Plan on attending Bryant University's 28th Annual World Trade Day - May 22, 2013. This year’s theme “Made in the USA: Globalization Starts Here” is infused with an agenda full of opportunities for learning, networking & sharing inspiring stories. The quality, service, & ingenuity of American manufacturers continue to win back business & position from overseas. Made in the USA is now a critical part of globalization. It’s never been more important for companies & individuals to learn how to set up an export team, utilize trade missions, & leverage the benefits of free trade agreements.

At World Trade Day, seasoned global marketers and those just beginning to reach beyond borders will:
*Gain insights into regional firms achieving global success.
*Join interactive discussions on best practices for navigating the global marketplace.
*Network & collaborate, building relationships, partnerships, & processes to achieve their goals.

World Trade Day is presented by the John H. Chafee Center for International Business at Bryant University. To register visit http://www.regonline.com/Register/Checkin.aspx?EventID=1170015

Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP is pleased to be celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. In honor of this milestone, we created the PS&H 25/25 initiative as a way to say Thank You to the many members of our community who have supported us through the years.

In May, Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP donated $1,250 to INSIGHT to help support the organization’s summer youth programs. Specifically, this donation will enable several INSIGHT clients to participate in sailing lessons at the Community Boating Center in Providence.  The Firm is honored to be able to commemorate our milestone anniversary by making this donation. 

INSIGHT’s mission is to inspire confidence, build skills and empower people who are blind and visually impaired to become fully integrated, equally valued members of society by providing diverse services that produce opportunities and choices.

The Newport Harbor Hotel and Marina is pleased to announce a new partnership with America’s Cup Charters to provide the ultimate teambuilding package for groups visiting Newport, Rhode Island.  The hotel is the premier spot in Newport for corporate and association meetings, located in the heart of Newport’s historic downtown district, on the harbor, surrounded by magnificent yachts, cobblestone streets, restaurants, shops, boutiques, and much more.  America’s Cup Charters is Newport’s choice charter company, and is proud to sail the legendary 12-meter yachts that competed in or won the America’s Cup races.

“For over 15 years The Newport Harbor Hotel and Marina has been the waterfront location for our fleet of America’s Cup yachts.  Many of our business clients have enjoyed their stay downtown on the water at The Newport.  We are excited to be partnering with The Newport to offer a great package deal to our corporate clients – Sail aboard the best with America’s Cup Charters and stay at the best waterfront hotel, The Newport” said Herb Marshall, Co- Owner of America’s Cup Charters

Two packages, designed for groups of different sizes, provide an opportunity for groups to develop teamwork, communication, and leadership skills.  “The On Board Meeting,” for groups from 8 to 14 people, allow guests to choose from a series of sailing challenges, while “The Sails Meeting,” for groups from 20 to 75 people, will have groups performing regattas through Narragansett Bay for the afternoon, and returning to The Newport Harbor Hotel and Marina for a traditional New England Clam Boil.

For more information regarding this exciting new program, contact the Sales and Catering Office at The Newport Harbor Hotel and Marina at 401-848-3304, newportsales@shanercorp.com, or www.newporthotel.com.

Newport Hospitality, Inc., Rhode Island’s premier destination management company, celebrates Program Manager, Emily Ryan, on the honor of obtaining the Destination Management Certified Professional (DMCP) designation.

The DMCP is designed by the Association of Destination Management Executives International (ADMEI) to “create impetus for organizational self-improvement and to stimulate a general rising of standards” and is considered the highest designation in destination management industry.  

The DMCP exam establishes a level of knowledge and performance by stimulating the art and science of destination management thus raising industry standards. For Emily, this represents one of the highest accreditations in her industry and speaks to her professional standards. Regarding the recent award, Ms. Ryan stated “The designation DMCP reinforces my commitment to our clients, industry and destination and I am honored to receive this prestigious certification.” Emily is now the third employee at Newport Hospitality to earn the DMCP designation.

Additionally, Emily Ryan has earned a promotion to Senior Program Manager at Newport Hospitality, Inc., a DMC Network Company.  Now into her fifth season, Emily will continue to service corporate clients in the coordination and execution of successful programs.  “Since her start with Newport Hospitality in 2009, Emily has been driven and focused on excelling in our industry, which shines through with each program that she works on. Through her four years of loyalty to Newport Hospitality and earned DMCP certification, her promotion to Senior Program Manager is well deserved,” said Carrie Brown, Director of Programs.

ABOUT NEWPORT HOSPITALITY, INC. a DMC Network Company
As the first and only accredited DMC in Rhode Island, Newport Hospitality, Inc. is proud to be celebrating 25 years of successful destination management. Newport Hospitality, Inc. is dedicated to creating exceptional events and programs, while partnering to build strong relationships and striving to exceed the goals, objectives and expectations of our clients.

Viti in Tiverton, RI, is pleased to offer an additional incentive to members of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce. Qualified members of the Chamber receive $500 off the best deal on any new or pre-owned Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Volvo vehicle that is purchased or leased.  Available for qualified members only. Offer valid until August 31, 2013.

Contact Bob Fioravanti at 866-980-6224 for further information.

And as always, Viti offers Complimentary Pick-Up, Delivery, Loaner, Car Wash & Vacuum for all scheduled service appointments.

