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Showing posts from April, 2011

Survey unveals 'Unrealistic Career Expectations'

  The following is from The Creative Group, an employment agency for design, marketing, advertising and public relations professionals. Visit The Creative Group for more information. One-Third of Entry-Level Job Applicants Have Unrealistic Career Expectations according to The Creative Group survey All professionals aspire to land their dream jobs, but some new grads may be too starry-eyed when seeking their first post-college gig. Thirty-six percent of advertising and marketing executives interviewed by The Creative Group said entry-level candidates have unrealistic career expectations. The survey results also suggest those who want to land a job should be prepared to ace the interview. 35 percent of executives said this meeting carries the most weight when evaluating applicants for entry-level advertising or marketing roles. The national survey was developed by The Creative Group, a specialized staffing service providing interactive, design, marketing, advertising and public r

Groupon leader to speak in Troy today

Kevin Petry, vice president of sales development at Groupon, will talk about the company’s pioneering relationship marketing practices in a presentation titled “What’s the ‘Deal’ with Groupon?” at the monthly meeting of the Marketing & Sales Executives of Detroit, (MSED) on Thursday, April 28. The meeting will be held at the Management Education Center, 811 W. Square Lake Road in Troy, and will begin with hors d’oeuvres and networking at 5 p.m., the speaker presentation at 6 p.m. and dessert and networking at 7 p.m. The cost for the event is $45 for MSED members and $60 for non-members. Call 248-643-9685 or visit www.msedetroit.org.

'Image is Everything' seminars offered

Consolidated Professional Services of Southfield will hold personal and professional image updates/improvement seminars. There are morning and afternoon sessions on Friday, April 29, May 6 and May 20. The cost is $40 for early registration and $45 at the door per seminar. Register at www.cpstraining.org or call 248-352-9917. Empowering Michigan Career Fair A free “Empowering Michigan Career Fair” is 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, April 29 at the Marriott Hotel, 3600 Centerpointe Parkway, Pontiac. Companies hiring  include First Financial Insurance Group, Detroit Engineering Products, Axa Advisors, 1-800-Hanson, Global Information Technology, Dialogue Marketing. Businesses contact JobFairGiant.com at 734-956-4550. Visit www.expogiant.com or www.JobFairGiant.com.

Social Media: Gold Mine or Fool’s Gold?

WWJ Newsradio 950 is presenting a free business breakfast, Social Media and Your Business: Gold Mine or Fool’s Gold?, Wednesday, April 27  at Schoolcraft College’s VisTaTech Center, 18600 Haggerty Road, Livonia. Registration, continental breakfast and networking begin at 7:15 a.m., with the program running from 8:15 until 9:30 am. Admission is free, advance registration is requested. Visit www.cbsdetroit.com Auto Alley International Business Center opening Automation Alley is hosting the grand opening of its International Business Center, 8 a.m. to noon, April 28 at Automation Alley Headquarters. The International Business Center will provide services and assistance to visiting international companies, as well as Michigan companies looking to access global markets. See the video -conferencing capabilities, private Skype room, high-tech collaboration room and an executive board room with interactive whiteboard technology. Event is free. Continental breakfast will be provided. Visit www.

Maximize professional memberships

CREW Detroit President Offers 10 Tips to Make the Most of Your Membership As 2011 President of Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) Detroit, an organization influencing the success of the commercial real estate industry by advancing the achievements of women, Marilyn Nix knows her way around networking events and membership-driven associations. The Principal and Broker of Marilyn P. Nix & Associates, LLC, Bloomfield Hills and a former real estate executive with General Motors, Nix says there is a strategy to maximizing the benefits of membership in any organization that has a dual purpose of educating its members and facilitating new business opportunities.  “When we join an organization for the expressed purpose of learning more about business or a specific industry, there is the incorrect assumption that business opportunities will follow,” offers Nix. “But new business from member organizations is not automatic, even if you attend every meeting. There’s a strategy that can be fol

