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Emily Schmidt Joins Rodman CPAs as Staff Accountant

Rodman EmilyRodman CPAs, a full service tax and accounting firm catering to small and medium-sized companies throughout the greater Boston area, has recently appointed Emily Schmidt as a Staff Accountant. Ms. Schmidt is a resident of Framingham, MA.

In her new role at Rodman CPAs, Ms. Schmidt will be responsible for tax preparation and financial statement reviews. A recent graduate, Ms. Schmidt holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from the Isenberg School of Management at University of Massachusetts Amherst. She will sit for the CPA exam this May.

Ms. Schmidt’s experience includes two seasons of tax preparation at GW & Wade, a private wealth management firm in Wellesley. She also volunteered at Isenberg School of Management’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program for two tax seasons, the first year as a preparer and second year as an administrator helping to run the program. Ms. Schmidt received recognition from VITA for an increase in the number of tax returns prepared over the entire year.

Ms. Schmidt is a member of the Massachusetts Society of CPAs (MSCPA) and is a volunteer for The Hunger Project. She is a native of Wellesley, MA.

About Rodman CPAs

Founded in 1961 and named one of Accounting Today’s Best Accounting Firms to Work for, Rodman CPAs provides accounting, tax and business services to small and medium-sized companies throughout New England and beyond. The team specializes in improving business performance, business processes, operations, information technology, finance, and change navigation. Rodman CPAs provides companies with a sustainable financial roadmap through expert partnership/ corporate structuring for optimal tax benefit; grant qualification assistance and auditing; ongoing advisory services for federal, state and local tax incentives; and strategic financial planning and management.

The firm has aspecialized renewable energy and clean technology accounting and tax services practice, known as the “Green Team” which serves renewable energy clients throughout the U.S. The company is Green Business Certified. For more information, visit their website at www.rodmancpa.com or contact (617) 965-5959.

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Fast Casual Dining Franchise is Expanding – Between Rounds Announces Franchise Opportunities

Between Rounds 1 exteriorConsidering a career move? For anyone looking to begin a new chapter as a business owner in the fast casual dining segment – the fastest growing segment in the restaurant industry – Between Rounds Bakery Sandwich Café is now offering two different franchise opportunities.

With locations in South Windsor, Vernon, Manchester and Tolland, Between Rounds fast casual dining establishments have become the area’s favorite locale for fresh, baked-on site bagels and healthier, freshly prepared, high quality meals served in a clean, comfortable, upscale environment.

Two types of franchise opportunities are available: a Kiosk Gas Station/Convenience Market program and an Area Developer Program.

The Kiosk Gas Station/Convenience Market franchise is a non-traditional convenience store/gas station model that offers gas station customers the ability to purchase Between Rounds specialty coffee, fresh made breakfast and lunch sandwiches, fresh baked bagels and assorted bakery items from a clean, well-designed store adjacent to the filling station. The kiosk store has low start-up costs and requires an overall investment of approximately $120K for a standard store with no drive-thru.

The Area Developer Program is unique in its franchise offering, as it encompasses the operation of three retail bakery sandwich café locations as well as a manufacturing commissary in a protected territory. This development strategy allows the franchisee to maximize efficiencies in labor, food, and energy costs while providing a solid investment return.

Off to a Successful Start

Between Rounds helps franchisees start off successfully with site location, construction assistance and extensive staff training prior to opening and after the launch. Every detail regarding safe, clean and successful food service is reviewed and demonstrated. Between Rounds corporate ensures there are field representatives on hand to work with your staff, and once the store is operating smoothly, they continue to offer organizational support and guidelines for successful programs.

According to Between Rounds  co-founder and franchisor, Jerry Puiia, “Fast Casual Dining is the fastest growing segment in the restaurant industry. We are always looking out for new franchise locations and the right people to run it. It’s an ideal time for franchisees in the fast casual market.”

Between Rounds is family owned and operated in Connecticut since 1990. Unlike their competitors that require high initial investment and multiple franchises, the Between Rounds Kiosk Gas Station/Convenience Market opportunity is a reasonable initial investment with no minimum number of franchises required. The company has also secured three financing companies, Benetrends, FranchiseLeasing.com and The Stratford Group, to help new franchisees with financing of KioskGas Station/Convenience Marketoperations.

Puiia continued, “A Between Rounds franchise offers the appeal of a locally-owned, community gathering place; the quality of freshly made bagels and other baked goods, sandwiches, wraps, soups, salads, and specialty coffees; and excellent unit financial performance and wholesale distribution opportunities.”

