http://zefsci.com/qualifications.html
For many people, finding a comparable position elsewhere in corporate Americsa is not theonly answer. Some entrepreneurial-minder professionals like the idea of being theirf own boss and have pursued that goal in the form of There are morethan 900,000 franchised businesses in the United Franchises directly and indirectly provided 21 million jobs and contributed an estimated $2.3 trillionb in economic output in the U.S. private sectore in 2005, according a report released last year bythe . The “Economic Impact of Franchised Businesses,” reviewed data from 2001 to 2005, whichy was the last downturn. In this recession, the D.C.
-based trade group expects to see “modest in the number of new franchiseess because of a lack ofavailablee financing, said Alisa Harrison, vice president of communications and marketinfg for the International Franchis Association. But she expects franchising to remain a popular career alternative fordownsized people, especially those who have severancer pay, savings or 401(k) funds that can be used to cove r startup costs. “You can go into businesds for yourself, but you aren’t by yourself when you go into Harrison said. Last July, Donald DeMuth came back from vacation to find that he was bein g laid off from his IT jobat LLC.
Although he knew layoffds were coming, DeMuth thought his managerial role withinthe company’es four-person IT support department would be safe. he lost his $68,500-per-year salary, and the company kept an employe e hehad trained. Despite his initialo surprise, DeMuth figured his 20 years of experience in the IT industry would give him leverage in the job What he found in the ensuing months was that employers were lookinh for a very specializerdskill set. Unfortunately for DeMuth, he was more a “jack-of-all-trades,” whic h landed him interviews but notjob “I was getting frustrated, feeling as thougy the doors weren’t opening,” he said.
His dissatisfactiojn with technical recruiters prompted him to considerf starting an IT recruiting business DeMuth believed franchising was the best routdfor him, so he researched various IT recruitmentr and support franchises online. He also met with the , which providexd free advice about questions to ask and what stepe to take as a new As part of that exploratory DeMuthdiscovered , a Canadian-based franchise that provides managed IT servicese for small and medium-sized businesses. The Utilit y Co. provides full-service support for anything related toa client’sa network, including switches, servers, PCs, laptops, phone systems and mobile devices.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Detroit
http://www.7iwarforum.org/article/The-Real-Healthy-Chocolate-News.html
The two American auto struggles could create some issuesfor Toyota. The Japanese automaker is concerned that shared parts suppliers couldcease operations, impacting production at Toyota plants in San Antonio and othef U.S. cities. On May 14, Chrysletr LLC filed a motion withthe U.S. Bankruptcy Couryt seeking to reject agreements with nearlhy800 U.S. dealers. “The unprecedented declinse in the industry has had a significantf impact on our sales and forcecd us to reduce production levels to better match the needs of the said Chrysler Vice Chairmanj and President Jim Press in apress “With the downsizing of operationsa after the sale and reduction of plantes and production, similar reductions must be made to the size of the dealerf body,” he added.
On May 15, General Motora (GM) announced a plan to trim its dealerr networkfrom 5,969 stores to 3,60o by the end of 2010. “Iy is obvious that almost all partsof GM, includinhg the dealer body, must get smaller and more efficient,” said GM Vice Presidentg Mark LaNeve, also in a prepares statement. Toyota’s portfolio of assembluy plants includes a Tundra facility in San The company shares some of its suppliers with Detroit automakers Chrysler, GM and Ford. “The stakess are huge for suppliers and the saysMike Goss, manager of external affairas for Indeed, we share about 60 percent of our suppliers with the Detroit companies,” Goss adds.
“Wre must assure that our vehicle production in Nortg America isnot interrupted.” Chrysler reportede on May 1 that the company had sold 323,8900 vehicles in the U.S. during the first four months ofthis year. That’s a 46 percent drop from the same periordin 2008. GM sales were down more than 30 percenft in April comparedto 2008. And the automaker has said that it planas to reduce the total numberof assembly, powere train and stamping plants in the U.S. by 28 percent (down to 34) by the end of 2010. Toyota’s year-to-date sales in the U.S. though April 30, 2009, were down 37.8 percentr compared with the same four-month perior in 2008.
