Unleash the Power of The Press

Archives for January 2011

HR Knowledge Rolls Out New Charter School Division

Ken Bettenhauser

HR Knowledge, Inc., providers of best-in-class integrated human resource services to clients throughout the Northeast, has recently announced a new Charter School Division to specifically cater to the human resource needs of charter schools.

HR Knowledge’s new division and dedicated staff will serve a fast growing charter school client base in the Northeast. HR Knowledge is an HR Business Process Outsourcer (BPO) that provides HR management, Payroll Processing, Managed Services, Group Benefits, Financial Services, Recruiting and Hiring services. The company helps manage the necessary but time-consuming HR administrative tasks; provides state-of-the-art payroll processing solutions as well as “Best in Class” health and welfare benefits, which allows charter school administrators and staff to stay focused on their business – providing the highest quality of education to children.

The division will be led by Kenneth Bettenhauser, one of the co-founders and the President of Brokerage Services at HR Knowledge.

According to Bettenhauser, “The challenges faced by public education have promoted the growth of alternative learning environments. The charter school industry is one of the fastest growing in the nation and because we provide HR services to many of the charter schools in the Northeast, we’ve also experienced significant growth. We are very sensitive to their needs and have developed a specific program which addresses their particular requirements.”

HR Knowledge currently serves over 25 Charter Schools, including: The MATCH School of Boston; Mystic Valley Regional Charter Public School in Malden, MA; City on a Hill Charter Public School in Roxbury, MA; Seven Hills Charter Public School in Worcester, MA; South Shore Charter Public School in Norwell, MA and a number of other charter schools in the Northeast. HR Knowledge has also worked with charter schools in New York, Washington D.C. and Ohio.

More than 75 charter school administrators and staff were in attendance at HR Knowledge’s recent “Navigating a New Course – Celebrating Charter School Excellence” luncheon event which featured a private screening of “Waiting for Superman” movie at the West Newton Cinema. The film is a documentary that analyzes the challenges facing public education starring renowned Education Reformer Geoffrey Canada.

For additional information about HR Knowledge’s Charter School Division, contact Ken Bettenhauser at (508) 339-1300.

More About Charter Schools

In Massachusetts, charter schools are independent public schools that operate under five year charters granted by the Commonwealth’s Board of Education. In New York, charter schools are independent and autonomous and approved by the State University of New York. According to Pennsylvania’s Department of Education, charter schools are self-managed public schools that are approved by local school districts. For more general information about charter schools across the nation, visit uscharterschools.org.

About HR Knowledge, Inc.

HR Knowledge, Inc. is a leading Business Process Outsourcer (BPO) serving emerging to mid-sized companies throughout the Northeast. HR Knowledge has the experience and technology to efficiently provide best-in-class integrated HR services at an affordable cost to clients. HR Knowledge’s leaders have more than 100 years of combined experience and provide expert guidance in Human Resource management, Group Benefits Brokerage, Payroll Processing & Managed Services, Financial Services and Recruiting and Hiring Process Management (HPM).  Through their comprehensive Human Resource Services, HR Knowledge helps organizations minimize operational risks, reduce administrative costs and better serve their people.

HR Knowledge is headquartered at 905B South Main Street, Suite 203 in Mansfield and their second office is located at 45 First Avenue in Waltham, MA. For more information, contact (508) 339-1300 or visit their website at hrknowledge.com.

HR Knowledge Rolls Out New Charter School DivisionRead More

Rodman & Rodman shares “Top 10 Things Your Accountant Wants to Tell You”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Larry Rice, CPA

CONTACT: Steven V. Dubin, PR Works, (781) 582-1061, sdubin@prworkzone.com

Local CPAs Share the “Top 10 Things Your Accountant Wants to Tell You”

DATELINE: BRAINTREE AND NEWTON, MASS… As tax season commences, Rodman & Rodman P.C., CPAs and Business Strategists with offices in Braintree and Newton, shares the “Top 10 Things Your Accountant Wants to Tell You” to make filing taxes easier on both the tax payer and the CPA.

Take heed:

1)If your accountant sends you a tax organizer to complete and send in, don’t concern yourself so much with filling in the numbers. Just be sure to answer the questions in the organizer and provide the necessary documents. Answering the questions may raise an issue of importance that needs addressing.