Secretary of State of State A. Ralph Mollis is warning Rhode Island limited liability companies (LLCs) to be wary of a direct mail solicitation from "Rhode Island Corporate Compliance (RICC)." The latest notice comes just two months after the company mailed a similar letter to for-profit corporations.

The official-looking letter cites a state law that requires corporations to keep records of accounts, minutes and the names and addresses of all shareholders and directs recipients to submit an "Annual Disclosure Statement" along with a "Document Fee" of $125 by May 3.

But Mollis says that state law doesn't even require LLCs to keep those records let alone requiring that they be filed with his office or any state agency.

More than 150 business owners have called the Secretary of State's office with questions about the notice. Many had already mailed a check to RICC. Shirley Miller of Able Wood Flooring in Cranston was one of them.

"I only took a quick look at the letter. It looked official so I didn't think twice about writing a check because everything else has gone up this year. Then I had a bad feeling and called the Secretary of State's office," she said. "You know what makes it worse? That money could have gone to charity."

"Too many people have been confused by the mailing. We're assuring them that it did not come from our office," said Mollis, who tracked down the return address on the RICC mailing to a postal box number at a UPS store in downtown Providence.

Mollis reported the situation to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which wants anyone who has paid the $125 "Document Fee" to call (401) 276-8630.

Every one of the more than 27,000 LLCs registered in Rhode Island could have received the letter, said Mollis. RICC mailed a nearly identical letter to as many as 32,000 for-profit corporations earlier this year.

Mollis says LLCs are contacting him because most business entities in Rhode Island have a corporate legal structure that requires filing with his office. In addition to its work with start-ups, the Secretary of State's office also oversees recording commercial liens, registering notaries public and protecting corporate trademarks.

He urges anyone with questions about the direct mail solicitation to contact his office at 222-3040 or corporations@sos.ri.gov

.

Growing Gift Giving Industry Requires More Hands on Deck

Hospitality Gifts has announced that Lindsey Clark has joined the company to further develop their growing portfolio of clients. Lindsey Clark comes with a wealth of experience within the marketing field, having spent several years as a writer, designer and marketer within both large corporate entities and boutique agencies. Most recently, Lindsey was instrumental in the unveiling and implementation of several new “Daily Deal” programs for newspapers throughout the US and was at the cornerstone of the product’s success. She now seeks to bring her expertise in sales and service to the professional Gift Giving market- as the industry continues to gain traction as a necessity for those seeking to make a distinct and impressive impression with their customers and peers in their trade.

Lindsey joins Hospitality Gifts as Sales Manager to continue Hospitality Gifts present and forecasted success in offering unique specialty items and custom gift packages. This Newport, Rhode Island based company is proud to work with local artists and vendors and is the premier gift provider for meeting and event planners, hotels and corporate clients. The service offers its clients invaluable time and resources by leveraging professional expertise in presenting the most impressionable gifts on behalf of the client and client’s business.

Laurie Z. Stroll, CMP, DMCP, says “Lindsey’s experience and enthusiasm for strengthening current relationships as well as cultivating new relationships is going to poise Hospitality Gifts for great success. Our dedication to providing elite customer service and an increase in demand within our industry has proved the need for a dedicated sales and service professional contact within Hospitality Gifts to ensure that we continue to be the leader in this arena. With her perfectly suited background, we feel very fortunate to be able to present Lindsey as Sales Manager and we look forward to her commitment to our current clients and her exciting pursuit of potential relationships.”

Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP (PS&H) is pleased to be celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. In honor of this milestone, they created the PS&H 25/25 initiative as a way to say Thank You to the many members of our community who have supported us through the years.

In March, Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP donated 25 tickets to Providence ¡CityArts! for Youth (¡CityArts!) students to attend The Joffrey Ballet performance which culminated FirstWorks’ month-long celebration of the centenary debut of “Rite of Spring”.  The Firm is honored to be able to commemorate our milestone anniversary by supporting both organizations in this way.  Through the efforts of FirstWorks, the students from ¡CityArts! had the opportunity to attend a live performance by a world-renowned dance company. FirstWorks is a non-profit arts organization that presents world-class performing arts programs that build the cultural, educational, and economic vitality of our community.  Since 2004, FirstWorks has offered Rhode Islanders access to some of the most exciting artists of our time including Yo-Yo Ma, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Sweet Honey In The Rock, Laurie Anderson and master artists of Pakistan through Caravanserai project (2011-12).  Beginning with an unprecedented collaboration with Providence’s Department of Art, Culture + Tourism, FirstWorks has grown into a multidimensional arts organization recognized with 14 National Endowment for the Arts grants, produced 22 groundbreaking arts festivals, attracted more than 140,000 participants and engaged more than 100 nonprofit community organizations and schools.

¡CityArts! is a community arts organization with a mission to provide free professional arts education to Providence youth between ages 8-14. ¡CityArts! now serves over 1200 youth in afterschool and summer arts programs citywide, offering meaningful learning experiences in visual art and design, performing arts, and creative writing. Their work is inspired by the creative process of art-making and the exploration of ideas and concepts that shape our communities and everyday lives.

State Transitioning to Trauma-Informed Social Services for Children

Rhode Island has kicked off its efforts to transform social services across the state to being “trauma informed.”

“Abuse, neglect, crime, violence; these are common in the personal histories of the children being served at social service agencies across the state,” said Janice DeFrances, Ed.D., director of the Rhode Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF). “This new effort will provide care-givers the knowledge and skills to approach care with this in mind and will help us assess our current practices and develop more responsive systems.”

