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Plymouth North students hit the high notes as Tracy Chevrolet Cadillac’s Driven Students of the Month for December

Tracy Chevrolet Cadillac
Tracy Chevrolet Cadillac General Sales Manager Joe Wilkerson, seated, leads the pizza toast with the members of Northern Lights, an a cappella singing group from Plymouth North High School. Northern Lights was recognized as the Tracy Driven Students of the Month. The group is led by Dave Grossman, music teacher at Plymouth North.

PLYMOUTH, MA…

For several years, Tracy Chevrolet Cadillac conducted a “Driven Student” program recognizing the achievements of local high school students inside and outside the classroom. The Plymouth dealership recently jumpstarted the program, honoring the 20 Plymouth North High School (PNHS) students that make up the a cappella singing group Northern Lights.

Directed by David Grossman, a music teacher in his first full year at Plymouth North, Northern Lights formed at the beginning of the school year and has already performed at the PNHS Pep Rally, Festival of Trees, and PNHS Winter Concert.

“For a group that just started together in September, the kids have come a long way in a very short amount of time,” said Grossman. “That comes from a combination of talent, hard work and being open to teaching. The students in Northern Lights are all that and more and we’re honored that Tracy Chevrolet Cadillac chose us as the opening act for the Driven Student program this year.”

For being chosen as the Driven Students of the Month, the group received a pizza party courtesy of Tracy Chevrolet Cadillac. In addition to pizza and refreshments, each student also received a Tracy Chevrolet Cadillac drink koozie.

Yet it was the attendees who received the real treat as the group performed for Tracy Chevrolet Cadillac Sales Manager Joe Wilkerson.

“After that performance, I feel like we should have brought some ice cream, too. They were that good,” said Wilkerson. “Seriously, we’re delighted to bring back the Driven Student program and I can’t think of a better way to kick off than program than this group of students.”

Members of Northern Lights include: Shaelyn Helminiak, Rebecca Levy, Sarah Serrilla, Jaclyn Mennonna, Mackenzie Levangie, Merin English, Maria D’ambrosio, Veronica Cavanaugh, Jordan Brocklesby, Julia McBride, Conor Hurley, Kyle Blagg, Christian Hatfield, Eli Hovey, Shawn Westcott, Danny Osborne and Kevin Johnson.

For more information on Northern Lights and upcoming performances, you can visit their Facebook page at Facebook.com/northernlightsacappella,

Tracy Chevrolet Cadillac’s Driven Student program recognizes Plymouth high school students for their performance and achievements in and out of the classroom. Awarded on a monthly basis, recipients are selected by faculty and advisors at the student’s given school.

So easy at Tracy Chevrolet Cadillac

For more than 80 years and three generations of dealers, the Tracy family has made it so easy for customers on the South Shore and greater Plymouth area to purchase new and used automobiles. Since its beginnings in 1992, Tracy Chevrolet Cadillac has emphasized first-rate customer service and straightforward, bottom-line pricing with fair trade-ins every time–without the games or gimmicks you find at other dealerships. For more information on new and used trucks and automobiles, you can go to www.tracymotors.com or stop by the dealership, conveniently located at 137 Samoset Street, just off exit 6 on Route 3. For more information, or to make a service appointment, you can also call (508) 830-0101.

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King Collision earns Factory Certified designation

PEMBROKE AND PLYMOUTH, MA…

King Collision Centers, a family-owned and operated collision repair center, recently earned Factory Certified Collision Repair Facility designations from Acura, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, GMC, Honda, Infiniti, Jeep, Nissan, Volkswagen and Volvo. King Collision Centers is the only collision repair center in the greater Plymouth area to hold designations from all these auto manufacturers.

“Most collision centers will have one or two members of their staff, usually technicians, complete this kind of training and then promote themselves as certified by the car manufacturer,” said Bruce King, owner of King Collision Centers. “At our centers, every technician and all our administrative staff have successfully completed the rigorous factory-approved training from these vehicle manufacturers. That means every one you come in contact at King Collision has been approved by your automobile’s manufacturer.”

Training is one part of the certification process. The facility itself must meet certain standards as it pertains to specialized equipment. Both King Collision Centers in Plymouth and Pembroke met all the specialized equipment requirements needed to receive the Factory Certified Collision Repair Facility designation from the aforementioned vehicle manufacturers.