For more information about the Between Rounds Bakery Sandwich Café opportunities, visit http://franchise.betweenroundsbagels.com.

About Between Rounds

Founded in 1990, Between Rounds Bakery Sandwich Café is a unique bakery café and bagel shop renowned for their fresh, baked-on site bagels and baked goods as well sandwiches, wraps, salads, soups, specialty coffee and a unique line of giftware. Between Rounds offers patrons an upscale, fast-casual dining experience with free Wi-Fi and the added convenience of a drive-thru window.

Between Rounds is expanding and franchise opportunities are available. Between Rounds’ current locations include South Windsor, Vernon, Manchester and Tolland.  Corporate headquarters are located at 19A John Fitch Blvd, Route 5 in South Windsor, CT.  For more information about Between Rounds franchise opportunities contact (860) 291-0323 or visit www.betweenroundsbagels.com.

 

Fast Casual Dining Franchise is Expanding – Between Rounds Announces Franchise OpportunitiesRead More

Between Rounds Bakery Sandwich Café Hires New Baker

BR Phyliss Dombrowski copyBetween Rounds Bakery Sandwich Café, the unique bakery café and bagel shop with four locations in Connecticut, has recently appointed Phyliss Dombrowski as a full time Baker in their Vernon café.

Ms. Dombrowski will be responsible for baking bagels, rolls, breads and a variety of pastries and desserts daily for the Vernon location. She has more than a decade of baking, cooking and food service experience gained while working for Sodexo and Starbucks in Bloomfield, CT as well as for the City of New York Board of Education in NY, and Baxter Retirement Village and Baxter Regional Medical Center in Mountain Home, AR.

A native of Glendale, NY, Ms. Dombrowksi completed college coursework in medical coding and terminology while studying to become a medical assistant.

She resides in Manchester, CT.

“Phyliss is a dedicated and efficient baker with a wealth of experience. We’re very pleased to have her on our team,” said Jerry Puiia, co-founder of Between Rounds.

For store hours and locations or for more information, visit www.betweenroundsbagels.com.

About Between Rounds

Founded in 1990, Between Rounds Bakery Sandwich Café is a unique bakery café and bagel shop renowned for their fresh, baked-on site bagels and baked goods as well sandwiches, wraps, salads, soups, specialty coffee and a unique line of giftware. Between Rounds offers patrons an upscale, fast-casual dining experience with free Wi-Fi and the added convenience of a drive-thru window.

Between Rounds is expanding and franchise opportunities are available. Between Rounds’ current locations include South Windsor, Vernon, Manchester and Tolland.  Corporate headquarters are located at 19A John Fitch Blvd, Route 5 in South Windsor, CT.  For more information about Between Rounds franchise opportunities contact (860) 291-0323 or visit www.betweenroundsbagels.com.

Between Rounds Bakery Sandwich Café Hires New BakerRead More

ELERTS See-Something Say Something mobile app launched for Charlotte Area Transit System.

CATS See Something/Say Something by ELERTS
CATS See Something/Say Something by ELERTS

WEYMOUTH, MA…

ELERTS Corp., the leading provider of See Something, Say Something mobile apps for mass transit systems, has created a Smartphone app for the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS). The “CATS See Say” app will enable CATS riders to alert transit authorities about safety and security concerns on trains and buses.

Beyond mere notification, the CATS See Say app enables riders to submit reports containing photos, video, and a description the issue, as well as a GPS map, pinpointing the problem area.  A CATS dispatcher will be able to engage in a two-way dialogue with riders.

“CATS serves a metropolitan area of more than 1.2 million and CATS riders log more than 28 million trips on bus or rail each year, in a service area spanning 445 square miles. That’s a lot of people to protect,” said Ed English, CEO of ELERTS. “The ELERTS app provides another layer of security for riders and many thousands of extra sets of eyes and ears for transit and local police.”

A similar ELERTS app is used by major transits, including MARTA in Atlanta, the MBTA in Boston, the NFTA in Buffalo, the VTA in Santa Clara and BART in San Francisco.  By enlisting riders to report security concerns, ELERTS app acts as a force multiplier for transit police. More than 2.5 million riders may use an ELERTS transit app daily.

“Safety is and always will be a primary concern of CATS,” said CATS CEO John Lewis. “Through the use of this mobile app, riders can have a bigger hand in helping our public transit system operate as safely as possible.”

The ELERTS app for CATS transmits rider’s reports over cellular or Wi-Fi signals. The app automatically disables the camera flash when the user takes a photo, so it is discreet. Reports can be sent anonymous, if desired.

