RISBJ Issue 5

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Welcome to issue 5 of RISBJ. We hope you enjoy another content and resource packed issue of our publication. This month, we welcome new authors Chris Sheehy, founder of Sidewalk Branding Company and Perry L. Fagan, Founder of Get Strategy. The continued support of our contributors helps to make each issue of RISBJ better than the last. We would also like to welcome a new addition to the RISBJ family, Jennifer Metz. Jen started with RISBJ at the beginning of July as an account manager. This issue of RISBJ features Sons of Liberty Spirits Company, Rhode Island’s only Whiskey Distillery. While working with owner Mike Reppucci it made me really think about what it takes to be HU LU[YLWYLUL\Y 0[ THKL TL YLÅLJ[ VU HSS VM [OL Z\JJLZZ Z[VYPLZ from previous issues and the countless companies we have met with that shared their stories. In each case, the business owners shared many common qualities. The DNA of an entrepreneur is different. Entrepreneurs eat, drink and sleep their business with no guarantee of a paycheck. They see opportunities that others KVU»[ HUK [OL` YPZR HSTVZ[ L]LY`[OPUN Q\Z[ MVY [OL JOHUJL [V M\SÄSS their vision. It takes someone that can handle a lot of stress and a little sleep to run a successful company. Every year I talk to hundreds of people who are thinking of starting their own business. There are many that expect to start their day around 9, possibly end at 5 and start drawing a paycheck and supporting their families in a relatively short amount of time. If only it was that easy. RISBJ was created to support the entrepreneurial spirit and to create a stronger entrepreneurial ecosystem. We support all of those who take the chance to innovate and inspire. We know 9OVKL 0ZSHUK PZ ÄSSLK ^P[O [OV\ZHUKZ VM LU[YLWYLUL\YZ HUK [OL future of our state relies on their success. We hope you enjoy another content packed issue of RISBJ. As always, please feel free to reach out to us with comments, questions or to get involved in any way. We look forward to hearing from you.

lets take a look

what’s inside this issue

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STARTUPS 07 08 10 11 12 14

FEATURED CITY 16 EVENTS 18 21

SMALL BUSINESS 22 24 26 28 30 31 32 33 34 36 37 38 44

FEATURED STORY 40 CAPITAL CITY 47 FEATURED NONPROFIT 48 GOLOCAL 50 51 52 53

WOMEN IN BUSINESS 54 55 56

FEATURED CHAMBER 60

Cranston Networking and Workshops Prepared for Summer Tourists Shifting the Paradigm of Wellness! Progress Report on the Economic Recovery Who’s Knocking on Your Network’s Door? Does Your Small Business Have A Blog? Reasons Businesses Don’t Get Backlinks IRS Tax Tip: Tax Preparers Full STEAM Ahead Making “Buy Local” A Delicious Reality What Did You Hear? Not What I Said! the Business Value of Your Company’s IT Yoga For Your Website The State Of Customer Service Legislation Assists Small Businesses Every Revolution Starts With An UPRISING Jobs Making a Top Priority Trudeau Center Effort to Rebuild the State Utilidata Launches Operations in RI 3 Ways to Make Wellness Ruggieri Brothers Gets Award Positive Business Making Connections Count... o-ver-communi-ca-tion East Greenwich What’s New

COMMERCIAL 66

Real Estate

BUSINESS 72 RISBJ | rhode island small business journal

Mind Your Own Brand Reexamine Your Foundation Young Social Entrepreneurs Score Tip Of The Month Your Dirty Little Strategy Secret RI Small Business Development Center

CHAMBER CHAT 62

COMMUNITY CORNER 70

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Secretary Of State

All The Services You Are Looking For Directory

22 26 40 37 SONS OF LIBERTY IMAGE COPYRIGHT BLANEYPHOTO.COM

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SECRETARY OF STATE | Ralph Mollis

1,976 New Business Entities the most since 2,030 registered from January to March 2008 Secretary Of State Ralph Mollis

Nearly 2,000 new business entities registered with the Secretary VM :[H[LÂťZ VMĂ„JL MYVT 1HU\HY` [OYV\NO 4HYJO THRPUN P[ [OL ILZ[ quarter in four years, says Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis.

Coventry businessman remembers. “First Stop was very helpful. We originally were thinking about an export business, but they gave us other ideas and resources,�

;OL Ă„YZ[ X\HY[LY ZH^ UL^ I\ZPULZZ LU[P[PLZ YLNPZ[LY [OL TVZ[ since 2,030 registered from January to March 2008. In addition, Ă„SPUNZ YVZL MVY [^V JVUZLJ\[P]L Ă„YZ[ X\HY[LYZ MVY [OL Ă„YZ[ [PTL ZPUJL )\[ V]LYHSS UL^ YLNPZ[YH[PVUZ YVZL Q\Z[ WLYJLU[ MYVT [OL YLWVY[LK MVY 1HU\HY` [OYV\NO 4HYJO H `LHY HNV

First Stop pointed him in the right direction, and that led to a contract with the West Bay Community Action Corporation to YLWHPY OVTLZ [OH[ ^LYL KHTHNLK I` [OL Ă…VVKZ [OH[ JHTL ^P[O Tropical Storm Irene.

“We are starting to see small signs of improvement. It’s fair to view this data with cautious optimism,â€? says Mollis. Because most newly formed business entities in Rhode Island choose a corporate structure that requires registering with the :LJYL[HY` VM :[H[LÂťZ VMĂ„JL P[ JYLH[LK [OL -PYZ[ :[VW )\ZPULZZ Information Center to help them get started. First Stop creates free, customized packages that make it easier [V HWWS` MVY Ă„UHUJPUN VI[HPU WLYTP[Z HUK NL[ HUZ^LYZ MYVT government at every level. Just ask builder/remodeler Randy Burt of Classic Opportunities how important the help is to start-ups. “A lot of us lost our jobs a couple of years ago. I was an electrician looking for work. I decided to try creating my own business,â€? the

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“Without the advice and the information First Stop gave us, we might have failed. They were invaluable. Without that, I wouldn’t have hooked up with West Bay or gotten on the state bid list for weatherization work,â€? says Burt. To give his new company instant credibility with customers, he became accredited by the Better Business Bureau. Now, in addition to remodeling and weatherization work, Burt is building homes in Coventry, Lincoln and Woonsocket. “West Bay was very pleased with [OL Ă„YZ[ QVI ^L KPK HUK ILNHU sending us more and more work. Because of West Bay and other referrals from other customers, there’s a lot of new business coming in,â€? he says. Burt and his partners have already expanded, creating two new business entities and three full-time jobs. “We know times are tough. We price with that in mind. Customers get their money’s worth. That’s been our real key,â€? he says.

IMAGE COPYRIGHT SECRETARY OF STATE A. RALPH MOLLIS’ PHOTOSTREAM

;OL Ă„YZ[ X\HY[LY YLZ\S[Z HYL JVUZPZ[LU[ ^P[O [OL KH[H [OH[ [OL :LJYL[HY` VM :[H[LÂťZ VMĂ„JL YLWVY[LK MVY JHSLUKHY `LHY ^OLU [OL U\TILY VM UL^ Ă„SPUNZ PUJYLHZLK `LHY V]LY `LHY MVY [OL Ă„YZ[ [PTL ZPUJL )\[ V]LYHSS [OL U\TILY VM UL^ I\ZPULZZ LU[P[PLZ NYL^ Q\Z[ WLYJLU[ MYVT PU [V SHZ[ `LHY

Gil Lantini President, Founder Ralph Coppolino Vice President, Operations Danny Angeli Vice President, Business Development James Pardee Jr Creative Director and Design Editor Mike Casale Graphic Designer

Premium Cigars & Accessories Over 3,500 Sq. Ft. of Space to Relax and Enjoy Private Member Lockers & Room Available

Aaron Cadieux Video Production Manager Contributing Writers Lisa Buben Danny DeHoney Perry L. Fagan Gordon D Fox Steve Gareau Rebecca Harrington Adam Harvey Mark S. Hayward Tim Hebert Congressman Jim Langevin Dave Lubelczyk Dave Marcello Aileen McDonough Patricia Raskin Peggy Riley Ronald G. Shapiro, Ph. D. Tuni Renaud Schartner Chris Sheehy Lisa Shorr Tim Sullivan Mayor Angel Taveras Nancy Thomas for a complete listing of our contributing writers and their bios, please visit www.risbj.com/authors

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Mind Your Own Brand | STARTUPS

Everyone is a Winner! How

‘BOUT IT FOLKS by Dave Lubelczyk

Each year when the carnival rolls into town I am reminded of a job I had which taught me a valuable marketing lesson. One summer, I spent a week working as a hawker in a carnival dart booth. For seven days I yelled phrases like “One in you win” and “Prize every time”, but these marketing campaigns often fell short. During that week I learned how valuable a personal connection with the customer can be, as well as the effect that connection has on the success of a marketing message. This story begins many years prior to that summer. Debbie was not your typical carnie; she was more like your mom and in later years your grandmother. She stood out as very different from the others. She was clean, neat, and sweet, all of which are very rare traits for a carnival worker. She made you feel at home at her booth. Debbie would talk to you like a person and would engage you in conversation, building a relationship with you. As RPKZ ^L ^V\SK HS^H`Z THRL OLY IVV[O V\Y ÄYZ[ Z[VW H[ [OL MHPY She would remember us ask us about how school went that year and inquire if we were still dating “so and so”. She remembered little details about our lives and truly cared about us as people not just dollar bills. Because she took the time to get to know us, we rewarded her with our loyalty. We would only play her games and we would bring new friends to her booth every year. One year when I was in college, I stopped by her booth on the ÄYZ[ KH` VM [OL MHPY +LIIPL HWWLHYLK H SP[[SL MYHaaSLK :OL OHK lost one of her workers and was in need of a third person to join her and “Mouse” in the booth that week. I asked if I could help and she promptly hired me to join her team. Within moments I donned the blue shirt and stepped into the far end of her booth next to “Mouse”. “Mouse” spoke little to me because he was paid on commission and my presence meant he would have fewer opportunities for making money. He was your typical carnie; dirty, greasy and downright scary. Ironically, he now stuck out like a sore thumb between the sweet grandmother and the clean cut college guy.

With the little training I received, I was unsure how to market this product so I copied the messages I was hearing around me. “One PU `V\ ^PU OV^ ºIV\[ P[ MVSRZ&¹ ;OLU 0 [YPLK [V ZLSS [OL ILULÄ[Z of the product. “Winner, Winner, Winner, everyone’s a Winner!” This generic marketing was not working so I tried a one-to-one strategy “Hey sir, how ‘bout winning a prize for your little lady!” The more I said this stuff the more I knew these messages sucked. I looked over at my co-worker and saw two very different set of results. Mouse was using the same messages and strategies as me and he was having the same poor results. Debbie on the other hand was leveraging her relationships and had a line of people throwing darts. I was getting very frustrated until things took a turn. The fair started [V ÄSS \W MVY [OL UPNO[ ^P[O WLVWSL I\[ UV[ Q\Z[ HU` WLVWSL" [OL` ^LYL people I knew. This was my home town and the people coming in were my friends, family, and neighbors. I didn’t need to use corny marketing lines to attract their attention. I could call them by name and that is exactly what I did. Soon I had my own line of people wanting to play “Dave’s dart game”. Then they began to bring

I learned how valuable a personal connection with the customer can be others over to “see what Dave is doing”. I soon had a line as long as Debbie’s and dollars were rolling in. I was selling circles around veteran hawker “Mouse” and by day two he was moved to Debbie’s other booth being told that “Dave can handle things by himself”. Due to my stellar sales performance, I was asked to “go on the road” with them but I declined the offer knowing that the only reason I was so good this time was the personal relationships I had in this town. In any other town I would just be that generic sales guy trying to pry dollars from skeptical customers’ pockets. The lesson of “my week as a carnie” is that people buy from people they know and like. The stronger your relationship with the prospect, the more likely they will buy from `V\ :V NV V\[ HUK I\PSK YLSH[PVUZOPWZ ÄYZ[ because if you do everyone is a winner! How ‘bout it folks?

Dave Lubelczyk Image Identity | imageidentity.com

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STARTUPS | Reexamine Your Foundation

Disappointed in Your $ales Performance? re-examine your foundation!

by Steve Gareau

Are you having trouble sealing the deal with your prospects? Building long-term client relationships is like building a bridge. You don’t see the foundation of the bridge, because most of it’s not just underwater, but also underground. The foundation is easy to forget about, but if there are cracks or structural issues, the entire bridge can collapse. The foundation still needs maintenance, just like the “foundations” of your sales career. So how can you build YOUR foundation with your clients?

because people buy from people [OL` SPRL HUK [Y\Z[ VUL VM `V\Y ÄYZ[ tasks is to create a common bond with the other person

Start Right: Make a Good First Impression @V\Y ÄYZ[ TLL[PUN ^P[O H JSPLU[ PZ ]P[HS Remember that you’re there to sell two things – one is your company’s goods or services, and the other is yourself. Customers won’t buy unless you can convince them of the value of both. Because people buy from people they like HUK [Y\Z[ VUL VM `V\Y ÄYZ[ [HZRZ PZ [V JYLH[L a common bond with the other person. To develop this when you are in the prospect’s place of business, take stock of what’s around you. Try to meet in the prospect’s VMÄJL ILJH\ZL [OH[»Z ^OLYL `V\ NL[ [OL best understanding of their working style, their personality and their values. :VTL VMÄJLZ HYL JV]LYLK ^P[O 5(:*(9 TLTVYHIPSPH NVSM WPJ[\YLZ VY ÄZOPUN trophies. Others have pictures of family members. Some have educational diplomas, awards for productivity and other task-oriented mementos. Use [OLZL OPU[Z [V ÄN\YL V\[ ^OH[ `V\ OH]L PU common off of that. :VTL VMÄJLZ HYL Q\Z[ IHYL IVULZ functional, and this may be a clue that the person you’re meeting is a just-business kind of person and will appreciate if you show respect for their time by getting right into the business of discovering how your company can help them achieve their goals. In Real Life A salesperson for one of my companies came to me with a problem. He’d been calling on a major pet supply company for some time, with no success. “He’s a nice guy, likes to see me, but I never get any orders,” my salesperson said. So I went along with him on his next call on the pet supply company. I saw that this guy’s VMÄJL OHK H ÄZO [HUR ;OL ZWHJL ^HZ ÄSSLK ^P[O HU[PX\L ÄZOPUN NLHY WPJ[\YLZ VM ÄZOPUN Z[\MMLK ÄZO HUK IVVRZ HIV\[ ÄZOPUN 0[ ^HZ a good meeting, but during the meeting I started to wonder what was wrong.

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Reexamine Your Foundation! | STARTUPS

The thing was – I knew that my salesperson ^HZ HU H]PK ÄZOLYTHU OPTZLSM /L»K [VSK me details about the right lures for bass ÄZOPUN HUK V[OLY HZWLJ[Z VM [OL ZWVY[ 0 didn’t have a clue about. After the meeting, I asked my salesperson ¶ KPK `V\ L]LY [HSR HIV\[ ÄZOPUN ^P[O [OH[ prospect? The answer was “no.” So I made a suggestion: send the prospect an e-mail thanking him for the meeting, and saying that we’d like to be able to work with his company. The note ZOV\SK TLU[PVU H T\[\HS PU[LYLZ[ PU ÄZOPUN and offer to lend the prospect a book from his own collection, which he’d found to be VUL VM [OL ILZ[ VU IHZZ ÄZOPUN

and like to win, they appreciate a strong VWWVULU[ 0 ÄUK [OH[ ÄZOPUN LU[O\ZPHZ[Z study a situation, make their plans, drop their lure in the right place – and wait. 0M `V\ ÄUK V\[ [OH[ `V\Y WYVZWLJ[ participates in team sports like hockey or basketball, that’s your clue that this person values a team approach. So, express yourself in “team” terminology, don’t say “I’ll do this” but rather “We’ll do this.”

That was the start of a great friendship, and the pet supply company became a major customer. And it was all because VM L]PKLUJL PU [OPZ THU»Z VMÄJL VM H shared interest.

;OPUR IL`VUK Q\Z[ ^OH[»Z PU [OLPY VMÄJL If you’re offered a tour of the company’s premises, take it. It’s an honor not to be taken lightly. You’ll build a relationship by showing interest in what their company does, and you’ll pick up important clues about what’s important in making a business relationship work. Offer a tour of your own company’s operations as well, so the other person gets to understand what you and your company are all about.

Clues to the person’s interests and values aren’t always as obvious, but with practice you’ll learn to pick them up.

Know what topics to stay away from, in a getting—to—know—you conversation. Generally, this includes religion and politics.

Bridge Building Steps Be proactive, even when you’re not on a sales call. Develop wider interests. If you don’t golf, take some lessons so you can participate if a customer invites you. Every salesperson should be able to play golf or have a sport.

(M[LY `V\Y ÄYZ[ TLL[PUN [HRL [PTL YPNO[ away to put your new information into writing while it’s still fresh in your mind. Write out the areas you have in common, indicate what about the call was positive and what was negative. That way you’ll be in position to build a good relationship in the future.

Also, be informed on what’s going on with the professional sports in your area. If you see a pro baseball cap in a J\Z[VTLY»Z VMÄJL VY H IHZRL[IHSS [LHT logo, you should be able to comment on how well the team’s doing. Sports are also an indicator of personality. Tennis players tend to be competitive

Putting a little energy into building a strong foundation can go a long way. It’s not hard, just common sense and a little observation. Using these tips can help you attract, and keep, clients for the long term with a mutually ILULÄJPHS ^VYRPUN relationship.