“Getting into a car accident, whether it was your fault or not, is bad enough. Bringing your damaged automobile to a collision repair facility that doesn’t have the training or the equipment to repair your vehicle safely, correctly and to your complete satisfaction makes a bad situation worse,” said King. “Having all our people attain this designation gives our customers a level of comfort, confidence, and peace of mind knowing that their vehicle will be restored to pre-accident operation, safety and value by factory-trained technicians using their vehicle manufacturers approved equipment and procedures.

Anyone Can Remove Dents – King Collision Centers Removes Doubts

Founded in 1984, King Collision Centers provides superior collision repair and extraordinary customer care to thousands of clients south of Boston. King Collision is dedicated to earning customers for life and their team of professionals’ help clients through the collision repair process every step of the way – from coordinating a rental vehicle; providing accurate damage appraisal; assisting with the insurance claim process and ensuring that the vehicle is returned to pre-accident operation, safety and value.

King Collision Centers was voted “Best Collision Repair” by Market Surveys of America and they have been selected to participate in the Repair Shop Referral Programs of 20 different insurance companies.

King Collision Centers are located in Pembroke and Plymouth, MA. For more information, visit KingCollision.com or contact 508-747-2005.

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Behavioral Concepts, Inc. (BCI) hires Worcester resident Christine Apostol as clinical coordinator

BCI’s Christine Apostol

WORCESTER, MA…

Behavioral Concepts, Inc. (BCI), a company of behavioral clinicians specializing in the care of children with autism in Central Massachusetts, recently hired Christine Apostol as a clinical coordinator. Apostol comes to BCI from the Cambridge Public School system as a behavioral specialist.

As a clinical coordinator at BCI, Apostol will write programs for skills development, behavioral support programs and other developmental services for more than a dozen BCI clients in Central Massachusetts who are living with autism. Those programs can consist of social skills, community safety skills, academic and pre-academic skills, classroom participation, health and ADL skills.

“Christine’s experience working in the Cambridge public school system, as well as her previous time in the Action public school system, make her an invaluable addition to our team of ABA clinicians,” said BCI Founder and Director Dr. Jeff Robinson.

A Worcester, Mass. native and current resident, Apostol holds a Master’s degree in Applied Behavioral Analysis from Northeastern University, where she also earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a concentration in special education. Apostol is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and is a member of the Berkshire Association for Behavioral Analysis and Therapy (BABAT) and the Massachusetts Association for Applied Behavioral Analysis.

“What’s great about working at BCI is the clinician to student ratio. It enables you as a clinical supervisor to provide more individual attention and that greatly benefits the student,” said Apostol.

Based in Worcester, Mass and with offices in Mansfield and West Boylston, Mass., BCI provides much needed services to children with autism and their families. BCI instructional programs are delivered using discrete trial training, task analysis, and systematic prompting procedures implemented by ABA therapists who have successfully completed pre-service training, on-site, and quarterly evaluations by their clinical supervisors. Instruction is provided across a variety of domains, included by not limited to: Activities of daily living, functional and augmentative communication, functional academics and community outings and safety awareness. Social skills groups with peer models are also offered as part of BCI’s services. A heavy emphasis is placed on generalization and maintenance of skills, in addition to family training, so that families may implement the supports and carry-over skills in the home.

BCI accepts Harvard-Pilgrim, Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Behavioral Health, Tufts, Aetna and coverage from other major health care providers.

For complete information, visit http://bciaba.org or to arrange a consultation with a BCI clinician, please call (508) 363-0200.

About Behavioral Concepts, Inc. (BCI)

Founded in 2002, BCI provides educational, behavioral, consultative and assessment services to children with autism and their families. These services are based on the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and are tailored to the unique needs of the individuals BHC works with. It’s BCI’s goal to maximize student potential, increase independence and enhance our clients’ quality of live within their home, school and community.

BCI’s main care center is located at 170 Goddard Memorial Drive, in Worcester, Massachusetts. BCI operates its BASICS services at 100 Hartwell Street in West Boylston, Mass. The BASICS program is a sub-contract arrangement between Behavioral Concepts, Inc. and the Central Massachusetts Special Education Collaborative. BASICS provides services to children aged 7-22 with autism and maladaptive behaviors. BCI’s Corporate Offices are located in Mansfield, Mass.

For complete information, visit http://bciaba.org or to arrange a consultation with a BCI clinician, please call (508) 363-0200.

