Cindy Seip, Director of Book Design
Born with a crayon in one hand and a camera in the other, Cindy Seip has never ventured far from her creative instincts. Through the years, her creative side took hairpin turns but always finished with a checkered flag.
As an “A+” student in art, it was her 12th-grade art teacher, Mr. Popovitch, that set her on a professional course in design, introducing her to the Ft. Lauderdale Art Institute. There, she would earn her degree in Advertising Design.
She began her career at the Miami Herald Tropic Magazine and later started her own design + underwater portrait photography business.
Over the years, Seip has amassed an impressive client list with some high-profile names like Sony, Nasdaq, Ericsson, Blue Cross Blue Shield, AvMed, Miami International Book Fair, Breakthrough Miami, and many more. Her accolades reflect her keen eye for design.
Seip resides in sunny Miami with her husband, Miami Herald Photojournalist, Al Diaz, two great kids, and a cute Wheaten Terrier named Amanda Bubbles.
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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When we rang in 2010 at midnight on January 1, I was excited because we were beginning a new decade filled with the opportunity to create a new reality for our work life, love life, and goals for the future. It may sound trite, but just as I always loved the start of a new school year — I love the freshness of a new year for it also gives us the chance to shed our old ideas, pains and failures.
Of course, such a shedding is never easy because it’s far too comfortable to rely on our old habits. But many people come to realize that bettering themselves and living more fully the life they want is not just a nice idea — it is critical to their happiness.
I’ve watched as hundreds of clients struggle with this idea, and as soon as they begin to trust the creative force inside they have new insights into themselves. They realize what is frustrating them, what old memories or beliefs are holding them back. And with this knowledge and understanding, they begin to reshape their world.
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Before we begin our discussion about how we can find wellness in our lives, I’d like to talk about how music helps us break through blocks that keep us from feeling happy and calm.
Students of music know that the sounds created by instruments and the human voice not only serve to impact our mood — they can be a bridge between the tangible and the intangible. For centuries, music has inspired humanity and the reason is simple.
In its purest form, music is an array of sound waves that form patterns of high and low vibrations that interact with our mind and body. In fact, the music of composers such as Bach and Bela Bartok has long been mathematically analyzed.
Not unlike radio waves or heat waves, sound waves penetrate and impact our physical bodies as well as stirring our mind and soul.
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Ask any event planner in DC to name a museum that offers amazing space flexibility and most will point you toward The Corcoran Gallery of Art. Why? We love a blank canvas. The grand marble foyer lends itself to endless possibilities with decor and lighting and the space can seemingly be cut to be as big or as small as you need it — perfect for an elegant and romantic wedding, beautiful luncheon or black tie affair.
Plus there are other things on its side like location, location, location. “The Corcoran sits across from the South Lawn of the White House at 500 17th St., NW,” says Roxanne. “Its spectacular beaux-arts design holds a prestigious permanent collection of American art and the museum also hosts notable exhibits, which makes it a favorite venue for many of Washington, DC’s corporate and social events.”
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You’ve heard it said a thousand times: “This is business, not personal.” That infamous mantra from “The Godfather” has always rankled me. Maybe it’s because I’m a believer that if something matters to you, it has to be personal.
Sure, we all strive to increase our revenues and profits, but especially in this sluggish economy it’s not always just about who sells the widget at a lower price. Business is about two people helping each other to solve a problem.
Another lesson I’ve learned from my 15 years in the recruiting business is that people do business with those they like and trust. So short of having a mafia boss to contend with, that requires a deft touch, a little creativity, and the desire to build long-lasting, personal relationships with your clients.
As we near Valentine’s Day, here are a few tips on how you can master the art of getting personal in the professional realm.
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Jim Bognet’s father thought maybe his son would become a doctor. The lad was so good in math and science, it seemed a natural fit. The young Bognet thought differently. The family business was construction, and since he was 7 he’d snap on his little tool belt and head out on jobs with his dad, Rocco, owner of the general and mechanical contracting firm Bognet, Inc.
As he grew, Jim spent his summers as a laborer and estimator, and operated heavy equipment until he graduated from Penn State University in 1988 with a degree in mechanical engineering. One of his professors was a vice president from the George Hyman Construction Company and helped him land a job with Tiber Construction. By 1991, he was working for Oliver Carr and by 1996, was the director of the DC office for The Leapley Company. That’s where Jim met Jeff Kaiser.
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On the office door of Jim Bognet’s office is a sign that reads: “Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives.”
William Foster said that. He was a 28-year-old United States Marine who received the Medal of Honor for his “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty” during the World War II Battle of Okinawa, where he died on May 2, 1945.
Such a sentiment is part of what Jim, his business partner Jeff Kaiser, and their vice president Jennifer Bognet call “The Bognet Way.”
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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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February 2010, Be Inkandescent magazine — Ask any event planner in town to name a museum that offers amazing space flexibility and most will point you toward The Corcoran Gallery of Art.
Why? We love a blank canvas. The grand marble foyer lends itself to endless possibilities with decor and lighting and the space can seemingly be cut to be as big or as small as you need it — perfect for an elegant and romantic wedding, beautiful luncheon or black tie affair.
And there’s more.
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Welcome to the new issue of Be Inkandescent magazine. Because February is the month of amour, in this issue we focus on the power and importance of truly loving what you do.
After all, having passion for your business is mission critical, according to Suzy Welch, former editor of the Harvard Business Review and the wife of GE guru Jack Welch. Suzy says: “We are hungry to work all the time. We are entertained by every aspect of business and we never want to stop working.” And Oprah Winfrey believes: “If you do work that you love, and the work fulfills you, the rest will come.” We couldn’t agree more.
February’s Entrepreneurs of the Month, Jim Bognet and Jeff Kaiser are indeed passionate about their firm, Bognet Construction. Their hard work and strong business skills enabled them to build their 1998 start-up into a $50 million company that employs 45 and competes with the biggest construction firms in the region. Don’t miss their inspiring Tips for Entrepreneurs.
And there’s more! In the 14 articles in this issue, our experts provide tips and insights to help foster passion for your business. Our new columnist Paige Rhodes, CEO of the recruiting firm Rhodes and Weinstock, shares the value of getting personal with clients to build lasting relationships. Another new columnist, Roxanne Rukowicz of Behind the Scenes Events, tells us about one of the most romantic museum spaces in DC to host a business bash. Fine artist Philip Brooker uses his talent to create a poster that will inspire people to donate money to earthquake victims in Haiti. And HR expert Sharon Armstrong teaches us ways to conduct stress-free performance appraisals.
Wishing you and yours a very Happy Valentine’s Day. In this issue, our Inkandescent staff gives a special nod to Bob Dylan’s ballad “Tangled Up In Blue”, the inspiration behind our featured illustration (at top). It’s from the new book by our Inkandescent art director Michael Gibbs, which is entitled Blue Moons:
But all the while I was alone, the past was close behind, I seen a lot of women, but she never escaped my mind, and I just grew, tangled up in blue.
Here’s to your passion, and your success!
Hope Katz Gibbs
owner, The Inkandescent Group, LLC
publisher, Be Inkandescent magazine
president & founder, Inkandescent Public Relations
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By Janice Miller, chairman
jmiller@fairfaxva.gov
When Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Jack Dale presented the FY 2011 budget earlier this month, few were surprised to see the dramatic cuts. We have been hearing for months that next year’s budget will be worse than this year’s – and it looks like this prediction was right.
So in our newsletter this month, our City Schools Superintendent Ann Monday will provide us with an overview of the cuts we’ll likely see next year. You’ll also read about the impact of the potential cuts from the four principals who run the City of Fairfax schools. Simply scroll down for that information.
Before you do, I’d like to share some of the thoughts that FCPS’ Dr. Dale wants the community to know:
- The proposed budget of $2.3 billion includes $104.8 million in program cuts and cost avoidances and $3.4 million in increased and new fees. The cuts and fees reflected community and employee feedback, as well as School Board priorities.
These cuts will have a long-term and far-reaching impact on maintaining our high student achievement and excellence for which FCPS is widely known and respected.
- This is not a budget based on FCPS’ actual needs. That budget would require a $248.4 million transfer from the county. It is a budget based on the fiscal realities of dismal local and state economic conditions.
- Without a needs-based budget, we face: decreasing student achievement, diminishing academic excellence, losing high caliber teachers, eliminating innovative programs, not meeting individual student needs, tarnishing FCPS’ reputation, and negatively impacting business relocations.