Steve Gareau Bridge Series Books | www.bridgeseriesbooks.com

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STARTUPS | Creating a Movement of Young Social Entrepreneurs

by Rebecca Harrington

At a time when negative economic development stories dominate Rhode Island press and streets, there is some good news. There is H NYV^PUN TV]LTLU[ VM `V\[O Z[YVUN HUK NYV^PUN X\PJRS` who are not waiting for opportunities to come to them, but rather taking their futures into their own hands and creating their own possibilities. They are our next generation of entrepreneurs. You only need to look as far as the MET School’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and the Young Social Innovators @:0 WYVNYHT [OL `V\[O PUP[PH[P]L VM Social Venture Partners Rhode Island :=790 )V[O [OL 4,; HUK @:0 HZ ^LSS as other community organizations, are empowering youth across Rhode Island to improve their lives and communities through entrepreneurship.

that customers often asked for extra sauce or if they could bring the sauce home. Capitalizing on this demand he has created a company, Flavio’s Delicious Recipes, which bottles and sells the sauce. Another student custom designs and hand sews highfashion doll clothing. The founder of this company is disturbed by the body type typically portrayed by dolls, and by donating H WVY[PVU VM OPZ WYVÄ[Z [V VYNHUPaH[PVUZ Z\JO HZ [OL )VYU [OPZ Way Foundation and allowing his customers their input on the JSV[OPUN KLZPNUZ" OL ^PSS ^VYR [V^HYK YLKLÄUPUN ^VTLUZ IVK` images. Another business was founded HUK PZ SLK I` HU `LHY VSK /PNOSHUKLY student who is making and selling IHTIVV Å\[LZ ;OPZ `V\UN THU PZ working to expose more young people to traditional music and would like to use OPZ WYVÄ[Z [V M\UK H IHUK WYVNYHT H[ OPZ school. The seed funding awarded to this business through the YSI program has allowed this young man to purchase the equipment needed to expand into THRPUN ^VVKLU Å\[LZ ;^V OPNO ZJOVVS students from South Providence have started a bracelet business that partners with community based organizations in the developing world to gather non-precious stones that are used to create bracelets that represent national pride and identity. The founders of this business have been recognized in several national competitions and were rewarded with an opportunity to ring the opening bell on Wall Street. Nearly every business is giving back H WVY[PVU VM [OLPY WYVÄ[Z [V HU HZZVJPH[LK JVTT\UP[` JH\ZL ;OPZ is just a small sampling of a growing list of youth-led businesses popping up around our state.

these kids have learned how to see opportunity where others see barriers

A high school freshman, who, disturbed by the amount of abandoned buildings HUK NYHMÄ[P PU [OL JP[` OHZ JYLH[LK H summer program where young people in Providence will work together to create mosaics as public art. Another high school freshman is creating a new and improved version of the Woonsocket High School website that aims to increase pride for the school by showcasing events and student work, selling school merchandise, and allowing for better stakeholder communication. A sixteen year old has started Austoris, a company that sells t-shirts with fashionable designs and QR codes on the sleeves that when scanned will bring you to the story behind the design on the Austoris website. Another student realized an opportunity to start a business while working in his mother’s restaurant. This young entrepreneur’s mother opened a restaurant in Providence after immigrating to the United States from Peru. While working in the restaurant, he noticed

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Not all of these businesses are going to make it big, but that is not even the point. What is exciting is that these kids are learning at a

Score Tip Of The Month | STARTUPS

of the month Do Not Confuse Effort With Results

government or the private sector. These kids have learned how to see opportunity where others see barriers. The story doesn’t end with these inspiring youth alone. Business and community leaders have come together to provide the financial and human resources needed to help these young people be successful. In the YSI program, sixteen students from six universities and more than 30 business and community leaders committed hundreds of pro bono hours to mentor the youth and help make their businesses successful. Hasbro, Inc., Collette Vacations have provided resources and employees to help serve as mentors and strategic leaders for the program. The Collette Foundation and the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce saw the vision and provided early stage support. The Providence After School Alliance, Boys and Girls Clubs in Newport and Pawtucket, and the Met Schools in Newport and Providence as well as many others hosted the program at their site. To truly be inspired all you would have to do is go to one of the public pitch events (we organize one at the end of the fall and ZWYPUN ZLTLZ[LYZ ^OLYL [OL `V\[O WP[JO [OLPY I\ZPULZZLZ [V Q\KNLZ MVY HU PU]LZ[TLU[ VM \W [V ;OL` KV Z\JO H NYLH[ job it is hard to remember these are just kids. Thanks to the /HZIYV Z\WWVY[ ^L ^LYL HISL [V PU]LZ[ PU H WVY[MVSPV VM I\ZPULZZLZ :[H` [\ULK [V OLHY TVYL HIV\[ [OL `V\[O HUK MVY more good economic news.

Rebecca Harrington Partnership Specialist Ashoka’s Youth Venture

When you own a small business, you tend to operate in a vacuum where there is not a lot of outside or macro input. I have spent my whole career as a self employed individual in the manufacturing and construction industries. I was fortunate to have a few neighbors and friends who worked as executives in the human resource function for companies like GE, TRW, and Allied Signal. They would share their corporate challenges with me and I would compare theirs to mine as I managed a 50 employee company. Most of the Fortune 500 companies have an annual kickoff meeting for their top executives. It is always in a warm location in mid January. Each year I would get a tape of a meeting or two from my friends. Then I would have my own meeting in a cold climate with my one-person board (ME). A quote from Larry Bossidy at an Allied Signal annual event rang true for me. He said “DO NOT CONFUSE EFFORT WITH RESULTS�. All of my business has been project orientated. Design it, build it, and deliver what the customer wanted on time and within budget. As a Project Manager, time is always of the essence. One has to work smart at all times and be stingy with how many hours are allocated. There are only 24 in a day. There will always be changes in a project, one needs to anticipate them and allow for their resolution. Constantly work with the customer to see that you are both on the same course for project completion. Above all keep your management up to date. If things are going south, identify the problems early, and ask the team for help. You don’t want to report that we worked like dogs for three months but... The customer is holding the last 10% of the contract as a penalty.

9OVKL 0ZSHUK :*69, WYV]PKLZ -9,, JVUĂ„KLU[PHS JV\UZLSPUN [V ZTHSS businesses in Rhode Island. -VY TVYL PUMVYTH[PVU JHSS VY LTHPS PUMV'YPZJVYL VYN

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When asked, senior executives cannot say what their strategy is in a coherent way. Often they answer in fragments, mixing in elements of their organization‘s mission, values or vision. Not surprisingly, these senior executives are lousy at communicating strategy to the rest of the organization. Thus, middle managers don‘t understand [OL Z[YH[LN` 9HUR HUK Ă„SL LTWSV`LLZ meanwhile, often are not even aware that there is a strategy.

by Perry L. Fagan

It‘s a dirty little secret in organizations large and small that practically no one, from entrepreneurs to senior executives to middle managers to front-line employees, understands and can articulate their own company strategy. And yet strategy is of supreme importance to an enterprise. Strategy is the competitive game plan that encompasses the key choices and trade-offs executives make to build a positioning in a market space that is both unique and valuable; one that is different from those of its competitors and differentiated in the minds of its customers. Over the last 25 years elite strategy consultants and business school academics and have raised

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corporate strategy formulation nearly to a high art, offering managers deep insights into the sources of competitive advantage, including frameworks and tools to help them identify, test and deepen their competitive positioning. )\[ ^L Ă„UK [OH[ PU ZWP[L VM [OLZL advances managers across industries and geographies are failing consistently to formulate and implement good strategy. Studies show that managers, including senior executives, generally do not think in a structured way about strategy and their understanding of their own strategy, and the subject of strategy in general, is weak and replete with misconceptions.

Even as managers lean on strategy JVUZ\S[HU[Z MYVT LSP[L Ă„YTZ MVY Z\WWVY[ HUK ZWLUK OLH]PS` MVY [OL WYP]PSLNL ^L observe that—whether for lack of teaching skills or methodology, or both— the consultants‘ strategic mindset fails to be transferred to their clients. The learning that could empower managers to “getâ€? strategy the next time simply doesn‘t occur. Moreover, this lack of engagement with, and empathy for, the impoverished state of clients‘ strategic thinking leads consultants to craft and recommend strategy that the client is ill-equipped to implement. The result is predictable: grand plans and thwarted execution. Likewise, focused strategy education programs at leading business schools, while strong on educational content and method, are weak at rooting strategy education in the client‘s execution capabilities and are \UHISL [V NLULYH[L Z\MĂ„JPLU[ HSPNUTLU[ and commitment among members of the entire client management team to move the company in the desired direction. It‘s no wonder then that traditional strategic planning is so often such a frustrating and fruitless exercise. Strategic planning sessions bring managers together to set ambitious goals for the future, but lacking real strategic thinking and strategy communication skills managers are unable to execute,

Your Dirty Little Strategy Secret | STARTUPS

and the result is disappointment and disillusionment. How often have you heard managers complain of an “execution gap” and that strategic planning is, in fact, a waste of time? Their frustration is understandable. There is simply no way strategy can be crafted

To confuse matters, accounting and control experts have stepped into the strategy vacuum with tools provided under the guise of “strategy management” that are, in fact, little more than elaborate sets of metrics intended to make the strategy implementation process more

You’ve built your business on

Shouldn’t your marketing be too? To be effective, your marketing must be clear, compelling, consistent and authentic to what YOU are all about. And that’s what WE are all about. Quality strategic messaging built around your unique identity and value, delivered creatively and consistently through marketing collateral, web development and social media. There are many ways to tell your story, but you only have one story to tell. Tell it well.

and implemented powerfully in the absence of strategic thinking. Managers must be willing—individually and as a group—to take on strategy as a core management practice that shapes their day-to- day activities. But research shows that in practice the vast majority of executive teams spend less than one hour per month discussing strategy. The majority of companies do not link budgets to strategy. Most middle managers do not have strategy-linked incentive pay. Most HR and IT organizations are not aligned with strategy. Not surprisingly, most of the workforce does not understand company strategy, and few see how it is even relevant to their jobs day-to-day.

Perry L. Fagan Get Strategy LLC www.igetstrategy.com

controllable. “Balanced Scorecard” anyone? The problem is that these tools have little to say about strategy itself, and even less about how to help managers build strategic thinking skills, formulate strategy, and step powerfully as a team into bringing about the possible future envisioned by the strategy. Today we live in strategy‘s Dark Age. While good strategy is essential to building competitive advantage and to creating economic value, because of faulty education very few executives are able to harness strategy‘s power. Their lack of strategy expertise is pervasive — and mostly hidden from public view. It‘s a secret that most executives would prefer not to reveal.

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introducing the

Rhode Island Small Business Development Center One of RI’s Best Kept Secrets Isn’t a Secret Anymore 0U 4HYJO VM 9OVKL 0ZSHUK ILJHTL [OL [O Z[H[L [V SH\UJO H :THSS )\ZPULZZ +L]LSVWTLU[ *LU[LY :)+* ;OL :)+* WYVNYHT H W\ISPJ private partnership, is the federal government’s largest and most successful management and technical assistance program for small businesses. Nationally, [OLYL HYL SLHK VMĂ„JLZ HUK V]LY ZLY]PJL JLU[LYZ Now in its thirtieth year, the Rhode Island Small Business Development Center 90:)+* H[ 1VOUZVU >HSLZ <UP]LYZP[` 1>< YLTHPUZ [OL WYLTPLY I\ZPULZZ development service provider for the small business community in the state. The RISBDC model is recognized nationally for its use of an external consultant network currently comprised of over thirty industry experts. With its lead VMĂ„JL H[ [OL 1>< +V^UJP[` 7YV]PKLUJL *HTW\Z HUK MV\Y YLNPVUHS VMĂ„JLZ across the state, the RISBDC provides no-fee counseling services and educational training programs for start-up and existing businesses. 0U [OL 90:)+* MV\UK P[Z UL^ OVTL H[ 1VOUZVU >HSLZ <UP]LYZP[` JWU’s commitment to experiential learning made this a match in small business heaven. This relationship provided another resource to offer the small business community: talented JWU students and faculty. From the very beginning, these eager students were ready to put their classroom and textbook “know howâ€? into practice. Student and classroom projects now complement the RISBDC client experience. In its six years at JWU the RISBDC has counseled JSVZL [V JSPLU[Z MVY V]LY JV\UZLSPUN OV\YZ HZZPZ[PUN JSPLU[Z PU NLULYH[PUN JSVZL [V TPSSPVU PU capital infusion. The work of the center has helped to create and retain over 5000 jobs in Rhode Island. The educational programs offered include 900 training events ^P[O V]LY H[[LUKLLZ ;OYV\NO H JVTIPUH[PVU of classroom engagements, internships and RISBDC Z[\KLU[ LTWSV`LLZ V]LY 1>< Z[\KLU[Z OH]L

Rhode Island Small Business Development Center | SBA L_WLYPLUJLK ÄYZ[OHUK [OL ]HS\L VM ^VYRPUN KPYLJ[S` ^P[O ZTHSS I\ZPULZZ JSPLU[Z +\YPUN [OL HJHKLTPJ `LHY Z[\KLU[Z provided over 9,000 hours of assistance to clients, translating to ZH]PUNZ VM HWWYV_PTH[LS` The recent appointment of the new RISBDC State Director, Adriana I. Dawson, has also begun to usher in other changes. Adriana, a ten-year veteran of the SBDC network, is the youngest state director in the country. Early in her career, her ability to integrate her commitment and knowledge of the community along with her business acumen and relationship building, led to the launch of a nationally-recognized minority business development model. She was creating social impact before it became a buzz phrase. Adriana is driven by the mission. She recognizes the tremendous responsibility that she and her staff at the RISBDC have in meeting the growing needs of the business community. Now, the organization is better positioned than ever to rise to the occasion. The RISBDC has started to shift public perception about who they are and how they can help. As a resource partner to the U.S. Small Business Administration the RISBDC follows the federal guidelines determined for all small businesses: the company WYVÄ[Z T\Z[ IL \UKLY TPSSPVU PU ZHSLZ MVY I\ZPULZZLZ \W

in its six years at JWU the RISBDC has counseled close to 2,500 clients for over 45,000 counseling hours, assisting clients in generating close to $60 million in capital infusion

Libations Restaurant

Lounge

S M A L L P L AT E S • B I G F L AVO R • G R E AT VA L U E

to 500 employees. With 98% of businesses in RI falling in this category, the RISBDC is clearly a critical resource for the state, its entrepreneurs, and small businesses. Every future issue of the RISBJ will include a timely, informative article developed by RISBDC staff on business trends, successes, innovation, training, and other key topics. Follow us each month. If you’re looking for help with: business and strategic planning; SH^Z HUK YLN\SH[PVUZ" ÄUHUJL HUK SVHU WHJRHNPUN" NV]LYUTLU[ procurement; human resource management; or sales and marketing the RISBDC can assist you with. Libations Restaurant & Lounge

at the RADISSON HOT O EL PRO R VIDENCE AIRPORT R

For more information call the RISBDC at (401) 598-2702 or visit www.risbdc.org.

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15

featured city

CRANST N Population: 80,387

Date of Town: 1754

Date of Incorporation: 1910

In Cranston, our focus is economic development and the growth of small businesses in our community. We are KLKPJH[LK [V [OL ZTHSS [V TLKP\T ZPaL businesses that chose Cranston as its home. They are the backbone of our city’s economy. Our success relies on their success, which is why it is important to recognize their importance to our city and understand we HYL OLYL [V OLSW [OLT ÅV\YPZO >OLU 0 ÄYZ[ [VVR VMÄJL *YHUZ[VU»Z I\ZPULZZ JSPTH[L ^HZ L_[YLTLS` KPMÄJ\S[ as we were experiencing a dramatic downturn in the economy. The housing THYRL[ KYVWWLK ZPNUPÄJHU[S` [OLYL was hardly any new construction, and businesses were continuing to downsize employees in masses. Ultimately, Cranston was indicative of the state’s economy, which proved to be a struggle for business owners of all sizes. Over the past few years we have begun to see positive growth in our city, and as Mayor, I continue to support the growth of existing business and give prospective business owners reassurance by supporting

Total Area: 28.2 Square Miles

them to navigate through the inspection process and allowing them to open their business in a timely manner.

opportunity with the appropriate amount of oversight and regulation, so businesses can operate effectively.

As the chief executive of the City of Cranston, one of my main priorities has been to streamline the building process and establish relationships. On a daily basis, I visit businesses to talk to owners and to see where their struggles and needs are. I believe it is important to work closely with the business community to understand their challenges and assist them in developing a realistic business model.

By taking this approach, we have witnessed many positive results ranging from expansions in facilities to growth in

I have encouraged our Director of Economic Development to establish and build on existing partnerships with The Greater Cranston Chamber of Commerce, Cranston Rotary, various realtor and restaurant associations, and other local non WYVÄ[ VYNHUPaH[PVUZ 0 ILSPL]L P[ PZ PTWVY[HU[ to maintain open communications and to keep our business owners abreast of the local economic conditions here in Cranston. It is this type of proactive agenda that educates all people, particularly the businesses, on their City government’s actions. It is my goal for the small business owner’s in Cranston to be aware of the issues facing us as a community, but also the tools that are available to help them overcome many of these issues. As a supporter of small government, I believe we should leave businesses alone and let them operate because they are the job creators and they drive our economy. It’s not the responsibility of government to create jobs – it’s to facilitate equal

16

RISBJ | rhode island small business journal

as a supporter of small government, I believe we should leave businesses alone and let them operate because they are the job creators and they drive our economy the work force. This can be seen through a wide variety of projects, from Marchetti’s Restaurant expanding their outdoor patio to the Chapel View Development to a $20 million dollar innovation center constructed by Taco. We have seen growth in the manufacturing sector such as Trans Tex, a leader in sublimation printing and Cadence Science, a leading provider in medical-science device and technology. These companies along with Alex and Ani, continue to grow V\Y KP]LYZPÄLK *YHUZ[VU IHZL VM ZTHSS medium and large businesses. :PUJL T` [PTL PU VMÄJL [OLYL OHZ ILLU H ZPNUPÄJHU[ NYV^[O PU V\Y I\ZPULZZ

Cranston | FEATURED CITY

community and I truly feel we can attribute this growth to the little things that we have focused on while building the City’s relationships with local business owners. One major accomplishment for the City has been to help the Garden City Center with their long term expansion plans. Located on Route 2, Garden City Center is a 500,000 square feet area that is becoming the central hub in RI. +LKPJH[LK [V YL[HPS HUK VMÄJL ZWHJL P[ currently houses 55 shops, services, and eateries including: Anthropologie, banana republic, Loft, Mel and Me, White House/ Black Market, Providence Diamond Company, Chico’s, Coldwater Creek, Pinkberry, Willams-Sonoma, and Whole Foods Market. The Wilder Companies, specializing in the merchandising and WVZP[PVUPUN VM YL[HPS WYVWLY[PLZ MVY `LHYZ WSHU [V L_WHUK YLJVUÄN\YL HUK redevelop the historic shopping center, by creating a mix of mid-size and small specialty stores. The new addition of businesses includes Ann Taylor in late 1\UL ,\YVWLHU >H_ PU (\N\Z[

>PSSPHTZ :VUVTH MVY ;OHURZNP]PUN HUK 7V[[LY` )HYU PU -LIY\HY` In the smaller urban business areas, like Rolfe Street, Wellington Avenue, and Gansett Avenue, minor improvements were needed such as paving the roads and cutting trees to make the areas more presentable. Business owners tell me after the changes, there has been an PUJYLHZL PU [YHMÄJ My advice to anyone looking to start a new business is to reach out to your local VMÄJPHSZ >L HYL OLYL [V OLSW HUK ^L OH]L plenty of resources available that many small business owners are not aware VM Z\JO HZ NHW ÄUHUJPUN YL]VS]PUN SVHU fund, tax incentives, enterprise zones, or on-the-job training. Typically, owners tend to stay away from the government agencies, and I know this from personal experience as my parents owned a restaurant in Cranston for 35 years. They didn’t reach out to the government until something failed. But why not take advantage of all of the programs that the city has to offer? You need to know and

believe city government is your ally, and as a community it is our best interest to work together. As Mayor, I’m excited for Cranston’s future and I’m proud of the companies that are calling Cranston their home. They are doing excellent work and I hope to expand their opportunities as one of the bigger cheerleaders for them throughout the state, nationally, and possibly globally.

www.risbj.com | ]VS\TL VUL PZZ\L Ă„]L

17

EVENTS | Networking and Workshops

09

Monday, July 9th

16

Bash at the Beach Networking

Annual Golf Tournament...

