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New England Based Bearing Company Cuts Costs with Green Initiative

Boston based Action Bearing is saving big bucks each month and they attribute it to their latest green initiative.

Action Bearing, providers of bearings and related products to OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturers) and MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Operations) markets throughout New England, decided to seek a more environmentally-friendly way to package each shipment of bearings and related products. The company invested in a $1,300 machine that recycles cardboard boxes by shredding and converting them into packing materials. Now, instead of expensive bubble wrap, Action Bearing packs most of their shipments in this environmentally friendly, biodegradable cardboard “fluff”. The bottom line? Not only is it better for the environment, but the company reduced their overall packaging costs by $500 to $1000 per month.

“We’ve obtained significant cost savings, upwards of $12,000 per year by simply seeking ‘greener’ alternatives. Had we been aware of this great technology, we would’ve incorporated it years ago,” noted Steve Katz, the company’s president.

Paper-Free Online Comprehensive Bearings Catalog

Action Bearing has also taken measures to reduce new paper consumption. They have recently launched a sophisticated new website that features an online catalog of more than three million bearings and related parts which can also be downloaded and saved to a PC/laptop and used as a reference guide. Spec sheets, conversion charts and more are available online at ActionBearing.com.

The Action Bearing Difference

In a proud tradition, the same families that started the company in 1957 keep Action Bearing rolling by specializing in bearings for OEM and MRO markets in New England. Action Bearing has a staff of 22 and a 23,000 square foot facility to provide bearings ranging in size from 3mm to tunnel-boring 15-foot-diameter giants.

Action Bearing offers customers a one-stop shopping experience. With an online product catalog with over three 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, Action Bearing has become the area’s leading provider of bearings to OEM and MRO markets.

Action Bearing maintains headquarters at 201 Brighton Ave. Boston, MA. For more information, contact 617-782-1400 or toll free, 800-225-4587, email info@ActionBearing.com or visit www.ActionBearing.com

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Elder Care Expo to be Held on April 13th in Brockton

Older adults and caregivers are invited to attend an Elder Care Expo which will be held on April 13, 2010 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m at the Brockton Council on Aging, located at 10 Father Kenney Way.

The Elder Care Expo, which is sponsored by Old Colony Elder Services (OCES) Family Caregiver Support Program and Elder Education Community Outreach (EECO) is a free event that is open to the public. OCES and EECO’s goal is to broaden community awareness of the resources available to seniors and caregivers while promoting good health & well-being.

The event will feature resource exhibits and free health screenings for blood pressure, glucose and hearing. There will be give-aways and raffles. Complimentary refreshments will be served.

Rochelle Sugarman, who is the Family Caregiver Support Program Supervisor at OCES will speak to attendees about “Finding the Balance in Caregiving”. Shawn Smith, OCES’ Nutrition Program Director will also speak on the topic of how to “Enjoy a Balanced Diet on a Balanced Budget”.

Every guest will receive an EECO Resource Guide for Older Adults. For more information, contact OCES at (508) 584-1561 ext. 272.

About OCES
Incorporated in 1974, Old Colony Elder Services is one of 27 private, non-profit Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
OCES offers a number of programs to serve seniors, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers such as Family Caregiver; Adult Family Care; Supportive Housing; Nutrition; Money Management; Protective Services; Home Care and more.

OCES offers these programs in the towns of Abington, Avon, Bridgewater, Brockton, Carver, Duxbury, East Bridgewater, Easton, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Kingston, Lakeville, Marshfield, Middleboro, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, Rockland, Stoughton, Wareham, West Bridgewater and Whitman.

The organization’s mission is to provide services that support the dignity and independence of elders by helping them maximize their quality of life; live safely and in good health; and, prevent
unnecessary or premature institutionalization.

In 2009, OCES was honored with the Metro-South Chamber of Commerce’s “Economic Impact Award”. The agency has 140 employees. For more information call (508) 584-1561 or visit the website at www.oldcolonyelderservices.org.

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Rodman & Rodman CPA Offers Tips for Small Businesses on How to Avoid the Mistakes of “Big Business”

Can a smaller business make the mistakes that behemoths Chrysler and GM did? According to Larry Rice, CPA who is Director of Strategic Consulting at Rodman & Rodman Certified Public Accountants and Business Strategists, small businesses can certainly make those mistakes, just on a smaller scale.

According to Rice, “Many of the problems that plague huge multinational corporations are often the same problems entrepreneurial-type businesses face. We can see on a national basis what happens when businesses take their eye off the ball. Small businesses cannot afford to make these mistakes…there’s no government bail-out for small business.”