Rhode Island is one of only six areas in the nation chosen to participate in a federally funded project led by San Diego’s Chadwick Center for Children and Families. The goal of the project is to transform child welfare organizations so their services recognize the role trauma plays in the lives of children and families in their care.

“We chose Rhode Island because of the leadership of Family Service of RI and DCYF on child trauma issues, not only in the Northeast but across the nation,” said Lisa Conradi, Psy.D. of the Chadwick Center.  Dr. Conradi will oversee the project, which also includes two counties in California, and counties in Florida, Oklahoma and Minnesota.  Rhode Island’s is the only statewide effort.

“This will build on the work we started nearly a decade ago when we developed a partnership with the Providence police department to respond 24/7 to children at scenes of crime and violence,” said Margaret Holland McDuff, Family Service of RI CEO. 

Family Service of RI, DCYF and Providence police department staff have presented the “Rhode Island Model” at a number of national gatherings. The model includes a 24/7 response to children and families exposed to trauma; a focus on prevention and early intervention; and strong partnerships with police departments.

Recently Family Service of RI was awarded a $1.6 million federal grant to reduce the impact of trauma on the state’s children, with a priority on military families. “This new project with the Chadwick Center will be integrated into that grant’s efforts,” said Susan Erstling, Ph.D., who heads Family Service of RI’s child trauma center.

Steps to be followed in the months ahead include:

• a community assessment of the trauma-informed nature of the state’s child welfare system; 
• development of a “Supercommunity Trauma-Informed Implementation Plan”; 
• technical assistance and training to implement the plan. 

Hundreds of staff from government and non-profits from across the state are slated to participate, said Dr. Erstling.

The kick-off took place Thursday, April 4^th, with a reception at the Rhode Island Foundation in Providence.

WaterFire Providence, the award winning sculpture and community arts event that has been inspiring and arousing Rhode Islanders and visitors alike for over 15 years is gearing up for yet another enchanting season. With each WaterFire comes a complex and exciting undertaking where assistance from community volunteers plays an integral part. Our volunteers assist in all aspects of creation of the event and come from many different walks of life. Not only is our volunteer base made up of individuals just looking to help improve their community, but often times volunteers come from businesses and groups just like yours.

WaterFire Providence offers your employees the chance to be a part of something that brings beauty and life to Providence while inspiring its members and fostering community engagement. At WaterFire Providence we offer local businesses and organizations the chance to engage in a dynamic and stimulating hands-on experience that not only teaches employees important lessons in teambuilding and leadership skills, but also helps bring light to their community.

Every lighting of WaterFire is different, with its own production and another opportunity to get involved. WaterFire has an abundance of experience working with volunteer partners providing us with the knowledge to make this an unforgettable experience for all those involved.

If you are interested in learning more about how your business can be a part of this beautiful art installation, please visit http://waterfire.org/ workplace-volunteerism/ or contact WaterFire at 401-273-1155 | volunteer@waterfire.org

Welcome John Capone to Our Intellectual Property Team; Congratulations to Scott Orchard on his Appointment to Johnson & Johnson

John Capone brings to the firm broad-based experience prosecuting and litigating intellectual property rights for multinational technology companies as senior in-house counsel and in private practice. John served as Chief Intellectual Property Counsel to GTECH and is a registered patent attorney.  As Senior Counsel at D&S, John will provide strategic counseling to clients on intellectual property issues and join the firm's distinguished intellectual property litigation team.  

We also congratulate our Partner Scott Orchard on his recent appointment as Senior Counsel in Johnson & Johnson's new Innovation Center in Cambridge, MA. In his "in house" position, Scott will be engaged in a wide variety of transactions involving early-stage innovations across J&J's pharmaceutical, medical devices and diagnostics and consumer healthcare platforms. His responsibilities will include venture capital investments, licensing arrangements and other strategic and commercial transactions.

Additional location will serve visitors Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Members are also encouraged to share this information with front-line personnel.

Housed within view of the iconic Rhode Island State House, the bustling Providence Train Station, and the popular Providence Place Mall, the Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau (PWCVB) looks to leverage their new office location with a satellite Visitor Information Center.

The satellite center will augment the services provided in the main Visitor Information Center, located in the rotunda of the Rhode Island Convention Center.

"This location allows our organization to interact with and assist the visitor in a whole new way," said PWCVB President & CEO Martha Sheridan. "For those that get off the train, or pass through the mall, or stroll around the picturesque Waterplace Park – but might not make it to our main Visitor Center – we think this smaller version will help them get out and explore our destination with enthusiasm."

The street address for the Visitor Center is 10 Memorial Boulevard, housed within the GTECH building. Visitors are asked to enter via the dedicated door located on the northwest corner.

Hours for the Visitor Center will mirror the office hours of the PWCVB: Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. A staff member will be on hand to assist any visitors with specific questions. (Hours of the main Visitor Information Center at the R.I. Convention Center will remain unchanged, Mon.- Sat., 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.) 

All Visitor Center related inquiries should be directed to information@pwcvb.com. 

Roger Williams University’s School of Continuing Studies located in the heart of DownCity Providence.  Whether you are searching to complete your bachelor’s, associate’s, certificate degree, or participate in professional development opportunities, we are well rounded with in – depth program options for you!