Narragansett Chamber

at Kirkbrae Country Club

! Âś ! 74

North Central Chamber

George’s of Galilee

! WT :OV[ .\U :[HY[

250 Sand Hill Cove Road

Kirkbrae Country Club

Narragansett, RI

6SK 9P]LY 9VHK Lincoln , RI

12

Thursday, July 12th YPcentral Trivia Night

12

12

18

RISBJ | rhode island small business journal

18

Wednesday, July 18th

by the Bay

Business After Hours

Central RI Chamber

Southern RI Chamber

! Âś ! 74

! Âś ! 74

Warwick Country Club

Rhody Joe’s

5HYYHNHUZL[[ )H` (]LU\L

2PUNZ[V^U 9VHK

Warwick, RI

>HRLĂ„LSK 90

Thursday, July 12th

18

Wednesday, July 18th

Patch Academy

Business After Hours

Newport Chamber

Central RI Chamber

8:30 – 9:30 AM

! Âś ! 74

Newport County Chamber

Homewood Suites – Hilton

35 Valley Road

33 International Way

Middletown, RI

Warwick, RI

Thursday, July 12th

18

Wednesday, July 18th

Speed Networking

How to Start or Run

Northern RI Chamber

H 7YVĂ„[HISL :THSS )\ZPULZZ

8:00 - 9:30 AM

RI Small Business Recovery

Special Olympics

! WT Âś ! WT

Rhode Island

Centerville Seminar Center

.LVYNL >HZOPUN[VU /PNO^H`

*LU[LY]PSSL 9VHK

<UP[

Building 2, Suite 5

:TP[OĂ„LSK 90

Warwick, RI

Networking and Workshops | EVENTS

19

25

Wednesday, July 25th Smartphone Workshop Newport Chamber ! Âś ! 74 Newport County Chamber of Commerce 35 Valley Road Middletown, RI

19

26

Thursday, July 26th Business After Hours Newport Chamber ! Âś ! 74 James L. Maher Center (X\PKULJR (]LU\L Middletown, RI

*\[SLY :[YLL[ Warren, RI

27

Friday, July 27th LEADS Luncheon – Speed Dating

19

Thursday, July 19th

for Business

Law of Attraction

Central RI Chamber

MVY )\ZPULZZ 3PML

! Âś ! 74

Newport Chamber

Pocasset Bay Retirement Living

! Âś ! 74

6SK 7VJHZZL[ 3HUL

Newport County Chamber

Johnston, RI

35 Valley Road Middletown, RI

31

Tuesday, July 31st Exploring Self Employment

24

Tuesday, July 24th

East Bay Chamber

Taste of North Central RI

Instructor: Stan DeAngelis

North Central Chamber

,HZ[ )H` *OHTILY 6MĂ„JL

5:30 - 9:00 pm

! WT ! WT

Participating Restaurants

*\[SLY :[YLL[

and Businesses include:

Warren, RI

Bentley’s Tavern Decadent Designs Bakery

02

Thursday, August 2nd

3PILYPUHÂťZ +LSP .V\YTL[ ,_WYLZZ

Speed Networking

90 )PSSPHYK )HY )PZ[YV

Northern RI Chamber

UNO Chicago Grill

8:00 - 9:30 AM

Wasabi Japanese Sushi Bar

Cricket’s Restaurant 280 George Washington Highway

24

:TP[OĂ„LSK 90

Tuesday, July 24th Effective Business Plan Writing -PUHUJL )VV[ *HTW

08

Wednesday, August 8th

RI Small Business Recovery

Networking at Night

! W Âś ! WT

Northern RI Chamber

Centerville Seminar Center

! ! 74

*LU[LY]PSSL 9VHK

Rick’s Musical Instruments

Building 2, Suite 5

2352 Mendon Road

Warwick, RI

Cumberland, RI

be sure to visit isupportsmallbusiness.com to view all updated and current events and workshops for this month

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RISBJ | rhode island small business journal

Prepared for Summer Tourists | SBA

RI Small Businesses Should Be Prepared for Summer Tourists by Mark S. Hayward

0U [OL < : [YH]LS HUK [V\YPZT PUK\Z[Y` NLULYH[LK [YPSSPVU MYVT KVTLZ[PJ HUK PU[LYUH[PVUHS [YH]LS HUK Z\WWVY[LK TPSSPVU QVIZ HJJVYKPUN [V [OL +LWHY[TLU[ VM *VTTLYJL 0U *VTTLYJL WYVQLJ[Z TPSSPVU MVYLPNU [YH]LSLYZ ^PSS ]PZP[ [OL <UP[LK States. With the summer months ahead of us, small businesses in Rhode Island should be prepared to capitalize on the expected increase in travel and tourism. Last month, the Obama Administration announced its National Travel and Tourism Strategy, a set of policies, actions and recommendations proposed by the Task Force on Travel and Competitiveness, to promote domestic and international travel throughout the United :[H[LZ ;OL NVHS PZ [V H[[YHJ[ TPSSPVU PU[LYUH[PVUHS ]PZP[VYZ HUU\HSS` who would spend an estimated $250 billion each year by the end of ;OPZ JV\SK OLSW [OL PUK\Z[Y` HKK HU LZ[PTH[LK TPSSPVU [V TPSSPVU QVIZ ILULÄ[PUN V\Y ZTHSS I\ZPULZZ V^ULYZ HUK OLSWPUN [V JYLH[L an economy built to last. As a member of the Task Force, the U.S. Small Business Administration wants to ensure small businesses in Rhode Island have the tools and resources they need to start planning a successful summer and tourist season today. For example, hire seasonal workers. If your business counts on the summer season or tourist trade, then start planning your seasonal workforce now. If you’re new to this process or have questions about hiring and compensating seasonal workers (for example, do you need [V WH` \ULTWSV`TLU[ [H_LZ MVY ZLHZVUHS ^VYRLYZ& `V\ JHU ]PZP[ www.sba.gov for tips on hiring and working with seasonal workers. ;OL :)( JHU OLSW ÄUHUJL `V\Y ZLHZVUHS ^VYRPUN JHWP[HS ULLKZ 0M you need help meeting your short-term and cyclical working capital needs, such as building inventory for the season or paying workers, then you might want to consider a short-term loan or line of credit such as SBA’s CAPLines Program, which provides advances against anticipated inventory and accounts receivable to help businesses with ZLHZVUHS ZHSLZ Å\J[\H[PVUZ ;OL WYVNYHT ^HZ YLJLU[S` Z[YLHTSPULK [V THRL P[ LHZPLY MVY ZTHSS I\ZPULZZ V^ULYZ [V NL[ ÄUHUJPUN L]LU PM JVSSH[LYHS PZ [PNO[ 3HZ[ `LHY [OL :)( HWWYV]LK Q\Z[ \UKLY SVHUZ worth $2.2 billion to travel and tourism-related small businesses. We also recommend that you develop a marketing strategy now to encourage past customers – travelers and tourists alike – to come back your business. There are several other things you can do as well: get involved in local events/festivals, plan your own event, take your business to vacationers and day trippers or lineup summer giveaways.

Mark S. Hayward District Director U.S. Small Business Administration

This summer let’s make sure you and your fellow small business owners are prepared to support our growing travel and tourism industry. It’s a win-win for small businesses.

www.risbj.com | ]VS\TL VUL PZZ\L Ă„]L

21

SMALL BUSINESS | Shifting the Paradigm of Wellness!

Shifting the Paradigm of by Tim Sullivan

Wellness!

The state of health and wellness in America is diminishing day by day, year by year; as evidenced by steadily rising obesity rates and a corresponding increase in the prevalence of preventable disease. The traditional paradigm of health care in (TLYPJH PZ MHPSPUN ;OL <: ZWLUKZ more on healthcare per capita than the ULHYLZ[ JV\U[Y` `L[ P[ YHURZ [O PU [LYTZ of life expectancy. A focus on changing the health care paradigm is essential for long term success. Because businesses provide 55% of the health insurance coverage in America, working with businesses is the best place to go to start altering health and wellness policy and practice. Traditionally, the responsibility for health and wellness lies solely with the employees and doctors. Even though wellness programs can help decrease long term health care costs and improve productivity, I\ZPULZZLZ ^OV WH` HU H]LYHNL VM VM OLHS[O PUZ\YHUJL WYLTP\TZ OH]L treated Wellness Programs as a perk or a nicety rather than a key component of their strategic corporate goals. As health insurance costs have risen over the WHZ[ `LHYZ [OL Ă„UHUJPHS PUJLU[P]L MVY businesses has become more compelling. Finding ways to improve wellness is good Ă„ZJHS WVSPJ` )\ZPULZZLZ ULLK [V [HRL H proactive approach to health and wellness. There are a great number of wellness program options a company might

22

RISBJ | rhode island small business journal

choose from. The best way to administer a wellness program is to aligning your wellness program to your staff, addressing areas of greatest need. Any good wellness program will address diet, exercise and habits management, but the concentration of wellness resources needs to be done in the most cost effective way. Medical doctors are trained to react when treating patients who are sick or injured. This is a good thing for those who are already sick or injured, but not so good for those looking to maintain or improve their health. MDs are knowledgeable as

their wellness program which can save the organization money and improve productivity and morale. If the business contracts with a local naturopathic physician who meets with employees about their condition and assists them in formulating a strategy for improving their personal wellness, they will see positive results. A naturopath is more familiar with preventive and alternative methods of treating common ailments, which might be more effective at treating and/or preventing than a standard medicine.

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.� Benjamin Franklin

to preventive care, but they are limited when it comes to proactive wellness advice. Most primary care physicians limit their wellness practices to simple advice on healthy living, annual patient visits, administering vaccines, and prescribing drugs such as statins for high cholesterol and antacids for gastric discomfort. Benjamin Franklin once said “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.� Employers need to take a holistic approach to health and wellness. One novel approach involves the employer seeking out alternative and preventive healing practitioners to supplement

How could an added expense of visiting a naturopath save the company money? If your company’s insurance covers prescription drugs, the following example is OV^ `V\ TPNO[ ILULĂ„[ MYVT [OPZ HWWYVHJO /LHY[ KPZLHZL YLTHPUZ [OL SLHKPUN cause of death in America. Lowering risk factors for heart disease is a major priority. Reducing obesity and sedentary lifestyles are the best “naturalâ€? ways to lower risk factors in the long run. Measuring blood cholesterol levels is the most common test for heart disease risk factors. Total cholesterol is made up of LDL (bad JOVSLZ[LYVS /+3 NVVK JOVSLZ[LYVS and a fraction of your Triglyceride levels.

Optimally, you want high HDL and low total cholesterol, LDL, and Triglycerides. Naturopathic medicine provides heart disease remedies that are actually cost effective when compared with modern medicine alternatives, especially for patients who are not considered extremely high risk. Supplements like 9LK @LHZ[ 9PJL 7VSPJVZHUVS HUK *V8 when used properly can be quite effective at controlling cholesterol. Red Yeast Rice, in particular, is a naturally derived statin supplement. The cost of the standard dosage of Red Yeast Rice can be as little as under $3 per month. The medical community has sought to reduce the risk of heart disease by developing a variety of statin based drugs that help their patients become less susceptible to heart disease. Statin KY\NZ SV^LY [OL 3+3 IHK JOVSLZ[LYVS levels in the blood. High levels of LDL are believed to be a primary cause of plaque buildup in the arteries, which can lead angina and heart attack. The average monthly cost for generic Simvastatin is HYV\UK NLULYPJ ([VY]HZ[H[PU JVZ[Z HUK 3PWP[VY ([VY]HZ[H[PU JVZ[PUN WLY TVU[O If a business contracts with a naturopathic physician to meet with employees every three months ($99 initial visit and $59 MVSSV^ \WZ HUK KPYLJ[S` YLPTI\YZLZ employees for Red Yeast Rice treatment instead of statins, the business would Z[HUK [V ZH]L HUK H]LYHNL VM WLY employee based on statin treatments alone. This assumes that 25% of the employees would be otherwise prescribed to take statins, and those people taking statins would be equally inclined to have been taking the generic vs. Lipitor. Additional savings resulting from naturopathic treatments for acid YLĂ…\_ Z[YLZZ KLWYLZZPVU VY V[OLY common ailments are harder to quantify, I\[ ZPNUPĂ„JHU[ PU [LYTZ VM PTWYV]PUN overall employee wellness.

This is an economic analysis comparing different heart disease treatments; it is not intended to replace the advice of your medical provider. In many cases, prescription drugs are necessary. The steadily rising obesity rate in America is an indicator that not enough patients adhere to the advice of their physician to increase exercise and eat a healthy diet. Diet has not been adopted by enough patients. There has been an alarming trend towards increasingly prescribing statins. It is important to protect the heart, but what about protecting the liver. A recent article titled “Statins for all by the age of 50 years?� was published recently in “The Lancet�, which states that “statins are cost-saving in the USA, even in people at low predicted risk of coronary heart disease.� Statins are not without their risks, while they do reduce LDL and improve HDL NVVK JOVSLZ[LYVS" [OLYL PZ H YPZR PU some patients that they might suffer from unusual muscle soreness or Liver damage. Patients should not rely on statins as their sole preventive medicine for heart disease. Listen to your doctor, and take the medicine he/she prescribes, but at the same time ask

what steps you can take to get yourself off the statin drugs. Most doctors will work with you on developing a strategy for weaning a patient off statins, although they may seem perplexed at the suggestion initially. The statin drug labels have been revised to provide patients with more information on the safe and effective use of statins. According to the FDA patients should be aware of the following information regarding statins: ‹

‹

‹ ‹

There have been rare reports of serious liver problems in patients taking statins. Patients should notify their healthcare professional right away if they have the following symptoms: unusual fatigue or weakness; loss of appetite; upper belly pain; darkcolored urine; or yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes. Memory loss and confusion have been reported with statin use. These reported events were generally not serious and went away once the drug was no longer being taken. Increases in blood sugar levels have been reported with statin use. Certain medicines should never be [HRLU HYL JVU[YHPUKPJH[LK ^P[O SV]HZ[H[PU 4L]HJVY

Tim Sullivan | Life-Panel | www.well-track.com

www.risbj.com | ]VS\TL VUL PZZ\L Ă„]L

23

SMALL BUSINESS | Progress Report on the Economic Recovery

the long road back:

a progress report on the It was just four years ago when investors faced their most dramatic challenge of recent times. In September 2008, Lehman Brothers JVSSHWZLK HUK V[OLY Ă„UHUJPHS NPHU[Z ^LYL [LL[LYPUN VU [OL LKNL of a similar fate. The government stepped in with the Troubled (ZZL[Z 9LSPLM 7YVNYHT ;(97 HUK [OL IHPSV\[ OLSWLK H]VPK H deeper crisis. Yet investors paid a price. A severe bear market would see stocks (valued by broad measures like the Dow Jones 0UK\Z[YPHS (]LYHNL HUK : 7 SVZL TVYL [OHU OHSM VM [OLPY ]HS\L

by Danny DeHoney

A recession also took hold in 2008, the most severe America has ZLLU ZPUJL [OL .YLH[ +LWYLZZPVU VM [OL Z ;^V VM [OL TVZ[ notable aspects of the economic slide that impacted Americans were the housing market bust and the unemployment rate rising HIV]L WLYJLU[ For some of us, the sense of fear about the markets might have dwindled, but hasn’t disappeared since that time – though much has changed for the better. Here is a brief summary of what’s happened in various aspects of the economy and the investment markets since those dark days four years ago: Economic Growth The economy slipped into a recession in the summer of 2008, declining at an annualized rate of almost nine percent in the fourth quarter of that year, according to statistics from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Positive economic growth did not return until mid-2009 and the recovery has remained modest since. The U.S. LJVUVT` NYL^ I` [OYLL WLYJLU[ PU I\[ Q\Z[ WLYJLU[ SHZ[ year, and started this year with an annualized growth rate of about two percent. Things are moving in the right direction, but this is considered a very sluggish rate of recovery. Jobs In the midst of the crisis four years ago, the unemployment rate was around six percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. As the recession deepened, job losses multiplied and \ULTWSV`TLU[ [VWWLK V\[ H[ V]LY WLYJLU[ PU 6J[VILY Now it stands at around eight percent, still higher than at any time ZPUJL I\[ HU PTWYV]LTLU[ MYVT ZL]LYHS `LHYZ HNV 7VZP[P]L QVI NYV^[O ILNHU PU HUK NHPULK ZVTL Z[LHT PU SH[L before slowing recently. Again, progress has been made, but it could be better. 0UÅH[PVU ;OYV\NO [OL YLJLZZPVU HUK [OL YLJV]LY` [OL PUÅH[PVU YH[L OHZ remained relatively modest. After a cost of living hike of just under MV\Y WLYJLU[ PU P[ KYVWWLK [V WLYJLU[ PU HUK Z[VVK H[ [OYLL WLYJLU[ MVY HJJVYKPUN [V [OL )\YLH\ VM 3HIVY :[H[PZ[PJZ *VUZ\TLY 7YPJL 0UKL_ ;OPZ PZ JVUZPKLYLK H TVKLZ[ YH[L VM PUÅH[PVU [OH[ PZ UV[ WYVK\JPUN HU` ZPNUPÄJHU[ LJVUVTPJ JVUJLYUZ

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RISBJ | rhode island small business journal

Progress Report on the Economic Recovery | SMALL BUSINESS

Housing We continue to pay the price for a housing market that overheated over the last decade when the Case-Shiller Home Price Composite U.S. Index peaked. By 2008, it had fallen dramatically, and UH[PVUHSS` OVTL ]HS\LZ JVU[PU\LK [V KLJSPUL [OYV\NO SVZPUN on average one-third of their value. Foreclosure levels remain OPNO HUK [OL OV\ZPUN THYRL[ PZ UV[ L_WLJ[LK [V ZOV^ ZPNUPĂ„JHU[ strength anytime soon. Investment Markets In September 2008, the Dow Jones Industrial Average stood at HSYLHK` KV^U HIV\[ WLYJLU[ MYVT P[Z WLHR SLZZ [OHU H `LHY LHYSPLY 0[ ^V\SK WYVJLLK [V KPW [V I` 4HYJO :PUJL [OLU the Dow has steadily recovered much of that lost ground, reaching HIV]L PU YLJLU[ TVU[OZ ILMVYL YL[YLH[PUN ZVTL^OH[ PU SPNO[ of political and economic turmoil in Europe. The performance of

the sense of fear about the markets might have dwindled, but hasn’t disappeared since that time individual stocks, mutual funds, ETFs or other investments varies. Bond markets have been stronger performers in that same time WLYPVK >OLU [OL ÄUHUJPHS JYPZPZ OP[ PU :LW[LTILY [OL `PLSK VU [OL ILUJOTHYR `LHY < : ;YLHZ\Y` UV[L Z[VVK H[ WLYJLU[ 0[ OHZ KYVWWLK ^LSS ILSV^ [^V WLYJLU[ PU HUK SV^LY `PLSKZ TLHU higher values for existing bonds. So the slow pace of economic YLJV]LY` OHZ HJ[\HSS` ILULÄ[LK [OL IVUK THYRL[ PU YLJLU[ [PTLZ The Road from Here We’ve come a long way from the crisis environment that existed in 2008. While the economy and investors are still feeling the impact, it is also notable that both have shown tremendous resiliency. Despite TV]PUN PU Ä[Z HUK Z[HY[Z [OL < : LJVUVT` OHZ THUHNLK [V H]VPK another recession since 2009 and stocks have gradually recovered much of the ground that was lost during the meltdown. More challenges may lay ahead, with Europe’s debt problems and worries over the slowing pace of economic expansion in China and other places looming over the global marketplace. But our experience since 2008 demonstrates why a patient, long-term approach to investing may be the most effective way to react to challenges facing the economy, no matter how severe they are. For advice on PU]LZ[PUN JVUZPKLY ^VYRPUN ^P[O H ÄUHUJPHS WYVMLZZPVUHS

OUR GUARANTEE...