Business people needed for mock interviews

Two-Hours Can Shape a Middle-Schooler’s Professional Future Business professionals are needed to share their wisdom with future leaders during the annual A.P.T. to Succeed portfolio review program, a partnership program between the Troy School District and the Troy Chamber’s Business & Education Roundtable. A.P.T. to Succeed takes place throughout the month of May and June at four different middle schools. Business people are asked to have mock interviews with “graduating” eighth grade students, focusing on their a cademic achievements, p ersonal time management skills, and t eamwork. Each student presents his or her portfolio of work, which includes items they have been collecting since sixth grade. “Two hours of your time lending career insight, educational and career goals can make a big difference on a student’s future,” said Bonnie Britton of Larson Middle School and founder of the A.P.T. to Succeed program. “More than 100 slots need to be filled to make A.P.T. to Succee

Inside Google and NextWave events are tomorrow

TROY April 21: Inside Google Round Table Productions presents “Inside Google,” a lunch and learn presentation featuring Michelle Morris, industry director for automotive at Google is 11:30 a.m. Thursday, April 21, at Shield’s Restaurant, 1476 W. Maple Road, Troy. It begins and ends with networking. The program starts at 12:35 p.m. Event Admission is $15. To register, visit www.roundtablepromotions.com or call 248-383-5793. Limited seating is available. TROY April 21: NextWave networking and webcasting NextWave Media Studios will host a business networking event and broadcast it live on the Internet. “It’s networking, plus webcasting at the same time,” said NextWave Media Studios CEO Nancy Skinner. “Combine those two and it equals a Netcast, an event for business leaders to meet face-to-face and broadcast their message simultaneously for an online audience.” The NextWave Media Studios Netcast is 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, April 21. The netcast will be streamed live via Ustream.tv and can als

It's a busy time for biz events

April 19: Health care via mobile computer The Impact of Mobile Computing on Health Care will be discussed 3 to 5:30 p.m. today, April 19, at Automation Alley Resource Center, 2675 Bellingham Drive, Troy. Registration is $20 at the door for members $25 at the door for nonmembers. Call 800-427-5100 or visit www.automationalley.com. April 20: Breakfast with Linkner of ePrize The 2010-2011 Defining Leadership Breakfast will feature Josh Linkner, chairman and founder of ePrize 7:30 to 9 a.m. Wednesday, April 20, at the Management Education Center, 811 W Square Lake Road, Troy. Linkner founded and sold three technology companies. He is also a jazz guitarist who has performed professionally since age 13. As an author, speaker and blogger, he wrote the book “Disciplined Dreaming: A Proven System to Drive Breakthrough Creativity” that outlines the process he will share with attendees. The cost, which includes a complete breakfast, is $32 for Leadership Oakland alumni members and $36 for nonmemb

"Trust Me, I’m a Leader" boosts team spirit

Why Building a Culture of Trust Will Boost Employee Performance—and Maybe Even Save Your Company " Unusually Excellent: The Necessary Nine Skills Required for the Practice of Great Leadership, " a new book by John Hamm   San Francisco, CA (April 2011)—Do your employees trust you? The brutal truth is probably not. It may not be fair, and you may not want to hear it, but chances are that previous leaders have poisoned the ground on which you’re trying to grow a successful business. Why is trust so pivotal? According to John Hamm, it’s a matter of human nature: When employees don’t trust their leaders, they don’t feel safe. And when they don’t feel safe, they don’t take risks—and where there is no risk taken, there is less innovation, less “going the extra mile,” and therefore, very little unexpected upside. “Feeling safe is a primal human need,” says Hamm, author of Unusually Excellent: The Necessary Nine Skills Required for the Practice of Great Leadership (Jossey-Bass/A Wile

Inventors Council of Mid-Michigan inspires

The Inventors Council of Mid-Michigan, holds a gathering of the minds of inventors on the second Thursday of each month. The council is a resource for creative people who need ideas on how to take an idea and run with it. At the last meeting, Orville Crain, CEO of Klever Innovations LLC was the speaker. He talked about how he started his box cutter business by taking an idea and following through starting with a sketch, then building a prototype and then patenting it and marketing it. He has two partners in the business, and they each fill a niche in the success. Crain spoke about how rather than ideas are a dime a dozen, an idea is worth .0083333333 etc. He said, "You're not an inventor until you do something with that idea." The next meeting is 7 p.m. May 12 at Walli's Restaurant & Banquet Center South at I-69 and Center Road (1341 S. Center Road) in Burton, Michigan. The group has been meeting on the second Thursday of each month, since 1997. The cost to atte

