cedar valley business monthly

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THE COURIER PAGE �www.wcfcourier.com cedar valley business monthly

MATTHEW PUTNEY / Courier Photo Editor

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey, left, talks with Terry Johnston of Cedar Valley TechWorks during a recent tour of the facility near downtown Waterloo.

By JIM [email protected]

SPIRIT LAKE — As strong as the Cedar Valley’s agriculture heri-tage is, Bill Northey is fixed on the region’s — and the state’s — farm-rooted future.

He says that future transcends the age-old business model of growing, transporting and sell-ing corn and hogs.

Northey, 50, Iowa’s first-term

agriculture secretary, notes that ag accounts for about a quarter of the state’s economy.

“By the time you total up all the direct sales from agriculture, that’s $20 billion in sales,” he said. And, he said, it’s growing, embracing an increasing num-ber of allied industries.

“You look at manufacturing, insurance, banking and the rest that happen because of agricul-ture,” he said.

And that’s just the present, he said, adding that the future looks even brighter, thanks to efforts like the Cedar Valley TechWorks initiative in Waterloo.

Northey recently toured the TechWorks facility, slated to welcome its first tenant, the University of Northern Iowa’s National Ag-Based Lubricants, this summer.

Growing businessAgriculture continues to drive Iowa, Cedar Valley

Volume � l No. 8

BUSINESS MONTHLY columns

Page 4 Jim OffnerAgriculture drives the local economy

Page 13 Waterloo Main StreetFacts about the parking situation in Waterloo

Page 14 University of Northern IowaKnow your market before you start a business

Page 15 Wartburg CollegeHow internships can help stem Iowa’s ‘brain drain’

BUSINESS MONTHLY staff directoryEDITORIAL CONTENTNancy Raffensperger [email protected](319) 291-1445

Jim [email protected](319) 291-1598

ADVERTISINGJackie [email protected](319) 291-1527

Sheila [email protected](319) 291-1448

Cedar Valley Business Monthly is published monthly. It is a free publication direct-mailed to more than 6,500 area businesses. For distribution, call Courier Communications at (319) 291-1527 Contact Cedar Valley Business Monthly at P.O. Box 540, Waterloo, IA 50704.

BUSINESS MONTHLY on the cover

MATTHEW PUTNEY / Courier Photo Editor

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey pauses during a recent tour of the Cedar Valley TechWorks facility under construction near downtown Waterloo.

www.cvbusinessmonthly.com

See NORTHEY, page A7

AUGUST 2009

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Agriculture drives the local economyAn agriculture-focused issue

of the Cedar Valley Business Monthly is a natural.

The questions about agricul-ture’s role in the region’s econ-omy are many. The answers are exciting.

The region’s raison d’etre has been agri-culture from the beginning. Planted firmly in the middle of the corn capital

of the country, the Cedar Valley has served as host to some of the most fertile — and profit-able — enterprises in the coun-try. In addition to corn, there are soybeans, hogs, dairy operations and even, in-season, fresh fruits and vegetables.

And then there is Deere & Co., which employs more than 5,500 area residents.

That’s just some of what built our region into a major agri-cultural production center. It’s worth pondering the agricul-tural legacy that our region has built for itself and the country.

But thanks to contributions from corporate leaders like Deere and some of the brightest minds from institutions of high-er learning, such as the Univer-sity of Northern Iowa and Iowa State University, our attention is turning toward the future.

Cedar Valley TechWorks is well on its way to becoming the ag-based crown jewel of our region. The TechWorks buildings, for-merly occupied by Deere’s trac-tor and component works, form the nerve center of an idea that melds the best of technology and our agricultural pedigree. Deere

donated the land and buildings. Planners have been hard at work gutting the property and ret-rofitting the buildings to house research and development cen-ter to focus on developing bio-fuels and technologies that will turn this region into the agri-culture and technology center of the Midwest.

This issue of the Cedar Valley Business Monthly, in addition to providing thought-provoking opinions on the state of business in the region, will offer insights into the role agriculture has played in the region’s past and its growth in the future.

Thumb through the following pages and appreciate the diverse knowledge base that is serv-ing to bring our region to the forefront of technology, as that field blends with agriculture in ways that will serve our region’s growth for decades to come.

Jim Offneris the Courier

business editor. Contact him at jim.offner@

wcfcourier.com.

The Associated Press

What does an entrepreneur look like?

A recent survey by the Kauff-man Foundation, a pro-entre-preneur group, found that com-pany founders, mostly in the technology sector, tended to be married, middle-class and middle-aged.

Family: Nearly 70 percent said they were married when they started the business. About 60 percent had at least one child. In the case of their own birth order, the biggest group, 42.5 percent, said they were the first-born.

Education: They overwhelm-ingly (95 percent) are college graduates. There was an even split between those who held only bachelor’s degrees and those with more advanced degrees.

Background: The survey said that 71.5 percent called their par-ents “middle-class.” That ranged from professional parents with postgraduate degrees to white-

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collar workers with associate’s degrees. It found 82.5 percent were born in the U.S., with the next biggest country of origin being India, at 3.8 percent.

Work experience: About a quarter had zero to five years of work experience under their belts before launching or join-ing a start-up, while 27.6 percent had worked six to 10 years and 23.3 percent 11 to 15 years. The average age of company founders was 40.

The survey was heavily skewed to the technology sector. The report’s authors wanted to sur-vey those industries they con-sidered “higher growth,” such as aerospace, computer software and hardware, biotechnology and engineering consultants. It randomly polled 549 employees from these “high growth” sectors by phone and e-mail between August 2008 and March 2009. Those termed “founders” were those who joined their company in its first year.

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Survey paints portrait of a U.S. entrepreneur

AUGUST 2009


We just celebrated another anniversary of our freedom and independence. Our freedom of having healthy joints that enable

us to be flex-ible and com-fortably move is a wonder-ful thing, but as we age, it may become inhibited.

There are nutrients avail-able with com-ponents that are vital to healthy joint function and structure. These nutrients are referred to

as “chondro-protective agents”. Included in these are glucos-amine, chondroitin, MSM, as well as anti-inflamatory herbs. They supply the raw material neces-sary to rebuild worn cartilage.

Glucosamine, which naturally occurs in the body, plays a key role in the construction of carti-lage, the tough connective tissue that cushions joints. It stimulates the production of glycosamino-glycans (the key component of

cartilage) including the incorpo-ration of sulfur into cartilage. Sulfur is necessary in making and repairing cartilage.

Glucosamine is made in the body from the simple carbohy-drate glucose and the amino acid glutamine. As we age, we are not able to make enough glucos-amine, resulting in the inflam-mation, breakdown and eventual destruction of connective tissue, especially the cartilage.

When the cartilage wears down, it leaves bone endings exposed, which may result in pain, stiff-ness and swelling of the joints.

In some clinical trials, glucos-amine has been found effective in treating and slowing the pro-gression of joint related diseases typically caused by the continu-ous wear and tear on our joints. It also has fewer gastrointestinal side effects than the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs often used in treating joint disorders.

Even though glucosamine may be helpful for joint repair, often it is taken in conjunction with chondroitin, MSM and anit-inflammatory herbs. Stop by your local health food store for helpful joint supplements.

Get up and get going with supplements that promote joint health

Marilyn Bartels is owner ofTnK

Health Food Store in Waterloo. Contact her at (319) 235-0246 or, toll-free (888)

319-0246.

AUGUST 2009

THE COURIERPAGE � www.wcfcourier.comcedar valley business monthly

Over the past year, risk man-agement has become an essential part of doing good business. Farm Credit Services of America rec-ommends a cautious approach

for farm operators. Factors contrib-uting to the cur-rent environment are volatile com-modity prices, increased input costs, record high real estate values, concerns about availability of equipment or fer-tilizer and coun-ter-party risks.

The volatility of commodity prices makes crop insur-ance particularly important.

Land values shot up by 93.8 per-cent in Nebraska and 122 percent in Iowa in the past decade. Trends indicate land values may have peaked or leveled off. It’s impor-tant for producers to remember rising asset values don’t repay loans. Cash flow and profits do.

Customers should build work-ing capital positions, even before prepaying term debt. Working capital — current assets minus current liabilities — is the cash cushion for the operational side of the business. Consider the impact of the rise in input costs. Margining 30 percent of $750 an acre is quite different than mar-gining 30 percent of $500 an acre. Having adequate working capital on hand helps.

For agricultural suppliers, the key questions are how severe the national economic downturn will be and how long it will last. Farm Credit Services of America will continue to offer loans and leases that fit the financial and tax needs of producers and suppliers, along with competitive rates.

With more than 76,500 cus-tomers and assets of more than $13 billion, FCSAmerica is one of the region’s leading providers of credit and insurance services to farmers, ranchers, agribusiness and rural residents in the region.

Risk management essential for ag producers in poor economy

Angie Treptow is vice president for Farm Credit

Services of America’s

Cedar Falls and Manchester

offices. Contact her at (319) 415-7665

or [email protected].

AUGUST 2009


NABL will occupy the third floor of one of two former John Deere production buildings on the TechWorks site.

“I think there are so many opportunities in bringing folks together who are looking at bio-fuels, biotechnology and pro-cessing products,” Northey said.

The size and scope of Tech-Works will multiply the oppor-tunities, Northey said.

“In some cases, those entrepre-neurs and researchers out there are very scattered, and there are great advantages to encourag-ing them and also putting them in one place where they can related and share ideas,” he said. “So, not only can the existing facility house lots of folks, but there’s also lots of room for new buildings.”

The local and state economies will vault into new growth areas once the TechWorks project is fully functional, Northey said.

“I believe agriculture is such a cornerstone to all the opportu-nities we have in the future,” he said. “Once folks establish busi-nesses here, they need ag prod-ucts. These are businesses that are going to stay.

“They create more value on the farm, as well as businesses and jobs off the farm,” he said.

On the manufacturing side, Northey notes John Deere’s strong roots in the area continue to grow stronger.

“Those jobs are staying solid there,” he said. “I also think there’s a personality with John Deere, as well. It’s a hard-work-ing machine built right, built to

last.”Biofuels are an emerging com-

ponent to the area’s ag-based economy, Northey said.

Ethanol creates a demand for corn. “It’s a big deal for Iowa, and it creates its own local jobs, inside and outside the plant.”

The emerging biofuels market may help save shrinking rural communities and ultimately save family farms.

“Off the farm, hopefully there are ways to add value-added products to that activity and that crop,” Northey said. “So, we can create new jobs like we have with ethanol, by looking at other processing and specialty production. We’re developing technology in how we manage our crop and sensing equipment and all kinds of things, and those will offer opportunities for our small towns as well. There’s also discussion about opportunities for broadband that will open up for folks, so they can work where they love to live, which is a small town in Iowa.”

Some of those emerging tech-nologies will be crucial in encour-aging younger generations to get into farming and agriculture-related careers, Northey said.

“There’s a lot more interest, it seems, in the last few years than there was in many years prior to that,” he said. “The 1980s were certianly a tough time and caused people to look toward doing something else. But the last few years, with technologies applied to agriculture more aggressively and more profits seen, I think young folks can see where they fit into this.”

Challenges remain, he acknowledged.

“Land is not cheap; equipment is

not cheap,” he said. “But there are opportunities to get started.”

Specialty livestock, farmers mar-

kets, and allied industries are beck-oning the young, Northey said.

“Quite a few folks are selling

fruits and vegetables directly to consumers,” he said.NORTHEY

From page A3

AUGUST 2009

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Partnership will benefit degree-seeking adults in Cedar ValleyProfessional educators recog-

nize adult learning differs signifi-cantly from tra-ditional full-time student learning. As a member of the Executive Committee of The Commis-sion of Acceler-ated Programs (CAP), I have had the oppor-tunity to learn from and network with regional and national experts in the field of adult learning.

A 2004 study by the U.S. Depart-ment of Labor

found more than 60 percent of the U.S. population between the ages of 25 and 64 had no college education. Other studies show as many as 37 million adults are interested in earning a bachelor’s degree but are unable to partici-pate, often due to a lack of pro-grams near their home or place of employment. This barrier does not exist in the Cedar Valley. There is a rich history of adult accelerated learning Iowa.

More than 11 years ago, Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids began offering adult accelerat-ed degrees in conjunction with Kirkwood Community College. The program grew fast — an indication the classes filled a gap in local workforce development and education. Today, the Mount Mercy-Kirkwood partnership boasts more than 800 graduates.

The program’s success has inspired a new partnership between Hawkeye Community College in the Cedar Valley and Mount Mercy. Mount Mercy professors will teach courses on Hawkeye’s main campus. The program was created to meet the area’s growing demand for quality, affordable adult acceler-ated programs with evening and weekend classes. Mount Mercy will offer flexible and personal-ized accelerated programs for working adults seeking to earn

professional degrees in a realistic time frame.

Officials at both institutions recognized the benefits such a program would bring to the Cedar Valley, especially at a time when the economy dictates that workers retool their skills and knowledge to adjust to rising competitive standards. The U.S. Department of Labor reports demographic shifts are expect-ed to worsen the gap between qualifications and job demands, creating a shortage of 9 million qualified workers by 2014. Edu-cation is the key to maintaining a qualified national work force — and can oftentimes mean the difference between a promotion and a pink slip.

