COLORADO SPRINGS’ BUSINESS MAGAZINE

COLORADO SPRINGS

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2nd Quarter 2012

Business News You Can UseConnect with

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Direct Words from TCI get such a kick out of publishing Direct2Business Magazine and con-

necting businesses. It’s exciting to hook up a business with a vendor for a service they need and/or a company that can assist them grow. Espe-cially one they didn’t even know existed. Also, introducing two compa-nies that end up collaborating together to become strategic partners. This is my passion; I want TC to stand for Terrific Connector.

Connecting is the next level up from networking. It is when we focus on helping other com-panies instead of just promoting ours. Our community is known for its small town feel even though we are quite large. Connecting others just makes us a stronger business community.

A few events to help you connect are:Chamber Exchange- a Round Table discussion with other businesses, see pg 8

Direct2Business Magazine’s Connecting Bash, May 30th, see pg 21Chamber Business Expo, May 24th, see pg 27I hope to connect with you! I will be the red head wearing purple.

Continuing to collaborate, one of the companies we recently built a relationship with is the Consumer Advocate Show. They are as picky about endorsing a business as we are about hav-ing a business in the magazine. We both have a commitment to educating the community on local businesses and industries. Their radio show gives consumers and businesses a local voice and the ability to inform the community on a verity of issues. They tackle hard issues and man-age to be entertaining too. Check them out on AM1580 11:00am to 1:00pm Monday through Friday. You might even hear me on there too.

Direct2Business Magazine gives businesses the ability to share their expertise with the busi-ness community. We work with our sponsors to provide you with content and tips to assist you in running your company. Please like our Facebook page and give us your input on what you would like to see in coming issues.

Issue 2, Second Quarter 2012

Published by:Very Direct Marketing, LLC

Publisher ‘TC’ Teresa Clark

tc@direct2business.com

CopyEditor

Pamela Potter pamela@direct2business.com

Copy Editor Mary Sullivan

mary@direct2business.com

ArtArt Director Ellen Bryant

ellen@direct2business.com

Graphic Design Ellen Bryant Design

Photographers Paul D deBerjeois

photos@colorbandit.com

Tricia Muehlbauer tricia@personalityportraits.net

AdvertisingFor information regarding advertising

in Direct2Business Magazine, call 719-535-9933 or email sales@

direct2business.com.

Office Manager Barrett “Bear” Zehner

(719) 535-9494 office@direct2business.com

DistributionDirect2Business Magazine is directly distributed to over 30,000 Colorado

Springs area businesses.

LLC

‘ TC’ Teresa Clark

To see all the Local Business and Networking Events go to www.direct2business.com

If we don’t have your event on our calendar, please email us at office@direct2business.com.

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IndexAdvertising

Active Signage ..................................... 15Consumer Advocate Show ...................... 4Crystal Peak Design, LTD .................... 19Direct2Boomers ................................... 23Sky Sox .................................................. 2

ArtistHumming Line Art Glass ...................... 20

Auto PurchasingAutoSearch ........................................... 15

BookeepingYour Tax Lady LLC.............................. 14

Business ConsultantDelegate to Grow ................................. 16

Cell Phone Repair& PurchaseCPR - Cell Phone Repair ........................ 9

Commercial CleaningJan-Pro Cleaning Systems ...................... 5

Computer RepairComputer Cats ........................................ 6Computer Trouble Shooters .................. 19

CopywritingIn Your Voice........................................ 17

Corporate GiftsThe Original Basket Boutique .............. 26

Courier ServiceTrip Savers ........................................... 25

Credit Card ServicesPlatinum Relations ......................... 12, 13

Data SecurityTitan Info Security Group ..................... 11

Delivery ServiceTrip Savers ........................................... 25

EditingIn Your Voice........................................ 17

Email Marketingeb Designs ............................................ 16

Event CenterThe Carter Payne .................................. 21Sky Sox .................................................. 2

Financial PlanningPrestige Wealth Management ............... 22

Gift BasketsThe Original Basket Boutique .............. 26

Graphic DesignCrystal Peak Design, LTD .................... 19eb Designs ............................................ 16

Health BenefitsFirst Choice Plans ................................ 17

Heating and ACService Engineering ......................... 8, 31

HypnosisHarmony Through Hypnosis................... 9

Internet MarketingActive Signage ..................................... 15

IT Service ProviderComputer Cats ........................................ 6Computer Troubleshooters ................... 19

Life InsuranceFirst Choice Plans ................................ 17

Mailing ServicesAmerican Printing ................................ 26Ascend Mailing Services ...................... 11

MarketingCrystal Peak Design, LTD .................... 19

Merchant ServicesPlatinum Relations ............................... 12

Office FurnitureBusiness Furniture Systems ......... 28, back

Office SuppliesBusiness Furniture Systems ......... 28, back

OrganizationsChamber of Colorado Springs .......... 8, 27Consumer Advocate .............................. 4So. Co. Women’s Chamber ..................... 8Tri Lakes Chamber ............................... 10

PaintingTECC Painting ................................. 6, 30

PrintingAmerican Printing ................................ 26Ascend Mailing Services ...................... 11Fast Signs ............................................... 7

RoofingReliable Roofing................................... 29

Search Engine OptimizationActive Signage ..................................... 15

Social MediaActive Signage ..................................... 15

SignsAmerican Printing ................................ 26Fast Signs ............................................. 7

StaffingExpress Employment ............................ 24

StuccoR.T. Stucco ........................................... 31

TaxesYour Tax Lady LLC.............................. 14

TrainingDelegate to Grow ................................. 16

Waste RemovalWaste Connections ........................... 9, 30

Window CoveringsExciting Windows .......................... 25, 29

Zip Code Map ......................................... 18

Check out the Calendar of Events and Business Resource Page on our website – www.Direct2Business.com

May 30, 2012 - 4-7 PM�e Carter Payne

Food provided byGarden of the Gods Gourmet

$5 donation at the door toCare and Share Food Bank

CONNECTINGBASH

a

We only have room for 250 people – we will sell out. Be sure to email your RSVP to o�ce@Direct2Business.com

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5

These days most businesses have a heightened aware-

ness of the need to be better stewards of our environment. One way is to provide clean-er, healthier air in the work place. Unfortunately, these environmental concerns do not always receive the kind of at-tention they need. In commer-cial cleaning, it is very easy to add on token green initiatives that do not add any real value. When evaluating a cleaning service, ask about their green

initiatives and best practices to be sure they are integral to their process, not just added on for show. For example:

• Do they offer measurement standards that demonstrate the impact of their processes?

• Do they offer complete training to their cleaning crews before they ever see a client?

• Is their equipment certi-fied as high efficiency and/or

‘green’ by independent regu-latory agencies?

• Are they using the most ad-vanced equipment and tech-nology to minimize impact on the environment and use the least chemicals necessary to do the job properly? Tech-nology such as microfiber mops and multipart filtration systems limit the use of re-sources and reduce possible contamination between envi-ronments.

• Are they choosing chemi-cals that are butyl free and low in VOCs to minimize environmental impact while also choosing products that are hospital strength for broad spectrum cleaning power that protects the health of your employees?

• Do their processes support

the health and safety of their employees as well as your own? Investment in proper equipment for the cleaning staff shows thorough dedica-tion to the principles behind green cleaning and steward-ship, not just the value of the words in their advertising.

When a cleaning service com-pany is truly concerned with the environment it will be evi-dent at every level of their pro-cess. When choosing a service provider, be sure you’re asking the questions to understand the choices they have made on en-vironmental issues that are im-portant to you.

- Robb Posch, Jan-Pro Cleaning

GREENER By Design

TC’s Note: Jan Pro is green not only because it is good for the en-vironment, but also because it is safer and healthier for your em-ployees and theirs.

6

With everyone and everything mov-ing to “the cloud”, the cost of

getting your small business up and run-ning on a Virtual Private Server (VPS) is quickly decreasing. A VPS can be set up and begin providing your business with benefits almost immediately. Cloud servers make it very easy to centralize your company information and commu-nication, secure your sensitive data, and overall increase the integration of every level of your business. If your business is highly mobile, or particularily if you have multiple locations, a VPS that can be easily accessed from any location is especially helpful. A VPS can offer con-siderably higher uptime at a lower initial investment than in house servers making your business access more efficient and less frustrating. Whether your company already benefits from having a server, or you have reached a size where you need a way to centrally manage information and communication, consider moving your infrastructure into a VPS environment.

Pros• Hardware is managed and cared for; you don’t have to worry about hardware maintenance, warranty, replacement, etc.

• Server is in a dry, cool, secure location. (You don’t have to worry about some one leaving a full paper coffee cup on your server. Yes, that really happens.)• Significantly lower upfront costs, allowing easier entry and a more flex- ible system.

