix Robotics’ Bumi models joined a comedy sketch, MagicLab humanoids danced in a musical segment with panda-suited robotic dogs, and additional companies showcased synchronized choreography. The collaboration highlighted Beijing’s push to integrate robotics into manufacturing, services and entertainment amid rising labor costs and a shrinking workforce.

Experts noted the leap in capabilities. Fluid joint movements, real-time coordination and fault-tolerant balance marked significant progress over 2025’s more scripted routines. Analysts see it as a showcase of China’s industrial ambition, with Morgan Stanley projecting humanoid robot sales in China to more than double to 28,000 units in 2026. Elon Musk has repeatedly cited Chinese firms as Tesla’s biggest rival in embodied AI as it develops Optimus.

The gala, watched by an estimated billion-plus audience domestically and millions globally via clips on YouTube, Instagram and X, sparked viral reactions. Viewers praised the “creepily impressive” agility, with comments like “fascinating to see robots learn Chinese traditional martial arts” and comparisons to sci-fi films. Some expressed awe at the fusion of heritage and technology, while others pondered future implications for labor and society.

The event aligns with China’s broader robotics strategy, emphasizing high-coordination swarm control for real-world applications like multi-robot dispatching in factories or disaster response. Unitree described the show as a “future martial arts academy” concept, laying groundwork for dynamic, expressive humanoid interactions.

As clips circulated widely — one YouTube video garnering over 820,000 views in days — the performance reinforced China’s lead in humanoid robotics hardware and AI-driven motion. With the Lunar New Year festivities continuing through the week, the robots’ kung fu display remains a defining image of 2026’s technological celebration.

The way charities fundraise is evolving faster than ever. Shifts in technology, donor expectations, and global challenges are reshaping how people give and why.

Traditional methods like street collections and gala dinners still have a place, but the future of fundraising will be more digital, more personalised, and more participatory than anything that came before it.

To stay relevant and resilient, charities must embrace new models that build deeper relationships, leverage innovation, and meet supporters where they already are.

Community Powered Digital Fundraising

Peer to peer fundraising will continue to grow, but with a sharper focus on community rather than one off campaigns. Supporters increasingly want to fundraise with friends, not just for causes.

Future platforms will make it easier for donors to:

• Launch micro-campaigns in seconds
• Set up recurring group challenges
• Share progress transparently across social and messaging apps

Instead of relying on a few major events each year, charities can empower thousands of supporters to run small, continuous fundraising efforts that collectively make a big impact.

Subscription Giving and Membership Models

The “Netflix effect” is influencing charitable giving. More donors prefer predictable, low-effort monthly contributions rather than large, sporadic donations.

Forward thinking charities are reframing regular giving as membership:

• Exclusive updates and behind the scenes access
• Opportunities to vote on funding priorities
• Digital badges, recognition, or impact reports

This model creates financial stability for charities while strengthening donor loyalty and emotional investment.

Data Driven Personalisation

As donors become more selective, generic fundraising appeals will lose effectiveness. The future lies in personalisation powered by ethical data use.

Charities will increasingly tailor:

• Messaging based on donor interests and history
• Donation amounts suggested by giving patterns
• Impact stories aligned with individual motivations

When supporters feel understood and valued as individuals not just wallets they are far more likely to give again.

Fundraising Platforms as Ecosystems, Not Just Tools

Future fundraising platforms will move beyond being simple donation pages and become full ecosystems that support long term engagement. Rather than one size fits all solutions, platforms will increasingly cater to specific causes, regions, and donor behaviours.

Key shifts we’re likely to see include:

• All in one donation platforms combining events, peer to peer campaigns, volunteering, and impact reporting in one place
• Platform native communities, where supporters can interact, collaborate, and fundraise together year round
• AI assisted optimisation, helping charities test messaging, timing, and suggested donation amounts in real time
• Greater accessibility, with multilingual support, mobile first design, and local payment options to reach global audiences

We’ll also see more ethical competition among platforms, with transparency around fees, data use, and carbon impact becoming differentiators. For smaller charities in particular, the right platform will act less like a vendor and more like a strategic partner lowering technical barriers and allowing teams to focus on mission rather than infrastructure.

As donor expectations rise, fundraising platforms that prioritise trust, usability, and community building will play a central role in shaping how charities raise money in the future.

Corporate Partnerships with Shared Value

Corporate fundraising

is shifting from simple sponsorships to long term, mission aligned partnerships. Companies are under growing pressure to demonstrate social responsibility, and charities can play a central role in that story.