Adults looking to earn their col-lege degree are already working in the real world. They have full-time jobs and lifestyles that can-not accommodate classes dur-ing the workday. Mount Mercy understands this. The program enables students to attend a four-hour class one night per week for five consecutive weeks. The accelerated format enables working adults to earn a degree in significantly less time than taking traditional classes. This program understands the needs of adult learners and is able to accommo-date these needs without com-promising the quality of educa-tion. Mount Mercy professors will travel to Hawkeye’s campus to teach, enabling working adults in the area the convenience of enrolling in courses nearer their home and place of business.

Mount Mercy will offer two majors at Hawkeye: management and applied management. Mount Mercy’s management and applied management majors emphasize strategic decision making, ethi-cal leadership, analytical rea-soning, problem solving, and professional communication. Because adults accepted into the program have professional work experience under their belt, they immediately begin to apply the knowledge they gain from each class to what they’ve already done in the work force.

Tom Castle is dean of the

Institute at Mount Mercy College. Contact him at

(319) 363-8213, ext. 1843 or [email protected]. The college’s Web site is www.mtmercy.

edu.

THE COURIER PAGE �www.wcfcourier.com cedar valley business monthlyAUGUST 2009

Take good care of an inheritance to improve your financesInheriting money is typically a

gift from someone close to you that deserves to be cherished and

put to good use. If managed well, the benefit to you can far exceed what even the best-intentioned bene-factor might have imagined.

If you are like many baby boom-ers, you either have or likely will receive some inheritance from parents or oth-ers during your life. Even if the

amount of money received may not put you on easy street, it can make a difference if you handle the inheritance properly.

A 2006 study by the AARP Public Policy Institute showed that about 20 percent of baby boomer households received an inheritance, and another 15 per-cent expect to receive one in the future. The median value of those who have received an inheri-tance was $64,000 (in inflation-adjusted dollars) in 2004. While that may not be enough to dras-tically alter your life, it certainly is significant enough to make a substantial difference in your financial situation.

Any sum you receive should be helpful. The larger the amount, the more decisions you will have to make.

Here are some steps to consider as you determine what to do with this newfound source of wealth:

Be realistic about what it means. An inheritance does not give you license to sudden-ly change your lifestyle (except in those rare cases where your inheritance is a sum of several hundred thousand dollars or more). It might help you handle an emergency need or achieve a longtime goal, however. Be cautious about altering your approach to money just because of a sudden new source of wealth. For most, this is a one-time event that won’t be repeated.

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Determine how it fits with-in your overall financial strat-egy. Consider the impact of an inheritance and the effect on your financial life. Determine if the money you’ve received will be used for a specific purpose, or incorporated into other existing assets you already established to help achieve certain goals.

Look into possible tax impli-cations. It is important to discuss your situation with a tax adviser who can help you understand the often intricate and complex laws associated with your inheritance. Some of the questions related to taxation revolve around the spe-cific type of asset you inherit. For instance, if you inherit shares of a stock, the cost basis for the stock will not be its original purchase price, but valued at the price on the day the decedent died. This may provide a tax advantage for you at the time you sell the shares. If you inherit retirement plan assets, such as an individu-al’s workplace savings plan or an IRA, there are different tax laws that will apply. To make the most of your inheritance, it is vital that you comply with appropriate tax laws to avoid any penalties.

Develop your own estate plan. The receipt of an inheritance is a good reminder that all of us have a need to prepare for the disposi-tion of our estates at death. If you don’t have a will or haven’t updated one lately, be sure to do so. Also, review the beneficiaries you have named for your retire-ment plans (workplace plans as well as IRAs) to be sure they are current.

If you plan how to manage your inheritance, it may have a more significant impact on your over-all financial situation. Even if you decide to use the money for an immediate purpose, you want to make sure that your strategy is consistent with your entire financial approach.

Enlisting the help of profes-sionals to guide you along the way, including an attorney, accountant and a financial advis-er, can help you best manage this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

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Larry K. Fox is senior financial

advisor with Ameriprise

Financial Inc. in Waterloo. Contact him

at (319) 234-7000

THE COURIERPAGE 10 www.wcfcourier.comcedar valley business monthly

TechWorks presents opportunities for agriculture, businessSince the beginning of time,

the one constant in agriculture has been change. Agriculture has gone from each family feed-ing itself to a few families feeding their community to a few farmers feeding the world. Advances in irri-gation, production practices, equip-ment, chemi-cals, fertilizer and genetics has kept agriculture on the leading edge of technology and supplied the world with food, cloth-

ing and other products. New uses have been one of the most valuable pieces of agricultural production and technological advances; from wool and cotton to peanut butter, corn sweeten-ers and biofuels, many products have emerged to add value to the raw commodities produced around the world.

The TechWorks campus, locat-ed in downtown Waterloo, pro-vides the opportunity for Iowa to be on the cutting edge of tech-nology in agriculture. TechWorks is emerging as the pinnacle of research and development, man-ufacturing, education, showcas-ing new uses and products from the commodities and natural resources available in Iowa.

TechWorks is working in con-junction with our universities and community colleges to bring research and education to the

forefront by maximizing both private and public resources. The testing labs will facilitate edu-cation and product research and can also be used with the busi-ness incubator/accelerator to help new businesses get off to a solid start. Companies and orga-nizations locating at the Tech-Works campus will add value to products grown in Iowa and increase the income of farmers and agribusinesses, helping the economy in the Cedar Valley and the state.

Communicating the story of agriculture — both the his-tory and the future — is a valu-able component of TechWorks. Present and future generations need to understand the history and the future of agriculture and the important role it plays in our everyday lives. Nearly 400,000 jobs in Iowa are ag-related, or one out of every five jobs. We need to communicate the impor-tance of agriculture to those who live in or visit Iowa. Fewer of us today have a connection to the farm, and we lose touch with the hard work and determination it takes to produce all the things we take for granted. The AgriTech Exhibition Center will share the hardships and triumphs of those who have come before and the exciting things to come, as well a showcasing the products that are being developed and manufac-tured at the Campus.

TechWorks is a project that we in the Cedar Valley and the state of Iowa can be very proud of, and one we need to support. This is an opportunity we cannot afford to miss.

Cary Darrah is general manager

of Cedar Valley TechWorks in

Waterloo. Contact her by telephone at (319) 232-1156 or (319) 415-5005 or via e-mail, at www.

cedarvalley techworks.com.

AUGUST 2009

THE COURIER PAGE 11www.wcfcourier.com cedar valley business monthly

Adult day care a livesaver for those taking care of a loved oneFor many people, growing older

has a set of challenges that most of us never anticipate. What if

you experienced a stroke that result-ed in a physical disability? What about heart dis-ease, Alzheimer’s disease, loss of vision or hearing, arthritis, frailty or a host of other age-related con-ditions. And, what if you were no lon-ger able to com-pletely take care of yourself? Many of us have been inde-pendent our entire adult lives; used to

taking care of ourselves, a certain pride in being self-sufficient.

As we age, the likelihood of experiencing disability increas-es significantly. We all know families who are taking care of an aging loved one; helping to manage their finances, coordi-nating medical appointments or actually living with them, taking on the role of full-time caregiv-er. While care giving for a loved one is tremendously rewarding, it is also exhausting and time consuming.

Caregivers often have difficul-ty finding the time or energy to take care of the normal respon-sibilities of their own lives, like working, housekeeping or recreation.

Families in this situation often find adult day care can be a real life saver. Adult day care services provide a variety of services, such

as assistance with medications, nutritional meals and snacks, social and physical activities, daily activities and educational programs as well as following through on prescribed physical therapy activities, nursing assis-tance and care.

Caregivers also benefit from adult day care services. Caregiv-ers who work are able to be more productive because they are not worried about their loved one. Adult day care also gives care-givers the opportunity for some “alone” time; to get some things done around the house, to go shopping, play a round of golf or just to get some much-deserved rest. There is a sense of relief that comes from knowing that your loved one is cared for and safe during the day.

Adult day care services are available in the Waterloo — Cedar Falls area at two sites known as Newel Post. The Newel Post Adult Day Care programs are operated by North Star Community Ser-vices, Inc. Located in Waterloo on Tiffany Place and Canterbury Court, our two facilities are com-fortable, inviting, and accessible. The program is staffed by dedi-cated, well-trained, and caring people who have a genuine love for their jobs and the people they serve.

The cost of adult day care ser-vices is very reasonable. Plus, there are a variety of funding sources that are available for those who qualify.

To learn more about adult day care services or to schedule a tour at one of our beautiful Newel Post facilities, call (319) 433-0584.

Mark Witmer is executive

director of North Star Community Services Inc. in

Waterloo. Contact him at (319) 236-

0901 or www.northstarcs.org.

AUGUST 2009


‘Green Space, Your Place’ reshapes a partnershipTerms like “eco-friendly”

and “sustainability” are all the buzz in today’s media. In these e x t r a o r d i n a r y times of decreas-ing resources and increasing needs, we have realized our connected-ness to Mother Nature and the vital importance of turning from users to stewards.

The Cedar Val-ley Arboretum & Botanic Garden’s 2009 theme is “Green Space, Your Place,” as we encourage the Cedar Valley to

join in the green movement to partner with nature and improve our built environment.

We are lucky in the Cedar Val-ley to be surrounded by won-derful outdoor and recreational amenities, all opportunities to solidify our people-to-plant partnership. Public green space connects people to people by encouraging face-to-face inter-action and civic participation. It provides space to admire art and nature as well as a collective space to honor and celebrate. It seems to bring out the best in us to cultivate happiness.

Perhaps most importantly, public green space provides a calm environment to nourish a sense of wonder in youths and adults. No sensory overload — just fresh air and natural beauty. One of our greatest responsibili-ties at the arboretum is to serve as an outdoor classroom. It is our goal to provide a space to teach the power of observation and higher level thought process.

Learners from preschool through higher education need informal settings to connect the dots between the classroom and real experience. To ensure that we support and encourage our future generations of plant sci-entists in all their many forms, we must make the connection between students, the formal classroom and our natural world.

Land and agriculture is our con-tinuity, and what will connect one generation to the next. Knowing tomorrow’s success and devel-opment will result from steps we take today, we must teach youths to be Earth advocates and inno-vators. Because today we cannot imagine what future studies will find, how plants will fuel tomor-row’s technology.

The face of agriculture is chang-ing. Future farming will require additional technology and over-all employment likely will con-

tinue to decline and productiv-ity increase. Horticulture and organic farming will continue to expand, as will the importance of buying locally.

We depend on plants for exis-tence. Green is the color of plants and our future. Plants not only refresh our spirits and add beau-ty to our landscape, they nourish our bodies and provide solutions to the challenges of our world. Please join the Cedar Valley Arboretum & Botanic Gardens in moving outside our garden gates by involving the Cedar Valley in a meaningful way, teaching our youths to observe and instill a plant connection that will fuel all of our futures.

The Cedar Valley Arboretum & Botanic Gardens is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit independent organiza-tion and is located directly east of Hawkeye Community Col-lege on Orange Road in Waterloo.

The arboretum serves a diverse population including the elderly and very young of varied income and skill levels, and encourag-es the participation by persons with disabilities. The grounds are open April through October, dawn to dusk, and admission is free to the public.

Make sure to attend the arbo-retum’s annual Fall Harvest Fes-tival from 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 20. The festival is the arboretum’s signature event, a family weekend for the Cedar Valley community and North-east Iowa.

The main attraction each year is the scarecrow contest, with unique scarecrows made in every shape and size by commu-nity businesses and individuals. Other events include an open-air market, games and crafts for children of all ages, picnic food and local talent performances.

Mollie Benning Luze

is director of horticulture at

the Cedar Valley Arboretum &

Botanic Gardens, 3336 Kimball Ave., Waterloo. Contact her at (319) 226-4966 or director@

cedarvalley arboretum.org.

AUGUST 2009

THE COURIER PAGE 13FRIdAy, JUly 31, 2009 www.wcfcourier.com cedar valley business monthly


First of two parts.

Who hasn’t heard the com-plaint, “I couldn’t find a parking space?”

I have probably said it myself once or twice. So, I was as shocked as anyone to learn there are more than 3,700 pub-lic parking spaces in downtown Waterloo. Per-haps a more accu-rate statement is, “I couldn’t find a parking space exactly where I wanted it, when I wanted it.”

That is why parking is such

a hot topic of conversation. There seems to be a disconnect between the perception and real-ity of parking downtown.

Downtown Waterloo has been through some rough patches with the construction of East Fourth Street over the past two years. The street went from no traffic and no parking during construction, to nonmetered parking, and now there are meters. Believe it or not, parking meters provide a benefit to downtown businesses. They contribute to your bottom line. Regulating parking assures that one of the most valuable pieces of real estate downtown is provid-ing its maximum benefit. Time limits, parking meters and park-ing enforcement are all tools that protect an asset that is important to your customers: convenience. These regulations are in place for one reason: to encourage turn-over of parking spaces to attract more people downtown.

The Traffic Code for the city of Waterloo states “any vehicle which remains in an individu-al parking space after the pre-scribed time for parking is here-by determined to be illegally parked.” What does that mean? It means if the parking meter is a two-hour meter, it is intended to be used in increments of two hours or less, not as a solution for

long-term parking needs. It also means that plugging a meter for a full work day is a parking viola-tion. It is important to use the parking ramps, public parking lots, and 10-hour meters to meet extended parking needs.

