Thursday, December 1, 2011

Network in Moderation at Holiday Social Events

Networking at holiday social events varies from general business networking. Learn the ins and outs from master networker Lillian D. Bjorseth, who gives you practical advice on how to look and act polished and professional.

Lisle, IL, December 02, 2011 - “It’s okay to network at holiday social events so long as you do it in moderation and eat and drink in the same manner,” said Lillian D. Bjorseth, business networking advisor, coach, author and president of Duoforce Enterprises, Inc.

“Whether it is office parties, neighborhood open houses, country club dances or professional organizational luncheons and dinners, keep the conversation about the event, the holidays and the other person,” Bjorseth said. “It’s even more unforgiveable to focus on yourself at social affairs than at business events.”

She advises that you also look and act professional because others are still deciding 10 things about you within 10 seconds of seeing you. Furthermore, they will carry that impression with them into the boardroom or onto the telephone when they again speak with you or about you.

“Don’t overfill your “little” plate. Snacking ahead of time can curb your appetite. Keep cold drinks out of your right hand (the one you use to shake hands!). Ice and condensation will likely make it feel cold and moist. Holding the drink in your left hand is a far better solution than wrapping a napkin around the glass. If seating is available, sit down for a few minutes to eat. When you rise again, sans foods, your hands will be free. And don’t forget to wash them before you start shaking again,” Bjorseth says.

Her other professional advice includes:

* Don’t tell off-color jokes or use crude language just because the atmosphere is more relaxed. Such behavior offends many people, including coworkers, their spouses, partners and families who can carry a lot of weight.

* Dress properly for the occasion. Find out ahead of time the appropriate dress for men and women. And, women, don’t show excessive cleavage if you want to be taken seriously in the office or want to use the event to lay the groundwork for future employment.

* Remember the behavioral basics. Exhibit good posture. Give a firm handshake. Maintain eye contact at least 85 percent of the time. Keep your gestures understated, especially in a crowded room where expansive gestures can lead to touching someone else or even spilling your food or beverage … or theirs!

Additionally, Bjorseth suggests you don’t make the head honcho your only target or feel as if you need your token minutes or two with him/her. Have longer and more meaningful conversations with those who are lower on the totem pole and aren’t besieged by everyone else. Top brass seldom gets involved in the day-to-day hiring, promotions and other managerial duties. Make a positive impression on everyone you meet so you will be memorable long after the event is over.

Carry your business cards," Bjorseth says. “Women, keep at least a small supply in your holiday bag. If attending with a male partner, have him keep some extras in his inside suit pocket. It’s so much more professional than writing your vital information on a cocktail napkin. Hand them out only if asked.”

Bjorseth shares three final suggestions:

• Don’t press people on the spot. If you want more information, a referral or an appointment, get the person’s business card and ask if you may email or call him/her later. Networking is planting seeds. A holiday event is not the place to sell. Follow up during normal business hours.

• Don’t be the last to leave. Unless you are close personal friends with the hosts, don’t be the last to leave the neighborhood open house. Similarly, unless you have volunteered for clean-up duty, don’t be the straggler at company or organizational functions. It’s like pushing back from the table when you are still hungry: leave while you’re still making a positive impression.

• Send holiday cards. Bypass the pre-printed, sterile ones. Take the time to sign your name and write a short personal note. As appropriate, send to your clients, prospective employers and, particularly, to those people at any level who are vital links in your networking chain.

Contact:
Lillian D. Bjorseth
Duoforce Enterprises, Inc.
2221 Ridgewood Rd.
Lisle, IL 60532
630-983-5308

Career Webinar for Military Spouses Shows How to Land a Job Before a Base Transfer

Bryant & Stratton College Online and SalutetoSpouses.com host free webinar highlighting job search, resume and interview tips for military spouses on December 8

Buffalo, NY, December 01, 2011 - Bryant and Stratton College Online and SalutetoSpouses.com announced today a free career webinar for military spouses. The webinar, “Score a New Job Before Packing Your First PCS Box,” will be held on December 8 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. EST and highlight strategies military spouses can use to find a new job before they arrive at their next duty station.


“Maintaining a career can be challenging as a military spouse, especially while moving from base to base. This webinar is intended to show spouses how they can get a jump on the job search and securing an interview not just after the transfer, but before they even arrive at their next duty station,” said Allison Perkins, military spouse and editor of SalutetoSpouses.com. “We are excited to host this webinar as part of the available articles, discussion boards and stories available on the site every day. SalutetoSpouses.com is proud to offer a variety of education, career and life resources for military spouses.”

Kristina Saul, a military spouse and career expert, will lead the webinar. Ms. Saul has been a Navy spouse for 23 years and is a virtual event producer for Milicruit, producing online job fairs that help military retirees and their spouses connect with companies around the nation. During her husband’s career in the Navy, Ms. Saul held 13 different jobs during 12 moves, including positions in retail management, finance and non-profit organizations, as well as serving as an executive assistant to a two-star admiral’s spouse.

