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MD Tech Pro opens greater Boston location

BOSTON, MA and WOBURN, MA…
Losing your Internet access or having a server down can bring work to a standstill in any office. In a medical office, glitches and outages with IT can have major consequences (like security breaches). Some are even life-threatening. In an effort to meet the special IT needs of medical offices in the greater Boston area, MD Tech Pro, a healthcare IT company, recently opened an office at 400 Trade Center, Suite 5900, in Woburn, Massachusetts.

MD Tech Pro specializes in all phases of IT pertaining to medical practices, including network and system management, EHR transition, EHR support, and practice management. The company provides services nationwide and has experience with most major electronic medical record software solutions.

“The special needs of a medical office go beyond making sure everything is up and running and that there’s a backup plan for the backup plan,” said Ace Taggart, managing partner of MD Tech Pro’s Boston office. “With the HIPAA law, medical offices face security challenges a bit more stringent than your typical company.”

The range of solutions MD Tech Pro offers includes:

  • Complete support and solutions for your practice
  • 24/7/365 remote monitoring and repair
  • Software management and upgrades
  • EHR selection, implementation and EHR support services
  • Cloud hosting
  • Security risk analysis
  • Virus, spyware and security protection for all computers and servers
  • On-site, remote and phone / help-desk support 24/7/365
  • Discount hardware and software

In addition to its host of services, MD Tech Pro delivers additional consulting services to medical offices looking to convert existing records to electronic ones.

“There are stimulus funds from the federal government available for practices that convert to electronic records,” said Taggart. “MD Tech Pro has the experience in this area so that the practice has a seamless conversion to electronic records and meets the ‘meaningful use’ criteria to be eligible for these funds. We can also help those practices that currently use electronic health records but do not meet the ‘meaningful use’ criteria needed to receive federal stimulus funds.”

MD Tech Pro’s Boston office includes a full staff of locally based IT support professionals, which is bolstered by the resources of a nationwide company. MD Tech Pro has offices in Arizona, Georgia and Colorado. MD Tech Pro anticipates having offices in over 100 markets by the end of 2015.

MD Tech Pro offers a free, initial onsite consultation. You can schedule that by phoning 617.500.8163 or calling the toll-free number at 800-632-3242. For additional information, visit www.mdtechpro.com.

MD Tech Pro opens greater Boston locationRead More

Encore, encore! Franchise Management Expert Evan Hackel of Ingage Consulting shines as keynote speaker at 2012 at Exciting Windows! National Conference

Evan Hackel

WOBURN, MA…

The goal of any good public speaker is to leave your audience wanting more. If that’s the case, Evan Hackel, franchise management expert and founder of Ingage Consulting of Woburn, MA, succeeded in his keynote at last year’s Exciting Windows! 7th Annual National Conference. Hackel again was invited back as the featured speaker at Exciting Windows! 2012 Annual National Conference, held on January 29 in Baltimore, MD. 

Hackel spoke to Exciting Windows! franchisees on the topic of ”Returning to Growth Together”. 

“Evan showed how franchisees grow stronger as the organization grows stronger, and how the organization grows stronger as franchisees grow stronger. That struck a credible nerve that everyone understood,“ said Steven C. Bursten, CEO and chairman of Exciting Windows! “We had more favorable comments than any convention speaker in our eight years of franchising. In fact, last year’s presentation was transformative.  Business owners who never appreciated what it means to pull together “got it”, and have been more supportive than ever this year.“

In his 25 years franchise experience, Hackel has helped develop, implement and managed  three successful new franchise systems. His experience includes overseeing four different business systems representing more than $5 billion in annual sales through 2,000 locations in four countries at CCA Global Partners, one of the largest privately held companies in the U.S. By way of direct consulting and his speaking engagement, Hackel helps franchise organization achieve their short- and long-term goals through franchisor and franchisee engagement.

In addition to the Exciting Windows!, Hackel is slated to speak at 18 other conferences in 2012, including multiple sessions for PSA and FEI. The range of topics he covers includes: 

  • The Need for Change
  • Reaching Hire Together – Why engaged franchses make all the difference.
  • The Franchise Covenant – The roles and responsibilities of the organization and the individual.
  • Making the Most of Your Research – Presenting analyzed data to the management team and franchisees.
  • Customer Excellence – The power of the person and the customer service chain.
  • Selling Strategies/Skills – The Four P’s of Selling and more.
  • Engagement:  A Key Driver of Franchise Success 

“It was great to be back at Exciting Windows! and I’m pleased to have such a full plate of speaking engagements for the New Year,” said Hackel. “Difficult times truly do put emphasis on franchise organizations and franchisees working together. The best practices I cover in my talks give franchisors and business owners the tools needed to create an engaged organization where all components complement each other.” 