• Significantly higher uptime for access- ing data. You don’t have to worry about connection stability.

Cons • You may need a slightly higher band width

- Andrew Falkenstein, Computer Cats

TC’s Note: The cloud technology is making server access affordable for so many smaller businesses. Call Computer Cats to find out how you can get into the cloud today.

Why Having Your Head In The Clouds Is A Good Thing

First impressions are important. You keep the office clean, the spaces are tidy, but do you notice when the paint stops looking new? Your clients do.

Keeping your facilities looking good is as simple as getting it on the schedule. With proper planning the work can be done over a holiday weekend or at night with minimal disturbance to your regular work schedule. Set up a rotation for various sections of your space so that planning is easy. Paint the front entry and re-ception area in the 1st quarter, then the corridors and bathrooms in the 3rd quarter and the offices in the 1st quarter of the next year.

Building a good working relationship with a trusted painting con-

tractor goes a long way. They will have your exact colors for each location and can touch up whenever needed. In addition, when there are emergencies – door handle holes, water leaks and other fixes on short notice, they can get in and out quickly with a mini-mum of disruption. Use low or no VOC paint and your customers may never know you just painted.

- Tony Ellis, TECC Painting

TC’s Note: TECC Painting is known for providing uniformed, drug-tested and background-checked craftsmen. That is why companies like USAA, Oracle and T. Rowe Price trust them to paint their offices.

Keeping Your Business In Like-New Condition

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You are r e g i s -

tered for your tradeshow and your space has been assigned, but now what? Decid-ing how to ‘show your stuff’ can be very involved with many details to be decided. Here are just a few ideas to help you get ready for that all important trade show.

Do you have a table cloth? If the table you have does not include a tablecloth, be sure to get one that com-pliments your display and represents your com-pany’s image and color scheme (without being overpowering). Even if a tablecloth is supplied, bring something of your own with your company image or color scheme. Make your table stand out in the crowd.

What are your displays? Is there room for a stand-alone presentation board? On the board, you can show how clients can ben-

efit by us-ing your services. Be cre-ative and make it stand out.

If there is wall space, but you have a limit-ed budget use your in house desktop pub-lishing software to create custom prints that you can combine with foam core to create a solid professional display.

Got stuff? People who attend trade shows like stuff. Have plenty of giveaways, such as business cards, brochures, pens, magnets, and any-thing else that has your company name

and/or logo on it. Give some thought to your offerings and make them relevant to your business, or generally useful.

Stand out. Offer something very dif-

ferent in your booth such as food. There are local vendors who can package some fun offerings that showcase your business and your logo.

Attract attention. A power point presenta-tion about your services running on a lap-top attracts attention. Or perhaps a portfo-lio of your work on display with plenty of pictures. Things that are visually appeal-ing draw the attention of the crowds.

Wheel of Fortune? Offering attendees a chance to spin the wheel attracts attention

a n d d r a w s crowds. If passers-by see peo-ple in your booth having fun they’ll stop to see what they are missing. If a large spinning wheel isn’t practical for your space offering periodic drawings can be another way to gather a crowd.

Smile! A long show can be very tiring. Make sure that you have help manning your booth so you can take a break when you need one. If for some reason you need to leave your booth unattended, be sure to leave a note telling prospective customers when you’ll be back.

- Tim Crow, Fast Signs

TC’s Note: Make your booth stand out at your next trade show. Fast Signs has amazing ideas you haven’t even thought of for any budget.

5154 N Academy (In the Target Shopping Center)

www.fastsigns.com/478 (719) 260-6601

BannersDigital Signage

Wall DecalsCar Decals

Window GraphicsYard Signs

Trade Show DisplaysTra�c Signs

Vehicle WrapsSafety Signs

Business SignsBuilding SignsCustom Decals

Real Estate SignsVinyl Lettering

For All Your Signage Needs - Ask for Jack

We solve marketing and visual communications challenges - from

the simple...to the simply impossible™ - helping your company,

event or organization achieve its objectives and making you

look great in the process.

Trade Shows Done Right

8

Roundtable discussions are like a first date. At-

tendance is fluid; there can be completely different people at each meeting. You get the chance to check out other business owners and decide if you want to get to know each other better.

During a roundtable meeting topics are randomly selected and worked through until it is all talked out. Even if your topic is not covered, you can gain insight to take back to your business. In addition, you know that your input helped someone else move forward in their business.

Once you find the business owners that you want to build a deeper relationship with, form a Mastermind Group.

By meeting regularly, you can delve deeper in to topics that interest the whole group: mar-keting, client attraction; web-sites; social media; etc. The Mastermind meeting time can be used to look at one topic for all the businesses or the needs of one particular business owner’s needs on a rotating basis. Working together regu-larly lets you build important trust relationships. These rela-tionships can be used to hold each other accountable when you are working on a lengthy project or stepping out of your comfort zone.

TC’s Note: Mastermind groups can really help business own-ers through rough spots. Mine always gives me really valu-able information and the sup-port I need to make changes.

sponsored by:

2nd and 4th Monday of the month

Contact ‘TC’ for info 719-535-9933

Check the Calendar at www.Direct2Business.com

for details.

Roundtable Discussion for Greater Chamber& Women’s Chamber Members

CHAMBEREXCHANGE

Roundtable vs. Mastermind Groups

Out of sight out of mind is never a good approach

for a business. It’s important to keep touch with every as-pect of your operation to make sure nothing is spinning out of control. Proper maintenance of your HVAC is one of the things often overlooked with very ex-pensive consequences.

- Brandi Walters, Service Engineering

TC’s Note: Heating and Air Conditioning units work harder in a commercial setting. Main-tain them so they last longer and work better. Call Service Engi-neering, they have worked on commercial units for years.

Maintenance Made

Affordable

Scheduled Maintenance Enables

Breakdown Maintenance Ensures

Systems operate efficientlyMinimized operating costs

Maximized energy efficiencyMinimized repair time, system down time

and business disruptions by diagnosing problems before your system breaks downExtended useful life of equipment; often

dramaticallyImproved air quality

Systems operate at reduced efficiency and capacity

Increased operations costsDecreased energy efficiency

Increased repair time and cost, longer system down time, disruptive to business

operationsReduced useful life of equipment

Compromised air quality.

ExceptionalAir Conditioning

and Heating Services

24-HOUR HUMAN RESPONSE• Security & Peace of Mind • Warranties• Fully Stocked Service Vans • Computerized Service History• Technical Expertise • Certi�ed, Licensed & Insured• Special Tools & Equipment

Service...Our Name, Our Promise!

www.sereng.com (719) 471-1111

9

Hypnosis isn’t some weird gimmick. It’s a time tested method for short-

cutting the learning process and directing progress to where you most want to see it. Business goals or personal, life chang-es are only a few steps away. Overcome your fears, increase your motivation, manage stress, and build confidence in yourself.

Examples of how hypnosis has made a difference:

Sara, an officer in the military, was re-cently placed in a leadership role that required her to be authoritative and able to answer questions quickly. All her life, Sara had been shy and quiet and would blush and get tongue-tied when any atten-tion was directed her way. Her likelihood of advancement in her career was in seri-ous jeopardy if she didn’t do something fast. After just a few hypnosis sessions, she gladly reports that she now has no problems answering questions confident-ly and is successfully leading her team.

Marcie was having trouble motivating

herself to make phone calls and take the steps needed to get her new business off the ground. Previous disappointments in her work history had shaken her confi-dence to the point that she was procras-tinating even the easiest of tasks. After a few hypnosis sessions Marcie regained confidence in herself and her abilities, and she could hardly wait to get back to work.

Linda was a successful business owner and a heavy smoker. She hated meeting with clients and networking with peers while smelling like cigarette smoke, and no amount of chewing gum or breath mints could cover up the smell. After her hypnosis session she was happy to finally be smoke-free.

- Marti Liebowitz, Harmony Through Hypnosis

TC’s Note: It only took two sessions for me to give up my long time Diet Coke habit! When I went into my session I had a 44 oz fountain cup, 2/3 full. After my session, I threw it away. What habits do you want to throw away?

You Are Getting Sleepy...

Would you like to:• Eliminate your fear of public speaking or making phone calls?• Feel calm and confident giving presentations and answering questions, no matter who is asking?• Increase your motivation to be the best you can be in your business?• Cope with stressful situations and reduce the harmful effects of stress on your mind and body?• Truly believe in yourself and your own success?

