Resources Fairs offer veterans the opportunity to learn about benefits and services they may be eligible to receive, including education and training opportunities, career guidance, free or low-cost healthcare benefits, survivor and dependent services, home loans, and legal assistance. Veteran Employment Specialists with the State of Michigan will counsel veterans on career options, job search strategies, resume writing, interview preparation, and help veterans access statewide job listings on MiTalent.org, the state of Michigan’s one-stop employment website.

Education specialists will be available to explain educational benefits including the GI Bill and a variety of other educational opportunities available to qualified veterans. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will have representatives on site in the Mobile Vet Center, a traveling office designed to advise veterans in their communities and help them apply for a variety of federal benefits. The high tech Mobile Vet Center allows counselors to access a veteran’s records in real time, and schedule face-to-face video conferences between veterans and VA healthcare providers.

The next Veteran Resources Fair is scheduled for May 15 at Muskegon Community College. Another one will take place on May 17 at Grand Rapids Community College. Both fairs run from 10 am to 4 pm. No appointments are necessary.

Veterans Retraining Assistance Program
Are you an unemployed veteran, 35 to 60 years old, interested in short-term training in a high demand occupation? The Veterans Retraining Assistance Program may be the program for you. For more information visit here.

Michigan’s tourism industry reaches near $17 billion and the state is expecting a 6% increase in tourism spending this season. That is good for the Michigan economy and good for every resident in Michigan. This is the 3rd consecutive year that tourism spending numbers have increased.

We had an earlier spring in Michigan this year and that gets us thinking about vacation. Thinking eventually leads to booking and that is a good thing.

Have you booked your vacation yet?  Don’t forget to use MichiganBusiness.us’s Hotel Directory to find the perfect accommodations.

Business Disasters of 2008

Washington Mutual. On September 25, 2008, Washington Mutual was taken over by the United States Office of Thrift Supervision. The bank was seized after $16.7 billion in deposits were withdrawn in nine days. The company was left with $8 billion in debt and $33 billion in assets. After filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the FDIC then sold the subsidiaries for $1.9 billion. Since 2009, WaMu has operated under JPMorgan Chase.

Wachovia. In 2008, Wells Fargo acquired the fourth largest bank, Wachovia. The acquisition was due to a government forced sale. In 2011, the Wachovia brand was completely phased out and converted to Wells Fargo.

Madoff Investment Securities. Bernie Madoff was the mastermind behind the Ponzi scheme. The Ponzi Scheme could have easily be deemed as one of the largest financial fraud schemes in the history of the United States. Madoff plead guilty to 11 federal felonies related to defrauding investors of almost $65 billion. He was sentenced to 150 years in prison in 2009.

Business Disasters of 2009

Extended Stay Hotels. Extended Stay Hotels filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2009. The company continues to use its cash flow to operate rather than any debtor-in-possession financing. Centerbridge Partners won control of the company in a $4 billion buyout after Starwood Capital Group failed to negotiate a chain for $3.5 billion.

Trump Entertainment Resorts. Trump Entertainment Resorts has had its share of financial difficulty. The company has filed for bankruptcy three times since 1991. The most recent bankruptcy came in 2009 after the construction of the $1 billion Trump Taj Mahal. The company owed $1.2 billion when debt holders decided the company required restructuring and reorganization.

Business Disasters of 2010

BP Gulf Oil Spill. British Petroleum (BP) experienced negative publicity from the Deep Horizon oil rig explosion in April 2010. BP attempted to minimize the severity of the spill’s damage by telling the media that only a few gallons were leaking daily. Later, the media discovered the leak was between 20 and 40,000 gallons per day. This hurt BP’s brand image significantly.

Blockbuster. Blockbuster suffered bankruptcy on September 23, 2010 after competition from online rental companies such as Netflix. Dish Network bought the company for $233 million. Dish Network completed the acquisition on April 2011 and assumed nearly $87 million in Blockbuster liabilities.

