Survey: Venture capitalists shift strategy, go global - St. Louis Business Journal:

http://u-tron.com/en/news/115-u-tron-beijing-and-lecc-consulting-group-sign-exclusive-agency-agreement.html
More than half of the venture capitalists surveyer in the 2009 Global Venture Capital Survey conducted by and the said they woulxd invest in fewer companies in the near while 13 percent of the more than 700 worldwidd respondents said they would increasw the number of companies in which they planto invest. Despitre sluggish investment, the annual survey captured substantial optimism among theinherently risk-taking investors. “Whilse the recession has slowedr the pace of venture investing in theshort term, it may very well have expedites the global evolution of the industry in the long said Mark Jensen, Deloitte LLP’w national managing partner of venture capital services.
“I n recent years, many entrepreneurs who have been educateds in the United States have returned home to starft companies in theirhome countries. The playint field continues to level out in term s of new innovationhot spots, broader accesds to capital and growing regional ecosystems that fostef risk taking and capital And venture capitalists agree that investments are more likely to increase in countries outsidw of the U.S. than domestically in the next threew years.
Half of the venture capitalists surveyed said investment will increased inAsia (excluding India); 43 percent named India; 36 percenf selected South America; 25 percent said Europe and the United Kingdom; and just 17 percent said investment would increasd in North America. Fifty-two percent of all venture capitalistx surveyed said they already invest outsidde theirhome countries. “As the surveyg results suggest, we will see more globalization in the next not only in terms of investments but also in fundraisinvg and exitsas well,” said Mark president of the NVCA.
“Those countries that can nurturee entrepreneurs and investors as well as offer attractived exit opportunities have the most to gain economically in the next he added. Survey respondentxs said China stood to benefit most from shiftd in investment caused by the economic When it comes to the majority of VCs predicted that more of thei r limited partners would come from outside their home and 38 percent said they expected the numbere of foreign limited partners to remain Amonglimited partners, venture capitalists if any are likelg to reduce their investmentsw in venture capital funds, those limited partners woul come from the financial especially from commercial banks.
Other findings from the survet included another vote of confidencre for investment in the cleantech sector. The surveh suggests most venturecapitalists aren’t adjusting theit strategies when it comes to which industry they are funding, and clean tech is one of those industriexs that’s been getting a lot of More than 60 percent of the venture capitalists surveyed said they expect to increase their investments in clean tech in the next threw years. Other industry sectors that investors expecyt to give increase investment to include the medical devicew and equipment industry and new media and social networking.

Madoff gets 150 years in prison - Kansas City Business Journal:

http://needsaw.com/four-types-of-table-saws.php
“I’m not surprised. That’s what he deserved,” said Adeles Fox of Tamarac, who lost thousands of dollarsto Madoff's scheme. The mastermind behind the biggest Ponzi schemwin U.S. history was sentenced on Mondayh morning in federal court in Manhattan to 150 yearwsbehind bars, the maximunm requested by federal prosecutors. Madoff's attorney had askef for a far more lenient sentences of12 years. In sentencing U.S. District Judge Denny Chin called thefraufd “staggering” and said that the “breach of trusf was massive.” The judge described his acts as “extraordinarily evil.
” “Noo other white-collar case is comparablr in terms of the scope, duration and enormityg of the fraud and the degree of the betrayal,” Chin said. Madoff confessed in March to 11 countszincluding fraud, money laundering theft and perjury, among other His victims reportedly number more than 1,30p and stretch across the globe. Theifr losses are estimated at morethan $13 billion. Prior to Chin heard from nine of the victims who talkedd about thedevastation Madoff’xs fraud had caused to their livesw and their families. Many of Madoff’s wealthy clients lived in South Florida and lost their life savingd tohis scheme.
Fox, 86, said she is still furious that the and the federalgovernment didn’rt expose Madoff’s fraud earlier. “The SEC is just as guilthy as Madoff and theyfailed us. Nobodyh seems to do anything about it,” Fox said. She also took issue with the largr fees being paid to people such asIrvinf H. Picard, the trustee who is handliny the liquidation ofBernard L. Madoftf Investment Securities. “The trustee Picard is making hisown They’re paying these guys millions of It would be better to pay the investors Fox said.
Fox, a widos who once worked as secretary in New said sheinvested $50,000 in 1987 becaus e she was related to Madoff’s accountant, Jerryg Horowitz. She said she was able to get some moneyg back from Social Securitypayments she’d made over the yearsa on “phantom” income from Madoff However, she is worried that her disbursements may eventually be targeted in clawback efforts by the trustee in bankruptcg proceedings who has begun sendinhg out letters demanding the return of profits derived from their investments.
Guy Fronstinh a Boca Raton attorney who hasadviseed Fox, said the government has “been good about refunding taxezs quickly” but there are delays in processing claims to the Securitiesz Investor Protection Corporation. “Some of the people I know are too busy with thes other issues to reallyt care that much about whathappened today. They believedf he would spend the rest of his days in Fronstin said. Jan Atlas, an attorneyu with Adorno Yoss, said he believes the courtf had little choice but to levy the maximuj sentenceon Madoff.
“I don’t thini the victims should have been victimizee again by having him be able to leaver prisonone day,” said whose firm continues to advise clients abourt tax returns and possiblg future claims against investment advisor s who invested with Madoff. “I’m wondering if the truste e will be able to locate more than the billio plusthat he’s located, and what is the real loss,” Atlas In addition to his prison term, Madoff was orderedc to forfeit nearly $170 billion, whicuh represents the proceeds of, and property involved in certain of his crimes, according to a news release from the U.S. Departmeng of Justice.
“While today’s sentence is an important the investigationis continuing,” Lev L. Dassi, actingv U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New said in anews release. “We are focuse on tracing, restraining and liquidating asset s to maximize recoveries forthe victims.”

Fabulapps Releases a Never-Ending Puzzle Game for the iPhone and iPad - prMac (press release)

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Mobiletor.com

Fabulapps Releases a Never-Ending Puzzle Game for the iPhone and iPad prMac (press release) The new game from Fabulapps will be available through Apple's App Store on October 28, but unlike most other games in the App Store, Kiko: The Last Totem ... Kiko: The Last Totem to be found on the App Store soon Mobiletor.com  »

Poll reflects surge by Michigan State - Philadelphia Inquirer

http://swisssocietyofnashville.org/Frame-2-calendarpage2.html

ESPN (blog)

Poll reflects surge by Michigan State Philadelphia Inquirer AP Michigan State's comeback 35-27 victory at Northwestern lifted it three spots to No. 5 in the Associated Press poll released Sunday, just two points ... Believe it or not, Michigan State is fifth in land Detroit Free Press Northwestern loses heartbreaker to No. 7 Michigan State Daily Northwestern One Part WTF, Two Parts FTW: Michigan State 35, Northwestern 27 The Only Colors Chicago Tribune -Big Ten Conference -MSU State News  »

Networking Calendar - Phoenix Business Journal:

http://mountainshadows.net/page/Home-Made-Bird-Food-Recipes-To-Attract-Bluebirds--.html
Dillon’s, 20585 N. 59th Ave., Glendale. Bob Katz, 602-692-7686. Professionao Referral Organization-Glendale First, weekly, 7:30 a.m., BNC National 20165 N. 67th Ave., Glendale. Bob Katz, Professional Referral Organization-Central Phoenix, weekly, 7:30 a.m., Firsft American Stock Transfer Inc., 4747 N. Seventh St., Ste. 170, Bob Katz, 602-692-7686. Professional Referra l Organization-Surprise, weekly, 7:30 a.m., Fenton Insurance 14010 N. Litchfield Ste. 202, Surprise. Bob Katz, 602-692-7686. Go-Getters Lead s Group, Chandler Chamber of Commerce, 7:30 a.m., Denny’s, 7400 W. Chandleer Blvd., Chandler. 480-963-4571, ext. 205, or Westside Referral Group, weekly, 7:30 a.m.
, Blac Bear Diner, 6039 W. Bell Road, Carl Ulbrich, 602-674-5675, or www.westsidereferral.net. Networking and Pinnacle Peak Chamberof Commerce, weekly, 8 AJ’s Fine Foods, 23251 N. Pima Pinnacle Peak. 480-629-8189 or www.pinnaclepeakchamber.com. Scottsdal e Business Builders, weekly, 11:30 a.m., Macaroni 7245 E. Gold Dust Scottsdale. Karen, 602-999-2742. BNI-San Tan Success weekly, 11:30 a.m., Boleros Seville Golf and Country 6683 S. Clubhouse Drive, Gilbert. 480-279-088 6 or bajaconnectionk@qwest.net. LeTip-Tempe weekly, 11:30 a.m., That Italian Place, 3941 E. Chandler Phoenix. Free for first-timers, $10 after that. Lorettaw Love Huff, 602-454-7787.
BNI-Desert Ridge Referral weekly, 11:30 a.m., Rock Bottonm Brewery, 21001 N. Tatum Phoenix. $14 for Bonnie, 602-717-6228. Toastmasters, weekly, 11:30 3131 E. Camelback Road, fourty floor, Phoenix. 602-224-1470 or www.risktakerstm.freetoasthost.org. Foothills Networkers, weekly, 11:3p0 a.m., Redhorse Saloon at Carefree Resort and 37220 N. Mule Train Road, Carefree. Jason, 602-743-0123 or OnFirst Toastmasters, weekly, 11:30 a.m., ON Semiconductod Corp., 5005 E. McDowell Road, Phoenix. Robert Colbert, BNI-Phoenix Chapter, weekly, noon, Gold Miners, 3030 E. Camelback Phoenix. 602-801-5151. Professional Business Connection, noon, Logan’s Roadhouse, 348 W. Frye Mesa.
Allen Johnson, 480-461-5008, or BNI-Camelback Chapter, weekly, noon, MidFirs Bank, 3030 E. Camelback Phoenix. 602-801-5151. Cinnamon Toastmasters, weekly, 6 JB’s, 1818 W. Montebello Phoenix. cinnamontm.awardspace.com. Camelback Toastmasters, weekly, 6:45 p.m., St. Raphaep Catholic Church, 5525 W. Acomas Drive, Glendale. Glenn Barber, 623-582-557 or gbarber46@qwest.net. Tri-City Toastmasters, 7 p.m., Scottsdale Public 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd., 480-734-1461 or tricity.freetoasthost.org.

FOREX-Dollar supported as G20 meets,charts offer signposts - Reuters

http://itefforts.com/debt/dc_index-5.php

FOREX-Dollar supported as G20 meets,charts offer signposts Reuters ... began a meeting which players doubt will yield much progress on the vexed question of currency depreciations, with charts instead dictating play. ... and more »

Embarq cuts may be deeper, faster as CenturyTel merger is set for June close - San Antonio Business Journal:

http://discovertrinidadca.com/slides.html
Although a new brand coulf replacesome signage, jobs are a different Embarq’s $11.6 billion merger with is slatecd to close this month. Sources expecft that the integration, including job cuts and could go faster thaninitially indicated. The ruralk phone companies plan tosave $400 million annually in the firstf three years through the And they already operate in an industry that’sz losing core customers, a trend accelerated by the recession, wherse part of maintaining strong balancre sheets is keeping a lid on “I’ve never seen a merger yet where the initiak announcement wasn’t conservative,” said analysgt Todd Rethemeier of , who doesn’tg own shares in the “Right after, or a couplwe quarters later, they’ll say they’re aheaxd of schedule, or there were more synergies.
It certainlyh could be faster in an industrylike this.” The jobs most at risk are positiones that don’t deal with consumers, including functions such as accounting and possibly marketing, sources said. Overlanc Park-based Embarq’s efficiency measures already have includedc localjob cuts. When the compang spun off fromin 2006, it had 4,500o local employees. Now, after its logistics unit was pared off earlieerthis year, Embarq employs aboutf 2,800 in the area.
With CenturyTel beintg much smaller — roughlh 1,300 corporate employees and half Embarq’sw revenue — it will have to retain a certainn percentage ofEmbarq employees, said Chrizs Kuehl, managing director of . But the current economif climate increases the urgency to cut saidTom Tilley, principal of . “As long as it doesn’tf interfere with the integration, they’re probablty going to try to realize that savingws as quicklyas possible,” he said. Embarq’s first-quarter revenuwe fell 7.5 percent to $1.33 billion, less than estimates.
Earnings dropped 18 percent to $174 million, thoug h without a loss from the sale of itslogisticws business, earnings beat analysts’ predictions. CenturyTel’s first-quarter revenue was $636.4 down 2 percent. Earnings were $67 down 25 percent. The companies have revealer few post-merger employment details. But the top two tiers of managementf havebeen named, and the thirx tier is nearly complete, CenturyTel spokeswoman Annmarie Sartor said. Those managers then will evaluats which positions are needed and which will need to some employees may retirwe or leave forother jobs.
“As in most case s of consolidation with twoseparate companies, therd is some inevitable job overlalp and operational redundancy that we’ll have to work through,” she “Right now, we’re not quite sure what that will look She said she didn’t know whether the recession woulr speed integration but thinks it unlikely because of the Combining all customers into the CenturyTel billing system easily could take a year and a The headquarters will be in Monroe, La. CenturyTel’s current base — thougnh CenturyTel doesn’t keep all corporate functione there. Benefits and compensation are handledin Wash., Sartor said.
“It’s not completely geographicallty driven,” she said. “We’rd going to keep a presencd inOverland Park. It’s highly feasiblwe and likely that there will be corporate functions not donein Louisiana.” Vice president or highe r positions probably will move or be said John Hense Jr., a principal of Kansass City investment banking firm Sometimes, executives will look at buying a locakl business or finding another job that woulf let them stay in the area, Tilley But with the tougu economy, more may be willing to Sartor said it was too early to know what wouldx be done with Embarq’s real estate footprint.
The company recentlt vacated a 100,000-square-foot space on the Sprint campus inOverland Park, and in it gave notice that it may terminate its lease of an additional 190,000p square feet in two

5D modeling software making inroads into design, building process - Business First of Columbus:

http://elisabethharvor.com/trevor2.htm
So, what’s next? Five-dimensional building informationmodel (BIM) software. This evolution adds into the planning procesws the crucial factorof cost. The 5D softwared began rolling out in earnest abour ayear ago, said Eric Wright, an information technologuy specialist with in Columbus, an accounting and business advisorty firm. Wright is bringing 5D to the attention of his contractor and engineering clients in its dedicates constructionservices group. The Pittsburgh company has a 90-persob Columbus office.
Wright said many of his clientx in Central Ohio still use2D drawings, althoughg 3D modeling has become more

Frost Brown Todd starts apprentice program - Business First of Louisville:

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The firm believes that the program helps the firm respon to the currenteconomic climate, in whic h law firms are either rescinding offerd to incoming associates or by deferring theire start dates. The firm also believes the prograk will offer clients somecost savings, because clientsd will be billed at a lowet rate for work done by associatea in the apprenticeship program, according to a news release. clients are expressing concern with the current modelk for hiringnew associates, which is to pay top dollar to new lawyers and then immediately put these inexperienced attorneyz to work for clients,” said John R.
Crockett III, chairmahn of the firm, said in the “We’re presenting an alternative — the opportunity for younf attorneys to develop and master theirt legal skills through an apprenticeship so that they are sooner able to deliver real value at less cost tothe client.” Associates who complete the apprenticeshipo program can earn a bonus based on theirf performance, as well as the opportunityy to return to the regular pay track aftef their first year, if they meet performance

New laws won't move us out of Parliament Square, say protesters - This is London

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This is London

New laws won't move us out of Parliament Square, say protesters This is London “They [MPs] brought in SOCPA themselves to try to put legitimate people off protesting by intimidating them by making them give all their details, ... and more »

Kerry to address state AFL-CIO as part of Valley visit - Phoenix Business Journal:

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Kerry will address the Arizona AFL-CIO this evening in downtown Alsoon Thursday, the Massachusetts senator is also schedulee to hold a big fund-raiser in the He will deliver a speech Friday to national meetings of the Democratic Leadership Council being held in Phoenix. Unionsw are a key Democratic constituency and are strong backerdof Kerry's efforts to change the federal tax code to discouragee foreign outsourcing and offshoring of Americann jobs. Kerry and unions are critical of theBush administration's recordc on foreign trade and outsourcing.
On the other side of the Republicans are going all out in their efforts tokeep Kerry's visit to Phoenix from dominating the headlineds and campaign discourse. Republicans have already announced that GOPMassachusettsa Gov. Mitt Romney and Bush campaign chairman Marc Racicot will make Valley appearances on Fridat and Saturday tocountetr Kerry. The GOP also announce Thursday that they will hold another event on Fridayu that toutsPresident Bush's national security recorrd and takes Kerry to task on the same issue. A similat event was held last week in Tucson with CongressmajJim Kolbe. Racicot, Sen. Jon Kyl, Congressmen J.D.
Hayworth and John Shadegv and Maricopa County Attorneyy Rick Romley will attend that Arizona Sen. John McCain, who backs Bush, has refused to join in the Republicaj chorus of criticism of Kerry citinvg theirpersonal friendship. McCain is not scheduled to atten the FridayGOP event. The Bush campaig has been running ads in Arizonqa and other key battleground statew that are criticalof Kerry's votes against some weapon systemzs as well as defense and intelligence spending Hayworth is also scheduled to a hold a minority business summit at Arizona State University on Fridayh morning. Democrats hope the Kerry stop will help energizsetheir voters.
A coalition of Democratic and anti-Bushg groups will hold a big voter registration efforr on Saturdayin Phoenix. Groups involved in that effort includrethe AFL-CIO, Planned Parenthood and anti-Bush groups Americwa Coming Together and MoveOn. One of ACT'd main contributors is billionaire anti-Bushg financier George Soros.

Nanosys, Harvard in IP agreement - Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal:

mcfarlainofuqub1258.blogspot.com
Palo Alto-based Nanosys said the the IP includesx its portfolio covering all aspects ofnanowire functionalization, material interface technologies, fabrication technologies, basixc devices using nanostructures, applications and and Harvard's portfolio of nanowire-based biosenso r and non-volatile memory related IP. "The agreements between Nanosys and Harvard reflect an innovative strategy to facilitate the developmentt of two noveldisruptive technologies," said Isaac T. Kohlberg, Harvard University's senioe associate provost and chief technologydevelopmenft officer.
"We're delighted to be working in concertwith Nanosys, a recognizesd leader in the nanowire space, to identify companies interestexd in acquiring rights to our innovativwe nanowire technologies for next-generationj biosensors and non-volatile memory." Andrew Filler, Nanosys general said that as companies are "realizing the significant commerciaol value of nanotechnology to expand upon and open up new our goal is to help these companies addresxs these markets using our intellectual propertty portfolio.
" The company said it is now focusesd on commercializing technologies in core business areas includingb solid state lighting, electronics, energy storager and medical device applications.

Number of identity theft cases in Ohio took big leap in 2008 - Phoenix Business Journal:

http://housingbankdz.com/index.php?path=produits.details.1_1_3
More than 8,200 complaints were filesd in the statein 2008, according to a recent report by the , but that figure represents just a fraction of the total cases. And, it is three-and-a-half times the bump Ohio saw betweebn 2006and 2007. “Identity theft is the No. 1 growinyg crime in the United States. It exceedse illegal drug trafficking, and the cost is in the billions,” said Debbise Wheeler, chief information security officerat . In the information of more than 225,000 people was breached in accordingto , a Ariz.-based identity theft protection provider. Most cases involve universities, which offer a breadtg of personal information.
But banks, retailers and pensionsx also were targeted. At in Mason, the personal informationj of almost 60,000 employees was stolen in the fall when a hackeer broke through its securedcomputer server. And at , in Blue Ash, the personaol data of some 25,000 customers was breached in “It’s also important to know that these are the ones that got saidMike Prusinski, vice president of public affairs at Since September 2008, the number of online searchesx for personal data, such as Sociao Security numbers, rose 38 Prusinski said. He surmises that the financiallyt desolate contribute tothe gain.
Many searcheas are possible through peer-to-peer networks like Lime Wire or which let members share music for But the networks can be used surreptitiously to searchsensitive documents, serving as a portal to “Within 10 seconds, we pulled up 275,000 tax returnxs in the New York City Prusinski said. “And that was just the ones that were onlinew atthat moment.” Many free services exist to protecty consumers, including www.annualcreditreport.
com, which providews credit reports, and 888-5OPTOUT, which can be called to halt unwanter credit card applications and other junk Wheeler, at Fifth Third, advisexs shredding documents containing personal information, keeping the Social Security card at home and regularly checkinb bank statements online, not by “We used to see identity theft frequently when people received mailed bank statements that were she said.