Allegra moves to new digs in Madison Heights

Allegra moves to new digs in Madison Heights Allegra has moved to new facility in Madison Heights. Formerly located at 28003 John R Road, the new location at 27635 John R Road. Allegra of Madison Heights provides marketing services for area businesses including printing, copying, mailing services, fulfillment, promotional products and graphic design. They offer traditional and digital solutions, offset printing, short-run color and aqueous coating.  For more information,  contact Allegra at (248) 543-3030 or visit their Web site at www.allegra.net. Zonta Club hosts "A Tea to Remember" at Holly Hotel The Zonta Club of Pontiac, a professional women’s club, is hosting North Oakland's spring fundraiser,  "A Tea to Remember," 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, April 17, at the historic Holly Hotel, 110 Battle Alley, Holly. The fundraiser features traditional Victorian Style tea and Irish/Celtic music performed by Anne and Rob Burns. Proceeds from the event support programs to impro

Humor workshop tonight in Franklin

Michigan International Professional Association is hosting a workshop on humor, 6:30 to 9 p.m., Tuesday, April 12,  at The Franklin Grill, 32760 Franklin Road, Franklin. Connie Ettinger will share tips on how to find humor, be funny and bring out a simple smile on someone’s face. Also features Steven Kade, the illustration artist. The cost is $35 per person and $65 for two tickets. It includes a warm entree and dessert along with a glass of wine. Reservations requested by April 8 at www.mipadetroit.org or mail a check to the order of MIPA, c/o Marguerite Dillard, 1735 East Lake Drive, Novi, MI 48377. Improving Productivity The Troy Chamber Women’s Business Forum’s next program will be “Got Time? Improving Productivity through Effective Time Management.” The session, taught by Laura Rolands of LSR Coaching and Consulting, LLC, is 8-9:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 13, at Flagstar Bank Headquarters, 5151 Corporate Dr., Troy. Participants will learn strategies to overcome attention-related chal

FutureMidwest digital business conference fuels startups

FutureMidwest digital business conference, is Thursday and Friday, April 28 and 29 at Eastern Market in Detroit. Associated with the event is Funded by Night, a one-day competition that draws startups from around the nation to compete for a $100,000 convertible note from two local venture capital firms, Detroit Venture Partners and Ludlow Ventures. The competition is Thursday afternoon, April 28, when the selected 25 companies will pitch their products to potential investors. The conference will feature keynotes by Josh Linkner, founder and chairman of Detroit-based e-Prize, digital interactive promotion firm, and Dan Gilbert, chairman and founder of Quicken Loans Inc., who will speak about his vision for turning downtown Detroit into a technology hub. The conference also features presentations, group breakout sessions, relationship-building opportunities and influencers who are taking action to redefine business in the digital age. The Premiere conference sponsors include MRM Digital

Electra Bicycle Enhances Business Process with Azox E-Commerce

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Electra Bicycle, a leading bike manufacturer and distributor of cruiser bikes based in Vista, California, has been growing steadily since 1993 to become a successful global company that helps bring bikes to people and shops across the country. Read this case study to find out how Azox e-commerce solution was able to improve their sales order processing system by moving orders off the phone and onto their web store. Click here to read the whole story . Are you attending Convergence 2011 in Atlanta? If so stop by booth 1006 and enter for a chance to win one of two bikes (pictured below) compliments of Electra Bicycle Company.

How to Run a Profitable Small Business

Troy Chamber of Commerce is offering a free seminar, “How to Run a Profitable Small Business,” presented by Ed King, MBA, CPA and author with more than 30 years of small business consulting experience. Two sessions: 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, April 14, at the Troy Chamber, 4555 Investment Dr., lower level training room, in the Michigan Schools and Government Credit Union building or 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 16, at the Embassy Suites Troy, 850 Tower Dr., Troy. To register, call the Troy Chamber at 248-641-8151or visit www.troychamber.com/calendar. Zonta Club hosts spring fundraiser at Holly Hotel The Zonta Club of Pontiac, a professional women’s club, is hosting North Oakland's spring fundraiser, "A Tea to Remember," 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, April 17, at the historic Holly Hotel, 110 Battle Alley, Holly. The fundraiser features traditional Victorian Style tea and Irish/Celtic music performed by Anne and Rob Burns. Proceeds from the event support programs to improve the sta

