For those making airline reservations, starting May 15th, there seem to be some new TSA travel protocols.
 
Notice from West End Travel:

Please be advised that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has
instituted new rules and procedures that require airlines to present to the TSA
certain specific identity information for all passengers. The TSA has branded
these new requirements TSA SECURE FLIGHT, which goes into effect on May 15,
2009. The purpose of this program is for the US government to pre-screen airline
passengers against its No Fly list 72 hours prior to boarding.

On May 15th, airlines will be required to provide the full name of each
passenger to the TSA. Your name, as it appears on your reservation, must match
EXACTLY the ID you will be presenting at time of check-in. If your ID contains
your middle initial or name, your reservation must also reflect that
information. This only applies to reservations made on or after May 15th.

As the name in your Frequent Flyer account must also match your reservation
name to get flight credit from the airlines, you may need to contact the airline
and have your account name changed to match the ID you will be using.

On August 15th, the airlines will be required to provide the TSA with your date
of birth and gender for all domestic flights. Your travel agencies will start
collecting this information as soon as possible so that there will be no rush
when this rule goes into effect.  Please be advised that you may decline to give
me this information, but such refusal will cause check-in delays, additional
airport screening by the TSA,  and even possible denied boarding.

On October 31st, the airlines will be required to provide the TSA with your
date of birth and gender for all international flights, entering or leaving the
US. Please be advised that you may decline to give me this information, but
again refusal will cause check-in delays, additional airport screening by the
TSA, and even possible denied boarding.

In an effort to avoid unnecessary delays at check-in, please submit the
required information to your travel agency in advance of these deadlines. You
should either submit a new traveler’s profile or send them an e-mail with
the following information:

– EXACTLY how your name appears on both your domestic and international form of
ID – driver’s license, passport, etc . (If your name appears differently on
each form of ID, it may be best to be consistent and use your passport for all
travel both to insure mileage credit for your frequent flyer accounts AND to
avoid potential mishaps.)

– your date of birth

– your gender

– your passport number, country of issuance, nationality and expiration date

If you have questions about the TSA Secure Flight Program, please click on the
following link to connect directly to the TSA website
http://www.tsa.gov/what_we_do/layers/secureflight/index.shtm

If you do your own bookings for flights, the rules will still apply; you’ll
be responsible for assuring your own complicance.

Students in Accounting Schools will study subjects of finances, financial accounting, principles and theories of accounting, professional standards and ethics, management, cost control, budgeting, legal issues, taxes, auditing, reporting, statement analysis, research, planning and consulting, among others.

Look to an accredited business school, college or university for an associate, bachelor, or master degree in accounting. A college degrees in accounting is a prerequisite for becoming certified, and employers are looking for degree holders who majored in finance or accounting. Master degrees in accounting can increase employment potential, qualifying candidates for advanced positions and excellent pay.

Accounting degrees qualify graduates to perform financial functions in bookkeeping, payroll, accounts receivable, accounts payable, tax auditing, and much more, depending on the focus of study.

The Certified Management Accountant (CMA) specializes in management of accounts and financial matters. As an expert in accounting and business management, the CMA is critical to a firm’s decision-making processes. CMAs oversee areas of management with proven expertise in strategic financial management, business knowledge, and leading-edge management skills.

Certified Internal Auditors (CIAs) have proven skills in accounting, and independently appraise functions within organizations to determine internal control systems and quality of performance of internal financial systems. CIAs analyze, appraise, and provide counsel, recommendations, and information with regard to accounting and financial matters to upper management.

Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) are designated as having the accounting skills and knowledge to pass qualifying examinations and meet educational and public accounting experience requirements established by state licensing authorities. CPAs are licensed to perform quality auditing, accounting, litigation, tax, and financial advisory services.

If you are interested in learning more about Accounting Schools, please search our site for more in-depth information and resources.

Copyright 2006 – All Rights Reserved
Michael Bustamante, in association with Media Positive Communications, Inc. for SchoolsGalore.com

Notice to Publishers: Please feel free to use this article in your Ezine or on your Website; however, ALL links must remain intact and active.

Michael Bustamante is a staff writer for Media Positive Communications, Inc. in association with SchoolsGalore.com. Find Schools, Colleges, Universities, Vocational Schools and Distance Learning Schools at SchoolsGalore.com; meeting your needs as your educational resource to locate schools.

