Ryan also revived his proposal to reform Medicare, the health care program for senior citizens that is considered the biggest driver of rising federal deficits as costs increase and more Americans become eligible.

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Of course, it would be naive to think that remuneration does not matter -- we all have bills to pay -- but only 11 percent of senior professionals cite their income as their main motivational driver.

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The company was the product leader in the industry, and the senior management team still believed that technology innovation was the key consideration driver.

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Jeff Greenberg, a senior technical leader involved with the Ford research, says the broad goal is to minimize driver distraction and stress.

WSJ: Designing a Car That Takes Your Pulse, Senses If You're Ill

Ms. JAN JONES (Senior Vice President, Harrah's Entertainment): For our employees, the industry was such a driver of the economy in Mississippi and the devastation was so complete.

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