In the News
For decades, publicists have prided themselves on getting their clients quoted in the biggest circulation and most popular publications possible. While that’s certainly a focus at Inkandescent Public Relations, we know that times have changed. Going hyper-local is important, as is having a presence in the social media sphere.
While our clients are regularly featured in such newspapers of record as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Times of London, US News & World Report, Money magazine, Washington Post, and Philadelphia Inquirer — we also get them quoted in Patch.com, Yahoo.com, AOL.com, and newspapers and magazines that circulate in their communities. Radio and TV is also a popular spot for Inkandescent clients, who have been interviewed on the CBS “Early Show,” NBC News, Fox News, “CNN Money,” “The Kojo Nnamdi Show,” and Federal News Radio, among others. Scroll down to see those media mentions.
Inkandescent PR also has thousands of friends, followers, and contacts in the social media world, where we regularly get the word out about our clients. Friend us today: www.facebook.com.
The Washington Post, April 11, 2012 — Washington Post reporter Daniel de Vise posted an entry on his blog, College Inc., today explaining the position of ACT College president Jeffrey Moore.
De Vise explained: “The president of ACT College, a for-profit higher education provider shut down last week for alleged federal aid violations, says the institution never intentionally withheld aid dollars from students.
“The Northern Virginia college closed its three campuses after the U.S. Education Department revoked its access to federal aid, a deal-breaker for any institution. Federal officials alleged the college “routinely and flagrantly” flouted the rules by withholding hundreds of thousands of aid dollars from students.” Click here to read the entire article.
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January 25, 2011, PR Newswire — “If there’s one thing that every small business can benefit from at one point or another,” writes PR Newswire columnist Grace Lavigne in an article entitled, Small Business PR: Unique Goals and Challenges.
“But it definitely takes a different approach to help a small company or ‘solopreneur’ than it does a larger firm,” says PR specialist Hope Katz Gibbs, founder and president of Inkandescent Public Relations. The trick, says Gibbs, is to help clients avoid what she calls the “Trifecta of Small Business Failure,” which is when they have one of these three attitudes.”
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Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012, Annapolis Capital — Our Life Coaching expert Amy Steindler was featured on the front page of the Business section of the Annapolis Capital today in an article entitled, “Annapolis woman quits Wall Street to help others.”
“Looking back, Amy Steindler can admit that she knew a finance career wasn’t for her, even before the market tanked,” writes reporter Shantee Woodards. “The Annapolis resident had been caught up in the prestige of being a wealth adviser, but knew she wanted to do something more creative. So Steindler quit her job and spent more than a year re-evaluating her life.”
Inkandescent’s Hope Gibbs is also interviewed.
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Jan. 7, 2012, Money Watch — “Do you view HR as the enemy, doing recognizance for Corporate? Or do you see your HR rep as Michael Scott did Toby—someone who tries to suck the fun out of the office?” asks CBS’ Money Watch reporter Amy Levin-Epstein. “While human resources teams can often lubricate sticky work situations and help build strong office relationships, they’re often viewed less generously by staff.”
But what is the most challenging part of the job? Epstein asked Inkandescent PR’s client Sharon Armstrong, co-author of The Essential HR Handbook.
Nowhere is this more clear than in the comments section of a story I posted a few months ago, 4 Things Never To Share With HR. But is such distrust really warranted? How do HR folks themselves view their position on the corporate ladder, and the criticism they might face? I asked four career experts — all former HR professionals — about their past professions (the good, the bad, and, at times, ugly). Here are their candid responses.
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October 31, 2011 — “Dylan Gibbs Raised $2,150 for the Life is good Playmakers — and you can, too!” is the headline on the Life is good Playmakers blog, that appeared as today’s entry.
Click here to read that. Or click to read more to see the entire entry, inside.
To learn more about the Life is good Playmakers, check out our interview with Chief Playmaker, Steve Gross, in the September issue of Be Inkandescent Magazine.
And learn more about the creation, philosophy, and long-term goals of the Boston-based Life is good Company by reading our interview with co-founder, Bert Jacobs, our September Entrepreneur of the Month.
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In a December 2011 article for Parents.com, reporter Linda DiProperzio writes about how interfaith families across the U.S. celebrate the winter holidays.
“One thing that can make the process easier is discussing with your spouse what each of you would like to do to celebrate your respective religion during the holidays,” she explains. “Whether it’s decorating the house or attending services, work out all the details well before the season begins.”
When interviewed, I told Linda about our way of mixing my Jewish roots with my husband Mike’s Catholic upbringing. Linda shared:
Hope Katz Gibbs, a mom from Arlington, VA, makes sure her house is decorated for both Hanukkah and Christmas, and isn’t afraid to combine the two. “Our tree is decorated with popsicle-stick ornaments in the shape of Jewish stars,” she reveals.
Click here to read the entire article.
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Chefs Kim and Edgar Alvarez of Avenida Restaurant impressed CBS Philly viewers, and “Talk Philly” co-host Pat Ciarrocchi when they appeared on the Nov. 22 noon show entitled, “Alternative Holiday Dishes.”
On the menu was Turkey Mole, Roasted Pumpkin Soup with toasted pepitas, Chorizo Corn Bread Stuffing, and Vanilla Flan. Click here to view the broadcast.
If you’d like the chefs to prepare your Holiday feast this Christmas, Hannukah or New Year’s Eve, check out Avenida’s 2011 Holiday Catering Menu.
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August 19, 2011, Inc. Magazine — “An old joke among human resources professionals is that employee reviews are like fruitcakes. They come once a year whether you want them to or not,” writes Inc. Magazine reporter Elizabeth Sile in her article, It’s August. Time for Employee Reviews?
Because these reviews remain necessary evils, Shile turned to Sharon Armstrong, author of The Essential Performance Review Handbook, for advice.
Armstrong said, “It is crucial to gather as many specific examples of good and bad behavior as possible and collect objective information on employee performance. This shouldn’t be done right before a performance appraisal meeting; rather, achievements and slip-ups must be tracked throughout the year.”
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August 15, 2011, Washington DC — Career transition coach Mimi Darmstadter knows the statistics. Since December 2007, 8.8 million people have lost their jobs, according the U.S. Bureau of Labor.
While devising a plan for an alternative “safety net” career is easier said than done, she told Washington Post Express reporter Nevin Martell this week that you can take steps now to find the perfect next career—even if you haven’t lost your job.
“Soul-searching is hard,” Darmstadter says. “I force people to ask themselves the tough questions: ‘What do I want to be when I grow up?’ ‘What’s important to me?’ ‘What are the implications for other people?’”
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“When leaders are looking to fill a staff vacancy, I suggest they start by creating an organizational staffing or resource plan,” says Alice Waagen, president and founder of the Washington, D.C.-based management training firm Workforce Learning. Think of it as a shopping list, not a wish list, created to fill specific needs for specific purposes, based on an actual inventory, not an ideal.
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May 25, 2011, Northern Virginia magazine — In her article, Dodd-Frank—Congress takes a closer look at how money men work with you, reporter Amanda Millward writes:
After the demise of the financial sector—stock market crash, Enron and Worldcom scandals, housing market collapse, Madoff Ponzi Scheme, ETC.—it’s no wonder that the public is skeptical about entrusting their money to industry representatives. Many don’t understand the different roles financial professionals can play, or the amount of education they should have. It’s important for consumers to know as much as possible about their financial planners and how they work. And while the average person does a bit of homework, congress is working to ensure anyone who dubs him/herself as a financial pro is putting the consumers’ best interests first.
They were watched, but were they watched close enough? She asked financial planner Bryan Beatty to weigh in.
Beatty said: “They haven’t done any real work on the regulations to sort of control any behavior to [the] client adviser since the 1940 Act. [The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act] is going to change the industry.”
That’s not all! Click here to read the entire article.
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May 3, 2011, Philadelphia Inquirer — To determine whether management is for you, ask yourself three questions about your current position, says Dr. Alice Waagen: How much do you love what you do? Can you be happy not doing it? Can you stand watching people do it less capably?
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April 2011, Ask Men magazine — “If you’re not motivated to get in shape, consider this: Fit men get hotter girls, earn more money and outshine their coworkers,” writes reporter James Fell in this month’s issue of Men’s Health.