And the automaker has trimmed production at some of its including the Tundra facility inSan Antonio. The decreases in salea and production mean less work and monety forparts suppliers. , for example, supplie electronic climate-control and other interior parts to multiple automakers, including Toyota. Accordiny to Chrysler’s bankruptcy court filing, Visteoj ranks as one of the automaker’s 50 largest unsecured creditorse and isowed $25.6 million. “Our production is linkee to our customers’ production,” Visteon spokesman Jim Fisher explains.
Toyota’s Goss says his company continuee to remain in contact with itssupplier “Most of our suppliersx are stable and will weather this downturn,” Goss “But the coming months are criticalk given the current condition of the auto industry. “Somde companies’ factories will be closing in the near Goss adds. “And we are working hard to understanc the impact onour suppliers.
”
The two American auto struggles could create some issuesfor Toyota. The Japanese automaker is concerned that shared parts suppliers couldcease operations, impacting production at Toyota plants in San Antonio and othef U.S. cities. On May 14, Chrysletr LLC filed a motion withthe U.S. Bankruptcy Couryt seeking to reject agreements with nearlhy800 U.S. dealers. “The unprecedented declinse in the industry has had a significantf impact on our sales and forcecd us to reduce production levels to better match the needs of the said Chrysler Vice Chairmanj and President Jim Press in apress “With the downsizing of operationsa after the sale and reduction of plantes and production, similar reductions must be made to the size of the dealerf body,” he added.
On May 15, General Motora (GM) announced a plan to trim its dealerr networkfrom 5,969 stores to 3,60o by the end of 2010. “Iy is obvious that almost all partsof GM, includinhg the dealer body, must get smaller and more efficient,” said GM Vice Presidentg Mark LaNeve, also in a prepares statement. Toyota’s portfolio of assembluy plants includes a Tundra facility in San The company shares some of its suppliers with Detroit automakers Chrysler, GM and Ford. “The stakess are huge for suppliers and the saysMike Goss, manager of external affairas for Indeed, we share about 60 percent of our suppliers with the Detroit companies,” Goss adds.
“Wre must assure that our vehicle production in Nortg America isnot interrupted.” Chrysler reportede on May 1 that the company had sold 323,8900 vehicles in the U.S. during the first four months ofthis year. That’s a 46 percent drop from the same periordin 2008. GM sales were down more than 30 percenft in April comparedto 2008. And the automaker has said that it planas to reduce the total numberof assembly, powere train and stamping plants in the U.S. by 28 percent (down to 34) by the end of 2010. Toyota’s year-to-date sales in the U.S. though April 30, 2009, were down 37.8 percentr compared with the same four-month perior in 2008.
And the automaker has trimmed production at some of its including the Tundra facility inSan Antonio. The decreases in salea and production mean less work and monety forparts suppliers. , for example, supplie electronic climate-control and other interior parts to multiple automakers, including Toyota. Accordiny to Chrysler’s bankruptcy court filing, Visteoj ranks as one of the automaker’s 50 largest unsecured creditorse and isowed $25.6 million. “Our production is linkee to our customers’ production,” Visteon spokesman Jim Fisher explains.
Toyota’s Goss says his company continuee to remain in contact with itssupplier “Most of our suppliersx are stable and will weather this downturn,” Goss “But the coming months are criticalk given the current condition of the auto industry. “Somde companies’ factories will be closing in the near Goss adds. “And we are working hard to understanc the impact onour suppliers.
”
Monday, September 27, 2010
It wasn
http://www.hotels-in-crete.biz/Heraklion-Villages.html
According to businesses contacted byBusinesss First, Derby 2009 did not have a huge pay off like that resulting from longshot Derby winnerd Mine That Bird’s spectacular come-from-behindd victory. But dollars did flow, and many locak businesses got a financiapl shot in the arm they Business First reporters called a variety of localbusinesses — from upscale clothiers to nightclubs to limousinde services to high-end restaurantd — to see how they faresd during this Derby season. Here are the report s of their winsand losses.
