Letter from the Editor

Welcome to Spring in North Carolina! If you’ve lived here a while, you know Spring means unpredictable weather and the yellowish pine pollen coating everything. April also brings the tax filing rush and Administrative Professionals week. April 19-25 is your special week for recognizing those who support you. Are you ready? (Hint: Look at the Club Calendars for options.)

The Business Alliance is brimming with activities and events staggered between morning, lunch and after-hours events to provide more opportunities for members to attend. The resource sharing, networking and mentoring at these events is always refreshing to see. In talking to fellow BA members, I love to hear the going-against-the-tide success stories and congratulate those who say they refuse to participate in a recession.

While luck can play a part in any success, educating yourself and maintaining the right mindset is more likely to carry you through challenging times. The CEO of Coca-Cola, Muhtar Kent, when asked by Fortune Magazine what advice he’d give other CEOs, said “Don't waste this crisis. Be thoughtful about your expenditures and be sure to focus only on what delivers value.” He goes on to say that he has worked through crisis before, and “One lesson I've taken away is that you must continue to communicate with your customers. The cost of advertising is much lower, and you get more bang for your buck.”

With communicating and advertising in mind, check out the upcoming Leader Lunches and Navigation Classes. Whether you need targeted marketing strategy or help figuring out the role of blogging in your communication plan, the Business Alliance has a session designed for your economic success. See you there.

Beth LaSasso

Editor, Business Alliance

April Issue 2009

View Past Issues Here

View the BA Directory

Become a coach now!

Happenings

Business Alliance After Hours (2nd Wednesdays)

Join fellow Business Alliance members monthly on the 2nd Wednesday for a little after-work relaxation in the newly renovated Caps Grille.

 

 

Business Alliance Open Table (3rd Thursdays)

Join other Business Alliance Partners and Associates on the 3rd Thursday for a casual lunch and free-ranging conversations in the Main Dining Room at the Capital City Club.

 

Business Alliance Hits the Road: An Evening Social at Rush Hour Karting!

The Business Alliance is hitting the road for a little adventure and fun. Meet at Rush Hour Karting for hors d’oeuvres, endless pizza, soft drinks, tea and adventure. Registration includes one 8-minute driving round in the fabulous indoor go-karts! Go to www.rushhourkarting.com for directions (easy to find) and to check out the experience. Come drive - come cheer - it’s time to de-stress!

Who Should Attend: Everyone who wants to have fun!

Navigation Class: Strategic Marketing

Lea-Ann Berst is a true market strategist whose specialty is seeing all the parts in the big picture and then figuring out step by step how to bring the big picture live. In this interactive 2 hour class, Lea-Ann will help you create a marketing strategy that builds your business, reaches your audiences, changes perceptions, and achieves results. You will learn to use a systematic approach to marketing your business more effectively and how to create a competitive advantage that is unique and compelling specifically for your business.

Lea-Ann W. Berst, Marketing Strategist with Sleddogg™ Marketing Management helps to open new markets for international organizations. With decades of corporate and consultative experience, Lea-Ann specializes in brand marketing, product management, and business development.

Who Should Attend: Entrepreneurs and business leaders, with a business goal in mind, who want to learn how to link strategies and tactics to a specific target group.

Leader Luncheon: 5 Keys to Surviving the Current Economy

Scott Tollett, an experienced executive in the telecommunications industry and avid business entrepreneur, will challenge our thinking by discussing five essential components to leading your business successfully through the current economic climate. Scott's practical ideas and real world style are not only helpful, they are contagious! Count on this being a lively and engaging presentation - and, as always, with Q&A.

Scott Tollett’s broad professional career includes being a speaker, author, television host, entrepreneur and business leader. As a business entrepreneur, Scott Tollett created a venture that included a national television business, a book publishing company and a seminar/consulting firm. As a corporate executive with a leading national telecommunications company, he led three corporate restructures of acquisition markets and redesigned operation to conform to the parent company’s standard of performance. Scott has spoken to thousands of people with his award winning sales and sales management programs and has personally mentored many high potential professionals to career growth and success.

Who Should Attend: Anyone with business leadership responsibilities.

 

Navigation Class: Blogging to Change Your Business

Who Should Attend: Anyone who has already started a blog or who is contemplating using a blog to drive business. You will learn how to plan and create a blog that is worth reading, as well as how to enhance it and promote it to your desired target audiences.

Denise Tawwab will facilitate this 3 hour class to help you understand why and how blogging can bring significant changes to your business. In this information laden and hands on class, Denise will explain and demonstrate the fundamentals of blogging to show you the powerful uses of a blog to

• share your company's expertise
• build relevant web traffic
• connect with potential customers

Following is a brief course outline:

• Identifying the elements of a Blog
• Business Uses of Blogs
• Monitoring the Blogosphere to find out what your clients (or potential clients) are talking about
• Planning Your Blog as a part of your Marketing Plan
• Creating Your Own Blog
• Adding Widgets to Your Blog – Feeds, Advertising, and BlogRolls
• Promoting Your Blog – They won’t come just because you build it!

Denise D. Tawwab, Founder & Executive Director for NC Connected draws on over 20 years as a computer trainer, instructional designer, and training project manager to empower organizations to utilize internet-related technologies to grow their initiative, whether it be non-profit or sales-focused.

Update: “Networking on the Web” Leads Group: Schedule Change

Meets at the Capital City Club on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday mornings from 7:30 am to 9:00 am. Complimentary to Club members and includes breakfast.

Facilitators: Martin Brossman and Whitney Hill

Summary: This group teaches members how to utilize the internet as a resource for business introductions, developing the best methods for gathering information, and recognizing business enhancement.

New members are encouraged to visit.