One of the major questions I ask business owners is: “Do you have a succession plan or exit strategy for your business?” I also ask employees: “Do you know if a succession plan or exit strategy exists in your company or organization?” You may be surprised to know that in my experience more than 90% tell me they have no succession plan or exit strategy. A 2004 CIBC Small Business Outlook Poll (conducted by Decima Research), indicated that 39% of small business owners plan to sell their business and 15% plan to have a family member take over. Yet, two-thirds (67%( of the entrepreneurs polled stated that they had not yet broached the subject of who will take over the company. To me that result is very telling and frankly is a motivator for writing this article.

Succession planning is a critical factor for the long-term success of any business. Leadership transitions in business affect the entire organization’s continuity, employee retention, client retention and returns on investment. It is essential to create and implement a process that creates visibility, accountability and greater integration of all facets of the business.

In another article, Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach provided seven (7) strategic actions to take to strategically structure a succession planning process. Those seven (7) strategic actions are:

Strategic Action #1: Begin the succession planning process early.

Strategic Action #2: Clearly determine and communicate the purpose, goals, and extent of the leadership succession plan or program.

Strategic Action #3: Clearly define the desired and required qualities of the new leader.

Strategic Action #4: Develop a clearly focused leadership development strategy.

Strategic Action #5: Develop a talent management process that will incorporate strategic thinking for specific development opportunities for future leaders.

Strategic Action #6: Identify future leadership candidates by developing a system for assessing current and future leadership needs.

Strategic Action #7: Identify a system for communicating information to ensure that the leadership succession and/or development programs are in line with strategic business needs.

After developing the list of strategic actions, it was important to develop an overall outline to present the strategically structured succession planning elements. That outline is as follows:

STRATEGICALLY STRUCTURED SUCCESSION PLAN OUTLINE

I. GOALS & OBJECTIVES

Develop a vision statement for your business

Develop a mission statement for your business

Develop a list of your core values & guiding principles

Develop short & long term goals for your business

Identify the stakeholders for your business

Develop your personal vision

Develop your personal goals

Develop your retirement goals

Create a team of advisors for your succession planning effort

Establish the need for a succession plan

II. EXIT STRATEGY

Develop options for your exit from your business

Review the developed options for your exit from the business

Select your option for your exit strategy

III. BUSINESS VALUATION

Obtain professional advice to determine the value of your business

Determine the value of your business

Determine a current value of your business assets & liabilities

Determine the goodwill value of your business

IV. BUSINESS STRUCTURE

Identify and quantify your business debt

Recruit & retain productive employees

Structure business to maximize value

Document key processes & procedures used in your business

V. TAX CONSIDERATIONS

Develop financial goals

Identify tax implications of your current business

Plan & implement tax strategy to minimize your taxes

VI. LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS

Retain professional legal counsel

Develop a buy-sell agreement for your business

VII. ESTATE PLANS

Retain a professional estate planning advisor

Develop an estate plan

VIII. SUCCESSOR SELECTION

Develop specific criteria for your successor

Recruit & select successor based upon your criteria

Communicate selection of successor to your stakeholders

IX. SUCCESSOR TRAINING

Develop a list of characteristics and skills needed by your successor

Develop a training plan for your successor

Develop a coaching/mentoring plan for your successor

Establish a timeline for your successor plan

X. CONTINGENCY PLAN

Develop a contingency plan (based on the “What Ifs?”)

Research & identify insurance needs (disability; personal life; critical illness; business; key person; etc.)

Select & train a key employee to take over in case of emergency or unforeseen event

Communicate your plan to stakeholders & advisors

XI. IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

Document the roles, responsibilities & expectations concerning the transition of ownership

Identify a facilitator to make sure the process of succession is carried out

XII. TIMELINES

Identify your timeline for the management transition

Identify your timeline for transition of ownership of your business

Identify your timeline for your complete exit from your business

XIII. COMMUNICATION

Document the succession plan

Document how to proceed with the succession plan in the event of an unforeseen event (accident, illness, death)

Document the transition or exit strategy to inform family, employees, clients, vendors, community & all stakeholders