Hypnosis can help!

www.HarmonyThroughHypnosis.com(719) 930-3542

Save some money! Cut the budget! Make the equip-

ment last a little longer. Repair instead of replace. Are you hearing this from your CEO or your accountant?Insuring cell phones is a big expense that can easily be cut. Did you know that you can re-pair those broken cell phones for much less money? Consider the monthly insurance payment of $10.00 per phone. Then add a $100 to $130.00 deductible, per broken phone. After one year if you break your phone you’ve spent $250.00 to repair that phone under insurance. If the phone does not break then you have spent $240.00 over the 2 year period until your next up-grade. Take these numbers and multiply them by the number of phones in your business. If you have 10 phones times the

$240.00 savings on insurance premiums = $2400.00 is the pool of money to use towards repairing broken phones, and don’t forget that deductible.What else could your business be doing with $2400?When you build a relationship with a cell phone repair busi-ness you can be putting that money elsewhere. Arrange-ments can be made to have the parts for your phones on hand. This allows most repairs to be completed in 1 to 2 hours; not days or weeks. Consider that most phones are well under $200.00 to repair. Parts become less expensive as the phone ages, so the older the phone is the less value the insurance is. So go ahead and cut that bud-get. See if cell phone repair is going to be the right choice for your business.

- Bob Steed, Cell Phone Repair

CELL PHONE REPAIRAuthorized Cell Phone Repair Center

(719) 573-6154 • 3440 N. Academy Blvdwww.cpr-coloradosprings.com

Full Service Cell Phone Repairs

Repair • Recycle • Reuse

Cracked Screens & LCD’sBroken Charging PortsData RetrievalSpeaker ProblemsLost PartsLiquid Damage

We do soldering & on board repairs.Fleet pricing & quick turnaround.

Tessa Battered Women’s Shelter

Donation Site

We also fixiPod & mp3 playersvideo game deviceslaptops & GPS units

Cut Your Cell Phone Budget

TC’s Note: If your cell phone is broken or just giving you problems give CPR a call.

10

Have you always loved a certain local shop only to show up one day and

find out they are closed? Then realize, as much as you liked that store, you haven’t actually been there for a year? We take for granted that businesses will be there when we need them but with today’s economy our visits could be few and far between.

Businesses need to do all they can to keep up their exposure and remind consumers they are there. If there are two auto repair places, two pizza restaurants, or two lo-cal insurance agents, both equal in many ways, which one gets your business? If one is a big part of the local chamber, help-ing out at community events and generally being visible and meeting people, doesn’t that make you feel more comfortable do-ing business with an integral part of the community? I know I prefer to frequent establishments that I not only know more about, but when I see them participating

in the community I feel they are in it for the long run.

Your local Chamber of Commerce is one of the best resources when seeking out advice and new customers. They work very closely with their members, support-ing them in any way they can. They have many set programs, but when they see or hear of an additional need, can become very flexible and creative.

If you have not considered getting in-volved with a Chamber of Commerce, do not hesitate to contact them. If you are starting a new business or looking to grow an existing one, they are the best place to start!

-Terri Hayes, Tri-Lakes Chamber

Supporting Our Local Community

TC’s Note: Our local chambers have great resources for businesses and even classes on current topics like social media or local ordinances.

www.trilakeschamber.com

(719) 481-3282

Did you know that you are liable when someone scavenges from your dump-

ster? If the cardboard box they took with your logo on it flies out of the back of their truck. This can now be traced back to you.Someone gets sick or hurt from the stuff in your dumpster. This can be from spoiled food or sharp objects they come into con-tact with. If they report where they’ve been, you’re liable.A true story is that a local drug store didn’t have a lock on the container and disposed of expired medication in the dumpster. A scavenger came by and took some of the pills and had a drug reaction. They sued the store. Putting a lock on your container and a “no scavenging” sign can keep the scavengers out and you from being liable.

- Rick DePaiva, Waste Connections

TC’s Note: Call Waste Connections to find out all the ways they help your company stay safe and clean.

Dumpster Divers Get You Into Trouble

11

Your business could be facinghidden risk and liability!

Loss of data, due to theft or negligence, whether fromoutside sources, employees, or third party vendors

could potentially cripple your business.A well drafted Security Policy reviewed by an experienced

attorney and training minimizes your risk and liability,signi�cantly increasing customer con�dence and trust!

David Willson, Attorney at Law

719-648-4176www.titaninfosecuritygroup.comdavid@titaninfosecuritygroup.com

Have you ever had a laptop or mobile phone lost or stolen? It can be both

scary and frustrating. More importantly, it can be devastating to your business. All the data that is central to your business is just waiting to be stolen from those devices when they are out of your hands. Let’s face it, you may have already lost data, through employee or vendor theft or carelessness, and not even know it.

How can you mitigate the potential damage?

1) Risk Assesment: List the information

you collect, process, and store. Identify who has access to it such as employees, vendors, your accountant, or even the cleaning crew. Then be very clear on how that information is being secured.

2) Policies: Draft policies which show due care and diligence. You should have clear policies about handling security, social me-dia and mobile devices, and about wireless use. Policies should include a clear list of employee responsibilities for maintaining data security.

3) Training: Provide regular cyber security awareness training. Ensure that every em-ployee receives this training at least twice a year since security issues change often. This lowers the risk of loss of data and can eliminate liability in the event info is lost or stolen.

Knowing what you have and how it is be-ing handled is the best way to be sure that you’re keeping your data safe.

- David Willson, Titan Info Security Group

TC’s Note: The world of data security is constantly changing and your liability can be very costly. Having a firewall is no longer suf-ficient. Call David to make sure your data and your customers’ information is protected.

Do You Know Where Your Data Is?

4923 Northpark Dr. • AscendMailing.com • (719) 390-5400

FASTTurnaround

Full Mailing ServicesInserting

Ink Jet AddressingTabbing

StampingAdvertising Campaigns

Mail List Updating & NCOA

PrintingInvoices

StatementsVariable Data Printing

Multipart NCR FormsTargeted Mail Lists

NewslettersPostcardsBrochures

It’s not just the price of stamps that seems to change constantly. The rules

governing mailings through the Post Office are also changed frequently.

Many businesses pay big money to have advertising materials professionally designed only to be shocked when they prepare for a mailing campaign. An incorrectly designed piece can cost a considerably higher postage and/or preparation expense or even be disqualified from mailing at all.

It is important when designing custom brochures or postcards that you work closely with an experienced mailing company that helps you make design choices that fit the rules of the moment and get you the best product for your money.

- Keith Murray, Ascend Mailing

The Importance of Piece Design

TC’s Note: Nothing is worse than having a piece custom designed and printed and then find out you can’t mail it. Ascend Mailing makes sure you get the most bang for your postage dollar..

12

The Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council has developed a set of requirements designed to help protect cardholder information before, during, and after transaction processing. From their site, “PCI security for merchants and payment card processors is the vital result of applying the information security best practices in the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). The standard includes 12 requirements for any business that stores, processes or transmits payment cardholder data. These requirements specify the framework for a secure payments environment; for purposes of PCI compliance, their essence is three steps: Assess, Remediate and Report.”

Collectively, the standards lay out best practices for merchants to follow which help to minimize the risk of a data breach. There is a common misunderstanding with the standards, that small merchants handling only one or a few credit cards a year are exempt from compliance. If you are a merchant and are set up to take credit cards by any mechanism – then you need to be compliant. Should you be compromised and not be PCI compliant, the fines and the compensation requirements by the banks (it typically costs between $50 and $90 to replace one card) could be substantial – to the point of potentially bankrupting your business.

Your merchant service provider should provide a compliance validation program to you. This begins with an intake or scoping interview which identifies how you are processing payments and handling cardholder information. Based on the interview results, you will take one of five different annual Self Assessment Questionnaires (SAQs). If you don’t understand the questions,

ask for help. DON’T gloss over them. If you are processing transactions through an internet connection, and not using a completely outsourced solution, your IP address will be scanned at least every 90 days using a non-intrusive process designed to identify known vulnerabilities which should then be remedied.

Understanding and implementing the 12 requirements of PCI DSS can seem daunting, especially for merchants without a security vendor or a large IT department. However, PCI DSS mostly calls for good, basic security. Even if there were no requirements for PCI compliance, the best practices for security contained in the standard are steps that every business should want to take to protect sensitive data and continuity of operations.

We often find that merchants are disregarding two areas of the standards. The first involves storing data that is not allowed or storing data in a forbidden way. In addition to violating PCI DSS, this may be a violation of State or Federal legislation regarding privacy. The PCI standard specifically forbids storing of any of the following:

Unencrypted credit card numbers (And they can only be stored electronically in validated payment applications. Paper storage is allowed if it meets security requirements.)

CVV or CVV2 (security codes)

Pin blocks

PIN numbers

Track 1 or 2 data (magnetic stripe data)

Any of the above found in databases, log files, audit trails, backups, et cetera can result in serious consequences for the merchant, especially if a compromise has taken place.