Reports from riders are managed by the transit police dispatch center, using ELERTS management console. Two-way communication allows the dispatcher to ask riders for more details or to advise the rider. In addition, alerts can be broadcast to riders using the app. For example, the transit system may enlist the help of riders with BOLO (Be On the Look-Out) alerts for missing persons or persons of interest, and provide information about delays and service interruptions.

The ELERTS app is designed for challenging communication environments. In the event that a cell or Wi-Fi signal is weak or non-existent, the app uses a store and forward model, delivering reports to transit police when signals reach usable levels.

Available for iPhones and Android phones, the ELERTS app may be installed at no cost to riders.

“Riders nationwide have demonstrated a willingness to help keep their transit systems safe and we anticipate that to be the case in Charlotte as well,” said English. “To date, more than 50,000 incidents have been reported to transit police using our app. These include assaults, vandalism, abandoned bags, robberies, suspicious activity, drug and gun dealing, sexual harassment and medical concerns.”

For more information on ELERTS Transit, please call 877-256-1971 or visit www.ELERTS.com.

About ELERTS

ELERTS Corporation, headquartered in Weymouth, MA, develops best-in-class emergency communication software empowered by community-sourced reporting of safety and security concerns. The company’s cloud-based approach leverages Smartphone technologies to provide robust, two-way communication between multiple parties. ELERTS mobile technology integrates with video surveillance, access control and mass-notification systems. The result is actionable information for emergency situations – to help First Responders become faster responders.

For more information, visit www.ELERTS.com or call 877-256-1971.

ELERTS See-Something Say Something mobile app launched for Charlotte Area Transit System.Read More

Celebrate Networking Ninja Awards at St. Patrick’s Week event, March 15, at Mayflower Brewery, Plymouth.

The public is invited to toast My Pinnacle Network’s Networking Awards as part of the St. Patrick’s Week Celebration to be held on Tuesday, March 15, 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. at the Mayflower Brewery, 12 Resnik Road, Plymouth, Mass.Mayflower IPA photo

In addition to the awards and networking, guests can sample some of the brewery’s finest lager. Buffet dinner will also be served.  The event is free. Cash bar will be available.

Networking awards will be given for several categories including Best Connector (helping bring people together); Most Ubiquitous (appears to be at every networking event); Most Altruistic (does most for others) and Brightest Beacon (adds energy to networking events).

“We created The Networking Ninja Awards to recog
nize the contributions of our area’s best connectors and networkers, who continually add to the well of cosmic goodwill, “noted Steven V. Dubin, one of the founders of My Pinnacle Network.  He continued, “This event is a great way to meet other business leaders in a relaxed, fun setting.”

For reservations, contact Steve Dubin, Sdubin@MyPinnacleNetwork, (781) 582-1061 or visit www.MyPinnacleNetwork.com.

Celebrate Networking Ninja Awards at St. Patrick’s Week event, March 15, at Mayflower Brewery, Plymouth.Read More

TIC to Broadcast Live at NFBMA Annual State Convention on February 27th

TIC imageThe award-winning Talking Information Center (TIC), a non-profit reading service located in Marshfield, MA which broadcasts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to thousands of print and visually impaired listeners, will broadcast live at the Sixty-Third Annual State Convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Massachusetts, Inc. (NFBMA) on Saturday, February 27, 2016 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The convention will be held at Embassy Suites Hotel in Boston.

TIC will be broadcasting the convention via the Massachusetts Radio Reading Service. The stream may also be accessed at http://ticnetwork.com. TIC’s newly appointed Executive Director Jim Bunnell will share remarks at 9:10 a.m.

The line-up of events on Saturday includes the National Report presented by NFB National Representative, Kevan Worley at 9:20 a.m.

The Leadership Roundtable: Serving The Blind in The 21st Century with Paul Saner, Commissioner, Massachusetts Commission for the Blind, Barbara Salisbury, President, MAB Community Services, Brian MacDonald, President, National Braille Press, David Power, President, Perkins School, and Joe Abely, President, Carroll Center will be broadcast at 1:35 p.m.

At 2:15 p.m., the NFBMA Presidential Report will be presented by Amy Ruell, NFBMA President, followed by the Washington Seminar and Legislative Report with Derek Manners, Massachusetts Association of Blind Students, First Vice-President. At 2:50 p.m., a Legal Update will be presented by Albert Elia, Disability Rights Fellow, Brown Goldstein and Levy LLP.