Pompey expect to exit admin - SkySports

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Pompey expect to exit admin SkySports Portsmouth are confident they will come out of administration this week after offering financial guarantees to their creditors. ... and more »

Cheryl Baxter Executive Profile

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**All Executive profile data providec byDow Jones & Co., Inc.

The ABCs of SBA Lending - South Florida Business Journal:

http://www.uludagyenidogan.com/page/Comcast-Brings-You-Into-the-Information-Age.html
Recent changes in the (SBA) 7(a) loan program means many businesses mighg now have more opportunities toobtain financing. The new program enhancementd could help business owners continued to manage and grow their companiesx and get their financial dreams back on SBA is a federal program dedicatede to helping small businesses with loans made availabl e through locallending institutions. the SBA announced it is: Thes e changes provide an economic incentive for smallo businesses to obtaina loan, and they allow SBA lenders to offer an immediate cost savingz to businesses.
For example, a customee approved for a $238,000 7(a) loan couled save up to $5,400 in The new provisions add to the already substantial benefitws small businesses often can realizew when they choose anSBA 7(a) loan to buy real acquire a new business or franchise, purchass equipment or increase working Those benefits include: As with any the interest rate and monthly payment for an SBA loan will depending on the transaction. the amount of cash you’ll need at closing will depending on the type of loanyou choose. Expensesx such as closing fees and appraisalxs often can be included in the SBA financinfpackage – a feature that appeals to many businesa owners.
Many SBA loans are made to acquire owner-occupied commercial real Down-payments for these loans can be as low as 10percent – much lower than for other typesz of financing, so less cash is requirer for closing. These loans provide other benefitsd overconventional loans, including: • Terms of up to 25 yearzs for real estate, with no balloon payments Often a business will grow througgh the purchase of another company, additional inventory and new All of these can be financex with an SBA loan. If you choose the right financial services compangy tohelp you, getting an SBA loan can be the easiest part of growing your business.
First determinde if the financial services companyy is aPreferred That’s a designation from the SBA that empowers the company to handle all aspecte of the loan process, from making its own credity decisions to funding the loan. Your file isn’g sent to a government office for processing, the SBA trusts the Preferred Lender to makethe decision. Becominhg an SBA Preferred Lender is basee in part on a financialservices company’xs ability to illustrate a long history of good judgment and a solid credit review process. The Preferred Lender designatiob isthe SBA’s way of saying that a specific lendedr is more qualified than others to make the righy call.
Since the Preferred Lender makeds the decision on a loan your SBA loan is processed quickly and you get a decisionbwithin days. Once you decide an SBA loan might be right foryour business, what should you brinb to the application interview? With an existing business, it’se important to bring your financial history the past three yearw of business and personal tax returns, cash flow your current income statement and balanced sheet and a personal financia l statement. If you have a startup business, you should brinhg your business plan, along with your personal financiao history.
Most financial services companies also require a detailesd breakdown of project costs and how the fundz willbe used. Real estate and constructionb loans usually require more documentation than equipmeny and workingcapital loans. There are many SBA lendingy products, so you’ll want to work with a financial servicess adviser who is an SBA specialistg and is familiar with the cons and requirements of all SBA lending The specialist can help you determine the type and size of loan you need to meetyour company’sx unique circumstances while ensuring your company has sufficiengt cash flow to support the proposef debt.
Given today’s this might be the right time to investigatee the possibility of an SBA You could find that an SBA loan is just the ticket to put your businessa plans into action and get your dreams backon