The other most common problem we find is that merchants do not have a written information security policy. This is a requirement of EVERY merchant. Everyone in your organization who handles cardholder data or processes payments should review and sign the policy. This becomes part of your business records. The best compliance validation programs have tools and templates for you to use.

Data security compliance is complicated in some instances, but for most merchants it can be handled in a fairly straightforward manner. It is important that you ask questions about any parts you don’t understand. For more information, go to www.pcisecuritystandards.org. Please feel free to contact us directly for assistance as well.

- Nelson Roseland, Platinum Relations

Are You Properly Protecting Cardholder Information?

You MUST Pay Attention

TC’s Note: Platinum Relations saved me money, the transfer was so smooth. Nelson even returns calls.

Did you know?The PCI standard specifically forbids storing of any of the following:

• Unencrypted credit card numbers (And they can only be stored electronically in validated payment applications. Paper storage is allowed if it meets security requirements.)

• CVV or CVV2 (security codes)

• Pin blocks

• PIN numbers

• Track 1 or 2 data (magnetic stripe data)

13

®

PLATINUMRELATIONSPLATINUMRELATIONS

Unlock the mysteries behind credit card processing • Superior, personalized service • Gift card programs • Card processing equipment • Point of sale software • Check conversion/guarantee • Ultra-competitive pricing

PLATINUM RELATIONSNelson Roseland, President

719.896.2500 • www.platinumrelations.com

info@platinumrelations.com

Are You Getting The Best Rates For Your Credit Card Processing?

Control Objectives PCI DSS Requirements

Build and Maintian a Secure Network

Install and maintain a firewall configuration to protect cardholder data

Do not use vendor-supplied defaults for system passwords and other security parameters

Protect Cardholder DataProtect stored cardholder data

Encrypt transmission of cardholder data across open, public networks

Maintain a Vulnerability Managment Program

Use and regularly update anti-virus software on all systems commonly affected by malware

Develop and maintain secure systems and applications

Implement Strong Access Control Measures

Restrict access to cardholder data by business need-to-know

Assign a unique ID to each person with computer access

Regularly Monitor and Test Networks

Restrict physical access to cardholder data

Track and monitor all access to network resources and cardholder data

Maintain an Information Security Policy Regularly test security systems and processes

14

IRS-three small letters that can strike fear into the heart of any

small business owner. Here are 6 steps you can take to greatly reduce the chance they notice you.

Know What The IRS Thinks About Your Industry. Small Businesses that claim deductions which are more than the industry standard might as well waive a flag asking the IRS to audit them. The IRS has written Industry Specialization pro-grams which tell their field auditor how to deal with each specific industry. These read like a stock offering prospectus, very dry and tough to understand.

Report Income You Earn From Third-Party Payers. Many people do not keep records on a monthly basis and do not know exactly how much money that they have been paid. You can bet your bottom dollar the clients who paid you will report that money. If its over $600 and they want to take a deduction, they are re-quired to report it to the IRS. If what you report as income and what they report as being paid out does not match go ahead and waive your “I want an audit flag.”

Use The Right Forms! The IRS loves forms. It has hundreds to choose from each year. There are monthly forms, quar-terly forms, annual forms, end of year forms and special circumstance forms. If you are able to identify the right form, you must still fill it out correctly. Using the wrong form or filling the form out in-correctly is another opportunity to waive your audit flag!

Keep Impeccable Records Of Income And Expense! One of the biggest prob-lems for the small business is a lack of good bookkeeping. Most Small Business owners know how to make the money but don’t believe they have the time to track all of their income and expenses. This not only waives the audit flag, it also encour-ages cheerleaders to yell “I WANT THE IRS TO AUDIT ME.”

Use Only Employees, Not Indepen-dent Contractors. The IRS has been fighting small business owners for years over the tax classification of sub-contract-ed workers. Are they employees or are they independent contractors? This is a critical question as you could be making yourself liable for payroll taxes, penalties,

and interest.

Hire A Pro!! Using a professional ac-countant does not, by itself, reduce your audit selection score, but it can help in a number of ways. An accountant will spot troublesome deductions or omissions of income that could trigger an audit. Ac-countants are also trained in payroll taxes and all the many forms for every occasion. Your accountant looks for gaps, possible penalties, and other issues so that by the time the IRS gets your paperwork there isn’t anything exciting to find.

- Kathy Bylkas, Your TaxLady

Are You Waving the Audit Flag?

Stop Paying Uncle Sam TOO MUCH $$$$

YourTaxLady

can help!

401 Windchime Place, Colorado Springs • (719) 548-4924 • www.taxladyllc.com

Expert in getting books caught up and in order.

Enrolled agent – can represent you to the IRS

QuickBooks Pro Advisor Small Business Specialist

YourTaxlady

Know what the IRS thinks about your industryReport income you earn from third-party payersUse the right formsKeep impeccable records of income and expenseUse only employees, not independent contractorsHire a pro!

TC’s Note: It is not too late. Your Tax Lady is known for helping business owners who have been so busy in their business they didn’t file yet. Give her a call..

15

Content for Social Media

719-246-7047activesignageseo.comlinkedin.com/in/activesignageseo

Internet marketing with an edge.

Did you know that an auto broker can give you

advice on the best choice for your needs and provide the same services as a dealer?For example, a young family welcomes baby number three and needs a bigger vehicle. Their old SUV is destined to be a trade in. They would most likely go to the dealer to look at a model with more seating.However, using an auto broker can bring them options they never considered. By objectively looking at the family’s needs and at all of the vehicles available, an auto broker gives them options they didn’t even consider. Instead of a $40,000 SUV, a minivan can save the family money and provide a better solution.

In addition, they trade in their SUV, get available rebates and the best financing rate, and never step onto the dealer’s lot.- Ronnie Haskins, AutoSearch USA

Your search for the perfect car starts here...

New or pre-owned, car, truck, SUV or Hybrid, we want to get the car you really want—any year, any make, any model. You’ll never have to settle for what’s on a dealer’s lot.

5376 Tomah Dr. 202 | (719) 528-8700www.findtheperfectcar.com

A REFRESHING ALTERNATIVE

Do You Know What Your Options Are?

TC’s Note: Ronnie recently, helped Alan of Alan’s Automo-tive find a vehicle for his hunting and fishing trips (and the busi-ness too). With a departure set only two days away, Ronnie ar-ranged for financing and dealer rebates. He really saved the day by hiring a driver to get the out-of-state vehicle to Alan in time for his trip. That’s what I call customer service!

Ever since Google bought YouTube for 1.6 Billion

back in 2006 Google has been pushing for videos to be a big player on how people use search engines. Depending on your market, videos can be easier to rank than your website. Research firms report that videos are between 20 to 54 times more likely to rank on the first page then a website. Even for a market the size of Colorado Springs, using video can be a huge boost.

Video gives you a lot of opportunity to build in the keywords you are trying to rank in. Just remember that annunciation matters so that your words can be picked out by the search engines. If you have trouble speaking clearly for long periods of time practice, practice, practice, and then record your message

in smaller chunks. Another tip is to make sure the videos have a different name than your blog. This way you can rank for multiple keywords off one video.

Videos get your message out without your targets realizing it is marketing. When it comes to social media, having your friends share your website is them telling their friends “Hey, you should buy this person’s stuff.” Sharing your video is “Hey, check out this cool video.” Make it easy for your customers and friends to share and watch what you have to say.

- Bob Clark, Active Signage

Videos Help Search Rankings

TC’s Note: Your video doesn’t have to be perfect to help your ranking. Call Active Signage to see how easy getting video on the net can be.

16

Love it or hate it, the new Facebook timeline layout

has arrived for business pages. This new layout is primarily a cosmetic change intended to make Facebook content more engaging. Facebook business pages are an essential place to connect with your custom-ers and clients. If you have a page for your business (and you should!) the large “cover” image is a great opportunity to showcase your company and your brand, and it won’t cost you a cent.

Facebook has laid out some rules for how business pages can utilize cover images. The biggest thing to remember is that the cover image is NOT ad space. If you treat it as such, you run the risk of hav-ing it removed.

Here are some good guide-

lines to keep in mind:

Don’t include any price or purchase information, such as “40% off” or “Download it at our website”. Also not allowed is contact information such as a website address, email, mailing address, or informa-tion that should go in your Page’s “About” section. Ref-erences to Facebook features or actions, such as “Like” or “Share” or an arrow pointing from the cover image to any of these features are taboo as are calls to action, such as “Get it now” or “Tell your friends”.