“It’s not all about being pretty when it comes to making money off getting in shape; you can save cash just from being healthy,” he notes, and for evidence interviewed Scott Golden of Golden & Cohen LLC, about how healthier people save money on life, health and disability insurance. He told me that when it comes to life insurance, a really healthy guy with a good family history can garner the “super preferred” rate, which translated from insurance-speak means, “Sure, we’ll take your money because we don’t think you’re going to die any time soon.”
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March 10, 2011, CareerBuilder.com — “Can bad spelling ruin your chances of landing a job?,” asks CareerBuilder.com reporter Rachel Farrell. “Almost every time you hear about mistakes to avoid in your résumé or cover letter, you see the same things: lying about your experience, providing too much information or using the same generic résumé for every application. We also preach about spelling,” she writes.
“Excellent communication skills can pave the way to promotions for employees,” says Sharon Armstrong, president, Sharon Armstrong and Associates. “If you are a life-long learner, you’ll continue to work on the skills that will help you grow and develop. Any company that cares about their ‘brand’ will be put off by bad spelling. A company that cares about the details will want to always show a professional image.”
“Read the entire article here.:http://msn.careerbuilder.com/Article/MSN-2568-Job-Search-Can-bad-spelling-ruin-your-chances-of-landing-a-job/
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March 2011, Be Inkandescent Magazine — After spending 25 years working as an educator and marketing executive, Robin McDougal married her understanding of education with her flair for fashion in 2001 when she founded e-GLAM, a company that manufactures fashionable business products and sells them to the wholesale market. Her mantra: “Pursue your dreams in style.”
That philosophy put her in the company of Marie Osmond in 2008 when the pop icon hosted the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women — Untold Stories of the Heart campaign.
“Participating in Go Red For Women provided me with an opportunity to combine my passion for education, women’s health, and fashion, with my desire to give back through e-GLAM,” says Robin. “It was an incredible opportunity to share my laptop handbags with the world.”
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January 18, SHRM — “HR consulting is a relationship business, which can be both good and bad,” writes reporter Lin Grensing-Pophal in today’s issue of SHRM.
For the bright side, she interviewed Dr. Alice Waagen, founder and president of Workforce Learning, who explained: “I am very pleased when a client of mine leaves their current position to join a new organization. I see their transition as potentially increasing my client base with a new organization.”
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January 19, 2011, Patch.com — Patch.com reporter Christine Neff featured Culinaria Cooking School in an article that explained CEO / Chef Stephen Sand’s belief anyone can cook and cook well – with the knowledge of basic techniques. “The techniques translate from country to country, recipe to recipe. If you have those, it doesn’t matter what you attempt,” Sands said.
Neff wrote, “This chef and retired engineer has been teaching cooking classes to people of all skill levels for many years now and claims to have never repeated a recipe in his courses.”
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December 6, 2010, US News & World Report — Congratulations to our client, and Be Inkandescent Events columnist, Roxanne Rukowicz Ladd of Behind the Scenes Events, who was quoted in US News and World Report this week about “Best Careers in 2011.”
Roxanne said: “Take every opportunity to break into the field, even if it means catering or volunteering with a florist. You’ll build an appreciation for the time on your feet and what it takes to pull off a gig. All experience is good experience and will serve you well in becoming a more rounded candidate for a position.”
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November 26, 2010, Colesville Patch — Got the Black Friday Blues? In today’s issue of the Colesville Patch, reporter Catherine Krikstan offers salvation in her article about The Bagelry, owned by Steven and Tracy Brecher.
“When it comes to Thanksgiving, most people are concerned with just one meal: dinner. But when stomachs start to rumble for breakfast on Black Friday, Colesville residents can turn to the Bagelry,” Krikstan writes.
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November 23, 2010, TDB.com — In today’s issue of TDB Neighborhoods, reporter Rebecca Cooper writes about Simplicity Urgent Care, the newest medical office on 3263 Columbia Pike Arlington, VA, which opened its doors on Nov. 22.
“Co-founder, Dr. John Jones, says he hopes people will take advantage of the clinic’s services during the upcoming week if their regular doctors are unavailable due to the holiday,” she said.
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November 11, 2010, Vienna Connection — Soon after Culinaria Cooking School opened its doors on Nov. 7, Vienna Connection reporter Donna Manz wrote an article noting:
“Hundreds of friends, family and supporters turned out to celebrate with the owners and staff and share. An array of sweet and savory finger foods and bottles of flowing wine didn’t hurt the camaraderie, either.
“Between the two co-founders, there is more than thirty years of culinary experience, and many of the guests go back 20 to 30 years with co-founders Stephen Sands and Pete Snaith.”
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November 8, 2010, Colesville Patch — In today’s issue of the Colesville Patch, reporter Rob H. writes about the new owner of The Bagelry, Steven Brecher, who took over the popular bagel shop from former owners last month.
He writes: “Just learned that The Bagelry on Vital Way changed hands a couple of weeks ago. Inquiring Colesvillians (and longtime Bagelry customers) want to know who’s new and where our old friends are going! Last month, the former owners of The Bagelry sold the landmark breakfast shop. After seven years of ownership, Ricky and Neva Silverstein decided that running the restaurant had become far too tough.”
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Oct. 18, 2010, Daily HR Solution — Today’s Daily HR Solution entry featured Dr. Alice Waagen, president and founder of the management training company, Workforce Learning.
In a Q&A with author Mary White, Alice answered a handful of questions including:
What are some of the unique challenges HR practitioners face when it comes to working with managerial level employees?
Alice said: Since the human resource manager’s main job is to keep the company safe from a liability lawsuit, we become de facto managers when the managers don’t manage well. And it happens all the time. In fact, in an interview with Inc. magazine in August, I told reporter Darren Dahl that for managers to succeed, the most important part of their job is to be accountable for results. For example, a good manager creates short- and long-term goals for all staff, and then sets realistic standards and targets to measure progress to plan. And, he or she needs to provide specific and objective feedback on an ongoing basis, which informs, enlightens and helps staff members improve their performance.
Remember, it’s the job of all senior staff members to monitor the rest of the team for compliance issues. When they fail to do this, lawsuits can occur — and that’s when HR must step in to minimize corporate exposure and liability. But the first line of defense is the management team, and they need to be pros.
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October 7, 2010, The Wall Street Journal — In today’s issue of the Wall Street Journal, reporter Emily Maltby interviewed five small business owners for an article entitled, “Preparing for a Double Dip.”
“Many business owners are worried that the economy will get worse before it gets better,” she wrote. “Here’s how some are readying their companies for a double dip.
Read more here.
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October 4, 2010, HealthCastle.com — Chef Stephen Sand’s recipe for Celeriac Bisque with Shiitakes is the recipe of the month for the online nutrition website HealthCastle.com.
Editors explain: “It is probably fair to say that celeriac is one of the most ignored root vegetables in North America. Its unglamorous appearance does not do its flavor justice – its crisp texture, as well as its celery and parsley-like flavor, is a great addition to any dish that goes well with celery. October is the time to try this strange-looking root vegetable, as it is generally available from October through April.
Read more here: www.healthcastle.com, and click on the link below to Read More, where you’ll find the recipe for this delicious Fall dish.
To sign up for a class at Culinaria Cooking School, visit www.culinariacookingschool.com.
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October 1, 2010, US News & World Report — Hot off the presses is the 2010 Best Lawyers issue of US News & World Report, which lists Trow & Rahal as one of the top immigration law firms in the country.
“Guiding the firm with their winning attitudes and capabilities, Steve Trow and Linda Rahal have a solid reputation within the legal community.” Click here to read the entire article.
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Sept. 15, 2010, The Wall Street Journal — In an article about “second-to-die” insurance, Golden & Cohen founder Scott Golden was interviewed by reporter Joe Mullich who wrote: “In addition to paying the estate tax, second-to-die insurance can also be used to build an estate and guarantee that a specific amount is available for heirs. Because of this, it is often suggested for families who have children with special needs or disabilities.”
Scott Golden explained: “The overall internal rates of return (IRR) can vary based on age, health condition at time of underwriting and death of both of the insured, but on average, the IRR is a tax free 6 percent which looks very attractive in the current financial environment. he insurance isn’t that complicated, but you should consider several variables which might affect how you fund the insurance and the cost of it.”
