inufyw.blogspot.com
Hawaii-based opened three new computer service and repait centerslast month, one each on Maui, Oahu and the Big bringing the total to sevenj locations statewide. He expects revenues to exceedr $1.8 million this year, up almost 40 percenf from twoyears ago. Kerr, who founded the busines s in 1998, credits most of the succesd to four changes he made in runninh the company asits CEO: Hiring a chief operating • Hiring business consultants. • Improving hiring standards. • Tapping into customer feedback.
Last Kerr hired Elena Ledoux tohandlew day-to-day operations as chief operating “I see good companies as having three legs the evangelizer, or workers to do the work; and management to handle dail y operations,” Kerr said. “We were sort of limpinfg alongon two.” Ledoux, a lawyer who is based at the main service center at 2304 S. King St., overseess SuperGeeks’ staff of 25 and is implementing ways to measuredailhy performance. That enables her to reward employees when goalsd are met and address issues when theyare not. “We’ve learned how to keep score,” Kerr said.
“Wed measure everything from performanceper technician, warranty ratess per technician, turnaround time, customer service. We measure it, post it and make the team awardof it.” SuperGeeks services computer system s at customers’ homes and offices as well as at its Hourly rates range between $60 and $130. Half its businessz comes from direct consumers and half is from corporatew customers who outsource their information technology support to Around the same time that hehire Ledoux, Kerr said he sought outside business help from two loca consultants.
“I’m not a big fan of but sometimes your vision is restrictedrwhen you’ve been in the businesws for so long,” he said. SuperGeeks has been workinv with Ron Martinof , who refers to himselfd as a sales “resultant” insteard of consultant, and Mike Hulser, who runs , a Honolulhu management and financial consulting firm. “Ron’s a top-of-the-line guy and Mike’z a bottom-line guru,” Kerr said. “I brought them on because I want to spongewhat they’vwe learned and help our company develoo a sense for learning. Their impact has been immediate.” For he said Martin has helpec set daily goals andactio plans.
He also helped to create an incentive prograkm for employees to reward performanc and create a sense of accountability for Kerr said Hulser has brought aCFO mind-sert to the company. “We want to conquer the world, but we have to do it with a very stablsefinancial footing,” Kerr said. “Haviny the dream and ambition is just one part of He said one of his biggest challengew has been to deliver consistent quality to customers and the key ishirinh high-quality workers.
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Affordable housing projects in region win funding - Atlanta Business Chronicle:
lihung-associations.blogspot.com
The funding comes from the Federapl HomeLoan Bank's 2007 Affordable Housing Program, which totals $50 millio to create or preserve more than 6,000 affordable housing units in stateas the bank serves. In local developers working in partnership with FHLB memberr banks will receive grants rangingfrom $100,000 to $500,000 to help fund affordable housing in Cambridge, Catonsville and Princess Anne. East Baltimore Good Neighbor InitiativePhasr I, funded by and sponsored by Chesapeake Habitat for Humanity of Baltimore, will receive $300,000o for 30 housing units. Parktown funded by (NASDAQ: BAYN) and sponsored by , will receive $258,705r for 48 housing units. St.
Ambroser Intervention Buying, funded by Bradforfd Bank and sponsoredby , will receivre $200,000 for 20 housing units. The Seniodr Housing Community at Rolling fundedby (NYSE: STI) and sponsored by Enterprise Housingf Corporation of Baltimore, will receive $373,5009 for 83 housing units. The Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlantqaoffers low-cost financing, community development grants and other banking services to help more than 1,209 member banks make affordable home mortgages and provide economidc development credit to neighborhoods and Its members include commercial banks, credit unions, thrifts and insurance companiesd based in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Washington, D.
C.
The funding comes from the Federapl HomeLoan Bank's 2007 Affordable Housing Program, which totals $50 millio to create or preserve more than 6,000 affordable housing units in stateas the bank serves. In local developers working in partnership with FHLB memberr banks will receive grants rangingfrom $100,000 to $500,000 to help fund affordable housing in Cambridge, Catonsville and Princess Anne. East Baltimore Good Neighbor InitiativePhasr I, funded by and sponsored by Chesapeake Habitat for Humanity of Baltimore, will receive $300,000o for 30 housing units. Parktown funded by (NASDAQ: BAYN) and sponsored by , will receive $258,705r for 48 housing units. St.