Business Disasters of 2011

Borders Group. Borders filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February 2011. During the process, 226 stores were liquidated. Borders could not find a buyer by its deadline of July 2011. They were forced to liquidate 399 more of its stores. Borders.com was shut down completely and assumed by Barnes and Noble.

Business Disasters of 2012

SeaFrance. The company’s financial woes began in 2005 when the company suffered losses as big as 9.27 million Euros. After losing 20 million Euros in 2008, the company has been losing three million Euros per month. In November 2011, SeaFrance was ordered to liquidate, but the ferry company continued trading until January 2012. The company officially liquidated by the end of January 2012.

The Michigan Business Directory ( www.MichiganBusiness.us ) announced the release of cutting edge  new features on the MichiganBusiness.us website, this morning.

The directory is a free online resource and marketing arm of over 50,000 businesses in the State of Michigan.  The Michigan Business Directory was launched in 2000 and offers businesses the ability to add listings, connect to social networks and market events for free as long as their company is incorporated in Michigan or is an online business that caters to Michigan residents.

With the new www.MichiganBusiness.us features, business owners, customers, representatives, vendors and partners have the capability to comment on any listing in the directory with their Facebook account.

Marketing Director, Mary Joyce stated “The directory chose integration with Facebook because it allows a degree of accountability.  We are assured that real people are giving comments.  It adds a dimension of trust for visitors and business owners alike.”

Listings remain free after a decade in business and is one of the top destinations in Michigan as measured by Alexa.com.  Be sure to visit the directory if you own a business in Michigan and add your listing if you have not done so yet.  If you have a current listing, be sure to login with your facebook account and a few kudos for visitors to see.

Contacting your current customers and friends to add comments can only help your online reputation and marketing efforts.

This subject is near and dear to my heart, because each morning, I awake and
look in the mirror only to see more wrinkles than the day before.

I have been researching some wrinkle products on the market – but I want your
opinion. Here are my favorite in order:

1. Meladerm Skin Lightener (Civant)
2. Clarisonic Skincare Treatment (not a cream)

Many of the latest skin-care products are trying to mimic the effects of expensive treatments like Botox. But can they really deliver on that level?

What is your opinion?

Did you know: 

Human skin is involved in protecting, excreting, secreting, absorbing, thermo-regulating etc, but all these functions can be affected by the structural changes due to aging and excessive sun exposure. Mechanical properties, such as elasticity, are controlled by the density and geometry of the network of collagen and elastic fibres.

If damaged, they lose their contractile properties, resulting in skin wrinkling and roughness. Old or unhealthy skin acquires sags, stretch marks, bumps, bruises or wrinkles, is thinner, and has reduced ability to make vitamin D.

Finally:

The demand for anti-aging cosmetics will increase 8.1% a year to $9.4 billion by 2013, according to a study by The Freedonia Group, Cleveland, OH.

Gains will be propelled by a stream of new and technologically advanced product introductions offering age-defying and other appearance-enhancing benefits for an aging population.

I guess that I am right there with the rest of the population!

I did a bit of research on the signs that your parent may need additional help and here they are:

The following are signs that your aging loved one may need help:

1. Decreased attention to personal hygiene. Fear of falling while in the bath tub or shower can lead to a lack of bathing. If you notice your parent is repeatedly wearing the same clothing, doing laundry may have become physically challenging.
2. Increased isolation. Declining invitations to go out, refusing to see family and friends and a general loss of interest in activities may be signs the aging parent needs assistance. Repeated phone calls at odd hours may be a sign of memory loss, a cry for help and a sign of depression or isolation.
3. Change in housekeeping habits. A cluttered and unkempt house can be especially troubling when the parent has always been neat and orderly.
4. Change in bill management and financial trouble. If mail and bills are left to pile up, the simple act of opening and filing mail may have become overwhelming. This can lead to unpaid bills if managing a checking account has become too much for the parent to handle.
5. Change in sleep patterns. Episodes of narcolepsy or, conversely, sleeping the majority of the time, can be warning signs.
6. Change in eating patterns. Significant weight loss or gain can be signs an aging parent is suffering nutritionally eating just enough to get by or eating lots of high-in-fat food that is easy or fast to prepare. Food in the refrigerator that is uneaten or spoiled may show that shopping, cooking and cleaning have become too much trouble.
7. Increased forgetfulness, repeating self, confusion and crying. Forgetting to take medication is a sign of short-term memory loss or depression that isn’t just a quality of life issue, but a real risk factor. A smaller example of a sign of memory loss can be scorching on the bottom of pots and pans. This can be a dangerous indication that a parent is forgetting about pots left on the stove, causing a fire hazard and threatening both the individual’s and the surrounding neighbors’ safety. Missed doctor appointments may simply be a product of not having transportation, but not knowing how to access ride options can be a sign of a larger issue like memory loss.
8. Onset of combativeness or excessive aggressive behavior. Inappropriate behavior and speech in everyday situations or when questioned about memory lapses can be an indication of needing assistance.
9. Change in physical status and ability. Incontinence, unsteady gait, increased falling and vision problems are all signs an aging parent may need help.
10. Thoughts of suicide, preoccupation with death and signs of depression. A frequent problem for many older people who feel isolated and alone like a prisoner in their own homes, depression causes marked changes in behavior and routine. Feelings of hopelessness and despair, lack of interest in once pleasurable activities, crying, listlessness and not wanting to get dressed can all be indications of a problem.

The numbers indicate a lowering of the unemployment rate – but we are not sure. Please respond to this post or on facebook page and let us know your opinion. Be detailed and remember to plug your business or yourself!!

Now for the big news of the day, the beloved Bubba has won the Masters!

The Masters tournament involves about 100 players that got widdled down to two players in an exciting, two hole playoff.

In the end, it came down to just two shots: Louis”s astonishing shot on Hole No. 2, and Bubba Watson’s ungodly pop-fly wedge shot from the woods on the second hole of a playoff.

Both shots are now part of Masters lore, but only one man won a green jacket!

The playoff was one of the most exciting in Master’s history with Bubba missing an 8 foot putt on the first hole which kept him from winning the Master’s on the first hole and giving Louis a second chance.

He didn’t choke on the second hole though, with an unbelievable shot that many will not be able to forget.

Happy Easter!

Do you have elderly parents and Medicare is just not doing the job for them?  Are there so many rules that having a supplemental insurance plan would help your pocket book, their estate and both of your’s peace of mind?

Retirement is supposed to be a time of relaxation and enjoyment. The last thing any senior or their children want to worry about is keeping tabs on senior health insurance costs and coverages.  Medicare may not be sufficient.

Of course, as anyone who has ever been covered through Medicare can testify: it is far from ideal. Fortunately, there are options available for seniors who would like a more comprehensive approach to health care.

Medicare and Senior Health Insurance Rates

If you happen to be like most seniors, you have already made the transition from a private health insurance plan to Medicare. But, for seniors who have yet to reach 65, finding viable medical insurance is still an obligation. Complicating matters could be pre-existing conditions and maximum-payout limits. This is where a targeted senior health insurance plan can really make the difference for most seniors.

A major concern, even for seniors who are happy with Medicare, are the program’s high deductibles. This makes programs like Medicare Advantage more appealing, as they try to offer more reasonable deductibles.

The good news is several major carriers offer Medicare Advantage or similar policies geared towards closing the gap between Medicare and its costs. Ask your agent if your current senior health policy offers this program or one like it.

When you are ready to explore your senior health insurance options, or would like to understand how to close the so-called Medi-gap, we can help. When you submit a quote for senior coverage at Health Insurance Web, our team of dedicated professionals will work diligently to provide you with five competitive quotes on coverage.

You deserve to enjoy your golden years in comfort. We can help make them even more golden.

The 15th-seeded Lehigh Mountain Hawks pulled off a monumental upset by stunning the second-seeded Blue Devils 75-70 behind a 30-point effort by Patriot League player of the year C.J. McCollum.

It was the only the second time Duke has lost in the opening-round game in the last 16 years, the other defeat coming in 2007 when they lost to VCU as the sixth seed.