Rice offers small businesses owners tips on how to grow and flourish as the market recovers:

Always be aware of your competitors and their plans. Many of the problems that Chrysler and GM face today could have been avoided with an aggressive plan to address their Japanese competitors 30+ years ago. By not addressing costs, quality and management/labor relations aggressively, they left the door open for foreign competition to get a foothold that should have been much more difficult to obtain. Small business owners MUST periodically (at least annually) sit down and do a competitive analysis of your industry. Look at your competitors’ advantages and determine whether you need to do something now to address it. If you have lost business to your competition, find out exactly the reason they left. Do NOT assume you know why, ask them directly if possible. If you hear a trend of reasons, you better take action quickly.

Project your cash flow. What’s the difference between GM and Chrysler and Ford (who did not have government intervention)? Ford better understood the predicament it was in from a cash flow perspective more than two years ago. At that time, Ford mortgaged everything for cash in what it saw then as a fight for long-term survival. Nothing is certain moving forward, but Ford has thus far weathered the storm, while making small market share gains and important investments in new vehicles and technology which will keep the business moving forward. As a small business owner, it’s important to project cash flow forward, at least six months, and update your cash flow projection monthly, so that you will have an early warning system in place to help you take steps to avoid the catastrophe of running out of money.

Your team is not your enemy. Animus between management and labor has only recently been turned around in the automobile industry so that everyone has begun working together towrard common goals. They still have a long way to go, which only proves that implementing a management-by-fear-and-intimidation ideology (or for that matter letting your employees run the place) will get you nowhere. Often, it is your non-skilled employees who will come up with the best ideas on how to improve business processes. Treat them poorly and you’ll get nothing beyond the bare minimum of effort. Small business owners take heed and include your team in strategy sessions and obtain feedback from them constantly.

Perception is reality. It’s imperative for small business owners to understand customer perception because that is the reality of your relationship with them. If it is good, you can ask for referrals and ask them to buy more and so on. If it is poor, you must begin to repair that perception with some excellent reality. But, first, feedback must be solicited from them. This can be done via personal conversations, surveys (preferably anonymous to get the greatest amount of truth), customer advisory boards, any number of methods. Americans perceive things about American maker vehicles which are no longer true in many cases. Certain American cars have equal and in some cases better quality construction than their foreign competitors. As you can see, it has been very difficult for American makers to get that message across. Small business owners need to communicate positively, proactively and frequently with customers. This enables you to shape their perceptions and avoid being a business victim.

Rice is a CPA and business development guru who works with a wide range of small to mid-sized businesses at Rodman & Rodman. Rice’s expertise lies in profit improvement strategies, performance measurement, information system analysis and improvement as well as strategic visioning and planning. He is dedicated to helping businesses achieve their short and long term goals. He has been featured on Bloomberg Radio, CN8-TV and other media outlets.

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.

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 Certified Public Accountants are located at 3 Newton Executive Park in Newton and 25 Braintree Hill Office Park in Braintree, Mass. For more information, visit their website at www.rodmancpa.com

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Oldest road in America gets new purpose. Debut of half marathon and 10k Races another reason to visit Plymouth, Mass.

PLYMOUTH, MA…

When discussing historic road races in New England, none tops the Boston Marathon. Yet if you want to talk about road race courses with history, none can best the first Old Sandwich Road Race on June 6—a half marathon taking place on Old Sandwich Road, the oldest road in America.

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

“In creating this race, we wanted to accomplish many things,” said Craig Valentine Brenner, Old Sandwich Road Race organizer and Plymouth resident. “The first was to create an attractive destination race in Plymouth that would draw local runners and folks from outside the region. There’s really no better road to accomplish that than Old Sandwich Road, the same trail America’s original settlers traveled. But we also wanted this race to benefit local causes and businesses.”

To that end, the profits from the first Old Sandwich Road Race will go to the Home for Little Wanderers’ Baird Center, located at 900 Ship Pond Road in Plymouth. The Baird Center works with boys grades 4 through 11 with social and emotional issues. Much like Old Sandwich Road’s claim to being a first, The Home for Little Wanderers, founded in 1799, is the oldest child welfare services agency in the United States.

The appeal of the course and the cause have already drawn interest from local sponsors with their own rich history, like Plimouth Plantation, The Governor Bradford Inn and Martha Stone Soup, a restaurant in an historic carriage house located along Old Sandwich Road. Other sponsors include: Entergy, Retrofit Technologies, Bayside Runner, King Collision Centers and the Village Racquet & Fitness Club at the Pinehills.

In addition to the half marathon, the Old Sandwich Road Race features a 10k, sponsored by Plimouth Plantation and Entergy and starting at Plimouth Plantation, and a Kids Classic. The Kids Classic features four one-mile kids’ races with age groups from 7 to 14 years of age and a children’s fun sprint of 100 meters. The Kids Classic will take place on the track at Plymouth South High School, which is also the end point for both the half marathon and 10k.