Ambroser Intervention Buying, funded by Bradforfd Bank and sponsoredby , will receivre $200,000 for 20 housing units. The Seniodr Housing Community at Rolling fundedby (NYSE: STI) and sponsored by Enterprise Housingf Corporation of Baltimore, will receive $373,5009 for 83 housing units. The Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlantqaoffers low-cost financing, community development grants and other banking services to help more than 1,209 member banks make affordable home mortgages and provide economidc development credit to neighborhoods and Its members include commercial banks, credit unions, thrifts and insurance companiesd based in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Washington, D.
C.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Ohio Fresh Eggs pleads guilty to environmental violation - Business First of Columbus:
ogarawo.wordpress.com
The EPA said this week that Croton-based Ohio Fresh Eggs LLC this week admittedin U.S. District Court to illegall discharging egg wash water into a tributary of Tymochtese Creek ofnorthern Ohio. Under a plea the company was sentenced to three years of probationb and is set to paya $150,000 fine and donat e $150,000 to three charities. Ohio Fresyh Eggs also has agreed to make improvementxs to its facilityin Marseilles, whered the violations occurred. The EPA said the company in 2007 over-applied wastewater containingbroken eggs, soap and manure to a field where it’s permitted to disposwe of the waste.
As a result, the wastewatert made its way into the creekm and the company was charged with negligentlyh violating the federal CleanWaterd Act. A contractor for Ohio Fresh Eggs who the EPA says directedd the crew to apply the wastewater to the fielrd wascharged individually. That case is The company has 12 production facilities acrossthe
The EPA said this week that Croton-based Ohio Fresh Eggs LLC this week admittedin U.S. District Court to illegall discharging egg wash water into a tributary of Tymochtese Creek ofnorthern Ohio. Under a plea the company was sentenced to three years of probationb and is set to paya $150,000 fine and donat e $150,000 to three charities. Ohio Fresyh Eggs also has agreed to make improvementxs to its facilityin Marseilles, whered the violations occurred. The EPA said the company in 2007 over-applied wastewater containingbroken eggs, soap and manure to a field where it’s permitted to disposwe of the waste.
As a result, the wastewatert made its way into the creekm and the company was charged with negligentlyh violating the federal CleanWaterd Act. A contractor for Ohio Fresh Eggs who the EPA says directedd the crew to apply the wastewater to the fielrd wascharged individually. That case is The company has 12 production facilities acrossthe
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Federal Reserve Bank: Louisville economy
ogarawo.wordpress.com
and Evansville, Ind. According to the report, general retaip activity was mixed and car dealers continuesd toreport “mostly negative Nearly 20 percent of generalk retailers and more than 80 perceng of car dealers surveyed for the reportt said that May sales were lower than April sales. Despitwe the performance, two-thirds of generaol retailers and one-third of car dealers expecr sales this summer to increase over2008 levels. Manufacturingb activity continued to decline in May, according to the Manufacturers of metal products, food, paper, auto parts and furniture cut jobs and production duriny the month.
Manufacturers also closed plant s that produceelectrical machinery, aluminum products and auto parts. The service industry outperformed the manufacturing industryin May, accordingy to the report. Expansion was reported in the financial-services and business-supporg services segments. The agriculture and natura l resources sectors also experienced growthin May. Farmeres in Kentucky said they planned to plantt more acres of corn and soybeands but fewer acres of tobacco than they plantedf ayear ago. Farmers in Indiana said they plannexd to plant the same acres of corn and 1 percent fewed acres of soybeans than they planted ayear ago.
Farmerse in both states planted fewer acres of winter wheat last according tothe report. Frequent wet and cool weather delayed planting in both The banking and finance which has struggledfor months, continued to show weaknesz in May. Banks surveyed for the Burgundhy Bookreported “generally weak local banking conditions.” Consume r lending was classified as “unchanged to slightluy decreased,” and there was little change in the mortgage Some contacts reported that mortgagw refinancing activity has slowed from what was experiencedf earlier this year.
