SMART Holdings USA – SMARTvt.org

SMARTvt’s Curtis s Ostler leads major recycling, re-use, job creation program for Resource.com.

Carolyn Smith, Healthcare Executive Manager To Lead SMARTvt’s HIE/ HIT Applications Education Division

USMC Captain Michael Hussey Completes Norwich University MBA Program – Manager, Multisorb, Buffalo, NY

The psychology of entrepreneurship; (1) heritable risk-taking / fortitude, (2) person’s thrust into business by circumstance. One universal attribute: Business owners radiate professional and personal satisfaction when describing their ascent to starting and growing their businesses. See story next page 2…

SMARTvt.org – SMART Holdings USAJohn Mayer, Mark Renkert, Michael Kipp, Michael Hussey, Gabrielle Meunier drive SMART Holdings USA economic Development Engine Creating US Companies and Jobs . SMARTvt created a task force that provides resources, education, training, financing solutions to business startups for approved plans. About SMARTvt.org. Vermont's largest solution provider featuring teams of subject-matter experts with one voice as one firm; SMARTvt.org, a global consultancy offering sustainable socially responsible applications such as Hands-on Engineering, Accounting, Finance, Marketing, New Product Development, Research, Medical Devices and Technology, Pharmaceuticals, Telephony, E-enterprise, IT / IS implementation - service, Merger & Acquisition, LBO, Business Valuation, Forensic Accounting, SEC Compliance, Petrochemical Extraction, Defense Systems, and global manufacturing enterprises. .

Vermont businesses, non-profits, and organizations using the center as a confluence of ideas, the exchange of creative spark, and the implementation of plans – all aligned with Truth, Quality, Excellence and category leadership: like Vermont Maple Syrup……. #1 in its category; Ice Cream - #1 in its category; Champlain Cable - #1 in its category; Dealer.com - #1 in its category; FAHC - #1 in its category; GMCR - #1 in its category; Tucel - #1 in its category; Shelburne Plastics - #1 in its category; Hubbardton Forge - #1 in its category; Rhino Foods - #1 in their category and the list goes on.

Johnson said that the ideas conceptualized and exchanged at Basin Harbor Club cultivate a richness and success she hasn’t seen anywhere else.

“The retreat center at Basin Harbor has birthed more expansion ideas, creative programs, leadership development programs, and powerful lasting momentum building campaigns than any other business center in Vermont,” says Swisher Hygiene, CFO, Michael J. Kipp (Swisher Hygiene was listed in Forbes Magazine as the most acquisition oriented company in the world.)

Vermont Flight Academy President, Douglas Smith said, “Places like Basin Harbor Club are ideal for pilot lunch-n-learn venues where amphibious aircraft pilots can attend current Water-bourne Aviation Trainings .”

Johnson said these are the types of events she’s developing and that are part of Basin Harbor Club’s every-day operation.

… Oettinger

Your Product or Service: Each successful business features a product or a service that the customer wants, and is willing to pay for. Much is written about how the would-be entrepreneur identifies that product or service. Cartoons depict the moment with a light bulb and an exclamation point. How many time have we all thought, “Now there’s a million dollar idea!” For my wife and me, long trips afford the time and fertile conversations that hatch big ideas. Invariably, I write them down, and occasionally we do follow-up research.

As example, our honeymoon, while flying to Calgary, then while driving through the Canadian Rockies, my wife and I explored the idea for a technology / device that would alert a “Interest or Search-Subject-Interest” user to another recipient-user whose “profile” has a shows “compatibility” all connected to a match.com-like database. We did a patent search, and discovered that there is an existing patent. I have files on other promising ideas, but I haven’t capitalized on them. Why? Perhaps because I’m not sufficiently entrepreneurial at my core, or perhaps because of risk…or commitment…or timing.