“The Old Sandwich Road Race truly does offer something for everybody. And with a June 6 race date, it’s kind of nice kickoff to the summer,” said Brenner. “We’re thrilled with the number of runners, sponsors and volunteers who have signed on to date and there’s still plenty of time for even more people to get involved with what we anticipate being the first of many annual races.”

For information about the race and registration, please visit http://www.oldsandwichroadrace.com. If you would like to be a sponsor, the minimum sponsorship is $250. You can contact Craig Brenner, craigvbrenner@yahoo.com, 781-419-4207 to inquire about sponsorship and volunteer opportunities.

Oldest road in America gets new purpose. Debut of half marathon and 10k Races another reason to visit Plymouth, Mass.Read More

Driven to help others…Plymouth North students win Tracy Chevrolet Cadillac Driven Student Award for “Adopt a Platoon” program and “Literacy Leaders” efforts.

PLYMOUTH, MA…

In the two years since its inception, the Tracy Chevrolet Driven Student program has honored a number of Plymouth high school students for excelling inside and outside the classroom. This month’s honorees, members of Maggie Madden’s Literature class, are being recognized for their efforts as students and as teachers.

As students, the group participated in a “Share Literacy” program, which involves interaction with Life Skills students. In addition to helping them with their reading skills, Mrs. Madden’s students helped the Life Skills perform an abbreviated version of Charles Dickens’ Christmas Carol.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever been more proud of a group of students,” said Mrs. Madden. “The Life Skills students had a lot of fun in putting on the play but I think our students received the real gift. They had a chance to step outside their comfort zone and do something for others and that’s truly a gift.”

In addition to working with the Life Skills students, Mrs. Madden’s class initiated a school-wide “Adopt a Platoon” program. The initial intent of the program was for PNHS students to send letters to soldiers overseas. This class, however, took it a step further, adopting a specific soldier, Matthew Randall, a graduate of Plymouth South High School and son of Plymouth North custodian Dan Randall.

Presently stationed in South Korea and serving as a physician’s assistant, PFC Randall recently visited the class on Friday, March 26.  On that same day, Mrs. Madden’s class was recognized as the Tracy Chevrolet Cadillac Driven Students of the Month award.

In recognition of their work with the Life Skills students and the Adopt a Platoon program, the students were treated to a pizza party, courtesy of Tracy Chevrolet Cadillac. Tracy Chevrolet Cadillac Service Manager Rick McGue delivered the pizzas to the students and teachers attending the party.

Students taking part in mentoring the Life Skills students and the Adopt-a-Platoon program include: Adam Benedict, James Bradley, Alexander Dearn, Amber Desrosier, Dani Diaz, Deirdre Hill, Thomas Kane, Mike Khederian, Christopher Rose, Chris Schaefer and Ryan Shea.  In addition to their teacher, Mrs. Madden, these students rely on the aide of Alida Nickerson, Adjustment Counselor, and Tanya Little, Student Support Specialist.

“With our Driven Student Award, we make the effort to recognize students who may not get the credit deserved but our doing things worthy of recognition,” said Jeff Tracy, president of Tracy Chevrolet Cadillac. “By adopting PFC Randall and taking the Life Skills students under their wing, these students are most deserving of the Driven Student of the Month award.

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 (800) 640-2884.

Driven to help others…Plymouth North students win Tracy Chevrolet Cadillac Driven Student Award for “Adopt a Platoon” program and “Literacy Leaders” efforts.Read More

An ‘extreme’ approach to networking…ActionCOACH Angie Segal goes to ‘extremes’ as a partner of an Extreme Office Makeover for local non-profit.

SILVER SPRING, MD AND ROCKVILLE, MD…

As an ActionCOACH business coach, Angie Segal coaches her clients to seek out the proverbial “win-win” situation. As one of the founders of the ORIGINAL Third Tuesday networking group and a partner in the Extreme Office Makeover, she helped find a way to create a win-win-win for the nearly 400 business owners who participated in this month’s event.

The Extreme Office Makeover contest involved a group of local business partners donating goods or services to be awarded to a Montgomery County, non home-based business. Segal donated three months of business coaching. Other services donated from partners in the Extreme Office Makeover group included IT services and software, accounting, printing, water coolers and office supplies to name a few. In total, more than $100,000 in goods and services were donated by Extreme Office Makeover sponsors.

“This really was a win-win-win situation. Obviously, it’s great for the company that wins the Makeover but it also gives the sponsors an opportunity to showcase their business’s offerings and perhaps win a new client,” said Segal, owner of an ActionCOACH franchise in Silver Spring, MD. “Personally, I think it’s a win for everyone involved because we created an opportunity for almost 400 business owners to network and make new acquaintances and who knows what that could lead to.”

The Wellness Community of Greater Washington DC was the proud winner of the Extreme Office Makeover. The Wellness Community is a non-profit which provides cancer support, education and hope for thousands of people in the Greater Washington DC area.