To arrange a speaking engagement with Evan Hackel, contact (781) 569-5900. 

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 franchisors and franchisees.  They offer unique services that help solve the problems of franchises in a number of ways.  Working closely with clients, the Ingage Consulting team quickly and thoughtfully assesses, understands and devises solutions to a franchise organization’s challenges.  Leaders come away with ideas for improvement, including methods for maximizing collaboration among franchisees/licensees 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 franchises 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.

Encore, encore! Franchise Management Expert Evan Hackel of Ingage Consulting shines as keynote speaker at 2012 at Exciting Windows! National ConferenceRead More

Things heat up for Phoenix area singles…. eLove Matchmaking enters Phoenix/Scottsdale market, opens matchmaking office in Scottsdale.

PHOENIX, SCOTTSDALE, AZ… 

It’s difficult to imagine it being hotter in the Phoenix area. For singles looking to find that special someone in 2012, that just might be the case as eLove Matchmaking recently opened a new matchmaking office at Fashion Square Center in Scottsdale. (7150 E Camelback Road, Suite 432).

“People embrace things like iPhones, iPads and the like because it makes their lives easier to navigate. eLove Matchmaking does the same thing with dating but in a more traditional manner,” said Paul A. Falzone, CEO of eLove, one of the largest professional introduction companies in the world. “Instead of spending hours online surfing profiles or hanging out in nightclubs or bars, eLove Matchmaking gives singles serious about meeting somebody a more time-efficient and cost-effective way. And we’re positively delighted to bring that to singles in the area.”

eLove Matchmaking’s professional matchmakers have paired literally thousands of singles over the past three decades. In addition to a one-on-one meeting with each member, eLove also conducts thorough background check for the safety of everyone they match. This includes a screening against the national sexual offender registry as well as inquiring to determine if they have committed other crimes .

“We take the guesswork out of dating,” said Falzone. “You might have to have five to ten dates with somebody you meet on your own to know what you know on day one with somebody you meet via eLove Matchmaking. That gives you a much great chance of success.”

To arrange a consultation with a professional matchmaker or for a membership, contact eLove toll-free at 877–356-8370 or visit www.elove.com.

For a free copy of Paul A. Falzone’s book “eLove: A Singles Guide”, please visit www.elovesuccess.com.                                                                                                                   

eLove is all you need

eLove Matchmaking, the next evolution in dating, has arrived.  eLove is the first “life stage company” within the dating industry to provide different levels of dating services, based on how serious singles are about meeting their soul mate.  Never before has a dating service catered so completely to everyone regardless of their age, sex, or relationship goals. With more than 50 matchmaking offices in 25 states, eLove Matchmaking is everything that singles have been wishing for whether they are looking for casual dating or a serious, committed relationship.                                       

eLove’s Matchmaking offices are located in: Arizona (Scottsdale/Phoenix);  Arkansas (Bentonville, Fort Smith, Little Rock); California (Costa Mesa, Palo Alto, Sacramento, Walnut Creek, San Diego, Santa Rosa, Westlake, West Hollywood); Connecticut (Glastonbury, Stamford); Illinois (Chicago, Normal, Schaumburg); Indiana (Carmel, Ft. Wayne); Kansas (Overland Park, Wichita); Maryland (Columbia, Frederick); Massachusetts (Newton, Norwell, Shrewsbury, Stoneham); Michigan (Bingham Farms); Minnesota (Bloomington); Missouri (Springfield, St. Louis); Nebraska (Lincoln, Omaha); Nevada (Las Vegas); New Jersey (Iselin, Saddle Brook); Ohio (Cincinnati); Oklahoma (Broken Arrow, Oklahoma City, Tulsa); Pennsylvania (Mechanicsburg, King of Prussia); Rhode Island (Warwick); South Carolina (Greenville); Tennessee (Memphis, Franklin); Texas (Austin, San Antonio); Virginia (Falls Church, Richmond); Wisconsin (Appleton, Elm Grove, Madison).

For more information on eLove, visit www.elove.com.

Things heat up for Phoenix area singles…. eLove Matchmaking enters Phoenix/Scottsdale market, opens matchmaking office in Scottsdale.Read More

First-ever Franchise Operational Performance Summit (OPS) lives up to billing.