Even with those strict rules, you can still use the cover image to great effect. High-light beautiful product photos or enticing pictures of menu items. Showcase your compa-ny team members with a great group shot. Use the cover im-

age to communicate the look and feel of your business and connect with your fans on an emotional level.

When creating your cover im-age choose high quality graph-ics that are sized appropriately to avoid distortion. Cover im-age dimensions are 851 pixels wide by 315 pixels high. Be sure that you own the rights to all images that you are using - don’t just grab something off the internet. Finally - be cre-ative!

- Ellen Bryant, eb design

Your employees should be a key asset to your busi-

ness. When they know what to do, and they’re doing it right, you’re making the most of your investment. Three key components of delegating work to your employees are: Communication: Encourage 2-way Open Communication. Let your people know the best way to communicate with you (email, scheduled meetings) to set clear expectations. Change is constant so keep your staff

in the loop. Get to know your employees as individuals so you understand their strengths (talking to people, detailed work, thinking outside the box) and can make the most of them.Documentation: Have your employees create a Training Manual. You review it to make sure it is clear on when to do a task, the steps involved, the tools needed, and what the outcome looks like. Include what to do when a situation

takes them outside of the nor-mal work flow.Verification: Require regu-lar reports on the work being done. Make sure they are re-porting what is most impor-tant: number of phone calls made, the number of orders processed, percentage of re-work necessary. Understand where your employee’s time is being spent and you’ll be able to adjust it if necessary.Without all three components in place problems occur. Your employees are key to the success of your business. Evaluate if you are making the

most of the time and money you have invested to generate income for your business.- Mary Sullivan, Delegate to Grow

Make The Most Of Your Employees

TC’s Note: Not only are Mary’s ideas on how your staff can help you generate income amazing, she gets their buy in. One of her clients was having trouble getting his employees to ask for updated contact information when a client called into the office. Tracking down this information afterwards was costing a lot of time and money. By finding out WHY they were not doing the work, Mary got the staff to buy into asking the right questions and keep the cli-ent records up to date.

design970.219.4632

ellenbryantdesign.comellen@ellenbryantdesign.com

a full servicegraphic design studio

print • web • logosemail marketing

tradeshow graphicsmarketing materials

advertising

How can I helpyou look

great?

TC’s Note: Ellen provides a WOW design that is creative, always classy, and done on deadline. She focuses on getting your message across and offers new ideas to keep your message fresh. She does the design and layouts for Direct2Business.

DELEGATEto GROW

Mary Sullivan • (719) 330-4067www.delegatetogrow.com

Delegate to Grow:Determines your team’s strengths.

Clarifies their jobs to streamline activity and increase productivity.

Gives ideas to make each member of your staff generate income.

Does Your Staff Help You Grow Your Business?

Facebook Timeline Cover Images - Great Branding Opportunity

17

Did you know that 70% of all medical claims are accident related? An accident can be anything not illness related, like a pulled muscle, slipping and falling, or a broken bone. Accident plans range from as low as $25 per individual and $40 for a family. It is not recommend that this be your only coverage, but it is much better than nothing.

For healthy people who don’t go to the

doctor often, think about a high-deductable plan that you can supplement with cover-age for accidents and critical illness. This kind of plan works well for the young and single.

You don’t have to be in perfect health or very young to get a decent rate, you would be surprise how reasonable it can be. Talk to a reputable plan broker and see how you can get the coverage you need at a price

you can afford.

- George Cespedes, First Choice Plans

TC’s Note: My husband got laid off. We’re lucky he was hired by another company two hours later, but with no benefits. The Cobra premium was going to kill us. George found us a plan that will give us the kind of cover-age we need for a price we can work with.

You can get affordable health insurance if you are self employed.

Health, Dental, Life Insurance… and more

(719) 799-6600 www. firstchoiceplans.com

Individual Health InsuranceAccident Plans

Small Group Health InsuranceDental Insurance

Life InsuranceCritical Health

DisabilityLong Term Care

In a small business our customers are buying us, our individual traits and

skills, as much as they are buying our fi-nal product. We often miss marketing our most valuable abilities because we just don’t see them. In the new world of pas-sive marketing that’s an advantage we can no longer afford to miss. Your business bio needs to be up to date and showcase the strengths you bring to your industry. Keep these points in mind as you write:

Keep it simple. Corporate speak is passé and sounds stuffy. You want your bio to be approachable and inviting. The purpose of your bio isn’t really to sell your product. It’s to sell YOU with your product.

Make people smile. When you make people smile they relax into an emotional place where it’s easier to make a good impression. You want to convince a deci-sion maker that they want to do business with you, as a person. Your qualifications won’t be the deciding factor if they don’t like you personally.

Get help. Have someone else write your bio. Your friends and colleagues see your unique strengths in a way that you do not. Have them pick out what is most impor-tant.

Have it edited. This actually goes for ev-erything. If you wrote it, have someone else read it before you release it to print. Almost anyone can read for basic spell-ing, grammar, and to tell you if your point makes sense.

Keep it up to date. We change and grow. Our business focus changes. The market changes. And the language that we use to describe what we do changes. Make sure your bio keeps up.

- Pamela Potter, In Your Voice

Who Are You?

TC’s Note: Go to my LinkedIn account and see what an amazing job Pamela did on my bio. The comments from the people she interviewed were enlighten-ing, I’d have never thought to include outside opinions. I had put updating it off forever, it was an enormous relief to have Pamela handle that and get it done and off my plate.

GhostwritingEditing Services

From books to websites to bios,In Your Voice can partner with you for all your word-smithing needs.

Everyone hasa message.

(719) 650-1079www.pamelapotter.com

Clearly expressing that message can be a challenge.

18

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Colorado Springs Area

Zip CodesZIP CODE BOUNDARIES

POST OFFICES, BRANCHES,SUBSTATIONS, BOX UNITS

©MacVan The Map CompanyAll rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means without prior written permission from the publisherwww.macvanmaps.com

.

PIKES PEAK REGIONZIP CODES

Cascade ..................80809Chipita Park..............80809Cripple Creek ...........80813Divide ......................80814Schriever A.F.B. ........80912Florissant .................80816Green Mtn. Falls .......80819Monument ...............80132Palmer Lake .............80133Peyton .....................80831Victor .......................80860Woodland Park .........80863

929 W Colorado AveColorado Springs, COMon-Sat 9am-5pm719-633-5757

w w w. m a c v a n m a p s t o r e . c o m

MacVan Map StoreCustom Mapping

Cartography ServicesRegional Street AtlasesMaps & Tourist Guides

19

Why Advertise?Why advertise? The most

incredible product in the world won’t sell if no one knows you have it. Well targeted marketing and advertising gets your message and information about your product out to the potential consumer. The right campaign can have a significant impact on your company’s success.

Advertising doesn’t have to cost a lot. As a rule of thumb you should budget 10% of your gross sales towards advertising. If this still seems unachievable work closely with your marketing professional and design team. There are many strategies a business can use to lower that expense while still getting the necessary market saturation. Frequency and market saturation will boost sales exponentially if it is done well

and has a product behind it that fills a consumer need or desire.

Don’t try to save the budget by limiting the scope of your advertising campaign. A strong, comprehensive marketing plan should include several different strategies for reaching out that display your quality corporate identity and brand. Options can include web site, brochure, email marketing, direct mail, print advertisements, and even social media. An experienced marketing team will help you determine the right options for your business.

- Susanne Arens, Crystal Peak Design

6854 Oak Valley Drive Colorado Springs, CO 80919

719-593-9112 www.crystalpeak.com

25 years of innovations, options and solutions

Crystal Peak Design provides

full-service, results-driven marketing, advertising

and graphic design. With a proven track record of

effective campaigns, Crystal Peak Design helps you

identify your target audience…and successfully

reach them.

• Branding

• Corporate Identity

• Graphic Design

• Marketing Strategy

• Marketing Collateral

• Advertising/Media Buys

• Website Design & Development

• Social Media

TC’s Note: Crystal Peak Design is known for creating a company’s identity through eye-catching design. American Heart Association is one of the many great corporations they work with.

No business wants to incur unwanted expenses but

how do you know when its time to call in a specialist? When it comes to your computer there are three signs that tell you your hardware may be in real trouble. 1. Are you slowing down? If your computer freezes fre-quently or is running much more slowly than usual, you may have a problem. Modern systems shouldn’t need to re-started frequently to work prop-erly. 2. Have you been corrupted? Your data that is. If you see that your files fail to open or save correctly, it may be time to call a specialist. 3. Are you hearing things? Your computer should never make strange noises. If you turn on your computer and you hear anything that sounds like a jet

engine, or grinding or screech-ing noises, you should definite-ly have a professional check it out. If any of these things are famil-iar to you, it is highly recom-mended that you immediately make a backup of all your im-portant data and call a comput-er technician.If going without your computer for even one day could be a serious issue for your business you may want to consider hav-ing a knowledgeable company monitor your computer remote-ly. They can watch for trouble signs and fix things before you even know you have a problem.