Call Us Today For Your No-Obligation, Cost Savings Rate Analysis.

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Danny DeHoney Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. www.ameriprise.com

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SMALL BUSINESS | Who’s Knocking on Your Network’s Door? 010101110110100001101111011100110010000001001011011011100110111101100011011010110110100101101110011001110010000001101111011011100000110100001010010110010110 1111011101010111001000100000010011100110010101110100011101110110111101110010011010110111001100100000010001000110111101101111011100100101011101010000110111101 110011001000000100101101101110011011110110001101101011011010010110111001100111001000000110111101101110000011010000101001011001011011110111010101110010001000 0010011100110010101110100011101110110111101110010011010110111001100100000010001000110111101101111011100100101011101101000011011110111001100100000010010110110 111001101111011000110110101101101001011011100110011100100000011011110110111000001101000010100101100101101111011101010111001000100000010011100110010101110100 011101110110111101110010011010110111001100100000010001000110111101101111011100100101011101101000011011110111001100100000010010110110111001101111011001101101011 0110100101101110011001110010000001101111011011100000110100001010010110010110111101110101011100100010000001001110011001010111010001110111011011110111001001101 0110111001100100000010001000110111101101111011100100101011101101000011011110111001100100000010010110110111001101111011000110110101101101001011011100110011100 10000001101111011011100000110100001010010110010110111101110101011100100010000001001110011001010111010001110111011011110111001001101011011100110010000001000 10001101111011011110111001001010111011010000110111101110011001000000100101101101110011011110110001101101011011010010110111001100111001000000110111101101110000 0110100001010010110010110111101110101011100100010000001001110011001010111010001110111011011110111001001101011011100110010000001000100011011110110111101110010

5 TIPS TO PREVENT CYBERATTACKS by Lisa Shorr

Two of the most important components of your business are your employees and your data. Most businesses pay special attention to the well-being of their employees, however when their data needs protecting, they leave their network’s door wide-open! As crucial as employees are to an organization, studies show that VM HSS JVTWHUPLZ [OH[ L_WLYPLUJL ZPNUPĂ„JHU[ KH[H SVZZ HYL V\[ of business within 5 years. What does a small business need to know to keep network predators at bay? Hackers look for “doorwaysâ€? or unprotected entry points to gain access to your shared network information. Installing a Ă„YL^HSS ^OL[OLY OHYK^HYL VY ZVM[^HYL JYLH[LZ H IHYYPLY ISVJRPUN hackers from gaining access to your network. 0M H Ă„YL^HSS PZ SPRL H KVVY (U[P =PY\Z PZ SPRL [OL HSHYT VU [OL house! It is an added layer of protection against unwanted guests! A key to Anti-Virus success is keeping it up-to-date. Too often Anti-Virus software is not renewed or checked for updates. Many clients ask, “If I have Anti-Virus on my network, why am I still getting viruses?â€? The best answer is this: Anti-Virus software is written to be reactive, it protects against known viruses. Unfortunately, every day hackers introduce more and more sophisticated viruses into cyber-space. Some are even attaching to and hiding behind legitimate software updates such as Java or Adobe. Use your instincts before performing any updates. A safer option is to either call your IT provider or perform the update by going directly to the software’s website. Like a software update, a virus can enter your network via email. NEVER

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RISBJ | rhode island small business journal

open any emails from recipients you do not know. Only open those you trust. Be on the alert for attachments with .exe or .msi in their extensions. You wouldn’t let people in your house if you don’t know them the same goes for email. Many of these programs are malicious. Stop – look and read a website’s URL before you enter the site. Look for subtle differences in the primary domain. This is how many “phishingâ€? scams occur. A phishing scam is when a hacker looks to trick you into putting your user name and password into a fake website. The aim is to gather your personal, credit card or IHURPUN PUMVYTH[PVU 9LK Ă…HNZ ^V\SK SVVR SPRL! ^^^ WH`WHS Ă„ZO net instead of the real site www.paypal.com. Be suspicious if you receive an email from your bank asking you to verify your personal information using your user name and password. Banks do not do that. Don’t take for granted FREE WI-FI. Just because it is free, does not mean it is secure. The emergence of BYOD – Bring Your Own +L]PJL [V ^VYR OHZ HSSV^LK NYLH[LY Ă…L_PIPSP[` PU [OL ^VYR WSHJL Many of us work from coffee shops like Starbucks. Although many of these sites offer free wireless connection, conducting online IHURPUN VY HU` V[OLY OPNOS` JVUĂ„KLU[PHS HJ[P]P[` PZ KHUNLYV\Z @V\ do not know who is performing “data-miningâ€? or monitoring the connection to look for opportunities to slip in through the back door of your computer to gain access. Educate your employees as to the many malicious predators lurking around cyberspace. Your data is the lifeblood of your business. Don’t take it for granted. Be smart before you open the door to your network!

Lisa Shorr | PC Troubleshooters | www.pctrouble.com

E AC SP ASE CE LE FI R OF FO

Garden City Center ROUTE 2, CRANSTON, RHODE ISLAND

4 0 0 – 3 , 5 0 0 S Q U A R E F E E T AVA I L A B L E Join Garden City Center’s business community. Exceptional office space leasing opportunities, suitable for any type of business need, located in Rhode Island’s premier open-air, mixed-use center of shops, eateries, services and offices. Visit our website at: www.gardencitycenter.com

Office Amenities – At a Glance

Smithfield

95 295

246 7

Pawtucke tu e ett Pawtucket

44

1

MA

RI 44

Providence Prov vide ence 6

Pr P Eastt Providence 1

Seakonk

Cransto Cranston to 195

No orth rtth h Swansea S North

95 295

On-Site Convenience • Full-service Post Office • Office Max with Copy Max services and Fed Ex pick-up • Two full-service banks, including ATMs • Whole Foods Market • Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts • Six restaurants • Two hair salons • Walking paths for employee wellness • Shopping in over 55 upscale shops • Centrally located in Rhode Island with easy access to Routes 95, 295 and 37

Services • On-site management • On-site maintenance • 24/7 access to your office • Security • Free parking • Free use of office complex conference room

For leasing information contact: Joe Koechel, General Manager Garden City Center 100 Midway Road, Suite 14 Cranston, Rhode Island 02920 (T) 401.942.2800 ext. 24 jkoechel@wilderco.com

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SMALL BUSINESS | Does Your Small Business Have A Blog?

by Lisa Buben

Does your small business have a blog yet? Are you looking to start one or revamp an old one? Blogs are a great way MVY J\Z[VTLYZ [V Ă„UK `V\ ^OLU [OL` are searching online. It’s a way you can provide useful information to them. It can be a lesson, a new product or a special service or product that you are launching. It can set you apart from others in your industry or niche. If your small business has a website you really do need a blog. The term Blog has ILLU HYV\UK VMĂ„JPHSS` ZPUJL 0 ILSPL]L the Cavemen really started “blogsâ€? with writings on their walls – writings that told stories about their day, letting others know which areas of their surroundings to avoid and of their most recent catches. What are your choices today for a blog? ‹ WordPress – The most popular JOVPJL [VKH` ^P[O VM HSS websites using the WordPress format for their website or blog. ‹ There are 2 versions: WordPress.com for Free – Z\NNLZ[LK MVY UVU WYVĂ„[Z and WordPress.org – Self hosted. ‹ Blogger – A Free platform from Google. Very easy to use and you don’t have to worry about having it hosted. Blogger is great for those with a low budget and no

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RISBJ | rhode island small business journal

‹

major technical knowledge. You are SPTP[LK [V ISVNZ VU `V\Y ISVNNLY account. Google themselves uses it for their various blogs as well as Alexa – a web analytics service. Tumblr – Another popular one great for visual type blogs like fashion and photography. It is also a free platform where you don’t have to self-host. There are several corporate websites that use Tumblr for their blog like IBM, Huggies, The Boston Globe, Rolling Stone, CNN Money Tech, etc. Some have their name in the URL and others do not. (Like Huggies, their Tumblr blog is JHSSLK /PNO *OHPY *YP[PJZ ;OLYL HYL TPSSPVU ISVNZ VU ;\TISY HZ VM -LIY\HY` ;OL KYH^IHJR PZ P[ is hard to move Tumblr to another format if you needed to.

What Questions Must You Ask Yourself to Decide Which Blog Format to Use? ‹ Will you be selling products on the blog itself? WordPress.com does not allow this. The others do. ‹ Will you be linking to your main website? Too many links and Wordpress.com can shut it down without telling you beforehand. ‹ Will you want to make money from advertising on the blog? Self-hosted

‹

would be the best choice followed by Tumblr and Blogger. Do you have someone that can help you with technical issues? They will come up and they can take a lot of time to resolve if you don’t have help, the time or patience. WordPress.org is the hardest of them all but is considered to be the best choice by many bloggers.

Do you have a budget for the selfhosted version of WordPress? @V\ ^PSS ULLK [V Ă„UK H OVZ[ WYV]PKLY HUK have it served on their server. This will require some technical skills or the ability to pay someone with these skills. Things can happen as you add on to this blog with plug-ins that could possibly take the blog down. There are also FREE services available that check if your site has gone down and will email you if that does happen. One is BasicState.com and the other is called UptimeDog.com. No matter which version you go with the

[PW 0 JHU VMMLY PZ [V BACK UP. Back up your blog after every upgrade and after every new post. If anything goes wrong you can also put it back together again. If you go with WordPress.org – You’ll need a self-hosted website. How do you pick one?

Does Your Small Business Have A Blog? | SMALL BUSINESS

/VZ[ @V\ JHU W\YJOHZL KPYLJ[ ^P[O support or get cheaper ones through resellers. You may like a local person for your reseller but you must realize with re-sellers `V\ TH` UV[ OH]L [OH[ Z\WWVY[ >P[O Z\WWVY[ `V\ JHU JOH[ ]PH [OL 0U[LYUL[ for help or call via the telephone. So if you are not too technical I’d recommend direct ^P[O [OL Z\WWVY[ How Often Should You Post on Your Blog? That really depends. Most experts will say at least once a week. It depends on the industry and your readers. I would start out once a week and you may be able to tell through various analytics like Google which days are best to post (i.e. days in which you NL[ [OL TVZ[ ]PZP[Z 0[ ^PSS [HRL [PTL ILMVYL you’ll see comments or feedback on your blog. Don’t give up. Too many people give up right before that happens. Some industries post more than once daily and others every other day or every other week. Post when it works best for you and let your readers guide you over time on that.

How Will You Make Customers Aware Of Your Blog? ‹ RSS Feeds – Feedburner is one great place to have your RSS feed – they can follow you in Google Reader, via email and or various other methods. Feedburner is pretty simple to set up too. 0[ PZ H .VVNSL WYVK\J[

‹

‹ ‹ ‹ ‹ ‹

Google Places Page – You can enter your blog URL there for them to access Twitter Facebook Pinterest Any other social media site you are on Submit press releases about your new blog

cavemen really started “blogs� with writings on their walls – writings that told stories about their day ‹ ‹ ‹ ‹ ‹ ‹

Emails Signatures on emails Business Cards Mailers Flyers In Store

So don’t wait any longer and start that blog today to drive more customers to your online website and/or your physical storefront. Be sure somewhere on the blog to have your contact information easily seen.

Lisa Buben | Fancy Scrubs | www.fancyscrubs.com

out of the box thinking lending

Our clients know we’re here for them year-round, not just at year-end.

JAMES J. PRESCOTT PETER L. CHATELLIER DAVID A. FONTAINE JAMES D. WILKINSON DEBRA A. MITCHELL

AT BRAVER, IT’S THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS.

ROBERT J. CIVETTI

Capital for all the right reasons 155 South Main Street

THE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COMPANY www.bdcri.com 401 351 3036

Providence, RI 02903 401 421 2710 www.thebravergroup.com

5,>;65 )6:;65 ;(<5;65 796=0+,5*, *65*69+

www.risbj.com | ]VS\TL VUL PZZ\L Ă„]L

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SMALL BUSINESS c ;VW 9LHZVUZ )\ZPULZZLZ +VUÂť[ .L[ )HJRSPURZ *VTTP[TLU[ HUK JVUZPZ[LUJ` HYL Ă…LL[PUN Setting a monthly strategy of creating a set number of backlinks seems to work best for many businesses. Stay on track, and commit time to get the work done. Consistency is the key: an hour a day keeps the competitors away.

reasons businesses don’t get backlinks by Chris Sheehy

Website links that point to your business website are one of the most important search engine optimization (SEO) MHJ[VYZ [OH[ PUĂ…\LUJL [OL VUSPUL ]PZPIPSP[` HUK ZLHYJO LUNPUL ranking of your business. ;OVZL IHJRSPURZ ZPNUHS [V ZLHYJO LUNPULZ OV^ PUĂ…\LU[PHS HUK relevant your business is online; they trigger local citations of your business and aid in deepening your local market penetration. Therefore, those backlinks help increase the online visibility of your I\ZPULZZ HUK PUĂ…\LUJL [OL KPZJV]LY` VM `V\Y I\ZPULZZ¡V]LY `V\Y competition—by online searchers. So, if backlinks are that awesome for SEO and search engine YLZ\S[Z WHNL :,97 YHURPUNZ ^O` KV ZV THU` I\ZPULZZLZ Z[Y\NNSL [V NL[ SPURZ [OH[ SLHK [V [OLPY ^LIZP[LZ& /LYL HYL T` ;VW YLHZVUZ 1. It’s hard work (with no effective shortcuts) Sustainable results are best obtained via sweat equity. In this JHZL [OH[ [YHUZSH[LZ [V Ă„UNLY U\TIPUN RL`IVHYKPUN (\[VTH[PVU doesn’t cut it here because, typically, it’s too general, so hitting the keys is your best bet. Even publishing great content isn’t enough in and of itself to get other websites to link to you. You need to get out there and WYVTV[L [OH[ JVU[LU[ I\[ [OH[ÂťZ H [VWPJ MVY HUV[OLY HY[PJSL Businesses have to commit to the notion that just as they have to be on the hunt for their next customer, so too do they need to be vigilant with their online linking. Linking is an all-the-time thing—not a one-time thing. Marketers don’t know any secret tricks about “backlinkingâ€? other than those that “doâ€? it... do well.

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RISBJ | rhode island small business journal

Search engines take into consideration how many links your ^LIZP[L WPJRZ \W ^P[OPU ZWLJPĂ„J [PTL WLYPVKZ .LULYH[PUN SPURZ [V your site in bulk might seem like a great idea and could provide a short boost to your ranking and branding, but that tactic will ultimately hurt your business when along with your link-building actions your SERP rankings take a dive. Continual Trickle Linkonomics `\W 0 Q\Z[ THKL [OH[ \W PZ [OL ILZ[ Z[YH[LN` 3. You might be linked-in with an SEO scammer There seem to be as many SEO scammers as search engine VW[PTPaH[PVU ZWLJPHSPZ[Z ;LSSPUN [OLT HWHY[ PZ UV[ [OH[ KPMĂ„J\S[ though, if you know what to look for. ‹ Scammers promise quick results for quick cash. ‹ Specialists (I’m refraining from using the word “expertâ€? OLYL HK]PZL Z\Z[HPUHISL YLZ\S[Z V]LY [PTL HUK ZWLHR VM `V\Y marketing dollars spent as a business investment rather than H X\PJR ZWPU VM [OL YL[\YU VU PU]LZ[TLU[ 960 ^OLLS ‹ Scammers ZWLHR VM N\HYHU[LLK [VW SPZ[PUNZ VY 5V placement. ‹ Specialists will let you know that nobody—no one—can guarantee top search engine rankings or page rankings. Specialists are also more likely to show you a list of topranking client sites or testimonials that pan out when you do your due diligence. ‹ Scammers promise to list your business on hundreds of directories and search engines... practically overnight. ‹ Specialists speak of listing your business on relevant directories and online resources, and likely not on search engines, because they know that if other elements of your VUSPUL THYRL[PUN HYL PU WSHJL ZLHYJO LUNPULZ ^PSS Ă„UK `V\ organically. ‹ Scammers speak of immediate results. ‹ Specialists speak of the big picture. Listen to your gut. If the promises sound too good to be true, they probably are. 4. Tricking the system will not serve you well Loopholes and SEO tricks are openly published online, but taking advantage of such trickery will eventually result in having fewer prospects knocking on your door. If you have doubts about using a particular tactic, or if your “SEO Guru Ninja Rebel Fighterâ€? says things such as “Google won’t even see thisâ€? or “It’s safe; I’ve done

this with other clients and haven’t had any trouble,� you should probably stop right there and reassess. Ultimately, the search engines will create ways to ÄUK [OL I\ZPULZZLZ [OH[ [VVR HK]HU[HNL VM [OLPY vulnerabilities, and they will most likely return the favor by reducing those businesses’ rankings— or, worse, removing those listings altogether.

by Peggy Riley

The practice of implementing those aggressive SEO tactics is referred to as Black Hat SEO [OPUR VM P[ PU JV^IV` [LYTZ HUK [OVZL ^OV follow best-practice standards are referred to as White Hat SEO specialists.

backlinks help increase the online visibility of your business and influence the discovery of your business Don’t get me wrong: White Hat all the way may well not be the best strategy for a business in a tough market. Shades of gray exist. Sometimes, the pioneering SEO practitioners and their unconventional ways get the best results—but such specialists are also most likely to know the difference between a tightrope and a sidewalk. Businesses that rank high on search engines do so because of many factors. Building backlinks to their website is, arguably, second only to website search engine optimization VU WHNL :,6 PU [LYTZ VM PTWVY[HUJL HUK lasting results. Committing the appropriate amount of time and money to link-building is a continual process that will provide long-term competitiveness and visibility via greater online search-engine discovery. Remember: Those who do—will do well.