Please visit our School of Continuing Studies page:

http://rwu.edu/academics/schools-colleges/sgcs?utm_source=rwu-home&utm_medium=teaser&utm_campaign=scs

For any questions please contact John Dunay, Corporate Recruiter at 401 – 276 – 4856, or e – mail at jdunay@rwu.edu.

Whether you run a nonprofit or serve on the board, you have a responsibility to make sure your organization is both in compliance and in shape to weather any storm or to take advantage of growth opportunities. But with everything else on your plate, there never seems to be enough time to step back, take stock, and launch that preventative compliance review, even if you know you should. At minimum, there are 6 key things that any nonprofit can do – and every nonprofit should do - in 2013.

For the entire article and the Nonprofit "To Do List"...

To learn more, or if you have questions, contact
Kimberly I. McCarthy, kim@psh.com  

The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) recognizes the importance of a collaborative work process to improve jobsite safety and expand the use of cutting edge technologies.AGChas partnered with numerous industry groups to accomplish this mission and actively participates in regulatory construction safety and health activities through partnerships, alliances and member appointments to federal agencies and consensus standard committees.  This past week the 94th annual convention of theAGCwas held inPalm Springs,California, during this conference the 2013 CONSTRUCTION SAFETY EXCELLENCE AWARDS event was conducted.

The AGC's 14th ANNUAL CONSTRUCTION SAFETY EXCELLENCE AWARDS (CSEA) program is the industry's elite safety excellent awards program for companies of all sizes and occupational divisions. CSEA recognizes companies that have developed and implemented premier safety and loss prevention programs and showcases companies that have achieved continuous improvements and maintenance of their safety and health management systems.

Rhode Island's chapter of AGC had two of its members participate in different categories and have been awarded outstanding recognition in their respective categories they are as follows:

In the category of CONTRUCTION MANAGEMENT with 500,000+ work hours Gilbane Building Company 7 Jackson Way Providence, RI was awarded 1st place nationally. Tony O'Dea VP Corporate Safety from Gilbane says "As a 140 year old family construction company, headquartered in Rhode Island, our relationship with the AGC goes back many years. We at Gilbane are honored with First Place in the Construction management category in the AGC Construction Safety Excellence Awards sponsored by Willis. We believe safety is a fundamental value to us and that every one of the 13,000 men and women – employees, contractor partners, vendors and our clients- that work on Gilbane projects everyday are members of our extended family. We are proud to receive this recognition by our peers from theAGCof our successful safety program.”

In the category of SPECIALTY DIVISION with 100,001- 300,000 work hours, HART Engineering of Highland Corporate Park 800 Scenic View Drive Cumberland, RI took 2nd place nationally. President David Rampone stated "The people at Hart are extremely proud to be recognized for the daily hard work and dedication that have made us one of the safest companies inAmerica.

The RI Chapter of AGC recognizes these two chapter members, and their companies, that have excelled at safety and health performance, examining each company’s commitment to safety and occupational health management and risk control. These National awards represent two RI Companies with the greatest accomplishments in their respective categories. We congratulate them on their success and all future endeavors.

Karen Jessup, Seasoned Preservationist and Landscape Historian Takes the Reins at PPS

Karen Jessup, who served for years as a Providence Preservation Society (PPS) Trustee and Board President of the Providence Revolving Fund has become the Society’s interim director, according to Board of Trustees President Lucie Searle. Karen is taking over for Executive Director James Hall, who stepped down after accepting the position of deputy director of the Norton Museum of Art in Palm Beach, Florida.

“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Karen back to PPS,” stated Searle, adding, “As a former Chair of the Providence Historic District Commission and founding member of the Revolving Fund, Karen has over 30 years of experience working in Providence’s preservation landscape. The breadth and depth of her experiences and achievements on both a national and international level are extensive.”

In addition to Jessup’s work in Providence, she is a former Trustee of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Chair of its Board of Advisors where she concentrated specifically on diversifying the preservation movement and public policy advocacy. Karen has held administrative and teaching appointments in academia in the US and Great Britain, and research fellowships at several universities on both sides of the Atlantic. She was recently named a reviewer for the American Association of Museums, specializing in non-profit organizational and leadership assessment, and community engagement. In her many years of consulting with groups in the US and Britain, she has guided them in institutional planning, educational programming, and issues of governance and management. Karen has consulted broadly with World Heritage Sites in Britain, National Historic Landmarks and National Register properties in the US, and other sites and organizations of cultural consequence. She has received numerous citations for community service and for her academic work, and has been a juror on national preservation and landscape design panels.

In recent years, Jessup’s work has been recognized with an Antoinette F. Downing Award from the Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission, along with a Stewardship Award from Preserve Rhode Island for her work on the Blithewold Master Plan.

“PPS has meant so much to the civic life of our community and to me personally. The organization helped launch my professional career. I’m excited by this opportunity to advance PPS’s positive momentum and to support its board and excellent staff during the transition from James to a new permanent director,” Jessup observed.

Jessup’s experience will be a tremendous asset in the coming months asPPSworks with residents to expand the College Hill Historic District and engages in a busy spring programming calendar, culminating with the Festival of Historic Houses on June 7-9.

For further information please visit www.ppsri.org  

The Three Capital Requirements for Business, authored by Tony Kubica and Sara LaForest of Kubica LaForest Consulting was published in the March 4-10, 2013 edition of the Providence Business News – on page 9. 