Glenn Ebersole, Jr. is a multi-faceted professional, who is recognized as a visionary, guide and facilitator in the fields of business coaching, marketing, public relations, management, strategic planning and engineering. Glenn is the Founder and Chief Executive of two Lancaster, PA based consulting practices: The Renaissance Group, a creative marketing, public relations, strategic planning and business development consulting firm and J. G. Ebersole Associates, an independent professional engineering, marketing, and management consulting firm. He is a Certified Facilitator and serves as a business coach and a strategic planning facilitator and consultant to a diverse list of clients. Glenn is also the author of a monthly newsletter, “Glenn’s Guiding Lines – Thoughts From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” and has published more than 300 articles on business.

To find out more about the benefits & rewards of effectively working with a strategic thinking business coach, please contact Glenn Ebersole through his web site at http://www.businesscoach4u.com or jgecoach@aol.com

In the not-so-recent-past, job seekers had to spend hours upon hours walking around visiting companies and career consultants hoping to get a good job. They had to pour over newspapers and job listings for hours and then call up every prospective employer to ask for an appointment. But the advent of the Internet has changed all that. Now one of the most effective and efficient ways to look for a job is by using online career services. Unlike days past, the new online job services offer comprehensive advice concerning interviews, resume writing, and even career coaching – all at reasonable prices, and some services are free of charge.

Online Career Sites- Job Searching Made Simple

Online career sites started out small – but with time they have become bigger and better, and offer more value-added services. With online career services, you have a rich repository of career-related information at your fingertips 24/7. Using an online job service is very efficient. Instead of having to go to several different sources for career-related information and help, you can find everything you need in one place.

Is The Online Career Site Reputable?

We’ve all heard of job-related scams, so it pays to be careful. Scammers create false vacancies and post them with the intention of getting personal information about candidates and later misusing it. If you follow certain practices while using an online career service, you will be secure. To verify that an online career service will do what they say they will, ask yourself the following questions:

• Is there a ‘help’ function – contact email or otherwise?

• Does the service offer career coaching (it is hard to fake this)?

• Is there sufficient information on the site (a dearth of information suggests a scam)?

You can also verify the reliability of an online career service from sources like the Better Business Bureau.

A reputable online career service offers lots of features and information upfront. A good site will include lots of free articles, resume writing help and career coaching available. In addition, they will offer free tools and assessments for job seekers to use on their own before seeking live help.

Gone are the days when a career site only allowed job seekers to post their resumes and search available vacancies. Today’s career sites are comprehensive tools, offering complete career management, planning and consulting.

Recognized as a leading expert in the employment search industry, Heather Eagar is passionate about providing working professionals with up-to-date, reliable and effective job search tools and information. Heather has succeeded in creating the Ultimate Job Search Experience for job seekers at http://www.JobsCareersEtc.com

It is a real great feeling to be able to share additional affirmations of success in someone’s life or business. This month, In the spirit of continuing to celebrate success and sharing positive stories of success in what we do, I want to talk about Darek Potter and Harbor Engineering, Inc.

Darek Potter, P.E., Founder and President of Harbor Engineering, Inc. was referred to me during his first year in business. After we met, Darek made a very important decision that many business owners put off for years. Darek committed to developing a strategic plan and an Action Plan to direct and manage the growth of his civil engineering and landscape architecture business. Darek and his staff were involved in developing the strategic plan, which included a vision statement, a mission statement, a list of company core values and a list of short and long term goals. My role was as a facilitator, guide and business coach. Harbor Engineering, Inc. has experienced growth in number of employees and number of clients and continues to grow toward the established vision for the company. After 2004 ended, I asked Darek to share with me his thoughts on our strategic planning process and coaching and how the business performed. Here is what Darek said:

“Glenn’s ability to envision what is right for our Company and his assistance in developing our Strategic Plan has been extremely helpful in guiding our Company to where it is today.”

Darek Potter, P.E., President of Harbor Engineering, Inc.

My congratulations to Darek and his staff for a very successful year and special kudos for deciding to start thinking strategically the first year in business! And thank you Darek!

No matter how big or small your business is today or how many years you have been in business, you can still benefit from strategic thinking and planning.

