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South Coast Improvement Company goes to the head of the class with Boston College Upgrades Completed

Tom Quinlan, President

South Coast Improvement Company, one of the largest design, construction and management companies in the Northeast, has recently launched a new College/School Division to specifically cater to the needs of this growing market. As an example, South Coast Improvement has just completed upgrades at Vouté and Gabelli Halls, the legendary townhouse-style apartments for upperclassmen at Boston College, one of the nation’s best coeducational universities located on Commonwealth Avenue in Chestnut Hill.

The stunning Vouté and Gabelli Halls, originally completed in 1988, are home to more than 380 upperclassmen. Over the last five years, South Coast Improvement has completed several similar projects for Boston College, including the complete renovation of residence kitchens, bathrooms, hallways and common areas in occupied residence halls, suites and apartments.

To better meet increased demand for complex renovation projects within occupied and operational environments such as the academic environment, South Coast Improvement has created a new College/School Division, which is overseen by Henry Quinlan, the company’s EVP and Production Manager.

South Coast Improvement was the General Contractor on the Boston College project. The luxurious townhouses, 17 in all, feature two bedrooms, a full kitchen, dining room, living room and full bath. Approximately 120,000 sq. ft. of the two residence halls was renovated. The scope of this year’s project was interior and building envelope renovations, which included the installation of all new acoustical ceiling systems, new drywall, new flooring, new access panels and paint.

South Coast Improvement protected the owner’s interest through strict adherence to the budget and time schedule and successful coordination of subcontractor and skilled tradesmen. Project Managers were on-site every day, sites were kept clean and daily reports were provided to the Facilities Manager. They completed the project in an aggressive six week schedule, mobilizing the teams to work seven days a week to successfully deliver the project on time.

Tom Quinlan, President of South Coast Improvement said, “The challenge of this type of project is always the time frame. The residence halls are often in use all year, as opposed to days gone by when the halls were closed for the summer. We are given a very small window to mobilize and get in to complete the job. Our team understands that excuses and/or delays are unacceptable. As is often the case and was again on this project, the scope of work expanded while the project was underway. We utilized all necessary manpower to meet the original agreed upon deadline.”

“South Coast Improvement completed all phases of each project on time and with professional quality,” said Daniel Roderick, Facilities Manager at Boston College. “I would recommend them.”

Occupied and Operational Environments are SCI’s Niche

When it comes to complex renovation projects within occupied and operational environments, South Coast Improvement are the experts. The company provides new construction, full renovations, capital improvements, building envelope improvements and interior renovations.

The company has successfully completed significant projects for healthcare facilities, educational institutions, commercial properties, assisted living facilities, senior living and residential communities throughout New England, New York and New Jersey. Their portfolio of healthcare and senior occupied renovation projects includes numerous projects for Atria, Benchmark and Welch Health Care & Retirement Group, to name a few. They have just completed their 23rd major renovation for Revera Health.

South Coast Improvement utilizes Special Building Practices and Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) Matrix of Precautions for Construction and Renovation to ensure the comfort and safety of residents and patients who occupy the spaces that are being renovated. Their experience, high standards of compliance, overall quality and their ability to complete projects on time and on budget, sets them apart from their competitors.

About South Coast Improvement Company

South Coast Improvement Company offers an extensive range of design, construction and construction management services regionally in the Northeast and across the U.S. With decades of experience, the company is renowned for high quality, efficiency and high standards of compliance which sets them apart from their competitors. They are are engaged in projects across sectors that include healthcare, institutional, commercial, hospitality and planned communities/residential. The company offers pre-construction analysis, construction management, general contracting, design/build services, capital improvement, building envelope improvements and interior renovations.

South Coast Improvement maintains memberships and professional affiliations with the Assisted Living Facility Association, the American Society of Interior Designers, the International Facility Managers Association, the Community Associations Institute, as well as International Real Estate Managers and the Greater New Bedford Chamber of Commerce.

South Coast Improvement is headquartered at 208 Wareham Road in Marion, MA 02738.