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Aug. 23, 2010, Inc. magazine — “When you work for yourself, as most entrepreneurs do, the notion of ‘managing’ those you have hired to do just that may seem quaint in light of all the work you need to catch up on,” writes Darren Dahl in this week’s issue of Inc. magazine.
“But as the company you started begins to grow, and you hire more and more people to fuel that growth, it is a good idea to take a step back from the day-to-day grind and consider what it might mean to both you and your company if you devoted some of your time to thinking about how best to manage your managers. After all, the more people you empower to make decisions, and that free you up to think more strategically, the faster, at least in theory, your company can grow.”
In the section entitled, “Managing Managers: Measure Tasks,” he interviewed Dr. Alice Waagen who said: “For managers to succeed, they need time to learn to manage” she says. “And then, once they do, they need to be held accountable for their results.”
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August 1, 2010, Agent’s Sales Journal — Scott Golden talks about the future of Medicare in the new issue of Agent’s Sales Journal. Reporter Heather Trese wrote:
Some people, including Scott Golden, chief financial officer of the health benefits consulting company Golden & Cohen, predict that other Medicare plans — such as original Medicare with a Part D or Med supp addition — will start to become more attractive as Medicare Advantage loses its luster.
“Whenever you make one product less attractive, you’ll make the other product more attractive,” Golden said. “So it does work to an advantage for those who work in the indemnity market.”
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July 28, 2010, Philadelphia Magazine — We are thrilled to announce that this week Avenida Restaurant was awarded the 2010 Best Kids Menu by Philadelphia Magazine.
At Philadelphia Magazine’s “Best of Philly 2010” celebration last week, owners and chefs Kim and Edgar Alverez celebrated the incredible honor with Philadelphia dignitaries such as Mayor Michael Nutter (click Read More to see that photo), and the other Best of Philly winners.
Click here to see the dishes that kids all over Philadelphia have been raving about.
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July 28, 2010, Legal Bisnow — Immigration attorney Steve Trow, CEO and co-owner of the DC law firm Trow & Rahal, was quoted in the “Sound Bites” column of the July 28 issue of Legal Bisnow.
Sponsored by Hellerman Baretz Communications, Steve and three other attorneys were asked: What are your thoughts about the DOJ’s lawsuit this month challenging Arizona’s immigration law?
Steve said: “Congress dropped the ball on immigration reform, but that doesn’t give Arizona the right to run onto the field and pick it up. DOJ needs to get Arizona off the field, then Congress needs to fix our broken immigration system.”
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July 25, 2010, The Philadelphia Inquirer — “When the economy came crashing down in 2009, it brought Kim and Edgar Alvarez’s crab cakes with them – at least for a moment,” writes Inquirer Restaurant Critic Craig LaBan in today’s Philly.com Food.
He continues: Those cakes were among the signature items at the couple’s former prepared foods store, the Delaware Market House in Gladwyne. But once the recession prompted enough Main Liners to start cooking more for themselves, the Alvarez’ business, which thrived on small pleasures like fresh chicken salad and sirloin broil, suddenly went “completely off the deep end,” says Kim.
It was a sorry moment for Gladwyne take-out addicts, perhaps, but has turned into a boon for Mount Airy, where the resilient Alvarezes have resurfaced with Avenida, a Latin-inspired neighborhood restaurant well-cast for a neighborhood that can use all the good flavors it can muster.
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July 18, 2010, The Wall Street Journal — “If you’ve been marking time at work and hoping to get a new job, you’re not alone,” writes reporter Dennis Nishi in today’s issue of The Wall Street Journal. “But employment experts caution restless job seekers from jumping ship too soon. If you move too quickly you might end up in a new job that you dislike even more. Still, you can improve your odds of finding something worthwhile by planning ahead and doing some research.”
Nishi quotes Sharon Armstrong, owner of Sharon Armstrong & Associates and author of The Essential Performance Review Handbook, who says:
“When you land an interview, use the opportunity to learn about the company. You should get as much from them as they will try to get from you, says Sharon Armstrong, a human-resources consultant in Washington. Salary and benefits are important, but you also want to make sure you’re compatible. It’s difficult to tell what the workplace culture is like from casual visits. Don’t be shy about calling for more information and contact current and former employees, if possible, to get a feel for the company and opportunities.”
“If you get an offer, before you accept, consider doing more in-depth financial research on the company; try the Securities and Exchange Commission’s EDGAR Public Dissemination Service (www.edgarcompany.sec.gov).”
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June 25, 2010, Tip Jar at the Washington Business Journal — “Vacations can be blessing or bane, depending on whether you’re in the midst of one yet,” writes Tip Jar at the Washington Business Journal in an article entitled, Vacation skeds no day at beach.
“The curse comes at both ends of the time off — hurriedly finishing tasks so you’re not still pounding on your BlackBerry during the painfully long drive to the beach or tiredly returning to a messy desk, logjammed inbox, full voice mail, overworked colleagues and cross-examining boss.”
HR expert Sharon Armstrong, author of “The Essential Performance Review Handbook,” and co-author of “The Essential HR Handbook,” says the key to sanity amid a landscape of empty offices is lassoing more short-term help — calling all temp agencies! — or doing more with the lucky folks left in the office.
“Just make sure there’s enough cross-training that’s happened so it isn’t so desperate when someone wants to take off,” says Sharon Armstrong, who founded a D.C. human resources consulting and training business. “There should be some coverage.”
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By Dan Rafter
Special to The Washington Post
Saturday, November 21, 2009
When Michael Gibbs and Hope Katz Gibbs moved this August, one house in Arlington rose to the top of their wish list: a remodeled and expanded ranch home. The big selling point? The house had enough flexible space that both of them could both set up their own home offices.
Both Hope, owner of the District-based Inkandescent Public Relations, and Michael, an illustrator, work from home. And they needed a house that would allow them to create two home offices. The ranch house in Arlington fit.
The couple have since turned their new home’s large basement into two separate offices. The space also includes a dance studio for their 14-year-old daughter, Anna.
“This is nothing new for us. We’ve each worked from home since we got married,” Hope said. “It enables us to both work as much as we do and still take care of our children the way we want. I remember when the kids were babies: I’d work, and he’d hold a baby. Or I’d be nursing one of the kids and be interviewing people on the phone. We couldn’t have done it without both of us working from home. I think that working moms have a tough time when their husbands work incredible hours and are out of the home all the time.”
Click here to read the article on www.WashingtonPost.com
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June 3, 2010, Federal News Radio — At 3 p.m. today, Federal News Radio reporter Christopher J. Dorobek interviewed Sharon Armstrong, author of new The Essential Performance Review Handbook, about how to make performance reviews a less painful process.
He explains:
“If you hate your annual performance review, don’t worry. You’re not alone,” he said. “Some employees dread that yearly meeting with their boss, where intangible topics, such as ‘future goals’ are often discussed. And we’ve heard tales that bosses don’t like them much, either.”
“But the performance review doesn’t have to be a chore . . . or torturous. They can actually be productive conversations that not only benefit the office, but the organization as a whole.”
“Sharon Armstrong is author of the Essential Performance Review Handbook, and has served as director of human resources at several organizations in the D.C. metro area. She says progress is being made when it comes to performance reviews, and successful organizations are making them really work.”
Click here to download the mp3 file, and read the article.
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May 29, 2010, Small Home Business magazine — Reporter Katelyn Thomas posted an article today about illustrator Michael Gibbs, that discussed how he earns a living as an artist.
“Technically, by doodling in school when I wasn’t supposed to. But my real interest in art began when I went to art school (Pratt Institute) as a photography major, got introduced to drawing, and gravitated toward it. I’d wanted to work for myself for as long as I grasped the concept of having to earn a living, so after art school and three years of working in a graphics department, I decided to jump into freelance illustration with both feet.”
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December 31, 2009 — “Small-business owners aren’t just putting together budgets and sales projections as 2010 approaches,” wrote Associated Press reporter Joyce M. Rosenberg in an article that published in dozens of newspapers around the country on New Year’s Eve. “Like the rest of us, they’re making some New Year’s resolutions but their goals aren’t about losing weight or exercising more. Business owners are resolving to fix problems in their companies or come up with ideas for working smarter in the new year.” Here’s a sampling.