If you have ever worked for a big-box store, you know that the spaces closest to the doors are not intended for employees; they are intended for people who spend the shortest amount of time in the store and, therefore, turn-over the spaces more often.

Leasing a parking space is not expensive, and there are several spots available in the ramps and public parking lots downtown. Parking spaces in the ramps range from $35 to $50 a month. This equates to about $1.50 - $2.50 per day during the workweek. Parking spaces in the open lots are $30 a month — less than $1.50 per work day. These prices don’t compare to the hundreds or even thou-sands of dollars of potential lost revenue when a customer decides not to stop or shop because of a perceived parking issue.

They say it costs six to 10 times more to attract a new customer than to keep an existing one. We all know how important it is for a customer to have a pleasant expe-rience. This experience extends beyond your front door. Just like you make sure your store is clean and your employees are appro-priately dressed, you should want your customers to have avail-able parking. No doubt about it, on-street parking is convenient. That is why those spaces should be for customer use only. Use the public ramps or lots for extended parking and save the on-street parking for customers and visi-tors. Park smart.

Downtown Waterloo parking: Facts and fictionAUGUST 2009

Sindee Kleckner is executive

director of Main Street Waterloo. Contact her at

(319) 291-2038.

Time limits, parking meters and parking enforcement are all tools that protect an asset that is important to your customers: convenience.


Some entrepreneurs start or operate their businesses like a lot of people buy lottery tick-ets: They spend their money

first, then see if they are a win-ner. Problem is, for every winner, there are thou-sands of losers. We can all relate to the success story of someone who came up with an idea and quickly got rich from it. That gives us hope that if they can do it, so can we. Well, there are thou-sands of bankrupt business ventures out there that

thought the same thing. What you really need is some way to put the odds in your favor. Wouldn’t it be better to understand your chance of success before you invest your hard-earned money?

Strategic marketing services recently completed a project for a young Hispanic entrepreneur with the idea of preparing and selling authentic Latino food products to Iowa food retailers. On the surface, it might seem like a no-brainer. Hispanics are the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. population and their ranks are growing in Iowa. According to the Food Marketing Institute,

Hispanic consumers tend to shop for groceries more often, buy more food items, and spend 20 percent more at the grocery store then the typical U.S. consumer. This is all a lot of entrepreneurs would need to forge ahead with their business idea. Our client however, who had limited resources, needed more assurance.

We proposed conducting research with both Latino and non-ethnic grocery stores in highly populated Latino areas in Iowa, as well as food distribu-tors that sell to both Latino and non-ethnic retail food vendors. We soon discovered that many of the Latino business owners we needed to interview did not speak English. One of the advantages of being a part of the university is that we have numerous read-ily available resources to help us address unusual situations. A call to the language arts depart-ment resulted in finding a Span-ish-speaking individual whom we hired and trained to make the calls on our behalf.

Our confidentiality agreement precludes me from disclosing the detailed results of this project, but what I can tell you is that, as a result of this project, our client now has a realistic picture of the market along with a list of obsta-cles he will have to contend with if he chooses to pursue his busi-ness idea. In addition, if he chooses to proceed with his business, he

knows the most receptive market penetration point.

What this will allow our client to do is focus his limited resources in the area where he has the greatest

chance of success. Once estab-lished he can expand into other areas as resources allow. Just like picking apples, gather the lowest and easiest fruit first, then work

your way up the tree. That is the basis of market research. Find solid ground on which to stand to launch your business.

AUGUST 2009

Market intelligence is key to business startup

Ron Padavich is director of

strategic marketing services at the University of

Northern Iowa. Contact him at

(319) 273-6942 or ronald.padavich@

uni.edu.

IRS bad at regulating tax preparersWASHINGTON (AP) — The IRS

does a poor job overseeing paid tax preparers used by more than half the nation’s taxpayers, the agency’s inspector general said in a report released in late July.

The IRS has acknowledged problems overseeing tax prepar-ers, announcing in June that it intends to propose new rules by the end of the year. The rules, which could come as regulations or proposed legislation, could include licensing and training requirements.

The IRS held its first pub-

lic forum to gather input on the new rules July 30 in Washing-ton. About 60 percent of taxpay-ers pay someone to prepare their returns, according to the IRS. An additional 20 percent or so buy computer software. However, tax preparers don’t have to be licensed, unless they represent clients in proceedings before the Internal Revenue Service.

Industry leaders, including H&R Block and the National Associa-tion of Tax Professionals, have said they would welcome better oversight of tax preparers.

THE COURIER PAGE 15www.wcfcourier.com cedar valley business monthlyAUGUST 2009

Area presents opportunities for retaining young mindsIowans have heard ad nauseum

that our younger generation is fleeing the state in droves — the so-called “brain drain.”

Depending on the period chosen since 1995, Iowa is among the leaders in out-migration, but the problem is most acute among those with college degrees.

We’re second to North Dakota, and it’s not an inconsequential number.

Iowans have an affinity for higher

education. The Generation Iowa Commission reported earlier this year that 62 percent of Iowa’s high school graduates go to col-lege with 33 percent attaining a bachelor’s degree. The existing work force includes 24 percent with a B.A.

Ironically, Iowa should have a “brain influx.” It is the top net importer of college students in the Midwest and among the leaders in the nation, which speaks well of its higher-education reputa-tion. Students from the Chicago

metropolitan area inundate the University of Iowa campus and are well-represented elsewhere.

Yet Iowa’s in-migration is up only among people without a high school diploma or a high school diploma only.

Commissions have studied ways to stymie the out-migra-tion. Governors have floated various ideas like tuition reim-bursement and special tax breaks and pursued initiatives, such as Vision Iowa, to keep our children from abandoning us.

Reality, of course, is that no political act short of encourag-ing global warming — swamp-ing the coasts and shortening our winters — may dissuade young people intent on moving to the youth enclaves like Wrigleyville in Chicago or Old Town in Alex-andria, Va., or to sunnier climes.

Others with the inclination to stay may be thwarted by the lack of job opportunities — only 12.2 percent of jobs in the state required a bachelor’s degree or higher — or lower pay, albeit with higher cost-of-living elsewhere.

It is presumptuous to main-tain that Wartburg, with 1,800 students — has found the magic elixir. But our statistics are com-paratively favorable: 72 percent of our students are from Iowa and

71 percent of them stay, while 23 percent of our out-of-state grads relocate to Iowa.

I first became actively involved with Wartburg in my previous life as editor of The Courier. We had a disproportionate number of Wartburg grads in the news-room: great work ethic, funda-mentally well grounded and an excellent growth curve.

I became a member of the pro-fessional advisory board at the college to enhance our abil-ity to keep that pipeline flowing: high-ability, low-maintenance employees and non-existent relocation costs.

The Courier, obviously, wasn’t alone in that take. The Cedar Val-ley is home to 7,000 Wartburg alumni. Interestingly, about one in six Wartburg grads is married to another grad. Not surpris-ingly, statistics indicate couples are more likely to stay put than singles.

Much of Wartburg’s success in keeping students in the Cedar Valley is because businesses and institutions have provided internships.

Nearly two-thirds of third- and fourth-year Wartburg students complete a for-credit intern-ship. That’s significant, because a National Association of Colleg-

es and Employers’ survey found that two out of three interns are offered full-time jobs.

Eighty percent of Wartburg students prefer to intern in the Cedar Valley during the academ-ic year. The jobs involve many of our 50 majors.

In recent years, internships have included working as stu-dent-engineers at John Deere; helping develop advertising campaigns at ME&V; reporting at KWWL and The Courier (and KCRG in Cedar Rapids); working at the Cumulus group radio sta-tions; becoming press officers for Sen. Charles Grassley and U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley; shadowing emergency-room doctors at the Waverly Health Center and Sar-tori Memorial Hospital in Cedar Falls; conducting lab experi-ments on soybean renewables at the National Ag-Based Renew-ables Center; and being a per-sonal trainer at the River Plaza Athletic Club.

The internships are an invalu-able experience.

“Internships really help devel-op the whole student,” Wartburg internship coordinator Jo Dor-rance said. “Students who come to me after an internship show much more maturity. It prepares them for a career in ways that

can’t be learned in the classroom. They learn to be team players in a corporate environment, and they learn whether a profession will be a good fit for them.”

They also are critical for a community, particularly if the internship becomes a full-time position.

William Withers, the Grant Price chair of the communica-tion arts department at Wart-burg, noted young people go where their peers are — a “tribal” effect.

“Where those young people are in-migrating, those businesses, those communities and eco-nomic development is thriving,” Withers said.

The residual effect is many of these young people are service-oriented. Iowa college students have one of the highest rates of community engagement in the nation. Wartburg ranks third among the more than 100 schools involved in Break Away, the national service organization.

In difficult economic times, it is hard to clear budgetary space for internship programs. But it’s an investment well worth making, both in the short term for busi-nesses and institutions and in the long term for the well-being of the state.

Saul Shapiro is assistant

vice president for institutional

advancement at Wartburg College and director of communication and marketing. Contact him at

(319) 352-8379.

Volunteerism is a way of life for Iowans in farming communities“Volunteerism” is not necessarily

a term that comes to mind when we think of farmers. But recent unfortu-nate weather conditions proved those terms apply to agriculture.

On June 21, a tornado hit the Dud-den farm west of Dike. While the sows at this hog confinement were spared, the farrowing house was destroyed. Shortly thereafter, dozens of neighbors, community members and volunteers arrived to assist with cleanup and to lend a hand in what-ever manner needed.

I have witnessed this type of com-mitment a number of times, having been raised in a rural community and having participated in organizations such as 4-H and FFA. Then as now,

people residing in rural areas come together more often than not to assist others in need. No one thought of it then or considers it now to be “vol-unteering.” It is a way of life.

As a child, when a local farmer had a heart attack, neighboring farmers planted his fields. When the same farmer died that fall from complica-tions of heart disease, the same neigh-bors, with the assistance of farmers from another county, harvested those fields. The wives not harvesting and local families who weren’t farming supplied meals for hungry workers. They asked for nothing in return. It was simply the “right thing to do.”

This same small community ral-lied again when another farm family

incurred the severe injury and even-tual loss of their beloved 3-year-old child in a farm-related accident a few years later. Crops were cared for, meals were prepared, and child care was provided for the other children in the family. Again, the word “vol-unteer” never occurred to anyone involved.

On another occasion, wind took down a well needed barn used to house cattle and store hay. The next weekend the farming community razed the remnants and built a new barn from the ground up. Again, neighbors provided enough food to feed twice those present. No one ever complained, and it actually turned into a social event with a party held

in that new barn prior to welcom-ing the cattle to their new home. No one considered it a “service project,” although in fact, it was just that.

Now, it’s nearly 40 years later and while some things have changed on the Iowa landscape, the people there haven’t. People help people in need. You can give it any name you’d like — volunteering, philanthropy, vol-unteerism or service learning. Iowans see a need and find a way to meet that need. They give time, labor, materi-als, food and cash donations. Some good things never change.

If you have an interest in volun-teering, contact the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley at 272-2087 or visit www.vccv.org.

Anne Nass is communications coordinator for the Volunteer Center

of the Cedar Valley in Waterloo.

Contact her at (319) 272.2087 or anne_nass@

vccv.org.


Based in Muscatine, Kent Feeds is part of a family of feed compa-nies with more than 20 manufac-turing facilities stretching from

Oklahoma to Ver-mont. With three of these plants in Iowa, Kent Feeds has been an Iowa icon in agribusi-ness for more than 80 years.

Long known as a leader in providing quality animal feed and nutrition con-sultation, Kent has evolved with the industry through some fairly volatile

times. While the global reces-sion of 2009 may be one of the most challenging times ever for U.S. agribusiness, here are rea-sons management at Kent Feeds remains optimistic that agri-business will survive and thrive in Iowa.

Demand for food grows“Now, more than ever, we have

a truly global economy,” says Rich Dwyer, president of Kent Feeds. “Emerging markets around the world have growing popula-tions with increasing spendable income which, in turn, creates a growing demand for food. This means increased demand for both plant and animal food sources, and nobody grows food better than the United States. Within the U.S., nobody does this better than Midwest farm-ers. The unique combination of fertile land for crop growth and plentiful food sources for live-stock will continue to position the Midwest better than other competing areas.”

While current market condi-tions have made things very dif-ficult on livestock producers, this is not unique in recent history. Markets tend to be cyclical and correct themselves over time. Most industry experts predict that lean times in 2008 and 2009 will give way to prosperity in the future.

Selling products, expertiseInnovation has been an impor-

tant driver to agribusiness suc-cess for many traditional busi-nesses as they have evolved to meet demand. Whether the business is grain, livestock or feed production, increased pro-ductivity and yield have allowed America’s heartland to remain one of the most progressive and efficient food producing regions in the world. Innovation through research and development has always been an important com-ponent of the Kent Feeds busi-ness model.

“You can buy animal feed from many companies around the region,” said Bruce Read, Kent Feeds vice president of nutri-tion. “What differentiates Kent Feeds is that we bring decades of experience in research and nutri-tion to the table. We have a staff of experienced nutritionists and field specialists that can provide customized solutions to meet very specific dietary require-ments. We also have a product

development center where we perform ongoing research to pro-vide an extra level of confidence in our products.”