2)Send in your information when you have MOST of it, not all of it. Indicate what is missing and get it in when you have it. Waiting until the last document is received puts more time pressure on your CPA to get more done in less time.

3)Notes are helpful. Anything which helps clarify an issue or that may be a question about an issue, helps.

4)Please be sure to confirm any estimated taxes you paid during the year. This is probably the area where the most misunderstandings occur and mistakes are made.

5)Don’t overvalue your clothing donations. There are guides available to help you value these items. Just because a sweater cost you $100, it doesn’t mean it is worth $50 or more to the homeless gentleman who is grateful to wear it. This is an issue of IRS interest. If you get audited, they’ll be looking at these donations, so be conservative.

6)Extending your return does not make it more likely to be audited. If you know you won’t have it together before April 15th, let your CPA know as soon as possible so an extension can be prepared well ahead of the deadline. Extending early takes significant pressure off everyone involved.

7)Make sure your CPA is aware of major events that could affect your taxes as far ahead of that event as possible. In many cases, once that event passes, the ability to take best tax advantage of it passes with it.

8)Missing documents cost time and money. Keep a folder, envelope or file for documents of a tax nature. When in doubt, put it in this folder and send it. While accountants aren’t crazy about shoe boxes full of receipts, having 30 percent of your information missing is a time killer.

9)If you buy and sell stock during the year, be sure to include a gain or loss schedule on these stocks sold. You may have to ask your broker for that information or oftentimes a schedule is available online.

10)The IRS almost never communicates with taxpayers except through official, mailed correspondence. Never respond to a phone inquiry or email inquiry without contacting your CPA first. You could be at risk for identity theft as theives posing as the IRS will try to obtain your social security number by phone or email.

According to Larry Rice, CPA, Director of Strategic Consulting at Rodman & Rodman, “Many of these tips may seem too simple to make a difference, but essentially, they do. A lot of time is wasted when your accountant has to double back and hound you for additional detail or receipts. Decent record-keeping and good communication are key for smoother and more efficient tax filing all around.”

Rodman & Rodman, P.C.

Founded in 1961, Rodman & Rodman, P.C. provides accounting, tax and business services to individuals anbd small to medium-sized companies throughout New England. From business valuations, taxation, audits, fraud detection and prevention services and succession planning to a variety of accounting IT services including software selection, implementation and training, the team at Rodman & Rodman serves as comprehensive advisors to clients. For individual clients, the company offers personal advisory services such as planning for real estate transactions, obtaining financing, estate planning and retirement planning as well as planning for college education.

Rodman & Rodman has achieved the designation of “Green Certified Business” from the Institute for Green Business Certification, Inc. (IGBC), demonstrating their outstanding commitment to the environmental health and well-being of the communities they serve. The company has taken the lead in Recycling,Water Conservation, Energy Conservation, Waste Reduction, and Environmentally Friendly Purchasing as well as the environmental elements of the EPA and OSHA regulations.

Additionally, Rodman & Rodman has been listed in the Top 50 Firms by the Boston Business Journal and named one of the “Best Accounting Firms to Work For” in Accounting Today.

Rodman & Rodman Certified Public Accountants are located at 3 Newton Executive Park in Newton and 25 Braintree Hill Office Park in Braintree, Mass. For more information, visit their website at www.rodmancpa.com or contact (617) 965-5959.

Rodman & Rodman shares “Top 10 Things Your Accountant Wants to Tell You”Read More

Old Sandwich Road Race passes first check point; donates race profits to The Home for Little Wanderer’s Baird Center School.

PLYMOUTH, MA…

It’s difficult to make history on America’s oldest road. The first ever Old Sandwich Road Race (OSRR), which took place mostly on America’s oldest road—Old Sandwich Road in Plymouth—did just that with more than 500 participants in the half marathon, 10k and kids races. The culmination of the success was the recent donation of race profits to The Home for Little Wanderer’s Baird Center School in Plymouth.

The Baird Center School is a year-round residential and day school treatment program for youth aged 10-18 with a wide range of emotional, behavioral, educational and psychiatric issues. Adding yet another historical element to the Old Sandwich Road Race, The Home for Little Wanderers is the nation’s oldest non-profit child and family service agency, with roots dating back to 1799.