For more information, contact (508) 748-6545; email Information@southcoastimprovement.com or visit the website at www.southcoastimprovement.com

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Steve Rodman of Rodman & Rodman Graduates from Boston University’s Leading Clean Energy Ventures Program

Steve Rodman

Steve Rodman, CPA, MST, President of Rodman & Rodman, P.C., an independent accounting firm with a specialty practice in clean technology and renewable energy projects, recently became one of 12 graduates of the 2012 class of Fellows of the Leading Clean Energy Ventures (LCEV) program.

The Leading Clean Energy Ventures Fellowship is an innovative development program offered by the New England Clean Energy Council (NECEC) and Boston University School of Management. Designed for experienced entrepreneurs and executives, the program focused on the complexity of energy markets and diverse clean technology companies at various stages of development.

“The Leading Clean Energy Ventures program is a terrific program that is focused on solving real world market challenges. It is a must for those looking to transition into the clean energy sector,” noted Rodman.

Rodman is a member of the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) which is a chapter of the American Solar Energy Society and the nation’s leading regional membership organization promoting sustainable energy solutions. The Rodman & Rodman firm is also a member of New England Clean Energy Council, and a sponsor of the Association of Cleantech Incubators of New England (ACTION).

Rodman & Rodman’s “Green Team”, is a specialized green energy and clean technology practice within the firm that focuses on alternative energy producers and investors. The Green Team provides clients in biomass, wind, solar, geothermal, landfill gasses, municipal solid waste, hydroelectric and hydrokinetic sectors of the renewable energy industry with expert green energy tax advisory, accounting services and business strategy through all stages of their project and business lifecycles.

About Rodman & Rodman P.C.

Founded in 1961 and listed in the Boston Business Journal’s “Top 50 Firms”, Rodman & Rodman, P.C. provides accounting, tax and business services to small and medium-sized companies. With a focus on strategic planning, Rodman & Rodman goes beyond traditional accounting services and takes a proactive approach when serving clients to increase, preserve and sustain clients’ financial net worth. The Rodman & Rodman Green Team is a specialized green energy and clean technology accounting and tax services practice within Rodman & Rodman, P.C. that serves “green” clients throughout the U.S. The company is Green Business Certified and in 2010 and 2011 was named one of the “Best Accounting Firms to Work For” in Accounting Today.

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, P.C. are located at 3 Newton Executive Park in Newton and 25 Braintree Hill Office Park in Braintree, MA. For more information, email info@rodmancpa.com, visit their website at www.rodmancpa.com or contact (617) 965-5959.

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Wave2 Launches New Franchise Division

Wave2 logoFranchisors and Franchisees Collaborate Using a Self-Service Portal Automating Marketing and Promotion Processes

DATELINE: WESTBOROUGH, MA

Franchisees in Tampa, Topeka and Tempe are about to launch new locations and need marketing tools to reach new customers, promotional collateral to present professional consistent messages along with digital ad campaigns to hit the ground running.  How do you control promotional activities in multiple locations with a consistent message, image and quality?

Wave2 Media Solutions has launched a new Franchise Division that removes the drama, cost and hassle replacing it with an easy to use self-service white-labelled portal to manage the entire marketing and promotional process.  A customized portal designed with your branding offering your corporately approved designs for both print and digital campaigns that can be accessed and edited by your franchisees.

With an eight year track record of providing similar services for the world’s leading newspapers and corporate clients, Wave2 Media Solutions is poised to take that same technology and turnkey solution to the franchise industry. Wave2’s large install base of newspaper partners will play an important role in this strategy.  A new Expert Partner” status will enable newspapers to participate with the local franchisees by facilitating their use of the Wave2 solution.

While most franchisors are looking to manage and control use of their brand there is a void of systems to enable them to do this.  Wave2 working with their newspaper partners will be able to offer a digital workflow that will connect franchisees to their local newspaper’s advertising products for the print editions of the newspaper and digital ads for the newspaper’s website.