Working on work/life balance
Hope Katz Gibbs wanted to spend less time at work in the new year and more time with her two children. But “instead of dialing things back for a work/life balance, ramping it up seems to be the best strategy at this point,” said Gibbs, president of Inkandescent Public Relations. Her Washington-based company, which targets entrepreneurs, expects to have more work as more people start businesses.
So she looked at her family life and realized that overbooking her 14-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son with after-school activities wasn’t the answer. “The trend is to overextend them, give them a million activities, make them competitive,” Gibbs said. “I’m trying to have more fun with them rather than micromanage them.”
So Gibbs and her husband, illustrator Michael Gibbs plan to involve her children more in her work, taking them to child-appropriate work events when possible. She likes the idea of exposing them to the business world so they can find out how it works. “It’s balancing in a different way,” she said.
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May 13, 2010, The Arlington Connection — In today’s newspaper, Dr. Alice Waagen of Workforce Learning put on her philanthropist hat — quite literally — as a participant in National Women Build Week (May 1-9) on behalf of her nonprofit Habitat Women Who Build, a fundraising chapter of Habitat for Humanity Northern Virginia.
Arlington Connection reporter Dalia Sava wrote:
Alice Waagen is wearing a hard hat and a tool belt and she’s covered in dust from the demolition work she is doing at the Perry Hall Condominium, the Habitat for Humanity 12-unit building on South 17th Street in Arlington. The construction project is an existing apartment building that will be converted to condominiums.
Waagen is taking part in National Women Build Week (May 1-9), an initiative by Lowe’s and Habitat for Humanity which challenges women to devote at least one day to efforts to eliminate poverty housing. This is the first Women Build event for Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia.
“My female friends who knew of my work with Habitat would tell me, ‘Oh, I’d love to do that but I can’t hammer, I can’t saw, I can’t give back’ and this drove me crazy because the way that the program works — the volunteer house leaders break down every task so that it’s suitable for anybody’s size, anybody’s level of skill,” Waagen said.
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NBC News, April 29, 2010 — The Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship-DC Region was profiled on NBC News today.
Kate Michael writes:
Chris Gardner, whose story as an on-and-off homeless salesman turned stockbroker was portrayed in the 2006 film “The Pursuit of Happyness,” joined a group of local high-powered business leaders last night to honor hundreds of ambitious youth who have started their own businesses.
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April 17, ABC News — On April 17, ABC News Channel 6 did a 5-minute segment on the hot new businesses in town: Avenida Restaurant.
The cameras went inside Avenida’s kitchen and watched as Chefs Kim and Edgar prepared some of their signature appetizers: Grilled Baby Octopus with Tequila Roasted Tomato Sauce, Garlic and Avocado and Queso Fondito.
“I was trained at the Culinary Institute of America, so I tend to cook by the book,” explains Chef Kim. “And I went to cooking school every day of my life as I watched my mother, aunts and grandmother prepare a meal for our entire family — dozens of people who ate three times a day in our home in Guatemala,” shares Chef Edgar.
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Washington DC, March 29, 2010 — Stephanie Cohen, CEO of the health and retirement benefits firm Golden & Cohen (www.golden-cohen.com), will offer insight into what insurance customers can expect from the health reform tomorrow morning, Tuesday March 30 from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the Hotel Liaison Capitol Hill.
Cohen will be a panelist at the first monthly breakfast series on health reform, which is hosted by Amplify Public Affairs’ Disruptive Women in Health Care Blog (www.disruptivewomen.net) and its media partner, The Hill (http://thehill.com).
The topic: Health Reform: US Patience (not a typo) Pay the Price.
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March 2010 — NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” TV series contacted Inkandescent PR to help spread the word about auditions this Saturday, March 6 in Washington, DC.
Here’s what they are looking for:
NBC’s popular reality series “The Biggest Loser” is launching a 15-city cross-country search to find new contestants for the next edition of the hit show. Individuals and teams of two who have at least 100 lbs. to lose are encouraged to apply for the new season, which will air in the fall of 2010.
Casting producers are looking for outgoing and charismatic individuals and teams of two who have the personality, desire and competitive edge to vie for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to lose weight, change their lives forever and compete for a grand prize of $250,000. Candidates must be at least 18 years of age and legal residents of the United States.
While they will try to see everyone, “The Biggest Loser” casting teams will do their best to see the first 500 people in line. People will not be allowed to line up prior to three hours before the start of the open call. Candidates should bring a non-returnable photo of themselves (and their partners if applying as a team).
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Feb. 24, 2010, Washington Business Journal — Arlington, VA-based Bognet Construction (www.bognet.com) has signed a deal to build the Brookland Artspace Lofts.
In today’s issue of the
Washington Business Journal, reporter Tierney Plumb wrote: “Arlington-based Bognet Construction will build an affordable apartment complex where artists and their families can live and work. The four-story, 57,000-square-foot arts campus, located in D.C.’s Brookland neighborhood, will break ground April 9 and deliver in July 2011.”
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Feb. 21, 2010, New Jersey Star-Ledger — Are cover letters important when you are applying for a job? Career experts have very strong points of view when it comes to this question. Unfortunately their opinions are all over the lot.
Sharon Armstrong, author of “The Essential HR Handbook,” suggests a two-column cover letter as a way to demonstrate that fit. The first column heading is “Your Requirements,” which lists each requirement set forth in the job posting.
The corresponding column is “My Qualifications,” which lists how the candidate satisfies each requirement. This format works, according to Armstrong, because:
1. You never know who is screening interviews and you’ve done all their work for them;
2. If the company is scanning, you’ve used all their key words
3. You already have started to prepare yourself for the interview by reviewing your background and how it applies to the needs of that position and the company.
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February 19, 2010, The Washington Post — In today’s issue of The Washington Post, health insurance broker Stephanie Cohen was quoted in an article by Alec MacGillis and Amy Goldstein entitled, “HHS secretary decries higher rates for health insurance. Separately, Washington area residents holding individual health insurance policies said they have received notices that their premiums are increasing by as much as 40 percent.”
They wrote, “The Obama administration stepped up its criticism Thursday of health insurers’ efforts to raise their rates, an attempt to harness public aggravation with the industry and rebuild momentum for broad changes to the nation’s health-care system.”
“Stephanie Cohen, an insurance broker with the District firm of Golden and Cohen, said she is seeing many similar rate increases, including some that are even larger for small-business policies,” they explained. “She said the increases had been approved by regulators in the District and surrounding states. Insurance regulators in the District and Maryland were not able to provide details about the rate increases on Thursday.”
Read the article online at www.washingtonpost.com.
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Feb. 17, 2010, AOL.com — In an article in today’s issue of AOL’s Walletpop,- reporter Steven Kent talked about how college students can find, and afford, health insurance.
He interviewed Golden & Cohen co-founder Scott Golden, who said, “Know your policy, and pay attention to the fine print.”
“We’ll always get a call from someone who was penny-wise and pound-foolish,” Golden said. “A student gets in a car accident somewhere off-campus, and then they go into their inexpensive student plan and find out it only covers accidents on their campus. There’s just not much we can do for them at that point.”
Students can use online resources like the health insurance FAQs at about.com to help decipher the complex (and occasionally daunting) language of health care.
“View the decision to purchase health insurance as a research project,” Golden added. “Don’t just rubber-stamp it; it’s a huge decision that can have life-altering consequences.”
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Feb. 17, 2010, AOL.com — In an article in today’s issue of AOL’s Walletpop,- reporter Steven Kent talked about how college students can find, and afford, health insurance.
He interviewed Golden & Cohen co-founder Scott Golden, who said, “Know your policy, and pay attention to the fine print.”
“We’ll always get a call from someone who was penny-wise and pound-foolish,” Golden said. “A student gets in a car accident somewhere off-campus, and then they go into their inexpensive student plan and find out it only covers accidents on their campus. There’s just not much we can do for them at that point.”
Students can use online resources like the health insurance FAQs at about.com to help decipher the complex (and occasionally daunting) language of health care.
“View the decision to purchase health insurance as a research project,” Golden added. “Don’t just rubber-stamp it; it’s a huge decision that can have life-altering consequences.”
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February 2010, Toastmaster magazine — In this month’s issue of Toastmaster magazine, reporter Lin Grensing-Pophal writes:
“Some people seem to have a knack for automatically connecting with others in any setting. For those who don’t, learning how to interact quickly and comfortably with others is critical.”