-Eric Seney, Computer Troubleshooters

Is your computerrunning

S..L..O..W?

Make it run faster!Spring Tune-UP

Check for Viruses & Virus ProtectionCheck Spyware/Malware

Optimize Firewall ProtectionRemove Erroneous Start-Up Files

www.ct-pcdr.com719-302-2234

Does Your Computer Need A Tuneup?

TC’s Note: Critical business time is wasted when our comput-ers are running slow. When is the last time you had your com-puter tuned up?

20

In today’s tight economy, businesses need to maximize the productivity of

every aspect of business. How much mon-ey is the art on your walls bringing in for you?

Commission Art. Coffee shops have been doing it for years; now you can get in on it too. Local artists are looking for ways to reach their target market and you have

walls that could be mak-ing you money. There are two main catego-ries: Jewelry and dis-play art.

Jewelry tends to be more of an impulse buy with unique items appealing to your higher-end cli-ents. As items sell,

the artist can replace

with similar designs or with the latest new creations; whichever makes your clients happier.

Display art can not only make you money, but it keeps you from spending money on art to fill your walls. The art can be changed out with the seasons or on a regu-lar basis to keep it fresh. The artist’s in-formation is tastefully displayed so your clients can contact them directly. If you want, you can even sell the items directly off of the wall.

By placing tasteful art or jewelry displays from a local artist in your business, you are supporting the local economy and pro-viding another service for your clients. You also get a commission on each piece sold. Which walls in your business could be making you money?

- Maxine Grossman, Hummingline

TC’s Note: You will be completely blown away by the beautiful designs and variety of the art Maxine creates. From wall art, win-dow light catchers, necklaces, earrings, pins and so much more. She has a wide selection for you to choose from or she can customize the perfect piece. Give your wall some amaz-ing class and get a check for doing so. Have something customized that will fit perfectly in your décor and that your cliental will love.

Are Your Walls Making You Money?

21

The Carter Payne Historic Event Center is a Colorado Springs landmark in the heart of downtown. This hand-hewn stone

structure has been a welcoming beacon in our community for gen-erations.

When Colorado was still a territory, the Carter family established the first church for persons of color at this site on land donated by Colorado Springs founder General William J. Palmer. The chapel, named for Bishop Daniel A. Payne, became the spiritual and so-cial center for African Americans for more than a century.

Named to honor its historic roots, The Carter Payne has been care-fully renovated to retain its dramatic Gothic style. The main space features hammered beam ceilings, brass chandeliers, wainscot-ing, and windows that frame majestic Pikes Peak. The wonderful Colorado sunlight fills the 2000 sq ft Great Room making it a beautiful setting for any event.

- Sandra Vanderstoep, The Carter Payne Historic Event Center

TC’s Note: “Wow!” The ceiling in the Great Hall is stunning, the natural light streaming in the windows is remarkable, and the break out rooms are wonderful and functional. Clients ranging from Central Bancorp to Pikes Peak Hospice and Colorado College are finding this a perfect location for their meeting, conference, and reception needs. The sister company, Garden of the Gods’ Gourmet is an award winning catering company that provides perfect food, service and logistics, to insure that your event exceeds your expectations. With easy parking and walking distance to Tejon this is a perfect place for your next corporate meeting or not-for-profit gala!

Turning History into Functional Space

A Colorado Springs landmark in the heart of downtown

Elegance & SimplicityMeetings & ConferencesWeddingsSpecial EventsFree Parking

In partnership with Garden of the Gods Gourmet

320 S. Weber St. - Downtown thecarterpayne.com 719.387.8085

Whether you refer to it as “networking” or “connecting” – it’s common knowledge that the business of building relationships is a vital component of an overall mar-keting plan. And while social media op-tions continue to outpace more traditional methods, you still need a solid plan for meeting prospective clients and customers face-to-face. When you do, how will you make an impression with the other human beings in the room?

First, a little introspection is in order. What’s your comfort level when faced with a room full of strangers? If you’re completely confident and at ease in meet-ing new people, welcome to networking. You’ll be able to navigate a room, ex-change liberal amounts of business cards, schedule some one-on-ones and deliver an abbreviated pitch or two. Done.

But if all that leaves you cold – and a bit overwhelmed – you may want to develop a connecting approach. Either in tandem

with an advance partner (whose business you know well), or by picking out a fa-miliar face in the crowd, it may be easier for you to move through that same room by facilitating introductions, asking ques-tions and recommending the products and services of others. You’ll still have the same face-time with prospects, but they’ll remember you as a resource long after the event.

Whether you are networking or connect-ing, once you become known as a valu-able resource for others, all types of as-sociates, prospects and customers will seek you out for advice, ideas, contacts and referrals. In turn, this type of activity keeps your visibility high and gains good exposure for your business.

- Linda Mojer, With Substance

Connecting Bash

May 30, 2012 - 4-7 PM�e Carter Payne

Food provided byGarden of the Gods Gourmet

$5 donation at the door toCare and Share Food Bank

CONNECTING BASH

a

Direct2Business is mailed to 30,000 local businesses. We want to invite you to meet

each other, network and connect.

We only have room for 250 people – we will sell out.

Be sure to email your RSVP to o�ce@Direct2Business.com

llc

TC’s Note: Come connect with us! You know the food will be great – Garden of the Gods Gourmet is catering.

22

Are fees eating up your retirement plan? You may not even know the answer

to that. Did you know there are up to 17 different fees that you may be paying that may be reducing your savings to crumbs? Trustees’ fees, custodial fees, TPA fees, In-vestment advisor fees, Fund Company fees and insurance company fees are but a few fees that you may not even be aware you’re paying.

As your company’s 401(k) Plan Sponsor, you have responsibilities back to those who are invested in your plan. You may not even realize all of your fiduciary duties. It can be a heavy responsibility and there are repercussions if the job isn’t well done. We are beginning to see more and more law suits from employees toward their employ-ers for poor plan investment choices and excess fees in plans. Endless fees aren’t the only pitfalls. One major trap is relying on your broker for advice. Unless they are

independent, a broker’s loyalty is with his company to sell plans, not necessarily to offer the best solution for your company. Independent investment advisors or outside professional managers can be solutions to dealing with biased advice.

Beyond getting sound independent advice, there are other definite actions you can take to mitigate potential liability as a 401(k) Plan Sponsor.

Making the best possible investment choic-es within plans is going to be more critical when the disclosure rules take effect this year. Employees are going to see all of the fees that are eating up their returns and be able to second guess every decision, a po-tential nightmare waiting to happen. - Nick Naseman, Prestige Wealth Management

TC’s Note: Prestige Wealth Management is known for educating their clients, not selling them. Make sure your plan is not being eaten up by fees, call them.

Nick Naseman

Je� Mathies

Prestige Wealth Management, Inc., is a Colorado Registered Investment Advisor that provides advisory services and is licensed to provide insurance products, and acts a solicitor for Matson Money, an SEC Registered Investment Advisor and ERISA 3(38) Plan Fiduciary.

Too Many Hands in Your401(k) Cookie Jar?

Your company’s 401(k) plan probably isn’t worth as much as you think, or as much as it could be. �at’s because of the 17 di�erent fees – Trustees’ fees, Custodial fees, TPA fees, Investment Advisor fees – the list goes on and on – that take a bite out of savings, leaving you and your employees with the crumbs.

As your company’s 401(k) Plan Sponsor, you have speci�c �duciary responsibilities. We can examine your plan right down to the bone, showing how to optimize its value with a side-by-side appraisal and a cost. �en we’ll customize a 401(k) strategy speci�c to your needs and communicate those strategies to your employees.

Prestige Wealth Management, Inc.2860 S. Circle Drive, Suite 320 • Colorado Springs, CO 80906(719) 434-3939 Fax: (719) 550-4645 • www.PresWM.com

Too Many Hands in Your 401(k) Cookie Jar?Mitigate Your Liability Hire someone to conduct the due diligence in selecting a plan provider.

Use Modern Portfolio Theory in building model portfolios.

Have an independent analysis done to benchmark the plan that shows you the industry standard, where your plan is now, where it should be, and how to get it there.

Provide formalized investment education to plan participants. Not just a bunch of Powerpoint presentations on the web, but a live instructor that the employ- ees can interact with and who can answer their individualized questions.

23

Boomers are one of the wealthiest generations in our nation’s history.

Shannon Rogers of the Senior Resource council tells us that Colorado Springs has “two-and-a-half times the national aver-age of boomers retiring here.” Did you know that the Colorado Springs Business Journal reported that Boomers spend $2.3 trillion each year?