Old Sandwich Road Race Director Craig Valentine Brenner presented $900 worth of Christmas gifts to residents and students at The Baird Center School. Josh Grant, director of The Baird Center School, accepted the gifts on behalf of the school.

“This was the real finish line for the first Old Sandwich Road Race,” said Brenner. “We achieved a lot of milestones in our first year, namely creating a destination race that drew 5o0 runners from all around the country to Plymouth. This first donation presentation is the icing on the year one cake.”

Added Grant, “The Home for Little Wanderers is delighted to accept this generous donation on behalf of The Baird Center School. We’re proud to be the benefactor of all the effort that went into putting on the first Old Sandwich Road Race. We wish them well as they prepare for the 2011 race.”

The 2011 Old Sandwich Road Race will take place over the course of two days, Saturday, June 4 and Sunday, June 5. The Saturday race will feature the Kids Classic and a new addition to the Old Sandwich Road Race, the OSRR 5k. Sunday’s main events include the OSRR Half Marathon, which takes place on Old Sandwich Road, and the Entergy 10k, beginning at Plimouth Plantation. All races end at Plymouth South High School.

Besides the OSRR 5k, new additions include finishers medals for all who finish the OSRR half marathon, an exclusive pasta party and an after-race barbecue on Sunday after the half marathon and 10k.

Those interested in running the 2011 OSRR can sign up via www.oldsanwichroadrace.com. The first 1500 registrants will receive a shirt. This year’s race also has a referral lottery. If you are a registered runner and you refer a friend, who identifies your name in the fill-in field on the online registration form, you will be automatically entered into a drawing for $250 in running gear from Bayside Runner www.baysiderunner.com. The winner will be announced on race day.

Originally a trail used by the Wampanoag Native American tribe, Old Sandwich Road later became the nation’s first true public road and a stagecoach route to ferry passengers and mail back and forth between the Massachusetts towns of Plymouth and Sandwich. Today, the road remains pretty much as the Pilgrims left it–a wide, scenic, dirt road bordered by beautiful tall pine trees and towering oaks.

You can visit the Old Sandwich Road Race Web site at http://www.oldsandwichroadrace.com. Selected by Runner’s World, as “one of the five races not to miss in 2010”, The Old Sandwich Road Race also has pages on Facebook and Twitter. If you or your company is interested in sponsoring next year’s race, please contact Craig Valentine Brenner at 617-680-4230 or info@oldsandwichroadrace.com.

Old Sandwich Road Race passes first check point; donates race profits to The Home for Little Wanderer’s Baird Center School.Read More

Webster One Source Names Gabriel J. Alvarez as Buskro Operator

Webster One Source, providers of fine commercial printing, commercial sign solutions and complete mailing/fulfillment services to clients throughout New England has recently named Gabriel J. Alvarez as Buskro Operator. Webster One Source has locations in West Boylston and Hanson, MA.

In his new position as Webster One Source’s Buskro Operator, Alvarez will work out of the company’s mailroom in West Boylston and be responsible for labeling and quality control.

For two years previous, Alvarez was employed at Saltus Press in Worcester as a Mailroom/Bindery Supervisor overseeing the work flow in both departments and ensuring quality control. Prior to that, he was an operator on the Muller Martini saddle stitcher, buskro and inserter at Saltus.

Alvarez is a native of Medellin, Colombia, where he graduated high school and went on to receive a degree in Machine Tools. He resides in Lawrence, MA.

“Gabriel, who was previously employed with Saltus Press, is very conscientious and has the hands-on experience needed to ensure accuracy and quality in every client job,” noted Ernie Foster, president of Webster One Source who is also a Worcester native.

One Source. Unlimited Possibilities™

Since 1955, Webster One Source has provided fine commercial printing to local, regional and national clients. Led by Ernie Foster, a Worcester native, Webster One Source, was formerly known as Webster Printing and Mailing of Hanson and Webster Fulfillment of Worcester before the two merged in 2008.

Renowned as a “one-stop-shop” and named a “Boston Top 25 Printer” by the Boston Business Journal, Webster One Source’s niche is “space on demand” storage along with complete fulfillment “pick/pack” services. Their complete suite of services includes digital and offset printing; next generation online print solutions and e-procurement; commercial sign solutions; storage and fulfillment; distribution and warehousing; full-service bindery; integrated marketing support and complete direct mail solutions.