During the webinar, Ms. Saul will offer tips for preparing a resume, searching for a job before arriving at a duty station and landing an interview. Specific strategies will include leveraging military spouse networks to make connections, turning a house-hunting trip into a job-hunting trip, increasing a job candidate’s marketability and leveraging an overlooked asset – being a military spouse.

“This webinar will show military spouses how to not only find a job, but how to build a resume to eventually land a job they love. Moving and finding new employment can be a big undertaking, but by planning a job search before the movers pack the first boxes, a spouse can help create a career path that achieves their professional and personal goals,” said Ms. Saul.

The webinar is offered for free by Bryant & Stratton College Online and SalutetoSpouses.com. Military spouses interested in attending are invited to register at http://online.bryantstratton.edu/webinar/.

Bryant & Stratton College is proud to support the military and their families. In addition to the upcoming webinar for military spouses, the College offers a variety of other resources. Bryant & Stratton College Online created SalutetoSpouses.com, an education and career resource website for military spouses and an accompanying scholarship program that offers $6,000 toward a Bryant & Stratton College Online degree to eligible spouses of active military personnel. For enrolled students, Bryant & Stratton College Online also formed a student veterans group to make success in the classroom and workplace more attainable.

Additionally, G.I. Jobs Magazine has named Bryant & Stratton College Online Military Friendly School for 2012 and as a member of the Service members Opportunities College (SOC) consortium*, Bryant & Stratton College is also an approved institution for the training of U.S. veterans and their family in accordance with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Bryant & Stratton College is proud to be CLEP, DANTES, ECE and other SOC Colleges approved.

For more information about Bryant & Stratton College Online and its online degree programs, visit http://online.bryantstratton.edu.

*The Bryant & Stratton College-Virginia Beach campus is also a SOCNAV and SOCAD consortium member.

About Bryant & Stratton College Online
Bryant & Stratton College is a private career college delivering outcomes based education and training through a flexible, contemporary curriculum in a personalized environment.  The College is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and has locations in New York, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin, as well as an Online Education division, and a Professional Skill Center. For over 155 years, Bryant & Stratton College has been providing real world education leading to bachelor’s and associate’s degrees and professional certificates. Bryant & Stratton College Online offers five online bachelor’s degree programs, eleven online associate’s degree programs and eleven online certificate programs in a variety of fields including business, criminal justice, financial services, healthcare, human resources and information technology. Some online programs are not yet available in all states. For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of graduates and other important information, please visit www.bryantstratton.edu/disclosures.  General information about Bryant & Stratton College and its online degrees can also be found at http://online.bryantstratton.edu.

Contact:        
Kavitha Thimmaiah
Communications Strategy Group
465 Main St # 400
Buffalo, NY 14203-1795
(303) 433-7020

AAA calls for responsible investment in response to Occupy movement

Alternative investment and impact investing advocacy group, Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA), has announced its support for more social enterprise investment as called for by London-based expert, Luke Fletcher.

Boston, MA, December 01, 2011 - Alternative investment and impact investing advocacy group, Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA), has announced its support for more social enterprise investment as called for by London-based expert, Luke Fletcher.

Fletcher, of the Social Finance Group, claims that investing in social enterprise initiatives could be the most workable solution to the current unrest about the financial markets. AAA supports this claim and is looking to raise awareness of both the global impact of socially responsible investment, and the potential returns they can offer.

Writing for SocialEnterpriseLive.com, Mr Fletcher asserted that those involved in demonstrations against fat-cat wages and the general model on which global business operates, through the Occupy protests, should be focusing their efforts on promoting social enterprise as an alternative.

AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson, added, “We are keen to remind people that there is an alternative to stocks and shares and that it is possible to make a real statement against capitalism through sensible, ethical investments in social and environmental projects.”

Mr Fletcher explained, “Social impact investment is projected by JP Morgan to be at least a $400 million-$1 trillion industry over the next decade.” He added that the City of London needs to realise this potential and leverage its strength to move to the forefront of this emerging asset class.

AAA promotes impact investing as a means of making strong returns while steering cash injections in a direction that is positive for developing countries, vulnerable communities and the environment. Some ethical alternatives have already caught on in the mainstream, such as forestry investments through firms like Greenwood Management, which manages sustainable forestry plantations in Brazil. However, more needs to be done, claims AAA.

AAA joins Luke Fletcher and many others involved in social enterprise, in hoping that the Occupy movement triggers a change in attitude, among investors in general, towards more responsible and fair investment choices.

Contact:
Anthony Johnson
Alternative Asset Analysis
71 Commercial St
Boston, MA 02109-1320
617-939-9596

VisitMobileTM Launches Visit Cherry Creek North Mobile ConciergeTM

Just in time for the holidays, new Mobile Concierge technology helps guests make the most of their visit

Boulder, Colorado, December 01, 2011 - VisitMobile is proud to announce the launch of the Visit Cherry Creek North Mobile Concierge. Mimicking a real destination concierge, the Visit Cherry Creek North app is more than just an online visitor’s guide or optimized mobile website. It delivers real-time shopping, dining and visitor advice with insider knowledge for guests when they need it most – during their visits to the District. The app includes GPS technology with localized expert content, multimedia to help guests find specific merchants, easy access to phone numbers for quick restaurant reservations, access to special offers and deals and much more.