Think globally, act locallyDespite trying economic condi-

tions, the number of animals fed in Iowa remains high, and projec-tions are positive for the state. Being an established business with ties to the local community can be a tremendous asset during difficult times. Building a reputa-tion of quality over many decades doesn’t hurt, either.

Customers are operating lean-er, but animals are still there to be fed. We have history in the area, and our relationships with our customers have been one of our greatest assets. Our focus con-tinues to be providing our cus-tomer with the highest quality products.

Focus on adding valueOne of the best ways to endure

tough times is to focus on added value products and services.

While there can be a tendency to focus on price alone during a recession, spending a little more for superior quality will often give you a better return.

Despite the economy, there remains opportunity for growth, according to John Howard, Kent Feeds vice-president of

marketing.“It has been a challenging year,

but we’re seeing growth in key segments,” he said. “We have brands that are enjoying record years in both our livestock and companion animal segments. Most of the growth we’re seeing is on highly differentiated value.”

Kent Feeds navigates difficult agribusiness economyAUGUST 2009

Doug Mineris Waterloo plant manager for Kent

Feeds Inc. Contact him

at (319)235-0387.

Find all your latest news in


“I can’t be in 4-H, I don’t live on a farm.”

“I don’t have any animals, so I can’t join 4-H.”

“I thought 4-H was for farm kids.”

These are com-ments we hear all the time. 4-H is more than live-stock and farm-ing. 4-H offers a wide variety of learning experi-ences and project areas for youths to learn and grow. 4-H is an organi-zation that offers youth opportuni-ties in commu-

nications, leadership and career development, livestock, home improvement, computer tech-nology and so much more. 4-H is instrumental in building live skills in youths and making our communities better places to live and work. 4-H will continue to grow and develop with the head, heart, hands and health of the youth around the world.

Everyone can join 4-H. Youths in kindergarten through third grade can participate as Clover Kids, and youths in grades four through 12 can be 4-H members. Parents, grandparents, siblings and friends can also be a part of our 4-H family by volunteering through opportunities as leaders, mentors, project area workshop leaders and helping with many events throughout the year.

In a successful 4-H experience,

members can choose what proj-ect areas they want to learn about and what events and activities they want to attend. Just like everything else, the more a youth is involved in 4-H, the more they get from the experience. As they get older, they can expand their experience by volunteering to help or share their knowledge and skills with others. The knowledge 4-H members learn through the 4-H program is something they can take with them for the rest of their lives. Many of our 4-Hers use their 4-H record book to help them fill out scholarships and job applications.

Many events and workshops are designed for the whole family to attend. Parent or other adult involvement supports a success-ful 4-H experience. By being involved, you can share your knowledge and skills with the club, encourage your children’s involvement and celebrate your children’s successes. And best of all it is a great way to stay informed.

“4-H is about the learning experience, not about winning,” said Katie Hooper, 4-H alumna and Grundy County 4-H sum-mer assistant. “You learn from your mistakes, your fellow 4-H members and through trial and error. Nothing is perfect. 4-H will give you the experiences you need to definitely become an active member not only in your community but throughout your life. Take what you can and learn what you can. The rest will fall into place.”

As 4-H alumna, I continue to look back at my 4-H career and am pleased that I chose to be part of a wonderful program and 4-H family. I grew up in Grundy County 4-H and was a nine-year member of the Palermo 4-H Clovers. I was involved in project areas such as visual arts, photog-raphy, food and nutrition, home improvement, child develop-ment and sheep, to name a few. Some of my fond memories are the moments I shared with my friends at meetings and at the fair in the summer. At our meetings, we got to be a part of the deci-sions made for our club’s activi-ties, learned how to do presenta-tions and had opportunities to do some hands-on activities. I really enjoyed going on intermediate member trips to places like the Grotto and attending the State Youth Conference in Ames. As a

senior (ninth-12th) 4-H member I was also a part of the Grundy County 4-H Council that helped plan events for youth in the county such as a lock in at the YMCA, 4-H teen dances, holiday parties, workshops and livestock weigh-ins. I always looked for-ward to the Grundy County Fair in the summer. I enjoyed spend-ing time with friends, showing my exhibits and learning new ideas for the next year. Then, in the fall, I worked hard on my 4-H record book and attended the 4-H awards banquet. I earned awards in many project areas and as a senior was awarded the Dan-forth I Dare you award. I took a break from 4-H during college but still had a part in helping my siblings with their projects and supported them at the fair. I have been a 4-H assistant leader and assistant County Council leader

before landing my current job as the Grundy County 4-H & Youth Coordinator.

Some things I have taken with me are the ability to communi-cate, leadership skills and fond memories of the time I spent as a Grundy County 4-Her.

Now as I work with the 4-H program I have an opportunity to watch other youths grow in their skills and knowledge of various project areas. And I have gained many friends through the families that I have been for-tunate to meet. I am thankful for the things I gained through 4-H and hope that others take the opportunity to check it out for themselves.

Encourage your children to try 4-H and see where it can take you. Join 4-H. Contact your local Iowa State University Extension for more information.

AUGUST 2009

4-H a valuable experience for all kinds of kids

Andrea Traeger

is Grundy County 4-H & Youth Coordinator.

Contact her at (319) 824-6979 or traegera@iastate.

edu.


By LORI EBERHARD

There have been soft trails in George Wyth State Park, but they have not been “official” and have not been maintained.

That changes this year, thanks to Cedar Valley Association for Soft Trails, which is partnering with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources in an agree-ment to create official soft trails at George Wyth State Park.

The trails will be available to the public for running, hiking, and mountain biking.

Having official soft trials will enable events to be held at George Wyth that haven’t been possible in the past.

To make this trail system suc-cessful all groups using them will have to work together. A few groups already looking forward to the completion of the soft trails are the University of North-ern Iowa Cross Country team, mountain bike groups and any group that enjoys a little more

of a rugged surface for outdoor recreation.

The expected kickoff for the soft trails will be Aug. 9, which is when the Hartman Reserve Nature Center is having its third annual Eco-Triathlon. This event consists of a 3.4-mile kayak, 8 miles mountain biking and a 3 mile run.

The addition of these trails will allow for a more diverse expe-rience for riders, hikers and runners.

The soft trails will be a great addition to the existing Cedar Valley Trials system in making it a more bike-friendly commu-nity. As the soft trails become more popular, the Cedar Valley will benefit by more visitors and trail users coming and enjoying the already-great Cedar Valley trails.

In this way, the community can help the trails and the trails can help the community grow with potential economic benefits to be had to the local business owners

and to the communities. Formal soft trails will benefit

the environment in that there will be fewer rough trails created. This will help lessen the envi-ronmental impact on the soil with compaction and erosion concerns. It also will benefit the wildlife by not turning all of their trails into soft trails and letting them have their space, as well.

If these trails become a hit and if the organizations that want them and use them continue to help the parks staff maintain them, then that partnership has a far better chance of expanding and being able to create additional trails. If this partnership fails, then the trails will just be left to grow over and will no longer be easily accessible to the public.

With the tough economic times that are occurring and govern-mental budget cuts, some of the best ways businesses can suc-ceed now is by partnering with other agencies that have similar interests and goals on projects.

We ask that as the trails are being done that all users follow the official trails and not make their own. After rains, stay off of the trials and follow the Interna-tional Mountain Bike Association rules for these trails.

If everyone works together and follows a few simple rules the

soft trials will be another great way for people to enjoy the Cedar Valley and George Wyth State Park.

Lori Eberhard is manager of George Wyth State Park in Cedar Falls. Contact her at (319) 232-5505 or [email protected].

Official soft trails are coming to Wyth State ParkAUGUST 2009

East Central Iowa Cooperative a big part of ag economyAgriculture is the No. 1 busi-

ness in the state of Iowa, and East Central Iowa Coopera-tive is proud to be a big part of that in Black Hawk and surrounding counties. ECIC is a full service c o o p e r a t i v e , supplying prod-ucts and services in the areas of grain, livestock, feed, consumer lifestyle and pet

foods, fertilizer, chemicals, seed and energy products such as gas, E-85, diesel and lubricants. ECIC has eight locations serving several communities. We have an elevator in Cedar Falls, an elevator and an agronomy cen-ter in Hudson, an elevator and an agronomy center in Jesup, an elevator in La Porte City and an elevator in Waterloo.

In 2008, like many other homes and businesses, we sus-tained the largest catastrophic event in the history of the co-op, the flood in Cedar Falls. Our elevator location is just north of Main Street. The experience, no matter how bad it was, was softened by the city of Cedar Falls and its employees and how they helped in the wake”of the disaster. Law enforcement, CFU and street personnel all came to our aid. During the recovery and cleanup Cedar Falls city employ-ees continued to assist us in our daily needs. We could not have asked for more support.

Since the recovery, we are con-tinuing to work with the city of Cedar Falls on a long-term plan to eliminate this type of dam-age to our facilities in the future. Again, the city employees have been great to work with. East Central Iowa Cooperative com-pliments the City of Cedar Falls on its professional employees.

As with many businesses in the Cedar Valley, we are not immune to the economic downturn that is occurring. We are constantly looking for efficiencies to gain in our core businesses, and one way to do that is to utilize larg-er equipment with fewer man hours. The agricultural structure has been evolving in this direc-tion for some time. Consolida-tion is not a new terminology in agriculture.

Technology has adapted to changes in agriculture. Advanc-es in chemistry, precision ag, seed technology, equipment and general farming practices have all contributed to ag production which in turn is better for the environment.

Agriculture is alive and well in Black Hawk and surround-ing counties. East Central Iowa Cooperative is proud to be a big part of production agriculture and contributing to the econo-my in the Cedar Valley area.

Dennis Maas is general manager of the East Central Iowa Cooperative.

Contact him at (800) 400-3247.

THE COURIER PAGE 19FRIday, JUly 31, 2009 www.wcfcourier.com cedar valley business monthly

AUGUST 2009 www.GreATercedArvAlleychAmber.com PAGe 19

Register your foursome today!There are a limited number of morning reservations remaining

for this four-person best shot. Cost for the morning tee time is $240. Cost includes golf, cart and dinner.

Shotgun starts are at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

Cart Sponsor:

To register your foursome, call Kim Schleisman at 266-3593 or email [email protected].

Greater Cedar Valley Chamber of Commerce

40th Annual Fall Golf Classic

August 25, 2009

Pheasant Ridge Golf Course

Tee and Green Sponsors/Putting GreenCommunity National Bank, Iowa Metal Spinners,

Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo, Fahr Beverage,Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare, US Bank, Regions Bank,

Lincoln Savings Bank, Wells Fargo Bank, Allen Health System, Veridian Credit Union,

Mauer Eye Center and Sign Fusion

Tee or Green Sponsors/19th HoleBrummel Madsen Insurance, Comfort Suites, 1st National Bank,

Wingate by Wyndham, Manatt’s, Inc., Jacobson Financial Services,PIPAC, Lockard Development, BankIowa, Barmuda MMC,

Matthias Landscaping, Inc., Benton’s Ready Mixed Concrete,Holiday Inn – Cedar Falls and United Beverage

August Calendar of EventsAugust 14 Cedar Falls Ambassadors, Cedar Falls office,NoonAugust18 WaterlooNewTeachers'Breakfast, HawkeyeCommunityCollege,1501E. OrangeRd.,Waterloo,7:30a.m.August18 MembershipTaskForce,LocationTBD, 4:00p.m.August20 CedarFallsNewTeachers'Breakfast, GallagherBluedornPerformingArtsCenter, UniveristyofNorthernIowa,CedarFalls, 7:30a.m.August25 FallGolfClassic,PheasantRidgeGolf Course,3205W.12thSt.,CedarFallsAugust27 BoardofDirectors,LocationTBD, 8:00a.m.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

1:00pm – 4:30pm

FIVE SULLIVAN BROTHERSCONVENTION CENTER

WEST 4TH AND COMMERCIALWATERLOO, IOWA

The Mission of the Discovered Resources Job Fair is to provide opportunities for employers and job seekers to discover resources and solve employment needs.

Where Opportunity Meets Potential

You are cordially invited to participate in the annual Discovered Resources Job Fair. Over a thousand job seekers attended and visited with over eighty company representatives last

year. Take advantage of this opportunity to showcase your business and meet your staffing needs.

Organized by:

Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services

Hawkeye Community College

Iowa Workforce Development

Greater Cedar Valley Alliance

For additional information contact:

Mike Howell (319) 234-0319 [email protected] L. Laylin (319) 232-1156 [email protected]

Come join us!