One of the first green printers in the area, Webster One Source is an FSC Certified printer.  Additionally, the company has recently invested $3M in new environmentally friendly presses that use fewer chemicals and less energy. Webster One Source is located at 1069 West Washington Street in Hanson and 100 Hartwell Street in West Boylston. For more information, contact the Hanson office at 781-447-5484 or West Boylston office at 508-835-6234 or visit www.websteronesource.com.

###

Webster One Source Names Gabriel J. Alvarez as Buskro OperatorRead More

Old Colony Elder Services Needs Emergency Fund Sponsors

Last year, through its Emergency Fund, Old Colony Elder Services (OCES) helped 202 low–income seniors remain in their homes. These seniors ranged from 60 to 93 years old and most of their needs were fuel, medical transportation and utility bills. The number of elders needing emergency assistance has increased greatly this year and OCES is seeking sponsors.

OCES’ Emergency Fund provides assistance to meet the needs of elders in crisis or emergency situations that threaten their health or living status and cannot be addressed through the use of any other resource. In other words, there is no other funding source or agency available to address the need identified. These needs include fuel assistance; new stoves/oil burners; utility bill payments; short-term emergency shelter; medical transport; medications; air conditioners for individuals with breathing difficulties; hot water heaters; plumbing, food and more.

According to Diana DiGiorgi, Executive Director of OCES, “It is through the generous donations of individuals and businesses that OCES is able to continue to provide critical services to elders in the community who are most at risk. As we begin a new year on the heels of ‘Blizzard 2010’ with a growing number of elders in crisis situations, please consider sponsoring our Emergency Fund.”

Examples of elders who have received assistance from OCES include:

  • A 75–year–old single female living alone in her own home on a fixed income whose hot water heater was leaking and needed to be replaced. She could not afford to pay for the entire replacement. The cost to replace the hot water heater was $900. She was only able to pay $300 towards the new heater. OCES’ Emergency Funds assisted her with the balance.
  • A 63–year–old female, living alone in her own home and suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, neuropathy, anxiety and depression and who has a history of stroke. She lives on fixed income and was in need of fuel. OCES’ Emergency Funds helped provide her with oil delivery.
  • An 80–year-old woman living with her spouse in their own home on a fixed income. They were in need of a furnace replacement, but did not have the funds to pay for it. They received funding assistance from two other resources to help cover the cost, but not the total amount. OCES’ Emergency Funds were used to help pay for the balance on a new furnace.

Historically, almost half of all the Emergency Funds dispersed have assisted elders with fuel/heating and plumbing.

Donations may be made to:

Old Colony Elder Services

144 Main Street

Brockton, MA 02301

Attn: Emergency Fund

Old Colony Elder Services provides a number of programs to assist seniors, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers. Although these programs are partially supported by government funding, the agency’s Emergency Fund, a fund specifically established to meet the needs of elders in crisis or emergency situations, is funded by individual and corporate sponsors.

For questions about the Emergency Fund, please contact Lucille Dallaire at

OCES (508) 584-1561.

About OCES
Incorporated in 1974, Old Colony Elder Services is one of 27 private, non-profit Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. OCES offers a number of programs to serve seniors, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers such as Family Caregiver Support; Adult Family Care; Supportive Housing; Nutrition; Money Management; Protective Services and Home Care.Abington, Avon, Bridgewater, Brockton, Carver, Duxbury, East Bridgewater, Easton, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Kingston, Lakeville, Marshfield, Middleboro, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, Rockland, Stoughton, Wareham, West Bridgewater and Whitman.  The organization’s mission is to provide services that support the dignity and independence of elders by helping them maximize their quality of life; live safely and in good health; and, prevent unnecessary or premature institutionalization. In 2009, OCES was honored with the Metro-South Chamber of Commerce’s “Economic Impact Award”. The agency has 140 employees. For more information call (508) 584-1561 or visit the website at www.oldcolonyelderservices.org

OCES serves elders, their families and caregivers in 23 towns in Southeastern Massachusetts:

Old Colony Elder Services Needs Emergency Fund SponsorsRead More