It is commonly known that a business needs capital to succeed. And while this is true, what we have found is that many entrepreneurs, particularly microentrepreners, have a limited definition of capital. They define it as money.

There are, in fact, three types of capital that are essential to consider when forming and growing a business, and they are:

1. Human capital
2. Social capital
3. Financial capital

When these three types of capital are considered, leveraged and working together, the opportunity to successfully grow your business improves dramatically. Where you ideally want to be is at the intersection point of human, social, and financial capital.

Read the full article here in the Professional Development section of providencechamber.com:  http://providencechamber.com/business-resources/professional-development

Habitat for Humanity of Rhode Island – Greater Providence announced Connie Hanner has joined the staff as the Executive Director of the affiliate.

Hanner comes to the affiliate with 10 years of experience working with Habitat for Humanity. Formerly the Executive Director of a Habitat for Humanity affiliate in western Kentucky, Hanner says she looks forward to working in Providence.

“Working with Habitat for Humanity is a personal mission for me.” says Hanner. “You become involved with Habitat because you know you are making a difference in the life of family that endures well beyond the term of the mortgage.” Hanner says that she sees how home ownership transforms families. “The mortgage represents an opportunity for a family to own a home of their own. They help build the home with their own hands. This builds pride in the ownership of their home. Pride in ownership of the home, develops into ownership in their community.”

Glenn Hardy, President of Habitat for Humanity of Rhode Island – Greater Providence says that Hanner will help move the organization forward with expansion of the mission. “Connie has the background in public/media relations and relational development needed to increase our building capacity and develop sustainable revenue streams. Connie will help us identify new ways to raise funds so that we can qualify more families for home mortgages.”

Hanner replaces Herman deKoe, who served as the Executive Director for the last 13 years before retiring.

For more information on upcoming projects or to make a donation to Habitat for Humanity of Rhode Island – Greater Providence, call (401) 831-5424 or email conniehanner@habitatprov.org

How much time do you spend thinking about business exit planning?

If you're like many of the small business owners we meet - not much. That's okay as long as you don't care about supporting yourself and your family when you retire or leave the business, and if you are not attached to what happens to the
business, your employees and your customers after you leave. But in truth, the business professionals and small business owners we meet do care.

They care a lot - they just haven't done much about it yet.

Unfortunately, many business owners believe that their business will just dissolve when they exit, and don't believe or understand that their business could have value for sale.

Two Reasons Your Business Can Have Value After You Leave the Business

1. If you setup your business so it can be sold at a later date, then your company can help grow the acquirer's business by allowing them to add a new service or product line to their business or by enhancing an existing service/product line through the addition of your company.

2. If you are a thought leader in your industry and if the business does not rely on you for operations - then your business has value as your competition will want to remove you as a competitor!

Now, we know what you are thinking... "But, I'm not ready to sell my business. Why do I have to think about exit planning for my business now?"

Here's Why Exit Planning Is Critical For Your Business Now - And Why You Should Not Delay Thinking About Exit Strategies...

An exit plan better prepares you (the business owner) for the inevitable transition of your business - whether it's expected (intended), unexpected or the result of undesirable circumstances that can and do arise.

Most business owners we talk to understand the voluntary exit (even if they are not currently planning for it). And they also understand and fear an involuntary exit. What is less discussed, but a looming reality like the proverbial albatross around your neck, is the unexpected exit.

An unexpected exit may be triggered by a biological event such as:

* You die
* You become ill or disabled
* You're too old to effectively run the business

Due to the sensitivity of the topic, many small business owners and business professionals simply avoid the biological aspects in their exit planning. As a result, they are left to deal with the muddle of unknowns amid the highly emotional and sometimes financial losses of an owner.

Now That You Know Why You Need to Have An Exit Plan in Place - Here Are Your Next Steps...

Regardless of whether the exit event is planned (the sale of the company, leadership succession of an employee or family member) or not (a biological event), at some point there will be an inevitable transition.

So we ask again, how much time have you spent thinking about and formulating an exit plan that considers not only the planned exit options, but also the unplanned exit possibilities?

To start thinking about it, we suggest you start with one key question: Can your business continue if you could no longer run it tomorrow?

If the answer is yes - then you are well prepared for a sale or for a biological event. If your answer is no because the business relies either solely or primarily on you for sales and key operational activities, you are not a very attractive acquisition target. And should a biological event occur, sustaining the business
will be a serious challenge.

Clearly, we recommend that regardless of where you are in your business life cycle (start-up, or nearing the end of your tenure with the business), you should be working with a business consultant to create your business exit plan.

While formulating an exit plan will require some "frontloading" in time, the benefits of your effort will payoff by:

• Allowing you to control and better manage the exit
• Helping you to maximize company value
• Minimizing tax implications
• Establishing multiple exit options which mitigate unknowns and negative
unexpected circumstances (i.e. serious injury/disability, death, divorce,
disagreement/owner deadlock, etc.)
• Better enabling you to achieve business and personal goals
• Reducing stress and anxiety due to prior planning and defined
expectations
• Insuring business continuity

Now, is the time to start planning your exit strategy!

Tony Kubica and Sara LaForest, Partners of Kubica LaForest Consulting, are Business Growth Advisors, Executive/Performance Coaches, Speakers and Authors. Visit their website at www.kubicalaforestconsulting.com

As the 2013 tax filing season opened, the IRS announced a national crackdown on identity theft schemes aimed at stealing taxpayers' refunds.