Future collaborations may include:

• Employee led fundraising and volunteering programs
• Cause linked products where a percentage of sales is donated
• Joint impact reporting that benefits both brand trust and transparency

The most successful partnerships will feel authentic, not transactional.

Immersive Storytelling Through Technology

Virtual and augmented reality will transform how charities tell their stories. Instead of reading about impact, donors will be able to experience it.

Imagine:

• Virtual tours of project sites
• Interactive simulations showing how donations create change
• Live streamed field updates with real time Q&A

These immersive experiences create empathy, urgency, and trust key drivers of future fundraising success.

Fundraising Through Everyday Actions

In the future, donating won’t always feel like donating. Charities are exploring ways to embed giving into daily life.

Examples include:

• Rounding up purchases for charity
• Donating data, skills, or computing power instead of money
• Passive fundraising through apps, browsers, or loyalty programs

This approach lowers the barrier to entry and brings in supporters who might never respond to a traditional appeal.

Co Creation With Beneficiaries

One of the most powerful future shifts is who gets to shape fundraising narratives. Increasingly, charities are involving beneficiaries directly in campaigns.

This can mean:

• First person storytelling
• Beneficiaries helping design projects and goals
• Shared decision making on how funds are allocated

This model not only improves authenticity but also challenges outdated power dynamics in the sector.

Looking Ahead

The future of charitable fundraising is not about chasing every new trend it’s about building trust, relevance, and community in a fast changing world. Charities that listen closely to supporters, experiment thoughtfully with technology, and stay rooted in their mission will be best positioned to thrive.

Fundraising is no longer just about asking for money. It’s about inviting people to belong, participate, and help shape a better future together.

Renters are expected to see some relief from rising prices this year, with the pace of rent growth expected to slow as the market stabilizes and a measure of affordability hits a four-year-high.

An analysis by Zillow projects that multifamily rental prices are expected to remain relatively flat through the end of 2026, declining slightly by 0.2%. 

Single-family rents are expected to rise at an annual rate of 1.1% in December 2026, which the report says would represent a “sharp slowdown from the rapid increases of recent years” as higher vacancy rates and more newly-built apartments help keep rent growth subdued as renters’ bargaining positions improve. Single family rents were up 2.7% last month from a year ago.

Zillow found that the typical asking rent in January was $1,895, up just 0.1% from December and 2% year over year. That represents the slowest annual rent growth since December 2020, as the market has steadied after prices saw rapid increases during the pandemic.

TEXAS CAPITAL’S HOUSEHOLD GROWTH SURGES, FAR OUTPACING NATIONAL RATE

Rent growth has eased over the last year and the trend is expected to continue in 2026, according to an analysis by Zillow. (Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Rents for multifamily homes have grown at an even slower pace, rising just 1.4% from a year ago. Zillow’s projection that multifamily rents will decline slightly and remain essentially flat this year, indicates that further relief could be on the way.

Slowing rent growth has boosted an affordability measure that takes into account renters’ income levels. A median income household would now spend 24.3% of its income on typical apartment rent, which is down slightly from 25% in February 2020.

By another measure, the typical household is spending 26.4% of its income on rent, which is the lowest share since August 2021. 

US HOME PRICES ARE RISING – BUT THESE FAST-GROWING MARKETS REMAIN AFFORDABLE

Austin, Texas, was one of the most affordable metro areas for renters in Zillow’s analysis. (iStock)

Metro areas where that figure is significantly higher than the national average include Miami (37.2%), New York City (36.9%) and Los Angeles (34%). 

Notable metros with better affordability include St. Louis (19.7%), Minneapolis (19.4%), Denver (19.4%), Austin (17.9%) and Salt Lake City (17.9%).

“Renters are operating in a very different environment than they were just a few years ago,” said Orphe Dviounguy, senior economist at Zillow. “When supply expands and vacancies rise, property managers have to adjust on both price and terms. Concessions are near record highs, keeping rent growth modest and creating meaningful opportunities for renters.”

HOUSING MARKET COOLS AS PRICE GROWTH HITS SLOWEST PACE SINCE GREAT RECESSION RECOVERY

Los Angeles is among the metro areas facing affordability challenges for renters. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)

Zillow also noted that renters are getting more concessions in lease terms as they utilize their negotiating leverage in renewals and new leases.

It found that nearly 40% of rental listings on the Zillow platform in January had at least one concession, like a free month of rent or a reduced deposit. 

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That’s slightly below the record high set last January, when 41.1% of listings had a concession, and the figure remains elevated compared to historical norms.