Evan Hackel
Evan Hackel, Ingage Consulting

WOBURN, MA and ATLANTA, GEORGIA… 

There’s certainly no shortage of franchise conferences. Yet how much time is spent at those conference discussing franchise operations, particularly as it pertains to C-level executives? Comparatively speaking, relatively little. Hence the interest and success of the recently concluded Franchise Operational Performance Summit (OPS), a franchise operations conference for C-level executives held in Atlanta on December 6 and 7.

“Franchise OPS, with its concentrated focus on franchise operations, initiated some discussions you just wouldn’t get at other conferences,“ said Evan Hackel, principal of Ingage Consulting and one of the keynote speakers. “There clearly were some hot button topics that we delved deeper into, like real world compliance and social media, that made this a very worthwhile session and worthy of a future OPS session in 2012.“

Actio Marketing coordinated the two-day event, which featured several renowned franchise experts—including Evan Hackel, principal of Ingage Consulting, Eric Stites of Franchise Business Review, Stan Friedman of FranConnect, Rupert Barkoff of Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, Barth Getto of BizUnited and Bill Gauthier of CCA Global Partners. In addition to real world compliance, other Franchise OPS workshops covered: 

  • Turning a Survey into a Powerful Management Tool
  • Supercharge Operational Excellence with Web 2.0 Technology
  • Making the Most of Franchise System Buying Services

Beyond the educational benefits, roundtable discussions and networking opportunities with C-level franchise executives, the Franchise OPS also offered the added bonus of being approved for 300 CFE credits by the International Franchise Association. 

“Participating in the Franchise Operations Performance Summit provided a meaningful opportunity to reconnect with the essentials of franchise ops support as well as to hear new ideas from knowledgeable industry experts,“ said Ralph Thiergart, vice president of franchise services for Choice Hotels International. 

Added Jackob Hunt, vice president of operations for Dogtopia, “Networking, collaboration of ideas and practical solutions made this summit worth the time and money. I look at this as an investment in efficiency in ways to work smarter.“ 

A second Franchise Operations Performance Summit is currently being planned for late spring/early summer at a destination in greater Denver area of Colorado. The initial Franchise OPS was held at Twelve Hotel – Centenniel Park in Atlanta, Georgia and sponsored by Franchise Business Review, Kilpatrick Townsend, Actio Marketing, BizUnite and Ingage Consulting. 

For information on the first Franchise OPS and future summits, 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.

First-ever Franchise Operational Performance Summit (OPS) lives up to billing.Read More

Resort Maps® makes new Discovery. Resort Maps Franchise, Inc to change name to Discovery Map International, Inc.

Discovery Maps logo

WAITSFIELD, VERMONT… 

Effective January 1, 2012, Waitsfield, Vermont-based Resort Maps®, creator of more than 100 hand-drawn travel maps across the United States, Canada, England, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico, will officially change its name to Discovery Map International, Inc. The name change comes two months after acquiring Discovery Map International, LLC of La Conner Washington in October.

“Obviously, there were a number of things we loved about Discovery Map® to acquire the company. Most appealing, of course, was the acquisition would give us a coast-to-coast presence since most of their maps are on the west coast and most of ours are east of the Mississippi,” said Peter Hans, CEO of Resort Maps Franchise, Inc. “But I’ve got to admit, it was always in the back of my mind that we would assume the name Discovery Map® because it just gets down to essence of what we do—helping travelers and locals alike discover great places to eat, shop, stay and play.”

Discovery Map International, Inc will carry on Resort Maps® practice of creating colorful, hand-drawn maps of towns and cities, featuring its advertisers–restaurants, accommodations, retail shops, real estate and other services. The maps will also continue showcasing local sites and attractions and be available online and through multiple media outlets, such as Facebook and an IPhone application.

Under the Discovery Map International, Inc name, the company has 90 independent owners in 150 markets, in 33 states and four countries. In the first year of joint operation, the total circulation of the Discovery Map® maps will top 25 million.

“With the merger and the name change, you might say we have a bit more to celebrate this New Year and a lot of work to do in the coming year,” added Hans. “Still, it’s a challenge we welcome in growing and building the new Discovery Map® brand.”

About Discovery Map International, Inc, previously Resort Maps Franchise, Inc

Headquartered in the Green Mountains of Vermont, Discovery Map International, Inc has been creating and publishing visitor maps in the northeastern U.S. since 1986. In 1993, Resort Maps® expanded its reach by creating a franchise model for distribution of its colorful, hand-drawn maps of resort towns and cities. With its recent acquisition of the previous Discovery Map International, LLC, the company’s network has grown to 150 markets in 33 states and four countries (US, Canada, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico).