She interviewed Dr. Alice Waagen, president of Workforce Learning, who said it is critical to have a goal in mind.
Networking should be considered a professional activity and not a casual event, says Waagen, adding that it’s important to start with the end in mind. “The most important lesson I learned early on is to establish for yourself your goal or objective before you go to the event,” she notes. “That way you keep focused and don’t get distracted by the hors d’oeuvres, the drinks or your best buddy across the room.”
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MyFoxPhilly Morning Show, February 1 — Latin food was celebrated on the Fox Morning Show this week when anchor John Anderson welcomed Avenida’s Chef Edgar Alverez.
“They are chefs, restaurateurs and husband and wife! Edgar and Kim Alvarez opened Avenida Restaurant in Mount Airy last fall and were gracious enough to stop by Good Day to share some favorite recipes,” Anderson said.
Chef Edgar then prepared Pan Seared Red Snapper with Tomatillo Salsa, Sautéed Vegetables and Spanish rice. Yum!
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JANUARY 4, 2010, CNN Money — In a CNN Money article posted today entitled, 100-year-old businesses we lost, reporter Elizabeth Montalbano writes, “More than 45,000 businesses closed their doors for good in 2009, including some that survived for longer than a century.”
One of the six U.S. businesses she profiled was the Delaware Market House, which chefs Kim and Edgar Alvarez closed last March. Click READ MORE to view what Montalbano wrote.
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DECEMBER 10, 2009, The Philadelphia Inquirer — Philadelphia Inquirer restaurant columnist Michael Kline reported today: “Dec. 17 will mark the debut of the long-delayed Avenida (7402 Germantown Ave., 267-385-6857), a family friendly, budget-conscious Latin concept from husband-and-wife chef team Edgar and Kim Alvarez, who most recently ran Gladwyne’s Delaware Market House, a gourmet takeout and catering operation. The building was last home to Cresheim Cottage Cafe. They’re opening without the liquor license, whose paperwork has been held up. Their partner here is Wayne Zukin, a real estate developer and Mount Airy-ite.”
Read the entire article here
CHECK OUT AVENIDA’S NEW WEBSITE, www.avenidarestaurant.com!
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January 2010, Yahoo! HotJobs — “Whether the economy roars back in 2010 or slowly climbs out of the hole, HR professionals are anticipating fewer layoffs, more hiring, and, in some cases, a rush to the exits,” writes Yahoo! HotJobs reporter Larry Buhl, who interviewed DC human resources expert Sharon Armstrong.
Armstrong said: Conduct “stay” interviews. Too many companies only learn about employee gripes at exit interviews. Sharon Armstrong, an HR consultant in Washington, D.C., and author of The Essential HR Handbook, recommends surveying employees now. “But employees shouldn’t feel like there will be a ‘gotcha’ when they have complaints. These ‘stay interviews’ should be conducted by a third party, not the manager, or HR could hold focus groups in a safe setting.”
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January 13, 2010, Examiner.com — In Monday’s Washington Examiner, Kansas City Leadership Columnist Eric Jacobson featured The Essential HR Handbook as One of top 235 recommended leadership books from various LinkedIn members.
In today’s newspaper, he reviewed the book and its authors, noting:
It’s unfortunately too common for an employee to be promoted into a management position with little to no Human Resources (HR) training. Similarly, many small business owners don’t have a dedicated human resources person so they end up muddling their way through critical human resources issues while wearing the HR hat.
These are some of the reasons authors Sharon Armstrong and Barbara Mitchell wrote the book “The Essential HR Handbook,” described by them as “a quick and handy resource for any manager or HR professional.”
If you don’t have the time or funds to attend HR training at a nearby educational institution or if there is not within your workplace a qualified and seasoned mentor to teach you HR skills, this book provides the novice manager important basics, accompanied by real-world examples and templates that you can readily use as you lead your team of one or more employees. It’s also an excellent refresher for managers who need to hone their hiring, onboarding, and performance evaluating capabilities.
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Washington Examiner, January 10, 2010 — In today’s Washington Examiner, reporter Eric Jacobson featured The Essential HR Handbook as one of the top recommended leadership books from various LinkedIn members.
“Within the list of favorites you’ll find titles published decades ago and ones published last month,” Jacobson explained. “All the books are available on Amazon and through a variety of other sources, including via author web sites. Nearly 70 of the books on the list are linked here to Amazon. All will be in this list format within the next few weeks.”
Here is the list of all 235 books, in alphabetical order. It represents many of the vast approaches to leadership in practice today throughout the world. Take a look to see how many you’ve read. Perhaps you’ll find one of your favorites. Then, select a few to further research and to add your reading list for 2010.”
What’s Your Favorite?
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Jan. 8, 2010, The Calgary Sun — In an article today that focused on helping desperate job seekers, reporter Dawn Klingensmith interviewed Alice Waagen, president of Workforce Learning about warning signs that will alert them to the fact that they are coming on too strong.
“Some applicants send flowers or candy. This is not a date — it’s a job,” says human resources consultant Alice Waagen.
And if you don’t hear back, take the hint, Waagen advises.
“If you’ve left messages and e-mails and don’t get a response, that’s either a strong indication you’ve been rejected or that the hiring manager is a poor manager lacking basic skills,” she says. “It’s time to move on.”
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December 30, Life@Home magazine, Century 21 — In today’s issue of the Century 21 newsletter, reporter Robyn Friedman writes:
Hope Gibbs thought her move from Clifton, Va. to Arlington, Va.-a mere 45 minutes away-would be easy. And it was for daughter Anna, 14, who found new friends on Facebook even before she moved.
But Gibbs’ 10-year-old son Dylan found it more difficult. “You’d have thought we moved to Mars,” says Gibbs. “He still wants to go home despite having made tons of friends.”
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Gaithersburg MD, December 18, 2009 — Stephanie Cohen, CEO of the health benefits firm Golden & Cohen, will appear tomorrow on Executive Leadership Radio, www.bigtalker1580.com. The show will air from 10-11 a.m. on WHFS 1580.
Stephanie will talk about her company, the health and retirement benefits firm Golden & Cohen, and her life in the trenches of the insurance industry.
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By Scott Golden, CFO
Golden & Cohen
November 2009
View the entire article here
Why should individuals rely on a professional to assemble comparisons of various plans only after a fact-finding conversation with the agent? That’s a question that has been raised regularly in my office, especially since the discussion has heated up on health care reform. The reality is that agents like yourself — good ones, at least — are essential and continue to be relevant, for you can bring viable options to the table that the individual may not have otherwise considered.
Why do people need an agent to help find the right policy?
Truth be told, there are some sophisticated, high-tech services out there, and more effective online tools seem to pop up regularly.
However, I have found that using the Web alone usually does not give the individual all the information needed to select the best plan. There is more to the issue than which plan is cheapest. And sometimes, you have to not just read the fine print, but also read between the lines to determine what the plan truly offers.
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NOVEMBER 2009 — An article entitled, “Building Leaders,” featuring Steve Wiley, Keynote Speaker for Frederick Leadership Speaker Series, posted today on Smart Company magazine.
Reporter Jennifer Mellace, explains that today’s economy is tough and the anxiety it fosters can be even worse. We worry about job stability. We worry about paying our bills.
“We worry about what lies ahead for not only us, but those we care about. For many, the odds seem insurmountable,” she writes. “So how, in fact, can anyone be expected to lead or forge ahead in conditions like these?”
Not only can you lead — but you can inspire those around you to be the best they can be, says Steve Wiley, president of The Lincoln Leadership Institute at Gettysburg and featured speaker in January for the City of Frederick Economic Development Office’s Leadership Series.
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NOVEMBER 9, 2009 — In this month’s issue of 270 Inc. Business Magazine, Lincoln Leadership Institute president Steven B. Wiley explains that the secret to succeeding under challenging conditions is to get your team engaged in their efforts.
“Few people know that during the battle of Gettysburg in 1863 there were over 51,000 casualties and 10,000 dead horses within 3 days,” Wiley says. “Even fewer people realize the second day of the battle is remembered primarily for the achievement of Lt. Col. Joshua L. Chamberlain.”
In fact, Chamberlain, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for bravery, had no special education in military strategies. What he did have was the ability to engage those around him. What he did have was a capacity for leadership, explains Wiley.