: You have fierce competition. …so much so that supply often far exceeds demand and a prime cause of start-ups failing. Differentiating yourself from the competition is critical. And figuring how to do that is an important step in defining, both for yourself and for your employees, the mission of your business. You MUST package that mission into a memorable and . Differentiation is a key activity for any organization of its kind and the battle cry of GE’s Jack Welch.

Business Plan: The Road Map to Success and Minimizing Risk, the plan forces you to take a inside look at the viability of the business. Once you a “Proof-of-life”, you’ll need to evangelize the resources that will make your start-up possible, that your concept is sound, and that “the numbers work.” There are free government resources such as the Small Business Administration (SBA) or State Economic Development Authorities, , help you you create the business plan. They want you to succeed, because in doing so, you provide job creation. Enlist experts to critique your plan.

Funding: A substantial majority of new business fail because of undercapitalization. There are start-up costs that have to be funded long before you have the ongoing sales revenue to pay for them. The other time when businesses become cash-starved is when they grow. Funding your venture can require 100-hour work weeks and telling the organization’s story 100,000 times.

Government Resources: Many government programs support capitalization and cash flow needs of businesses. Providers include: SBA, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), and Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im). These agencies offer many programs, including direct loans, and guarantees for banks that provide loans. And, in the import context, sector-specific import specialists from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (formerly U.S. Customs) can assist importers with a myriad of issues that they will confront regarding logistics, duties, labeling and much more. … more page 3…

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Norwich University’s William Clements, Senior Vice President announced that former US Marine Captain Michael Hussey who manages a unit of Buffalo-based Multisorp, has earned a Masters Degree in Business Administration. Hussey completed NU’s Management Training Intensive. Hussey started the program shortly after exiting the USMC.He also credits his successful onboarding with the unique transition services provided by SMARTvt’s Veterans Services Unit.Hussey enjoys Buffalo, NY, has a five minute commute to work and is able to enjoy the many outdoor adventure sports and especially cycling. Since earning his MBA last month Retained Executive Recruiters have been pitching opportunities inOregon and Washington State to Hussey almost daily.Hussey completed his MBA / Finance Program at Norwich University near the top of his class.About Multisorb TechnologiesMultisorb Technologies has been an innovator in sorbent technology for over 50 years. Founded in 1961 by John S. Cullen to meet the needs for electronics markets in protecting against the damaging effects of moisture.

The World Leader in Active Packaging Technology™ Active packaging technology is designed to provide superior protection against moisture, odor, oxygen, and other gases.

Multisorb also has a unique modeling program to help our customers identify their sorbent needs early in the customer’s product development process. In addition to the research that is performed daily, our R&D staff provides technical sales support and customer consultation.

B U S I N E S S S T A R T - U P A D V I S O R :

S T A R T I N G , G R O W I N G , O P T I M I Z I N G

Entrepreneurs: Two SMARTvt Legal Guru Talks About Who He Helps

and Why:

There’s never been a time when so few businesses were starting and so many failing. Navigating the perils of a business startup, Mark Oettinger, launching a new practice, offers powerful insight to the nuance of what resources are necessary for a new business launch.

Vermont’s Power Center for Business Idea Creation

Happenings

Clarkson Chemical Engineer , Alex Goyette Completes Rotation at Mylan Labs

…..An Early Autumn …..

SMARTvt Veteran’s Project Honor Graduate Hussey

A Technology Innovator

Issue # 10, Fall 2014

A

Jeff Somple Award president of Mack Molding

Jeff Somple, Named Enterprise-Wide President - Mack Molding and its five manufacturing facilities in Vermont, North Carolina and South Carolina, as well as Mack Prototype, a prototyping and low-volume manufacturing facility in Massachusetts, and Synectic, an engineering services group in Connecticut. Don Kendall will remain as CEO and chairman of the privately held Mack Group, which includes Mack Molding and Mack Technologies.

“Jeff has been with Mack for 26 years, and in the plastics industry even longer,” says Kendall. “He quickly moved up within the ranks of the sales organization to VP, Sales & Engineering. Twelve years ago, he took over the helm of Mack Molding’s Northern Division and has delivered sustainable, profitable growth ever since.