The Sixty-Third Annual Banquet of the NFB of Massachusetts will be held in the evening along with the Third Annual Auction and Scholarship Presentations.

“We are honored to be able to broadcast live from the NFBMA Convention and make that important connection so that our blind and visually impaired listeners may experience the conference and stay informed,” explained Bunnell.

To learn more and tune-in to the convention, visit ticnetwork.com.

About NFBMA

The National Federation of the Blind of Massachusetts has thriving chapters in Cambridge (metro Boston) and Springfield, and members from across the state working together to support each other and improve the lives of blind people all over the commonwealth. For more information, visit http://www.nfbma.org.

About TIC

The Talking Information Center (TIC), a non-profit reading service located in Marshfield, MA, broadcasts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to visually-impaired and print-handicapped listeners. TIC programming may be accessed by specially tuned radio receivers; through AudioNow by calling 712-832-7025; or via live audio stream on the TIC website, www.ticnetwork.org.

In 1977, Ed Perry, the founder of radio station WATD-FM in Marshfield, MA, donated his Subsidiary Carrier Authorization signal for use as the first radio reading service in New England. Now reaching 25,000 listeners, TIC broadcasts newspapers, magazines, books, and special consumer information on subjects including medical and stock market updates, jobs, sports, supermarket specials, voting guides, community newspapers, and television programs. TIC also broadcasts cultural programming including old-time radio drama, theater, and poetry.

TIC is a proud member of the International Association of Audible Information Services (IAAIS), and is also the hub of the Massachusetts Reading Network, broadcasting to all of Massachusetts as well as southern New Hampshire and Connecticut. Operating similarly to other broadcast networks, TIC has affiliates throughout the state of Massachusetts that provide inserts of local news and information that is of interest to listeners in their area.

TIC is located at 130 Enterprise Drive, (P.O. Box 519), in Marshfield, MA 02050. For more information visit www.ticnetwork.org or call 800-696-9505.

TIC to Broadcast Live at NFBMA Annual State Convention on February 27thRead More

Dighton, MA subdivision, Stoney Ridge Estates, completes first model home

photo of Fairfield-Stoney RIdge
Fairfield-Stoney RIdge

DIGHTON, MA and SOUTH EASTON, MA …

Stoney Ridge Estates, LLC and Stonebridge Homes, the builder/developer and construction manager respectively for Stoney Ridge Estates, recently announced the opening of the new sales office at the 60-lot subdivision in Dighton, MA. The new office is located at 2 Waterford Circle (GPS 1590 Pine Street, Dighton, MA) and will be used as both a sales office and for open house tours for those interested in the Fairfield model.

Stoney Ridge Estates offers convenience and affordable luxury living. Located just minutes from Route 24, right off Pine Street in Dighton, Stoney Ridge Estates is commutable to both Providence and Boston.

Offering five different home styles ranging from 1,762 square feet to 2,384 square feet, Stoney Ridge Estates’ stylish colonial homes and beautiful ranches cater to many types of households—families, empty nesters, first-time home buyers looking to start a family, etc.

Each home in Stoney Ridge Estates utilizes gas heat and is certified energy efficient. Features of every home in the subdivision include: two-car garage; a designer kitchen with granite countertops and ceramic tile flooring; recessed lighting.

Stoney Ridge Estates offers 60 luxurious home sites that are enveloped with glorious woodlands. In addition, residents will admire the splendid curb appeal at the subdivision’s entrance, which is decorated with plentiful flowering shrubs and perennials. There’s also a recreational park for residents to enjoy on warm, sunny days and sidewalks to stroll.

To view floor plans, please visit Stoney Ridge Estates’ website, www.stoneyridgedighton.com. For more information, including open house hours, or to make an appointment for a tour of Stoney Ridge Estates, please call JoAnn Drabble of ABR, at 508-930-1711 or joannedrabble@comcast.net.

About Stonebridge Homes, Inc.:

For more than 25 years, Stonebridge Homes and its team, based in South Easton, Massachusetts, have built and managed the construction of many residential communities throughout Massachusetts, including Tanglewood Estates in Easton, Mass; Stoney Ridge Estates in Dighton, Mass (www.stoneyridgedighton.com); The Pines in Dighton, Mass (www.thepinesdighton.com); and Briggs Landing in Westport, Mass. More recently, Stonebridge Homes has focused on building and managing construction in towns in southeastern Massachusetts, including Dighton, Easton, Foxboro, Lakeville, Norfolk, Norwell, Norton, Pembroke, Rockland, West Bridgewater and Westport. The styles of these communities have varied from imaginative condominiums to custom single‐family homes designed by its in-house architect whose specialty is customizing dream homes that provide space and luxury to households of all sizes. Each development is built with the same commitment to quality and customer satisfaction.