THE COURIERPAGE 20 FRIday, JUly 31, 2009www.wcfcourier.comcedar valley business monthly

Cedar Valley PartnersPO Box 133Cedar Falls, IA 50613Phone: 319-610-7492Fax: 888-354-1827Website: www.cedarvalleypartners.comContact: Jeff HassmanCategory: Management & Public Relations Consulting

Design Studio Floral & Accessories1409 LaPorte Rd.Waterloo, IA 50702Phone: 319-236-5072Fax: 319-236-6617Website: www.designstudiofloral.comContact: Mark NadingCategory: Florists-Retail

Hydrite Chemical Company2815 WCF & N Dr.Waterloo, IA 50703Phone: 319-232-9731Fax: 319-232-1112Website: www.hydrite.comContact: Dan DavidCategory: Chemical Sales & Manufacturing

Robert C. KroghWaterloo, IA Category: Individuals

Dave MazurCedar Falls, IACategory: Individuals

MCG BioComposites LLC3425 Sycamore Ct. NECedar Rapids, IA 52402Phone: 319-378-0077Fax: 319-378-1577Website: www.mcgbiocomposites.comContact: Sam McCordCategory: Bio Composite Materials

Midwest Contractors Inc.PO Box 279Cedar Falls, IA 50613Phone: 319-266-2528Contact: Dorinda PoundsCategory: Contractors-General Building

PAGe 20 www.GreATercedArvAlleychAmber.com AUGUST 2009

Welcome New Chamber Members Welcome New Alliance Investors

New Investors in the AllianceArtisan Ceiling Systems

Firms, Institutions & Local Government Extending their Investment in the Alliance

ACESASPRO

Blue Line Moving & Storage, Inc.CBE Group

DEC Real Estate L.C.First National Bank Cedar Falls

ME&VUniversity Book & Supply

Western Home Communities

Greater Cedar Valley Chamber of Commerce presents...

Waterloo & Cedar Falls New Teachers' BreakfastsWaterloo Breakfast

Tuesday, August 187:30 a.m.

Brock Student Center,Hawkeye Community College

Cedar Falls BreakfastThursday, August 20

7:30 a.m.Gallagher Bluedorn Performing

Arts Center,University of Northern Iowa

A Limited Number of Teacher Sponsorships are available! If you are interested in showing your support for our Cedar Valley Teachers and networking with fellow business people, please contact Erin Bishop at 233-8431 or [email protected].

Principal SponsorsSuperintendent Sponsors Gift Sponsor



Ribbon Cuttings

BankIowa6804 University Ave., Cedar Falls

The Book ReViewWaterloo Public Library, Waterloo

Grainger827 Fisher Dr., Waterloo

MidWestOne Bank3110 Kimball Ave., Waterloo

Wal-Mart525 Brandilynn Blvd., Cedar Falls

Waterloo Dog ParkHwy. 63 & Ansborough Ave., Waterloo

Welcome New Waterloo Ambassador, Joe SurmaJoe Surma, Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare, has been selected to serve

as a Waterloo Ambassador. Geof Grimes, StruXture Architects, recently resigned after serving as an Ambassador since 1987. The Chamber sincerely appreciates his dedication and service.

Joe SurmaWheaton Franciscan

Healthcare

SAVE THE DATE!

Thursday, September 247:30 - 9:00 a.m.Sky Event Centre

8th Floor in the Black's Building, Waterloo

The program will include updates on city and county issues from Mayor Jon Crews, Mayor Chad Deutsch, Mayor Tim Hurley and a representative from the Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors.

There is no cost to attend; however, reservations are required. Please RSVP by September 17 to the Chamber offices, 233-8431 or 266-3593.

Parking is available, at no cost, in the public parking ramp located on Park Avenue. You may access the Black’s Building on the 2nd floor and take the elevator up to Sky Event Centre, located on the 8th floor.

Sponsored by: Co-Sponsored by:


PAGe 22 www.GreATercedArvAlleychAmber.com AUGUST 2009

Green Cedar ValleyTips to help your business "Go Green"

"As a commercial construction company, it is important for our entire organization to be conscious about our environment. Did you know that per every square foot of new construction two and a half pounds of waste is generated? This makes the construction industry one of the main contributors of landfill waste. This is why we at The Samuels Group take many measures throughout our office and field procedures to minimize this number as much as possible. We recycle not only in our office, but at every jobsite as well. A neat idea to take to the office is to use paper that was printed only on one side and recycle it by using it your fax machines on the opposite side. When our team is out at a job site we are able to recycle many items. We work with the local recycling companies to meet their standards of recycling. After meeting their procedures, we evaluate to see if there is more we can do. For example, if we are unable to find a company that recycles drywall we will search other options until we find a creative way for it to be recycled. There are many options out there for companies to research, but sometimes we just need to get creative in our thinking."

- Jessica Glenetski, The Samuels Group

"Is your business certified? Through the GCVI Certification program, businesses can be certified as ‘green’ -- meaning that they meet minimum requirements toward reducing their negative environmental impact, promoting earth-friendly choices and encouraging healthy lifestyles. By making these efforts, the GCVI hopes to improve the quality of life for those visiting and living in the Cedar Valley and for people across the globe. Take advantage of the FREE certification program by visiting www.greencedarvalley.com.

- Brooke Burnham, Waterloo CVBDoes your business have a green tip that

you would like to share? E-mail it to [email protected].

Reminder to Save Some Green!

Friday, August 7 andSaturday, August 8 is tax free weekend!



Special thanks to the following for their support of the 2009 Spring Golf Classic

ACESAdvanced Systems, Inc.Allen Health SystemsAnytime Fitness – WaterlooB & R Quality Meats, Inc.BankIowaBarmuda MMCBeacon of Hope HospiceBishops BuffetBlack Hawk County Gaming AssociationBlack Hawk Waste Disposal Inc.Cadillac LanesCandlewood SuitesCardinal Construction

Carney, Alexander, Marold & Co., L.L.P.Cedar Valley HospiceComfort SuitesCommunity National BankCon Agra FoodsCourier CommunicationsCrossroads CenterCulver’s Frozen Custard Restaurantd’vine Medical SpaDalton Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, Inc.Fahr Beverage, Inc.

Fairfield InnFarmers State Bank1st Insurance ServicesFirst Security State BankFriendship VillageHampton Inn of WaterlooHawkeye Community CollegeHeartland Inn CrossroadsHellmanHoward R. GreenHy-Vee Food StoresHydrite Chemical CompanyIowa Community Credit UnionIowa HospiceIsle Casino Hotel WaterlooKWWL TelevisionLiberty BankLincoln Savings BankMaples Lanes Bowling CenterMatt Parrott & Sons CompanyMcLaughlin Investment ServicesMidwest Air TaxiMidWestOne BankDonna MillerNAI Realty Commercial

Networking SolutionsNext Generation WirelessNorthwestern Mutual/Group Benefits DesignPedersen, Dowie, Clabby & McCausland InsurancePerkins Restaurant, Inc.Pi Sigma EpsilonProfessional Insurance PlannersProshield Fire ProtectionRamada Convention CenterRE/MAX Cedar Valley – Sherry PadavichRegions BankRiddle’s JewelryRiver Plaza Athletic ClubRSM McGladrey, Inc.The Russell LamsonRydell Chevrolet MitsubishiThe Samuels GroupSchmitt Telecom Partners, Inc.Screaming Eagle American Bar & GrillScott’s ElectricService Roofing Co.Silver Eagle Harley Davidson/

BuellSkip’s Pro ShopSpeer Financial Inc.Spinutech Web DesignsSprint Wireless ExpressSulentic Fischels Commercial GroupTyson Fresh MeatsU.S. BankUnited BeverageUnited ConcreteVan Meter Co.University of Northern IowaVeridian Credit UnionVGM ClubVGM ForbinVGM GroupVillage Inn Restaurant – WaterlooWartburg CollegeWaterloo Convention & Visitors BureauWaterloo JayceesWells Fargo Bank, N.A.Western Home CommunitiesWheaton Franciscan Healthcare

2009 Community Fact Sheet

Now Available!Pick up your copy at the

Greater Cedar Valley Alliance or Chamber of Commerce.

An electronic version is also available at

www.cedarvalleyalliance.com.

C O M M U N I T Y

FactSheetWaterloo-Cedar Falls, Iowa Metropolitan

Statistical Area (MSA)2009 Edition

■ Location

Highway distance from Waterloo-Cedar Falls to:

Atlanta, GA.................................. 960 milesChicago, IL.................................. 265 milesNew York, NY........................... 1,125 milesDallas, TX.................................... 845 milesKansas City, MO.......................... 295 milesLos Angeles, CA....................... 1,855 milesMinneapolis, MN......................... 180 milesSt. Louis, MO.............................. 345 milesDenver, CO.................................. 790 miles

Source: Iowa Workforce Development, 2008 Annual Average

New York

Waterloo-Cedar Falls, Iowa, metro population totals over 163,000 people located in Northeast Iowa. We are within a day’s drive of all major Midwest markets – only 180 miles south of the Twin Cities, 263 miles west of Milwaukee, and 265 miles west of Chicago. Additionaldemographic information on the metro and surrounding economic areas are available online at: www.cedarvalleyalliance.com

University of Northern Iowa Campus

■ Population 2000 2007 2012

Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA (MSA)* 163,706 163,329 162,980

Black Hawk County Cedar Falls Waterloo Evansdale Hudson

128,01236,14568,7474,5262,117

127,44637,58366,3875,0002,164

126,130N/AN/AN/AN/A

Bremer County Waverly

23,3258,968

23,7349,269

24,200N/A

Grundy County 12,369 12,149 12,650

Cedar Valley Region** 213,199 211,131 211,610Source: U.S. Census Bureau.Estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Population Estimates Program; Projections from Woods & Poole, 2007 Data Pamphlets

■ Labor Market Population 248,248

■ Work Force Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA MSA*

Cedar ValleyRegion**

Total Civilian Labor Force 94,200 120,630

Total Unemployment 3,600 4,760

Unemployment Rate 3.8% 3.9%

Source: Cedar Valley Laborshed Analysis, 2008

*MSA defined as Black Hawk, Bremer, and Grundy Counties**Cedar Valley Region defined as Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Chicka-saw, and Grundy Counties


By MAriE G. McintyrEMcClatchy-Tribune News Service

Q. Two people in our small office consistently come in late, leave early and take two hours for lunch. As the human resources manager, I’ve told my boss that we need to put a stop to this, because other employees are starting to complain about unfair treat-ment. My boss gripes about this tardiness, but if I ask him to confront the employees, he always says “It won’t do any good” or “Maybe we should just get rid of them.” His refusal to deal with performance issues is driving me crazy. What can I do?

A. When faced with perfor-mance discussions, many otherwise fearless managers turn into complete cowards. If your boss dreads the idea of an unpleasant conversation, you could offer to talk with the employees as part of your HR responsibilities. However, he must be willing to impose appropriate consequences if the tardiness continues. If your office lacks personnel poli-

cies, you might also draft some basic guidelines and present them to your boss for approval. Explain that written rules will not only help to clarify expec-tations, but will also provide legal protection. To cover the current situation, be sure to define standard work hours and include a “progressive disci-pline” policy. Should your boss still continue to tolerate these transgressions, then you must bring in more firepower. Have your rule-abiding employees describe how their absent col-leagues create business prob-lems, like unanswered phones or neglected customers. This might finally prompt some action.

But if all else fails, wait for the next time that he proposes to “just get rid of them.” Quickly reply that you absolutely agree, then offer to process their ter-mination papers after one final warning.

Q. How do I get my co-work-

er to stop annoying me? She is very self-centered, whiny and needy. I have told her this and

given her the cold shoulder, but she can’t take a hint. I just want her to leave me alone. How can I make that happen without cre-ating tension in the office?

A: When you informed your co-worker that she is self-cen-tered, whiny and needy, did she reply that you are rude, insen-sitive and immature? Because if you actually made such hurt-ful comments, that’s exactly what you are. Although you can avoid people who annoy you in your personal life, you don’t get to choose your work col-leagues. So instead of reacting emotionally, you must develop strategies for managing these relationships.

For example, when your self-absorbed co-worker tries to engage you in irrelevant con-versation, calmly say “I’m sorry, but I’m really busy right now, so I don’t have time to talk.” Then return to your work. If she persists, keep repeating this statement. Because your feelings toward this woman seem to go beyond mere annoyance, you may want to consider why she makes you so angry. If you can determine the reason for your intense reaction, you might learn

a lot about yourself.Marie G. McIntyre is a work-

place coach and the author of “Secrets to Winning at Office

Politics.” Send in questions and get free coaching tips at www.yourofficecoach.com.

I do not have much experi-ence with agriculture, but I do

appreciate fresh produce, organic food and support-ing local busi-nesses. This year, I helped my moth-er-in-law plant a vegetable garden. Gardening has many similari-ties to organizing. When you think of your house as a garden, you may find it easier to de-clutter.

If you pull a weed

as soon as you see it, you usually do not need a shovel. If you wait until the perfect time, you will spend more time and effort than you want. Clutter tends to grow like weeds. Control clutter by attacking it when it starts.

Your garden would look funny if you interspersed vegetables and flowers, and it would take more time to cultivate and har-vest. Keep like items together when you organize. It will help you find what you need when you need it. Grouping items may also encourage putting things away.

Garden one area at a time before you move to the next. When you organize, work in chunks. Take a

folder, a drawer or a room, orga-nize, and then move to your next project.

Keeping your garden close to your house makes it easier to use when cooking. Similarly, keep items closest to their point of use when organizing. Keep your most frequently used dishes near your dishwasher for ease of unloading.

Sometimes you have to remove a couple good plants to allow the rest of your garden to grow. When you organize and encounter items that get in the way, it may be easier to let them go. Goodwill, a battered women’s shelter, your or a neighbor may need what you have.

Organize your home as you would a garden

Jessica crouch

in Shaklee director at Organized For You! Contact her

at (319) 504-6689 or jessica@organizeanywhere.

com.

