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INSTITUTE
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News and Views |
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eNewsletter for the New England Consulting Community May 2008  |
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In this issue: Member Profiles
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Click here to learn more about the new book
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Member NewsMary Adams CMC, Trek Consulting LLC http://www.trekconsulting.com has been invited to present via webinar on the topic, "How to Leverage Your Intellectual Capital for Growth and Profits." The webinar will explore cutting edge thinking on intellectual capital and a tool for evaluating an organization's intangible assets. The webinar is open to all on May 29, 2008 1:30 - 2:30 pm EST. To register, visit https://www2.gotomeeting.com/ Lloyd Franke, Franke Associates http://lfrankeassociates.com was recently certified as a Program Leader for Best Year Yet!®. As a Program Leader, Lloyd will work with BYY licensee Marilyn Edelson of OnTrack Coaching and Consulting, Inc. offering the Best Year Yet programs to individuals and companies in New England. Best Year Yet!® is a performance improvement system that has helped individuals, teams, and organizations around the world produce RESULTS for more than 25 years. For more information contact or . Shelley Hall, Catalytic Management http://www.catalyticmanagement.com received the coveted NEWBO Women Helping Women Award on May 14 at the Copley Plaza ceremony. Allan B. Haberman, Ph.D., Haberman Associates Michael Katz’s, Blue Penguin Development, Inc. http://www.bluepenguindevelopment.com first four chapters of his new book are available to download for free. "It Sure Beats Working, 29 Quirky Stories and Practical Business Lessons for The First-Time, Mid-Life, Solo Professional." Ken Lizotte CMC, emerson consulting group inc. http://www.thoughtleading.com will be presenting a series of webinars this summer based on his book “The Expert’s Edge: Become the Go-To Authority People Turn To Every Time” (McGraw-Hill). Sponsored by Business Expert Webinars, you can learn more at http://www.businessexpertwebinars.com/ or at Ken’s website www.thoughtleading.com Scott Schulz, 7th Wave Solutions http://www.7thwavesolutions.com invites you to be his guest on Thursday, May 29, to participate in an interactive leadership development event as we introduce a select team of some of New England's emerging thought leaders in the changing world of leader and organizational leadership system development. At this session you'll have an opportunity to discuss your specific business concerns with expert instructors, coaches and consultants, and will experience first hand their breadth and depth of subject matter expertise. For more information call 617-532-0578. David Wallace, Gamechange LLC, http://gamechangellc.com joined a panel discussion for the Public Relations Society of America- PRSA/Boston on “The Future of Journalism in a Social Media World.” He appeared with executives from WBUR-FM and NECN on May 20 to discuss how news, media and marketing are changing the ways we produce and consume information. In addition to his day job, David has taught multimedia news reporting at Emerson College since 2004. John Wheeler, Wheeler Performance Group http://www.wheelergroupllc.com was the keynote speaker at the May 1 annual Joint Meeting of the National Association of Remodeling Industry (Cape Cod Chapter) and the HomeBuilders and Remodelers Association of Cape Cod. John shared his insights on Creating a Culture of Accountability. John Wheeler has recently published a white paper entitled “Creating a Culture of Accountability.” For a copy click on the link http://wevt.pair.com/phersey/wheelerperformance/
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Member Ideas & WisdomSomebody is Waiting for Your DomainChances are somebody is waiting to take your business' identity. It is easy, cheap, and perfectly legal. Most domain registry services let customers back-order domain names. The customer pays a small fee. If and when the domain becomes available, the registrar automatically transfers the domain to the new owner. When does a domain become available? When the current owner forgets to renew the domain's registration. While some services give existing owners a short grace period after the domain officially expires, many do not. And, once the transfer is complete, your domain name may be gone forever. No email; no web site. If you can get your domain back, you can restore your web site and email service. If not, you will find yourself scrambling for a new domain, reconfiguring your web site and email service, and reprinting your letterhead and business cards. Preventing domain loss is easy. Stay on top of your domain renewals. We recommend that you take the following actions:
With a little bit of diligence, you can keep your identity and your sanity. Provided by Allen Falcon, Horizon Information Group The Ripple Effects of Oil and AgricultureWe are entering times of inflationary pressures. Rising commodity prices appear everywhere for business, from heating oil, gasoline and diesel to food products containing grains to insurance premiums. The causes for the increases can be traced to greater global demand for many commodities (including oil and other energy sources), the decision to include corn-based ethanol as a way to reduce oil demand (with its cataclysmic effect on food prices), and a weak dollar. Some of these increases have a significant impact on the cost of doing business. Rising fuel costs will be reflected in higher freight costs for the transportation of goods, more expensive airline tickets for traveling executives and sales people, and continuing higher costs of employing full-time staff. It’s better to be proactive about this and incorporate these higher prices into your projections now. And be ready with contingency plans if the prices go any higher. For ideas on how to deal with this in your business, read Trek’s latest newsletter http://trekconsulting.com/Publications/Newsletter.html Provided by Mary Adams, Trek Consulting |
Member Profiles Barbara Alevras, President, Sage Consulting Services is married to Greg, a first generation Greek-American who introduced me to great feta cheese and good bouzouki music. They share (or rather, are “allowed” to share) a house in Wilmington with a temperamental long-haired, double-pawed calico cat named Clancy. She’s spoiled – we’re not. Much of our free time is spent serving as enthusiastic Boston tour guides for non-local family and friends, holding movie marathon parties at our house, discussing history and politics (favorite hobby!), and overindulging our five nieces and nephews. Barbara spent her 20’s as a workaholic marketing and business development professional for a large financial services company. After 10 1/2 years, she joined a technology company as a cross-functional project methodology and process manager. When the local tech bubble burst, Barbara had some unexpected free time contemplating the meaning of life and our places in it. She discovered she wasn’t interested in jumping back on the corporate treadmill, and instead decided to launch a company that enabled her to address the business improvement needs of non-profits, a sector she enjoys serving.Barbara foundedSage Consulting Services in 2003, where she offersstrategy execution and process improvement consulting services. Ten Things You Didn’t Know about Barbara: 1. If I could only eat one food for the rest of my life it would be Haagen Dazs Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream (aka ambrosia – food of the gods.) 2. If I weren't a business person, I would be a professional news junkie and/or political pundit. 3. Something I would like to do, but haven't had the chance is to write the great American novel (there’s still time). 4. The last concert I went to was U2 (circa 1987). 5. My favorite toy as a kid was Pong when Atari was considered cutting edge. 6. When I'm not working, you'll find me watching movies. (all genres; Oscar and Razzie winners alike.) 7. My favorite TV show is BBC America series, Wire in the Blood, about an eccentric clinical psychologist helps police profile and track down murderers. (I love psychological thrillers and crime dramas.) 8. If I could be any animal, I would be a Tiger 9. The last movie I saw was No Country for Old Men (chilling). 10. If I could have dinner with a famous person, dead or alive, he or she would be Queen Elizabeth I. Learn more about Barbara and her business by visiting her firm’s website Lise Stahl Brown lives in Concord, MA with her sweetie of nearly 25 years, Chris; their 18-year old, almost-off-to-college son Matt; and a skunk-tangling cat named Buddy who adopted them four years ago for their delicious grilled salmon. She abandoned the corporate gig in 1997, primarily to raise Matt. For a few years, Lise did community and artistic pursuits, including becoming a weaver. But she missed solving business problems and working with groups. Four years ago, Lise started Keensight Consulting (originally named artful Productivity). The business helps small service firms increase their productivity, improve their customer service and reduce costs by streamlining processes and enhancing team collaboration. “I think what I’m proudest of in my career is being brave enough to step off into the unknown of not working for someone else,” Lise says, “and to learn how to craft a life that has room to pursue my different passions. The biggest surprise? How much fun and challenge it is to live a life of many passions.” Ten Things You Didn’t Know about Lise: 1. If I could only eat one food for the rest of your life, it would be something tasty that goes with champagne, and there are too many delicious choices to pick just one. 2. If I weren't a business person, I would be a textile artist. 3. Something I would like to do but haven't had the chance is to take the train all over Europe and then across Russia. 