“We are thrilled!” said Paula Rothenberg, president & CEO of The Wellness Community. “As a small nonprofit organization that provides all of our programs free of charge to people affected by cancer, we are dependent upon the support of many individuals, foundations and corporations. To receive this tremendous gift of much needed products and services is overwhelming.”

A first runner up prize was also awarded to the Computer Learning and Resource Center of Silver Spring, Maryland, which received a variety of goods and services from the participating business partners.

In addition to ActionCOACH, contributing sponsors of the Extreme Office Makeover included: Mosaic Technologies, Rockville Printing & Graphics, the Law Offices of Whittaker & Associates, Diverse Office Solutions, RMR & Associates, Reznick Group, Sisarina, Action Coach, RCD & Associates, IMC Water Coolers, iCore Networks, Intelligent Office, CMR Alliance, Shred Station Express, Urban BBQ, Potomac Grill and Comcast Business Class.

Founded in August 2009 by Angie Segal of ActionCOACH and Ron Dobransky of Rockville Printing & Graphics, the Original Third Tuesday networking group meets from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. every third Tuesday at Clyde’s at Tower Oaks at 2 Preserve Parkway in Rockville, Maryland.  There’s no membership fee or admission to attend Original Third Tuesday networking group session. All business owners are welcome.

About ActionCOACH

ActionCOACH is the world’s #1 business coaching firm and executive coaching firm. Operating in 26 countries, the franchise has more than 1,000 offices around the world. That includes locations in the five states (and Washington DC) that make up the Gulf Atlantic region: Alabama (Pelham); Delaware; Louisiana (Baton Route, Loranger, Mandeville, New Orleans and Shreveport); Maryland (Baltimore, Freeland, Fallston, Manchester, Rockland, Silver Spring); and Mississippi (Madison).

Founded in 1993, the ActionCOACH has received numerous awards including Fastest Growing Franchise, Franchisee Satisfaction, Best Overall Company and has been named the number one business coaching franchise for more than five years running.

For information on ActionCOACH Founder Brad Sugars’ 2010 “Business is Booming” North American tour, please visit, http://businessisboomingtour.com/. 

To learn more about working with an ActionCOACH or the ActionCOACH franchise opportunity, contact Karen Boyd, www.karenboyd.actioncoach.comwww.karenboyd.actioncoach.com, (410) 374-3536.

An ‘extreme’ approach to networking…ActionCOACH Angie Segal goes to ‘extremes’ as a partner of an Extreme Office Makeover for local non-profit.Read More

Jennifer Harber tabbed as executive director of The Bridge Center

BRIDGEWATER, MASS.

The Bridge Center, a non-profit (501)(c)( 3) recreation center that serves children with developmental, physical and emotional disabilities, has recently named Jennifer Harber as its Executive Director.

As Executive Director, Harber oversees all aspects of The Bridge Center’s operations, including fundraising, program, personnel and marketing strategy. Part of that strategy included renaming and branding of The Bridge Center from its former name Handi Kids. The new name was chosen to better reflect the expansion of programs they offer to children and families throughout the South Shore and Greater Boston areas.

“The Bridge Center has so much to offer the families of the South Shore. I’m thrilled to help bring all that the Bridge Center offers to a larger audience,” said Harber. “A big part of that has been developing relationships with other South Shore non-profits.  Groups like the United Way of Plymouth County have been very receptive to what we’re working to accomplish at The Bridge Center.”

Throughout her career, Harber has developed, managed, and coordinated programs in camp, residential, and community settings.  She comes to The Bridge Center after serving as Program Director for Massachusetts General Hospital’s YouthCare program where she managed and developed camp and teen programs, and developed and implemented training and consultation services for children, classrooms and programs. 

Harber holds an undergraduate degree from Cornell University with majors in psychology and math and a Master’s in Education from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education. She also earned a post-graduate certificate in Autism Spectrum Disorders and will complete her MBA from Babson College in 2010. A Norwood resident, Harber likes to read, bake and snowboard in her spare time.

About The Bridge Center

The Bridge Center’s beautiful 20-acre campus is located in Bridgewater, MA and provides accessible play and skill-building activities for all children regardless of the nature or severity of their disability. Year-round activities include nine weeks of summer camp, therapeutic horseback riding, school vacation camps, holiday parties, Saturday programs, teen programs, vocational training, after-school activities and family support groups. 

The Bridge Center also offers carefully designed summer programs and social skills groups designed to meet the social and behavioral needs of children with Asperger’s Syndrome, High Functioning Autism and related challenges.

If you’d like to learn more about The Bridge Center’s programs or are interested in becoming a supporter, please call (508) 697-7557 or send an e-mail to info@TheBridgeCtr.org.

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