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Old Colony Elder Services Offers 7 Tips for Caregivers this Holiday Season

According to the National Family Caregiver Association’s website, 29 percent of people in the U.S. provide care for a chronically ill, disabled or an aging family member or friend and at least 20 hours per week are spent providing care (Caregiving in the United States; National Alliance for Caregiving in collaboration with AARP; November 2009).

Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), a private, non-profit corporation serving seniors, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers throughout greater Brockton and Plymouth County, offers 7 Tips for Caregivers this holiday season:

1. Be kind to yourself. Caregiving can be very hard work; take time to appreciate the loving care you provide. Know that every day you are doing the best you can.

2. Take care of yourself. Make and keep your own doctor’s appointments and other appointments that help to keep you well.

3. Remember to ask for help. People will often be happy to assist if they know what is needed; Caregivers need a break too.

4. Reach out to others for professional support if needed.

5. Set limits for what you are able to do; no one can do everything.

6. The best decisions are joint decisions; when possible, include the person for whom you are caring in matters that will affect him or her. This helps to reduce conflict and can lead to better outcomes.

7. Do your best to remain optimistic; this will help to lift everyone’s mood. When difficulties arise, know that this too, shall pass.

“The holidays can be a stressful time of year, but more so for caregivers. Many family caregivers are spouses, some of whom have their own health issues. Others are daughters and sons, more than half of whom are trying to hold down a job and take care of their own children as well. It’s very important that caregivers take care of themselves in order to avoid burnout and remain physically and emotionally healthy,” noted Diana DiGiorgi, OCES’ Executive Director.

About OCES

Incorporated in 1974, Old Colony Elder Services (OCES) 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 support the independence and dignity of elders and individuals with disabilities by providing essential information and services that promote healthy and safe living. For more information call (508) 584-1561 or visit the website at www.oldcolonyelderservices.org.

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Tracy Chevrolet Cadillac launches Toys for Tots Drive.

PLYMOUTH, MA…

Tracy Chevrolet Cadillac recently announced it will hold a Toys for Tots drive at the dealership located at 137 Samoset Street in Plymouth. Tracy Chevrolet will be accepting donations up until December 19 for the drive on behalf of Cape Cod and the Islands Toys for Tots chapter.

“Many of us got into this business because we had an interest in cars as little kids, probably from receiving a toy car or truck for Christmas,” said Jeff Tracy, president of Tracy Chevrolet Cadillac. “Every kid should have that special gift at Christmas. With this drive, we’re hoping to make that happen for a child whose family may not be able to afford a gift.”

Donations to Toys for Tots must be new, unopened items. Toys donated must not be gift-wrapped. Wrapped items will have to be opened prior to being accepted as a donation. Toys collected for this drive will be distributed to families in need in the greater Plymouth area.

Interested parties can drop off gifts at the dealership during normal business hours: Sunday, 11am to 4pm; Monday through Thursday, 8:30am to 8pm; Friday, 8:30am to 6pm; and Saturday, 8am to 5pm.

“There’s no better way to express gratitude for what you have by helping out those who have not been as fortunate,” said Jeff Tracy, president of Tracy Chevrolet Cadillac. “We encourage everybody to stop by the dealership and make a contribution to the drive.”

For more information on Tracy Chevrolet Cadillac, visit www.tracymotors.com.

So easy at Tracy Chevrolet Cadillac

For more than 80 years and three generations of dealers, the Tracy family has made it so easy for customers on the South Shore and greater Plymouth area to purchase new and used automobiles. Since its beginnings in 1992, Tracy Chevrolet Cadillac has emphasized first-rate customer service and straightforward, bottom-line pricing with fair trade-ins every time–without the games or gimmicks you find at other dealerships. For more information on new and used trucks and automobiles, you can go to www.tracymotors.com or stop by the dealership, conveniently located at 137 Samoset Street, just off exit 6 on Route 3. For more information, or to make a service appointment, you can also call (800) 640-2884.

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Ingage Consulting’s Evan Hackel selected for New England Franchise Owners (NEFA) board of directors

Evan Hackel
Evan Hackel of Ingage Consulting

FRAMINGHAM, MA AND WOBURN, MA…The New England Franchise Association (NEFA), the trade organization for franchisors and franchisees in the region, has announced its new board of directors. Among those chosen for the new board include Evan Hackel, founder of Ingage Consulting of Woburn, MA.