Chris Sheehy Sidewalk Branding Co. www.sidewalkbranding.co

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SMALL BUSINESS | Full STEAM Ahead

full STEAM ahead by Congressman Jim Langevin

STEM + Art = STEAM

From the industrial revolution to the internet boom, innovation has always driven our country’s economic growth. To rebuild from a devastating recession, create jobs and maintain our global SLHKLYZOPW PU [OL Z[ JLU[\Y` ^L ^PSS ULLK [V LUZ\YL V\Y I\ZPULZZ community can foster the same kind of innovative thinking that produced the steam engine and the World Wide Web. We often hear about science, technology, engineering and TH[OLTH[PJZ :;,4 LK\JH[PVU ILPUN JYP[PJHS [V [OPZ LMMVY[ HUK 0 have taken the lead in Congress on a bipartisan initiative to restore career and technical education funding because it improves training in these areas in high schools and college programs. However, we cannot omit another vital component of innovation: art and design. That is why I have also been working to add an “Aâ€? for art and design, turning STEM into STEAM. (Z 9OVKL 0ZSHUK :JOVVS VM +LZPNU 90:+ 7YLZPKLU[ 1VOU 4HLKH notes, “Apple’s iPod is technology that basically existed for a long time as an MP3 player, but that nobody ever wanted until design made it something desirable and useful in a way that you could integrate it into your lifestyle.â€? Can we imagine our lives now without high-design gadgets like iPods and smart phones? In order to continue making these dynamic products, we need to foster the skills that make this ingenuity possible. Unfortunately, our country is not meeting this demand. In the 2008 “Ready to Innovateâ€? report undertaken by the Conference Board, Americans for the Arts and the American Association of School (KTPUPZ[YH[VYZ WLYJLU[ VM LTWSV`LYZ HNYLLK [OH[ JYLH[P]P[` is of increasing importance in the workplace, in part because of a demand for customized products and services. However, 85 WLYJLU[ VM LTWSV`LYZ HYL Ă„UKPUN P[ OHYK [V OPYL LTWSV`LLZ ^P[O a creative skill set. I have also heard this from businesses here in Rhode Island, and I am working to narrow this skills gap. President Maeda has joined me in Washington to help educate WVSPJ`THRLYZ HIV\[ [OL ILULĂ„[Z VM PU[LNYH[PUN HY[ HUK KLZPNU PU[V our education system at all levels. In addition, we brought together the head of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, the

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RISBJ | rhode island small business journal

presidents of local colleges and other leaders in Rhode Island’s business and education sectors with our state’s extraordinary arts community to discuss ways to include art and design in our workforce development efforts. Our state is at the forefront of this important movement nationally, led by RISD, which has already used its resources to work with major corporations on new gadgets and with scientists on cutting edge research. Highlighting one of many potential applications of this effort, RISD artists have worked with researchers to design [V`Z ZWLJPÄJHSS` MVY KPZHISLK JOPSKYLU

educate

To encourage similar efforts, I have introduced a resolution urging Congress to include art and design in the STEM Ă„LSKZ HZ WHY[ VM [OL reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. In addition, it calls for the creation of a STEM to STEAM Council of artists, designers, education and business leaders, and federal agencies to facilitate a comprehensive approach to incorporate art and design into federal STEM programs.

policymakers

HIV\[ [OL ILULĂ„[Z

of integrating art and design into

our education system

In Rhode Island, we can see STEAM at work in projects like the old mill buildings being transformed to host our budding entrepreneurs. The sooner we all recognize the potential of our extraordinary art and design resources to contribute to innovation, the quicker we can rebuild our local and national economy. For more information on RISD efforts visit: www.stemtosteam.org

Making “Buy Local” A Delicious Reality | SMALL BUSINESS

Confreda Farms

Bacaro:

Making “Buy Local” a Delicious Reality by Aileen McDonough

When Vinny Confreda added a Farmers Market to his family’s acreage in Western *YHUZ[VU IHJR PU OL LU]PZPVULK H place where people could buy produce while enjoying the family farm experience. This season, the family farm experience has expanded to include something new— artisan cuisine, deli, and pastries designed by chefs from Bacaro, a Providence restaurant owned by Brian Kingsford and Jennifer Matta. “Confreda’s, along with other area farms, has been supplying Bacaro with farm-fresh produce for years,” says Vinny Confreda, “this is just our way of bringing Bacaro to our neck of the woods.” The partnership combines the power of “Eat Local” and “Buy Local” trends, and Confreda and Bacaro believe that other farms and restaurants will soon follow suit. After all, [OL ILULÄ[Z VM NVPUN SVJHS HYL U\TLYV\Z· fresher food, lower transportation costs, smaller carbon footprint.

But what does it take for a restaurant to go local? “Well, I won’t kid you—it takes a lot of commitment,” says Chef Brian Kingsford, “It’s idyllic to think of a chef toiling in the gardens to grow the food,

farms as the ideal place to advertise. Branding a restaurant with a farm is the natural way to make the ‘locavore’ movement less of a trend and more of a reality that will continue to blossom.”

it’s idyllic to think of a chef toiling in the gardens to grow the food, then cook it then cook it. But that’s impractical. It is not the chef’s job to farm...nor is it the farmer’s job to chef. We let the farmers do their job, then we simply go out and harvest. It allows us to gain awareness of the produce yields and quality. Mother Nature writes the menu.” Bacaro has promoted Confreda Farms on their menu. Now, Confreda promotes the restaurant’s role in cooking classes, events, and inspiration through in-store promotions, website, and social media. Jennifer Matta, Bacaro general manager,

Small and startup businesses, as well as advertisers, are jumping on the “Buy Local” [YLUK [V Z\Y]P]L [OLZL KPMÄJ\S[ LJVUVTPJ times. With 90 years of history behind [OLT *VUMYLKH .YLLUOV\ZLZ -HYTZ shows us that it works. As Confreda heads into the next generation of family farming, bringing past and future full circle, what do they think of their role at the intersection of the “Buy Local” and “Eat Local” movements? “Eating local to survive and succeed isn’t anything new to us,” says Vinny Confreda,

Aileen McDonough | 3am Writers | www.3amwriters.com

SMALL BUSINESS | What Did You Hear? Not What I Said!

What Did You Hear Not What I Said! by Ronald G. Shapiro, Ph. D.

To be successful in business listen to your important and valuable customers, employees and business partners who are always there for you. This may seem obvious, but, in fact, it is easy to misinterpret what people say while overlooking what is important, valuable and always there. Picture the following scenario. You are on stage with me and blindfolded. Your hands are resting on a chair. I place lotion on your right hand, invite you to smell your hand and ask “What is on your right hand?â€? You are likely to say “hand sanitizerâ€?, “foodâ€?, “lotionâ€? or “something wet.â€? I touch your left hand and ask “What is on your left hand?â€? You may say “lotionâ€?. After smelling your hand you are likely to say “skinâ€?, “nailsâ€? or “nothing.â€? I may place a cloth hair scrunchie on `V\Y YPNO[ YPUN Ă„UNLY VY PU]P[L `V\ [V MLLS `V\Y OHUK HZ *OHYSLUL Tuttle the sixth grade science teacher at Lawn Avenue School in Jamestown, RI (who has won the Presidential Award in Science HUK [OL (TNLU (^HYK MVY ,_JLSSLUJL PU :JPLUJL ;LHJOPUN PZ KLTVUZ[YH[PUN 0 TPNO[ HZR `V\ ^OLU `V\ ^LYL LUNHNLK or married. I might remove your blindfold. With each hint you are more likely to answer correctly. No one has ever answered JVYYLJ[S` VU [OL Ă„YZ[ [Y` K\YPUN H WYVNYHT :VTL WLVWSL UL]LY NL[ [OL HUZ^LY [OLPY YPUN JVYYLJ[ +L[HPSZ HYL VM[LU TPZZLK ^OLU describing the ring while blindfolded. When asked “What question did I ask?â€? you might respond “What did you put on my hand?â€? The actual question was “What is on your hand?â€? >O` PZ [OPZ [HZR ZV KPMĂ„J\S[& we are only able to avoid information overload and function because we ignore “steady stateâ€? information, responding mostly to change. Thus, a ring worn consistently may be overlooked. we interpret questions and information in view of our experiences. In this scenario, the most likely question would have been “What did you put on my hand.â€? So, how does this apply to us in business? if we are ignoring the “steady stateâ€?, we might not promote our outstanding attributes or the outstanding attributes of our products or services because they are so familiar to us that we overlook them. If we are trying to make our processes safer or more LMĂ„JPLU[ ^L TH` TPZZ ZVTL VWWVY[\UP[PLZ because we’ve always done things the way we are currently doing them. Likewise, if we are

What Did You Hear? Not What I Said! | SMALL BUSINESS ZLHYJOPUN MVY SVZ[ P[LTZ Z\JO HZ V\Y NSHZZLZ VY RL`Z ^L TPNO[ TPZZ Ă„UKPUN [OLT PM [OL` HYL YPNO[ ^OLYL [OL` ILSVUN Second, our interpretation of what our customer is asking or telling us may be based upon our experiences, not our customers (perhaps causing them to say “He is not listening to \Z 0ÂťSS NV LSZL^OLYLš Here are a few tips: ‹ When asking critical questions don’t accept just yes or no as the answer. Request a more complete answer. Validate it. ‹ When instructing use examples. Ask the listener how they will comply with critical instructions. ‹ Remember the words now and not are only one letter apart. Verify that the word was used correctly as in “I’m not going to do itâ€? or “I’m now going to do itâ€?. Be sure you don’t confuse the words in your writing. ‹ If a customer asks vague questions clarify what they want to know before answering the question. Doing so will ensure you are leading them down the right path. ‹ If you are making a product for customers to use, try to design it so that directions and questions are unnecessary. An investment in better product design can save a lot of warranty service calls and dissatisfaction from customers failing to read instructions (which may not have been needed ^P[O IL[[LY KLZPNU

interpretation of what our customer is asking or telling us may be based upon our experiences, not our customers ‹

‹

65, 9,:6<9*,

When completing a business agreement specify all of the critical details in writing in language which is clear to both parties and review before signing. Customers can help us focus on the details that are relevant to them to improve our business. We can then attend to those details which are most important. As an added bonus, when our customers share their thoughts about our business with potential customers they will report on our responsiveness to their requirements. Since customer recommendations are a powerful persuasion tool, remember to reach out to your customers for feedback on how to improve your services.

I would like to thank Industrial Consultant Dr. Margarita Posada

(YL `V\ 4V]PUNÂŻ ,_WHUKPUNÂŻ <WNYHKPUN& 4LU 4LU LU[P[PVU VU [O [OPZ HK HUK NL[ NL[ VMM *HSS [VKH` MVY H MYLL X\V[L 4

for helpful comments.

^^^ JVTW\[LY[LSLWOVUL IPa Dr. Ronald G. Shapiro Independent Consultant in Human Factors Learning and Human Resources

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SMALL BUSINESS | the Business Value of Your Company’s IT

to RUN, GROW and TRANSFORM, focus on the BUSINESS VALUE of your Company’s IT by Tim Hebert

The fusion of business and technology is one of the core overarching principles of what I refer to as an “Always Onâ€? business philosophy. To achieve a higher-level of IT sophistication, companies must begin to move from “budget-based thinkingâ€? [V ¸WVY[MVSPV IHZLK [OPURPUN š :WLJPĂ„JHSS` this means shifting its IT function from a focus on bottom-line costs toward efforts to maximize the top-line potential of the whole business. Traditional budget-based thinking creates HSPNUTLU[ JVUĂ…PJ[Z ^P[O [OL I\ZPULZZ I` treating IT as a cost that must be tightly controlled. IT then becomes a slave to costcontrol, constantly justifying its “expense.â€? In The Real Business of IT: How CIOs Create and Communicate Value, tinyurl.com/RealBusiness-of-IT, Richard Hunter and George Westerman explain that this means most organizations base their IT investment decisions on a non-strategic “processâ€? that the authors label “Anything Else.â€? Decisions are based on politics, intuition and other non-rigorous approaches. Instead, “portfolio-based thinkingâ€? shifts from the traditional cost-only model to one emphasizing business value. Here companies seize opportunities to gain competitive advantage, even going so far as to fundamentally alter their industries’ rules. Investments in IT innovation are prized. Shifting your perspective is critical to maintaining a “fusedâ€? Always On atmosphere.

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RISBJ | rhode island small business journal

IT investments must be assessed through H SLUZ VM ^LSS KLÄULK WYPVYP[PaH[PVU ZV [OH[ top-line potential is optimized. Hunter– Waterman’s thesis, validated in seminal research at McKinsey, categorizes portfolio-

Value here is measured in terms of operational performance improvements J`JSL [PTL PTWYV]LK X\HSP[` VY PU Ă„UHUJPHS terms (capital expense reduction, increased YL]LU\LZ YLK\JLK HKTPUPZ[YH[P]L L_WLUZLZ “Transform—the—business investments embrace new markets, products, customers, i.e., new horizons for the company and even for the industry. Investments are measured in prospective market share and new-market revenues. Big rewards are possible though big failures are as well. This category is extremely high risk.

IT investments must be assessed through a lens of well-defined prioritization so that top-line potential is optimized based thinking IT investments in three buckets: Run, Grow, Transform. “Run—the—business� investments enable essential non-differentiated services that achieve a desired balance between cost and quality. These projects and initiatives must be done in order to “keep the lights on.� As a result, they deliver the lowest ROI or perceived business value. “Grow—the—business� investments foster improvements in operations and performance related to the company’s existing markets and customer segments.

Running, growing and transforming however are not ends in themselves. Instead, they point the firm toward the kinds of performance levels and improvements that should be expected from IT. They keep us looking in the right direction and choosing wisely as we maintain and advance our businesses with its expert assistance. Such carefully-calibrated structures insure we stay focused on the business value of IT investments rather than simply on IT’s cost because without a focus on business value‌ anything goes!

Tim Hebert c *OPLM ,_LJ\[P]L 6MĂ„JLY c ([YPVU 5L[^VYRPUN *VYWVYH[PVU

Yoga For Your Website | SMALL BUSINESS

Responsive Web Design: Like Yoga for Your Website by Adam Harvey

The idea of responsive web design might sound like something a person who is “good with computers” might care about, but I can assure you that once you’ve read this article, you’ll care about it too. In fact, you’ll be going around the web checking to see who’s with it and who’s not when it comes to mobile friendly web design. If you’re thinking about having a new website made in the near future, this is even more of an important issue for you. Just consider the number of people who may be accessing your site by tablet or smartphone, and the necessity to be mobile friendly becomes apparent. Before we get into telling you what responsive design is, get on a computer. Go to the Boston Globe website and slowly make the desktop browser thinner and wider. Do you see how the layout THNPJHSS` JOHUNLZ [V Ä[ [OL ^PK[O VM [OL IYV^ZLY& :LL OV^ `V\ JHU make it really small and skinny just like the screen on a smartphone? ;OH[ ÅL_PISL Å\PK ` [OPUN [OL ZP[L KVLZ PZ SPRL `VNH MVY ^LIZP[LZ·P[ JHU ILUK HUK Z[YL[JO [V Ä[ [OL KL]PJL `V\»YL ]PL^PUN P[ MYVT That’s nice, Adam. Who cares? Well, have you ever tried to look at a website from a tablet or smartphone and had a frustrating experience? That’s because that site probably wasn’t optimized for mobile. A website that is optimized will be viewable with the same ease and clarity as with a desktop computer. As more users became active on mobile devices, web designers ^LYL MVYJLK [V ÄUK H ^H` [V JYLH[L TVIPSL ]LYZPVUZ VM ^LIZP[LZ )\[ this meant that there were two versions of every website—a mobile

VUL HUK H KLZR[VW VUL ;OH[ ^HZ ÄUL \U[PS WLVWSL Z[HY[LK [OYV^PUN tablets and iPads and high-resolution displays into the mix. 6]LY^VYRLK ^LI KLZPNULYZ OHK [V ÄUK H ^H` [V JYLH[L ^LIZP[LZ that would work on any display. So, responsive design was born and it was the answer to everyone’s prayers. Responsive design relies on a CSS3 (Cascading Style Sheets, level MLH[\YL JHSSLK TLKPH X\LYPLZ ;OYV\NO TLKPH X\LYPLZ [OL ^H` H ^LIZP[L SVVRZ PZ H[[HJOLK [V [OL ZWLJPÄJ JVUZ[YHPU[Z VM [OL KL]PJL you’re viewing it from. Responsive designs use media queries to help the website adapt to the width of a browser window or the smaller screen real estate of a mobile device. In some cases, it’s not necessary to start from scratch with a whole new website in order to have a responsive design. Some sites can IL YL[YVÄ[[LK [V IL YLZWVUZP]L" P[ Q\Z[ [HRLZ H IP[ SVUNLY HUK YLX\PYLZ TVYL ÄULZZL /H]PUN HU L_PZ[PUN ZP[L YL[YVÄ[[LK PZ H NYLH[ VW[PVU if you’re working with a budget but still want to be mobile friendly. What all of this means for you as a business owner is that your customers can have a way to access your site from anywhere. Whether they’re on a desktop computer or a mobile device, they won’t get frustrated when trying to use your site and move on to one that is mobile friendly. I think we can all agree that’s a really good thing.

Adam Harvey GLAD WORKS www.gladworks.com

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SMALL BUSINESS | The State Of Customer Service

by Dave Marcello

If I told you that nearly 90% of consumers have stopped doing business with a company due to a bad customer service experience, would you be surprised? Doubtful. Good service equating to happy customers isn’t exactly a groundbreaking concept, but a deeper analysis into the consumer’s view of this topic yields some valuable insights. American Express recently YLSLHZLK P[Z .SVIHS *\Z[VTLY :LY]PJL )HYVTL[LY H YLZLHYJO report that presents noteworthy data for small business owners to seriously consider.

One third or fewer consumers see an “increased focus on customer serviceâ€? by businesses. This is the most startling and important statistic in the report. According to a separate Z[\K` *\Z[VTLY ,_WLYPLUJL 0TWHJ[ 9LWVY[ VM consumers will pay more for a better customer experience. What we have here is a strong disconnect between what the customer wants and what business owners are willing to provide. I’d argue that customer service, a longstanding part of HU` V]LYHSS IYHUK L_WLYPLUJL YLTHPUZ H ZPNUPĂ„JHU[ VWWVY[\UP[` area for differentiation. Fewer than 1 in 10 consumers believe that companies generally “exceed their expectationsâ€? for customer service. Simply put, following a storied history of less-thanstellar service, consumers have low expectations of customer service. As a business, aiming to “meetâ€? customer expectations is never a win. The fastest way to positive word of mouth is to consistently blow expectations away. 2 in 5 (or greater) consumers tell other people about their good customer service experiences “all the timeâ€?. Speaking of word of mouth, it’s no shocker that people tell their friends about their interactions with businesses. That goes for good and bad experiences, as even more - 3 in 5 or greater – tell other people about their poor customer service experiences “all of the timeâ€?. Remember this concept the next time a customer walks into your store – the effect you have on him or her does not stop there, but rather extends to his or her social circle. Consumers demand a variety of communication platforms for customer service inquiries. As the consumer engagement market matures, so do customer preferences. Expectations are that businesses will have several methods MVY KPYLJ[ JVTT\UPJH[PVU LHJO VM ^OPJO PZ \ZLK MVY ZWLJPĂ„J types of needs. Email or website communication is favored for simple inquiries, such as locating a product or checking an account balance. Phone contact is desired for more complex issues, such as returning a product or troubleshooting product WYVISLTZ -PUHSS` [OL TVZ[ KPMĂ„J\S[ PZZ\LZ YLX\PYL MHJL [V MHJL meetings or a “real personâ€? via the phone. Fewer than 1 in 5 consumers have used social media at least once to get a customer service response. It’s worth noting that this question asks consumers if they have used social media for customer service, but does not address if they desire to. Very few brands successfully utilize social media for customer service purposes, but with 800 million Facebook users and 500 million Twitter accounts, there’s definite opportunity here. The key is to understand your customer base and determine, through research, if they would utilize such a program.

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RISBJ | rhode island small business journal

The State Of Customer Service | SMALL BUSINESS

nearly 90% of consumers have stopped doing business with a company due to a bad customer service experience Customer service isn’t just about getting the appetizers out on time or greeting everyone with a smile. It is a game changer that OHZ ZPNUPÄJHU[ YHTPÄJH[PVUZ MVY `V\Y IV[[VT SPUL 6]LY VM U.S. respondents agree that small businesses understand their customer better than large companies. That is the ideal foundation on which an amazing customer service plan can be built, fueled by the insights outlined above.

Dave Marcello *OPLM +PZY\W[VY c +0:9<7;0=,

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Every revolution starts with an UPRISING.

When thinking of the best states in the country to start a new business, Rhode Island isn’t typically given a chance. There are, however, many determined entrepreneurs in the state that are proving a lot of skeptics wrong. One prime example is Mike Reppucci’s Sons of Liberty Spirits Company, a new distillery in South Kingstown that produces UPRISING American Whiskey and Rhode Island’s first vodka, Loyal 9 Vodka.