AND in another monumental upset (some say)

The Norfolk State Spartans became just the fifth No. 15 seed ever to win a game in the NCAA tournament with a stunning 86-84 upset of the Missouri Tigers.
Kyle O’Quinn had 26 points and 14 rebounds, including a clutch tip-in in the final minute.

March Madness – Basketball Upset T- Shirts

Norfolk State “This Was No Upset” T-Shirt

Lehigh Mountain Hawks “This Was No Upset” T-Shirt

Remember the poster “Justification for Higher Education“?  It promised a house on t

he ocean and fancy cars.  It may not happen quite that way – but there is a place to start –  Gradspring

To get to the top of the career ladder, most of us have to start at the bottom.

In my first job I was treated like a child – not an adult with a college degree. However, in a few short years, I was promoted to Team Leader of Software Quality and the rest is history.

Do not despair and remember your first job is just that:  YOUR FIRST JOB!  It can last 1 year, 2 years or a lifetime depending on what you want to do and what they want you to do.

Gradspring is different than the Monsters out there. It is dedicated solely to the pairing of recent college graduates to jobs requiring a college degree, but no significant experience.

All jobs posted to Gradspring have to meet the following criteria:

• Jobs MUST have a salary commensurate with the industry standard.
• Jobs MUST be truly entry level, requiring fewer than two years experience.
• Jobs MUST have a physical workspace – ABSOLUTELY no work from home jobs.

Jobs posted to Gradspring are the real deal. Gradspring also develops a relationship with every job-posting employer in order to ensure that only the best jobs are available on the website. No experience? No problem. Gradspring is here to help you find the career you’ve been looking for.

In adopting its resolution on the observance of Women’s Day, the General Assembly cited two reasons: to recognize the fact that securing peace and social progress and the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms require the active participation, equality and development of women; and to acknowledge the contribution of women to the strengthening of international peace and security.

International Women’s Day events are held worldwide today. Various women, including political, community, and business leaders, as well as leading educators, inventors, entrepreneurs, and television personalities, are usually invited to speak at various events on the day. Such events may include seminars, conferences, luncheons, dinners or breakfasts. The messages given at these events often focus on various themes such as innovation, the portrayal of women in the media, or the importance of education and career opportunities.

The FREE Michigan Business Event Calendar can help. If you would like to get the word out about an event happening in the state of Michigan, be sure to add it to the MichiganBusiness.us event calendar.

With over 40,000 members, the Michigan Business Directory is an excellent place to advertise your event especially if it caters to small and medium sized business owners.  But that’s not all, the calendar also has events listed that are recreational in nature or sporting events.

Come on over, register and add your events.  It’s free and where else can you get 40,000 eyes on something for free!

Pay it forward and tell them about the free services that are offered at www.MichiganBusiness.us

The largest regional directory available online – The Michigan Business Directory offers companies in Michigan the opportunity to list their business and events for free.

Established in the early 2000′s, the directory has grown to over 50,000 member companies.  Not only does the directory offer these businesses this unique and effective online marketing channel, but they also help the businesses connect on facebook and other social media channels.  Businesses can input their facebook page URL to syndicate facebook interactions to their listings, increasing consumer or business interest in their company.

Ratings are available for companies and the directory is easily searchable for visitors to find your company in a particular Michigan city, county, category or by company name.

So … pay it forward and tell a few friends about this opportunity.  Karma is destined to return the favor!

• Voice output solutions for children and adults who are unable or reluctant to use their voices.
• AbleNet’s full-range of user-friendly augmentative and alternative communication devices and systems are now used worldwide by millions of people with disabilities.

In addition, AbleNet offers a complete line of computer access tools like infrared head-operated mice, adapted joysticks, trackpads, and keyboards so that people with disabilities can live and learn—without limits. 

AbleNet also offers curriculum and instructional programs for educators working with students in special education or in alternative education programs.