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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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If you are feeling stressed at this very moment, raise your hand. I’m guessing that if you are a “Type A” personality, as many leaders are, your hand — at least metaphorically — is up.
Now take a deep breath and relax because a new study published in the January issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine suggests “One Type A Characteristic Lowers Stress.” — Read that article here.
Here’s how: Taina Hintsa and her colleagues at the University of Helsinki analyzed the relationship between Type A behavior and work stress in 752 Finnish workers. They broke Type A behavior into four areas — leadership, aggression, being “hard-driving,” and eagerness-energy.
Although these characteristics were linked to “effort-reward imbalance” — a key contributor to work stress—executives who scored high in terms of their leadership skills actually had lower work stress. And the reason seems obvious once you hear it. Researchers found that leaders have both high work effort and high work reward. They also believe that leaders have high job control and that that may help alleviate work stress.
So I encourage you to embrace your leadership skills and lower your stress level. My bet is that when you do, it’ll not only lower your own stress — but will improve the work environment for everyone in your office.
Read on in this month’s newsletter to learn about our work with the Lincoln Leadership Academy, how President Lincoln has become a fan of Twitter, and mark your calendar for some upcoming important dates.
Here’s to a great 2010!
Steven B. Wiley, president & founder
The Lincoln Leadership Institute at Gettysburg, www.lincolnleadershipinstitute.com
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Happy New Year! Three weeks into 2010, we find the health care debate in a new, but still unclear, place – especially with the win on Tuesday of Republican candidate Scott Brown in Massachusetts, who beat Democrat Martha Coakley in Tuesday’s special election for the former Senate seat of longtime statesman, Edward M. Kennedy.
We have to agree with the pundits. This marks a critical turning point in the year-long debate about health care reform.
Of course, no one knows exactly what will happen next because the issues are so complex and volatile – including the public option, how to pay for the reform, who pays for the reform, the question of abortion, exchanges, “big” personalities and potential backlash from voters.
From our point of view, it seems that the Democrats have isolated themselves from the Republicans in order to craft a compromise bill between the House and Senate. The hope was to have a bill to the President before the State of the Union address, but with the election of Scott Brown that seems highly unlikely.
What is likely is that the process will be delayed even more and eventually presented as a scaled down version of either bill that has been presented thus far. We will keep you posted as the debate continues.
For now, we invite you to read the interesting articles in this issue of our monthly newsletter:
- Four Ways to Slash Health Care Costs in 2010 by Scott Golden
- ARRA COBRA Subsidy Has Been Extended by Jack Cohen
- Keep those New Year’s Resolutions Injury-Free by Dr. Greg Swistak
- How to Successfully Manage Conflict in the Workplace by Anne Lee
- And in the second chapter of their new book, “You Gotta Laugh: Life in the Trenches of the Health Care Business,” Stephanie Cohen and Scott Golden discuss The Importance of Continuity of Care
From all of us at Golden & Cohen, here’s to your health in 2010!
Stephanie Cohen, CEO, stephanie@golden-cohen.com
Scott Golden, CFO, scott@golden-cohen.com
Jack Cohen, COO, jack@golden-cohen.com
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Logo, illustration and design by Michael Gibbs
Client: Avenida, www.avenidarestaurant.com, a new Latin American restaurant in Mt. Airy, PA
Assignment: When chefs Kim and Edgar Alvarez were still in the planning phase of opening their new Latin American restaurant, Avenida,” they knew they needed an eye-popping logo that would get the attention of future customers. They turned to illustrator Michael Gibbs”:http://www.mglenwood.com to create a logo that would incorporate the essence of Chef Edgar’s Aztek roots and the Germantown Avenue address of Avenida — which translates to “on the avenue.”
Solution: Michael accomplished his mission with flying colors. “We love our logo,” says Chef Edgar, who with Kim worked hard to match the colors of the interior of the restaurant to the colors on the logo and business card. “Everyone comments on how fun and beautiful the whole marketing package is. That was our goal: To create a restaurant that is fun, light, and beautiful.”
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Design by Michael Gibbs
Client: Chef Kim Katz Alvarez, owner, Delaware Market House, Gladwyne, PA
Assignment: Create a business card that was classic, yet original, to reflect the tradition of the Delaware Market House, which was founded in the early 1900s. Chef Kim and her husband and business partner Chef Edgar Alvarez bought the market in 2002.
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Logo, illustration and design by Michael Gibbs
Client: Inkandescent Public Relations
Assignment: Create a logo that would be used on a website and other promotional materials.
Solution: The illustrated lightbulb worked as a focal point to illuminate the card, and also get across the message of being Inkandescent. The design was then translated into a website, which launched in September 2008 and a variation on the theme was integrated into a spin-off for the company, Be Inkandescent magazine.
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Illustration and design by by Michael Gibbs
Client: Hooks Book Events
Assignment: Create a sophisticated corporate identity that reflected the passion of owners Perry Pidgeon Hooks and Loretta Yenson for bringing authors and ideas to government agencies and corporations. The logo was subsequently used on business cards, posters, postcards, and other promotional materials, which served to successfully brand the company.
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Illustration and design by Michael Gibbs
Client: Hope Katz Gibbs, freelance writer
Assignment: Since launching her freelance business in 1993, journalist Hope Katz Gibbs worked by phone and word-of-mouth to land assignments with publications ranging from The Washington Post and USA Today to Global Business magazine and Costco’s business magazine, The Costco Connection.
But 15 years into a successful run, the economy began to teeter in 2008 and she decided it was time to ramp up her marketing efforts. “Being married to an illustrator has its benefits,” says Hope, who commissioned her husband Michael Gibbs to design a business card and website to promote her work.
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Illustration and design by Michael Gibbs
Michael Gibbs has been a freelance illustrator since the early ’80s. After majoring in architecture for a year at the University of Maryland, he attended Pratt Institute as a photography major, switching to illustration in his final year.
Michael’s style has evolved from traditional painting to a unique blend of traditional and digital techniques, with frequent forays into purely digital illustration. He was an early devotee of the Macintosh, Photoshop and digital illustration, and has been using the Mac and Photoshop since shortly after they were introduced in 1984. His work has been featured in books on illustration and design skills, including Information Graphics and Visual Clues [Rockport Press] and Step-by-Step Graphics.
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Design by by Michael Gibbs
Client: The Writing’s on the Wall
Hope Katz, founder and president
Assignment: Create a fun, but elegant logo that could be used on business cards, letterhead, and other promotional materials to brand this non-profit founded in 1991 by Hope Katz. Based on her master’s thesis at The George Washington University where she studied Educational Leadership, Hope took the project to San Francisco where she conducted several “Wall” projects with poverty-stricken after-school programs. The project then traveled to the Capitol Children’s Museum, where it was a permanent exhibit.
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Illustrated logo and design by Michael Gibbs
Concept and writing by Hope Katz Gibbs
Client: Hooks Book Events
Assignment: Create a promotional product to highlight the article about Hooks Book Events (HBE) that ran in The Washington Post magazine in January 2009, and also to feature the authors and high-profile corporations that hire HBE to bring those writers into their companies to inspire employees. Click here to view the back of the card.
Solution: By featuring the beautiful logo created by Michael Gibbs on the front of the card, and quotes from the authors and companies on the back, this card got people’s attention. Since it was designed as a postcard, it worked as a self-mailer, thank you note, and bookmark that the owners — Perry Pidgeon Hooks and Loretta Yenson — could tuck into all the books they sell.
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Photo illustration and design by Michael Gibbs
Concept and writing by Hope Katz Gibbs, Inkandescent Public Relations
Client: The City of Fairfax School Board
Assignment: Create a postcard to mail to the 14,000 residents and business owners in the City of Fairfax, VA to inform them that the newsletter the School Board had been publishing since 2001 was going online.
Solution: By using an image of the homepage of the new website, and text that explained the reason for the shift from a printed newsletter to an online version, the School Board was able to inform its constituents of the change in an affordable, timely manner. In turn, the City residents responded by signing up to receive the electronic version of the newsletter. This enhanced the School Board’s reputation, and maintained the reach of Close-Up Online — a publication with important information about what is happening in the four City of Fairfax Schools. “Click here to read the back of the postcard”:
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Photo illustration and design by Michael Gibbs
Concept and writing by Hope Katz Gibbs, Inkandescent Public Relations
Client: The City of Fairfax School Board
Assignment: Create a postcard to mail to the 14,000 residents and business owners in the City of Fairfax, VA to inform them that the newsletter the School Board had been publishing since 2001 was going online.