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RISBJ | rhode island small business journal

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SONS OF LIBERTY | Spirits Company

ike Reppucci, a Narragansett native and Brown grad, took the chance that many locals are now taking; drastically changing their life and career to pursue something they truly believe in. Mike has always enjoyed work; after receiving his Masters in Finance from London Business School he worked those dreadful 100 hour weeks one after another, and another, and another. Eventually realizing it wasn’t the life he wanted, he dropped everything and started making whiskey. By moving his wife and then 18-month old child in with his parents, leveraging all his savings, and bringing Dave Pickerell, ex-master distiller for Makers Mark, on board, Mike started down a road he refuses to turn back on (still living with his parents and now with two little ones along for the ride). The company, rightfully named after the Sons of Liberty from the 1700s [a group of merchants and distillers who were fed up and took a stand for what they believed in], is revolutionizing spirits right in our backyard. The interesting fact about whiskey is that it starts as beer, and when Mike learned this he asked himself, “How come no one is brewing the beers I love and turning them into whiskey?”. Instead of brewing the typical light beer, Mike and his team have created a stout beer that they use to make UPRISING American Whiskey – D VPRRWK ZKLVNH\ ZLWK FRPSOH[LW\ RI ñDYRU from the grains. The grain-forward whiskey is made to retain the dark, malted barley ñDYRUV WKDW ZHUH XVHG WR PDNH WKH VWRXW EHHU

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RISBJ | rhode island small business journal

Spirits Company | SONS OF LIBERTY

As they say over at Sons of Liberty, “Every revolution

“Business is growing in the state and the more people

starts with an UPRISING”, but that’s just the beginning,

feel positive about Rhode Island, the more we will attract

Mike didn’t choose Rhode Island just because he was

the right kind of businesses”, says Mike.

born and raised here, but also because it’s an amazing climate to age whiskey. The Delta T, the temperature

One thing Mike has quickly learned is the biggest sacrifice

differential from the 3 warmest to the 3 coldest weeks,

of all is made by the family of the entrepreneur. He and

is almost double what it is in Scotland, allowing for

his wife, Lauren, now have two children and have been

quicker maturation of the product. Another thought

living with his parents for 3 years as he gets the business

was that American whiskey has no real sense of terroir,

going. They, and many other family members, including

The Sons of Liberty started the American Revolution, we want people to look at us and say, make a change, enjoy life, and do it through drinking our whiskey. instead it is defined by Bourbon from the south. The

his 92 year old grandmother, can be found at the distillery

Sons of Liberty seek to define American Single Malt

quite often helping to hand bottle and label each bottle

Whiskey with New England terroir. Mike also says to

that hits the shelves.

be on the lookout for seasonal whiskies coming out of South Kingstown.

UPRISING American Whiskey, which launched early last December can now be found in over 200 locations

From conception to launch, amazing people doing

throughout Rhode Island and Loyal 9 Vodka, as well as

business right here in Rhode Island have been a

Loyal 9 Mint Cucumber Flavored Vodka, is nearing 100

significant part of the company’s growth. From Mel Co

locations after just 4 weeks in the market. It won’t be

Ed, who manufactures the metal labels on the bottles, to

long before these hand-crafted Rhode Island products

Four Town Farm and McCormick and Wojnar Farms who

take off and spread throughout New England, but it’s

grow the mint and cucumber for their Mint Cucumber

all starting with Rhode Islanders, according to their

Flavored Vodka. Their distributor, Horizon Beverage, has

Facebook page (facebook.com/solspirits), the revolution

been on board with the company’s vision since day one,

is over 1,000 strong and growing.

and Sherri Carrera of RIEDC was extremely helpful as a liaison with government agencies; navigating the

If interested in checking out the operation, they hold tours

licensing and hearing process. The company’s

and tastings every Wednesday and Saturday 12pm-4pm.

success to this point and even the ability to get

And if you’d like to purchase one of their products you

the second distillery in the state since the

can find out where to go by visiting them on Facebook

1800’s running is owed to many locals.

(facebook.com/solspirits) or at www.solspirits.com.

Mike and the Sons of Liberty would like to give a huge thank you to every single person that has helped them along the way. The revolution would not be possible without you. And a very special thank you from Mike to his parents and wife Lauren who have been well beyond supportive in this venture.

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SMALL BUSINESS | Legislation Enacted This Year Assists Small Businesses

LEGISLATION ENACTED THIS YEAR ASSISTS SMALL BUSINESSES Gordon D Fox Speaker, Rhode Island House of Representatives

Legislation Enacted This Year Assists Small Businesses | SMALL BUSINESS ,JVUVTPJ +L]LSVWTLU[ *VYWVYH[PVU [V [OL 6MĂ„JL VM 4HUHNLTLU[ HUK )\KNL[ ;OL 6MĂ„JL VM 9LN\SH[VY` 9LMVYT ^OPJO MHSSZ \UKLY [OL 6MĂ„JL VM 4HUHNLTLU[ HUK )\KNL[ PU [OPZ IPSS PZ H\[OVYPaLK to coordinate, provide technical assistance and oversee state agency regulatory review and accompanying economic impact

Another important issue to the business community was addressed in the passage of this year’s state budget. Our members have listened to the concerns that have been raised about the complicated and often cumbersome process of obtaining permits. The state budget included funds for the purchase and operation of a web-accessible software system to be used by the state and municipalities, offering a uniform building plan review, permit management and inspection system. This will increase the ease of local permitting for small businesses, municipal governments, and other affected parties in the state and will ensure that the same standards are being used on a statewide basis. Legislation on this issue was offered by Rep. Donna Walsh and Sen. Susan

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An issue that our legislators hear about from the business community is the burden of duplicative regulations. Legislation sponsored by Rep. Michael Marcello and Sen. Lynch removes HYLHZ VM [OL SH^ ^OLYL [OLYL OHK ILLU JVUĂ…PJ[ [V WYV]PKL SLZZ

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With the passage of all these bills, we feel the House and Senate, ^VYRPUN JVVWLYH[P]LS` ^P[O [OL .V]LYUVYÂťZ VMĂ„JL THKL ZVTL strong advances in assisting small businesses. However, we know that there is still a great deal more that can be accomplished, and

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RISBJ | rhode island small business journal

Jobs Making a Top Priority | CAPITAL CITY

JOBS MAKING A TOP PRIORITY Mayor Angel Taveras What is the role of government in business development? That is a question often asked, and depending upon who you’re talking to, you may get very different answers. One thing most people agree upon is that government can be H MHJPSP[H[VY Âś VM Ă„UHUJPHS YLZV\YJLZ [LJOUPJHS HZZPZ[HUJL ZP[L location and workforce assistance. We agree. :PUJL [HRPUN VMĂ„JL PU 1HU\HY` VM SHZ[ `LHY VUL VM T` TVZ[ important responsibilities has been to right the ship of state – to THRL Z\YL V\Y Ă„ZJHS ZP[\H[PVU ^HZ YLZVS]LK HUK V\Y Z[Y\J[\YHS debt issues addressed. Dealing with a looming pension crisis and the strong likelihood of bankruptcy, I called on our residents and taxpayers, academic and health care institutions, \UPVU SLHKLYZ LTWSV`LLZ ZJOVVS [LHJOLYZ Ă„YLĂ„NO[LYZ HUK policemen and women to join together for a common purpose, to keep our city solvent. And we have been successful; we have weathered this “Category 5â€? storm and are building a stronger future.

One of the most important partnerships we have established PZ [OH[ ^P[O [OL < : :THSS )\ZPULZZ (KTPUPZ[YH[PVU :)( ;OL federal agency tasked with providing capital to America’s small businesses has joined me in executing a formal contract to provide free technical assistance to our capital city businesses,

In mid-May, I was joined by Mark S. Hayward, Rhode Island Director of the SBA, and two of his partner agencies – the Rhode Island :THSS )\ZPULZZ +L]LSVWTLU[ *LU[LY H[ 1VOUZVU >HSLZ <UP]LYZP[` HUK [OL *LU[LY MVY >VTLU ,U[LYWYPZL œ [V L_LJ\[L [OPZ JVU[YHJ[ We executed the contract following a tour of Contract Specialties –

THERE ARE MANY GREATPUBLIC AGENCIES OFFERING A WEALTH OF FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL TOOLS TO SMALL BUSINESS

Our other tools >L OH]L HSZV MVYTLK [OL Ă„YZ[ +LWHY[TLU[ VM ,JVUVTPJ Development, led by a professional businessman and chair of the RI Convention Center, James S. Bennett. Under his N\PKHUJL HYL [OL KLWHY[TLU[Z VM (Y[ *\S[\YL ;V\YPZT 7SHUUPUN +L]LSVWTLU[ 0UZWLJ[PVUZ :[HUKHYKZ 3PJLUZPUN and Workforce Solutions of Providence/Cranston. We are also providing concerted business outreach, to traditional and new knowledge-based companies; building a stronger educational Z`Z[LT ^P[O KPYLJ[ I\ZPULZZ PU]VS]LTLU[ " JYLH[PUN H Ă„YZ[ PU [OL UH[PVU 0UUV]H[PVU 0U]LZ[TLU[ 7YVNYHT 007 MVY OPNO [LJO OPNO NYV^[O Z[HY[ \WZ HUK VMMLYPUN Ă…L_PISL SV^ PU[LYLZ[ SVHUZ to existing companies turned down by traditional lenders for equipment, acquisition and working capital. We also putting a new emphasis on collaboration: there are THU` NYLH[ W\ISPJ HNLUJPLZ VMMLYPUN H ^LHS[O VM Ă„UHUJPHS HUK technical tools to small business. I have made it a priority that we develop these partnerships.

0[ ^HZ [OL Ă„YZ[ [PTL L]LY [OH[ [OL *P[` VM 7YV]PKLUJL L_LJ\[LK Z\JO HU HNYLLTLU[ ^P[O [OL :)( I\[ P[ ^HZ JLY[HPUS` UV[ [OL Ă„YZ[ T\UPJPWHSP[` nationwide to do so, with the SBA. We are proud of this two-year

>L RUV^ [OLZL ^VYRZOVWZ HYL PTWVY[HU[ ILJH\ZL PU [OL Ă„YZ[ [^V [OH[ ^L OH]L OLSK PU SH[L 4H` HUK PU SH[L 1\UL TVYL [OHU individual business owners came to learn about how to become contractors with the city, state and federal government, and how [V ILJVTL /<) AVUL JLY[PĂ„LK [V YLJLP]L WYLMLYLU[PHS MLKLYHS

6\Y UL_[ ^VYRZOVW PZ (\N\Z[ H[ WT H[ [OL 7YV]7VY[ JVUMLYLUJL room, on Terminal Road, where we will host a workshop on “Exploring Opportunities in the Global Economy.â€? We hope you will consider joining us, and because space is limited, we ask you YLZLY]L H ZWHJL I` JHSSPUN T` VMĂ„JL VM ,JVUVTPJ +L]LSVWTLU[ H[

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FEATURED NONPROFIT | Trudeau Center

“Our mission is to promote an enhanced quality of life for individuals with developmental disabilities.â€? The Trudeau Center was founded more than 50 years ago out of a necessity and belief that all people are equal and possess a value to this world. Today, the leadership of the Trudeau Center recognizes a new population requiring services- those affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders. Towards that end, they established the Pathways :[YH[LNPJ ;LHJOPUN *LU[LY PU [OYV\NO H JVSSHIVYH[P]L LMMVY[ IL[^LLU [OL 1 (Y[O\Y ;Y\KLH\ 4LTVYPHS *LU[LY HUK SVJHS WHYLU[Z VM JOPSKYLU ^P[O H\[PZT 0U [OL MHSS VM V\Y )VHYK VM +PYLJ[VYZ JVTWSL[LK H `LHY ZLHYJO MVY H UL^ SHYNLY OVTL MVY [OL 7H[O^H`Z ZJOVVS ^P[O [OL W\YJOHZL VM H ZX\HYL MVV[ I\PSKPUN SVJH[LK H[ [OL Centre of New England in Coventry, RI. Much to the delight of our original founding Pathways families, this $3 million dollar expansion would become the Trudeau *LU[LYÂťZ Ă…HNZOPW I\PSKPUN Z[H[L VM [OL HY[ WYVNYHT VM [OL M\[\YL employees over 950 people provide support services and treatment [V [V IHIPLZ HUU\HSS` provide services to people residing in 50 communities in Rhode Island YHURLK [O SHYNLZ[ UVUWYVĂ„[ in Rhode Island

www. trudeaucenter.org

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RISBJ | rhode island small business journal

0U [OL Z[H[L VM 9OVKL 0ZSHUK HSVUL ZPUJL [OLYL OHZ ILLU HWWYV_PTH[LS` H PUJYLHZL PU [OL U\TILY VM JOPSKYLU ^P[O H\[PZT HUK [OL U\TILYZ JVU[PU\L [V YPZL 4VZ[ YLJLU[ KH[H PUKPJH[L [OH[ ! JOPSKYLU HUK ! IV`Z HYL UV^ KPHNUVZLK with autism. In response to the increasing number of individuals with autism, Pathways has expanded programming to meet the needs of our community. Research has shown that providing intensive evidence-based intervention enhances lives and in the long run is cost effective. Pathways provides year-round intensive evidence-based intervention. As the rates of autism rise, the need to expand services in preparation for adulthood becomes even more imperative. 7H[O^H`Z WYV]PKLZ ZLY]PJLZ [V ZJOVVS KPZ[YPJ[Z PUJS\KPUN 9OVKL 0ZSHUK KPZ[YPJ[Z HUK 4HZZHJO\ZL[[Z KPZ[YPJ[Z :[\KLU[Z H[[LUKPUN MYVT 4( JVTT\[L KHPS` [V YLJLP]L the evidence-based quality programming provided at Pathways. Pathways also provides support to communities in the form of consultation services and professional development trainings. We have partnered with Salve Regina University to conduct research and offer students internship opportunities.

J. Arthur Trudeau Memorial Center

34th Annual Golf Tournament

Located At The Valley Country Club Monday August 13, 2012 The Trudeau Center has been a Warwick mainstay for more than 40 years providing comprehensive support services to 1,700 children & adults with developmental disabilities & their families from more than 50 Rhode Island communities. Your support & generosity helps to provide year-round community-based recreation opportunities with 100% of the proceeds raised directly benefiting programs.

Players will have the opportunity to purchase a $40.00 Trudeau Super Ticket! This bundle will include coupons, special offers, Mulligans, raffle and contest tickets and will have a value of more than $300.00! Valley Country Club 251 New London Ave Warwick, RI 02886 | (401) 821-1115

Register online at www.trudeaucenter.org

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GoLocalProv.com is the “go to� local Web experience that breaks the biggest local stories, sports, high school sports, weather, news, politics, arts, entertainment — and allows users to go as deep as they wish. Branded, credible, and respected contributors from RI create the stories and content. Information is delivered through multimedia, written, and video platforms. All at GoLocalProv.com.

Leaders Launch Inclusive Effort to Rebuild the State - RIsurgence A group of Rhode Islanders are taking it on themselves to help spark a non-partisan effort to improve the Rhode Island economy through a unique crowd-sourcing effort -- It is called RIsurgence. The goal is to spark new ideas and create a consensus around new initiatives to improve the Rhode Island economy and to create jobs. Today, Rhode Island’s economy ranks consistently last or near last in nearly every business rankings. The RI unemployment rate is [O YHURLK The effort to generate new ideas is sparked by Scott A. Gibbs, and Marcel A. Valois of the Economic Development Foundation of Rhode Island. They have been joined by dozens of business leaders and innovators from across RI in creating a strategy to incubate and hatch creative economic development ideas in Rhode Island. We call this strategy RIsurgence. “This is not a business plan because RIsurgence is not a I\ZPULZZ ;OLYL PZ UV KPZJLYUHISL THYRL[ HUK [OLYL PZ UV WYVĂ„[ to make. Simply, there is a need to chart a new course for Rhode Island’s economic future. RIsurgence is an attempt to transform Rhode Island’s economic development culture, and advance a sustainable economy,â€? said Valois. This effort encourages all Rhode Islanders to serve as leaders and to join the discussion. Be a part of the solution - join in and help recreate Rhode Island risurgence.brightidea.com “We are looking for all Rhode Islanders to reclaim their state and offer positive solutions that can transform our economy,â€? said Gibbs.

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RISBJ | rhode island small business journal

Providence | GOLOCAL

Utilidata Launches Operations in RI Rhode Island stands to be at the forefront VM LTLYNPUN LULYN` LMĂ„JPLUJ` [LJOUVSVN` as Utilidata, Inc. today marked its arrival in the Ocean State with the opening of its new Providence headquarters. The JVTWHU` HU[PJPWH[LZ JYLH[PUN OPNOS` ZRPSSLK [LJOUPJHS QVIZ I` [V Z\WWVY[ the market launch of its AdaptiVolt™ ZVS\[PVU [OL Ă„YZ[ PU H ZLYPLZ VM UL^ NYPK ZPKL applications to optimize energy delivery. Utilidata, which provides advanced automated energy conservation and management technology solutions for electric utilities and major electric consumers, moved to Providence from Spokane, Washington after receiving ]LU[\YL JHWP[HS Ă„UHUJPUN MYVT )YHLTHY Energy Ventures, and a $500,000 loan from the Rhode Island Renewable Energy Fund. Since the company’s arrival in the 6JLHU :[H[L PU 4HYJO P[ OHZ JYLH[LK 8 new jobs and plans to create a total of [V WVZP[PVUZ [OPZ `LHY 0[ PZ HU[PJPWH[LK that the average annual salary for these positions will be greater than $90,000. The company expects to create a total of [V[HS UL^ QVIZ I` “Rhode Island is a great place to partner with government to make innovative

things happen and is simply a smart place to do business,â€? said Scott DePasquale, Executive Chairman of Utilidata and a Partner with Braemar Energy Ventures. “By locating in Rhode Island we not only have regional proximity to a highly skilled technical workforce, but because the cost of real estate here is considerably less compared with other high tech areas we are able to put more capital into human resources rather than bricks and mortar.â€? Utilidata’s market-ready product, (KHW[P=VS[Â? PZ [OL Ă„YZ[ PU H ZLYPLZ VM NYPK side solutions that help utility and industrial customers achieve enhanced energy LMĂ„JPLUJ` [OYV\NO YLHS [PTL HKQ\Z[TLU[Z in electric delivery. Previous technology focused on expensive consumer metering that encouraged conservation through the measurement of consumption. Utilidata customers employing AdaptiVolt™ including American Electric Power, Murray State University, Plum Creek Timber Company and Ripley Power and Light have reduced energy consumption by two [V Ă„]L WLYJLU[ HUU\HSS` 6U H]LYHNL [OL AdaptiVolt™ solution pays for itself within TVU[OZ ^OPSL H[ [OL ZHTL [PTL improving the distribution network longevity. “As we build the infrastructure to support the inevitable success of our business, we are going to market with a self-sustaining company and a proven product.â€? said 9PJOHYK 1 *YLLNHU 7YLZPKLU[ *66 VM Utilidata. “We will be successful thanks to a major commitment from private equity, an appropriate balance between private and public investment, and early customer adoption to prove viability. Our next generation product is already in the research and development phase, and it will help to M\Y[OLY YLKLĂ„UL OV^ ^L JYLH[L [YHUZWVY[ and consume energy in the future.â€?