Wave2 Media Solutions also helps manage, control and implement online standards for other marketing materials.  These include logoed apparel, email campaigns, brochures, business cards, direct mail, door hangers, internal and external signage, Point of Purchase (POP), post cards and anything that includes a franchisor’s brand.

Stormy seas?  Worried about protecting your brand?  Need to streamline marketing materials for franchisees?  Wave2 can help you navigate the roughest seas to a safe harbor.

“We understand that the last thing franchisors want is to juggle dozens of emails, phone calls and shipments from warehouses around the country every time a franchisee needs new monthly promotional materials or on-going marketing tools,” noted Brian Gorman, co-founder and Vice President of Wave2 Media Solutions.  “The typical franchisor system being used today is a server with static PDFs that franchisees can download or they order pre-printed material from a warehouse.  These systems offer little if any customization and regionalization for the franchisee and are slow to respond to changes in products, promotions and advertising.”

Gorman continued, “By implementing one of our white-label self-service portals, franchisors will be able to maintain their corporate brands across all types of media.  Franchisees will have much better access and editing capabilities so they can both personalize and localize their message in a more time effective manner than they can now.  The Wave2 newspaper partner channel will also be available to franchisees in their local markets making it much easier for them to place ads with newspapers.  This will empower the franchisee to improve both the targeting and timing of their localized promotions increasing their sales and lowering their costs. This is all available without taking the brand management away from the franchisor.”

Wave2 Media Solutions was formed in 2004 specifically to develop a range of solutions for the automated generation of documents. With an extensive installed base around the world hosting hundreds of websites, Wave2 aims to provide tools that will enable clients to both save costs and to generate new revenue.

Wave2’s product range includes solutions for Self Service Advertising, Self Service Portals, Creative Automation, Sales Visuals, Online Marketing and Personalized Publishing.  Wave2 is a world leading developer of Adobe Systems InDesign Server and Adobe’s Flash technology.

For more information, Wave2 Media Solutions can be contacted at 114 Turnpike Road, Suite 203, Westborough, MA 01581, (508) 366-6383, info@wave2media.com, www.wav2.com.

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By Land and By Sea – Emerson Bearing Boston has a new Niche

Boston based Emerson Bearing, a company that is renowned for their vast inventory of bearings and speedy 24/7 service to land-based customers, has identified a new niche of seafaring customers. As one of the largest providers of bearings and related products to OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturers) and MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Operations) markets nationally and internationally, Emerson Bearing Boston has seen their sales swell and found a new niche catering to port authorities and the marine spares industry.

“Shore to Ship” Fulfillment

Joe Falvey, Marketing Specialist oversees Emerson Bearing Boston’s Marine Division. Typically, Falvey’s point of contact for bearing orders is the ship’s chancellor. Once an order is placed, Emerson Bearing often meets the ship to fulfill the order. The company has a growing New England customer base which includes a number of commercial shipping and fishing boat accounts, as well as a number of national and international customers such as Guam Shipyard, a large industrial contractor for the U.S. Navy.

The Marine Spares industry and Port Authorities require constant “uptime” as they exist in a 24/7 work environment. Whether bearings and related products are needed for driveshafts, overhead cranes, fork lift trucks or other applications, Emerson Bearing Boston’s 24/7 service and inventory are critical to their operations.

Emerson Bearing provides Split Roller bearings, which allow for rapid bearing replacement especially at difficult to access locations, such as driveshafts. For the Sheave wheels, cranes and tensioner blocks, Emerson Bearing recommends the SL Sheave Wheel bearings because they provide extra high dynamic and static load ratings and come with rubber seals to prevent water and dust intrusion. Additional related products that Emerson Bearing carries include: Sheave Wheel Bearings, Split Spherical Roller Bearings, Craft Split Bearing, Ball Bearings, Roller Bearings, Leaf Chain, V Belts, Hydraulic Cylinders, Pumps, Oil seals and Isolator Seals.

