GBJ Staff

Possible investment option for Boomers

Baby boomers stand to inherit $10 trillion in the next few years and women will get the bulk of it, according to a Cornell University study, because they outlive men an average of seven years.

“Women already control 60 percent of the nation’s personal wealth – they outnumber men and they are traditionally the shoppers,” says financial expert Scott T. Schultz, author of Scott Schultz’s Guide to Closed-End Funds (www.closedendfundguru.com).

“It’s sad that, despite the fact that nearly a third make more money than their husbands and they’re starting businesses at twice the rate men are, 38 percent of women ages 30 to 55 worry they’ll eventually live in poverty because they can’t adequately save for retirement,” he comments.

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GBJ Staff

Gwinnett hosts SMTA Atlanta Expo

A few short weeks ago, more than 80 exhibiting electronics companies converged on the Gwinnett Civic Center for the sixteenth year in a row to participate in the annual Surface Mount Technology Association (SMTA) Atlanta Expo. The event saw increased participation and attendance exceeding last year.

“The Gwinnett Civic Center has become familiar and well-known to our exhibitors and attendees,” explains Ryan Flaherty, SMTA Atlanta Chapter spokesperson. “The location is close in proximity to many of Atlanta’s high tech/electronics companies. The free parking and convenient location provide easy access for exhibitors and attendees alike.

The keynote presentation from IPC Board Chairman Steve Pudles, CEO of Spectral
Response headquartered in Lawrenceville, focused on EMS companies, as well as the opportunities and challenges regarding program management and the global supply chain.

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GBJ Staff

Gwinnett connects local talent to global business

The collaborative networking luncheon The program a keynote address from AIESEC alumni Peter Stewart, PGi senior vice president of sales, collaboration technology services.

Gwinnett’s Global Business Council, in partnership with The University of Georgia AIESEC Global Exchange, recently co-hosted a networking luncheon event for international executives in Gwinnett and metro Atlanta.

“AISEC helps promote global understanding with culturally aware leaders through international work exchanges,” comments AIESEC-UGA President, Christina Khouri. “Global partners like Coca-Cola, UPS, UniLever, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Microsoft help us achieve our purpose – to connect university students and recent graduates to these and other businesses and creating for them dynamic opportunities for professional growth.”

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GBJ Staff

Gwinnett Chamber urges your vote to untie traffic

Jim Maran, Gwinnett Chamber president and CEO

by Jim Maran, president and CEO, Gwinnett Chamber

On July 31, 2012, Gwinnett County residents will join voters across metro Atlanta to cast ballots on a regional transportation referendum – one that that offers a viable solution.

With just one penny invested in transportation, Gwinnett and metro Atlanta can be on the way to less traffic, allowing commuters more time at home and much needed jobs.

Not convinced? Let’s consider the facts on what this investment means. For every $1 billion invested in transportation, 44,000 new jobs are created. In addition, one penny can save metro Atlanta drivers an average of 127 hours that they currently spend traveling to and from work each year – translating into more than three business weeks spent in traffic.

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GBJ Staff

Secrets for wardrobe branding

Sarah Hathorn (L), CEO of Illustra Consulting, pictured with one of her clients after an Intensive 1-Day VIP session.

by Sarah Hathorn

Follow the mantra ‘dress to impress,’ and watch your career accelerate.

Choices about how you dress convey a powerful message about who you are and what you represent. Your exterior brand is primarily defined by the way you look. Just as every ship sails under a unique flag, how you present yourself is a prominently visible emblem or logo of professionalism.

Use the handy acronym FLAG (Fit, Levels, Accessories, Grooming) to remember the key components of your wearable brand.

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GBJ Staff

Make venture capital a first-tier priority

Commentary by Mike Klein

When Advanced Catheter Therapies announced a new technology patent in January, the dateline was Chattanooga, Tn. The press release noted, “The Company recently announced a name change from Atlanta Catheter Therapies.” No longer located in Georgia, Advanced Catheter raised almost $3 million from Tennessee-based investors after it became frustrated with Georgia’s inadequate venture capital opportunities. One of the investment requirements was relocation to Tennessee.

“Everybody I talked to in Tennessee, it was like, how can I help you?” said ACT founder Paul Fitzpatrick, who commutes to Chattanooga from his home in Atlanta’s northern suburbs. He recalled conversations that went something like, “What doors can I open to help you succeed?”

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GBJ Staff

Build trust in 10 easy steps

Front-line employees are not responsible for fostering and nurturing trust – that job falls to leadership.

An environment of trust and empowerment create synergies within an organization that can propel it to unimaginable heights.

Following are 10 ways business leaders build trust.

  1. Keep promises

    Pay close attention to what you say and do what you promise.
  2. Acknowledge mistakes

    Own up when you falter and apologize for any fallout.
  3. Loosen the leash
    Allow employees to experiment, make mistakes and fail without the fear of repercussions.
  4. Inspire loyalty
    Give loyalty to and demand it from your employees by demonstrating, at all times, a deep sense of allegiance to the organization and each other.

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GBJ Staff

Community icon retires from GMC Board

Kathryn Parsons Willis accepting the 2012 Gwinnett Medical Center Legacy Award.

Gwinnett Medical Center (GMC) advocate and fundraiser Kathryn Parsons Willis is the 2012 recipient of the GMC Legacy Award, receiving this honor as she retires from the GMC board of directors after 22 years of service. Willis will continue to serve on the GMC Foundation board of which she has been a member since the early 1990s.

“You don’t say, ‘No,’ to Kathryn,” explains David McCleskey, GMC board chair. “She is an inspiration to so many. To know Kathryn is to have a friend for life. You just want to be around her, so it’s never a hardship to help out.”

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GBJ Staff

Five ways to reward great work

by Melissa Doster

In a slowly improving economy, workers are feeling better about their career prospects. Professionals who aren’t satisfied with the level of recognition they receive in their current positions may seek out greener pastures.

A recent OfficeTeam survey reveals that 49 percent of workers would be somewhat or very likely to leave their current positions if they didn’t feel appreciated by their managers. Workers also weigh in on the importance of receiving recognition for doing a good job.

More than one-third of those surveyed prefer tangible rewards, such as financial compensation or gift cards. The remaining respondents split almost evenly in their preferences: 21 percent enjoy opportunities to learn and grow, 19 percent want verbal or written praise and the other 20 percent claim they need no acknowledgment.

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GBJ Staff

Why ask questions?

by Al Simon

The tension was palpable between Jim and me. Forty-five minutes of my best sales moves had produced nothing. The possibilities of a deal seemed as cold as our half-drunk coffee.

I decided to try one more question, “Jim, why did you agree to this meeting? I don’t see any reasons to do business with each other, do you?”

Jim looked at me incredulously and almost shouted, “You don’t see any reasons? But I want to get better!” And so a deal was born.

Questions work. Not the questions traditional sales trainers teach – those leading, ‘only one reasonable answer’ questions. Those that really work are the open, honest, ‘any answer is fair’ questions. Many start with ‘why’ or ‘how’ and reveal what is on the prospect’s mind. This then lets the sales professional assume the role of trusted advisor.

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