The tax agency announced there were 734 enforcement actions in January of this year, including indictments, search warrants, complaints and arrests. This follows 2,400 enforcement actions against identity thieves in fiscal 2012.

The crime has trapped scores of innocent taxpayers. Here is a description of how tax identity theft works, along with eight steps you can take to help protect yourself from the devastating results.

A Typical Tax ID Crime

An identity thief generally uses a legitimate taxpayer's identity to fraudulently file a tax return and claim a refund. The identity thief uses a stolen Social Security number and other identifying information to file a forged tax return and attempt to get a fraudulent refund early in the filing season.

In these schemes, there may be another victim. The Employer Identification Number (EIN) of a real organization could be fraudulently used to report fake earnings and withholding. The IRS may issue a refund to the thief before it realizes that there is no matching, legitimate paperwork from the employer.

The real taxpayer may be unaware that tax identity theft has occurred until he or she files a return later in the filing season. The individual may discover it after receiving a letter from the IRS stating that:

• More than one tax return was filed.
• There is a balance due, refund offset or collection actions were taken against the person for a year he or she did not file a tax return.
• IRSrecords indicate the individual received wages from an employer -- yet the taxpayer is unaware of them.

When this type of tax identity theft fraud occurs, an individual's refund can be delayed for months or longer while the IRS unravels who is legitimate.

The number of tax-related identity theft cases has increased substantially in recent years, according to the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Nina E. Olson. In her latest annual report to Congress, issued last month, Olson stated that identity theft case receipts increased by more than 650 percent from fiscal year 2008 to 2012. At the end of fiscal year 2012, the IRS had almost 650,000 identity-theft cases in its inventory servicewide.

The IRS has faced criticism in its handling of identity theft cases from many fronts, including the Taxpayer Advocate. In her latest report, she stated "the IRS has failed to provide effective and timely assistance to victims of identity theft" and that a victim "is often sent on a journey through IRS processes and procedures that may take years to complete."

The report added:

"The victims of tax-related identity theft suffer extraordinary inconveniences and, in many cases, hardships. In general, more than 75 percent of U.S. taxpayers receive refunds, with the amount averaging about $3,000. Identity theft victims generally cannot receive their significant and sometimes urgently needed tax refunds until the IRS resolves their cases, which is now taking six months or longer. The IRS's failure to provide timely relief to these identity theft victims is simply unacceptable."

Last summer, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) issued a report stating the IRS' difficulty in detecting tax-related identity theft stemmed from:

• Delayed access to third-party income and withholding information - Third parties are not required to submit income and withholding documents to the IRS until March 31, yet taxpayers can begin filing returns in mid-January. (This year, the beginning of filing season was delayed until January 30 due to the "fiscal cliff" legislation enacted on January 2.)
• The use of direct deposits, including debit cards, to claim fraudulent tax refunds - "Direct deposit provides the ability to quickly receive fraudulent tax refunds without the difficulty of having to negotiate a tax refund paper check," TIGTA noted. Tax refunds provided by theIRS on debit cards allow a thief to make ATM withdrawals or spend the money on purchases at stores.

What Can You Do to Protect Yourself?

There is likely no way to fully protect yourself from tax related identity theft but there are steps you can take to minimize the changes and reduce the damage if you do become a victim:

1. Don't carry your Social Security card or documents with your Social Security number.

2. Don't give out your Social Security number to businesses or medical providers just because they ask for it. Give it only when required.

3. Protect your financial information. Shred documents with personal identifying information. Don't provide information in response to e-mail or text messages. Don't give personal information over the phone unless you have initiated the contact or you are sure you know who you are dealing with. Secure personal information in your home.

4. Check your credit report every 12 months.

5. Protect personal computers by using firewalls, anti-spam/virus software, update security patches, and change passwords for Internet accounts.

6. File as early as possible in the tax filing season.

7. Respond immediately if you receive a notice from IRS. If you believe someone may have used your Social Security number fraudulently, notify the IRS by responding to the name and number printed on the notice or letter. You need to fill out the IRS Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit.

8. If you are a victim, get an Identification Number from the IRS that proves you are the legitimate filer of future tax returns. The IRS issues Identity Protection Personal Identification Number (IPPIN) to select identity theft victims whose identities have been validated by the IRS. It allows legitimate returns to be processed, and prevents processing of fraudulent returns, thereby mitigating processing delays in victims' federal tax return processing. Generally, the IPPIN is mailed out once the taxpayer's account has been resolved. Current programming allows one IPPIN to be generated each year.

If you have questions about your situation, contact your tax adviser or visit the IRS website for more information.

LOPCO Contracting is accepting applications for the following positions: 

Commercial Estimator

Carpentry Crew Leader

Painting Crew Leader

Carpenter Helper

Mid-Level Carpenter

Entry Level Painters

Mid-Level Painter 

For detailed job descriptions & application process visit http://www.lopcocontracting.com/contact.html

Rhode Island School of Design’s Fleet Library made BestMastersPrograms.org’s list of “The 50 Most Amazing University Libraries in the World.”

Fleet Library - which houses 140,000 books, 685,000 images and sound recordings, 1,200 rare artists books and issues from 280 periodicals – was called “the oldest and most influential independent art library in the United States,” by the publication.