I am extremely pleased he has now chosen to accept this new and expanded role.”

Somple has been with Mack since 1988. Earlier, he was northeast regional sales manager for five years for Continental Extrusion Corporation, an extruder, printer and converter of plastic packaging in Garden City, N.Y.

Somple earned a bachelor’s degree from Middlebury College. He and his wife, China, are the parents of three The Somples reside in Manchester Center, VT.

Mack Molding is a leading custom plastics molder and supplier of contract manufacturing services. Mack specializes in plastics design, prototyping, molding, sheet metal fabrication, full-service machining and medical device manufacturing. Founded in 1920, Mack is a privately owned business that operates 11 facilities throughout the world. Don Kendall is CEO and chairman.   

Click To Play Video

… Oettinger…

Driving Revenue: No matter how good your product or service is, your business will not be successful unless there is a market for it. People have to be aware of your company, and to the extent that there are competing providers of your product or service, they have to be convinced that your product or service is superior. Your product may be of better quality, or be cheaper, or come with better service.

Where do your customers come from? Do they find you on the internet, are they drawn to your bricks & mortar storefront, or are they referred by other happy customers? Is the nature of your product or service such that your customers keep coming back…like a dentist whom you visit every six months, or a hair salon to which you return every few weeks, or a car dealership that sells you a car every five years, and services it every five thousand miles in between?

Find out how you customers are finding you. Ask your loyal customers why they keep coming back. Likewise, ask the ones who don’t come back, why they haven’t. Reward repeat customers, and take constructive criticism to heart. Pay particular attention to customers who refer business. And reward them. Their referrals are the kind of advertising that money can’t buy. Think about it. Are you more likely to consult with an accountant who comes highly recommended by someone whose opinion you respect, or an accountant who has the largest advertisement in the phone book?

Workforce Optimization: The US workforce has limited experience with international transactions. The same cannot be said for foreign businesses, since they depend to a much greater extent on international transactions. If you want to succeed in the international business environment, you have to make a sincere commitment to preparing your workforce for the realities of the international market.

Sales in Development and Fundraising: When I carried my sales experience into development/fundraising, I found that the same skills applied. In development, I am still trying to sell my cause to prospective donors, just as I once sold tangible product to prospective clients. The sales acumen I developed over the years served me well in fundraising, and it was founded upon some basic methods, techniques, and principles.

Five Sales Principles for the Effective Development Person

1. Be presentable   – The old salesman credo, “First sell yourself, then sell your company, then sell your product” may sound trite and clichéd, but there is some truth to it. You are the first impression for your organization. Dress well and appropriately, be articulate, and interact whenever possible. This is where being extroverted and charismatic is an advantage, but introverts can be just as effective when exploiting their strengths. Prepare well and pay attention to details, such as always carrying enough business cards, a pen, and something to take notes (I prefer index cards). Keep well-groomed; the mirror is not a vanity tool, but your personal proofreader. And remember -  never turn down a breath mint.

2. Be remarkable   – Do not work “under the radar.” You want to be a big blip on that radar, with everyone noticing you. At conferences, luncheons, and any event where your constituents are gathered, make sure that during the question phase of the speech, you have a pertinent and intelligent question; always stand when you ask it and introduce yourself and your organization. Be seen, get noticed. Respond to blogs, post articles to LinkedIn groups, tweet positive comments about your group.

See more Oettinger page 4……. Oettinger…..