“Having been a member of NEFA for several years, I’m thrilled and honored to be appointed to its board of directors,” said Hackel.  We have some impressive individuals on the new board who have experience as franchisors, franchisees and consultants in the industry. I’m looking forward to working with the board and NEFA members to develop programs and events that engage and benefit our Association.”

In addition to Hackel, the new board includes both franchisors and those who serve the franchise community.  Board members include Bruce Wildes, Acadia Business Advisors, LLC, Cumberland, ME; Chuck Lynch, MaidPro, Boston, MA; Donato Dandreo, Compete Now, Boston, MA; Gina Weinstock, G. T. Reilly & Company, Milton, MA; Kevin Dubois, Lapels Dry Cleaning, Hanover, MA; Kim Woods, Franchise Solutions, Portsmouth, NH; Murray Vetstein, Source4, Brockton, MA; Steve Dubin, PR Works, Kingston, MA; and Suzanne Cummings, Cummings Franchise Law, P.C., Stoneham, MA.

“Evan’s a great addition to our board of directors and a great example of the high caliber of members we have in NEFA,” said NEFA President Steve Dubin.

Hackel’s consulting firm, Ingage Consulting, focuses on improving the performance of franchises by enhancing the relationship of individual franchisees and the franchisor. By creating a culture of partnership and common purpose, Ingage Consulting is able to help franchisees and franchisors dramatically improve their performance.

Before founding Ingage Consulting, Hackel was president at CCA Global Partners for 20 years. At CCA, he was responsible for four business divisions with more than 2,000 units, more than $5 billion in sales, and operating in four countries. While at CCA, Mr. Hackel founded its marketing department, national programs department, and its award-winning training department.

About NEFA

New England Franchise Association (NEFA) is the trade organization for franchisors and franchisees in the region, with over 150 members. The mission of NEFA is to bring franchise executives, franchisees and vendors together to share ideas for success.

Franchising more than ever before, has an unprecedented opportunity to make a major positive impact on the future New England economy. In a 2001-05 study conducted by  PriceWaterhouseCoopers on behalf of the International Franchise Association (IFA) found that in New England over 875,000 jobs are a result of franchising, the total output is over 100 Billion dollars a year, and there are over 35,000 franchise establishments in the six New England States.

For more information, please visit the New England Franchise Association via the organization’s website www.NEFranchise.org or email to info@NEFranchise.org.

About Ingage Consulting

Ingage Consulting is a management consulting firm that works with franchisors and franchisees to improve the franchise 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 both franchisors and franchisees.  The company helps solve the problems of franchise organizations by offering services that range from partnership creation and vibrant intranet community creation to trust building, improved communication and strategic planning.  After a thorough assessment, Ingage Consulting devises solutions to a franchise organization’s challenges. These solutions may include the development of methods that maximize collaboration among franchisees/licensees or the development of a clear strategy and execution plan for change which is customized to meet organizational objectives.

Evan Hackel, Ingage founder and management expert has more than two decades of experience in best practices, turnaround strategies and team dynamics.  He is often engaged to analyze franchise businesses, provide recommendations and facilitate strategic planning.  Hackel is a  a member of the National Speakers Association. As a member of the International Franchise Association (IFA), he holds a Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) and is a member of the IFA Supply Forum. Hackel is a member and serves on the board of director os the New England Franchise Association (NEFA).

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.

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Ride on! Law Offices of John C. Manoog donates bike safety equipment for Manomet Mystery Riders’ Toy Drive

Law Offices of John C. Manoog III Attorney Michael O’Malley, second from left, presents a check to the Manomet Mystery Riders’ Sue Lamoureux, Sue and John Eichinger. The donation went to safety equipment purchased by the Manomet Mystery Riders for bicycles purchased for their annual toy drive for the Salvation Army.

HYANNIS, AND PLYMOUTH, MA…

As a motorcycle club, the Manomet Mystery Riders are strong advocates for safe bike riding of any kind. So when the Riders hold their annual toy drive for the Salvation Army, every bicycle they purchase must come with necessary safety equipment—helmets, horns, reflectors, etc. This year’s drive had a not-so-secret Santa, the Law Offices of John C. Manoog III, which donated $500 to cover the cost of the safety equipment for the bicycles purchased for this year’s recipients.

