Press-Republican
---- — Workshop offered
PLATTSBURGH — The topic of the next workshop for North Country Human Resourse professionals will be “How to Deal with Troublesome Employees (Including When and How to Say ‘Goodbye’).”
The workshop is being held in the Plattsburgh Airport Conference Room on Wednesday, Sept. 12, from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Advance registration is required.
In this workshop, Debi Pettit, SPHR, will teach how HR can deal with troublesome employees, as fixing an existing employee problem is far cheaper than recruiting, hiring and training a replacement employee.
But, for those cases in which the problem can’t be fixed, Jaci Kelleher will provide recommendations on minimizing risks and liability when disciplining and terminating employees.
The popular workshop break-out sessions will use case studies for attendees to network and collaborate in small groups to deepen their knowledge of the workshop lessons.
This workshop is part of the professional development series presented by the North Country HR Consoritum. Offered every other month, the sessions bring together HR professionals from around the region to learn about topics that matter.
”Dealing with Troublesome Employees” is offered at no cost to members of the consortium. For non-members, there is a per-person cost of $25. Refreshments, copies of workshop materials and Certificates of Completion will be provided for registered attendees.
Advance registration is required prior to Sept. 7. For more information or to register, visit NorthCountryHRHelp.com or call Debi Pettit at 907-4481. Seating is limited, so early registration is encouraged.
Benefits breakfast
PLATTSBURGH — The North Country Chamber of Commerce is hosting a benefits breakfast on Tuesday, Sept. 11, from 8 to 9 a.m. at the chamber office.
For those new to the chamber, or those who have been members for years, there are probably a number of benefits and services that have not yet been discovered. This informational meeting will cover the many ways the chamber can help a business succeed, including cost-saving opportunities, ways to meet potential customers and more. There will also be an overview of chamber activies regarding tourism promotion, government affairs, small-business support and economic development.
This free breakfast is open to all members of the chamber as well as “not-yet members” who are interested in learning more about the many benefits and services offered.
To RSVP or for more information, call the chamber at 563-1000.
Open house
TICONDEROGA — The Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce will host an open house with the North Country Small Business Development Center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept 11.
Services provided by the center will be available at the chamber office typically on the second Tuesday of each month. The office is located at 94 Montcalm Street, Suite 1, in downtown Ticonderoga.
The SBDC at Plattsburgh is part of a statewide network of 24 regional centers located throughout New York State. The center is accredited by the Association of Small Business Development Centers and has more than two decades of serving the small-business community. Their core services are free and confidential one-on-one counseling, market/industry research assistance and customized business training seminars.
The North Country SBDC is supported by the State University of New York and the U.S. Small Business Administration to provide high-quality business counseling and training to New
Yorkers who want to start a business or improve the performance of an existing business. Due to this support, their services are free. They are located at 194 US Oval at the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base.
The SBDC business advisers provide support to North Country entrepreneurs by providing information, counseling, technical assistance and training to help them meet the challenge of today’s complex economy. Counselors will tailor one-on-one counseling to meet individual needs.
Some topics commonly addressed include business plan development, cash flow projections, financial analysis, legal and regulatory information, marketing assistance, business start-up information, buying and selling a business, human resource development, import/export assistance and government procurement. Their staff is comprised of business professionals with either small-business ownership or executive-management experience.
Forum attended
PLATTSBURGH —- This past June, George Barnett, Natalie Barnett and Andrew Bonichi from Touraid Travel Inc. in Plattsburgh were invited by Discover Financial Services to attend the Travel Weekly Leadership Forum in Pebble Beach, Calif.
This annual gathering of travel industry executives included a discussion on the intersection of travel and politics headlined by political strategists Karl Rove and James Carville. In addition, Barnett and Bonichi spent time with senior executives of major cruise, resort and tour companies like Royal Caribbean International, Carnival Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line.
To conclude their weekend, they were offered the opportunity to play the famous Pebble Beach golf course along with the equally challenging links style course at Spanish Bay.