Talkingv with Dean Corbett is like talking to an Most Louisvillians know Corbett asa Louisville-base television chef and restaurateur who makes top-10 lists in Esquirr and in national foodie magazines. But Dean Corbetg the businessman canquote first-time unemploymentt claims data and stocj market movements like othed chefs quote the market price for the catcnh of the day. When the day’s financial news is bad, people even wealthy people — pull Corbett said. And when the markegt is up, diners return in force, he said. “That’xs my business, trying to predict mentality of Corbett said.
So, the question becomes, “Is Derbyy 2009 a predictor of futureeconomic “I’m thinking (the economy) is coming back,” said who owns two upscale restaurante — Equus and Corbett’s, An Americahn Place — and Jack’s a New York-style bar and For Derby weekend, both restaurants and Jack’s, whicn serves food from neighboring Equus, “arguably” had one of the best yearw since he started in the restaurant business 25 years ago. Sales were up 10 percen t fromDerby 2008. One of the most notablse changes from past years was that nearly everg reservationcame through.
“In past years, we were plaguedr with the 30 percentwho don’t call and who don’r show up,” Corbett said. “This they all showed — and in record Both restaurants sold out Fridayt andSaturday nights, with 230 diners packing into each filling added seating. The average 2009 Derbyu check was comparable to last year atabouty $100 at Equus and $150 at Corbett’s, An Americaj Place, he said. “It was I wish I had it every Derby business wasespecially sweet, comingf as it did after some of the worsgt times he’s ever seen.
Aftee sales began weakening last October, “it was a very long, tougbh winter — as bad as I’ve ever Corbett said. Though the Christmas holidays and Valentine’zs Day were good, business didn’t start to show a significantg rebounduntil April, he said. The restaurants were but decreased business meant he hadto “sef his sights lower” for projectes 2009 revenue compared with 2008. At Equus, that meant changing the menu in February, reducing prices and reducing the numbet of wineshe carries. The result: “We’ve tripled business on the dining side.
” Corbett said, he’ll be watching the business trying to plot where the economtyis going. On Monday, he noted, the Dow Jonexs Industrial Average passedthe 8,400-point up 30 percent from its lowest point for 2009. When the news is all glook and doom, “with people losing jobs and bankruptcgafter bankruptcy, people are not going to eat out at my he said. But when the stock marketf goesup dramatically, “you can damn well expecy they’re going to come back.
” Though Corbett predicted “an interesting summer” followed by a so-so fall, “I truly feel the worst of it is
According to businesses contacted byBusinesss First, Derby 2009 did not have a huge pay off like that resulting from longshot Derby winnerd Mine That Bird’s spectacular come-from-behindd victory. But dollars did flow, and many locak businesses got a financiapl shot in the arm they Business First reporters called a variety of localbusinesses — from upscale clothiers to nightclubs to limousinde services to high-end restaurantd — to see how they faresd during this Derby season. Here are the report s of their winsand losses.
Talkingv with Dean Corbett is like talking to an Most Louisvillians know Corbett asa Louisville-base television chef and restaurateur who makes top-10 lists in Esquirr and in national foodie magazines. But Dean Corbetg the businessman canquote first-time unemploymentt claims data and stocj market movements like othed chefs quote the market price for the catcnh of the day. When the day’s financial news is bad, people even wealthy people — pull Corbett said. And when the markegt is up, diners return in force, he said. “That’xs my business, trying to predict mentality of Corbett said.
So, the question becomes, “Is Derbyy 2009 a predictor of futureeconomic “I’m thinking (the economy) is coming back,” said who owns two upscale restaurante — Equus and Corbett’s, An Americahn Place — and Jack’s a New York-style bar and For Derby weekend, both restaurants and Jack’s, whicn serves food from neighboring Equus, “arguably” had one of the best yearw since he started in the restaurant business 25 years ago. Sales were up 10 percen t fromDerby 2008. One of the most notablse changes from past years was that nearly everg reservationcame through.
“In past years, we were plaguedr with the 30 percentwho don’t call and who don’r show up,” Corbett said. “This they all showed — and in record Both restaurants sold out Fridayt andSaturday nights, with 230 diners packing into each filling added seating. The average 2009 Derbyu check was comparable to last year atabouty $100 at Equus and $150 at Corbett’s, An Americaj Place, he said. “It was I wish I had it every Derby business wasespecially sweet, comingf as it did after some of the worsgt times he’s ever seen.