Solution: By using an image of the homepage of the new website, and text that explained the reason for the shift from a printed newsletter to an online version, the School Board was able to inform its constituents of the change in an affordable, timely manner. In turn, the City residents responded by signing up to receive the electronic version of the newsletter. This enhanced the School Board’s reputation, and maintained the reach of Close-Up Online — a publication with important information about what is happening in the four City of Fairfax Schools. “Click here to read the back of the postcard”:
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Illustrated logo and design by Michael Gibbs
Concept and writing by Hope Katz Gibbs
Client: Hooks Book Events
Assignment: Create a promotional product to highlight the article about Hooks Book Events (HBE) that ran in The Washington Post magazine in January 2009, and also to feature the authors and high-profile corporations that hire HBE to bring those writers into their companies to inspire employees. Click here to view the back of the card.
Solution: By featuring the beautiful logo created by Michael Gibbs on the front of the card, and quotes from the authors and companies on the back, this card got people’s attention. Since it was designed as a postcard, it worked as a self-mailer, thank you note, and bookmark that the owners — Perry Pidgeon Hooks and Loretta Yenson — could tuck into all the books they sell.
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Photo by Steve Barrett, www.stevebarrettphotography.com
Washington DC, 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.
“It was a thrill to talk with Let’s Talk Live co-host Natasha Barrett about my handbags,” says Williams, who herself attended the Inauguration — and carried one of her favorite cocktail dress accessories, the midnight black M Bag.
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With a master’s degree in international studies from Harvard University, Laura Lee Williams is a businesswoman with a flair for numbers and fashion. She’s worked for Nike, Polo Ralph Lauren, American Express and Apple Computer. But when she was the vp of global business with Hong Kong’s Pacific Century CyberWorks (PCCW), she was inspired to create a company of her own.
In 2003, she launched the luxury handbag firm Laura Lee Designs, and ever since her stylishly appealing, fabulously chic handbags have adorned the arms and outfits of celebs including Desperate Housewives’ Eva Longoria, Oscar winner Mira Sorvino, and Touched by an Angel actress Roma Downey.
“Each bag is handmade with Nepalese fabrics, high quality satins and swirling patterns of Japanese beads,” Laura Lee explains. “Colorful snakeskin accentuates each bag and adds functional elegance to each piece. The bags are less an accessory and more a piece of wearable art. A Laura Lee Designs handbag captures individuality and verve. You definitely can’t be a wallflower and wear one of these bags!”
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Since April 2006, Noonan has served as assistant superintendent for Cluster VII schools, including the Centreville, Chantilly, and Fairfax High School pyramids. In this position, he initiated instructional and organizational change using professional learning communities, increased accessibility to educational technology resources for students and staff members, and school leadership development to support diverse learners.
Noonan served as principal of Centreville High School from July 2004 until April 2006, where he developed a principal’s round table for aspiring student leaders, initiated a freshman transition team for rising ninth grade students, and secured funding for an Honors and Advanced Placement Summer Institute. Prior to that, he served as principal of Lanier Middle School. Noonan came to FCPS in 2001 to serve as assistant principal at Langley High School.
Prior to joining FCPS, Noonan served as dean of students, assistant principal, and principal of several schools in Albuquerque. He began his career as a special education teacher at Roosevelt Middle School in Albuquerque, where he was named Teacher of the Year in 1993.
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Photo by Steve Barrett Photography
Bio by Hope Katz Gibbs
Before the City of Fairfax became an independent city, it was a town in Fairfax County and the schools were part of the Fairfax County (FCPS) system. When the town moved to city status in 1961, state law required that a local school board be organized to govern the schools.
A School Services Agreement was entered into with FCPS to continue to manage and operate the schools; the City School Board and Superintendent oversee this Agreement and are responsible for the management of the school buildings owned by the City. Key Elements of the Schools Services Agreement can be found here: City-County Connection.
Today, the City of Fairfax School Board consists of five elected officials who help guide the City Schools in legislative and other school business. Pictured here they include (from left): Chairman Janice Miller, Vice Chairman Jon Buttram, Toby Sorensen, Julie Knight, and Elisa Lueck. Each year, a senior from Fairfax High is chosen to be the Student Representative. This year that is Jonathan Earley.
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Photo by Steve Barrett Photography
Bio by Hope Katz Gibbs
Educational leader and City of Fairfax resident Ann Monday became Superintendent of the City of Fairfax Schools on July 1, 2007.
“We are pleased and excited that Mrs. Monday has agreed to become our new Superintendent,” said City School Board Chairman Janice Miller. “Her background and experience are unparalleled, and we know she will be a wonderful leader of our four schools and will continue to work with Fairfax County Public Schools to enrich academic programs for our students.”
Monday retired on June 30 as the Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services for Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), a district she has worked in since 1973 when she became a teacher at Kilmer Intermediate School in Vienna. She then served as chairperson of the English department at Chantilly High School from 1976-1980, when she became an administrative aide at Marshall High and subsequently a subschool principal at Lake Braddock High School.
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Photo by Steve Barrett Photography
Bio by Hope Katz Gibbs
Alice Waagen, PhD, is president and founder of Workforce Learning, LLC, a leadership development company which since 1997 has provided managers and C-level executives with the skills and knowledge they need to build a more productive work environment.
Since earning a BS in Art Education from New York State College at Buffalo, and MS and PhD degrees in Art Education from Pennsylvania State University, Alice has conducted hundreds of workshops and training classes at many of the country’s Fortune 500 companies and top nonprofit organizations, as well as at government agencies in the Washington DC area. In just the last three years, more than 55 leaders from 20 regional organizations have graduated from her unique leadership development workshop series.
Giving back to the community is also important to Alice, who currently serves on the District Training Committee for Boy Scouts of America as well as on the Boards of Directors for the Human Resources Leadership Forum and for Habitat for Humanity, Northern VA.
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What do Apple, Pfizer, Kellogg, ExxonMobil, Chase, Wells Fargo, Homeland Security, USA Today and ABC News have in common? When it comes to training, developing and motivating their greatest asset, their people, they turn to Steven B. Wiley and the The Lincoln Leadership Institute at Gettysburg.
“We are dedicated to serving as a resource for individuals, teams and organizations who find themselves having to perform or produce in a stressful and rapidly changing environment with limited resources and limited information,” explains Steven B. Wiley, president and founder of The Lincoln Leadership Institute at Gettysburg.
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Photo by Steve Barrett Photography
Bio by Hope Katz Gibbs
Steven B. Wiley is an entrepreneur, author, and highly acclaimed speaker who has influenced and entertained tens of thousands of top executives from around the world. Without exception, he receives the highest ratings possible from his audiences. His business experience includes the founding of three companies: two international franchise organizations and a national chain of fleet management centers.
He has successfully negotiated multi-million dollar funding agreements for his own companies with some of the top venture capital organizations in the world. His strong leadership ability has earned him recognition in top publications including Venture Magazine, USA Today, and Entrepreneur magazine.
Steve’s speaking experience includes three years as National Spokesperson for the Quaker Oats/Pritikin Longevity Centers for whom he has been featured in television commercials and advertisements in the Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times and New York Times. Over the past ten years he has conducted thousands of seminars on negotiation, sales leadership and wellness for numerous public and private sector organizations.
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Photo by Steve Barrett Photography
Bio by Hope Katz Gibbs
Angela Sontheimer is the Managing Director of the Lincoln Leadership Institute at Gettysburg. She has a background in institutional advancement and has worked extensively in events management, and is a graduate of Gettysburg College. In 2009, Angela finished her Masters degree in Leadership and Liberal Studies at Duquesne University.
Along with Steve, Angela developed and created A Transformational Journey from Gettysburg.
“This intimate, small group program explores several customized case studies of your choosing while providing participants with a unique team-building opportunity,” Sontheimer says. “The Journey actually begins long before setting foot in the Gettysburg area. Participants prepare for their experience through compelling pre-session readings and an optional battery of assessment tools.”
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Photo by Steve Barrett Photography
Bio by Hope Katz Gibbs
The Essential HR Handbook: A Quick and Handy Resource for Any Manager or HR Professional is a 250-page reference guide, published in the fall of 2008 by Career Press.
It is a must-have for everyone who deals with employees on a daily basis, believe Mitchell and Armstrong. They wrote the book because, as human resource professionals with decades of experience, they wanted to shed light on the issues that keep managers up at night.