Unlimited Online Training $15.99 per month or Save 35% ($66.88) for 1 year.
100% Money Back Guarantee! LearnIt!Anytime

Here are just a few online courses you can take with your membership:

• Access Access is a database program used by businesses to manage data.
• Acrobat Adobe Acrobat X Pro software lets you deliver professional PDF communications. Create and edit PDF files with rich media included, share information more securely, and gather feedback more efficiently.
• Excel Excel it the world’s foremost spreadsheet software. A business must!
• Outlook More people use Outlook than any other email and calendar option. There’s so much more than most people know about!
• PowerPoint Use PowerPoint to create professional level presentation visuals.
• Project Microsoft Project is the #1 software used by professional project managers to manage and track major projects.
• Visio Visio 2010 provides an easy way to communicate your ideas visually, allowing you to create useful images like diagrams, flowcharts, and schematic drawings.
• Word Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software. Many people know how to use it, but do you know all the advanced features? There are many!
• Office New Features Office 2007 and 2010 added major changes to the world of office software. We cover and feature them here. Office 2010 New Feature, Tips & Tricks Office 2007 New Feature, Tips & Tricks
• SharePoint SharePoint is an enterprise level server-side software that helps make file storage and business collaboration a snap!
  • SP-1001 – Information Worker – Introduction to SharePoint 2010.
  • SP-1002 – Power User –
  • Managing Content with SharePoint 2010
• Windows 7 We cover all the new and impressive features of Windows 7 for standard users.
• Quickbooks Quickbooks is accounting software for small and large businesses.

Most likely, it’s because of the “fear of the unknown”.  Switching to a virtual phone system with a 800 number can be one of the most cost effective and productive changes you can have in 2011.

A virtual system starts with a toll free number which rings to your auto attendant, a virtual receptionist that provides your callers with information and guides them through your virtual phone system.  Flexibility is the key with a virtual system – you can set it up exactly the way you need to.

Our prayers to her family and friends.  Rest in Peace.

It works like a search engine but returns an Excel spreadsheet of Street addresses, phone numbers and states to help small businesses, or 1 man businesses find qualified sales leads on the web.

NOW UNTIL 3/8/12 use coupon code:  getnppro to save 5%
CLICK HERE to redeem

This saves the customer or sales person from browsing the web for hours looking for this information. Although the product has existed for 10 years, this is the best and most powerful ever.

Using Net Prospector Professional to find leads for your business is a cinch.  Net Prospect is sold by Digital River.  See more on Digital River at the end of this blog post.

No more subscribing to the big list companies to get leads and pay for each one of them dearly.

This program finds them from web resources, on any subject, immediately. (In our test, it found 17 businesses, and exported to Excel in 2 min. 20 sec. start to finish.)

If you don’t have Excel, it exports to a web page report. Do you have 2 1/2 minutes? Give it a try at our downloads page. You won’t regret it.

Demo version does 10 searches producing 15 businesses per search. After that, if you like it, you can unlock its full potential with an unlock code.

February 5th, 2012 – Farmington Hills, MI

ChoiceArtwork.com relaunches it’s price comparison engine with more efficient search functions and over 1/2 million more artwork pieces.

Choice Artwork is an prices comparison and fine art website launched in 2004.  Over the years it has developed a notable following and today, announced the relaunch of it’s website:  www.ChoiceArtwork.com.

Art featured on the website are from local artists, large online Art dealers, and other sources.  Featuring millions of options in prints, fine art, wall decor, photo frames, masterpieces and collections of art, Choice Artwork is the largest art aggregative entity on the internet.

With Choice Artwork, a person can search by Model, Artist, Category, Collection, Retailer and Artwork type.  Searching is a snap from the top of any page.

Like Parrots?  ChoiceArtwork.com aggregates Parrot Art from multiple online and offline dealers and reta

ilers.  Interested in Polka Dots on your walls, peek at our expansive Polka Dot Wall Art Collection.

Pictured to t

he right is a selection from our Tulip Collection.

Choose, Click & Save at www.ChoiceArtWork.com

Everyone hates tracking business expenses, whether you are a one-man or one-woman show – or a company with 100 employees – Concur Breeze makes it simple and economical.