3 .         B e k n o w l e d g e a b l e   – K n o w e v e r y t h i n g y o u c a n a b o u t y o u r o r g a n i z a t i o n   a n d y o u r c a u s e . B e p r e p a r e d

t o a n s w e r q u e s t i o n s a n d d e l i v e r t h e i m p o r t a n t   d a t a .   W i t h e n o u g h k n o w l e d g e a n d p r e p a r a t i o n , y o u c a n s p e a k c o n f i d e n t l y o n y o u r t o p i c ,   a n d c o n f i d e n c e s e l l s . P e o p l e m a y l i k e t o r o o t f o r t h e   u n d e r d o g i n s p o r t s a n d   D i s n e y m o v i e s , b u t w h e n t h e y i n v e s t m o n e y , t h e y w a n t t o b a c k a w i n n e r , s o s o u n d   l i k e o n e . A n d a l w a y s h a v e a c o m m e n t o n   t h e d i f f i c u l t t o p i c s , s u c h a s a p e n d i n g   l a w s u i t o r r e c e n t b a d p r e s s . I f i t i s o u t t h e r e , a s s u m e t h a t t h e y k n o w a b o u t i t   a n d w i l l a s k .

4 .     B e h o n e s t a n d d i r e c t , b u t d i v e r s i f y   – A n y p r o s p e c t w i t h r e a s o n a b l e i n t e l l i g e n c e w i l l   k n o w w h y y o u a r e v i s i t i n g . D o n o t t r y t o f o o l o r d i s t r a c t t h e m –   y o u w i l l o n l y   i n s u l t t h e m a n d t h e n l i m i t y o u r c h a n c e s f o r a r e t u r n v i s i t . B e u p f r o n t a b o u t   y o u r p o s i t i o n a n d i n t e n t i o n s . B u t d o n o t m a k e i t y o u r o n l y   r e a s o n t o b e t h e r e . Y o u   n e e d t o w i n t h e m o v e r b e f o r e a s k i n g t h e m t o d o n a t e . F i n d o u t w h a t i n t e r e s t s   t h e m a b o u t y o u r c a u s e a n d t h e n d e l i v e r w h a t   t h e y w a n t . O n c e y o u h a v e e n d e a r e d   t h e m t o y o u p e r s o n a l l y , y o u n e e d t o b u i l d t h e i r a f f i n i t y t o y o u r o r g a n i z a t i o n .   O n l y t h e n c a n y o u a s k f o r m o n e y   w i t h a r e a s o n a b l e c h a n c e o f s u c c e s s .

5 .   B e e n d u r i n g a n d r e l i a b l e   – J u s t a s i n s a l e s , w h e r e y o u w a n t l i f e l o n g   c u s t o m e r s f o r y o u r p r o d u c t , t h e r e a r e f e w p r o s p e c t s i n d e v e l o p m e n t w h o a r e   o n e -a n d - d o n e . I n m o s t c a s e s , y o u a r e t r y i n g t o b u i l d a l o n g - t e r m r e l a t i o n s h i p ,   l e a v i n g t h e d o o r o p e n f o r f u t u r e a s k s e v e n a f t e r a d o n a t i o n , h o p e f u l l y   w i t h   i n c r e a s i n g a m o u n t s . Y o u d o n o t w a n t t o b u r n e a c h b r i d g e a s y o u c r o s s i t , s o   m a k e s u r e t h a t y o u r c o n s t i t u e n t s d o n o t r e g r e t v i s i t i n g w i t h y o u o r   w r i t i n g t h e   c h e c k . B u i l d e n d u r i n g r e l a t i o n s h i p s , i n w h i c h t h e y t r u s t y o u t o k e e p t h e m   i n f o r m e d , t o b e t h e r e w h e n t h e y w a n t t o c o n t a c t y o u , a n d t o   l i s t e n t o t h e i r   c o n c e r n s . B e p r o a c t i v e i n c o n n e c t i n g w i t h t h e m a n d d e l i v e r g o o d n e w s w h e n e v e r   p o s s i b l e . A v o i d h a v i n g t h e m s a y , “ I o n l y   h e a r f r o m   y o u w h e n y o u w a n t m o n e y . ”    

B e r e a l i s t i c i n y o u r p r o j e c t i o n s . T a k e a d v a n t a g e o f t h e m a n y s u p p o r t s t h a t g o v e r n m e n t a g e n c i e s h a v e t o o f f e r . L i s ten to your cus tomers . Choose the bes t emp loyees you can f ind , be hones t w i th them, and t rea t them we l l . You rea l l y can l ook fo rward to go ing to work .