“With the advancement and dependence on mobile technology, this app is a great addition for both our guests and our merchants,” said CCNBID President and CEO Julie Bender. “Cherry Creek North is a magical place to shop, dine and visit, and this resource will make the experience even more interactive, convenient and meaningful for consumers and businesses alike.”

In addition to customizing and fulfilling Cherry Creek North’s mobile strategy, VisitMobile’s Mobile Concierge platform will provide the BID with an ongoing revenue stream through in-app enhanced listings and numerous advertising opportunities. Mobile Concierge also allows Cherry Creek North to easily demonstrate the value they are delivering to their merchant partners and BID members through measurable metrics and detailed usage reports. VisitMobile’s innovative approach to destination mobile marketing is so revolutionary, it garnered the prestigious Platinum Adrian Award from the HSMAI (Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International) in January 2011, as well as a 2011 Platinum MarCom award from Association of Marketing and Communications Professionals (AMCP) for Napa Valley’s Mobile Concierge.

Mobile Concierge is fundamentally different than simply creating a destination guide application or a mobile optimized version of an existing website. Visitors who are already in the BID need information in a completely different format than those who are planning a future visit. Mobile Concierge uses a powerful GPS Relevancy Engine loaded with expert local content and multimedia to help the in-market visitor find retail shops that match their needs, make restaurant reservations, access insider deals and decide what to do next.

With the recent surge of unofficial destination apps and mobile search engines, research shows that less than 20 percent of visitors return to the destination’s website for local information after they arrive. Mobile Concierge is a dream solution for BIDs, CVBs, resorts and even college campuses looking to take back control of the conversation.

“BIDs spend tens of thousands of dollars on mass media and websites to attract guests to their destination, but they lose control of the guest’s experience once they arrive,” explained VisitMobile CEO Jeff Kohn. “Mobile Concierge will offer Cherry Creek North a unique competitive advantage; the opportunity to continue interacting with their visitors in a way that benefits the guest and maximizes revenue for their merchant partners.”

Cherry Creek North is known nationally as a premier retail, dining, and mixed-use area located just 5 minutes from downtown Denver. More than 350 businesses that make up the neighborhood are independent to international brands, featuring a broad range of unique fashion, jewelry and home furnishing stores, spas/salons, art galleries and restaurants. In addition to retail businesses, the District is also a national and regional office center, home to two hotels, and has a growing number of residents. In combination with the Cherry Creek Shopping Center, CCN is the number one visitor destination in Colorado, according to the Longwoods Study conducted for Visit Denver Inc.

To download the free app, people can go to www.CherryCreekNorth.com or visit their phone’s app store and search for “Cherry Creek North.”

Even better than a stationary hotel concierge desk, the trusted Mobile Concierge is always on hand as the guest explores the BID, and is ready to answer their question, “I’m right here, now what should I do?” Mobile Concierge bridges GPS map-based navigation and time-based, hyper-local content to help both leisure and business visitors discover nearby and timely events, attractions, dining, shopping, special offers and more. Whether a visitor has an iPhone, Blackberry or Android device, Mobile Concierge is available for every platform.

Mobile Concierge is not just affordable; it’s incredibly easy to manage. With the added benefit of trackable metrics for merchants and opportunities to create offset advertising revenue for the BID, Mobile Concierge is a “win-win-win” for BIDs, merchants and visitors.

Destinations and clients already experiencing success with VisitMobile’s Mobile Concierge include Napa Valley, Steamboat Ski Resort, Keystone Colorado, Destination Halifax (Nova Scotia, Canada) and Flatiron Meal Plan, the student meal plan for University of Colorado, Boulder. Other VisitMobile clients that are in the process of deploying their custom Mobile Concierge are Visit Aurora (Colo.), Downtown Denver Partnership, Southern Idaho Tourism, Boulder Weekly (Colo.), and Rocky Mountain Meal Plan (Ft. Collins, Colo.).

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Amy Larson, CSG | PR
303.433.7020

About VisitMobile
VisitMobileTM (www.visitmobile.com) is the Mobile ConciergeTM smartphone app for tourism and shopping destinations. VisitMobile serves as an on-the-go trusted advisor helping visitors discover nearby attractions, businesses, and events through a patented GPS Relevancy EngineTM. Mimicking a real concierge, VisitMobile uses expert local content and multimedia to help visitors make instant reservations or ticket purchases, access insider deals, or see what’s around them to answer the question "what should I do next?" As the official Mobile Concierge of the destination, VisitMobile allows the destination marketing organization to maintain control of the conversation and in turn, maximize revenue for destination partners.

Contact:
Amy Larson
CSG | PR
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
303.433.7020