Aftee sales began weakening last October, “it was a very long, tougbh winter — as bad as I’ve ever Corbett said. Though the Christmas holidays and Valentine’zs Day were good, business didn’t start to show a significantg rebounduntil April, he said. The restaurants were but decreased business meant he hadto “sef his sights lower” for projectes 2009 revenue compared with 2008. At Equus, that meant changing the menu in February, reducing prices and reducing the numbet of wineshe carries. The result: “We’ve tripled business on the dining side.
” Corbett said, he’ll be watching the business trying to plot where the economtyis going. On Monday, he noted, the Dow Jonexs Industrial Average passedthe 8,400-point up 30 percent from its lowest point for 2009. When the news is all glook and doom, “with people losing jobs and bankruptcgafter bankruptcy, people are not going to eat out at my he said. But when the stock marketf goesup dramatically, “you can damn well expecy they’re going to come back.
” Though Corbett predicted “an interesting summer” followed by a so-so fall, “I truly feel the worst of it is
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Hatem pulls out of Raleigh downtown project - Dallas Business Journal:
http://www.propertytravelspain.com/pts-antequera.htm
Hatem told the Raleigh City Council Tuesdayg thathis firm, , is unables to secure financing for the project at this given the economic conditions. City council members immediatelyy voted to sever tieswith Empire. “We shoulf have done this (pull the plug) last year,” Hatemm says. “It was disappointing before, but now I am Empire signed a deal with the city in 2007 aftet the city decided to sell the landfor $1.
43 million (about $70-a-foot) along Salisbury Street, and the developmen company agreed to specific benchmark deadlines to finish the The developer missed a deadlind in 2008, at which time Raleigh City Manager Russelll Allen recommended that the city cut its ties with Empirs without any extension. Under terms of the agreement, Hatem never actually bought the The city now willconsider re-issuing a request for proposalx for the project. “Asking the developee to agree to a schedule that was detachecd from the realities of the economy was at best Hatem told thecity council.
But the nail in the coffin was eliminating the possibilituy of any future Even in a goodeconomic climate, it is virtually impossibls to secure the funding knowing that the agreementr would be canceled at a time certain without discussion. “ The two-phase $50 million project, called , was meant to be a big piecr ofdowntown Raleigh’s revitalization with the hotel an important piec in helping the new $220 million book events. Hatenm has renovated several buildings in downtown Raleigh in recent years and also owns several restaurants in the area including theDuck Dumpling, , The Pit and soon-to-opened Gravy.
Hatejm told the council that Empirwe has created more than 200 jobs in downtownh Raleigh and has invested morethan $80 million in the locapl economy. In all, Empire companiees pay $2 million annually in sales, property, franchise and otherf miscellaneous taxes, Hatem told the “ As I walk, peoplwe form across the world and acroszs town through the streeta of downtown Raleigh these past few one thingwas clear: This ambitious projectg is not possible at this Hatem told the council. Hatem estimatesw he invested $500,000 to do the preliminar work onthe project.
Hatem told the Raleigh City Council Tuesdayg thathis firm, , is unables to secure financing for the project at this given the economic conditions. City council members immediatelyy voted to sever tieswith Empire. “We shoulf have done this (pull the plug) last year,” Hatemm says. “It was disappointing before, but now I am Empire signed a deal with the city in 2007 aftet the city decided to sell the landfor $1.
43 million (about $70-a-foot) along Salisbury Street, and the developmen company agreed to specific benchmark deadlines to finish the The developer missed a deadlind in 2008, at which time Raleigh City Manager Russelll Allen recommended that the city cut its ties with Empirs without any extension. Under terms of the agreement, Hatem never actually bought the The city now willconsider re-issuing a request for proposalx for the project. “Asking the developee to agree to a schedule that was detachecd from the realities of the economy was at best Hatem told thecity council.