BA Member Announcements

(Please send submissions to bag_editor@yahoo.com)

Justin Mascho, Broker/REALTOR, won the 2008 Rookie of the Year award for Prudential York Simpson Underwood.

Chris Basnight of Imp Designs, LLC (www.impdesigns.com) has had a very busy year thus far. He is pleased to announce the launch of the following websites: Holy Cow Branding (www.holycowbranding.com), For The Win Media (www.forthewinmedia.com), Action For Results (www.actionforresults.com), and mScholar(www.mscholar.com). Imp Designs also launched a redesigned and updated site for Valley Metro (www.valleymetro.org), the regional transportation authority for the city of Phoenix. Chris says that Imp Designs is a “small but mighty” graphic design and web development firm located in Raleigh, specializing in design and implementation of content managed websites and web application development.

Elizabeth Carrasco of VIP Designs (www.VIPinteriordesign.com) has been “recycling” home interiors for over a decade, and thanks to hundreds of satisfied clients throughout the Triangle area, celebrated the 5 year anniversary of her business in March. Elizabeth was also the lead quote in an Associated Press article on February 9, 2009 by AP Real Estate Writer, Adrian Sainz. Much of Elizabeth’s interview was included in the story.

Steven Nelson, a broker with Keller Williams Realty-North Raleigh has been granted the coveted Accredited Buyer’s Representative designation (ABR) by the Real Estate Buyer Agent Council (REBAC). The designation is the benchmark of excellence in buyer representation. This coveted designation is awarded to real estate practitioners by the Real Estate Buyer's Agent Council ("REBAC") of the National Association of REALTORS® who meet the specified educational and practical experience criteria.

Laura Padilla of the Powerful Women International North Carolina Team announces an inspiring and motivating workshop event on April 25th at the Capital City Club. Contact Laura at pwinorthcarolina@gmail.com for more information. Powerful Women International's mission is to empower women in North Carolina regardless of age, demographic or economic barriers. The goal of Powerful Women International's North Carolina Chapter is to encourage women to seek empowerment through education, peer-support and life guidance to seek and explore their dreams.

New Members

Karen Barlow
Office Suites PLUS
Phone: 919-461-7550

Office Suites is a leading provider of full service office suites, virtual offices and meeting rooms with convenient locations throughout the triangle and beyond.

Melanie Dale
A Step to Gold International Ballroom
Phone: 919-781-6868

Private and group ballroom dancing. Our 5000 sq. ft. facility hosts public dances, private personal and business functions.

Carmen Evans
State Farm Insurance-Carmen Evans Agency
Phone: 919-783-8722

Insurance and financial services

Mike Lockhart
Mike Lockhart Construction, LLC
Phone: 919-632-9856

Construction – homes, additions, porches, decks and remodeling.

Amy Lumpkin
Arbonne International
Phone: 919-395-9888

Consultant with Arbonne International cosmetic / skin care, health and wellness

Lea-Ann Berst
Sleddodd Marketing Management
Phone: 919-564-9369

Specializing in three core services- organization with their organic growth strategies, go-to market planning and special marketing projects.

Andy McKay
UBS Financial Services
Phone: 919-785-2530

Financial advice for individuals, families and businesses.

Shaila Pandya
RNS Expense Reduction Specialists, LLC
Phone: 919-349-2665

Expense reduction specialists

Daniel Randall
The Carolinas Financial Network
Phone: 919-782-0287 x:12

Premier planning and marketing firm for financial services

Frank Spears
TS Plastics
Phone: 919-365-4986

Manufacturing of plastic injection molds, sales and engineering in NC and Manufacturing in china

James Taylor
Amidon Contracting Solutions
Phone: 919-291-4991

Specializing in government contracting for local, state, and federal projects.

Angel Acceptance LLC
Autopark Inc.
Phone: 919-835-2580

Used car dealers and related financing company.

Andy Forbis
Allpack Assembly, Inc.
Phone: 919-321-6889

Full service fulfillment and contract packaging company. Specializing in hands-on assembly, point of purchase displays, packaging designs, and pack services, warehousing and distribution.

Chris Pettit
Taproot Land Management
Phone: 919-562-4882

Commercial and residential full service landscaping services. Certified landscape contractors and irrigation auditors.

Dwayne LeBlanc
Kitchen and Bath Design Innovations
Phone: 919-876-6000

KBDI specializes in custom cabinetry solutions for rooms throughout your home.

Rex Michael
Cybergraph Advertising, Inc.
Phone: 919-834-2725

Full service advertising agency for print, web, redo and more

Rebecca Laws Nemetz
The Studio @ Hargett
Phone: 919-608-8292

Yoga and pilates.

Shannon McDevitt
Just Humor Me
843-478-5761

Employee relations. Boosting morale, reducing stress and having fun.

Associate Member

Jeffrey Raxlin
AXA Advisors, LLC
Phone: 919-341-1635

BA in the Community

(Please send submissions to bag_editor@yahoo.com)

Shaila Pandya, founder of RNS Expense Reduction, sits on the local American Red Cross Board. Recently she and other volunteers donated time to make appreciation calls to folks who have been American Red Cross contributors. As a part of funding ongoing services, the American Red Cross is preparing for a spring fund raiser auction ball. Shaila is also celebrating with a client who realized a $35,000 annual savings in overhead expenses through RNS Expense Reduction efforts.

Sarah Place, President & CEO of Place Trade Financial, Inc. (Member FINRA, SIPC), www.placetrade.com, a global full service brokerage firm based in Raleigh , NC , announced that she was named Chairman of the Kids Voting Wake County Board of Directors for 2009 after serving as Vice Chairman of the Board in 2008. Kids Voting is a private, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to educating K-12 students regarding the voting process.

Editor Bio

Publisher Bio