Push spineless manager to deal with problemYOur OFFiCe COaCh

AUGUST 2009


JOYCE M. ROSENBERGAP Business Writer

NEW YORK — When the econom-ic recovery finally arrives, many small business owners won’t try to rebuild their shrunken stock portfolios. They’ll be putting their money in what looks like a better bet: their companies.

Owners have plenty of reasons for putting money into their busi-nesses first, and those reasons are likely to remain when the econo-my picks up. For many, there’s the immediate need of boosting cash flow. But they’ll also be working on longer-term issues, carrying out expansion plans that have been put on hold and making the capital investments they couldn’t afford during the recession.

Moreover, with the stock market on an uncertain path and other investments paying the slimmest of returns, small business owners believe they’ll make more money by investing in themselves.

Rami Hachamoff, who has an engagement ring business in Atlanta, has lost money in mutual funds, but he’s not planning to rebuild his portfolio. Instead, he’s already on the path he expects to take when the economy is healthier. He’s withdrawing more money from his funds and put-ting it toward getting a retail loca-tion to help his company, Allure Diamonds, grow.

Hachamoff said the business he’s in has become more difficult

and competitive over the past three years, especially as engaged couples are looking for better prices on diamond rings.

“For me to capture as much of the market as I can, I really need to put myself out there” in a store in a good location, he said. And that will take a significant finan-cial commitment.

Meanwhile, Hachamoff said of his stock investments, “to see this mutual fund that’s already depre-ciated maybe depreciate even further is really not an option.”

Hachamoff was also consider-ing buying a home this year and was looking at foreclosed prop-erties, but “I decided not to do it at this time and to use this capi-tal and again put it back into my business.”

Over the years, many small business owners have made their companies their primary, and sometimes sole, investments. Financial advisers and accoun-tants counsel owners to diversify their holdings beyond their firms because of the reality that, if the business goes down, the owner is left with nothing.

But in the current economic and investing climate, that’s a hard-er sell than usual. Some owners believe that putting more money into their personal portfolios would be, as the old saying goes, throwing good money after bad.

Chuck Wilson, a wealth man-ager with Doyle Wealth Manage-ment Inc. in St. Petersburg, Fla.,

said many owners are inclined to say, “this is my business, I know it and I know what I can get in returns from it.”

“More importantly, they’re in direct control of it,” Wilson said, noting that there is a trust issue among business owners after they’ve seen the bets placed by professional investors devastate the stock market over the past two years. And, he said, they’ve seen other investors lose billions of dollars in the Ponzi scheme run by Bernard Madoff.

There’s also the issue of time, and how long it will take to return a stock portfolio to its pre-credit crisis levels.

“It’s a very big sting to lose 30 percent of your portfolio,” said Jason Carr, who with his broth-er Rodney owns Softline Home Fashions, a Gardena, Calif.-based wholesale home furnishings busi-ness. “I think rebuilding is going to take a lot longer than usual. We need to be more secure.”

Carr said he and his brother believe their business is more likely to give them the income they need than investing in stocks will, especially with many port-folio managers likely to remain cautious in the months ahead.

He’s also well aware of the potential for more losses. “I’d rather make 1 percent in the checking account than lose 20 percent” by investing in stocks,” Carr said.

The Carrs are already putting

more money into their company, investing in a distribution center in Canada. The company has show-rooms in Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta and Montreal.

“We’re taking advantage of new markets and hopeful planting seeds for a better future when the economy turns around in a year or two years,” Carr said.

Business owners invest in their firms, not stocksAUGUST 2009

Shortage of blue-collar workers could be lurkingThe Associated Press

Could there be a shortage of blue-collar labor?

Between 2004 and 2014, there will be 40 million job openings for workers without a bachelor’s degree, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s more than twice the number of jobs for people graduating from four-year colleges and universities.

That’s something guid-ance counselors aren’t telling

those frantically competing for entrance into America’s best schools, says Joe Lamacchia, author of the recently published book “Blue Collar & Proud of It.”

“Blue collar means skilled indi-viduals who make the world go around,” said Lamacchia, who owns a landscaping company in Newton, Mass. “We’re talking about people who are there to fix the plumbing, the leaks, and the wiring when it’s broken.”

Masons, electricians, loggers,

fishermen and car mechanics were interviewed for the book, which Lamacchia said he was driven to write because he wants people to take pride in what they do, even if they didn’t go to college.

“These are jobs and careers that take years to master,” Lamac-chia said. “Just the way you can’t become a doctor overnight, you won’t become an ironworker by signing a piece of paper. It’s hard, rewarding work.”



NEW YORK — For many small business owners, the recession can have an upside in giving them opportunities to strengthen their relationships with customers.

Many opportunities grow out of adversity, for example when customers can no longer afford to pay the prices, rates or retainers agreed to in better times.

Amy Power, who owns a Dal-las-based public relations firm, had a client, a spa, that opened for business in October 2007, the month that the stock market peaked and then began its huge decline.

“They really took a hard hit,” said Power, president and CEO of Power Public Relations. “They were ready to pull the plug on their PR programs.”

She faced a similar situation with a second client, a dental office. So Power took a big hit herself, and cut the retainers that both clients paid by two-thirds.

But Power said she also made a vow to these clients: “I will work just as hard. You’re not going to fall by the wayside.”

“I think they appreciate that there’s a certain amount of honor that goes with that kind of agree-ment,” Power said. “I believe my firm will be better positioned for stronger relationships and bet-ter business” when the economy improves.

Just ending the relationship because the client can’t pay the full retainer wasn’t an option. “That doesn’t do either one of us

any good,” Power said.Many other public relations

firms are being forced to make the kinds of adjustments Power has made. At many companies struggling or just worrying about the economy, marketing expens-es are among the first budget lines to be cut.

Richard Dukas has had a num-ber of clients say they need to cut the retainers they pay his firm by 50 percent or 60 percent. He’s told them OK.

“The philosophy is, some rev-enue is better than no revenue,” said Dukas, president and CEO of New York-based Dukas Public Relations.

But Dukas also has his eye on the future. “If it’s a good client and we believe in their business, then we’re going to try to weather the recession with them.”

He’s also found that being very flexible can have more immedi-ate rewards. One client had to cut its retainer in half, and “we obvi-ously didn’t like it at the time.”

Since then, “that client referred us to another piece of business at a healthy retainer,” Dukas said. And that new client sent two more clients his way, giving him a total of three new accounts.

Cutting retainers, rates and prices is clearly a key way to build relationships in a recession. So is paying keen attention to all of a customer’s needs.

Accel Inc., a Lewis, Ohio, com-pany that designs, engineers and assembles packaging, does a lot of business with retailers of health and beauty products. Chairwoman and CEO Tara

Abraham said her company works with customers to come up with packaging that’s appeal-ing and is a good value.

However if the packaging cre-ates problems for people working in the stores — think of styro-foam peanuts flying everywhere that must be cleaned up — the customer is ultimately not get-ting a good deal.

So, Abraham said, part of her company’s job is to consider what happens when the products get to the stores.

“How do we reduce labor costs in the stores?” she said. “We’re looking at the supply chain under a magnifying glass from end to end.”

“You have to look at business completely differently than you did three years ago,” Abraham said.

“We’re working hand in hand with our clients and their engi-neers and merchandising teams to make sure collectively we’re joined at the hip and making sure that we have a very clear idea of what their goals are.”

Premiere Corporate, a New York-based company that puts together travel packages to sport-ing events, saw business slow-ing last fall as the credit crisis took hold and the stock market collapsed. Clients cut back their budgets for discretionary travel. Some just stopped calling.

Executive Vice President Rob-ert Tuchman made sure he kept in touch with all his clients, knowing that he needed to hold on to their business even if they weren’t spending just then.

“You can’t say, ‘this guy doesn’t have money, I’ll call him in eight months. You really can’t do that,” Tuchman said.

He, too, has been making price

adjustments to keep his clients and build for the future. His com-pany has worked with clients to come up with customized travel packages that each can afford.

Some businesses drop prices to build relationships

British pubs disappear as worldwide recession drags onLONDON (AP) — The reces-

sion is killing British pubs at an accelerating rate, an average of 52 every week in the first half of the year, an industry group said Wednesday.

Pub closures have put 24,000 people out of work in the past year, the British Beer & Pub Association said, citing figures compiled by CGA Strategy Ltd.,

which tracks the drinks industry. That compares to an average of 39 per week in the second half of last year.

Ever-increasing taxes on beer are contributing to the pain, the association said.

The last two budgets have seen a 20 percent increase in beer tax, which alone has added nearly $1 billion to pubs’ tax bills.

The association said pubs that serve food are weathering the recession best, with an average of one closure a week. All the other closures involve pubs that con-centrate on drinks.

Pub keepers have been com-plaining for some time about leg-islation which has banned smok-ing, and of competition from cut-price beers in supermarkets.

AUGUST 2009



NEW YORK — It’s something many small business owners across the country are dread-ing: Telling staffers they won’t be getting a raise for a second straight year.

“I got a lot of blank stares,” Matt Spaulding recalled. “I think they were really trying to process it” when he told his five employees there would again be no raises in 2009.

Many owners are finding that business just isn’t strong enough to give workers the rais-es they deserve. Some bosses are trying to ease the pain in other ways, giving the staff flex time, lunches or field trips. Others are dipping into savings accounts to pay bonuses, or structuring their compensation so it’s more performance-based.

Although profits at Spaulding’s public relations business haven’t been large, he was able to put some money aside the last few years. So he decided to go into that savings and give employ-ees bonuses, which he said were more manageable than raises.

“Right now, with this eco-nomic uncertainty, I can-not commit to a fixed, larger expense,” said Spaulding, pres-ident of Spaulding Communi-cations in Decatur, Ga.

Moreover, because of the uncertainty, Spaulding wasn’t sure raises would stick. “It would be disheartening if I came to you and said, ‘you know that raise I gave you? We’re going

to have to take that away,’” he said.

Human resources consultants say they’re hearing from many clients that raises are again just not possible this year.

Rick Gibbs, a senior human resources specialist with Admin-istaff, a Houston-based company that provides human resources outsourcing, said many of his firm’s clients are reworking their compensation to be less depen-dent on traditional yearly raises. Instead, he said, they’re going with plans set up with specific goals about what the organiza-tion is trying to do, and making payments accordingly.

Many companies are also moving away from merit rais-es, which Gibbs said are often “based more on tenure and less on what they (employees) actu-ally do for the organization.”

Gibbs said a rethinking of how employees are compensated is a good idea even in good econom-ic times. But right now, it’s a necessity for many businesses.

Companies are being forced to look closely at “what do we do, how do we price, how do make money on what we do and translating that to what can each individual employee does to move us in the right direc-tion,” Gibbs said.

Owners also need to be mind-ful of how they relay the bad news, even when this is the first year that staffers are going without raises.

Most important, Gibbs said, is that the news not come as a total surprise. Owners need to

be keeping employees informed about how the company is doing, so they will be prepared for the possibility of not getting raises.

Gibbs said an owner can break the news to employees as a group, but the next step is to hold individual meetings with the staff. If compensation is going to be based on pefor-mance, this is the opportuni-ty to let workers know what’s expected of them.

“Those may not be easy dis-cussions,” Gibbs said, espe-cially when underperforming staffers need to be told they have to shape up to earn bigger paychecks.

If owners encounter anger or resistance, then it’s time for employees to hear some reality. The economy is bad, the busi-ness is struggling and everyone, even you, has to perform to get better pay.

Of course, the news will sting, and many owners try to ease the pain.

Chris Rosica, CEO of Para-mus, N.J.-based Rosica Strate-gic Public Relations, can’t give his staff of 19 raises this year, so he’s trying to make up for the deficit in other ways. Staffers who need help with some of their expenses, such as com-muting, are getting some money to help defray their costs.

Rosica is also trying to keep the atmosphere at his com-pany a little lighter. He’s tak-ing everyone down to the Jersey shore for a day during August, and closing the office an hour

early, at 5 p.m., on Fridays. A former chef, Rosica said he’s also holding cooking classes for them.

And, he said, he’s also letting

staffers know that their hard word is appreciated.

“We’ve been acknowledging them more than before,” Rosica said.

Some small businesses forgo raises for second year

Plants to offer farmers cash for cobs DES MOINES (AP) — Two new

technologies offer the prom-ise that corn growers could turn their cobs into cash.

Companies from California and South Dakota plan to build two plants in Iowa. One will turn the cobs into ethanol, and the other will use cobs to produce fertilizer.

A $200 million plant being built by Sioux Falls-based Poet Energy will make cellulosic etha-nol, which can be produced from plant material such as cobs, wood chips and switchgrass.

Poet’s plant in Emmetsburg, is expected to produce about 25 million gallons of ethanol per

year when it opens in 2011. It could generate as much as $10 million per year in extra income for farmers.

San Francisco-based SynGest, Inc., plans to build an $80 million facility in Menlo that will be the first to make ammonia fertilizer from corn cobs.

AUGUST 2009


NEW YORK (AP) — Pam Kassner has already canceled two vaca-tions this year. She just didn’t feel comfortable taking time off with business so uncertain.

Kassner, owner of the market-ing firm Super Pear Strategies in Pewaukee, Wis., was supposed to go to Florida in February, but had recently lost a big client. A second trip in April was also shelved.

