Alongside the SmartBrief on Leadership e-newsletter, this blog is designed to act as a forum for business leaders interested in the exchange of insights and ideas. Visit us often for advice and creative strategies from SmartBrief editors, readers and contributors eager to share ideas and success stories.

We look forward to your participation in this collaboration.

Our Editors:

James daSilva – Senior Editor
James daSilva is a senior editor at SmartBrief. He edits SmartBrief on Leadership, SmartBrief on Sustainability, as well as publications covering the chemical industry and other sectors. Before joining SmartBrief, he was copy desk chief at a daily newspaper in New York. You can find him on Twitter discussing all business matters sustainable and green @SB_GreenBiz.

Jennifer Hicks – Editor
Jennifer Hicks edits SB newsletters on construction, green building  and freight railroads, among other things. Before joining SmartBrief, she was a college professor for 12 years and owner of a consulting business that worked with government agencies and Fortune 100 companies on improving the content and usability of their website. She considers herself very fortunate to live on Cape Cod.

Brooke Howell – Editor
Brooke Howell edits SmartBrief’s newsletters on small business. Before joining SmartBrief, she was editor of a specialty newsletter on the business aspects of the home-health industry, and prior to that an associate research editor at AARP The Magazine. Her interest in workforce issues began at Indiana University where, as an undergraduate, she worked at the university’s Career Development Center.

Bryan McBournie – Editor
Bryan McBournie edits SmartBrief newsletters on energy and chemicals. Before joining SmartBrief, he worked as a reporter for SNL Energy, covering the natural gas industry and a local newspaper in Maryland, covering everything from planning and zoning issues to new businesses.

Doris Nhan – Web Editor & Community Manager
Doris is the web editor for the SmartBlogs network and manages day-to-day operations for the website. She also manages SmartBrief’s social media channels, including Twitter and Facebook.

Sam Taute – Associate Editor
Sam Taute writes multiple SmartBrief newsletters and contributes to SmartBlogs on Restaurants and Social Media. A former intern at SmartBrief, he recently graduated from the Philip Merrill School of Journalism at the University of Maryland in College Park.

Ben Whitford – Contributing Editor
Ben Whitford is a contributing editor at SmartBrief. His work has also appeared in Newsweek, Mother Jones, Slate and the Guardian.

Our Contributors:

John Baldoni – Contributor
John Baldoni is an internationally recognized leadership educator, executive coach, author and speaker. In 2010, Top Leadership Gurus named John one of the world’s top 25 leadership experts. John’s new book is “Lead Your Boss: The Subtle Art of Managing Up.” Readers are welcome to visit John’s website.

Mike Figliuolo – Contributor
Mike is managing director of thoughtLEADERS. Prior to launching his own company, he worked at McKinsey & Co., Capital One and Scotts Miracle-Gro. His is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and author of the forthcoming leadership book “One Piece of Paper.”

Heidi Grant Halvorson – Contributor
Heidi Grant Halvorson, Ph.D., is a motivational psychologist, researcher and consultant.  She blogs regularly about goal-setting and leadership for Fast Company, Huffington Post and the Harvard Business Review. Her new book is Succeed: How We Can Reach Our Goals. She is available for corporate speaking, training, and consulting. Click here or here for more information.

Lance Haun – Contributor
Lance is community director for ERE Media and a writer on TLNT. He has been in the human resources industry for six years in both strategic and tactical roles, giving him a solid understanding of the field in a relatively short period of time. He is a proud product of the Washington State University School of Business and enjoys recreating in the great Northwest U.S. in his spare time. He blogs at Rehaul.com.

Sharlyn Lauby – Contributor
Sharlyn Lauby, SPHR, CPLP, is the HR Bartender, whose blog is a friendly place to discuss workplace issues. When not “bartending,” Sharlyn is president of ITM Group Inc., which specializes in leadership training and human resources consulting.