Memphis Business Journal: Starting a Business : Business Advice

http://pesantrenvirtual.com/index.php/doa-dan-dzikir/doc_details/36-imsakiyah-1430h
Let's be honest: Things are bad, and it is miserablew out there in the worlof commerce. We are in a global recessiob that will last forsome time. 1. The economty eventually will improve andget better. 2. Most companies rely on salespeopld to help with the bottom Continuing sales of a product or service for an organization along with great salespeople will be needed even more duringv thesetough times. I think it is important to look at a strateguy as old as business itself that will help a its profitability, the salespeople employed and the customers that a compan does business with.
The firsy thing, which is of the utmost importance, are your Whether you are the CEOreadint this, the salesperson or a person in customef service - this is the time to protect your customerd base and make sure that they are period! The one way to do this is to get in toucnh with your customers. Do not attempt to do this by mail or It istoo impersonal. If you want to buils relationships withyour customers, then builde them the way they are supposed to be built - by peoplse dealing directly with people! You need to ask your customers a simple and direct question: "How are we doing for you?
Be and tell me the Next, for the salespeople who still are you are going to have to work Yes, I said it - harder. This means not only visitinbg your existing customers and checking their true levell of customer satisfaction but also going out and gettingnew business. the economy is slow, and we are not buying as much of anythiny as we did a fewyears ago, but the fact remainz that there is stilp business being done out

Star Tribune plans to exit bankruptcy in September - Baltimore Business Journal:

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The newspaper, which declared bankruptcy Jan. 15, filede its proposed reorganization plan withthe U.S. Bankruptcgy Court for the Southern District of New York on The paper said its creditors have agreee tothe plan. Undet the plan, the Star Tribuns would emerge from bankruptcywith $100 million in debt. The companyt would be worth between $118 million and $144 million, including its real estatde holdings. Unsecured creditors will receive a smalol cash distribution or be converted into new commo stock and warrants to be issued by the reorganized The newspaper’s current ownership led by New York-based , will not receivw a stake in the new Avista bought the paper in 2007 for $530 million.
Chairman and Publisher Chris Harte, a member of Avista Capital executiveadvisory board, will leave the newspaper, which will get a new boar of directors, publisher and CEO. “The Star Tribund expects to emerge from its financial restructuring as a financially viable with a strongerbalance sheet, significantly less debt and substantially reducee operating costs,” the newspaper said in a statement.

Auto parts plant coming to Chattanooga - Nashville Business Journal:

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The new business will be locatedr in the Enterprise South Industrial and the jobs will be createdx overa three-year period. Gestamp has been contracted to supplyg parts for thenew mid-sizex sedan designed for the U.S. markegt from . “I firmly believe the excellent businessx climate and skilled work force of Chattanoogaq and Tennessee will allow us to benefit from the same qualitiesx Volkswagen found and to continueour company’s long-ternm growth,” Jeff Wilson, president and chief operating officer for says in a news release. The company provides products for many othed automotive companiesincluding , , and .
Applications are not being takenb atthis time, but Gestam has advised job seekers to monitor job postings. Michigan-baseds Gestamp is a subsidiaryof , a privately held compang headquartered in Madrid. The company has 75 manufacturing sitezs all over the world and generatesabout $7 billiob in annual revenue. It is working to establish plantsein Russia, India and Argentina to supply Volkswagehn as well.

Cincinnati-area firms win Ohio incentives - The Business Journal of the Greater Triad Area:

wilhelminadora4287.blogspot.com
, a maker of marketing simulatiohn andplanning software, received $1.1 millionn from the Innovation Ohio Loan Fund, at an annual interest rate of 1 percent for the firsf year and 8 percen for five years. The Cincinnati-based companyh will use the loan to develolp a new generation of its Emerging Marketplac software and buycomputer equipment. The $2.2 milliojn project is expected to create 36 jobs and retainj10 jobs. Two local firms also receivefd Job Creation Tax Credits forexpansion projects. , a supplier of labelingg systems for thebeverage industry, was awardexd a 45 percent tax credi for five years for a $1 million expansion project in Mason.
The company expectx to use the credit, worth abouf $52,700 over its term, to create 25 jobs and retainh 118. • won a 45 percent job for a six-year for a $170,000 expansion project at its regionakloffice downtown. The credit is valued at abouy $119,750 over its term. Advantage expects to create 33 positionws andretain 65. The headquartered in Spokane, Wash., provides energy management consultingy services.