“Human resource professionals are not only charged with resolving labor issues,” explains Mitchell, who worked for Marriott Corporation and several technology firms in the Washington DC area before launching her own company‚ The Millennium Group International‚ in 1998. “We also help acquire, train, appraise, and make sure employees are fairly compensated, while attending to their concerns about labor relations, health and safety, and fairness.”
“It’s a big job, but we make it easier by outlining guidelines and best practice recommendations in the 12 chapters of our book,” adds Armstrong, who began her career in human resources in 1985 as a recruiter/trainer in a large Manhattan law firm before launching Sharon Armstrong and Associates in 2000. “Whether you are a newly promoted manager, a seasoned business owner, or a human resources professional, knowing the ins and outs of dealing with HR issues is critical to your success.”
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Photo by Steve Barrett Photography
Bio by Hope Katz Gibbs
Sharon Armstrong began her career in human resources in 1985 as a recruiter/trainer in a large Manhattan law firm. She took over as Director of HR at the DC firm Shaw, Pittman, Potts & Trowbridge in 1991, and in 1994 became the Director of HR and Administration at the Association of Trial Lawyers of America.
In 2000, she opened her own firm, Sharon Armstrong & Associates, and since has consulted with many large corporations and small businesses. She has facilitated training, completed HR projects and provided career transition services for a wide variety of clients in the profit and non-profit sectors. Her firm also serves as a brokerage house for other HR professionals.
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Photo by Steve Barrett Photography
Bio by Hope Katz Gibbs
Barbara Mitchell is a human resources and organization development consultant who is widely known as an expert in the areas of recruitment and retention. She has experience in both for-profit and not-for-profit sectors and has consulted to a variety of organizations around the world.
She served in senior human resources leadership positions with Marriott International and several technology firms in the Washington DC area before co-founding the Millennium Group International, LLC (TMG) in 1998, which she sold in 2008.
She recently served on the Society of Human Resource Management as a Special Expert Panel on Consulting and Outsourcing in recognition of her expertise and long service to the HR profession. Barbara is a graduate of North Park University, Chicago, IL, with a degree in history and political science and has taken graduate level courses at UCLA. Contact Barbara by email: barbaramitchell@comcast.net.
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With a doctorate in Musical Arts under her belt, international award-winning pianist Celia Im decided to use music to help others and in 2003 founded Lighting the Creative Spark, LLC, an innovative company dedicated to helping clients develop their own intuition to enhance their relationships, career and life.
The music (often her own original work) is a tool she uses to engage the active imagination, explains Celia, who has been on the faculty and taught aspiring musicians at George Mason University, University of Maryland and Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University.
“In my work, I combine an intuitive process called Music-Evoked Imagery (MEI) with my experience as a performing artist and teacher. It’s very effective because I use my own experiences as a creative person to help others find their creativity. It seems to work as well for artists and musicians as it does for lawyers and bankers.”
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Photo by Steve Barrett
Bio by Hope Katz Gibbs, Inkandescent PR
Michael Gibbs has been a freelance illustrator since the early ’80s. After majoring in architecture for a year at the University of Maryland, he attended Pratt Institute as a photography major, switching to illustration in his final year.
Michael’s style has evolved from traditional painting to a unique blend of traditional and digital techniques, with frequent forays into purely digital illustration. He was an early devotee of the Macintosh, Photoshop and digital illustration, and has been using the Mac and Photoshop since shortly after they were introduced in 1984. His work has been featured in books on illustration and design skills, including Information Graphics and Visual Clues [Rockport Press] and Step-by-Step Graphics.
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Chef Kim Katz Alvarez is the co-owner of the hot new Latin American restaurant Avenida, www.avenidarestaurant.com in Mt. Airy, PA.
A graduate of Syracuse University’s restaurant management program and the two-year chef program at the Culinary Institute of America, cooking has been her passion since she was 7.
Kim says: “I clearly remember the day my mom enrolled me in a cooking class at Bloomingdales in Jenkintown, PA. It was Thanksgiving time, and our first assignment was to make homemade stuffing. My cousin Brandi was also in the class, and she also liked all the tearing of the bread and combining it with the wet ingredients using her fingers. But I loved it.”
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I grew up on a ranch in Guatemala, and the one thing that is etched in my memory is the scene of my grandmother, aunts and mother preparing a meal in the kitchen. It was an all-day affair, for we were a giant family and when breakfast ended all the women in the family would go off to the market to buy the freshest produce, meat and fish for lunch and dinner. They did not have much to spend, but la comida was always full of love and flavor.
I remember my mother plucking fresh chickens in the yard. She would cut up tons of vegetables and then toss everything in a giant pot. It would simmer just long enough to bring out the most mouthwatering flavors. She was truly an amazing chef, although she would never consider herself one, she taught me everything I know. I watched closely the way she would add some of this and not too much of that. She gave me a love for good, healthy, hearty food just the kind I prepare today.
When I came to this country, I worked as a sous chef at some of the best restaurants in Philadelphia, including the original Dock Street, the four-star restaurant, The Striped Bass and the gourmet Chinese restaurant Susanna Foo. I had the opportunity to work under the excellent chefs who cooked there, as well as Phillippe Chin and Keong Bahn, when I worked at Phillippe.
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Photo by Steve Barrett
www.stevebarrett photography.com
Barbara Mitchell (left) and Sharon Armstrong are the co-authors of The Essential HR Handbook, a quick and handy resource for any manager or HR professional. Before launching their website to promote their book, the authors hired Steve Barrett to take their pics.
“Steve was a joy to work with,” says Barbara. “He made us feel so comfortable.” Sharon notes: “We laughed the whole time he was with us. It was a pleasure to work with him.”
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Photo by Steve Barrett
www.stevebarrett photography.com photography.com
When Stephanie Cohen, CEO of the health benefits firm Golden & Cohen, decided it was time to launch a PR campaign, she hired Inkandescent PR to help. The first step was to get great new pictures of herself and her partners: husband and COO Scott Golden (left) and her brother CFO Jack Cohen.
“Steve was a real professional,” said Stephanie of the photo shoot. “He made us feel relaxed, but kept us in line. That’s not always easy, but he managed it. Scott, Jack and I are thrilled with the results.”
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Photo by Steve Barrett Photography
Bio by Hope Katz Gibbs
Since co-founding the Gaithersburg, MD health care benefits firm Golden & Cohen in 1992, Stephanie Cohen has helped it grow into one of the largest female-owned companies in the Washington metropolitan region.
With more than two decades of experience in small group health insurance, disability programs and life insurance, she was a finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, serves on the prestigious United HealthCare, Coventry, Aetna and Kaiser Broker Council and is a member of the Womens’ President Organization, the District of Columbia Insurance Commissioner Advisory Council and The Greater Washington Health Underwriters.
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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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Jack Cohen graduated from the University of Maryland in 1991 with a degree in consumer economics. Soon after, he founded Nu Image construction, which quickly grew into a 50-employee firm that generated $3 million in annual sales.
Jack joined Golden & Cohen in 1997 as its Chief Financial Officer, and has instituted new technologies and efficiencies that have helped the company increase revenue by more than 20 percent a year. Jack is married and has 3 children.
For more information about the insurance brokerage firm Golden & Cohen, visit www.golden-cohen.com contact Jack Cohen by email at jack@golden-cohen.com.
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Photo by Steve Barrett Photography
Bio by Hope Katz Gibbs
Scott Golden is recognized as an industry leader in the small to mid-size insurance market, and ranks among the area’s top producers according to the Washington Business Journal’s Annual List.
He received a BS in Marketing from the University of Maryland in 1985, an MBA from George Washington University in 1990, and later a JD and LLM in taxation from the University of Baltimore. His advanced academic and legal degrees enable him to evaluate local and national mandates in conjunction with helping his clients prepare and implement the proper strategy.
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Be Inkandescent, January 2010 — Welcome to the inaugural issue of Be Inkandescent: The magazine for entrepreneurs, by entrepreneurs. Each month, our online publication will bring insights and observations from entrepreneurs in a variety of industries ranging from health care and human resources to books, education, finance, leadership skills, management tools, real estate, restaurants, wine, and more.
We’ll also be spotlighting an Entrepreneur of the Month, a business owner who earns at least $10 million a year, has been in business for 5 years, and is still running the company they created. They’ll offer Tips for Entrepreneurs, as will Our Team of creative professionals from Inkandescent Public Relations.