Mark Renkert to lead Major Research Project on Effects of Joblessness for Unskilled

SMARTvt Co-Founder Jean Twombly Project: Association of the Americas for Blue Cross Blue Shield – 5M Members

SMARTvt’s Kevin Beal Appointed Director of Development, Navicate.org, a teaching organization.

Enterprise-wide President to Lead Mack Moldings Five

2

…… Research from Previous page…•  Pre-work Clinical Assessments by Psychologists who have not disclosed who their fiduciary obligation is critical and often distort the facts. What the process is like for a 50+ year old worker….

Says SMART Holdings USA's Director of Education, Dr. Michael Olson, continuing, "Half in humor, providing Renkert survives the barrage of pre-employment testing, he will then engage in the actual process of work and report unique findings and it can be tough going especially with some jobs like refuse sorting, asbestos removal, warehouse order picking, Call Center Order Taking, Driver / Runner Jobs and any kind of manual labor in industrial environments."  

Readers will be able to follow the journey in a daily blog and the sum of research will be published. 

Unlike the reality show “Dirtiest Jobs” Renkert hopes to reveal how hard life is for many Vermonters who take any work to make ends meet and what happens to them when they do. 

SMART Holdings USA then hopes to present its findings to the Vermont Department and Labor to use as a tool in its efforts for workforce development. 

The launched 2014 Labor Day and will last a year. 

Dr. Mindy Novick, Clinical Director of SMART Holdings USA – Maine Director Seeks Research Answers

As a Director of Career Services providing solutions for displaced mature workers in Maine,

I am interested in seeing the results of SmartVt’s project, “Getting, Attaining Unskilled Work Age 50+” Over the past six years, I have observed resilient people struggling to regain a sense of self worth, social connection, and income stability after becoming unemployed.

For those less resilient , ongoing stress and increasing frustration sometimes leads to social isolation, addictive coping habits, or health problems.

The SmartVt’s project may confirm preconceptions to expose hiring and workplace practices impacting the quality of life of mature workers in Vermont, and contributing to resolving them to minimize long term negative effects on business and society.

A number of studies are confirming these social trends:

• In February 2014, Matthew S. Rutledge, Research Economist at the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, published a paper entilted “How Long Do Unemployed Older Workers Search for a Job?” based on a 1996-2008 sample of the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP).

Statistical analysis of the status of some 5000 unemployed people aged 55-70 revealed that after about a year almost half were re-employed, a small percentage were still looking for work, and almost half had given up seeking work.

SMARTvt Has a New Healthcare Benefits Expert, Ms. Carolyn Smith. Smith, a Health Insurance C-Suite Executive with over a decade leadership in Governance, Opportunity, and Resource Utilization. Smith has direct expertise in health care policy implementation.  She has led teams throughout the US conceptualizing and executing powerful healthcare programs specific to employee benefits. Smith has ability to create, analyze and present complex financial statements and budgets. Smith is an accomplished leader with an exceptional track record in revenue generation and cost reduction within highly competitive markets. Smith comes from Long Island. American Sign Language first language and allowed her to refine her other senses and explains her acuity.

SMART Holdings USA Issue # 10, Fall, 2014

SMART HOLDINGS USA Fund Major Research Project On Unemployed Unskilled Aged 50+

Two Senior Social Researchers, Mark Renkert, Mcsl, and Dr. Mindy Ruth Novick

Career Advisor Clinician’s, Mark Renkert, the firm’s chair, and Clinical Director Dr. Mindy Ruth Novick will begin journalistically and clinically investigating recruitment processes, credit checks, background checks, health physicals, fitness testing, and aptitude testing of employers who hire unskilled labor aged-50+ paying in the range of $8.50 to $13.50 per hour.