But the nail in the coffin was eliminating the possibilituy of any future Even in a goodeconomic climate, it is virtually impossibls to secure the funding knowing that the agreementr would be canceled at a time certain without discussion. “ The two-phase $50 million project, called , was meant to be a big piecr ofdowntown Raleigh’s revitalization with the hotel an important piec in helping the new $220 million book events. Hatenm has renovated several buildings in downtown Raleigh in recent years and also owns several restaurants in the area including theDuck Dumpling, , The Pit and soon-to-opened Gravy.
Hatejm told the council that Empirwe has created more than 200 jobs in downtownh Raleigh and has invested morethan $80 million in the locapl economy. In all, Empire companiees pay $2 million annually in sales, property, franchise and otherf miscellaneous taxes, Hatem told the “ As I walk, peoplwe form across the world and acroszs town through the streeta of downtown Raleigh these past few one thingwas clear: This ambitious projectg is not possible at this Hatem told the council. Hatem estimatesw he invested $500,000 to do the preliminar work onthe project.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Treasury limits bonuses at TARP recipients - Memphis Business Journal:
http://zgao.nl/index.php?path=De_Open_Hof/Wonen
The new rules encourage those companie s to award executives stock that must be held for a long perioddand can’t be entirely converted to cash until the TARP moneu is repaid to the That, the department contends, will align “executives’ incentives with those of shareholderse and taxpayers.” Kenneth Feinberg, a mediator who led the Septembert 11th Victim Compensation Fund, will reviewe payments and compensation plansw at companies that have received “exceptional assistance.” The grou includes Charlotte-based BofA (NYSE:BAC) as well as , , , Financial Services and .
TARP recipients also must allow shareholders to vote on executive compensation And they must disclose any perks worth morethan $25,000 made to highlgy compensated employees and justify the benefit. The rules prohibigt companies fromproviding “gross-up” paymentws to senior executives to cover taxeds due on perks. Treasurh Secretary Tim Geithner says the Obamaw administration also supports legislation that would require all public companiew to give shareholders a nonbinding vote on executivrecompensation packages.
In addition, he says Congress should give the Securities and Exchange Commissiobn the power to make compensation committeesmore independent, similar to the standardxs in place for audit committee s established by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Geithne r blames executive compensation practices asa “contributing factor” for the financiak crisis. “Incentives for short-terj gains overwhelmed the checks and balances meant to mitigate against the risk ofexcessz leverage,” he says. But, he adds, “We are not cappingb pay. We are not setting forth precise prescriptions for how companiee shouldset compensation, whichy can often be counterproductive.
Instead, we will continue to work to developo standards that reward innovationb andprudent risk-taking, without creating misalignedr incentives.”
The new rules encourage those companie s to award executives stock that must be held for a long perioddand can’t be entirely converted to cash until the TARP moneu is repaid to the That, the department contends, will align “executives’ incentives with those of shareholderse and taxpayers.” Kenneth Feinberg, a mediator who led the Septembert 11th Victim Compensation Fund, will reviewe payments and compensation plansw at companies that have received “exceptional assistance.” The grou includes Charlotte-based BofA (NYSE:BAC) as well as , , , Financial Services and .
TARP recipients also must allow shareholders to vote on executive compensation And they must disclose any perks worth morethan $25,000 made to highlgy compensated employees and justify the benefit. The rules prohibigt companies fromproviding “gross-up” paymentws to senior executives to cover taxeds due on perks. Treasurh Secretary Tim Geithner says the Obamaw administration also supports legislation that would require all public companiew to give shareholders a nonbinding vote on executivrecompensation packages.
In addition, he says Congress should give the Securities and Exchange Commissiobn the power to make compensation committeesmore independent, similar to the standardxs in place for audit committee s established by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Geithne r blames executive compensation practices asa “contributing factor” for the financiak crisis. “Incentives for short-terj gains overwhelmed the checks and balances meant to mitigate against the risk ofexcessz leverage,” he says. But, he adds, “We are not cappingb pay. We are not setting forth precise prescriptions for how companiee shouldset compensation, whichy can often be counterproductive.
Instead, we will continue to work to developo standards that reward innovationb andprudent risk-taking, without creating misalignedr incentives.”
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