In this issue, we’re featuring the “queen of putting people’s lives in order” Julie Morgenstern, an organizational and time management expert, business productivity consultant, and nationally renowned speaker who in 1989 founded Julie Morgenstern Enterprises. She’s also a New York Times bestselling author, having published five books that are reference guides featuring techniques and observations culled from her 20 years of experience as a consultant to individuals and companies. Check out our profile on this incredible Entrepreneur of the Month, and read her insightful five Tips for Entrepreneurs.
We invite every entrepreneur to come up with stories that might be of interest to our audience and contact us with your ideas. After all, the goal of any company is to have more people know about their products and services. We’d love to help you spread the word.
Here’s to your success! — Hope Katz Gibbs
publisher, Be Inkandescent
president & founder, Inkandescent Public Relations
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WEBSITE — Be Inkandescent Magazine: the online magazine for entrepreneurs, by entrepreneurs
Click image for larger view Illustration and design by Michael Gibbs
Website coding / database by Max Kukoy
Writing / Concept by Hope Katz Gibbs
About Be Inkandescent Magazine
In January 2010, the Inkandescent Group, LLC launched its new online magazine: Be Inkandescent: the ezine for entrepreneurs, by entrepreneurs: www.beinkandescent.com
Publisher Hope Katz Gibbs, president of Inkandescent Public Relations and a veteran journalist who has written for dozens of newspapers and magazines including The Washington Post and USA Today, created the publication as a way to share the expertise of her clients and other entrepreneurs who are making strides in their industries.
“At Inkandescent Public Relations, we focus on helping entrepreneurs get the visibility they need, frequent interviews by the nation’s top publications and also reach out with monthly newsletters to their own customers,” Gibbs notes. “Our goal for the magazine is to give a bigger voice to our clients and other entrepreneurs who have an important message for their fellow business owners.”
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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October 2013 — “I want my children to understand the world, but not just because the world is fascinating and the human mind curious. I want them to understand it so they will make it a better place,” Gardner said in 1999.
It is with such a goal in mind that Gardner, a Harvard University professor, devised the theory of Multiple Intelligences. His 1993 landmark book, Frames of Mind, turned on its head the belief that human beings are blank slates that can be trained to learn anything — providing the information is presented in an appropriate way.
On the contrary, Gardner’s research suggests there are at least eight intelligences, each with its own strengths and constraints. “We have found that the mind is far from encumbered at birth, and it is unexpectedly difficult to teach things that challenge these natural lines,” he explains. “The theory [of multiple intelligences] is an account of human cognition in its fullness. It provides a new definition of human nature.”
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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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By Alice Waagen, president and founder
www.workforcelearning.com
In the last issue of Workforce Learning, I focused on how organizations can prepare for the growth cycle ahead in our recovering economy and offered three scenarios for how the recovery may play out. In the weeks since, I’ve done a more analytic survey and asked nearly 150 professionals from more than a dozen different DC-based organizations: “What will you do differently once the economic recovery seems to stabilize?”
A number of themes emerged in the conversations. Clearly, the dependent relationship people have had with their employers has been severely challenged during the last 12 months. In fact, large, seemingly stable organizations like county governments have been implementing forced furloughs and reductions in workforce. The old belief that large organizations offer stable future economic growth is all but gone.
But here is what raised an eyebrow. The number of people who expressed a desire to go out on their own and start their own business was staggering. This may seem counterintuitive, especially after months of economic strife. But the impetus to start ones own business is not economic – it is to gain a better control of their future. Certainly, when you are an entrepreneur, your success and failure resides on your own actions and tactics, not the actions of management far removed from your sphere of influence.
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Gaithersburg MD, December 4, 2009 — Stephanie Cohen, CEO of the health benefits firm Golden & Cohen, was named one of SmartCEO Magazine’s 2010 Smart100 CEOs this week.
“After another competitive year of nominations, the selection committee has chosen Stephanie Cohen to join an elite group of 100 of Greater Washington’s leading CEOs and their organizations,” announced SmartCEO magazine’s Makenna Coyne on December 1. “Combined, this group employs more than 150,000 people, boasts revenues in excess of $9 billion, and has won almost 1,500 business awards. In addition, the group shares a philanthropic spirit by donating time, energy and money to local Washington area charities.”
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Happy holidays from all of us here at the Lincoln Leadership Institute! Gettysburg is looking very festive these days—especially when it’s iced with our first snowfalls of the year.
The holiday season is truly one of joy. In fact, this idea of “what is joy,” has been on my mind lately—not only as we get ready to celebrate the holidays, but also as it correlates to the workplace.
What does joy have to do with the workplace—especially this year, when so many organizations have struggled with our challenging economy? According to a recent Gallup Healthways survey of 100,000 Americans, joy has everything to do with happiness in the workplace for business owners out-rank 10 other occupations in overall wellbeing. Leaders, in fact, say they have lower stress levels and better physical health than those in other occupations.
One possible explanation, according to Harvard professor and blogger Rosabeth Moss Kanter, is that “autonomy, influence and a sense of meaning” are all key ingredients in helping us to find joy at work. She writes “supervisors are better–off than the supervised, and entrepreneurs are the best-off of all.” While we can’t all be entrepreneurs, she suggests we can all act as leaders and project “autonomy, influence and a sense of meaning.”
I couldn’t agree more! I’m a big believer in the idea that exhibiting leadership skills is the surest route to joy at work. What a concept: Leadership can bring joy to the workplace.
Kanter offers a David Letterman style Top 10 list to find joy at work. Why not give it a try? Incorporate joy into your leadership practice. I’d love to hear the results – drop us a line at info@lincolnleadershipinstitue.com and let us know how you have shared the joy!
Best wishes for a wonderful holiday season!
Steven B. Wiley, president and founder
Lincoln Leadership Institute
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December 18, 2009 — The City of Fairfax Schools launched its December newsletter today, featuring an introduction by Janice Miller, Chairman of the City of Fairfax School Board. She wrote:
When the City School Board first began working on the Road Map to Academic Success in 2005, our mission was to develop a document that provided information to parents regarding the curriculum students need to take from kindergarten to 12th grade to succeed not only in school — but to be prepared for life.
Spearheaded by former City Schools Superintendent George Stepp, he designed the Road Map over the course of a year with the assistance of Assistant Superintendent Dr. Jan Mulvaney, former Fairfax High Student Services Director Carole Kihm, and other educators from Fairfax County Public Schools.
“The key to student success lies in parents knowing what all the options are for their children,” explains Dr. Mulvaney. “We aren’t advocating pushing students beyond what they can handle — emotionally or academically — but it is amazing to see what they can do given the chance.”
Click here to more about the Roadmap and what the four City of Fairfax Schools are doing to ensure all students are on a path to success.
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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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Hello, and welcome to our December news blast. We’re very pleased to announce that this month our own Stephanie Cohen, CEO of Golden & Cohen, was named one of SmartCEO Magazine’s 2010 Smart100 CEOs.
“After another competitive year of nominations, the selection committee has chosen Stephanie Cohen to join an elite group of 100 of Greater Washington’s leading CEOs and their organizations,” announced SmartCEO magazine’s Makenna Coyne. “Combined, this group employs more than 150,000 people, boasts revenues in excess of $9 billion, and has won almost 1,500 business awards. In addition, the group shares a philanthropic spirit by donating time, energy and money to local Washington area charities.”
Each winning company reported revenue in excess of $5 million annually and was selected based on the CEO’s leadership, strategic vision and character, said Coyne noting that Cohen was an obvious choice to be part of the 2010 list due to her initiative to organize and host last year’s DC Health Summit (www.dchealthsummit.com), her charitable work with the ALS Association’s DC/MD/VA Chapter (which helps empower people with Lou Gehrig’s disease), and other nonprofit organizations, and her sheer determination to fight for her client’s rights.
“I am incredibly excited to be acknowledged for the work that I do on behalf of my clients,” says Cohen, who with her husband and business partner Scott Golden has run her firm since 1992. “I have a passion for this work, and truly want to make a difference. I know I can’t change the world, but I can do my part in improving things by helping one person at a time.”
TUNE IN DEC. 19 to hear Stephanie Cohen on Executive Leadership Radio
Stephanie Cohen has been invited to talk about her leadership style and how she and her husband / business partner Scott Golden have built their company into one of the largest insurance brokerage firms in the DC Metro region. Tune in on Saturday, Dec. 19 to WHFS 1580 AM. The show will air from 10-11 a.m. Or, log onto www.bigtalker1580.com.