“The battle at Gettysburg is an incredible learning tool for businesses and organizations today. With many of the country’s largest companies and organizations awash against the tide of an uncertain economy, the lessons we learn from Gettysburg have a profound impact on the success of these companies.”
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NATIONAL PRESS CLUB, October 8, 2009 — On today’s National Press Club Wire, Inkandesent PR founder and president Hope Gibbs wrote the featured story about a speech given yesterday at the Club by John Potter, Postmaster General of the United States Postal Service.
She wrote: The 234-year-old U.S. Postal Service is in acute financial crisis, John Potter, the 72nd Postmaster General said Thursday during a National Press Club luncheon. After losing a projected $7 billion in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, Potter said he is working to help the USPS reinvent itself. It won’t be an easy task, as 28 billion fewer pieces of mail were sent last year compared to fiscal year 2008, he said. Potter said that holiday mail, one of the traditionally highest volume periods of the year, was flat last year — and he expects it to be flat this December, as well. In addition to more people using email rather than snail mail, and the lagging economy that is causing fewer people to mail printed ads pieces and other promotional materials, Potter believes the USPS’ deficit also grew out of a three-year-old law that added more than $5 billion to annual costs for prefunding retiree health benefits.
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Disruptive Women in Health Care, Sept. 2, 2008 — On today’s popular health care blog, Disruptive Women in Health Care www.disruptivewomen.net, insurance broker Stephanie Cohen wrote a provocative article about the future of the brokerage business.
“As an insurance broker in the metro Washington DC area, I have been in the trenches of selling, and advocating for our customers for their small group health insurance, disability programs and life insurance plans for over 17 years,” she said. “Needless to say, it has been maddening in the last five years to watch rates rise and our customers get increasingly frustrated with the system. I spend my days arguing with insurance companies about what they will cover and what they won’t — and I’m consistently amazed that these large firms often don’t have a handle on the benefits they provide in their policies. To say the right hand doesn’t know what the left is doing is a dramatic understatement.”
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PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY, Aug. 31, 2009 — In an article published today in Publisher’s Weekly, reporter Judith Rosen profiled Hooks Book Events.
She writes: A new breed of booksellers, many of whom got their start in the B2B world, are finding success by altering the traditional independent bookselling model. They retain a commitment to independent bookselling and frequently belong to both their regional booksellers’ association and ABA—and they influence the bestsellers by reporting their sales to the New York Times.
Perry Pidgeon Hooks of Hooks Book Events in Bethesda, Md., has a bookstore affiliation, with sales going through the registers of nearby Politics and Prose in Washington, D.C. A former marketing director at Davis-Kidd in Nashville, Hooks was hired to work on corporate sales at Politics and Prose more than a decade ago. Soon she found that she was spending so much time organizing events for government agencies like the Department of the Interior that she flopped her work and became an independent contractor, taking a commission from the store.
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HEALTH REFORM WATCH, Aug. 28, 2009 — In today’s issue of the Health Reform Watch, published by Seton Hall University, editors wrote about Peter Rodino, who served as a member of the House of Representatives from 1949 to 1989 — at which time he retired to a Professorship at Seton Hall Law until his death in 2005.
Senator Kennedy worked often with Peter Rodino. In her book “Fifty-Two Words My Husband Taught Me,” Joy Rodino recounts that “Upon Peter’s passing , Ted Kennedy said that during the Watergate inquiry, ‘Many of us felt that we were seeing a Founding Father in action, living the highest ideals of the Constitution. I’m sure my brother would have called him a profile in courage. I feel the same way.’”
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ROLL CALL, Aug. 26, 2009 — In today’s issue of Roll Call, the influential publication that covers the people, politics, process and policy on Capitol Hill, reporter Tricia Miller wrote about Joy Rodino’s new book, “Fifty-Two Words My Husband Taught Me.”
Miller noted: “Rodino said her husband would have approved of the election of President Barack Obama and the appointment of Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. In addition, he “always really looked up to Sen. [Edward] Kennedy,” she said, and the Massachusetts Democrat contributed the quote on the book’s cover.
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Systems Contractor News, Aug. 17, 2009 — In today’s Systems Contractor News, HR expert Sharon Armstrong was featured in an article entitled, “Fair Appraisals.” Reporter Carolyn Heinze wrote: “For many, the phrase “evaluation time” conjures up images of classrooms, report cards, parent-teacher meetings and, for those that didn’t do their homework all semester, the prospect of being grounded. It may be years, decades even, since any of us have been in school, but once the announcement is made that our work will be formally appraised, it’s difficult not to slip back into the mindset of a school kid.”
When done right, said Sharon Armstrong, evaluations are ongoing. “That means that you are keeping this conversation going when people are doing the right thing, and nudging them gently when something needs to happen,” she said. “The performance evaluation is a culmination of all of those conversations.”
The key factor, she added, is to train managers that the evaluation is not an annual event; it’s an ongoing conversation, one that should take into account how the business changes throughout the year.
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OURBLOOK.com, August 6, 2009 — A website that offers innovative solutions to todays problems, OurBlook, today posted an interview with Scott Golden, chief financial officer of Golden & Cohen, a health benefits consulting company in the Washington, D.C. area. Read on to learn more.
Question: President Obama has made it clear he isn’t working to set up a precursor to a single-payer health care system. Meanwhile, the insurance industry says that any version of a public plan will kill private industry. Is there any precedent for a public/private partnership in health insurance?
Scott Golden: The way the proposal is being described, there are no partnerships, so the public plan would compete against private plans. There is nothing on point with this scenario to date, which is why there is great speculation as to what might happen.
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PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER / JOBS.COM, July 28, 2009 — In an article published today on the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jobs.com website, reporter Dawn Klingensmith interviewed Workforce Learning president Alice Waagen for an article entitled, “Are you coming on too strong?”
Alice said, yes, you might be seen as overly aggressive if:
• You send more than a succinct thank-you note after an interview. “Some applicants send flowers or candy,” Alice explained. “This is not a date — it’s a job.”
• You can’t take the hint. “If you’ve left messages and e-mails and don’t get a response, that’s either a strong indication you’ve been rejected or that the hiring manager is “a poor manager lacking basic skills,” Waagen said.
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BALTIMORE BUSINESS JOURNAL, July 24, 2009 — In an article entitled, Complexity, cost concern local insurers, featured in this week’s Baltimore Business Journal, reporter Elizabeth Heubeck writes:
If Scott Golden were a gambling man, he wouldn’t bet on the U.S. government creating a federally-run universal health care system. “I think Obama is using that as a threat so that the insurance carriers will step up and put in their own price controls,” said Golden, co-founder of the Gaithersburg-based health benefits consulting firm Golden & Cohen. Given this scenario, Golden envisions insurance carriers saving money by “spending less, giving less to brokers, or requiring that subscribers pay more.” Ultimately, Golden believes, brokers like him will make less money.
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MOTLEY FOOL.COM, July 17, 2009 — In an article entitled A New Business Model for the Digital Age, posted today on the Motley Fool Stock Advisor, reporter Jennifer Schonberger writes:
Since 2002, David and Tom Gardner have returned 32.89% while the S&P 500 returned -8.78%. There is no question that traditional media is in disarray right now. Major news outlets from CBS (NYSE: CBS) to Gannett (NYSE: GCI) to The New York Times (NYSE: NYT) are being forced to transition to a different model because of the underlying economics of their mediums (in most cases, a digital model).
But transitions to digital by media and other types of companies have left many questioning what the magic formula for profits is. At a recent event sponsored by Hooks Books and The Motley Fool, Chris Anderson, editor of Wired magazine and author of the new book Free: The Future of a Radical Price, offered a solution to the conundrum.
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PHYSICIAN’S MONEY DIGEST, July 14, 2009 — From real estate to the job market, the current recession has impacted just about everyone and every segment of the economy,” writes reporter Ed Rabinowitz in a July 14 article published in Physician’s Money Digest. “However, according to an article in the New York Times, concierge medical practices, while certainly not recession proof, do not appear to have been impacted as severely as might have been expected. Consumers/patients are still forking over $1,500 per year and up for what is promised to be personalized care and around-the-clock access.”