To keep the unloading process from slowing down, Emerson Bearing Boston can provide cut to length Leaf Chain forklift chain on a 24-hour basis. Plus, the company’s worldwide freight relationships better enable them to serve markets around the world – and literally meet a ship at port if necessary to deliver bearings.

According to Steve Katz, the company’s president, “Some of our clients are halfway around the world and they know they can count on us. They have placed their confidence in us and we deliver, whether it’s a large job or a small repair where they may just need oil seals. Accuracy on promised delivery dates is crucial. For customers such as Guam Shipyard, the vessels are scheduled to arrive in port at a certain time and once they pull in, the clock starts. Everything runs on a schedule and there are repercussions for any delays. That’s where we really set ourselves apart from competitors; we’re efficient, cost-effective and reliable.”

To reach Joe Falvey in the Marine division, contact 866-995-8760 or email jfalvey@emersonbearing.com.

The Emerson Bearing Difference

In a proud tradition, the same families that started the company in 1957 keep Emerson Bearing rolling by specializing in bearings for OEM and MRO markets throughout the world. Emerson Bearing’s highly knowledgeable staff, housed in their 23,000 square foot facility provide bearings ranging in size from 3mm to tunnel-boring 15-foot-diameter giants.

Emerson Bearing provides solutions to a variety of industries including: aggregate, concrete, mining, machine tools, electric motor repair, marine, material handling, metal processing, packaging, food processing, paper converting, printing, wind/power generation, recreation, heavy construction, robotics, automation, transportation, wood products, wastewater treatment, pump, compressor and oil field.

Emerson Bearing offers customers a one-stop shopping experience. With an online product catalog with over 3 million bearings; a vast inventory of bearings; worldwide sourcing; a fixed price program; a knowledgeable staff dedicated to delivering; same day shipping and 24/7 service, Emerson Bearing has become the leading provider of bearings to OEM and MRO markets in the U.S. and is the sister company of Action Bearing. Emerson Bearing maintains headquarters at 201 Brighton Ave. Boston, MA. For more information, contact 617-782-1400 or toll free, 800-225-4587, email info@emersonbearing.com or visit www.emersonbearing.com.

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Old Colony Elder Services Outlines the Signs of Dehydration and Shares Recommendations

Diana DiGiorgi, Executive Director

Should dehydration concern elders?

Yes, according to Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), the Brockton based regional elder services agency serving seniors, individuals with disabilities and caregivers throughout greater Brockton and Plymouth County.

“Dehydration is a major cause of elders being hospitalized. Many infections in elders have been linked to dehydration and, if not diagnosed early enough, the mortality rate can be as high as 50 percent. One of the factors that can cause loss of fluids is hot and humid summer weather,” states Diana DiGiorgi, Executive Director of OCES.

Seniors have about 10 percent less fluid content in their bodies than younger adults. When the body doesn’t have enough water and electrolytes to carry out normal functions, dehydration is a health risk. If the body becomes dehydrated, there is a decrease in total blood volume, which causes constriction of blood vessels, resulting in an increase in the heart rate. Without sufficient blood the heart is unable to pump efficiently, resulting in a decrease in the amount of blood to the brain, liver, and kidneys. Left untreated, dehydration will eventually result in failure of multiple organs and ultimately death.

Dehydration can also be caused by side effects from medications such as diuretics and laxatives. Other medical conditions like high blood sugar, heat exhaustion, and sometimes exercising, can cause dehydration. Some elders develop swallowing disorders which will greatly impact their intake of fluid. Some may even decrease their intake of fluid because of the fear of incontinence.

DiGiorgi explained, “The signs of dehydration can be very similar to dementia and Alzheimer’s symptoms, such as confusion, muscle weakness, constipation, sunken eyes, dizziness, pneumonia, low blood pressure and increased heart rate.”

A good way to monitor dehydration of an elder is to monitor his/her body weight on a daily basis. Dehydration is mild if the weight loss is reduced by 2 percent; it is severe if there is a 5 percent (or more) loss of body weight.

