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7/31/2015
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Cavaliers team doctor sometimes has tough task of going against wishes of players and coaches — P. 3 Departing Hopkins director predicts that airport’s growth trajectory will be best in its history — P. 4
Mentoring, half-time work help aging base
Bright lights, big money Week that includes Bridgestone and Hall of Fame inductions is key for Akron, Canton
NASA Glenn launches retirement program in which workers scale back, get some benefits
By KEVIN KLEPS kkleps@crain.com
On Thursday, Aug. 6, 22-yearold Jordan Spieth will headline a group of professional golfers competing for a $1.57 million first prize at the Bridgestone Invitational in Akron. That same night, about 15 miles south (a 19-minute drive, according to Google Maps) of Firestone Country Club, more than 100 Pro Football Hall of Famers will be among a crowd of 4,000 for the annual Gold Jacket Dinner at the Canton Memorial Civic Center. The sports couldn’t be more different. But for Northeast Ohio, the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s enshrinements and the Bridgestone Invitational signify one of
By CHUCK SODER csoder@crain.com
See LIGHTS, page 8
SCOTT POLLACK
Kathleen Needham was supposed to retire from NASA Glenn Research Center back in May. If that would have happened, nearly 40 years’ worth of experience would have walked out the door with her. But it didn’t happen. In April, Needham heard that NASA was about to launch a phased retirement program. It’s designed to help the federal space agency’s aging workforce ease into their Golden Years — and pass along their knowledge in the process. So in June, Needham became the first NASA Glenn employee to take the partial retirement plunge: She’ll work half-time and receive half of her retirement annuity, while maintaining other benefits. There’s just one catch: She has to spend at least 20% of her work time mentoring other employees and passing along her knowledge. That rule could help NASA Glenn endure the silver tsunami — the wave of baby boomers who are starting to retire in large numbers — without losing too much expertise. It could hit NASA Glenn hard, if it isn’t ready: The center has a particularly old workforce. Nearly half of its employees are in their 50s. Relatively few are in their
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