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GOLOCAL | Providence

As employers transition from participation-based wellness programs, which reward employees for completing an activity, to standards-based ones based on health screening scores, it’s critical that program involvement doesn’t end once the data’s collected. That’s because the ongoing activities offered to support employees after their screenings are just as important in keeping them engaged – and healthy. Engagement is Key With wellness, it’s all about keeping people engaged. In a standardsbased program, employees may be asked to get a certain score on a screening to earn incentive points. For example an employee ^OVZL ISVVK WYLZZ\YL PZ VU [LZ[ ^V\SK LHYU [OL WVPU[ )\[ HU employee who doesn’t get the score forfeits the point. What then? Depending on the design of the program, an employee who fails the screening may not be offered any chances to improve their health. A better plan design is one that offers the employee followup activities like health coaching or self-directed workshops aimed at keeping employees educated, engaged, and motivated to change behavior over the long-term. Coaching and Classes Counts

:THY[ )LULÄ[Z! 3 Ways to Make Wellness Standards Work

*VHJOPUN WYVNYHTZ NP]L LTWSV`LLZ HJJLZZ [V JLY[PÄLK OLHS[O professionals who offer advice on nutrition, physical activity and helpful next-step strategies to change behavior. The offerings are ]LY` ÅL_PISL ¶ H]HPSHISL VUZP[L [LSLWOVUPJHSS` VY ]PH [OL ^LI ¶ HUK can be made more frequently available to those employees with higher health risks. Employers may also opt to offer those employees who don’t achieve target scores on health screenings the chance to complete onsite classes or self-directed online workshops through a web portal. Wellness vendors and insurance carriers often offer a choice of online programs for participants to choose from. Just be sure to track participation and completion through the portal. While employees may not earn the point for their scores, they may be offered the chance to become better educated about the health issue at hand and earn a point for their investment of time and attention on the issue -- despite the health screening result. 9LHW [OL )LULÄ[Z VM 9LZV\YJLZ

with wellness, it’s all about keeping people engaged

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RISBJ | rhode island small business journal

Sometimes, providing resources to employees can make all the difference. Rather than giving up after a failed screening and waiting for the next one for another opportunity, ongoing programs offer an opportunity to improve their health now – and likely their screening scores later.

Providence | GOLOCAL

Ruggieri Brothers Gets National Flooring Award for NE Tech Project

9\NNPLYP )YV[OLYZ *VTTLYJPHS -SVVYPUN *VU[YHJ[VYZ ^PSS IL WYLZLU[LK ;OL 5H[PVUHS +LZPNU (^HYK ,K\JH[PVU I` Starnet Flooring for body of work in the new building of New England Technical Institute in East Greenwich. The award will be presented today at noon. The STARNET Design Awards were established in 2000 to celebrate the creativity and talent of professionals in commercial Ă…VVYPUN HUK PU[LYPVYZ (^HYKZ HYL Q\KNLK VU [OL JYLH[P]L \ZL VM Ă…VVYPUN [OL PU[LNYH[PVU VM Ă…VVYPUN PU[V [OL V]LYHSS KLZPNU JVUJLW[ and the successful achievement of client objectives. The Starnet Design Awards is the only design competition in the JVTTLYJPHS Ă…VVYPUN PUK\Z[Y` ^OPJO PZ ZWVUZVYLK I` H JVTTLYJPHS Ă…VVYPUN JVU[YHJ[VY VYNHUPaH[PVU ;OL H^HYK PZ [OL [O HUU\HS :[HYUL[ +LZPNU (^HYKZ HUK ^HZ preliminarily presented in April at the national industry conference held in Puerto Rico. “We are honored to receive this prestigious Starnet Design Award,â€? said David Ruggieri, Sales and Project Management, and treasurer of Ruggieri Brothers. “The New England Tech building was a great project for our team and winning this award makes the experience even more exciting.â€? ;OL `LHY VSK Ă…VVYPUN JVU[YHJ[VY M\YUPZOLZ HUK PUZ[HSS Ă…VVY covering products within the New England market. Together ^P[O 9\NNPLYP *HYWL[ 6UL H YLZPKLU[PHS Ă…VVYPUN JVTWHU` they are located at the corner of Sockanosset Crossroad and Pontiac Ave. in Cranston.

From Rhode Islanders and for Rhode Islanders: See it. Read it. Share it.

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WOMEN IN BUSINESS | Positive Business

by Patricia Raskin

PERSONAL ETHICS IN SELLING Selling in itself appears to be a straightforward, simple task, but underneath the surface, selling is a highly complex skill often involving values and emotion. Selling is about building relationships, which involves trust. The more we understand the needs of our clients, the better opportunity we have to give them what they need. There is also an ethical aspect to selling which can sometimes get in the way of our basic need MVY ÄUHUJPHS ZLJ\YP[` An example is working with clients who are reliable, loyal and very high maintenance. This means that they require extra time and effort, make demands that push your boundaries and create tension and stress in your life. On the surface, this scenario is ^VYRPUN `V\ KV [OL QVI `V\ KV P[ ^LSS [OL JSPLU[ PZ ZH[PZÄLK HUK `V\ NV OVTL ÄSSLK ^P[O [LUZPVU HUK HUNZ[

we are best served when we can align our principles and values with our behavior and action One line of reasoning is that you as the salesperson or service provider need to accept this handle your emotions and keep doing the job. Another line of reasoning is that the emotional price is reducing your effectiveness with other clients because it is dissipating some of your energy. So the question becomes, what do you do? The answer, as the question is not straightforward and as everything in life depends upon your perception of the situation. If maintaining this client has been an essential part of

`V\Y ÄUHUJPHS IV[[VT SPUL OLYL PZ what you need to consider. Can I change my strategy with this client to communicate my needs in this business relationship? Do I want to continue working with this client ILJH\ZL 0 LUQV` [OL ^VYR& *HU 0 ÄUK other clients to supplement or replace [OL ÄUHUJPHS NHPU 0 ^V\SK SVZL ^P[OV\[ this client? Lastly and most importantly, KV 0 OH]L [OL JV\YHNL [V [Y` [V ÄUK UL^ clients or is fear being a martyr and a sense of loyalty preventing me from doing so? A preventive measure is to look at your client mix to see if your client base is heavily weighed by a few rather than evenly mixed by many. Even if the former is the case, you can be proactive by seeking more clients in case one of them moves on. These are issues that we face every day, but rarely discuss them openly. Business support groups, JVUÄKLU[PHS [OPUR [HURZ I\ZPULZZ coaches and therapists are excellent resources to use in these situations. Personally, I feel that we need to weigh the amount of “money” in our emotional and ethical bank with the HTV\U[ VM TVUL` PU V\Y ÄUHUJPHS IHUR >L HYL ILZ[ ZLY]LK ^OLU we can align our principles and values with our behavior and action. Although this is not an easy task, it is necessary for wellbeing in our personal and professional lives.

Patricia Raskin | Raskin Resources Productions | www.patriciaraskin.com President of Raskin Resources Productions, Inc., is a radio talk show host, award-winning producer, media coach and speaker. She is the host of “Positive Business” on AM790 on Fridays from 3-5PM and “Patricia Raskin Positive Living” on WPRO -630AM & 99.7FM on Saturdays from 3-5PM.

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Connections Count... | WOMEN IN BUSINESS

. . . t n u o C s n o i t c e n n o C Making by er d Schartn Tuni Renau

I was lucky enough to stumble into a meeting over a year and a half ago that was career, and life, changing. Sometimes `V\ Q\Z[ NL[ S\JR` HUK Ă„UK `V\YZLSM ^OLYL you know you are meant to be. I am comfortable meeting new people and trying new things so when a girlfriend/ business colleague suggested I join her at a meeting with a professional women’s networking group she had just joined, I said “why notâ€?. Well, I ended up not only joining but have since launched another chapter in my hometown. “fresh connectionsâ€? was established in CT by a wonderful NYV\W VM WYVMLZZPVUHS ^VTLU PU to be a conduit for powerful networking for professional women in a supportive environment that promotes personal and professional growth and where ambition never overrides integrity. It’s the perfect group to sign up as contributors for RISBJ and I hope to have different members of our North Kingstown chapter share their professional experiences and innovative ideas in the future. At our last meeting I shared my personal “professionalâ€? commitment: to do something to help a friend in business, at least once a day, 5 days a week; whether that means making a virtual

introduction through an e-mail, making a recommendation to someone for their company / product / service, posting something to promote their business VY [Y`PUN [V ÄSS H ZWLJPÄJ YLX\LZ[ 0 already do all this and way more than I committed to but I just thought I’d actually commit to it and track it. My call to action and personal commitment got me thinking...what if everyone started doing that? It’s kind of like committing to getting in shape or eating better, right? It is a matter of being conscious of a new exercise and practicing it regularly and just like exercising or eating better, it feels good and makes a huge difference. So, just like my fresh connections group was a great place to share my idea, so is the RISBJ. What do you think fellow RI business friends? What if each of you started being mindful of helping your professional friends? Imagine the impact each one of us could have if we helped one professional friend a day, 5 days a week. RI is a special place for a lot of reasons and one of them is that we are small enough to make big things happen-this is a Call to Action to each of you! We are so much stronger together than alone...let’s make connections that count!

Tuni Renaud Schartner c [\UP'KLLWIS\L[P JVT c

Having the Right Network Makes All the Difference Cisco’s Borderless Networks and Atrion SMB connect anyone, anywhere, on any device, at anytime. By linking together users, devices, and applications, you can connect securely and communicate more effectively. Contact Atrion SMB today at info@atrionsmb.net or by calling (401) 825-4422 to learn more about how they can provide highly secure yet flexible access to your business needs to stay competitive.

Scan or visit http://bit.ly/

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WOMEN IN BUSINESS | o-ver-communi-ca-tion

o-ver-communi-ca-tion (sung to the tune of The Ketchup Song)! “So, here’s my philosophy on email... ^OLU `V\ NL[ UV[LZ H KH` P[ PZ important to answer each one as you read it. If you hold it to think about, and then read it again, and then respond, you have doubled your intake folder and used up a lot of time. This is a fundamental rule of time management: Whether a paper or electronic letter, or a phone message, KLHS ^P[O P[ [OL ÄYZ[ [PTL you read/hear it. (Unless it is something that really YLX\PYLZ H SV[ VM YLZLHYJO VY [OV\NO[

by Nancy Thomas

Sharing a blog post from Paul Levy, Not Running a Hospital

Also, email has now changed. Its past virtue was that it was asynchronous. No one expected you to reply right away. Now, everyone has a PDA, and there is an expectation that you will be in touch all the time and responsive immediately. If you don’t give an answer, the person sends `V\ HUV[OLY UV[L TPU\[LZ SH[LY HZRPUN PM `V\ NV[ [OL ÄYZ[ VUL (NHPU `V\ OH]L now doubled your inbox. Unfortunately, this has now carried over into personal emails, too. If I didn’t answer relatively quickly, you would wonder if you offended me, or if I perceived you as unthoughtful, or whatever. So, I tend to reply quickly and concisely. Finally, as friends, we have lots going on back and forth during the day. Just as would be the case if we were together, some responses during the course of the day would be short and some long.”

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o-ver-communi-ca-tion | WOMEN IN BUSINESS

I’m sharing this because many of you will read this on the weekend, or in the evenings, a time, when, in theory, being in work mode should be slowing down…. yet you will take a peak at your work email, on your various Facebook pages, on your Twitter account and on LinkedIn – you will hear lots of chatter there – some important things, some not – some funny – some not. Events to note in your datebook, rsvp’s to give. You will see requests to “like me”, “friend me”, and “follow me”. You’ll want to even send some of those exact requests out yourself. Your approach might be to click through them all, take a peak, sigh deeply, and then plan to go back – when you have more time. You stop right there, maybe for another cup of coffee, to answer your cell phone, or you will get a text message. Suddenly you’ll see that you are going to be late for an appointment or that your children need to be picked up, or, if you have a home-based business, it could be a thousand things – from talking to the Fed ,_ KLSP]LY` KYP]LY [V WPJRPUN \W `V\Y VMÄJL space or google-ing around to make that hotel reservation for your vacation.

say, “got it, I’ll get back to you by tomorrow morning” and then DO JUST THAT!

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Between that work respite time and the time you return, guess what? There are more tweets, Facebook messages, emails, and text messages. When that happens to me, it is usually my daughter, with one text

www.risbj.com | ]VS\TL VUL PZZ\L Ä]L

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WOMEN IN BUSINESS | o-ver-communi-ca-tion

request, followed in short expectation by a second - “Mom! Why aren’t you answering me? – What is for dinner tonight?â€? The point here is rather a simple one. You might even be ‘an-tic-i-pat-ing’ what I’m going to tell you. But let’s look at my daughter’s text demand for a moment. She texted. Tossed her phone aside. Waited 30 seconds. Looked for a reply. She texted again – this time adding an exclamation point as if I could hear its demanding tone‌ What is her an-tic-i-pa-tion? Her expectation from me on the other end of her phone is for an answer. Not some time. Now. She wants an answer now. If I answer her immediately there is no problem. No agitation. No exclamation point following me around‌. If I do not, then that exclamation point taunts me until I do answer, or until she is now “concernedâ€? as to why I am not.

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RISBJ | rhode island small business journal

So – just for a moment, consider the “an-tic-i-pa-tion� on the other side of the business email, text, tweet or post. Remember that for that ‘demanding’ person on the other end, time is moving slowly, just like that thick sauce coming out of the ketchup bottle.

like the paper on your desk, actually it is more demanding than that‌.because a real person is pulling on the other end of it. Try to handle the email when you get it, when you open it; when a Twitter friend follows you, follow them back or not, but decide right then and there; check off

what is her an-tic-i-pa-tion? her expectation from me on the other end of her phone is for an answer. not some time. NOW. My recommendation, just as a good LMĂ„JPLUJ` L_WLY[ ^V\SK YLJVTTLUK MVY how to deal with paper in your inbox, is DEAL with that electronic pile-up. It is just

those FB comments; and oh, yes, clean out your voice mails that have piled up from a week’s worth of “I’ll answer them SH[LYš WOVUL JHSSZ 7 : Âś *HSS [OLT IHJR

My personal bugaboo? Not answering an email. I probably know that you don’t have the information straight away for a complete response. I know it will take some time for you to get it. If leaving emails unanswered or unacknowledged becomes a habit of yours, you will know this as the person ends most messages [V `V\ UV^ ^P[O ¸WSLHZL JVUÄYT [OH[ you received this, ok?”. In short – you have become annoying to that person. Nothing worst than texting or messaging into the ‘cloud’ or unresponsiveness. Acknowledge the email – say, “got it – I’ll get back to you by tomorrow morning” – and then – do just that! We are way, way o-ver-communi-cated…..but things aren’t going to change…. Nancy Thomas | President | Tapestry Communications

SAVE THE DATE SAT. & SUN.

SEPT. 8 & 9

10am to 4pm Fine Art & American-made Crafts

SHOW & SALE ! Pawtucket Armory Arts Center 172 Exchange St., Located at the Armory Arts Center in downtown Pawtucket, a beautiful spacious location, and perfect venue to highlight the extraordinary quality of art and craft from artists in our region. In addition, nearby Festival events will include music ,demonstrations and many other family events. FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

artsmarketplacepawtucket.com www.risbj.com | ]VS\TL VUL PZZ\L Ä]L

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The East Greenwich Chamber of *VTTLYJL JOHY[LYLK PU PZ H ]VS\U[HY` organization for business and professional people dedicated to the economic wellbeing of their community. The Chamber’s strength lies in the number and diversity of its members. Businesses from virtually every profession are represented. The Chamber accomplishes collectively what no one business can do alone.

achieve success while the non-business X\HSP[` VM SPML Ă…V\YPZOLZ HZ ^LSS ;OL ,HZ[ Greenwich Chamber and its members do their part to make East Greenwich a great place to live, work, play, and do business. +LZWP[L [OL KPMĂ„J\S[ LJVUVT` [OL *OHTILY OHZ HKKLK UL^ TLTILYZ in the past two years. The Chamber has seen many positive changes recently. Our membership is engaged and enthusiastic. We have expanded our programs and member participation. We are located in the middle of the State and our Town has an excellent quality of life. Both factors are helpful in our efforts to expand membership and enhance our Chamber’s vitality. We also have a good working YLSH[PVUZOPW ^P[O ;V^U VMĂ„JPHSZ ^OPJO ILULĂ„[Z [OL I\ZPULZZ JVTT\UP[` The Chamber has undertaken several initiatives to make for a better business climate. The East Greenwich Chamber of Commerce, New England Tech, The Town of East Greenwich, along with the Central Rhode Island Chamber, and The City of Warwick hosted a community outreach forum with Governor Chafee, RIEDC executives and ZL]LYHS V[OLY :[H[L VMĂ„JPHSZ ;OL W\YWVZL was to update the business community on actions to improve the State’s business environment. The Chamber has posted information from that session on our website. To learn more from the session, please go www. eastgreenwichchamber. com, and click on the “What’s Newâ€? tab. Then click on “Latest Newsâ€?.

The Chamber is also committed to providing ongoing business education to its members. Recently the Chamber along with the Town of East Greenwich and New England Tech, held a series of business seminars designed to help businesses increase their market share as well as helping new businesses increase their probability of success. We did this through www.rhodeislandsmallbusinessrecovery. JVT +H]L 5HZO JHU IL YLHJOLK H[ 8000 for information on future programs.

help create an environment in which business can achieve success while the non-business quality of life ÀRXULVKHV DV ZHOO East Greenwich has a historic and vital Main Street. Recently the Chamber’s Board of Directors approved an agreement with the Main Street Merchants. The Merchants became an operating committee of the Chamber. This relationship will enable the Merchants to continue to identify and develop activities designed to enhance the public’s experience on and around Main Street. The Chamber will provide administrative and marketing leadership for the Merchants and to continue growing the reputation of East Greenwich as a shopping and dining

Stephen M. Lombardi, Executive Director 4HPU :[YLL[ c ,HZ[ .YLLU^PJO 90 c www.eastgreenwichchamber.com

East Greenwich | FEATURED CHAMBER

destination. The Chamber will increase its support of Main Street Strolls, Holiday Strolls, Arts on Main, etc. The Chamber is also forging a relationship with the Main Street Association, a community group dedicated to maintaining and improving the quality of life on Main Street. They are involved with events like the Turkey Trot and Summer’s End Concert. Also on Main Street, the Greenwich Odeum is nearing reopening. For thirteen years, the Odeum was a vibrant performing arts center which attracted thousands to the community annually. Restaurants HUK V[OLY I\ZPULZZLZ ILULÄ[LK MYVT [OL theater. The Chamber is solidly behind its reopening because of the economic and J\S[\YHS ILULÄ[Z The EG Chamber is the voice of business in East Greenwich and is a member of the RI Chamber of Commerce Coalition, www. rhodeislandbusinessvotes.com. Through [OL JVHSP[PVUZ SVII`PZ[ ^L OH]L [LZ[PÄLK and campaigned on many issues that are pro-business. On a town level, we have campaigned for support from the Town VU PZZ\LZ PUJS\KPUN ILH\[PÄJH[PVU WYVQLJ[Z and support for business. The Chamber recently invested in a ^LIZP[L [V ILULÄ[ V\Y TLTILYZ :[PSS

the EG Chamber has maintained a very [YHKP[PVUHS Ă…H]VY HZ ^L HUU\HSS` W\ISPZO H WHNL >LSJVTL [V ,HZ[ .YLLU^PJO Guide. We distribute 5,000 copies through the real estate community, hotels, and through Chamber members. This guide to our community now features H 89 8\PJR 9LZWVUZL *VKL HUK PZ connected to our website. The Chamber still maintains the Greenwich Greeter Program which enables our member businesses to be introduced to new members of our community. Our goal is to maintain the old time feeling while staying current and looking ahead.