IN THIS ISSUE
Click below to read about our thoughts on healthcare reform and what it’ll mean to our clients. You’ll also find useful advice from DC attorney Brian Leventhal about the importance of writing good contracts. And new this month we’ll be featuring entries from Stephanie’s new book, “You Gotta Laugh: My life in the trenches of the health insurance business.”
From everyone at Golden & Cohen, we wish you and yours a very happy and healthy holiday season!
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RESTON VA, December 4, 2009 — More than 6500 girls in grades 3 to 8 are scheduled to turn out for this Saturday’s 5K Reindeer Romp Fun Run, hosted by Girls on the Run of Northern Virginia. Be there to cheer the kids on at the Reston Town Center on Saturday, December 5, starting at 8:30 a.m.
“We were blown away by the response and support we have gotten for this event and sold out so fast that we actually had to turn some runners away,” explains executive director Catherine Keightley. “I believe that is simply a testimony to the power of this program.”
In fact, more than 3000 girls in nearly 180 schools from all over Northern Virginia have participated for the last 10 weeks in our Girls on the Run program to empower girls with a greater sense of self-awareness, self esteem and healthy living through the power of running.
“This run is the culmination and celebration of their efforts, and pairs the girls with a buddy runner to help them achieve their goals,” Keightley adds.
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By Hope Katz Gibbs
Rokas Beresniovas is a DC business leader who serves as the vice president of Eagle Bank, and vice president of the Georgetown Business Association.
Born in Kaunas, Lithuania, he immigrated to the U.S. after graduating with a marketing degree from Kaunas College in 1999. He began his career in the retail food industry, working as southwest regional distribution manager with Whole Foods Market — in Dallas before being promoted to specialty operations manager in the Washington, DC, where he won two Regional Vice Presidential Award for Excellent — and at the largest DC stores in the CVS Caremark Corporation chain from 2004 to 2006.
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Gaithersburg MD, December 2, 2009 — Stephanie Cohen, CEO of the health benefits firm Golden & Cohen, found out this week that she was named one of SmartCEO Magazine’s 2010 Smart100 CEOs.
“After another competitive year of nominations, the selection committee has chosen Stephanie Cohen to join an elite group of 100 of Greater Washington’s leading CEOs and their organizations,” announced SmartCEO magazine’s Makenna Coyne on December 1. “Combined, this group employs more than 150,000 people, boasts revenues in excess of $9 billion, and has won almost 1,500 business awards. In addition, the group shares a philanthropic spirit by donating time, energy and money to local Washington area charities.”
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Washington DC, December 1, 2009 — The Nov. 30 news website FierceHealthcare.com featured Robin Strongin’s popular health care blog, Disruptive Women in Health Care (www.disruptivewomen.net), noting it was featured as one of “Five Fierce Female Healthcare Bloggers to Watch.”
FierceHealthcare.com reporter Anne Zieger wrote: “This blog is written by dozens of senior female health care professionals, including clinicians, academic researchers, health advocates, management consultants and political insiders.”
Disruptive Women in Health Care should be required reading, Zieger said.
“This blog lives up to its name, offering challenging ideas—and a strong dose of much-needed attitude—on critical topics like medication adherence and health plan design,” the reporter explained.
“There’s also a lot of play given to women’s topics, such as the new breast cancer screening recommendations, which sadly don’t get as much attention in other publications. While nobody’s suggesting that women’s takes on health issues are better than men’s, these contributors are exceptionally passionate in what they have to say, and it’s a pleasure to hear women roar. There’s much to learn here.”
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WASHINGTON DC, December 1, 2009 — Sharon Armstrong and Barbara Mitchell, co-authors of the popular human resources book, The Essential HR Handbook (www.theessentialhrhandbook.com), got word today that their 2008 book is so successful that it will go into its second printing later this month.
Nearly 6000 copies have been sold to date, an impressive amount for a business book, explains the publisher, Career Press. It plans to print 2000 more copies just in time for the holiday rush.
While many of the books are sold at national retail bookstore chains such as Barnes & Noble, the majority of books are sold through Amazon.com. In addition to being available in paperback, the 224-page book is one of fewer than 300,000 titles that were selected to be compatible with Amazon’s Kindle e-book reader.
“We couldn’t be more excited that the book is doing so well,” says Armstrong, who is also the author of Stress-free Performance Appraisals, which is also in its second printing. Her next book, The Essential Performance Review Handbook will be published in the spring of 2010.
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WEBSITE — Avenida Restaurant
Click image for larger view Illustration and design by Michael Gibbs
Website coding / database by Max Kukoy
Writing / Concept by Hope Katz Gibbs
About Avenida Restaurant
Located just outside of Philadelphia in Chestnut Hill, Chefs Kim & Edgar Alvarez invite diners to indulge their taste buds in the oasis of bold flavors and sparkling concoctions.
Set in a historic Chestnut Hill home built in the 1700s, patrons will sit by the stone fireplace or on the romantic outdoor porch sipping margaritas and sampling Chef Edgar’s signature guacamole.
Make a reservation for dinner tonight: 267-385-6857.
WEBSITE — City of Fairfax Schools
Click image for larger view In November 2009, Inkandescent PR was proud to launch a new website for the City of Fairfax Schools, www.cityoffairfaxschools.org.
In the letter posted by School Board Chairman Janice Miller, she explained: “We’ll be using this powerful online tool to post current information about the four City Schools with the goal of doing an even better job of communicating with our parents, residents and business owners about the good work being done by the students, teachers, and the City of Fairfax School Board.”
The School Board also had Inkandescent PR revamped its award-winning newsletter, City School Close-Up Online. Click here to view the inaugural issue.
Hello, and welcome to the new City of Fairfax Schools website, www.cityoffairfaxschools.org.
We’ll be using this powerful online tool to post current information about the four City Schools with the goal of doing an even better job of communicating with our parents, residents and business owners about the good work being done by the students, teachers, and the City of Fairfax School Board.
We’ve also revamped our award-winning newsletter, City School Close-Up. Click here to view the November 2009 issue We hope you find the new layout easy to scan, and as equally informative and useful as our traditional 8-page printed newsletter has been since we created it in 2001. Be sure to sign up here to receive future issues in your email inbox.
In this, our inaugural issue of Close-Up Online, we have very good academic news! The Standards of Learning (SOL) scores for the City of Fairfax Schools are on the rise (see graphs and stories below).
“The City Schools are making good progress academically,” says Fairfax County Public Schools Cluster VII Superintendent Linda Burke, who presented the scores to the City of Fairfax School Board at its October work session. “While test scores do not tell the whole story about the quality of a school, they do reflect how well students are learning the core curriculum.”
Superintendent Ann Monday also explains what those SOL scores mean. You’ll also find graphs of the stellar scores for the City Schools, and an analysis of what they mean for our schools and our students from each of our four City School principals.
We’ll look forward to reaching out to you each month through “Close-Up Online“http://cityoffairfaxschools.org/closeup/, and encourage you to click the “Tell A Friend” tab at the top of this newsletter so all of your friends, neighbors, relatives, and fellow city residents can learn about what is going on in their local schools.
Wishing you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving, and continued school success.
Janice Miller, Chairman
City of Fairfax School Board
Click here to read the November issue of Close-Up
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I’m sending you this special newsletter this month from my colleagues, Scott Golden and Stephanie Cohen, owners of the Gaithersburg, MD health benefits firm Golden & Cohen.
They invited me to write an article about the importance of stress-free performance appraisals for this, their November newsletter. Since a revised edition of my 2003 book is currently at the printer (The Essential Performance Review Handbook will be out in the Spring), I was happy to participate.
I think you’ll enjoy the following articles that focus on the current health care reform bill before Congress and the impact it will have on all of our insurance rates. Also below is an interesting Q&A between Stephanie Cohen and therapist Susan Richman about how to manage stress during the holidays. Since staying stress-free is so important – in every area from holiday madness to performance appraisals – I think you’ll find Susan’s advice useful and informative.
I thank you in advance for welcoming this special news blast into your inbox, and look forward to sending you the December newsletter from Sharon Armstrong & Associates in a few weeks.
Wishing you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving!
Sharon Armstrong, president and founder, Sharon Armstrong & Associates
Author, Stress-free Performance Appraisals (second edition coming in 2010)
The Essential HR Handbook (www.theessentialhrhandbook.com)
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Hello, and welcome to the November issue of our e-news blast. What a month it has been in terms of health care reform. As you know, the House of Representatives on Saturday, November 7 passed a sweeping health care bill by a vote of 220-215.