“I was just starting to feel anx-ious, that it just didn’t feel like the right time to go away,” Kassner said.

The recession has made many small business owners rethink their vacation plans. Some, like Kassner, want to stay close by so they can keep working with cli-ents and customers. Others, who have seen their revenue fall, don’t want to spend money on what seems like an extravagance.

Still, many owners do go ahead and take vacations. Many believe taking a break, especially when it means time with their families, is something they need, and that will actually benefit their busi-nesses. Others don’t want the recession to stand in the way of once-in-a-lifetime trips.

David Lewis is leaving his human resources outsourcing firm for a weeklong vacation in the Mediterranean.

“It’s my 20th wedding anni-versary, and there was absolutely no way I was going to miss the opportunity of going away with my wife,” said Lewis, president of OperationsInc, based in Stam-ford, Conn.

Lewis said his company went from about 40 percent revenue increases each of the past three years to flat growth this year. He’s not worried about taking a trip because his cell phone and e-mail will allow him “to essentially seamlessly run my business from 6,000 miles away.”

But Lewis is concerned about the message his employees might take away from his trip, which might be seen as a luxury. “I have preached and pled the case that times are tight and we need to be as button-down as we can to ride it out,” Lewis said.

Some owners have had to cancel vacations because they need the money to run their companies.

Rachel Imison and her husband are forgoing their usual trip to Britain with their two children to see family. The couple, who own Graphic Imagery Inc., a printing company in South San Francisco, bought a building and a printing press this year, and are reducing expenses because they have pay-ments to make.

“When you’re a small business owner, you cut everything back to the bone,” Imison said.

She said the recession has hurt business, but “we’ll be OK.”

“We’re getting everything ready for the upturn,” she said, explain-ing that the new printing press, which is digital, is expected to bring in new revenue.

Many owners, even if they have to give up vacations, do take breaks, understanding time away from the business gives them a chance to relax and think more clearly when they’re in the office.

Chris Goddard and her husband have canceled their vacations for the foreseeable future because of what she calls “the most chal-lenging time for me since I started a PR agency” 15 years ago.

Goddard, president of CGPR in Marblehead, Mass., said, “it’s important be here and take care of our clients.” She also doesn’t want to take away resources — human and financial — from her company right now.

But Goddard, like many other small business owners, knows that she needs to take some time away to maintain a work/life bal-ance. So she’s closing the office at 2 p.m. on Fridays and making sure she gets in plenty of the sail-ing and cycling she loves.

“If I didn’t get out on the water or do a road bike ride, I would be insane,” she said.

Imison said her family also had a break, what she called a com-

promise trip to Montana in April. It cost them nothing, because they stayed with relatives and used airline miles to pay for their tickets.

Many business owners putting recession plans on hold

The Associated Press

NEW YORK — The “Job-Hunter’s Survival Guide” is a paperback manual of little more than 100 pages, chock-a-block with bul-let points and tips, wrapped in a road-sign shade of yellow.

The author, Richard Nelson Bolles, 82, wrote the best-selling “What Color is Your Parachute?” guide to job searching — now running at over 400 pages in the 2009 edition. Bolles’ best-hits collection of advice, due out this month, is culled from his 40 years of career guidance:

Yes, unemployment is at its highest level in more than a quarter-century, but “there are

■

always jobs out there.” In May, the Labor Department said there were 2.6 million job openings. Competition is fierce for these openings, but keep telling your-self that there are always going to be vacancies, Bolles’ book says.

The average length of job-lessness was 24.5 weeks in June, according to the government. You have some time. So figure out what you really want to do, as specifically as possible, Bolles says. Not what the marketplace is asking for, but what your ideal job would look like. “The more focused you are, the more likely you’re going to find a job.”

Post as complete a resume as possible everywhere online that

■

■

you can: LinkedIn, Plaxo, Face-book, he advises.

Now, the key: Approach the companies you’ve deemed a good fit. Seek out potential employ-ers — from the phone book, acquaintances, online searches or social-networking sites — and sell them on your specific skills, Bolles says. Even if they don’t have anything to offer you, they’ll find it easier to help you out.

That’s the most active and hard-est way to approach a job search, Bolles says, but much more effec-tive than using online job boards or replying to companies’ posted openings. You’re offering your services rather sending in appli-cations with swarms of others.

■

‘Job-Hunter’s Survival Guide’ chock full of useful tips

AUGUST 2009


LOMPOC, Calif. (AP) — The end of the line for cattle raised at Elizabeth Poett’s spread on the Central Coast used to come at an inland slaughterhouse after a five-hour drive crammed in a trailer with other spooked animals.

Now death comes to Rancho San Julian in the form of a mobile butchering vehicle that caters to small ranchers offering premium meats marketed as free-range, grass-fed and sustainably raised.

While “locally slaughtered” may not join those buzz words on meat labels, the practice allows the eighth-generation rancher and her peers to do what their ancestors took for granted: raise animals from manger to cuts of meat.

“They are treated like animals should be treated when they’re harvested here with, I believe, dignity and respect,” said Poett, 29, as her Dolce & Gabba-na designer sunglasses mirrored the rugged, scenic golden pastureland of her home.

Soaring interest in meat from free-roaming cattle and more than $180,000 in government grants helped give ranchers in the remote area the momen-tum to get the mobile unit on the road and cut out the middlemen between farms and shoppers.

Food scares traced to large slaughterhouses, such as last month’s recall of 380,000 pounds of beef from a JBS Swift & Co. plant in Colorado due to possible E. coli contamination, are also prompting shoppers to seek shorter paths from stable to table, said Debra Garrison, chief executive of the Central

AP PHOTO

Cattle rancher Elizabeth Poett on the Poett ranch near Lompoc, Calif.

AP PHOTO

Deb Garrison, organizer of the Central Coast Agriculture Cooperative.

Fresh kill Locally killed is latest trend in high grade meat

Coast Agricultural Cooperative, which deployed the unit in May.

The concept harkens to a bygone age when cattle grazed in pastures and ranchers butch-ered them. That changed in the early 1900s when the govern-ment required meat inspec-tion at federally regulated

slaughterhouses.Since then, beef production

has become consolidated with 76 percent of the nation’s cattle slaughtered in 26 plants, each capable of handling more than 500,000 animals a year.

See FRESH KILL, page 33

AUGUST 2009


That’s according to John Nalivka, president of livestock industry consultant Sterling Marketing Inc.

Ranchers, meanwhile, who once raised animals to harvest-ing age, mostly now sell calves to big feedlots that fatten them on corn-based feed before sending them to slaughter. Those chang-es have shuttered most small regional slaughterhouses, with the number of processors nation-wide decreasing from a peak of 1,665 in 1976 to 630 last year.

However, a growing number of ranchers have gotten into the pasture-raised beef niche.

Eatwild.com, which promotes grass-fed meat, listed only 50 ranchers when it went online a decade ago, said Jo Robinson, who runs the Web site. Now it lists about 1,300 ranchers, with three to five — mostly new — added a week.

With most local slaughterhous-es gone and new facilities expen-sive to set up, ranchers are taking the mobile unit for a spin at a cost of $240 per animal for slaughter and butchering.

“This is the first chance we have had since a lot of the little slaugh-ter plants of old have closed up,” said rancher Jack Varian, who until recently sold his cattle to feedlot operators.

By the end of summer, six ranches will be using the “mobile harvest unit,” a tractor-trailer outfitted with knives, meat hooks and a freezer that is based on a similar unit in Washington state.

The vehicle, which employs three butchers and shares a USDA inspector with a nearby meat-packaging shop, charges nearly three times as much as a station-ary facility. But with the nearest slaughterhouse hours away, Gar-rison said costs equal out once trucking expenses and time away from the ranch are factored.

Poett’s customers pay a pre-mium for the beef. Her bone-less rib eye steak costs $22 per pound, while a similar cut from conventionally raised cattle costs $11.99 at a Vons supermarket in Los Angeles.

Kim Schiffer, 52, who buys beef from Poett at the Santa Barbara farmer’s market, said she’s happy to spend more for better quality meat that supports an enterprise she believes in.

“I really believe in voting with my dollars,” said Schiffer. “I’m voting for locally produced meat that doesn’t have to be trucked a long way using fossil fuels. ... I’m voting for what I think are fresher and probably cleaner-processed meats.”

On a recent afternoon on the Poett family’s 170-year-old ranch, a sturdy black Angus steer was guided into a pen where a butcher pressed a short wand to its forehead and shot a small metal rod into its skull with a pop.

The beast collapsed and the butcher sliced beneath its chin. When the mammoth body stopped jerking and kicking, workers took the animal into the trailer and soon its carcass was hanging from a hook in the trailer’s stainless steel interior, a fat-encased knot of bones and red sinew.

Poett’s family sells about half its 500 head of cattle each year, many of which wind up in the large slaughterhouses that pro-cess thousands of animals each day.

She’s proudest of the 80 or so that will be processed in the mobile unit at a slower pace. She said it will allow them more noble deaths and cut out the need for a long final slog in the back of a

trailer to a far-off killing floor.“It’s a dream to be able to run

this beef business like I’ve been able to do it with the mobile har-vest unit,” she said. “I sleep better at night.”

FRESH KILLFrom page 32

AP PHOTOS

Workers clean outside the Central Coast Agriculture Cooperative’s mobile slaughterhose at far left. At left, Steve Greco washes down just-quartered sections of a cow hanging on hooks suspended from the ceiling of the mobile unit.

AUGUST 2009


Stores seek short stays in shopping centersBy SAndrA PEdicini

The Orlando Sentinel

OrLAndO, Fla. — Here today and gone within months, companies large and small are opening more temporary storefronts in malls and strip centers.

National-brand “pop-up stores” and tiny shops testing the market are becoming the retail world’s version of a marriage of convenience.

Commitment-shy store owners are setting up shop for just a few months in retail centers jilted by some of their more established tenants.

Typically, leases last for several years. But businesses that want shorter leases are finding malls and shopping plazas more willing and able to accommodate them.

“It’s better they have the unit occupied even if you’re not col-lecting full rent on the space,” said David Marks, an Orlando-based consultant for retail real estate. “You’re probably going to see more of them, not less of them, over the next couple of years.”

Landlords aren’t the only ones who benefit. Companies use tem-porary storefronts for a variety of reasons. Sometimes, they want to create a sense of urgency in shop-pers. And from big-name brands to start-up businesses, retailers also use temporary locations to test new concepts.

At Florida Mall in Orlando, three temporary stores recently opened. In the past, “we’ve never had to have very many,” general manager Brian Peters said. But lately, he said, “we’ve had a few extra opportunities.”

Those opportunities would be spaces left behind by Bombay Co., KB Toys and Club Libby Lu, all national chains that went out of business or shuttered mass numbers of locations.

Kiwi, a trendy clothing bou-tique, opened in June and its lease is expected to expire by the end of this year. National accessories chain Bijoux Terner opened in March and should close at sum-mer’s end. A2Z Toys, however, is

expected to extend its lease and become a long-term occupant, Peters said.

That often has happened in the past, retail consultants say. Short-term leases have typically been “a way to experiment, create an incubator for a tenant,” Marks said.

Simon Property Group, which owns Florida Mall, always has had a short-term leasing depart-ment, though these days “we may be more aggressive in terms of courting these types of retailers,” spokesman Les Morris said.

At Orlando Fashion Square, Best Friends Puppy Boutique recently departed after its brief lease expired. The mall has other short-term tenants but would not disclose them.

At Orlando Premium Out-lets, a no-frills Burberry outlet aimed solely at children opened last month in the space formerly occupied by a departed Girbaud store. The children’s store will close in the fall.

Tommy Hilfiger also has a tem-porary clearance outlet at the mall.

At that center, which is 100 per-cent leased, “we see this more as a marketing event,” said Michele Rothstein, a spokeswoman for Simon Property Group’s outlet mall division. “It’s nice to have something short-term that has a sense of immediacy to get peo-ple to the center. ... There is a fun shopping adventure to these temporary stores as well.”

Indeed, a big-name chain often seeks publicity when putting up a temporary store, said Mike Kraus, a retail adviser with AllBusiness.com. That’s especially true of those in high-profile locations such as Target’s Bullseye Bazaar, which opened for three days ear-lier this year in the Tribune Tower in Chicago.

In this difficult retail environ-ment, “it all goes back to buzz and creating awareness for a brand,” Kraus said. “You get national media and others that are Twit-tering about it and posting it on Facebook.”

MCT PHOTO

Maria Salaverry, sales associate at Kiwi in the Florida Mall, helps a customer select a pair of jeans.

AUGUST 2009


Workers settle for part-time employmentBy HuGH R. MoRlEyMcClatchy Newspapers

HACKENSACK, N.J. — Frustrated job hunters are increasingly, and reluctantly, turning to part-time work to make ends meet and improve their chances of getting a full-time job, say employment agencies and search firms.

They say that while job hunters in the past would shun part-time opportunities, preferring to focus on looking for full-time work, the grim economy has made part-time work more palatable.

“Nine months ago, I would have seen people holding out for the full-time job,” said Marlena Lechner, a career development specialist for Jewish Family Ser-vices of Teaneck, N.J., who has helped three clients get part-time work in recent weeks. “Now peo-ple have to take what that can get.”