OCES shares these recommendations for detecting, avoiding and treating dehydration:

· If an older person shows minor signs of dehydration, provide water and encourage the person to drink it. Also encourage replenishment of electrolytes, found in fruit juices, sports drinks, milk, and many fruits and vegetables, like potatoes and avocados.

· In case of severe dehydration, the person should receive medical help. Some complications of dehydration are kidney failure, coma, shock, electrolyte abnormalities, and other heat related diseases.

· Older adults should drink 8 glasses of water per day. Juices and soda do not count—just plain drinking water. Seniors should also choose foods that have high water content such as fresh fruits, vegetables, watermelon, yogurt, or Jell-O. They should be encouraged to drink often during the day, even though they do not feel thirsty.

· If you believe an elder you know may be at risk for dehydration, give them small amounts of fluid often, write down how much the person drinks and eats, make sure their room is not too hot or cold, and make certain that he/she is wearing the right kind of clothes for the temperature in the room.

Dehydration is a preventable illness that can be very dangerous if not treated.

About OCES
Incorporated in 1974, Old Colony Elder Services is a private, non-profit corporation designated as one of 27 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.

OCES serves elders, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers in 23 communities in Southeastern Massachusetts: 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. For more information call (508) 584-1561 or visit the website at www.oldcolonyelderservices.org.

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Rodman & Rodman CPAs Outline 2012 Sales Tax Holiday for Consumers and Retailers

Massachusetts residents will be able to enjoy a Sales Tax Holiday weekend on August 11th and 12th.

“The Commonwealth of Massachusetts will not be collecting the 6.25 percent sales tax on tangible purchases of $2,500 or less that are for personal use,” explains Thomas Astore, CPA, JD, Partner at Rodman & Rodman, P.C. “Business purchases and purchases made by corporations remain taxable. All Massachusetts businesses normally open during this weekend and selling taxable items of tangible personal property are required to participate in this sales tax holiday.”

Rodman & Rodman, P.C., is a CPA firm specializing in tax expertise and business strategy for small and medium sized companies throughout New England and beyond.

According to Rodman, consumers will be able to enjoy tax savings in compliance with the following rules that will be in effect for the weekend:

  • Business purchases are excluded, which also means any purchase made with a business check or business credit card.
  • All services are excluded. Only tangible purchases are eligible. Airline tickets and sporting events are considered services.
  • Motor vehicles (which include ATVs and small motorcycles), motorized boats, telecommunications services (including prepaid calling arrangements and cards), gas, steam, electricity, tobacco products and meals are excluded from the sales tax holiday. But, telecommunications equipment (cell phones and related items for personal use) are eligible.
  • Any single item with a price that is in excess of $2,500 is excluded. If the single item’s price exceeds $2,500, it will be taxed in full. For example a $3,000 plasma TV will be taxed on the entire $3,000 sale price.
  • When more than one item is purchased at the same time, and each item has a price of $2,500 or less, then all of the items may be rung up on one receipt and all the items are tax-free.
  • There is no sales tax on clothing unless the sale price exceeds $175. For an article of clothing exceeding this amount, the $175 will be deducted from the price and the remaining amount will be taxed.
  • If a store coupon or discount provided by a retailer or manufacturer reduces the sales price of the item, the discounted sales price determines whether the sales price is within the sales tax holiday price threshold of $2,500 or less.
  • Prior sales and lay-a-ways do not qualify for the tax-free status under any circumstances.
  • Special order items such as furniture are eligible so long as they are ordered and paid in full on the sales tax holiday weekend, and the cost of each item is $2,500 or less, even if delivery is made at a later date.
  • Internet purchases are exempt from sales tax as long as they do not exceed $2,500 (and meet other criteria) and are made and paid for on August 11 or 12, Eastern Standard Time.

For more information, visit the Massachusetts Department of Revenue at www.mass.gov or for tax questions contact Rodman & Rodman, P.C. At (617) 965-5959.

About Rodman & Rodman P.C.