The passage of H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act, gave proponents of health care reform a step forward. But whether the bill will become law remains uncertain because it’s not yet clear when the Senate will vote on its bill – and if it passes, the House and Senate bills would have to be reconciled into one document and voted on again.
Soon after the House bill was passed, Scott Golden, CFO and co-founder of Golden & Cohen, was interviewed by Sheryl Nance-Nash of Insight magazine on the impact of proposed healthcare reform on the economy. Read that below.
This month, we’d also like to share some expert advice from two professionals that we work closely with.
First, HR expert Sharon Armstrong, owner of the human resourses brokerage firm Sharon Armstrong & Associates and author of Stress-free Performance Appraisals, gives insight into how bosses can better evaluate their employees.
In another stress-free story, therapist Susan Richman answers Stephanie Cohen’s questions about how we can all stay calm during the stressful holiday seasons.
We hope you enjoy their advice as much as we did. Here’s to keeping your life stress-free and healthy!
Regards,
Stephanie Cohen, CEO, stephanie@golden-cohen.com
Scott Golden, CFO, scott@golden-cohen.com
Jack Cohen, COO, jack@golden-cohen.com
Visit us online: Golden & Cohen, www.golden-cohen.com
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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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By Hope Katz Gibbs
The National Press Club
The Wire
Photo by Terry Hill
National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Debbie Hersman criticized the way some members of the press cover the aviation and transportation accidents at a Luncheon Nov. 16.
“We understand the need to solve the puzzle in the early hours of an accident, and we know your editors and producers want you to be the first to get the ‘cause’ of the accident, but what is the cost to your credibility if you are the first to get the cause wrong? We have learned from experience that first impressions can be wrong,” she said.
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By Scott Golden, CFO
Golden & Cohen
November 2009
“View the entire article here”: http://www.agentssalesjournal.com/content/view/1523/?asj1
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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Trust. How important is that idea in your organization? Do your followers trust you? How about your customers or clients?
I’ve been thinking about how vital trust is to organizations ever since I saw the findings of the 2009 Trust Barometer, which showed that trust in business is currently at a 10-year low in the US. Interestingly, 4,475 opinion leaders in 20 countries in two age groups (25-34 and 35-64) were sampled.
The survey found that only 17% (that’s one in five respondents) said they trust what they hear from business leaders. What kind of business results are you going to get with a 17% “trust rate”? So, you ask, how can we increase trust in today’s business environment? I would suggest that we heed LLI’s faculty member General Jim Anderson’s advice about being a “vivid, living personal example” to both our followers and those who lead us.
By “being the change we want to see” I’m confident that we can boost the “trust factor” in all of our organizations and that the results will show both at the bottom line and with improved engagement. In this issue, you’ll find a follow up to the article by Lincoln Leadership Institute faculty member Bob Prosperi that we ran in last month’s newsletter. His photos are featured in the local press celebrating the important November 19 Remembrance Day.
Regards to you and yours and wishes for a very Happy Thanksgiving.
Steven B. Wiley, president and founder
Lincoln Leadership Institute
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Robin Strongin, publisher of Disruptive Women in Health Care Blog, proudly invites you to a free event on Dec. 2 with Dr. Maureen Lewis, Advisor to the Chief Economist, The World Bank
SAVE THE DATE
When: Wednesday, December 2
Time: 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Where: National Museum of Women in the Arts, 3rd Floor Gallery, 1250 New York Ave., NW, Washington, DC
Register: Send an email to rstrongin@amplifypublicaffairs.net.
Washington DC, November 19, 2009 — How do we improve health care in the developing world? We start by improving the economic opportunities for women, says advisor to the chief economist of the World Bank, Dr. Maureen Lewis.
Lewis will speak at a special networking event on Dec. 2 from 6-8 p.m. in Washington, DC, hosted by Robin Strongin, creator of the popular health care blog Disruptive Women in Health Care (www.disruptivewomen.net).
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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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October 2009 — Here’s a reality check from Scott, Stephanie and Jack, Golden & Cohen. The impact of rising health insurance rates isn’t lost on us. Like most every company in the U.S., this year we experienced a significant increase in the rates for our own staff.
We knew we had three real choices: reduce benefits, increase cost to employees or have the company absorb the increase and keep the employees whole. We selected the last option because we are in the best position to “eat” the cost.
The reason is simple. We want to keep morale high and ensure our employees are focusing on their jobs — not worrying about their health insurance. Like most small firms, employee retention and the well being of our employees is one of our top priorities.
If you are in a similar boat, but made a different choice, we’d love to talk to you because we are hoping to understand what employers are thinking in these tough economic times.
In fact, we are always asking the people we meet about why — and why not — they have health insurance. Read on to find information on the “Top 8 Reasons Individuals Don’t Buy Health Insurance,” and our thoughts on why single people might be making a bad choice. You’ll also learn about an incredibly affordable Rx program we’ll be offering in the next few months, Rx ‘n Go. And, you’ll find “7 Strategies to help working parents stay connected to their kids,” by our new psychology partners, Jessica Kramer, a counselor and therapist Bethesda Counseling Associates.
Until next month, here’s to your good health!
Stephanie Cohen, CEO, stephanie@golden-cohen.com
Scott Golden, CFO, scott@golden-cohen.com
Jack Cohen, COO, jack@golden-cohen.com
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Alice’s Challenge of the Month: What to do now if the recession may, indeed, be at its end? — Economists and media pundits are suggesting that the recession is nearing its end — and I am finally seeing signs in the metro DC area that indeed they may be right. My buddies at search firms and recruiting agencies are getting requests every day to fill more jobs, and prospective clients are looking to me to help them in their management challenges. I’m thrilled to no longer be hearing the words: “yes, we want you — but not now,” but rather, “yes, can you conduct a training session next week?”
It’s a relief to be back in the saddle, but I’m also pondering the lessons learned from this challenge. This is something that I regularly ask my clients to consider, for the exercise of reflecting on the actions that led to a success or failure can contribute to deep learning that will guide you through future peaks and valleys.
So, what lessons have you learned in the last 12 to 18 months of economic misery? How can you use this learning to shape your future? Make a list and ruminate on it, for I am confident that the things you come up with will be enlightening and useful not just today, but in the future.
I’m also in the process of thinking about the road ahead, so read on for some forecasts. You’ll also find my bi-monthly interview with an expert and this month’s profile is John White, president of JD White & Associates, Inc. He is a man I have known for decades and deeply respect for he has more than 25 years experience in Human Resource management and in his answers offers keen insights into the recovery at hand. And finally, you’ll find three of my top picks for this month’s Workforce Learning Book Club.
Wishing you a lift in your business, and a lift in your day.
Dr. Alice Waagen, President & Founder
www.workforcelearning.com
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President’s Message, October 2009 — Fall has arrived in Gettysburg, bringing with it the beautiful colors of the season.These crisp cool days are a wonderful time to walk the battlefields and contemplate the leadership lessons that abound here in Gettysburg.
A quote from October 3, 1889 by Major General Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain comes to mind:
In great deeds something abides. On great fields something stays. Forms change and pass; bodies disappear; but spirits linger, to consecrate ground for the vision-place of souls. And reverent men and women from afar, and generations that know us not and that we know not of, heart-drawn to see where and by who great things were suffered and done for them, shall come to this deathless field, to ponder and dream; and lo! the shadow of a mighty presence shall wrap them in its bosom, and the power of the vision pass into their souls.
His profound words are that much more impressive when you consider that more than a century later, Budget Travel magazine has listed Gettysburg one of “8 Places Every American Should See.” Look for more information on that honor below.
In fact, we are excited to show off our fair town this month to representatives from Intervet / Schering-Plough’s animal health division, and a large group of Superintendents from our amazing national parks across the country. Their leadership teams will be joining us for our Transformational Journey from Gettysburg program.
And that’s not all that’s happening in Gettysburg.
Read on to learn more about the Pennsylvania Civil War (PACW 150), the Commonwealth’s official planning committee for the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War over the next five years. The organization has a fantastic website that is packed with information, including interesting details about the lesser-known leaders of that conflict: http://pacivilwar150.com.
Additionally, below is information about The Wall That Heals, a half-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, which Gettysburg College hosted this month. I was especially struck by the fact that we talk about how in the three days of fighting here in Gettysburg there were 51,000 casualties and the wall holds the names of a similar number — 58,000 killed or missing from a much more recent conflict.