4. The last concert I went to was a Beatles tribute show. 5. My favorite toy as a kid was Barbie and her beach house and sports car. 6. When I'm not working, you'll find me at the loom, at the sewing machine or with my nose in a novel. 7. My favorite TV show is Project Runway. 8. If I could be any animal, I would be an otter. 9. The last movie I saw was The Golden Compass. 10. If I could have dinner with a famous person, dead or alive, he or she would be Edith Wharton, for her sharp sense of society and her love of beauty in design. Learn more about Lise and her business by visiting her firm’s website http://www.keensightconsulting.com The member profile was written by Lewis Green, the Founder and Managing Principal of L&G Business Solutions LLC http://www.l-gsolutions.com. Lewis is the editor of News & Views. Profile candidates are selected from our volunteers, new members and a random selection of attendees at IMCNE events. |
Upcoming EventsConsultant’s RoundtableFriday, June 13, 2008 8:00 a.m. Mind The Gap – Bridging Generations at Work" Target Audience: Experienced consultants who are working with several different age cohorts and adjusting their work style. Also for IMCers who want to capitalize on changing demographics. “Baby boomers” have been a dominant part of the work force for decades but their ranks are thinning – and within 10 years they will be a minority group. Generation X, Gen Y and “millennials” bring different work styles – more optimism, less loyalty, greater mobility. And their communication and tech skills have unexpected results, both positive and negative. How can managers handle the turnover and speak the many languages of each group? Can you capitalize on the “graying” of America as it remakes your clients and their customers? Another complication is the challenge facing workers who have extended families or relatives overseas. New England’s demographics are different than other parts of the U.S. We’ll look at the impact on companies, workers and your consulting practice – with contacts and strategies that give you an edge. David Wallace started Gamechange LLC to help companies craft thought-provoking messages that start conversations with clients, users, suppliers and partners. Instead of one-way marketing, he focuses on getting targeted information to the people who need it at the right time. He spent 20 years as an award-winning business writer for The New York Times, Reuters, The Wharton School and other outlets, focused on new technologies and leading-edge strategies including knowledge management and corporate innovation. His clients have ranged from elder care, travel and real estate companies to software and wireless technology, including SAP and Verizon, and non-profits including the Homeless Empowerment Project. Since 2004, he has also taught multimedia journalism at Emerson College in Boston. Investment Walk-ins are welcome. Coffee is available. Food can be purchased in the Café. To register go to http://www.imcne.org Save the Date!Mark your calendars for our July 10th evening networking event at the Hilton Garden Inn. This will be an intensive networking exercise for members only that will be modeled on a national program called “Consultants Meeting Consultants and Clients.” Our facilitator will be networking expert Diane Darling. IMCUSA Webinars Consulting 200 Series
IMC USA members must log in to receive member discount pricing! Click here to register for these classes online: Strategic Partner EventsClick here to view the Strategic Partner events.
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| Roundtables: Next Event Featuring You? Have you read a good business book lately? Do you have a question that you would love to ask a group of consultants? Are you one of our New England members that are tired of all our meetings being held in Boston? Do you have a challenge that you are facing and would like to get feedback? Do you have a case study that would fuel a good discussion? THEN USE THIS RESOURCE. It takes about three minutes to fill out a Roundtable Proposal. You give us a title and description; we’ll publicize it and handle registrations. This program helps our members Get Smart, Get Known, Get Business. What are you waiting for? Download the form today from our Programs page (http://www.imcne.org/programs.htm) or contact Linda Watson at 508-400-3011 or lwatson@whirlawaygroupllc.com Our Advertising Rates Would you like to advertise an event, product or service in this e-letter? Request our advertising fee schedule by emailing IMCNE's administrator at or by calling 800-696-7399. About IMCNE Learn more about IMCNE's programs, membership details and services to New England consultants by clicking here or calling us at 800-696-7399. News and Views Editor Lewis Green L&G Business Solutions Phone: 978-371-0823 Email: Mail: IMCNE "News & Views", P.O. Box 774, Westford, MA 01886 Copyright © 2008 IMC New England |
Clancy Graciously Shares Her Home with Barbara and Her Husband 
Lise Stahl Brown is a Woman of Many Passions