Founded in 1961, Rodman & Rodman, P.C. provides accounting, tax and business services to small and medium-sized companies throughout New England. With a focus on strategic planning, Rodman & Rodman goes beyond traditional accounting services and takes a proactive approach when serving clients to increase, preserve and sustain clients’ financial net worth. The company has been named one of the “Best Accounting Firms to Work For” in Accounting Today and is listed in the Boston Business Journal’s “Top 50 Firms”.

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. The Rodman & Rodman Green Team is a specialized green energy and clean technology accounting and tax services practice within Rodman & Rodman, P.C.

The company’s offices are located at 3 Newton Executive Park in Newton and 25 Braintree Hill Office Park in Braintree, MA. For more information, visit their website at www.rodmancpa.com or contact (617) 965-5959.

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2012 Franchise Operations Performance Summit (OPS) receives rave reviews from C-level franchise operations execs.

Eric Stites
Eric Stites of Franchise Business Review

WOBURN, MA and DENVER, COLORADO…

What makes a successful conference? From the organizer’s perspective, a sellout is a good start. In fact, it’s a great start. Yet as organizers of the recently held Franchise Operations Performance Summit (OPS), the only franchise executive conference dedicated to operations performance excellence, will tell you, it’s what attendees take away from the event that matters.

“We sold out the OPS in Denver, which is great,” said Evan Hackel, founder of Ingage Consulting and a keynote speaker at Franchise OPS, which took place on July 18 and 19. “What really made this event special is that every single attendee—with the help of franchise operations experts–left with a written out list, which they created, of action items they can implement right away to improve their organization’s operations.”

Said Nancy France, president and CEO of Fast Track Kids, “This was our first Franchise OPS, and we left with several key ideas that we can immediately implement in order to improve our operations. It was a great way to interact with other franchisors as well as knowledgeable speakers.”

Topics covered at Franchise OPS included:

  • Real World Franchise Compliance
  • Impactful, Substantive and Effective Conventions/Conferences 
  • Turning a Survey into a Powerful Management Tool
  • Maximizing the Benefits of an Online University 
  • Supercharging Operational Excellence with Web 2.0 Technology
  • Making the Most of Franchise System Buying Services

While attendees benefitted from all the workshops, “Turning a Survey into a Powerful Management Tool”, hosted by Eric Stites of Franchise Business Review, drew particular interest.

“Surveys can be a great tool to improve communication with the franchisees and show the franchisees the organization is truly listening,” said Stites. “In the workshop at Franchise OPS, we provided attendees some innovative ideas on how to better utilize surveys and give them the tools to put a survey strategy together for their company.”

Stites’ company, Franchise Business Review (FBR), is a market research and consulting company that specializes in franchisee satisfaction and engagement. Stites created the Franchisee Satisfaction Index (FSI), which has quickly become the industry standard for measuring and benchmarking franchisee satisfaction and engagement. FBR has worked with more than 500 leading franchise systems including Action Coaching, Snap-on Tools, FastSigns, Budget Blinds, Church’s Chicken, Firehouse Subs, Home Instead Senior Care, ValPak and many other leading brands.

Other franchise operations experts who conducted workshops at Franchise OPS include: Deb Binder of Ingage Consulting, Stacey Ruth of Actio Marketing, Eric Stites of Franchise Business Review, Keith Gerson of FranConnect, Rupert M. Barkoff of Kilpatrick, Townsend and Stockton, Barth Getto of BizUnite and Bill Gauthier of CCA Global Partners.

“If you want to improve your knowledge about trends in franchise operations, this session is the place. You will learn from experts, and you will learn from your peers,” said Bill Sherman, Chief of People and Processes, ConciER FSED Franchising.

In addition to the educational benefits, roundtable discussions and networking opportunities with C-level franchise executives, the Franchise OPS offers the added bonus of being approved for 300 CFE credits by the International Franchise Association. A future Franchise OPS session is being scheduled for __ in Atlanta, Georgia.

Franchise OPS was sponsored by Franchise Business Review, Kilpatrick Townsend, Actio Marketing, BizUnite and Ingage Consulting. For complete information on Franchise OPS, including announcements on future Franchise OPS conferences, please visit http://www.franchiseoperationssummit.com.