Pete Weigang, branch manag-er for Manpower Inc., said now he frequently gets part-time work requests from people who

wouldn’t have touched it six months ago.

“The longer they are out of work, I think the realization comes to them that the positions that were out there six months ago aren’t there,” Weigang said. “Now, the criteria for what they are willing to do and their pay requirements have dropped.”

Aside from economic reasons, job hunters work part time to make contacts and add to their skills, recruiters say. And there’s often the hope the job will lead to a full-time position.

In some cases, workers whose hours have been cut look for a second, part-time job to make up for the lost hours.

Layne Johnson of Ridgewood, N.J., began consulting three days a week last August as an informa-tion manager for Rockefeller Uni-versity of New York. He took the work after hunting unsuccessful-ly for nine months to replace the job he lost as global head of infor-mation management for Pfizer.

“I thought, ’I just have to keep

myself professionally active,”’ Johnson said.

Mike Petrula, 46, of Wayne, N.J., said he was willing to take part-time work almost as soon as he was laid off as a chemical manufacturer sales representa-tive in March.

“I take whatever I can get to pay the bills,” he said. But he added that a stint as a manager at a company that does high-speed medical document scanning also gave him experience outside his field.

Reluctant part-time workers are part of the underemployed sector, which has risen dramati-cally since the recession began, federal statistics show.

While the national unemploy-ment rate is 9.5 percent, the fed-eral Bureau of Labor Statistics also publishes a “labor under-utilization” rate that, along with unemployed workers, includes people working part time for economic reasons or people who have stopped looking for work.

That rate, on a national level,

stood at 16.5 percent of the work-force in June. It was 8.8 percent in December 2007, when the reces-sion began.

Bureau figures show that the number of people involuntarily working part time has nearly doubled nationwide since the

recession began, from 4.6 million to 9 million.

Three-quarters of those have had their hours cut due to a lack of work or business conditions, the figures show. Just under one-quarter are working part time — that’s all the work they could get.

By TAlI ARBElAP Business Writer

The recession is creating a “blank check” for office bullies, said one employee advocate.

The downturn’s layoffs — job rolls have shrunk by 6 million since the recession’s start — may make a bad situation worse for victims, said Gary Namie, direc-tor of the Workplace Bullying Institute, an advocacy group.

Namie is the author of the “The Bully at Work.” It was originally published in 2000, with an updat-ed version released this June.

The “absolute control of an employer is more apparent in a recession,” he said. That means workers are feeling the heat, as the bulk of workplace harassment cases involve superiors taunting their employees, he said.

“People are more stressed

because there’s no escape,” he said. While previously employees could jump to another job when the verbal abuse, humiliation, career sabotage or intimidation he defines as bullying got to be too much, a new job is harder to find during a recession.

Namie’s institute is pushing states to adopt legislation defin-ing abusive conduct in the work-place and setting guidelines for employee behavior and possible litigation. The federal govern-ment currently prohibits harass-ment based on race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability and age.

His advice for those who feel harassed:

Understand that abusive behavior — invading someone’s space with intent to intimidate or calling the person names — isn’t just rude. “It’s not inadvertent,

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it’s not accidental,” Namie said. Recognize someone else’s actions as a problem that’s hurting you.

Try to get sick leave time, he said. Often workplace bullying goes on for a long time and can even cause stress disorders for targets.

Build an economic case against the bully. Has there been high turnover or absenteeism? Is there low morale? Has productivity sagged due to a tense, inefficient atmosphere?

“You have to make the argument that the bully’s too expensive to keep,” Namie said. Take this case to the highest-level person in your company that doesn’t have a personal connection to the source of harassment.

If you can, look for another job. Getting away from the bully might be the easiest way to resolve the problem.

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Beware office bullies during downturn

AUGUST 2009


NEW YORK (AP) — Small busi-ness owners might want to put two important items at the top of their midyear to-do lists: Get a financial checkup, and do more networking.

Summer is a good time for owners to plan for the rest of the year. But the recession has likely chilled many companies’ plans to expand or make big capital expenditures. And many own-ers have already have done as much cost-cutting as they could to help their companies weather the poor economy.

So, many of the savvy own-ers who schedule midyear finan-cial checkup appointments with accountants or tax attorneys are likely to be seeking other kinds of guidance as well, such as finding ways to bring in more sales.

Certainly, there are finan-cial issues to discuss, especial-ly since there are new federal and state laws designed to help companies during the reces-sion. Joseph Maloney, a certified public accountant with Maloney Reed Scarpitti & Co. LLP in Erie, Pa., noted that businesses may

be able to reduce their quarterly estimated tax payments, which would help those with waning cash flows.

Maloney said more tax law changes may be in the offing, and he suggested owners not only see their financial advisers now but keep in touch to “see what adjustments might have to be made” for the rest of 2009.

But a thorough midyear check-up will always go beyond taxes and cutting expenses, and touch on a company’s strategy. This year, Maloney said, many own-ers are having to brainstorm with their advisers about ways to bring in new business, especially with the drastic changes in industries such as financial services and autos.

Financial advisers are also a natural place for owners to begin networking. Those who special-ize in working with small busi-nesses are often able to bring together clients who need each other’s products or services.

Chambers of commerce and trade or entrepreneurs’ associa-tions are also good places to go. So

are trade shows, and many own-ers are making a point of going to more of them this summer.

Summer is also a good time to find and join a networking group. Many groups hold sum-mer parties and other events, and most are always seeking new members.

Like a chamber of commerce, a networking group will bring together owners from diverse industries. They’re not hard to find — talk to a handful of busi-ness owners, and at least one is sure to be part of a networking group. Searching the Internet will also quickly yield the names of groups that are either nearby or online. Your financial adviser may also be a networker.

Networking doesn’t have to be through an organized group. Owners taking their children to Little League games and other sports can get leads or custom-ers through casual conversations with other parents. Some busi-ness owners make connections while waiting on cashiers’ lines in stores. Events to mark the Fourth of July are also fair game

for networking.There are also networking pos-

sibilities at the Small Business Administration’s Small Business Development Centers, located at many colleges around the nation. These centers exist to help and advise small companies, and many SBDCs offer low- or no-

cost classes and seminars, even during the summer. That can give an owner a chance to learn new skills, get some ideas and also do some more networking.

SBDCs can be located through the SBA’s Web site at www.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/sbdc/index.html.

Small companies need holistic midyear checkupsAUGUST 2009

Financial collapse changes picture for business studentsThe Associated Press

The collapse in global finan-cial markets is skewing where one prominent business school expects its graduates are going to wind up as companies cut hiring.

London Business School said it expects a big drop in the number of this year’s crop of graduates who will go into financial ser-vices. More students this year are interested in working for start-ups, starting their own business-es as entrepreneurs, or working for pharmaceutical or consum-er goods companies, said the school’s career services director, Diane Morgan.

That comes amid higher inter-est from students in business education and fewer openings in companies that have tradition-ally pursued b-school grads.

Consultancies and private equity firms, in particular, have curtailed recruiting on cam-pus, she said. The school’s data on employment show that last year’s graduates had a slightly tougher time finding work than did the 2007 grads. This July’s class could have it even rougher.

Meanwhile, applications for the school’s full-time MBA pro-gram rose 17 percent for the class starting in August.

Business school students have traditionally looked at the MBA as a way to make a career transi-tion. However, banks and other financial companies now want to hire those with prior experience, Morgan said.

In 2008 the financial services sector — investment banking, asset management, commercial banking, private equity — hired

44 percent of its class. This year LBS expects about 30 to 35 per-cent of its 300 graduates will go into finance, Morgan said.

She has some advice for those interested in an MBA:

Leverage your summer before you even start school. Begin net-working prior to classes. Offer to stay with your company as long as they need you until classes start, and keep in touch — your former employer is one of your best resources for jobs in the future, Morgan said, whether through references or an opening held for you.

Be flexible. You can change your industry, your company function and your geographic base, but not all at once. Transi-tions can take years, Be excit-ed for what you’re doing in the meantime, Morgan said.

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By CArriE MAson-DrAffEnNewsday

Q. I work in a hospital and have to change into a uniform when I get in. How much time should the hospital allow me to do this? And can it legally ask me to come in early to change and not pay me for that time?

A. How much time you have to change is between you and the hospital. But whether you must be paid for that time is a mat-ter of law. The answer, however, isn’t straightforward.

If you are a nonexempt employee, you have to be paid for the time you work, and that could include changing into a uniform. Nonexempt employ-ees fall outside the executive, administrative, professional and outside-sales categories.

Assuming you are a nonexempt employee, then another test to consider is whether your uni-form meets the labor-law defi-nition of a uniform. Your work clothes meet the definition of a uniform if they wouldn’t double

as street clothing and if they are something you are required to change into at work, said Irv Miljoner, who heads the Long Island, N.Y., office of the U.S. Department of Labor.

And here’s another caveat: If the uniform is a jacket that takes seconds to put on, it wouldn’t be considered part of your work-day. “If the donning and doffing essentially is an insignificant amount of time, like putting on a blazer, then it can be discounted (unpaid),” he said.

On the other hand, if you take six minutes to dress for work and six minutes to undress at the end of your shift, that adds up to an hour a week. If you are nonex-empt, you must be paid for that time. For further information, call the department, (516) 338-1890 or (212) 264-8185.

Q. My daughter works at a

discount department store. Although she is often approved to work extra hours to fill in for co-workers, management sends her home early at the end of the week so she doesn’t go over 40 hours and qualify for overtime.

She typically has 25 hours of work on the schedule but the requests to fill in would take her up to 42 hours if she worked them all. Is this legal?

A. Well, the company isn’t working in your daughter’s best interest, but its actions seem legal. As odd as the practice seems to you, it is common, Mil-joner said. And perhaps it’s com-mon because it’s legal. “Employ-ers have the right to control hours worked even if they are doing it to preclude the necessity of having to pay overtime,” he said.

On the other hand, a company cannot change a pay week willy-nilly to avoid paying overtime, Miljoner said. So a Sunday to Saturday workweek can’t sud-denly be changed to a Wednes-day to Tuesday workweek to avoid paying overtime. Federal labor law says that overtime-eligible employees must earn at least 1 ½ times their regular hourly rate.

While this is legal, your daugh-ter should speak to her supervi-sor. The request may prompt a

manager to make the person-nel problem work better for everyone.

Carrie Mason-Draffen is the author of “151 Quick Ideas to

Deal With Difficult People.” She welcomes questions for the “Help Wanted” column. Contact her at 631-843-2450 or [email protected].

Being paid to change into uniform a matter of law

One resume mistake can cost you a jobThe Associated Press

Just one typo in a resume could cost you a job, according to a recent survey.

Three out of four executives said just one or two inadvertent strokes of the keyboard would remove an applicant from con-sideration for a job, while 40 percent said they wouldn’t hire a candidate who had a typo in their resume.

The telephone survey of 1,000 senior executives was con-ducted on behalf of staffing firm Accountemps, a unit of Robert Half International Inc.

“Employers view the resume as a reflection of the applicant,” said Max Messmer, chairman of Accountemps and author of

“Job Hunting for Dummies.” ‘’If you make errors on your appli-cation materials, the assump-tion is you’ll make mistakes on the job.”

To illustrate the point, Mess-mer offers these real-life errors made in resumes:

“Hope to hear from you shorty.”

“Have a keen eye for derail.”“Dear Sir or Madman.”“I’m attacking my resume

for you to review.”Messmer offers these tips to

avoid an embarrassing gaffe:Get help. Enlist detail-ori-

ented family members, friends or mentors to proofread your resume and provide honest feedback.

Take a timeout. Before sub-

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mitting your resume, take a break and come back to it with a fresh set of eyes. You might catch something you missed the first time.

Print a copy. It’s easy to over-look typos or formatting mis-takes when reading a resume on a monitor, so print it out for review. Read through it slowly and pay close attention to font styles and sizes, along with spelling and grammar.

Try a new perspective. Sometimes readers inadver-tently skip over parts they have read previously. Review your resume backward to help avoid this problem.

Read it aloud. Your ears might catch errors your eyes have overlooked.

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AUGUST 2009


Being unemployed can be more stressful if you’re marriedThe Associated Press

Being out of work is stressful. Being married may make those worries weigh even heavier.

Unemployed husbands and wives recently surveyed noted experiencing stress more often than single job seekers, 81 per-cent to 51 percent respectively.

The poll of 2,261 U.S. adults, conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of employer informa-tion Web site Glassdoor.com, also found that more than a third of both employed and unem-ployed respondents said job stress associated with work or finding work caused physical or emotional symptoms such as anxiety, insomnia and high blood pressure.

The highest rates of stress were reported among those between ages 35 and 44, while two out of three said the stress affected other areas of their lives. Nearly 40 percent of job hunters said it hindered their personal relation-ships with friends and family, while almost a quarter said work-related stress had an impact on their relationships as well.

“Especially during an eco-nomic recession, many are scared to death that they’ll be out in the open job market,” said Rusty Rueff, career and work-place expert for Glassdoor.com. “Dealing with your worries and then those same worries of your spouse can feel like the weight of the world on your shoulders, so it makes sense the number is so much higher for those in a mar-riage or with a family.”

The Harris Interactive poll was conducted in the United States between June 22 and June 24.

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