NextWave hosts "NetCast" networking event

 NextWave Media Studios will host a business networking event and broadcast it live on the Internet. "It's Networking, plus Webcasting at the same time," said NextWave Media Studios CEO Nancy Skinner. "Combine those two and it equals a Netcast, an event for business leaders to meet face-to-face and broadcast their message simultaneously for an online audience." The NextWave Media Studios Netcast is 6 to 9 p.m. April 21. The Netcast will be streamed live via Ustream.tv and can also be viewed at www.nextwavemediastudios.com. The event will take place at NextWave Media Studios "Digitorium." Those interested in attending or presenting at the NextWave Media Studios Netcast should contact Jason Chapman at 248-556-7552 or jason.chapman@nwave.us.com. Comcast of Detroit adds Lynn Montemayoras as Detroit Local Sales Manager Comcast of Detroit has named Lynn Montemayoras as the new Detroit Local Sales Manager.  In this role, she will lead an experienced and talen

Learn about the fashion business classes starting

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For those interested in starting their own clothing or accessory line, The Community House, is hosting Starting A Fashion Business with instructor Milda Bublys, former Fashion Institute of Technology of New York professor. The class is 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, April 6. The cost is $35.  Additional classes include, “Creating a Fashion Portfolio,” 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays, April 19 through May 3. The cost is $119 plus a $5 materials fee. Creating a Fashion Drawing is 6 to 9 p.m. Thursdays, April 14-28. The cost is $119 plus a $5 materials fee. To register for classes, contact The Community House, 380 South Bates Street, Birmingham, 248/644-5832, or online at www.communityhouse.com.   Easter Seals hires VP and Director Easter Seals Michigan hired Rich Hollis as the Senior Vice President of Finance and Operations and Laura Covintree, CFRE, as the Director of Marketing & Development. Hollis’ responsibilities in this capacity will include providing financial management, strategic, and tactical

Lunch & Learn Inside Google

Round Table Productions presents “Inside Google,” a lunch and learn presentation featuring Michelle Morris, Industry Director for Automotive at Google is 11:30 a.m. Thursday, April 21 at Shield’s Restaurant, 1476 W. Maple Road, Troy. It begins and ends with networking. The program starts at 12:35 p.m. Event Admission is $15. To register, visit www.roundtablepromotions.com or call 248-383-5793. Limited seating is available. MontAd hires Dean Krispin MontAd, a full-service marketing agency, announces that Dean Krispin has joined the firm. The announcement was made by Al Haberstroh, president, MontAd. Krispin, a resident of Rochester Hills, will be responsible for supporting MontAd clients with a variety of strategic digital marketing programs and elements, including social media.  He has designed and implemented digital marketing programs for some of the world’s leading B2B and B2C brands, as well as non-profit organizations.

MIPA hosts workshop on humor

Michigan International Professional Association is hosting a workshop on humor, 6:30 to 9 p.m., Tuesday, April 12 at The Franklin Grill, 32760 Franklin Road, Franklin. Connie Ettinger will share tips on how to find humor, be funny and bring out a simple smile on someone's face. Also features Steven Kade, the illustration artist. The cost is $35 per person and $65 for two tickets. It includes a warm entree and dessert along with a glass of wine. Reservations requested by April 8 at www.mipadetroit.org or mail a check to the order of MIPA, c/o Marguerite Dillard, 1735 East Lake Drive, Novi, MI 48377.

Jacobs Media names Digital & Social Media Strategist

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Media consulting firm Jacobs Media announced it has expanded its services with the addition of Lori Lewis for the newly created position of Digital & Social Media Strategist. Lewis comes to Jacobs Media from Midwest Communications, where she has been the Multi-Media Content Manager since 2008. Jacobs Media’s President Fred Jacobs said, “Lori has developed a great track record of implementing actionable social media strategies as well as playing a key role in digital revenue generation.” “Because of her extraordinary experience, Lori will be working not only with current clients, but with station clusters and new media companies, as she helps develop their strategies and tactics,” says Jacobs. “We are going beyond our rock radio roots because of the tremendous potential for digital and social media growth regardless of format. Lori’s worked with a diverse group of stations and formats, and is well suited to help them achieve success in this key area of growth for the industry. Berli