“When we heard about the Manomet Mystery Riders toy drive, especially how they buy bicycles for older children and teens as well as the younger ones, we knew it was something we wanted to be involved with,” said John C. Manoog III, attorney and principal of the Law Offices of John C. Manoog III. “As personal injury attorneys, many of the cases we handle could have been avoided had the proper precautions been taken. Riding a bike is no different. Helmets, lights/reflectors and horns go a long way toward preventing accidents and minimizing the impact of spills.”

The Manomet Mystery Riders purchased 15 bicycles for this year’s toy drive, held on Sunday, November 25. The bikes were purchased at Benny’s department store located at 179 Court Street in Plymouth.

“We can’t thank Attorney Manoog enough for his generous donation,” said John Eichinger, treasurer for the Manomet Mystery Riders. “We give a variety of toys as part of our drive but for obvious reasons the bicycles are near and dear to our heart. John’s generous donation will help give a lot of children and teens a much happier holiday.”

Generosity combined with a safety message is nothing new for the Law Offices of John C. Manoog III. The firm recently partnered with Friendly’s and the Barnstable Police Department on a Halloween safety campaign that included passing out reflective lights for younger patrons of Friendly’s to use for trick-or-treating.

“We see too many accidents and unfortunate tragedies happen on account of negligence and just not thinking ahead,” said Manoog. “If there’s an opportunity to prevent something like that from happening, we’re happy to help.

For more information on the Law Offices of John C. Manoog III, please visit www.manooglaw.com.

About The Law Offices of John C. Manoog III 

The attorneys at The Law Offices of John C. Manoog III specialize in helping clients  recover their losses in all types of personal injury cases including automobile accidents, slip-and-fall accidents, dog bites, wrongful death, product liability, construction site accidents, as well as obtaining the benefits needed in workers compensation cases. The Firm also offers criminal defense services for clients. Initial consultation is free. The Law Offices of John C. Manoog III has two locations, 450 South Street in downtown Hyannis and 18 Main Street Extension in Plymouth center for added convenience.

For more information, visit www.manooglaw.com or call toll-free 888-262-6664.

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VoiceNation’s Job Fair at Goodwill a Huge Success

VoiceNation, the industry leader in live answering and virtual receptionist services, had a tremendous turnout of over 120 job seekers at their recent job fair held at Goodwill of North Georgia’s Oakwood Career Center.

The job fair was part of VoiceNation’s recruitment campaign entitled “It’s Your Turn to Answer the Call”. The company is looking to fulfill Customer Service Representative positions for full and part-time shifts at their expanding call center in Buford. VoiceNation is one of the fastest growing answering services in the industry. Customer Service Representatives are needed to answer inbound calls, take orders, screen calls and provide event registration for companies from various industries including legal, healthcare and hospitality.

VoiceNation had a 90 percent interview attendance rate, which far exceeds the average attendance rate of 56 percent by normal recruiting standards. Although these numbers are significant, VoiceNation is highly selective in hiring, ensuring the best possible fit for the organization and their clients.

“We received well over 100 resumes within a week’s time, and more than one third of all the applicants we interviewed were scheduled for a second interview. We’re very pleased with the success of the job fair and we’d like to work with Goodwill of North Georgia Oakwood Career Center again in the near future,” said Jay Reeder, founder and president of VoiceNation.

Goodwill® of North Georgia
The mission of Goodwill of North Georgia is to put people to work. We have been providing services in the region for more than 85 years. In fiscal year 2012, we provided job training and employment services to more than 30,000 people and helped approximately 10,224 people find jobs or start new businesses. Our organization currently operates 42 stores and more than 60 attended donation centers. Revenues generated from Goodwill’s retail program help fund our job training and placement programs. Last year, we processed more than 1.8 million donations.

About VoiceNation
VoiceNation is America’s telecommunications leader for virtual PBX, voicemail and innovative Next Generation call centers. Named a “Top Provider in Industry” by PC World, VoiceNation provides live answering service and call center solutions utilizing the latest in proprietary technology to deliver high quality call answering services at the lowest cost to their customers. In this way, VoiceNation enables business of all sizes to compete in the marketplace with 24-hour availability that adapts to any situation.

Founded in 2002, VoiceNation is a privately-held company that serves more than 40,000 customers including FEMA, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Dell, AIG and the U.S. Coast Guard. The company also provides qualified non-profit, tax-exempt charities with access to voicemail, faxmail and other specialized communication services at reduced cost through their Care2Call outreach program.
To learn more about VoiceNation, visit http://www.qualityansweringservice.com.

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