Glenn Ebersole, Jr. is a multi-faceted professional, who is recognized as a visionary, guide and facilitator in the fields of business coaching, marketing, public relations, management, strategic planning and engineering. Glenn is the Founder and Chief Executive of two Lancaster, PA based consulting practices: The Renaissance Group, a creative marketing, public relations, strategic planning and business development consulting firm and J. G. Ebersole Associates, an independent professional engineering, marketing, and management consulting firm. He is a Certified Facilitator and serves as a business coach and a strategic planning facilitator and consultant to a diverse list of clients. Glenn is also the author of a monthly newsletter, “Glenn’s Guiding Lines – Thoughts From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” and has published more than 250 articles on business.

To find out more about the benefits & rewards of effectively working with a strategic thinking business coach, please contact Glenn Ebersole through his web site at http://www.businesscoach4u.com or jgecoach@aol.com

Online Accounting Schools allow you to obtain an education without ever stepping foot in a classroom. You can earn 100 percent of the credits needed for a degree through an online school or distance learning program! An accounting degree obtained online is just as valid as a degree from a traditional school. An online accounting degree qualifies the graduate to perform important financial functions, such as bookkeeping, payroll, accounts receivable, accounts payable, tax auditing, and many more.

Online Accounting Schools instruct in professional accounting standards and ethics, financial accounting, management, cost control, budget control, taxes, legal issues, auditing, accounting principles and theory, reporting, statement analysis, research, planning and consulting.

There are three types of Accountants: Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) and Certified Public Accountant (CPA). CPAs must be licensed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), which qualifies them to perform auditing, accounting, litigation, tax, and financial advisory services.

Most accredited Online Accounting Schools offer Associate, Bachelor, and Master Degrees as well as certification for entry-level accounting positions. A college degree is required to become a Certified Accountant, and you can obtain an online degree at your convenience over the Internet. Most employers prefer a Bachelor’s Degree with an emphasis on Finance or Accounting. A Master’s Degree in Business (MBA) further increases the graduate’s employment potential, qualifying him or her for positions with more authority and responsibility, and greater earning power.

If you are interested in learning more about Online Accounting Schools and other programs of study, please search our site for more information and resources.

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW and may or may not reflect specific practices, courses and/or services associated with ANY ONE particular school(s) that is or is not advertised on SchoolsGalore.com.

Copyright 2006 – All Rights Reserved
Michael Bustamante, in association with Media Positive Communications, Inc. for SchoolsGalore.com

Notice to Publishers: Please feel free to use this article in your Ezine or on your Website; however, ALL links must remain intact and active.

Michael Bustamante is a staff writer for Media Positive Communications, Inc., in association with SchoolsGalore.com. Visit our Distance Learning Directory and find Online Schools and other Schools, Colleges, Universities, and Trade Schools at SchoolsGalore.com; your educational resource to locate schools.

One of the serious mistakes businesses and organizations make in strategic planning is to use an “internal” facilitator, rather than an outside professional facilitator. Selecting a professional strategic planning facilitator is very important. Facilitation of your strategic planning process involves working with groups of people and requires that the facilitator be tuned in at all times to what is happening. The facilitator also must be able to suspend or change the direction of the process when necessary.

An experienced professional facilitator used in your strategic planning process will greatly increase the probability of a successful process and strategic plan and will also enable the participants to leave with positive feelings, a stronger cohesiveness, a sense of accomplishment and a stronger team. In selecting a professional facilitator, your strategic thinking business coach suggests that you look for the following key characteristics.

+ has experience in leading strategic planning processes

+ has excellent communication skills

+ has an understanding of organizational issues

+ has conflict management skills and confidence in handling conflicts

+ has the ability to help clarify your outcomes

+ has a commitment to ensure the group will reach the desired outcomes

+ has the ability to operate systematically and keep people focused

+ has the ability to offer insight and empathy

If you would like to learn more about using a professional facilitator for your strategic planning efforts and how a strategic thinking business coach can serve as your guide and facilitator in that process, please contact Glenn Ebersole today through his website at www.businesscoach4u.com or by email at jgecoach@aol.com

Glenn Ebersole, Jr. is a multi-faceted professional, who is recognized as a visionary, guide and facilitator in the fields of business coaching, marketing, public relations, management, strategic planning and engineering. Glenn is the Founder and Chief Executive of two Lancaster, PA based consulting practices: The Renaissance Group, a creative marketing, public relations, strategic planning and business development consulting firm and J. G. Ebersole Associates, an independent professional engineering, marketing, and management consulting firm. He is a Certified Facilitator and serves as a business coach and a strategic planning facilitator and consultant to a diverse list of clients. Glenn is also the author of a monthly newsletter, “Glenn’s Guiding Lines – Thoughts From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” and has published more than 250 articles on business.