Findings will be reported from a Social Constructionist perspective critical of the social sciences perspective in understanding the psychology of work (Chaves, A, Diemer, M., Blustein, D., Gallagher, L., DeVoy, J., Casares, M & Perry, J., 2004 "Conceptions of Work:  Journal of Counseling Psychology.)  

Social Constructionist hold that many do not view work as a means of self-determination or self-concept implementation which contrasts sharply with prevailing work assumptions such as "Do what you love and the money will follow."

Renkert will do this as an undercover hands-on worker participant much in the footsteps of Barbara Ehrenreich in her book “Nickel and Dimed and not Getting by in America” and Mother Jones Magazine’s Mac McClelland’s “I Worked As a Warehouse Wage Slave.”

Says the firm’s CEO, Michael J. Kipp, CPA, “Renkert will go through the entire hiring process and then proceed as a low-level worker and will be required to work for a period of time that depends on the work and will complete research on average Vermont workplaces.

Renkert will briefly describe the duties, interact and interview colleagues, and will focus on the employer mindset in selecting and interacting with these employers.

Renkert cites one employer who will be identified later who has a policy “If any worker addresses, converses, or engages the CEO of this sports apparel warehouser that person is terminated immediately. “What kind of person looks at their workers that way?, says Renkert who adds, "... it happens more than you think in Vermont."

Renkert hopes the research sheds light on the use and practice and application of:• The process of being a Temp Agency day-worker• Online aptitude testing (4/2=)• Online veracity testing (T/ F – It is okay, if by accident, you

bring home a pencil used at work and bring it back the next day?)

• Health Physicals performed on workers by non-medical staff• Drug and Alcohol Testing• Random Urine Testing• Vague Employment Assessments by firms like Hireology

Book Review – A Must Read: Economist Receives Rock Star TreatmentBy New York Times JENNIFER SCHUESSLER 

French economists who question the dominance of capital over labor — and call for a progressive global tax on wealth — visit the American halls of power about as often as French rock stars headline Madison Square Garden.

But those halls of power are where Thomas Piketty, a 42-year-old professor at the Paris School of Economics, has been singing his song of late.

Since arriving in Washington to promote his new book, “Capital in the 21st Century,” Mr. Piketty has met with Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew, given a talk to President Obama’s Council of Economic Advisers and lectured at the International Monetary Fund, before flying to New York for an appearance at the United Nations, a sold-out public discussion with the Nobel laureates Joseph Stiglitz and Paul Krugman, and meetings with media outlets ranging from The Harvard Business Review to New York Magazine to The Nation.

The response from  fellow economists, so far mainly from the liberal side of the spectrum, has verged on the rapturous. Mr. Krugman,  a columnist for The New York Times, predicted in The New York Review of Books that Mr. Piketty’s book would “change both the way we think about society and the way we do economics.”

In modesty: Mr. Piketty seems to be maintaining a most un-rock-star-like modesty, brushing away comparisons to Tocqueville and Marx with an embarrassed grimace and a Gallic puff of the lips.

“It makes little sense: How can you compare?” he said on Thursday between gulps of yogurt during a break in his packed schedule — before going on to list the 19th-century data sets that Marx neglected to draw on in “Das Kapital,” his 1867 magnum opus.

Mr. Piketty’s dedication to data has long made him a star among economists, who credit hiswork on income inequality  (with Emmanuel Saez and others) for diving deep into tax archives to bring an unprecedented historical perspective to the subject.

“Capital in the 21st Century,” analyzes more than two centuries of data on the topic of accumulated wealth, has elicited a response of an entirely different order. Months before its originally scheduled April publication, it was generating intense discussion on blogs, prompting Harvard University Press to push the release forward to mid-February.

Since then, it has hit the New York Times best-seller list, and sold some 46,000 copies (hardback and e-book) — a stratospheric number for a nearly 700-page scholarly tome dotted with charts and graphs (as well as references to Balzac, Jane Austen and “Titanic”