Because I’m not a boy and don’t like to think of myself as ol’, I’m not one the most likely candidate to set forth the value of a network of old boys. However, I am here to say that the “good ol’ boy network” is alive and well in the Grand Valley (although it is […]
If you have purchased or refinanced a home in the past 24 months, you know exactly what I am referring to. It seems in this day and age of mortgage lending you are being asked for more and more with each loan application. Banks are trying harder than ever to mitigate losses, and requiring a […]
Even in an era of social media and the imperative online presence for your business, integrating some traditional forms of media is an excellent use of time and funds. The cost of creating a direct mailing can be overwhelming to small businesses that have a small advertising budget. Direct mailings can be extremely effective whenexecuted […]
The quality and character of the individuals essential to the operations of a company directly affect the efficiency and effectiveness of the business, in addition to having a direct impact on the pleasure of those who own and operate it. Simply put, the higher the caliber of those you choose to hire, the more happiness […]
There is a distinct difference in the atmosphere of companies where the owner and managers bring their inspiring energy on a consistent basis and those where this does not happen. It is a feeling that is known by both team members and customers alike, and one that will ultimately have a positive or negative effect […]
Since September is Life Insurance Awareness Month, it’s a great time for employers to consider an affordable benefit for their employees and perhaps review the benefits they offer employees. What is life insurance? Life insurance is often called “love” insurance, a product that pays out a financial benefit (also known as death benefit) tax-free to […]
For 45 months, nearly four years now, the United States has suffered under a troubled economy. Other nations around the globe have not fared much better — indeed, some worse. Although it was not a surprise, gross domestic product data for the second quarter in the U.S. was revised downward, according to a news release […]
Could there be a more perfect conversion of symbolism about what is wrong with the American economy than what will take place on Sept. 5 in Detroit? There, a president of the United States whose regulatory excesses have stifled meaningful job creation will make a Labor Day speech to union workers now only a faint […]
Experienced commercial real estate investors seem to sense market trends and take advantage of those trends when other methods of commercial investment begin to fade. From 2005 to 2008, industrial land development and the construction of industrial offices and shop buildings on security fenced acreage seemed to constitute a no-lose proposition in the Grand Valley. […]
For many small businesses, the process of trying to obtain a government contract is fraught with fears of red tape and endless reporting requirements. Yes, the process can be challenging. But working for the government doesn’t have to be difficult. You have to get through multiple steps with a certain amount of commitment, but eventually […]