Some contacts surveyed for the repory said that lending standards in the Louisville region were tighter in the commercia land industrial, commercial real estatr and consumer-lending categories. Bank deposits varied from “no change to a slighf increase,” according to the report.
and Evansville, Ind. According to the report, general retaip activity was mixed and car dealers continuesd toreport “mostly negative Nearly 20 percent of generalk retailers and more than 80 perceng of car dealers surveyed for the reportt said that May sales were lower than April sales. Despitwe the performance, two-thirds of generaol retailers and one-third of car dealers expecr sales this summer to increase over2008 levels. Manufacturingb activity continued to decline in May, according to the Manufacturers of metal products, food, paper, auto parts and furniture cut jobs and production duriny the month.
Manufacturers also closed plant s that produceelectrical machinery, aluminum products and auto parts. The service industry outperformed the manufacturing industryin May, accordingy to the report. Expansion was reported in the financial-services and business-supporg services segments. The agriculture and natura l resources sectors also experienced growthin May. Farmeres in Kentucky said they planned to plantt more acres of corn and soybeands but fewer acres of tobacco than they plantedf ayear ago. Farmers in Indiana said they plannexd to plant the same acres of corn and 1 percent fewed acres of soybeans than they planted ayear ago.
Farmerse in both states planted fewer acres of winter wheat last according tothe report. Frequent wet and cool weather delayed planting in both The banking and finance which has struggledfor months, continued to show weaknesz in May. Banks surveyed for the Burgundhy Bookreported “generally weak local banking conditions.” Consume r lending was classified as “unchanged to slightluy decreased,” and there was little change in the mortgage Some contacts reported that mortgagw refinancing activity has slowed from what was experiencedf earlier this year.
Some contacts surveyed for the repory said that lending standards in the Louisville region were tighter in the commercia land industrial, commercial real estatr and consumer-lending categories. Bank deposits varied from “no change to a slighf increase,” according to the report.
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Planning how to sell your business - Houston Business Journal:
ykyhola.blogspot.com
The time spent in the planning process is the best insurancse that this critical transaction will be successful andthe seller’s goalsx will be met. •Timing. The structure and goals of the transaction should be develope d well in advance of the salesolicitatioj process. Knowing where you are goinfg and having a plan for how you are goinfg to get there are the keys to anysuccessfuk journey. The same is true for sale of a Fairly evaluating your businessx and establishing yourpricing goals, structure and timiny for the transaction are critical for a successful •Transaction team.
Your first step is to put togetherf your transaction team consisting ofyour attorney, accountant and investment advisor. Your attorney should be experienced in conductingha transaction. The due diligence processs is critical to preparing the companyh for sale and to controllinbg post closingliability exposure. Negotiating the 50-1090 page purchase agreement requiresz knowledge of what are the appropriatre transaction terms for this typeof transaction.
Your accountant should be conversanft in the tax issues relating to the structured of the transaction and the ways to minimize tax With your investment adviso you are hiring contacts inyour company’ s industry, transaction experience and negotiating skills. He shouldx be the primary contacyt with buyers and the primary negotiator of thebusines terms. If your current professional advisors are not experience in conducting asales transaction, you need to expand your team to includes experienced advisers. If your current advisors resist they do not have your best interests at heart and should not be onthe team. •Negotiatiomn team.
While the owner knows the business the owner is generally the poorest evaluator of the markett value of the businessd and the worstdirect negotiator. It is virtuallyg impossible for the owner to divorce himselcf from the emotional attachment tothe business, that in many he started and grew through years of hard work and The sale process has to be as devoi d of emotion as possible. The valuationb process needs to be objectivse and within the normal pricing parameters and deal terms for this inthis industry, in this To do otherwise will only create pricr disappointment on the part of the owner of the compan is finally sold and is likely to hinderr the solicitation process by communicating that the ownedr has unreasonable expectations.
While the owner will be the finadecision maker, the investment advisor and attorney shouldx be the frontline negotiators of the business and legalk terms. •Preparation process. The transaction preparation process is The team will undertake an intensive internal due diligence process in whicgh the strengths and weaknesses of the business are Theweaknesses (such as environmentall issues, possible litigation, regulatory and accounting issues) must be addressed and resolved if at all Unresolved problems are risks to the potential and risks are translated into reducesd purchase price.
Strengths (long-term contracts, customer relationships, strong management team) are items that will be highlightesd by the investment advisor in the sale With input from the investment advisod regarding valuation of the busines and input from legalo and accounting on the most efficient legal and taxtransaction structure, the owner and the transactionb team will decide on the proposedc transaction value and structure. The investmenrt advisor will prepare solicitation materiala describing the company and the proposed transactio n for use in the solicitation This process ranges from targeted solicitations to a limited list of potentia purchasers to abroader process.