In Colorado Springs there are over 72,000 people over the age of 50 that have an an-nual income of $50,000 or more. Today’s boomers are often still working but they are beginning to take the time to enjoy life on their own terms, whether they are spoiling their grandchildren or are empty nesters who want to live in a home de-signed for them; not their kids.

Historically marketers thought Boom-ers were ‘too set in their ways’, that is, not flexible enough to be a viable mar-keting target, but this is proving to be wrong. More and more research is show-ing that boomers are ready to be targeted. In some categories, older consumers are showing they are even more willing to brand-hop than younger ones. It’s time to take advantage of the fact that the boomers came of age in the 1960s in a culture of unlimited potential and experi-mentation. “All their lives, the boomers have been catered to and felt special, and they would like to see something just for them,” says Geoffrey E. Meredith, presi-dent of marketing consultancy Lifestage Matrix Marketing in Lafayette, Calif. [from Bloomberg Businessweek: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/con-tent/05_43/b3956201.htm]

- Mary Sullivan, Direct2Boomers Magazine

Boomers Are Buyers

Reach over 72,000 Colorado Springs residents age 50+

with an annual income of $50K or moreEducate Boomers about your industry & your business

Delivered quarterly starting in JulySocial Media package included

BOOMERS ARE ONE OF THE WEALTHIEST GENERATIONS IN OUR NATION’S HISTORY

www.Direct2Boomers.com 719-535-9922

TC’s Note: Now that I’ve turned 50 I’m admitting that I’m a Boomer. I’ve had so much fun educating businesses with Direct2Business I thought it was time to bring the fun to my fellow Boomers! The Direct2Boomers magazine gives you the opportunity to educate the boomers about your industry and about your company just like the businesses who take part in the Di-rect2Business magazine. Let’s show them what you have to offer.

24

Staffing can be a complicated activity. It has become even more so with the

recent economic challenges. As business-es are getting busier again there is the nag-ging thought of “what if this doesn’t last?” Many are also worried about keeping up with the ever changing government regu-lations. One aspect of this is the tighter restrictions of classifying workers as in-dependent contractors. Misunderstanding employment law can put employers at risk of being targeted by the IRS.Staffing agencies can take much of the worry out of your hiring decisions while you focus on your core business. You save time and money and know you have hired a well-screened person. Whether you are looking for one person or many people, take advantage of a staffing company. Ex-amples of how to use a staffing company are:

Hiring for a unique position – an Ex-ecutive Admin to the HR DirectorAsking for help after making bad hiring decisions – fully understanding your needs then screen and hire the right peopleHiring the perfect receptionist to rep-resent your company – finding the perfect matchNeeding extra workers in a pinch – experienced people to complete an important pack and ship jobHiring a large group of people quickly – bringing on 30 people that meet your specific needsFinding food servers for catering or hotel jobs – special skills with no time to trainGetting HR functionality – employee handbooks, safety program reviews, I-9 compliance

No matter what your staffing need, avoid spending your valuable time writing job descriptions, screening resumes, coming up with the right interview questions and doing the interviews.

- Jan Bonham, Express Employment

TC’s Note: Express Employment was referred to us by many different sources. Hire Express Employment to do what they do best so you can do what you do best.

Take the Worry Out of Hiring Decisions

Jan Bonham, President of Express Employment Professionals, provides quali�ed o�cesupport personnel for your team.

Quali�ed Administrative Sta� is what we deliver!

Traditional Sta�ng

Evaluation Hire

Direct Hire/Search

Onsite Services

HR Services

ISO Registered

2414 S. Academy Blvd www.expresspros.com (719) 390-1300Colorado Springs South O�ce

25

SERVINGColorado Springs

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Real Estate • MedicalLegal • Inter-office • Deliveries

(719) 578-8747www.coloradocouriers.com

Window Coverings As SignsWe have all seen text and logos put

directly on windows. Did you know you can put images on your window shades? With the full color options avail-able, this could set your business apart. Ideas to put on your shade:

• Your Logo• What you sell – Like a coffee cup for a coffee shop.• Services – Like free WiFi• Your Website• A Tag line

The choices are endless. You control the content and the look of your window cov-erings. Achieve the function of glare con-trol while preserving the view at the same time! Contact a window covering design expert experienced in working with busi-nesses to find the solution that works best for your needs.

- Jaque Peterson, Exciting Windows

It’s a fact of life and business that there is never enough time for everything we

need and want to accomplish. One way to make the most of the time you have is to figure out what needs to be done by you, and what could be done by someone else.Deliveries and errands can be extremely time consuming. They put you in your car splitting your attention, your time, and your focus between driving, the task of the mo-ment, and the important things you’d be do-ing if you were back at the office. This is not the best way to be productive.Have you asked yourself why you have to be the one to make those deliveries?Professional delivery services save time that can be put back into your business where it generates the greatest return. Pro-fessionals can combine your errands with those of others to do them in the most cost effective and time effective order so the cost to you is minimized.

- Gary Eiden, Trip-Savers

Time Is Money

TC’s Note: Hand over the headache of de-livering payroll, packages, and even special occasion items. They can get almost any-thing to anywhere anytime.

TC’s Note: Better utilize every space, use a window covering design expert. Call Jaque, pick her brain to see how you can set your business apart. www.ExcitingWindows.com/wcg (719) 548-1020

Jaque Peterson

PERSONA Custom Graphics Shades Work in Any Window!

Print literally anything on aPERSONA Cellular or Roller Shade.

Logos • Photos • Graphics • Advertising

Custom Graphics can be printed on solar screen fabric for visibility AND glare control, or on solid fabrics.

26

How to get a great printed piece.

Start with good art: Your orig-inal should be 300 DPI (dot per square inch) or better. You can use copied logos if you must, but your final product will not be as crisp. The best thing to do if you don’t have a clean origi-nal is to get a graphic artist or your print professional to clean it up and create a Vector file. (.eps)

Paper: The kind of paper and coating you use really does make a difference in the look and feel of your final product. Talk with your printer to de-termine the best paper for your project.

Digital printing: Big Box stores can be inexpensive, but may not be the best choice for your project. Their counter people don’t necessarily have the knowledge a professional

printer has. It is important to make certain you are getting original digital prints, not cop-ies of a copy. A digital original is much crisper.

A local doctor’s office recently improved their data handling by 15 minutes on each patient folder by simply switching from copies of copies to origi-nal printed forms. Each form is now a digital file that can be updated quickly and easily as

the laws and rules change. The forms are now printed on color coded paper so it is easy for staff to be certain they always have the right form.

What differences could such a simple change make for your business?- Terza Ekholm, American Printing

TC’s Note: American Printing prints Direct2Business Maga-zine, I was really impressed with the quality of the print and paper and the time they took to help me make the right choices.

There’s printing and then there’s PRINTING

Don’t just go with a printer. Go with someone who CARES about you and the success of your business!

We're local.We add physical dimension to your

marketing presence.From building wraps to business cards...

and everything in-between.

Seeing is believing. Hearing is affirming. Touching seals the deal.  (Social Media, Television) (Radio, Airwaves) (Print Media, Customer Service)

Get your business noticed and remembered for its professionalism and quality.

americanprintingusa.com

(719) 213-9469

If you are going to take the time and effort to send a

thank you gift you need to know that you are making the statement you really mean. We don’t send a gift to every customer every time; they are for special circumstances or the above and beyond. You want to be sure that your gift conveys your true appreciation.To accomplish this your gift needs to be unique, personal and create a buzz when it’s received; it needs to make a statement. You want the

recipient’s office to be buzzing about it. W h e n y o u ’ r e arranging

for the gift you need to be sure that your vendor is asking questions about your needs, your theme, your budget, and your recipient so they can custom design gifts for your organization that are unique and original. Make sure they aren’t just recycling the same tired looks all over town.The right thank you gift creates buzz. When they talk about your gift, they are by default talking about your business.

- Heather Zambrano, The Original Basket Boutique

TC’s note: Heather created a basket for me to go to a cat lov-er. My client was thrilled. The basket contained classy unique gifts for my client and even a few special treats for her cat!

Good Enough ISN’T Good Enough When It Comes To Thank You Gifts

gifts that are unique and personalized.

be original. give original.

client appreciationthank you gifts

'atta boys/girls'congratulations

new babyholidaysget-well

bereavement

obbcoloradosprings.com

719.465.1601

27

28

Did you know that the average office worker spends as much time at their desk as they do

sleeping? No wonder that the Bureau of Labor Sta-tistics reports that repetitive motion stresses cause the most absences from work!

The best way to prevent stress injuries and maintain good health is a combination of proper equipment and good habits.