“Due to its historical significance, the library’s collection has become a retrospective that shows the evolution of art, architecture, photography and design. The collection covers textiles, jewelry, ceramics and many other disciplines,” said the article.The RISD library, which was established in 1878, was also commended for its “innovative restoration” of a historic bank building. In 2006 the library moved into the first two floors of the former Rhode Island Hospital Trust bank at 15 Westminster St.

The banking hall serves as Fleet Library’s main reading room and the second floor accommodates a reading room for archives and special collections, as well as expanded space for slide and picture collections.

BestMastersPrograms’ complete list of 50 included facilities in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa. Site editors selected libraries to present what it called a “curated listing” of their favorite college and university libraries.

“The library is at the very core of a school’s learning and research opportunities, and plays a fundamental role in the student’s ability to excel at the college level,” Jeremy Alder, lead editor on the list, said in prepared remarks. “Because of this, we wanted to highlight some of the world’s best and most interesting college libraries.”

Libraries recognized from elsewhere in New England were Boston College’s Bapst Library, Harvard University’s Widener Library, Yale University’s Sterling Memorial Library and Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, and the Meskill Law Library at the University of Connecticut.

BestMastersPrograms.org is an education and career website focused on providing prospective graduate students with the information they need to achieve their education and career goals.

To view the full BestMastersPrograms list, visit: www.bestmastersprograms.org.

KLR (Kahn, Litwin, Renza & Co., Ltd.), one of the top 3 regional accounting firms in theNew England area, announced today that David M. Desmarais has joined the firm as a Principal in the Wealth Tax and Advisory Group. David will advise individuals, families and closely-held businesses on specialized tax matters, estate planning and planned charitable giving.

“We are extremely excited to welcome David” said David Shuman, Managing Director, Greater Boston. “As we continue to provide individuals and families, including corporate executives, with sophisticated tax planning solutions, David's professionalism, knowledge and experience will ensure that our clients meet their financial goals. Attracting David Desmarais to the KLR team significantly enhances the firm’s commitment to the private client space."

Mr. Desmarais has more than 15 years of experience, focusing primarily on private foundations, high net worth individuals, closely-held businesses, and trusts. His areas of expertise include income tax planning, estate and gift tax planning and charitable gifting strategies. Most recently, David was a Partner in the Tax Services Department at Grant Thornton where he served as the Private Wealth Services Line Leader for the New England Cluster. He was also a Partner in the Tax Services Department at CCR, LLP and the Partner-In-Charge for CCR’s Private Client Services Group.

Mr. Desmarais earned a Bachelors of Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts. He also earned a Masters of Science in Taxation from Northeastern University and a Masters of Business Administration from Nichols College. Mr. Desmarais is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants (MSCPA), and Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants (FICPA). He is also a member of the Boston Estate Planning Council.

Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP (PS&H) is pleased to be celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. In honor of this milestone, they created the PS&H 25/25 initiative as a way to say Thank You to the many members of the community who have supported them through the years. Each month during 2013 they will identify at least one nonprofit community-based organization to which they will donate 25 items.

In January, Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP donated 25 winter coats to Children’s Friend, a nonprofit organization in Providence.  “We are very pleased to be able to commemorate our milestone anniversary by making this donation.  Children’s Friend serves an important segment of our community,” said Managing Partner David Gilden. Founded in 1834, Children’s Friend is a leading provider of child welfare, family support, mental health, and child development services.  For more than a decade, PS&H has had the pleasure and honor of supporting and helping Children’s Friend.  This year, Kim McCarthy, a Partner of PS&H, is chair of the Children’s Friend board. 

"There is much uncertainty in federal spending," Electric Boat President Kevin Poitras told Rhode Island business executives and legislators, including Senator Jack Reed and Rhode Island Senate President Teresa Paiva-Weed at Electric Boat in Quonset on Tuesday. "Many people believe that the overall defense budget will trend down in the next several years."

That being said, he expects budgets for submarine programs to increase inasmuch as they have been identified as vital to the future national defense strategy. And in short-term, Electric Boat's contracts are coming through. In December, Congress approved spending to continue the usual work on two Virginia-class submarines as well as design work on the Ohio-class replacement submarine.

If the across-the-board defense cuts that Congress delayed until March go into effect, it wouldn't necessarily mean layoffs at Electric Boat, Poitras said. The company could possibly manage cost-savings by simply not filling positions emptied through attrition.

The company ended the year with 11,926 employees. Poitras, who took over Electric Boat in May, said that this was the first time in four years that the company has hired in all its divisions, with expectations to hire 200 more trades people in Quonset alone. 

For 2012, about 61 percent of Electric Boat's revenues came from production of Virginia-class submarines. Design made up about 28 percent of the company's revenues, which included preliminary work on an Ohio-class replacement. Maintenance and modernization programs made up 8 percent of revenues.

In December, Electric Boat responded to a request for proposals for the fifth block of Virginia-class submarines, which would be built 2014-2023 and generate about $18 billion in future work, Poitras said. These "stretched" versions of the original Virginia-class include an extra 90-foot section for precision-strike, Tomahawk missile capabilities.

The company also landed a $390 million research and development contract for the Ohio-class replacement submarine, a program that aims to build 12 submarines that will be in service until 2080 and carry about 70 percent of the country's deployed nuclear weapons.

To state and federal legislators, the message was not unlike the type heard throughout the wider business community: take care of deficit issues, continue to stimulate business development, build on education reform and support jobs.