To find out more about the benefits & rewards of effectively working with a strategic thinking business coach, please contact Glenn Ebersole through his web site at http://www.businesscoach4u.com or jgecoach@aol.com

You’ve established your company. You’ve hung out your shingle, printed up those marketing brochures, and launched your website. You may even have found your first few clients. Now what?

You can certainly continue to build your business through referrals from those first few satisfied customers. But that takes time because consulting and training industries are essentially relationship-driven. To leverage your contacts and build your business more quickly, consider the advantages of partnering with established companies that have already developed a solid client base, a recognized brand, and a solid product or service. Build partnerships with these organizations to give and get leads, referrals, and introductions.

At NetSpeed Leadership, we offer a consultant partner program to allow independent consultants to affiliate with us. Essentially training consultants become our partners in reaching out to our prospects and clients. We provide regular sales leads, a high-quality website, web conference demonstrations, paid search advertising, marketing and sales support tools. We coach our consultant partners through the sales process, help them prepare proposals and support them through the training implementation. Consultants who affiliate with us consider us to be their strategic partner, helping them provide a level of product and service that they might not be able to offer on their own. In return they make training delivery fees and commission on sales.

One of our colleagues is a frequently published author and a recognized expert in his field. He was approached this year by a start-up training company that wants to develop an online training program using his content. He provides the instant name recognition, golden reputation in his industry, and the content. They provide the instructional design, marketing, operation, and sales resources. He’s thrilled because he has no interest in developing an online training program but he wouldn’t mind the additional revenue stream. They’re thrilled because their time to market is significantly reduced and they get a fast start with an established client base when the program is ready.

NetSpeed Leadership occasionally affiliates with organizations that complement our product and service offerings. For example, we recently launched a customer service training program and we’re now working with a strategic partner to offer a customer service dashboard that will allow customers to identify and track their service metrics. This is an enhancement to our product that we value but don’t have the resources to develop internally. Our strategic partner hopes to gain access to our new clients, while we benefit from offering a sophisticated tracking system as a product enhancement.

In thinking about potential strategic partners, ask these kinds of questions:

What types of partners could enhance my product or service offering?
For example, a human resources consulting firm might consider partnering with a compensation expert, or an independent trainer might partner with a larger training vendor.

What does my company have to offer a strategic partner?
As a consultant you might offer to donate labor upfront to produce a product or service that would enhance your strategic partner’s business offerings (assuming, of course, that you would receive a portion of revenue down the road).

What strategic partners could extend my reach nationally?
Perhaps you’ve developed a good client base in your region but believe that you might be able to develop your business in other parts of the country. In this case, look for partners of similar size that are operating successfully in their regions and see if you can build on each others’ regional business with complementary service offerings.

What strategic partners could extend my reach internationally?
The world is growing increasingly inter-connected. There may be consultants or trainers in other countries that would be delighted to partner with you to open up their markets. You provide the intellectual capital, tested models, and operations support while developing business in a country or two that you might want to visit.

In any of these potential partnerships, you will want to ensure that your conversations are well-documented, that you sign non-disclosure agreements to protect your intellectual property, and that you conclude any agreements with solid legal contracts which spell out clearly your business arrangements. At the same time, trust your instincts. If you believe that your potential strategic partner is untrustworthy, for heaven’s sake, don’t move forward.

There is one final advantage of affiliating with strategic partners: the joy of collaborating with smart people to create great results!

Cynthia Clay is the President/CEO, NetSpeed Leadership (http://netspeedleadership.com), a training and consulting company that partners with independent trainers and consultants to bring top-notch blended learning programs to small and mid-sized organizations. NetSpeed Leadership welcomes inquiries from interested consultants who want to learn more about growing their businesses through strategic alliances. Visit our website to learn more: Consultant Partner Programs