Make sure you have business furniture that is prop-erly supportive and encourages good habits. Your chair should encourage good posture and be adjust-able to suit your height and your work needs. Your monitor should be set at the proper height and di-rectly ahead rather than offset to one side. If you find that you are still feeling strained talk to a repu-table business furniture expert about the ergonomic options that are available for your circumstances. There is special furniture for every conceivable is-sue on the market; you just need to know what you need!

Once your furniture is right for your business and your body, good habits will help keep you in top shape.

Posture is important. Keep your feet flat on the floor, back straight and supported by your chair, head fac-ing forward.

When typing, keep your wrists loose and in a line with your forearms. Save the wrist rest for when you’re resting and thinking, not typing.

Don’t sit for too long at a stretch. Get up, move, and look around. Regular breaks let your body relax and release stress. They’re also proven to increase pro-ductivity so don’t skimp!

Mike Ward, Business Furniture Systems

Make Sure Your Furniture Is Working For

YOU

TC’s Note: The office furniture from BFS is so much more comfortable than the furniture I bought at a box store; didn’t cost much more either. Stop by the show-room to find out how to fit office furniture to your body.

BUSINESSFURNITURE SYSTEMS

For All Your Office Equipment Needs

Create a smart design for your office on any budget.

3709 East Platte Ave. | www.bfscolorado.com | 719.597.2284

More Than You Bargained For!

Huge selection of brand name new and gently used office furniture - we dare you to come in and figure

out which is which!

From carpet to layout to the right chair, the laid-back, knowledgable staff at BFS will listen to you and help

you design the perfect office environment.

29

When you really start to look at the options,

window coverings can feel overwhelming. New technol-ogy and fabrics have increased the available options. Working with a professional designer can help you see the light when making your decisions. You and your designer should be talking about:• Current room design and usage

• Future decorating plans • The amount of light and privacy you want to block out or let in• The need for insulated products to deal with temperature extremes• Manual vs. battery powered• Open from the top, bottom or both• Child and Pet safety con- cerns

• The budget; do all the windows now, or in a staged approach• Seeing the product sample in your own home, with your lighting and color needs

Making the right decisions up front is important. Once the money is spent and the win-dows are covered, it is too late to decide you really don’t like how the color works with your

carpet. Save money, time and frustration by working with a professional who listens to your needs and finds the solu-tion that is right for you.- Jaque Peterson, Exciting Windows

Windows That Do More Than Let In The Light

TC’s Note: Jaque has years of experience in custom designing window coverings. Many times they are fabricated in house. Call her for something that is excit-ing, unique and perfectly fits your windows.

• Custom Draperies• Valances• Bedspreads• Comforter Ensembles• Decorative Pillows

All major brands of• Blinds• Shades• Shutters

excite your windows!

www.ExcitingWindows.com/wcg (719) 548-1020 Jaque Peterson

Unfortunately, the roofing industry is plagued with less-than-reputable

contractors. Make sure you are educated with the list of traits common to the rip-off artists. The following tend to be indicators that a contractor may not be interested in satisfying customers: Solicits door-to-door: Sometimes this means that the contractor is not from a local, established business but is instead just passing through and trying to make a quick buck. Has materials left over from a previous job: This is a common ploy of fly-by-night operators who are based out-of-state and use their pick-up trucks as their place of business. Ask you to get the required building permits: This indicates that the contractor is not licensed. You should always check the status of a contractor’s license with the Regional Building Department. (www.pprbd.org) Does not list a business phone number in the local directory: This can be a red flag indicating that the contractor does not have an established business presence in-state. Pressures you for an immediate decision:

A reputable professional knows that you need time deciding which contractor to hire and that you’ll want to get estimates from several contractors and check with consumer protection agencies.Asks you to pay for the entire job up-front or demands only cash: A credible, established company doesn’t need to ask for money up front. Unfortunately too often, homeowners have paid for work that was never completed, and the contractor has disappeared. Suggests you borrow from a particular lender: People have been ripped off finding out they agreed to a home equity loan with very high rate, points and fees. Offers to cover your insurance deductible: This is often a sign that the contractor is attempting to defraud your insurance company.Hopefully, this information helps you look beyond the lowest bid when choosing a contractor for your small repair projects or your larger remodeling projects.

- Jamie Wilson, Reliable Roofing Systems

We’ll treat your home as ifit is our own!

• Residential and Commercial• Insurance Claim Specialists• Reroof, Repairs, All types of Shingles, Tile, Shake Repairs, Modified Roofing, TPO and EPDM• Free estimates

Our workmanship is 100% Guaranteed

www.myhappyroof.com

(719) 576-6300

Don’t Get Scammed: Tips to Avoid Disreputable Contractors

TC’s Note: Reliable Roofing is a local com-pany you can trust, give Jamie a call.

30

The first step is before the painting be-gins. It is important that the surfaces

be properly prepared by scraping any loose paint, sanding bare surfaces, and priming for adhesion. Joints and cracks need to be caulked with the longest lasting caulk available. And most importantly, don’t skimp on the quality of your paint.

Once the job is done regular maintenance

is the key to keeping your home look-ing great. Check annually for hail dam-age, water damage or any cracks caused by structural movement or temperature change. Always check the horizontal sur-faces. Keep trees and plants from being close enough to touch the house. Watch that your sprinklers are not hitting the house. After a few years, exposure to the sun will cause fading.

If you touchup or repaint the surfaces that show wear and tear on an annual basis you can extend the life of your painting invest-ment for up to 10 years.

- Tony Ellis, TECC Painting

I just spent a lot of money painting my house, how do I make it last?

TC’s Note: TECC painting makes it easy to keep your new paint looking great. They’ll really work with you on regular mainte-nance so you get your money’s worth.

Waste SafetyWho is picking up your trash? Are they keeping an eye out for your kids or pets? Check with your waste company to be sure they are checking backgrounds on the truck employees that are visiting your neighborhood every week. Also, find out if they have a camera on their truck to look for kids and pets around the truck.

What are you putting into your trash that can put your identity at risk? It is best to shred everything that has your name and address on it, old checks, bills, receipts, and written bids from contractors or other vendors. Identity theft is a serious issue. It can happen to anyone.

There are choices. Be sure that you and your waste company are making good ones.

- Rick DePaiva

TC’s Note: Waste Connections goes the extra mile to keep your neighborhood safe and clean.

31

Stucco can really change the look of your home by giv-

ing it a fresh, clean look and is a better choice than siding. If you’re going to apply stuc-co over your existing siding, be sure that the siding isn’t loose, any rotting wood has been replaced, and that the waterproofing on doors and windows is in good condition. A reputable company knows these issues and will work with you to be sure everything is in good shape before they begin.

- Rodrigo Terrazas, RT Stucco

TC’s Note: The after picture looks amazing, what a change. Call R.T. Stucco about improv-ing your home’s curb appeal.

Stucco vs. Siding

Stucco’s Benefits:Maintenance free.

Reduces noise.

Doesn’t deteriorate with time so it keeps your house looking like new.

Hard, strong, and fire resistant.

Energy efficient.

Not affected by ter-mites, rot, or fungus.

Can be applied on every surface.

No more woodpeckers.

How many times have you been relaxing after a

long day under a nice steamy shower only to run out of hot water? Tankless water heating technology can provide end-less hot water while saving you money and space. Cus-tomers report saving as much as $70 per month after install-ing tankless water heaters.

Your new tankless water heat-ing system:

Never runs out of hot water.

Can be used with either natu-ral gas or propane.

Requires up to 16 sq ft less space than a tank.

Is approved for use at eleva-tions up to 10,200 ft.Can be repaired onsite instead of replaced.All of the installations are backed with full service, parts and labor warranties that meet or exceed the manufacturer’s and/or industry standards.Offers energy savings of up to 60% over tank-type water heaters.

- Brandi Walters, Service Engineering

TC’s Note: For no more cold showers, and to save money on your utility bill, give Service En-gineering a call.

No More Cold Showers! Exceptional

Air Conditioningand Heating Services

24-HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE• Exceptional Expert Installation• Respect of Property• Planned Maintenance Programs• Warranties• Computerized Service History• Certi�ed, Licensed and Insured

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www.sereng.com (719) 471-1111

We proudly install

32

Create a smart design for your office on any budget.

Huge selection of brand name new and gently used office furniture - we dare you to come in and figure out which is which!

From carpet to layout to the right chair, the laid-back, knowledgable staff at BFS will listen to you and help you design the perfect office environment.

BUSINESS FURNITURE SYSTEMS

For All Your Office Equipment Needs

3709 East Platte Ave. | www.bfscolorado.com | 719.597.2284

More Than You Bargained For!