Stonebridge Homes, Inc. is an active member of the Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston and the National Association of Home Builders.
For more information, please visit www.stonebridgehomesinc.com or call 508.230.2300.

Dighton, MA subdivision, Stoney Ridge Estates, completes first model homeRead More

OCES Receives over $5K in Donations to Emergency Fund during #GivingTuesday campaign

OCES logoOld Colony Elder Services (OCES), the non-profit agency serving older adults and people with disabilities throughout the greater Brockton and Plymouth county area, received a total of $5,145 in donations to their Emergency Fund during their #GivingTuesday campaign.

In an effort to raise money for their Emergency Fund, OCES ran a #GivingTuesday campaign from December 1st through December 31, 2015. This fund helps low-income older adults and people with disabilities with needed support that cannot be addressed through the use of any other resources.

“The success of this campaign to raise money for OCES’ Emergency Fund demonstrates the power we all have to change the world around us,” explained Diana DiGiorgi, Executive Director. “Through the generosity of our supporters, we are able to help provide such things as heat, food, and life-sustaining medications to older adults and people with disabilities who are most in need in our communities.”

We thank everyone who gave during this campaign! All too often, low-income older adults and people with disabilities encounter problems that can jeopardize their ability to maintain independence, dignity and well-being. OCES’ Emergency Fund is used to assist with fuel, utilities, short-term emergency shelter, medical transport, medications, hot water heaters, food and other needs.

Through OCES’ Emergency Fund, several hundred low-income older adults and people with disabilities have received assistance, including a 79-year-old widow, living in her own home with her disabled daughter, who had run out of oil; OCES helped purchase heating oil for them.

If you were unable to donate during December, don’t worry, you can give at any time. Visit www.ocesma.org and help us to continue providing assistance to older adults and people with disabilities so they can remain safe and at home.

A Day Dedicated to Giving Back

#GivingTuesday is observed on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving. Fueled by the power of social media and collaboration, #GivingTuesday connects individuals, communities and organizations around the world and provides a platform for them to encourage the donation of time, resources and talents. Visit www.givingtuesday.org to learn more.

About OCES

Founded in 1974, OCES serves 20 communities in Plymouth County as well as Avon, Easton and Stoughton. OCES is a private, non-profit organization headquartered in Brockton and designated as one of 26 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. OCES’ mission is to support the independence and dignity of elders and people with disabilities by providing essential information and services that promote healthy and safe living. The agency has 235 employees and operates more than 15 programs serving older adults, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers. For more information call 508-584-1561 or visit www.ocesma.org.

OCES Receives over $5K in Donations to Emergency Fund during #GivingTuesday campaignRead More

Networking is a necessity – Tips on making it less painful. Free seminars in Braintree and Plymouth.

Nervous about networking?  Frustrated about your networking results? Uncertain about how to follow up?  Going to a lot of networking events or participating in referral networking groups and wondering if it’s a waste of time?  Most people are not comfortable with networking, yet theystevewsj understand that networking can be the straightest line to their next client.

The “Networking is a necessity” seminar will provide actionable, practical tips of how to effectively work a room, network strategically, and build relationships that lead to new business.  Business professionals can choose from two dates and two locations for this presentation.  The seminar is free.

The seminar will be held Wednesday, March 16, 8 a.m. – 9:30 a.m., at the Plymouth Chamber of Commerce, 134 Court Street, Route 3A, Plymouth, MA  02360.  The second option is the following Wednesday, March 23, 8 a.m. – 9:30 a.m., 25 Braintree Hill Park, Suite 200, Braintree, MA  02184.

Panelists include Steve Dubin, founder of My Pinnacle Network, a grou
p of six business to business networks and PR Works, a full service marketing firm based in Plymouth, MA and Ken Cheo, President of Our Sales Coach based in Braintree, MA, helping small business owners and select salespeople double or triple their sales faster.

Networking tips and tactics will include how to work a room, how to stand out in a crowd, how to manage the exchange of business cards, how to select someone to talk with, how to get a prospect to open up, how to disengage, how to pick the right events, planning ahead, and how to follow up and take effective next steps.

Although the seminars are free, seating is limited to 20.  Please RSVP to Steve Dubin, SDubin@MyPinnacleNetwork.com, 781-582-1061.

 

Networking is a necessity – Tips on making it less painful. Free seminars in Braintree and Plymouth.Read More