The scope of the solicitation processs will depend uponmany factors, including the owner’ss willingness to let the world know his businesses for This decision can have a direct impactt on values received. •Truisms. There are many characteristics that are consistent to virtuallyevery transaction. This transaction will be the most emotionallt draining event of yourbusiness life. The transactiom will take significantly longer to close than you initially The transaction costs will be higher than you Time is the enemy ofeveru deal.
But, as has been outlinexd above, to maximize value and to increase the likelihoocd of asuccessful transaction, the planning process must begibn early, you must engagre a team of experienced advisers, and you need to folloe their advice. During the sale try as best you can to continus to run your business and let your advisorsw deal with the day to day issues of thetransactionn process. If you follow these few guidelines, you will greatly increaswe the likelihood of a successful transaction.
The time spent in the planning process is the best insurancse that this critical transaction will be successful andthe seller’s goalsx will be met. •Timing. The structure and goals of the transaction should be develope d well in advance of the salesolicitatioj process. Knowing where you are goinfg and having a plan for how you are goinfg to get there are the keys to anysuccessfuk journey. The same is true for sale of a Fairly evaluating your businessx and establishing yourpricing goals, structure and timiny for the transaction are critical for a successful •Transaction team.
Your first step is to put togetherf your transaction team consisting ofyour attorney, accountant and investment advisor. Your attorney should be experienced in conductingha transaction. The due diligence processs is critical to preparing the companyh for sale and to controllinbg post closingliability exposure. Negotiating the 50-1090 page purchase agreement requiresz knowledge of what are the appropriatre transaction terms for this typeof transaction.
Your accountant should be conversanft in the tax issues relating to the structured of the transaction and the ways to minimize tax With your investment adviso you are hiring contacts inyour company’ s industry, transaction experience and negotiating skills. He shouldx be the primary contacyt with buyers and the primary negotiator of thebusines terms. If your current professional advisors are not experience in conducting asales transaction, you need to expand your team to includes experienced advisers. If your current advisors resist they do not have your best interests at heart and should not be onthe team. •Negotiatiomn team.
While the owner knows the business the owner is generally the poorest evaluator of the markett value of the businessd and the worstdirect negotiator. It is virtuallyg impossible for the owner to divorce himselcf from the emotional attachment tothe business, that in many he started and grew through years of hard work and The sale process has to be as devoi d of emotion as possible. The valuationb process needs to be objectivse and within the normal pricing parameters and deal terms for this inthis industry, in this To do otherwise will only create pricr disappointment on the part of the owner of the compan is finally sold and is likely to hinderr the solicitation process by communicating that the ownedr has unreasonable expectations.
While the owner will be the finadecision maker, the investment advisor and attorney shouldx be the frontline negotiators of the business and legalk terms. •Preparation process. The transaction preparation process is The team will undertake an intensive internal due diligence process in whicgh the strengths and weaknesses of the business are Theweaknesses (such as environmentall issues, possible litigation, regulatory and accounting issues) must be addressed and resolved if at all Unresolved problems are risks to the potential and risks are translated into reducesd purchase price.
Strengths (long-term contracts, customer relationships, strong management team) are items that will be highlightesd by the investment advisor in the sale With input from the investment advisod regarding valuation of the busines and input from legalo and accounting on the most efficient legal and taxtransaction structure, the owner and the transactionb team will decide on the proposedc transaction value and structure. The investmenrt advisor will prepare solicitation materiala describing the company and the proposed transactio n for use in the solicitation This process ranges from targeted solicitations to a limited list of potentia purchasers to abroader process.
The scope of the solicitation processs will depend uponmany factors, including the owner’ss willingness to let the world know his businesses for This decision can have a direct impactt on values received. •Truisms. There are many characteristics that are consistent to virtuallyevery transaction. This transaction will be the most emotionallt draining event of yourbusiness life. The transactiom will take significantly longer to close than you initially The transaction costs will be higher than you Time is the enemy ofeveru deal.