We have outlined a few of the basic features of Concur – but there is a reason that they are the top business expense software in the World – it’s because they are specialists and know what makes the job easier, faster and makes you more productive.

Capture & Track Small Business Expenses
Capture all of your small business expenses automatically – from T&E to office supplies, cash or credit card charges. Track and manage travel itineraries with TripIt at no extra cost. Mobile app captures and stores receipts until you’re ready to use them.

Automate Expense Reports
Credit card charges are automatically imported and matched with the appropriate receipts. Itinerary information from TripIt Pro automatically creates an expense report. Submit small business expense reports online or from your mobile with just a click.

Approve & Reimburse
Built–in workflow and audit rules make it easy for small businesses to approve expenses. Managers safely, reliably and automatically reimburse employees for their approved expenses. Concur Pay reimburses employees’ bank accounts directly.

Analyze & Learn
Keep track of all of your business spending with complete visibility into all small business expenses. Make more informed business decisions with automated real-time information.

www.MichiganBusiness.us was established almost a decade ago.  It started slowly, but in the last 3 years it’s membership has been increasing at a huge rate.  The directory is a free directory and offers free listings to corporations, LLCs, DBAs and partnerships that do business in the state of Michigan.

Members are encouraged to list events and seminars in the comprehensive calendar and offer deals and coupons to visitors and other member companies.  The directory also offers a free jobs board and free white papers, trade magazines to visitors and members.

If you know of a business owner that isn’t capitalizing on this free marketing – please forward this information!

If you are a business located in the State of Michigan, and/or your primary service or sales area is in Michigan – the opportunities for online promotion are unlimited at www.MichiganBusiness.us.  The thing that stands out with this gem of a directory is that everything is free to Michigan businesses, restaurants, hotels, real estate agents and more.

First and foremost, businesses can add their company to the highly popular online directory for free.  Recently, the directory also offers integration with Twitter and Facebook, so that people who visit your MichiganBusiness.us listing can also see activity on your Facebook page.  This is a huge asset as any company on Facebook could use a few more likes and followers.  Twitter and Linked integration is also available.  The directory gets 10′s of thousands of page views per day and is growing on a weekly basis.

Second, businesses in Michigan can add events to the massive online calendar that the Michigan Business Directory maintains.  After registering, business owners can add recurring events or just a special event or two.  Events can include seminars, parties, business networking events, shows, musicals and pretty much anything that our visitors may be interested in attending.

Rock on Michigan!

Finally, business owners can submit press releases for syndication, coupons and a whole lot more.  Market your company online for free with the best.

If you own a business in Michigan – today is the day to get listed in the Michigan Business Directory.  Don’t be fooled by other small, non-trafficked directories that charge yearly or monthly fees. Get in the one that counts, the largest free online directory for Michigan Business – www.MichiganBusiness.us

The Michigan Business Directory is about to change that for you and 10′s of thousands of  Michigan residents with their – brand – spanking – new – online restaurant resource with menus and maps for over 11,000 restaurants throughout the entire state.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT OUR NEW RESTAURANT SECTION

MBD owner, Mary Joyce announced, “I am not only excited about the traffic this brings for our member restaurants, I am excited about what this is going to do for my families restaurant excursions!”

This feature is going to change the way people in Michigan choose their family night out or date night.

Here is how it works:

1. Visit our FOOD & DINING section
2. Choose a type of restaurant, looking for Indian Cuisine, or Polish Fare or just a Burger Joint?
3. Scroll through the restaurants and choose the one you are interested in.
4. Click and “WhaLA” – the restuarant’s menu will display about 1/2 way down the page and on the bottom, the Google map with optional directions will display.

Happy eating to all the Michiganders out there!

We found a site that features exclusively Michigan made products – take a peek for yourself by clicking the link below:

Shop Michigan Made Products

Did you know that January 26th marks 175 years as a state?  Celebrate Michigan!

Tell your coworkers, friends and family about The Michigan Business Directory’s free online marketing tools for Michigan businesses and then tell them to search first at www.MichiganBusiness.us!