These are both wonderful illustrations of how our nation’s history influences us today and can be a useful tool in identifying and refining our own leadership practices.
With my managing director Angela Sontheimer, I wish you a wonderful month filled with strong leadership and courage. We’ll look forward to talking to you again in November.
Steven B. Wiley
President & Founder, The Lincoln Leadership Institute at Gettysburg
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Promotional pens come in many colors and styles. Potomac Basin chose personalized pens in their corporate colors: blue and green. The neon sheen added dash of extra style. Call for options.
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Promote a healthy planet with these globe-inspired stress balls. A great giveaway at any function or event. Price includes 1 color imprint. Multi-color imprints available. Please call for more details.
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What office is complete without a set of clips that keep all your important papers organized? This alligator clip has a strong magnet capable of holding up to 60 pages and a squared tip for better grip. It features black rubber grips and a variety of colors to choose from. Use it for home or office. Price includes 1 color imprint, but multi-color imprints are available. Please call for more details.
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Save the date: Thursday, October 15, 2009
Time: Noon to 1:30 pm
Location: The Vantage Point Rooftop Restaurant
1900 North Fort Myer Drive
Arlington, VA 22209
Phone: 703-807-2000
Topic: 12 Tips for Effective PR
Journalist Hope Katz Gibbs, owner of the PR / publications / media relations / marketing & design firm Inkandescent PR, will talk to the businesswomen of WBIS — Women Building & Investing in Success — about how they can get more attention for their firms by using 12 simple strategies. She breaks her approach down into three bite-sized concepts that are fun to consider and easy to execute.
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by Hope Katz Gibbs, communications specialist
and Peter Noonan, FCPS Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services
Creating a set of clear and consistent best practices for student learning has long been a priority for Fairfax County Public Schools. Last fall, the Instructional Services team accomplished that goal by identifying a set of research- based Best Practices for Teaching and Learning that have been proven to increase student achievement and help every FCPS child reach their academic potential.
“We knew that each best practice would need to be applicable from PreK to 12th grade,” explains Diane Kerr, the Fairfax County Public School ESOL coordinator who helped spearhead the initiative.
“We also wanted to concretely define the concepts and terms, so that every teacher, principal, staff member and administrator throughout the entire county has a common understanding.”
Click here to read the Fall 2009 issue of INSIDE.
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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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By Scott Golden, CFO and co-founder, Golden & Cohen
Photo: Max Baucus, maxbaucus.info
It would have been tough not to see the headlines this month in the Washington Post and New York Times announcing the big news from Senator Max Baucus, the Democrat from Montana who chairs the Finance Committee.
His slimmed-down price tag of $856 billion over 10 years for health-care reform is a cut from the $1 trillion once proposed. Baucus’ plan also has middle-class American families paying 13 percent of their family income in health-insurance premiums before co-payments, deductibles and other cost sharing. Here’s a look into what we think and why.
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE, September 2009
September has always seemed to me to be a time of new beginnings the start of cooler fall weather, the start of a new school year. This month, we were thrilled to be part of a new start for the Lincoln Leadership Academy in Allentown, Pa., where I spoke as part of the grand opening ceremony on September 8.
Joining me on stage for the inaugural day of this wonderful new charter school were Rep. Charles Dent (R-Pa.), Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski, Eastern University President David Black, and our very own Jim Getty, who as always did a great job portraying Abraham Lincoln.
The Lincoln Leadership Academy will provide a holistic education to 250 students in grades 6 to 9 coming from high-risk environments. We are thrilled to be one of their strategic partners. Scroll down to see some photos of the opening.
In this months e-news blast, youll also hear from faculty member Bob Prosperi, who recounts his experience leading President Jimmy Carter, Egyptian President Anwar El Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin in September 1978 when they were working toward the agreement that the following year, was signed as the Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty at Camp David.
The dignitaries stopped in Gettysburg for a tour and history lessonand some say that their walk through the battlefield led the three men to make the new start toward finding a peaceful solution to their conflict. As we say during our Transformational Journey from Gettysburg program, you never know when a small pebble can turn into a powerful avalanche for leaders.
Read on to learn more and as always, please send your comments and questions to our managing director, Angela Sontheimer, at angela@lincolnleadershipinstitute.com.
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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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August 2009 — The future of health reform is making headlines, seemingly daily, so of course it was one of the main topics for our August e-blast. From our perspective as insurance brokers, the health insurance industry was never broken, just sprained. We definitely think the system needs a tune-up, with much less waste and fraud, but there are many ways that this can play out — and everyone involved needs to be responsible for a more positive outcome. Unfortunately, we don’t believe the proposed public plan will work, for a few basic reasons. Read on to learn more.
We also are proud to announce some new partnerships — with ADP and Goodman & Company. And we’re excited to invite all of our clients and friends to an Oct. 22 event featuring author/journalist KATI MARTON and health care publisher ROBIN STRONGIN, who will talk about the future of health care, the Holocaust, and Kati’s life in spotlight. Lastly, don’t miss our tips on protecting yourself from Swine Flu.
We’ll talk to you next month! — Stephanie, Scott & Jack
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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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Welcome to the dog days of summer! August is proving to be as hot and steamy as it was back during the Civil War. Fortunately, we have the luxury of taking some time off and escaping to a relaxing retreat for some downtime. My special place is Nantucket. The sea, the surf and island life combine to provide a unique and wonderful place to do some of the critical and proactive reflection that we talk about in our leadership program.
Did you realize that Abraham Lincoln himself had a special summer place where he retreated for reflection, peace and solace during the heat of Washington summers? Beginning in 1862, when the pressures of the war and the summer heat got to be too much, Lincoln would escape to a hilltop cottage on the grounds of the Soldier’s Home, just four miles from the White House.
There he would walk the grounds, read, and visit with soldiers. Some historians believe that he spent one-quarter of his presidency there. Now you too can visit Lincoln’s summer retreat, which was restored and opened to the public just last year. For more information visit www.lincolncottage.org. Read on to learn more from LLI faculty member Matt Pinsker, Lincoln historian and author of a book about Lincoln’s bond with the Soldier’s Home.
I encourage you to take some time to find your own retreat for personal reflection. Maybe it is an island, or maybe like Lincoln’s it’s a grassy hill a few miles from home. Wherever your special place is, take the time to consider where your leadership practice is headed. I guarantee it will be time well spent!
Don’t forget to visit our blog at http://blog.lincolnleadershipinstitute.com/. We’d love to hear your thoughts and feedback!
Best regards, Steven B. Wiley
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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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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WASHINGTON DC, AUGUST 21, 2009 — Mark your calendar for September 8 at 8 p.m. when the DC-based author events company Hooks Book Events will host an intriguing conversation at DC’s Avalon Theater between New York Times bestselling writer Dan Pink and award-winning science journalists Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman.
The topic of discussion will be Bronson and Merryman’s hot new book NURTURESHOCK, which argues that when it comes to children, we’ve mistaken good intentions for good ideas. “Many of modern society’s strategies for nurturing children are in fact backfiring because key twists in the science have been overlooked,” the authors explain.
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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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Date: September 8, 2009
Time: 8 pm
Location: The Avalon Theater
5612 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20015
New York Times bestselling author Daniel Pink will interview Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman about their new book, NurtureShock: New Thinking About Children.
NURTURESHOCK is one of the most important books you will read this year,” says Pink, noting Bronson and his co-author Ashley Merryman move parenting out of the realm of folklore and into the realm of science and reveal what decades of studies teach us about the complexities of raising, happy, healthy, self-motivated kids. “As a writer, I was impressed by the prodigious research and keen analysis. As a father, I was consumed with taking notes and exhilarated by all I learned.”
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In this month’s newsletter, Bernard Wolfe, CFP ®, founder of Bernard Wolfe & Associates helps readers understand Roth IRA conversations and the new rules, which go into effect on January 1, 2010. “We wanted to provide a little background, the pros and cons, and help you understand how this may impact your financial management,” he says.
In a second article entitled, “5 Statistics Women Need to Know About Managing their Money — and 5 tips on how to take control,” Samantha Fraelich, a financial representative Bernard R. Wolfe & Associates, Inc., offers insights for women on how to best manage their money. “Whether you’re a women who is single, divorced, or widowed, it’s more likely than ever that at some point in your life you will need to fend financially for yourself,” Fraelich advises.
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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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