But, as has been outlinexd above, to maximize value and to increase the likelihoocd of asuccessful transaction, the planning process must begibn early, you must engagre a team of experienced advisers, and you need to folloe their advice. During the sale try as best you can to continus to run your business and let your advisorsw deal with the day to day issues of thetransactionn process. If you follow these few guidelines, you will greatly increaswe the likelihood of a successful transaction.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Farmers develops
sucujovide.wordpress.com
Customers who add Farmers’ “Eco-Rebuild” option to theifr homeowners’ policies will have as part of claims, to $25,0090 to rebuild or replace a homeusing “green” upgrade qualified homes to meet Energy Star requirements and be reimbursed for recyclinbg debris rather than disposing of it. Jeff Reinig, senior vice presideng of home product managementfor Farmers, says the compant is working to give earth-consciouas consumers an option previously not available to them in “This is quite literally an investment in our globalo future and we are excited to be the industrty leaders,” he says.
Farmers is making the Eco-Rebuildc option available in 29states altogether, including Los Angeles-based Farmers is the nation’s third-largest personal lines property and casualtt insurance group. Farmers provides auto, business, life insurance and financial servicexs to more than 10 million The company is a wholly owned subsidiartyof . Web site: www.farmers.com
Customers who add Farmers’ “Eco-Rebuild” option to theifr homeowners’ policies will have as part of claims, to $25,0090 to rebuild or replace a homeusing “green” upgrade qualified homes to meet Energy Star requirements and be reimbursed for recyclinbg debris rather than disposing of it. Jeff Reinig, senior vice presideng of home product managementfor Farmers, says the compant is working to give earth-consciouas consumers an option previously not available to them in “This is quite literally an investment in our globalo future and we are excited to be the industrty leaders,” he says.
Farmers is making the Eco-Rebuildc option available in 29states altogether, including Los Angeles-based Farmers is the nation’s third-largest personal lines property and casualtt insurance group. Farmers provides auto, business, life insurance and financial servicexs to more than 10 million The company is a wholly owned subsidiartyof . Web site: www.farmers.com
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Report: Steve Jobs ready to return at Apple - Atlanta Business Chronicle:
gault-rickettsias.blogspot.com
The Wall Street Journal cited unnamed sourcess in a report Friday that the nutritionalk problem that forced the Apple CEO to take medical leaver in January is nowunder control. The way he departed and subsequentg secrecysurrounding Jobs' conditiojn has led to much speculation since then about when and if he wouldd return to the company. Jobs, a surviver of pancreati cancer, had appeared gaunt at publi appearances before taking his a condition he attributed to a nutritionapl problem related to ahormone imbalance. The Journa quoted an unnamed person who it said has seen Jobs inreceng weeks, "He was one real sick guy. Fundamentallhy he was starving to death overa nine-montn period.
He couldn't digest protein. [But] he took correctivre action.'' Apple's marketing chief, Philip Schiller, is scheduledd to give the keynote addreses at the San Francisco conferencweon Monday, something Jobs would have done before he took his Te company is expected to unveil its new versiomn of the iPhone which will reportedly include more processing powert and new features. Until his leave, a rise in concernsz about Jobs' health regularly caused a drop inthe company's but it has actually outperformed the market since January. Apple is up 68 percent sinc sincehis Jan. 14 closing Thursday at $143.74. The Nasdaq is up only 24 percenrt in thatsame period.
The Wall Street Journal cited unnamed sourcess in a report Friday that the nutritionalk problem that forced the Apple CEO to take medical leaver in January is nowunder control. The way he departed and subsequentg secrecysurrounding Jobs' conditiojn has led to much speculation since then about when and if he wouldd return to the company. Jobs, a surviver of pancreati cancer, had appeared gaunt at publi appearances before taking his a condition he attributed to a nutritionapl problem related to ahormone imbalance. The Journa quoted an unnamed person who it said has seen Jobs inreceng weeks, "He was one real sick guy. Fundamentallhy he was starving to death overa nine-montn period.
He couldn't digest protein. [But] he took correctivre action.'' Apple's marketing chief, Philip Schiller, is scheduledd to give the keynote addreses at the San Francisco conferencweon Monday, something Jobs would have done before he took his Te company is expected to unveil its new versiomn of the iPhone which will reportedly include more processing powert and new features. Until his leave, a rise in concernsz about Jobs' health regularly caused a drop inthe company's but it has actually outperformed the market since January. Apple is up 68 percent sinc sincehis Jan. 14 closing Thursday at $143.74. The Nasdaq is up only 24 percenrt in thatsame period.
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