About Ingage Consulting

Ingage Consulting is a management consulting firm that works with cooperatives and cooperative councils and leadership to improve the organization’s culture which in turn increases sales and satisfaction; improves growth and retention and boosts loyalty and profits.

Ingage Consulting provides solutions that drive the cooperation, commitment, passion and loyalty of cooperative members.  They offer unique services that help solve the problems of cooperatives in a number of ways.  Working closely with clients, the Ingage Consulting team quickly and thoughtfully assesses, understands and devises solutions to a cooperative organization’s challenges.  Leaders come away with ideas for improvement, including methods for maximizing collaboration among co-op members and a clear strategy and execution plan for change, customized to meet organizational objectives.  Ingage Consulting’s proven techniques to increase collaboration brings about greater productivity and success on many levels. In short, Ingage Consulting makes cooperatives more successful.

Ingage Consulting is located at 400 Trade Center, Suite 5900 in Woburn, MA.  For more information, contact (781) 569-5900 or visit the website www.ingage.net.

2012 Franchise Operations Performance Summit (OPS) receives rave reviews from C-level franchise operations execs.Read More

Strollin’, strollin’ strollin’…Second annual Run for Faith 4-mile run introduces Stroller Division.

Run for Faith Stroller DivisionPLYMOUTH, MA…

For many, it’s difficult to consider a four-mile run a “stroll”. Yet for the many parents who are runners with infants and toddlers, running with a stroller is second nature. Recognizing this large demographic of runners, The Run for Faith is introducing a Stroller Division for its second annual race, taking place on Sunday, August 19 at 9am at historic Plimouth Plantation.

“As the daughter of a Methodist minister from the Midwest, my mother was all about family and she would absolutely love the idea of fathers and mothers pushing their children in a race devoted to her memory,” said Matthew Romboldi, Run for Faith race director and son of Faith “Marcy” Romboldi. Mrs. Romboldi, in whose memory the race is held, died from ovarian cancer in 2010.

For safety reasons, Stroller Division runners will start behind other runners. Prizes will be awarded to both male and female winners (kids, too).

“When you run and you’re pushing a child in front of you, there’s a certain empowerment and level of strength that you learn to appreciate. It’s one thing to carry yourself to the limit, but its even more special and note worthy to push someone else in front of you,” said Nicole Hayes, wife of Matthew Romboldi and mother to a two-year-old son, Charlie. “I’ve seen people at many races push people in wheel chairs and I always make sure to congratulate them on their accomplishments. As a mother who runs frequently with a running stroller, I think it’s important to have a special category where these runners are recognized and commended for their efforts.”

To participate in the Stroller Division, you must register on Active.com. You can link to the site from the Run for Faith website, http://www.runforfaithplymouth.org. Registration is $25 and you must check the box for Stroller Division if you will be running with your child and a carriage.

The Run for Faith is organized by Run for Faith, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and the proceeds from the race help raise money for several Plymouth non-profits and charitable organizations. The first Run for Faith raised enough for a $5,000 donation to Dana Farber’s  Yawkey Center for Cancer Care and ovarian cancer research. The Run for Faith also contributed two $2500 scholarships for two Plymouth high school students: Graham Allen from Plymouth South High School and Nathan Fuller from Plymouth North High School.

The 2012 Run for Faith has attracted a number of local sponsors, including Nolan Schelle Insurance, Marty’s GMC, Liddell Brothers Traffic Safety Systems, 99.1 WPLM, Powderhorn Press, Plimoth Plantation, Girls on the Go, Newfield House, Mayflower Food and Spirits, Cold Spring Club, Unity Club, and Mama Mia’s.

Businesses looking to sponsor the second annual Run for Faith can e-mail info@runforfaithplymouth.org or call 508-400-0751.

