At last year‘s CIO of the Year event, much of the conversation was about how the IT leaders earned their finalist status by effectively ushering their organizations through the pandemic. Times have changed since then, and casual conversations with the 2024 CIO of the Year finalists hardly touch on the pandemic.   For Kathleen Lovett, vice president and chief information officer at VSP Vision, it’s been a year of transition. She was a finalist both years. The emergence of ChatGPT into the mainstream, combined with a broadening of her role at her company, pushed Covid technology risks ..read more

Often, orchestral concerts are viewed as repositories of history, places where we gather to respect and enjoy the sounds and traditions of music firmly in the past. This perspective couldn’t be further from the truth. Orchestras are living, breathing organisms, filled with artists whose skill and knowledge bring new life to classic pieces, and inspire brand-new works. To this day, classically trained composers receive commissions meant to celebrate an orchestra or specific members, a considerable investment that requires immense time and creative energy to execute. “When you commission a [new ..read more

The Pittsburgh Public Schools, with an eye on a bleak financial future in which there won’t be enough money for operations in 2027, has embarked on a multi-pronged approach to right the schools’ finances. Chief Financial Officer Ronald Joseph said that in 2026 the district will use up its savings to balance the budget. He made multiple presentations to the Board of Directors of the Pittsburgh Public Schools, both during the preparation of the upcoming school year budget and while talking about the need to reduce the number of school buildings in the district. In addition to closing schools, t ..read more

What’s going on this weekend, April 18-21? Find out here. Know of a cool event? . Thursday, April 18-Sunday, April 21: Pittsburgh Fringe Festival at Multiple Venues Various times There’s more to see, do and experience at the 412 edition of Fringe because the freewheeling festival is expanding its dates. Spanning 10 days from April 18-27, this “all-out, no-holds-barred” performing arts festival brings international, national and local artists together at venues in Bloomfield, Friendship, Garfield and East Liberty. Expect an imaginative blend of multidisciplinary theater, comedy, puppetry ..read more

“The motion picture you are about to witness may startle you. It would not have been possible, otherwise, to sufficiently emphasize the frightful toll of the new drug menace which is destroying the youth of America in alarmingly increasing numbers.” “Marihuana is that drug — a violent narcotic — an unspeakable scourge — The Real Public Enemy Number One!” Although easily confused for a campaign statement against the sprouting bipartisan support for weed legalization in Pennsylvania, these are the first few lines of the foreword for “Reefer Madness,” a nearly 80-year-old “educational” film that ..read more

It was just a few weeks before Christmas 2017 when Kelly Ervin lost her sister, Heather Schwartz, to suicide.  Heather’s death had been discovered by her daughter, Jenna, 14 at the time, who called her aunt Kelly. Heather had recently been released from a mental healthcare facility with the support of her family.  “She was going through some heavy things,” says Ervin. “She was getting help, but she still chose this path. It was a very dark day for us all. It was very emotional. But I remember how angry I was too. But that way of thinking is not healthy to sustain in the grieving pro ..read more

This is sudden, but here’s a little thrill: Wiz Khalifa, The Killers, SZA, Melanie Martinez, Ethel Cain, Yung Gravy and nearly 30 other artists will take on Pittsburgh on Sept. 7 and 8 at Hazelwood Green’s inaugural Sudden Little Thrills Music Fest. Most of the artists will make appearances at Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza in June and August respectively before making their way to Pittsburgh. Sudden Little Thrills is produced by Lollapalooza’s C3 Presents, a subsidiary of Ticketmaster owner Live Nation. Hints at the festival lineup first appeared last week when Sudden Little Thrills made posts ac ..read more

Looking for a new job? Check the NEXT Job Board every week for openings across the Pittsburgh region in a range of fields and industries. Hiring? Post your job here to get in front of more than 20,000 local job seekers weekly. And check back every Monday for the latest job openings in Pittsburgh. Nonprofit Jewish Family and Community Services is hiring a Chief Development Officer to implement the agency’s fundraising, including community appeals, foundation and government grants and individual solicitations. IT and Engineering The Senator John Heinz History Center seeks a Director ..read more

By Carter Walker of Votebeat Elections 101 from Spotlight PA protects you against election misinformation and empowers you to make informed decisions. This story is made possible through a collaboration with Votebeat, a nonpartisan news organization covering local election administration and voting. You may be one of the hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians who plan to vote by mail during the 2024 election. Or maybe it’s an option you’ve considered but haven’t pursued because you distrust the process or have concerns about fraud. Pennsylvania election officials have saf ..read more

“I always have flour, dirt or paint on my hands. All the time. I’m always messy. I love to get my hands into dirt,” Jen Urich says. “Actually, I don’t like to call it dirt because I don’t think it’s dirty. I think it’s beautiful. My hands are always busy, whether it’s in the garden, kitchen or studio. I’d like to rephrase that — I like to get my hands into creativity.” With hands that effortlessly transition between soil and dough, paint and flour, Urich is a farmer, baker, artist, chef and entrepreneur all rolled into one at Farmer × Baker, a chic shipping container cafe inside Aspinwall’s A ..read more