He says: According to Scott Golden, chief financial officer of the health benefits firm Golden & Cohen, for physicians with a loyal following, the opportunity exists through the concierge model to make equal or more money than before, see fewer patients, and practice medicine the way they want. And he expects that trend to continue. “One of the goals of the Obama Administration is to get the uninsured in the system,” Golden says. “That means more people and probably the same amount of doctors, so you’re going to see the same [access] problem getting worse. But only the practices that can deliver on their promises will be able to survive.”
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SELLING ESSENTIALS MAGAZINE, July 3, 2009 — In an article entitled, “When the CEO called, I had to say no,” Steven B. Wiley, founder of the Lincoln Leadership Institute at Gettysburg, writes in a first person article:
I received a call out of the blue from a meeting planner for a very large and well-known company. “We’re looking for a keynote speaker for our annual meeting,” she said. “Could you send me some background information?”
“My company conducts leadership training, and I knew that a speaking engagement could open the door to many more opportunities. I had plenty of testimonials. But I knew from experience that they were just the beginning. This sale – like every sale – was all about trust. Selecting a speaker is a high-risk proposition. If you choose well, everybody remembers the speaker, not the person who hired him. But if the speaker misses the mark, everybody asks, “Who picked that guy?”
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NJ STAR-LEDGER, June 27, 2009 — “It took a committee of five Founding Fathers six days to perfect the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution,” writes New Jersey Star-Ledger reporter Mark DiIonno in a feature article published today. “It took Peter Rodino a lifetime to dissect it, study it, relish it, and uphold the tenets of it.” The story is told in a new book by the late Congressman’s wife, Fifty-two words My Husband Taught Me.“
Independence Day should be a time of reflection on what America should stand for, and the long taken-for-granted answers are in our first documents: The Declaration of Independence, The United States Constitution and its subsequent Bill of Rights.
“Given the troubled times we’re living in, with all the stories of greed and corruption and the problems with the economy, I think people are searching for more meaning,” Joy Rodino said. “It’s perfect time for us to remember the ideals of our founding fathers and the foundation of this country.”
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WASHINGTON (AP) July 2, 2009 — In an Associated Press wire article posted today in several U.S. newspapers, Sharon Armstrong — author of The Essential HR Handbook and owner of Sharon Armstrong and Associates — talked about ways older job seekers can overcome age barriers.
To avoid appearing out of touch, she explains, they can use their time between jobs to become familiar with the latest technologies and social networking sites.
AP economics writer Christopher Rugaber wrote: Sharon Armstrong, a career consultant in Washington, D.C., urged one client fearful of seeming too old to discuss her use of Twitter and Facebook during job interviews. “I don’t think anyone needs to know when you graduated from college,” she said. “Don’t give people reasons to discriminate against you.”
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The Kojo Nnamdi Show, NPR, June 16, 2009 — On today’s NPR broadcast of the Kojo Nnamdi Show, New York Times reporter Warren St. John was interviewed by the popular radio host about his new book, Outcasts United.
“In the 1990s, the town of Clarkston, Georgia became an unlikely refugee resettlement center,” explained Kojo. “As scores of families from the world’s war zones descended on the town, one new arrival decided to create a youth soccer team to unite refugee children. Today we will hear the story of that team — dubbed the “Fugees” by its members — and how its members adapted to life in the U.S.”
Listen to the entire broadcast here: WAMU 88.5 FM, The Kojo Nnamdi Show.
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The Times London, June 11, 2009 — How football helped refugees in a US town is the focus of a June 11 article in The Times London.
Reporter Mike Atherton explains: “Shamsoun Dikori remembered the first time that he saw aircraft high above the Nuba Mountains in central Sudan. He thought that they were birds – until the bombs came raining down. Jihad followed the bombings; within two years about 200,000 people (20 per cent of the local population) had been killed and the survivors of the 50 or so ethnic groups that inhabited this fertile region had been displaced.”
“The remarkable story of this football family has now been told by Warren St John, a reporter from The New York Times who immersed himself in the immigrant footballing community of Clarkston. Like all good books about sport, this is about much more than sport. It is about how the inhabitants of Clarkston came to terms, or did not come to terms, with a decade during which their town changed beyond recognition; about how immigrants coped with the kind of upheaval most people cannot imagine, and about how sport helped, to a small extent, to ameliorate the process for both.”
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Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, June 7, 2009 — Reporter Len Boselovic wrote in today’s Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
As the recession rages outside, about 20 CEOs of Western Pennsylvania companies are comfortably ensconced in a meeting room at St. Clair Country Club, sipping bottled water or coffee and watching clips from ‘The Killer Angels.’ When the carnage in the movie about the battle of Gettysburg comes to an end, speaker Steven B. Wiley comes to life, telling the attentive executives that learning from Gettysburg’s heroes — including a willingness to listen — can make them better leaders.
“If you think about listening until it hurts, it could change your life,” Mr. Wiley exhorts them.
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Washington Business Journal, June 4, 2009 — “It’s one of those favorite half-full observations for a human resources department: A down economy is a great opportunity to pick up top talent that might not otherwise be on the market or in your price range,” writes Washington Business Journal reporter Jennifer Nycz-Conner. “That, of course, is easier said than done. But it’s a key move right now.”
Nycz-Conner interviewed several local firms, including HR expert Sharon Armstrong, co-author of The Essential HR Handbook and owner of Sharon Armstrong and Associates.
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YouTube video, June 2009 — To promote his June 20 event at the 9:30 Club in Washington DC, New York Times reporter Warren St. John — author of the new book, “Outcasts United,” hired Inkandescent Public Relations to create a YouTube video. Our videographer Zach Starr shot the film on the roof of Warren’s NYC apartment building, and spliced in interesting clips. Watch the video by clicking here..
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RESTON VA, MAY 25, 2009 — Tune in to the Oprah Winfrey Show today at 4pm (Monday, May 25) when Maimah Karmo, the founder of the Tigerlily Foundation, appears on the top-rated daytime talk show. This is a repeat of a show that originally aired last year. View that here].
Following is an excerpt from the broadcast, entitled “Breast Cancer Battles,” which also features actress Christina Applegate, who had a double mastectomy soon after she landed the starring role in the ABC comedy series, Samantha Who?
Oprah then interviewed Tigerlily’s founder about her work to help women 40 and under who are diagnosed with breast cancer. Following is an excerpt from the interview.
“Millions of women around the globe struggle with the day-to-day reality of living with breast cancer,” Oprah told the audience. “Maimah never believed she would be one of them. Since a young age, Maimah was taught to always do self-examinations—even though there was no history of the disease in her family. At age 32, she discovered her biggest fear, a lump.”
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Leesburg Today, Thursday, May 15, 2009 — In an article featured in the May 15 issue of the Leesburg Times, reporter Kara Clark wrote about HR expert Barbara Mitchell, co-author of The Essential HR Handbook who spoke at the May 14 Sterling Women luncheon about her experience as a business owner.
“Human resources expert Barbara Mitchell takes exception to the term “bucket list”. Instead, she refers to her list as things to do while I’m still living,” Clark wrote. “She encouraged the 100-plus women in attendance to make such a list. She said she got the idea for her list after reading a newspaper article and immediately sprang to action. She happily reported that she has been able to accomplish the top two priorities on her list: starting a business and writing a book.
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FEDERAL NEWS RADIO, APRIL 24, 2009 — Hooks Book Events co-founder Perry Pidgeon Hooks was featured on today’s 10 a.m. radio broadcast of “Inside Government,” during a recap of this week’s Government Executive’s 2009 Excellence in Government Conference on www.federalnewsradio.com, 1500 AM in the Washington, D.C., area.
Hooks discussed her company’s role in connecting big thinkers with the federal government to tackle the most pressing issues. Case in point was the keynote speaker she brought to the April 20 Government Executive’s 2009 Excellence in Government Conference — the award-winning broadcaster Cokie Roberts, who discussed her latest book, “Ladies of Liberty: The Women Who Shaped Our Nation,” as well as President Obama’s initiative to increase public service.
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HEALTH NEWS DIGEST, April 2009 — “The economic downturn is taking its toll on employees in all industries — but health insurance companies will increasingly be a good place to look for work,” writes Scott Golden, chief financial officer of the Maryland-based health benefits brokerage firm Golden & Cohen, in this week’s issue of HealthNewsDigest.com.