About The Run for Faith

The Run for Faith 4Miler is a gold member in the Bayside Runner Racing Series. The four mile race starts at Plimouth Plantation at 9am on Sunday August 19. The 4 mile race loop captures spectacular views of Cape Cod Bay, the Eel River and scenic horse farms. The course features rolling hills and unmatched history.  The event will be professionally timed by Spitler Racing Systems.  You can view the course online at: http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/42074524.

The entry fee for The Run for Faith is $25. Every dollar of fee will be donated to local charities.

There’s a registration link on www.runforfaithplymouth.org or you can go directly to www.active.com. For more information and to register for the race, please visit www.runforfaithplymouth.org  or email info@runforfaithplymouth.org.

Strollin’, strollin’ strollin’…Second annual Run for Faith 4-mile run introduces Stroller Division.Read More

Renowned Physical Therapist Shares Tips for Avoiding Injury this Summer

Brendan Carman, MPT, ATC

For many individuals and businesses, summer is a time when things slow down. Not so for the physical therapy staff at Mass Bay Spine & Sport Physical Therapy (MBSSPT) of Marshfield.

According to Brendan Carman, MPT, ATC, who is the orthopedic outpatient physical therapy practice’s founder – summer is their busiest time.

“In the summertime, people want to enjoy the great outdoors and they take on projects and activities that put a stress on muscles and tendons that may not have been used the rest of the year. Even summer footwear can cause a strain,” Carman explained.

Golfing, playing tennis, doing strenuous yard work and other “weekend warrior“ activities can cause neck, shoulder and back problems. Although it sounds like simple common sense, don’t do too much all at once. If you golf or play another sport in the summer, but not during the rest of the year, be aware of signs of muscle fatigue and pain that lasts longer than 48 hours. If you’re a weekend warrior, be sure to space out the work and take on reasonable loads. For example, don’t build a brick or stone wall in a day or spread three yards of mulch in a matter of hours.

Walkers wearing non-supportive footwear and people wearing flip flops, unsupportive sandals or no shoes at all may experience foot and ankle problems. Shoes offering little or no support can strain the plantar fasciia and Achilles tendon, and many people begin to exhibit symptoms mid-summer. A few symptoms of foot issues include pain at the back of heel or under bottom of heel. Key symptoms are pain in the bottom of your foot first thing in the morning (as you get out of bed) or when you are walking without shoes.

Note that normal muscle soreness is usually a 48 hour cycle of aching muscles. When soreness lasts more than two days, it is an indication that there’s more to it. Pain that is closer to joints and tendons, pain that is constant at rest, swelling/heat/redness that is associated with the pain, and pain that is not resolving within 72 hours is something to be concerned about. If you have pain in the knee, shoulder and ankle joint itself, it’s a red flag of strain.

“When you suffer from aches and pains, it’s best to deal with it sooner than later. If caught early, one to two days of rest is usually all that is needed. But, aches and pains that are ignored can become more significant. The tissues break down and can become an injury if not addressed promptly. Then, it can take weeks to resolve the issue,” explained Carman.

About MBSSPT

Mass Bay Spine & Sport Physical Therapy (MBSSPT) is an orthopedic outpatient physical therapy practice. MBSSPT, a state-of-the-art facility owned and operated by a physical therapist, has earned a reputation for superior clinical care and delivery of services to South Shore community members as well as physicians from Boston to Plymouth.

The practice’s highly trained staff is committed to providing clients with an experience that will ensure their condition is resolved effectively and efficiently, while empowering them with the necessary tools and knowledge to prevent future problems and maintain optimal health. All of the practice’s physical therapists are trained to rehabilitate a variety of conditions utilizing treatment techniques that include soft tissue massage/mobilization, therapeutic and strengthening exercises, neuromuscular reeducation, gait training, patient education, and lumbar stabilization, to name a few. MBSSPT accepts Medicare, Workers’ Compensation, auto insurance, and most private insurance plans.

Mass Bay Spine & Sport Physical Therapy is located at 506 Plain Street in Marshfield. For more information, visit www.massbayspineandsport.com or call (781) 319-0024.

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