1

2

3

Events for East Greenwich

4

Tuesday, July 17 Business After Hours/Family Night at McCoy Stadium Sponsored by

5

Coastway Bank and Independence Bank, MVY [OL ILULĂ„[ VM ;OL ,HZ[ .YLLU^PJO Education Foundation Thursday, July 19

6

Main Street Stroll, 500pm to 800pm featuring Dog Parade Monday, July 23 -HYTLYÂťZ 4HYRL[ WT [V WT every Monday until October 29

7

Tuesday, August 21 Business After Hours H[ 9VJR` /PSS :JOVVS WT [V WT

8 Thursday, August 23 Main Street Stroll, 500pm to 800pm featuring Taste of East Greenwich Friday, August 31

9

at dusk, Summer’s End Concert ,SKYLKNL :JOVVS -PLSK www.risbj.com | ]VS\TL VUL PZZ\L Ä]L

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CHAMBER CHAT | What’s New

1

Central Chamber Lauren E.I. Slocum, President/CEO 3288 Post Road, Warwick, RI c ^^^ JLU[YHSYPJOHTILY JVT

Networking – Support – Advocacy. The Central Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce creates opportunities for members. While the needs of a business will change and are based on a number of key factors, the Central Rhode Island Chamber is available to help its members respond and set strategic goals for the future. Maximizing your investment in the Chamber is the secret to reaching these goals. The staff is available to meet with each member and connect them to the opportunities and individuals needed for them to take full advantage of their membership and achieve success. 2

Compensation Planning Inc *VYR )YL^ HUK :WPYP[Z ;VV County Cork Irish Pub Creative Child Inc DiPrete Law Enterprise Rent A Car Hasbro Lamar Advertising - Nicole Egan 3VUNZOV[Z )HY .YPSSL McArdle Chiropractic Wellness Center RI Marketing Solutions, LLC RISE Gynmastics :LYLUKPWP[` (Y[PZHUZ *YHM[LYZ 33* Subway TD Bank - West Shore Rd The Insurance Store Wildwood Catering Yagoozon

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RISBJ | rhode island small business journal

New Members Hope Alzheimer’s Center Frank Lombardi, Attorney at Law Ruggeri Carpets 3`UU (UU 2LYUZ )VVRLLWPUN (JJV\U[PUN

3

East Bay Chamber Mark Matrone, Chairman *\[SLY :[YLL[ :\P[L >HYYLU 90 c LHZ[IH`JOHTILYYP VYN

Cranston Chamber Stephen C. Boyle, President

New Members Anthony’s House of Formals Avon Representative - Cheryl Keller )HYIH (ZZVJPH[LZ Better Communicator

We will be sponsoring a local event for area businesses to come and directly voice their concerns to the Insurance Commission in late July. We recently OLSK V\Y [O (UU\HS .VSM ;V\YUHTLU[ at Alpine Country. Everyone had a great time and we appreciated the continued support for the Chamber.

6HRSH^U (]LU\L *YHUZ[VU 90 c www.cranstonchamber.com

Our mission is to promote businesses as the foundation for community growth and well-being by being the most reliable resource and leading advocate for businesses throughtout the East Bay and surrounding areas. Visit our website at www.eastbaychamberri.org, or “like� our facebookpage at www.facebook.com/ eastbaychamberri.

The Greater Cranston Chamber of Commerce continues to work on the issues that directly effects the bottom line of the members it represents. As the Chamber representative I was selected New Members to frame the discussion at the East Bay Consignment Health Commissioners Public Massage with Cecilia hearing on the proposed 5\[YP[PVU 3PML rate increases by the three The Foolish Fox main health carriers held The Sweete Shoppe at recently in Warwick. Health care costs continue to be unsustainable for 4 Narragansett Chamber most of the members Deborah Kelso, Executive Director 6JLHU 9VHK 5HYYHNHUZL[[ 90 and any increase only c ^^^ UHYYHNHUZL[[JVJ JVT effects the base rate but the true rate could be Narragansett Chamber of Commerce is ZPNUPĂ„JHU[S` OPNOLY 3HZ[ pleased to announce the opening of their time the State allowed a satellite information kiosk at the South WLYJLU[ PUJYLHZL [V [OL Beach Pavilion at Narragansett Town base rate but it resulted Beach. Local information will be given to PU H PUJYLHZL MVY VUL all interested beachgoers on Saturdays, of our members. Some Sundays and holidays through Labor I\ZPULZZLZ [LZ[PĂ„LK [OH[ [OL` Day. The purpose is to enhance customer OH]L OHK PUJYLHZLZ VM service at the beach and to promote the V]LY [OL SH[ MV\Y [V Ă„]L `LHYZ

What’s New | CHAMBER CHAT

5

area to visitors who may not be familiar with local attractions.

it’s all about “Businesses supporting Community supporting Businesses�!

New Members C2 Structures Lincoln Landscaping T’s Restaurant

Our 30th Anniversary celebration continues -- making this the year to join North Central Chamber! In honor of this important milestone, we are welcoming new members with valuable promotions, such as -- complimentary and discounted advertising in local newspapers, $30 in *OHTILY )\JRZ NVVK MVY L]LU[Z HUK a special for new businesses opened PU H TLTILYZOPW KPZJV\U[ North Central Chamber looks forward to continuing to serve the small business community in the towns of Johnston, 5VY[O 7YV]PKLUJL :TP[OĂ„LSK :JP[\H[L 8 Northern RI John C. Gregory, President/CEO Foster and Glocester for another 30 years.

Newport Jody Sullivan, Executive Director 35 Valley Road, Middletown, RI c ^^^ 5L^WVY[*OHTILY JVT

New Members Knit One Purl Too Marian A. Royer, D.M.D. Karen Armstrong, Tutor Southwest Texas Publishing, Inc. A. Tesa Architecture Platinum One New England Wings The Henry Collins Inn *1Z ;PYL (\[V :LY]PJL 0UJ Broadway Tavern Priority Payment Systems Northeast Exact Contracting Infotree Corporation Karen Elaine LeBlanc, Realtor Evelyn’s Drive-In Continental Travel Agency CD Advisory Services Tiverton Auto Body, Inc. Cottrell Bros. LLC. ( 7H]PUN 33* Sugar High, Inc. Seabreeze Stays The Attwater Lifestyle Designs Karen Santos Dill, ReMax Sullivan Tire Anna Anton, William Raveis, Chapman Enstone Elaine M. Carvelli, CLCT, Financial Planner

6

North Central Chamber Deborah Ramos, President 255 Greenville Avenue, Johnston, RI c ^^^ UJYPJOHTILY JVT

Under new leadership the North Kingstown Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to helping businesses in North Kingstown to grow and thrive. New initiatives and ILULĂ„[Z HYL ILPUN PU]LZ[PNH[LK HUK planned for the upcoming months. Golf anyone? The North Kingstown Chamber’s (UU\HS .VSM ;V\YUHTLU[ [V ILULĂ„[ [OL North Kingstown Special Olympics, is Monday, August 20th, we are now signing up foursomes. Can’t play golf; we are also YHMĂ…PUN VMM ¸UV Z[YPUNZ H[[HJOLKš :V\[O^LZ[ (PYSPUL [PJRL[Z LHJO VY MVY Call the chamber for your opportunity to have fun and/or support a worthy cause.

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For some, summertime business slows down‌.not here at North Central Chamber! We are full steam ahead looking to grow membership, help businesses and plan upcoming events and workshops. We just don’t stop; we don’t stop for small business.

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The Northern RI Chamber is gearing up for fall with two signature events: the NRI Chamber Annual Golf Outing is an outstanding opportunity to say thanks to clients and colleagues. Sponsorship

New Members Brigido’s Fresh Market – Totrama Supermarket, Inc. Cornerstone Group Horses of Course Pet Sitting, LLC 3PILYPUHZ +LSP Gourmet Express Metro Honda OPTX rhode island Robert Corio Designs Terrance N. Turner The Jewelry Center Tupperware by Riccitelli Webster Bank, N.A.

7

North Kingstown Martha Pughe, Executive Director 7VZ[ 9VHK

Buy small, buy local! Support small business, support each other! At the North Central Chamber of Commerce,

North Kingstown, RI www.northkingstown.com

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CHAMBER CHAT | What’s New opportunities available - don’t miss this 2 ) ;YHUZTPZZPVU chance to showcase your business in Twin River Chiropractic front of some of RI’s largest companies. The Children’s Workshop Our newest event will be the NRI Chamber Shop in the Valley Expo whichwill be 9 Southern RI Elizabeth Berman, Coordinator open to the public and will showcase 6SK ;V^LY /PSS 9VHK >HRLÄLSK 90 both member and non member retail c ^^^ ZYPJOHTILY JVT establishments and service industries. 7SLHZL JVU[HJ[ [OL *OHTILY VMÄJL H[ L_[LUZPVU VY LTHPS \Z at events@NRIChamber.com if you would like more information.

The Southern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce is a powerful alliance of more [OHU SVJHS I\ZPULZZ UVU WYVĂ„[Z HUK organizations, both large and small.

New Members The Burrito Company BENCHMARK Building Company, Inc. Trusted Insurance Alliance Merrill Lynch – Matthew DiTomasso (IV]L (SS 9VVÄUN 0UJ Always Healthy Vending Kona Ice Cumberland RI, Inc.

Our Business Directory is one of the pillars of that alliance, a tool we use to drive business to each other’s company through referrals and a sense of “shop SVJHS Ă„YZ[š 6UL VM [OL NYLH[LZ[ Z[YLUN[OZ of our Chamber is that we encourage our membership to patronize their fellow members, with the understanding that they

will in turn patronize them when the need for their company arises. Our Directory is a one stop listing of all the products and services our Member’s may need. The SRICC Directory is also available to the public: so whether someone is looking for a new place to call home, a vacation destination, or the right place to start or grow their business, The Southern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce Directory is their “go to� list. New Members Cool Beans Cafe Education by Entertainment .HSSHNOLY (JJV\U[PUN )VVRRLLWPUN CrossFit South Kingstown South County Fix It, LLC Bernstein Global Wealth Management Wild Rhody Seafood 4\YWO` -H` ;P[SL HUK ,ZJYV^ 33*

New East Greenwich Chamber Members Alex and Ani Sew Many Things Ryan Center at URI- Daryl Jasper Pickles Custom Catering Pawtucket Red Sox Organical Botanical @home care World Pay +P]LYZPĂ„LK -PUHUJPHS .YV\W )PSS >PU[LY 4HY[PULH\ (ZZVJPH[LZ Drizzle Pizza Bank of America- David Rodrigues Besos Tea House

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NDK Dental East Greenwich Education Foundation Cox Communications Roosters Men’s Grooming Center The Bridal Garden McKinley’s Pub Hill Top Creamery Oak Hill Farm LLC ZuZu’s Petals Audra’s Cafe Playground Prep NY Life- Curtis Folco Organizing in RI

Staci’s Lingiere Pay Chex- Joshua Kiernan Promotion With Motion :LX\LUJL .LUL[PJ 0U[LNYHS >LSSULZZ Poloquin Fitness Center

A Special Thank You to our New Corporate Sponsors Bank Newport Cox Communications Rhode Island Blood Center

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Point of Sale Solutions

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The Rhode Island Small Business Journal is excited to introduce our newest media partner, GoGo Cast. This Rhode Island based organization is a leading on-demand, location based digital media company providing real-time HD digital news, information and advertising displays in hundreds of high traffic retail locations across the state. This partnership will provide RISBJ with additional reach in the digital media market statewide.

We Install and Service Point of Sale Systems for any Restaurant or Retail Business. Credit Card Services Available A

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269 Greenville Avenue, Johnston:

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297 Cowesett Avenue, West Warwick:

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444 Wellington Avenue, Cranston:

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111 Hopkins Hill Road, West Greenwich:

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7265 Post Road, North Kingstown:

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R EA L ESTATE = I NDEPENDENCE

Butler

Realty Group

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401-886-7800 www.ButlerRealty.us

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www.risbj.com | ]VS\TL VUL PZZ\L Ä]L

67

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE

COMMERCIAL NEWS PROPERTY SOLD! Butler Realty Group involved in two major commerical transactions. 47 Sandy Bottom Road, Coventry RI

Participants Broker: Jeffrey A. Butler Phone: 401-886-7800 Brokerage Co.: Butler Realty Group Co-Broker: -DFN %UDYHUPDQ Co-Brokerage Co.: 6WRQH 7RZHU 3URSHUWLHV Landlord/Seller: (GZDUG 3 )ODQDJDQ -U Tenant/Buyer: V H Partners, LLC Type of Business: VT IW 0XOWL 7HQDQWHG SOD]D ZLWK 5H0D[ &HQWUDO /HJLQ 'DQFH 6WXGLR $Q\WLPH )LWQHVV 6XEZD\ /LEHUW\ 7D[ D .DUDWH 6FKRRO DQG 6DORQ 3RUFK 3DWLR 3RRO LV YDFDWLQJ ¶ ZKLFK LV QRZ DYDLODEOH IRU OHDVH LW LV GLYLGDEOH GRZQ WR VT IW 7KH QHZ RZQHUV SODQ RQ H[WHULRU UHQRYDWLRQ IRU WKH ROGHU VHFWLRQ DQG KDYH DOUHDG\ EHJXQ ZRUNLQJ RQ SDUNLQJ ORW KDQGLFDS DFFHVV DQG ODQGVFDSLQJ 68

RISBJ | rhode island small business journal

2258 Post Road, Warwick RI

Participants Broker: Jeffrey A. Butler Phone: 401-886-7800 Brokerage Co.: Butler Realty Group Co-Broker: Don Morash (401) 732-0011 Co-Brokerage Co.: Abbott Properties Landlord/Seller: JAC York, LLC Tenant/Buyer: Caprice Realty, Inc. Type of Business: Porcaro & Associates, CPA, Greg Porcaro Principal 3RUFDUR¶V DFFRXQWLQJ ¿UP DQG $GYDQWDJH 3D\UROO 6HUYLFHV ZLOO RFFXS\ PRVW RI WKLV ¶ VWRU\ VLJQDWXUH EXLOGLQJ ZLWK D IXOO EDVHPHQW WKDW PRVW UHFHQWO\ KRXVHG &ROGZHOO %DQNHU 5HDO (VWDWH ,W KDV SURPLQHQW SUHVHQFH RQ 3RVW 5G DQG DEXWV WKH 6WDWH $LUSRUW 3URSHUW\

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE

COMMERCIAL BROKERS This Space is for You! Call Ralph Coppolino 401.837.0239 ralph@rejri.com

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69

| All The Services You Are Looking For

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RISBJ | rhode island small business journal

Specializing in Small Business & Self-Employed Plans

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Natural Gas and Electricity Your Business Can Start Saving Today! It Is Time To Give Us A Call.

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71

BUSINESS | Directory

3am Writers

Black Ink Virtual Assistance

GLAD WORKS Adam Harvey

MG Commercial Real Estate

RIEDC

Aileen McDonough Cranston, RI

Melissa Black

Providence, RI

Mike Giuttari

BlackInkVA.com

Providence, RI

Providence, RI

gladworks.com

3amwriters.com

mgcommercial.com

BORI Graphix

Alisson Walsh broadband.ri.gov

AAA

Cranston, RI

GOGOCAST, Inc.

Alisa Capaldi

John Bordeleau

borigraphix.com

Cranston, RI

New England Credit Card

RWL Contractors

Providence, RI

Brett Fish

Pawtucket, RI

gogocast.com

East Greenwich, RI

memberclubdeal.com

Braver

Jim Wilkinson

newenglandccs.com

Kevin Leblanc

rwlcontractors.com

Aerotek

Providence, RI

GoLocal

Providence, RI 02903

Josh Fenton

areotek.com

thebravergroup.com

Providence, RI

New Life Marketing

golocalprov.com

Mike Amato

Stefan’s On Broadway

:TP[OĂ„LSK 90

)YVHK^H`

AM 790

Butler Real Estate

Joe Lembo

Jeff Butler

Image Identity

East Providence, RI

Warwick, RI

Dave Lubelczyk

North Attleboro, MA

I\ZPULZZ JVT

butlerrealty.us

imageidentity.com

Ameriprise Financial Services

Capability Accelerators

Danny P. Dehoney

Jeffrey Deckman

Cranston, RI

Providence, RI

ameripriseadvisors.com

capabilityaccelerators.com

/danny.p.dehoney

Computer Telephone Anania Chiropractic

Linda Gordon

Dr. Karen Anania

Warwick, RI

Providence, RI

computertelephone.biz

ananiachiropractic.com

Atrion Networking SMB

DeFelice 2IĂ°FH 6XLWHV

Rick Norberg

Tom DeFelice

Warwick , RI

Warwick, RI

atrionsmb.net

defelicecenter.com

Auto Paint RI

Fancy Scrubs

Ken Pjojian

Johnston Insurance Mark Rotondo Johnston, RI johnstoninsuranceri.com

Life-Panel Tim Sullivan Rumford, RI well-track.com

Jeffrey Lipet Small Business Healthcare Options sbhori.com

iwantinternetmarketing.com

NY Life

stefansonbroadway.com

Jonathan Matrullo Providence, RI

PosiNet Raymond S. LaBelle Warwick, RI

Survey Advantage Michael Casey Jamestown, RI surveyadvantage.com

POSinetPOS.com

Providence Bruins Jodi Duclos Providence, RI providencebruins.com

United Better Homes Keith Fitzsimmons Providence, RI unitedbetterhomes.com

Raskin Resources Productions Patricia Raskin East Greenwich, RI

Lucier CPA, Inc.

Providence, RI

patriciaraskin.com

University Business Consultants Dennis Rebello >HRLĂ„LSK 90

David Lucier Johnston, RI

Lisa Buben

RE/MAX 1st Choice

Cranston, RI

Hope, RI

Diana Barone

universitypdc.com

Luciercpa.com

Cranston, RI

autopaintri.com

fancyscrubs.com

BDCRI

WasteXpress

dianabarone.com

Garden City Center

Make-A-Wish FoundationÂŽ of MA and RI

RE/MAX Central

Cranston, RI

Lisa Sullivan

Joe Koechel

Ashley DeSimone

Leo Tatangelo

Providence, RI

Cranston, RI

Providence, RI

Coventry, RI

wastexpressri.com

_

bdcri.com

gardencitycenter.com

massri.wish.org

tatangelogroup.com

Best Practice Energy

Gentry Moving

MBM Insurance

Rhode Island Telephone

Bryan Yagoobian

Brian Crum

Marybeth Mainelli

George Shaheen

>HRLĂ„LSK 90

Johnston, RI

Johnston, RI

Cranston, RI

Cranston, RI

bestpracticeenergy.com

gentrymoving.com

mbmirc.com

ritelephone.com

williamsandstuart.com

72

RISBJ | rhode island small business journal

John A. Souto III

Williams & Stewart Real Estate

BE A

BIG FISH IN A LITTLE BANK

Greenville (401) 949-1600 | Cumberland (401) 333-3666 | East Providence (401) 244-6691 | www.freedomnationalbank.com

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