Interview with John Groetelaars - President of Davol, A Bard company

The quest for new technologies has been the bedrock of Rhode Island based Davol’s growth and success. Throughout the company’s 138 years in business, Davol has persevered through many of our country’s challenging economic times. President John Groetelaars shares his thoughts on Davol/BARD’s entrenched climate of innovation and globalization, key drivers for expansion efforts in today’s marketplace.

Q. What advice do you have to share with our membership in dealing with the current challenging economic environment?

JG: Stay agile and open to change. Use our company for example. Over 130 years ago we started with basic rubber products. Not a single one of those original products remains in our production line today. Forty percent of our current sales involve products that were introduced within the last three years. If we don’t continue to reinvigorate, we will fall the way of some of the high tech companies that maxed out with one product line. Being cautious and conservative is no longer linked to survival. It is important to fully understand your markets to find segments that are growing and invest in them.

We are here to be successful. Ideas and inspiration for our innovations come from:

1. Relentless attention to the patient. Surveying them for their product experience and listening to comments for product evolution. Probing your customers gives you a deep understanding of the nature of the product’s usefulness and critical information for “tweaking” or “inch ups”—incremental product improvements. 
2. Hospital administrators – they provide us with feedback for cost analysis, supply and demand formulas, and information on products created by our competition. 
3. Surgeons – continually critique our products during implementation, and analyze the results with their patients post surgery. 

Although the inch ups are important, break through innovations are the heart of Davol’s focus. Given the tough, competitive environment, there is less of an appetite for little improvements. We need to be better, more efficient, faster, cheaper, and ideally, all three. We scour the globe for the best ideas, technology and services. Breakthroughs lately have been in the form of tech transformation. More emphasis has been placed on fewer, but bigger (more financially risky) projects. My advice –in order to keep innovation flowing and continue commercialization you have to understand the consumer’s need. Don’t assume.

Collaboration is also a key ingredient for expanding innovation opportunities at Davol. We currently join forces with big teaching/research hospitals and labs throughout the US and companies like Ximedica, where we partner as co-developers. We are in the process of exploring collaborative opportunities locally with Brown, Lifespan’s tech licensing group and Betaspring in an effort to broaden our reach.

Q. How would you advise local companies interested in venturing into the global market?

JG: Spend time objectively assessing which global markets have a high potential for your product/service. Follow up with a deeper dive in the region, meeting and talking with potential customers or business partners to develop a prioritized list of opportunities that help you garner success and gain experience. This list should be long enough to have a full pipeline of business opportunities but not too large that your efforts are too diluted. Find early successes and build on them while gaining critical knowledge of the market and regulatory climate in the targeted area.

Q. Over the years, how has your business grown/adapted in the ever changing marketplace?

JG: Ten years ago, we were fairly conservative, skeptical about where and how ideas germinated and developed. Today, thanks to the advancement in technology, that has all changed. Our objective is to be #1 through best evidenced and priced product lines, making them well-affordable in the world of public health care. There are two avenues that create options for growth: globalization and innovation. Our strategies drive product innovation, making us open to change. We are constantly looking for new technologies, acquisitions, and core tech. A big trend in globalization is in refining how we bring in tech from international sources, and then transfer to our R&D pipeline. In June we announced our expansion into Russia, offering an exciting new chapter in our company’s growth.

To support our vision (advancing patient care with leading solutions in area of soft tissue repair) we employ over 100 scientists focused on research and development with 1200 employees worldwide in roles that include sales and manufacturing.

In the US, it is important that we invest across the spectrum –in high growth as well as low or negative growth markets, where there is high unemployment and thus, lack of insurance or ability to afford co-pays. We invest in low growth areas to address the patient trend to avoid health care through less doctor visits or administration to hospitals. We can make the greatest product in the world, but if patients do not have access to our lines, we will not grow. The same factors apply overseas, especially in European countries. The economy has forced change. It has impacted how we look at the innovation pipeline. Today there is more scrutiny of economies in addition to product performance. This was a driver toward our current international focus.

Q. Give me three words that describe your culture at Davol.

JG: Candid, caring and driven.

Q. How do you develop your workforce?

JG: We have specialized talent needs at Davol --and there are shortages of qualified candidates locally. As a result we search nationally for our talent draw. We recruit from the greater Boston area, where the housing market creates a challenge for prospects looking in that community. RI appeals to our recruits for cost of living (compared with Boston) and quality of life. We find that the folks that do move here, like it. A lot. Davol stays loyal to RI for those factors and the close proximity to Boston. We continually need to recruit and attract talent to evolve and survive.

Q. Why affiliate with an organization like GPCC?

JG: It is important for businesses to be engaged in forums that contribute to and support a strong local economy. Throughout our 98 year association with the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, Davol’s GPCC membership provided our management team with that vital link to the RI business community and government leadership, offering a means to interact and participate in local concerns. Through the Chamber’s outreach, Davol participates in the RI Business Plan Competition as judge to help support local job creation and innovation.

Secondary to bridging a means for our community engagement, were the many benefits that accompany GPCC membership.

Bard Davol is the market leader in comprehensive soft tissue reconstruction, delivering a growing line of mesh prosthetics, biologic implants and fixation systems to compliment innovative techniques for inguinal, ventral and other hernia repair procedures. Our researchers are constantly engaged in expanding the range of soft tissue repair with products aimed at providing exceptional quality and value –qualities that clinicians, physicians and patients have come to depend on.