Business mixer
LAKE PLACID — NBT Bank of Lake Placid invites participants to the Essex County Business Council Business After Hours on Thursday, Sept. 13, from 5 to 7 p.m.
Guests will enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar while getting together with old friends and networking with new business contacts.
Business After Hours is open to members of the Essex County Business Council, North Country Chamber of Commerce and partner chambers. The council is a division of the North Country Chamber. Non-members of the ECBC or any partners may call for for a guest pass.
Admission is free this month courtesy of NBT Bank. For more information, or to make reservations, call Arlene at 523-2445, Ext. 133.
Business showcase
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Small Business Administration is giving entrepreneurs a new online platform to share their stories and showcase their successful and thriving businesses.
SBA has launched Small Business Owners Speak, an interactive platform featuring videos by entrepreneurs from across the country who have started or grown a business with the help of the SBA. The videos will be featured at www.sba.gov/stories.
“I have the great privilege of meeting small business owners from across the country as I travel every week. But now, thanks to ‘Small Business Owners Speak,’ you can hear their stories, too,” said SBA Administrator Karen Mills. “This page will highlight the voices of successful small business owners who have started or grown a business thanks to help from the Small Business Administration.”
The page features videos submitted during SBA’s 2012 National Small Business Week video contest. But to help reach out to more small business owners, SBA has opened Small Business Owners Speak to other entrepreneurs interested in submitting a video to be featured at www.sba.gov/stories. More information about the video submission process can be found on the same page.
The page features a map of the United States that allows users to click on videos by state or by using the drop-down menu and searching for videos by topic, such as capital, counseling, federal contracting or disaster loans.
Certification earned
LAKE PLACID — Adworkshop, upstate New York’s employee-owned full-service digital marketing agency, said two additional employees have earned Google AdWords certifications, building the agency’s Search Marketing Department.
Newly certified search marketing specialists Michael Bollen and Duncan Lawrence will join Search Marketing Manager Shelly Cihan. Adworkshop has been a Google Certified AdWords Partner since 2010.
Google AdWords, the search engine giant’s online Pay Per Click (PPC) advertising program, allows marketers to create ads that are featured during Google searches according to their chosen keywords. Google also offers a display network to place ads on relevant websites that opt into displaying Google ads.
Working in partnership with online marketing professionals, agencies and other individuals, the Google AdWords Certified Partners Program requires member organizations to have at least one individually qualified employee on staff.
To become certified, individuals must demonstrate their proficiency in AdWords by passing two certification exams. The first, Google’s Advertising Fundamentalist Exam, covers the basics of Google AdWords and online advertising, while the second caters to individual expertise, allowing test-takers to choose between exam topics in search advertising, display advertising, or reporting and analysis.
Accommodations offered
LAKE PLACID — High Peaks Resort in Lake Placid is seeking applications for its second annual Spring For Hope initiative, an opportunity for non-profit organizations to be awarded free use of meeting space, accommodations, and more at the Adirondack resort. This year’s application deadline is midnight, Oct. 15. Winners will be announced in mid-November.
The opportunity will give two non-profit organizations free use of the entire resort for three days during April 2013. Included are two nights’ accommodations (up to 133 rooms), free meeting space (up to 10,000 square feet), free audiovisual and meeting support services, and 50 percent off all related catering services.
“We are proud to once again offer ‘Spring for Hope’ to give back to our neighbors,” said Bill DeForrest, CEO and president of Lane Hospitality, owner of High Peaks Resort. “The quality of life in our community is directly impacted by our non-profits. Spring for Hope is a way to recognize them and add support to hopefully increase the good they do. This is an outstanding opportunity for the winning organizations to do whatever they want with our gift — from holding a fundraiser, offering a thank you trip to staff and volunteers, to planning an annual meeting, seminar or retreat.”
Participants are judged on their success and impact in benefitting the communities they serve. Last year’s winners were The Public Broadcasting Council of Central New York (WCNY) and the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York.
For Spring for Hope information, visit www.springforhope.net or contact Lori Fitzgerald, director of marketing, at lfitzgerald@highpeaksresort.com or 523-4411, Ext. 361.