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E-COMMERCE TIMES, MARCH 26, 2009 — “Apple wants a bigger chunk of the desktop computer market, but it’s unlikely to head downstream with stripped-down consumer offerings,” writes reporter Erika Morphy in a March 26 article for the E-Commerce Times and MacNewsWorld entitled Will Artists Still Love Macs Tomorrow?
“Artists and designers are loyal customers, but Apple already owns that segment. The enterprise is likely the most fertile ground for expansion,” she said. “Can Apple deliver a high-end product that meets both corporate and creative needs?” To find out, she interviewed illustrator Michael Gibbs, owner of Michael Gibbs Illustration & Design and art director of Inkandescent Public Relations.
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PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, MARCH 20, 2009 — We are incredibly sad to report that one of our favorite clients, The Delaware Market House in Gladwyne PA, is going out of business tomorrow.
“People are watching their finances, and when they’re looking to make cuts, gourmet food is the first to go,” owner and chef Kim Alvarez told Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Kathy Boccella. “They think, Do I really need that rotisserie chicken for $7.99 or can I pick one up at Costco?”
Read the entire article on Philly.com, or click inside to read more. Recipes are available on Chefs Kim & Edgar’s website: www.delawaremarkethouse.com.
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Gettysburg PA, March 16, 2009 — Why is having an executive presence so important? Today Steven B. Wiley, president of the Lincoln Leadership Institute at Gettysburg, released a YouTube video about why, and how, to achieve the highest standard of leadership. In this video by Inkandescent Public Relations videographer Zach Starr of Starr Media, Wiley interviews Lincoln about what it takes to be as effective as the 16th president.
View the video on YouTube and read the entire transcript below.
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WASHINGTON BUSINESS JOURNAL, March 13, 2009 — Layoffs are never pleasant and often scary. Stay upbeat, make a plan and get busy. This seismic shift could help push your career in a better direction, human resources training and consulting expert Sharon Armstrong told Washington Business Journal reporter Jennifer Nycz-Conner in a March 13 feature on pages 26-27. If you become one of the unfortunate ones, read the following are tips to help you bounce back: washington.bizjournals.com.
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Habitat Women Who Build Fashion Show, March 18, 2009 — At Inkandescent Public Relations, we’re often asked to contribute to and participate in raising funds for worthwhile causes. We couldn’t say no when our prez Hope Katz Gibbs was invited by our client Dr. Alice Waagen, owner of Workforce Learning to be one of the founding mothers of Habitat Women Who Build, a fundraising group dedicated to raising at least $5000 to sponsor a build day later this year.
As of today, are 1/5th of the way there! And in the spirit of bringing in the bucks — and bringing together a lot of other women who are inspired to help this cause — on March 18, Habitat Women Who Build will be the beneficiaries of funds raised at a wonderful “Night of Fashion,” hosted by Your Own Entourage and Moore Cadillac Chantilly. Sponsorships are also available. REGISTER HERE!
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Scholastic Administrator Magazine, February 2009 — Educator Peter Noonan, Fairfax County Public Schools Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services, was named a one of the “Top Educators Under 40” this month by Scholastic Administrator magazine.
In the article, reporter Caralee Adam discussed how a younger generation is changing the face of education. Among other things, Noonan shared his education policy wish: “We need to take a hard look at NCLB. The intent and spirit was good. But we have some outstanding educators and schools that have been labeled as failing, and that has a devastating effect on the community.”
Read the entire article here.
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WUSA: DC Channel 9 News NOW — HR expert Sharon Armstrong was invited with her colleague Marshall Brown on December 30 to talk about the best approach to find a new job in the current economic downturn. A human resources consultant, trainer and career counselor, Armstrong has interviewed and helped hundreds of job candidates land the perfect job. Brown, a certified career, executive coach, and author of “High-End Resumes,” focuses on strategies for succeeding in interviews and making it to the final candidate list in this tough market.
“Don’t panic,” Armstrong told WUSA reporter Mike Walter. “Just start working right away on a new plan.” Watch the clip on YouTube
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Gettysburg PA, February 24, 2009 — The Lincoln Leadership Institute at Gettysburg launched a special YouTube video this week to celebrate the move into its new offices in the historic David Wills House — the location where the 16th president spent the night before reciting the historic Gettysburg Address. “We are thrilled to have our headquarters in this beautifully restored historic landmark,” says Steven B. Wiley, president of the Lincoln Leadership Institute at Gettysburg, who spoke at the opening luncheon prior official ribbon cutting for the museum.
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Washington DC, February 24, 2009 — Laura Lee Williams, owner of the Washington DC-based luxury handbag company Laura Lee Designs, got word this week that she was named a Top Women Entrepreneur in North America by Enterprising Women magazine.
“These awards recognize some of our nation’s most talented women business owners,” says Monica Smiley, publisher and CEO of Enterprising Women magazine, which is based in Cary, NC. “Our mission with this award celebration is to showcase the outstanding accomplishments of this remarkable group of women entrepreneurs, both in their industries and local communities.”
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Babylune blog, February 20, 2009 — Writer and PR specialist Hope Katz Gibbs was featured today on Babylune, a blog for moms about moms. In this Q&A, Hope talked about a business she launched in 2001, Great Handmade Gifts, which showcases the work of dozens of artists, artisans, authors and crafters on an e-commerce website that also sells their beautiful work.
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C-SPAN BOOK, February 15, 2009 — At 3pm today, C-SPAN BOOKS aired the speech that microfinance expert Dr. Muhammad Yunus gave on Feb. 4 at the Lisner Auditorium on the campus of the George Washington University. WATCH DR. YUNUS’ SPEECH HERE
“Our thanks go out to the 1400 people who packed the Lisner Auditorium to hear the the wonderful 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Winner speak to us about ways we can create a world without poverty,” says Perry Pidgeon Hooks, co-owner of Hooks Book Events, who with her partner Loretta Yenson brought Dr. Yunus to D.C. to share his wit and wisdom. “Dr. Yunus inspired everyone with his impressive thoughts on the importance of microfinance and social business from his important book.”
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BACON IS MEAT CANDY BLOG, February 9, 2009 — A blogger whose motto is, “Bacon in meat candy,” recently found the recipe by Chefs Kim and Edgar Alvarez, owners of the Delaware Market House, for Filet Mignon with Red Wine Reduction — and was blown away. He wrote: Recently I was contacted by the Delaware Market House website which is a funky 100+ year old establishment that is in the heart of historic Gladwyne, PA and is owned by Chefs Kim and Edgar Alvarez — a nice Jewish gal and wonderful Guatemalan man who jokingly call themselves Kosher Salsa. All joking aside they have a fabulous menu and have won dozens of awards from pubs ranging from Philadelphia magazine to Main Line Today. I asked if Chef Alvarez would be willing to share with us how he might prepare a Filet Mignon Steak.
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Continental Airlines magazine, February 2009 — In an article published in this month’s issue of Continental Airlines magazine, reporter Robert McGarvey quotes our client Steve Wiley, president of the Lincoln Leadership Institute at Gettysburg.
In an entitled, Smarten Up: New-style education initiatives prepare savvy executives to master the tough times ahead, McGarvey says …
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News Channel 8, January 15, 2008 — Just days before Barack Obama’s Inauguration, luxury handbag designer Laura Lee Williams, owner of Laura Lee Designs, was featured on the noon broadcast of Washington DC’s ABC Affiliate News Channel 8 about the best accessories to carry for the big event.
Options, said the Northern Virginia-based designer, include her collection of styles, ranging from the M Bag, which measures 8×3 inches and has 3,500 beads — perfect for carrying make up, money and a cell phone — to the Positively Pink bag, which is like the M Bag and created to support breast cancer research. She also brought along her higher-end Sitting Pretty bag, a signature purse that’s big enough to handle all the goodies a woman might need to carry.
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Human Resource Executive, January 2009 — In the HR News section of this month’s Human Resource Executive magazine, reporter Scott Westcott interviewed Dr. Alice Waagen, president of the leadership development firm Workforce Learning, for his article, “Layoff Landslide.”
Westcott wrote: “With the economy in an official recession, HR leaders unfortunately will get plenty of practice to hone their skills in presiding over reductions-in-force.”
Dr. Waagen commented: “In HR, we’ve been through this before so there should be lots of lessons learned in how to handle layoffs in a humane and dignified way. The key tenet is massive amounts of open and timely communications — both for the employees leaving and those staying.”
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