For more information on any of the 100+ Discovery Map® destinations or if you are interested in potentially owning a Discovery Map® franchise, please visit www.DiscoveryMap.com.  Alternatively, you can call 802-496-6277.

Discovery Map International franchises serve cities and towns in Arizona (Flagstaff, Grand Canyon, Sedona), California (Carlsbad, Carmel, Los Gatos, Monterey, San Diego, Saratoga), Colorado (Boulder, Breckenridge, Cherry Creek, Colorado Springs, Denver, Durango, Vail & Beaver Creek, Estes Park, Fort Collins, Glendale, Steamboat Springs, Summit County), Delaware ( Rehoboth Beach), Florida (Amelia Island, Boca Raton, Clearwater Beach and Gulf Beaches, Cocoa Beach, Daytona Beach, Delray Beach, Destin, Key West, Melbourne, New Smyrna Beach, St. Augustine), Georgia (Savannah/Tybee Island, St. Mary’s), Idaho (Coeur d’Alene, McCall, Sandpoint, Sun Valley), Kentucky (Lexington) Maine (Bar Harbor/Acadia, Boothbay region, Camden-Rockland, Kennebunkport, Kittery, Mt. Desert Island, Portland, Wells, York-Ogunquit), Maryland (Annapolis, Eastern Shore, Ocean City,  Solomons Island, St. Mary’s County), Massachusetts (Berkshires, Brewster/Harwich/Dennis, Chatham-Orleans, Eastham-Wellfleet, Falmouth, Hyannis-Yarmouth, Martha’s Vineyard, Newburyport, Plymouth, Sturbridge, Worcester), Michigan (Northern Michigan/Petoskey/Harbor Springs; Traverse City), Montana (Bozeman & Big Sky, Butte, Kalispell, Missoula, West Yellowstone, Whitefish),  New Hampshire (Franconia/Notch Region, Hampton Beach, Hanover/Lebanon , Keene, Lakes Region, Mount Washington Valley, Portsmouth), New Jersey (Barnegat Bay, Cape May, Hoboken/Jersey City, Hunterdon, Lambertville , Long Beach Island, New Brunswick, Ocean Grove, Point Pleasant, Princeton, Sandy Hook), New Mexico (Santa Fe, Taos), New York (The North Fork, Lake George , Lake Placid, Saratoga Springs, East Hampton), North Carolina (Asheville, Brunswick County, Charlotte, Chrystal Coast, Hendersonville, Outer Banks, Sandhills, Wilmington), Oregon (Bend), Pennsylvania (Bucks County, Chestnut Hill, Delaware River Valley, Gettysburg, Lehigh Valley, The Main Line, Lancaster County), Rhode Island (Newport, Providence), South Carolina (Charleston, Hilton Head,), Tennessee (Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge), Vermont (Addison County/Brandon, Barre/Montpelier, Burlington, Killington/Rutland, Mad River Valley, Manchester, Mount Snow, Okemo, Smugglers’ Notch, Stowe, Waterbury/Richmond, Woodstock/Quechee) and Virginia (Alexandria, Charlottesville, Lynchburg, Norfolk, Northern Neck & Middle Peninsula, Richmond, Virginia Beach), Washington (Anacortes, Bellingham, La Conner) Wisconsin (Door County)—as well as towns and cities in Canada (Charlotte Coastal Region), England (Chicester, Lewes), Puerto Rico (San Juan, Vieques, Culebra) and Costa Rica (Escazu-Santa Ana). 

 New maps coming soon in North Lake Tahoe, CA; South Hampton, NY; and Charlotte Harbor/Venice/Gulf Islands, FL.

Resort Maps® makes new Discovery. Resort Maps Franchise, Inc to change name to Discovery Map International, Inc.Read More

Appreciating depreciation. Cost segregation studies deliver earlier than expected tax breaks for commercial property owners.

Jeff Hiatt
Jeff Hiatt of Performance Business Solutions, LLC

 HAMPTON FALLS, NH…

In today’s economy, commercial property owners face an uphill battle in finding the funds to make the necessary improvements to retain and/or enhance a property’s value.  Cost segregation studies offer some property owners an opportunity to write off depreciation of building assets over a shorter period than the traditional 39-year depreciation period for a real property asset. This can generate funds in the form of a larger tax deduction. The funds that would have been paid in income tax could then be reinvested in renovations for that property or leveraged to help acquire another property.

A cost segregation study itemizes assets in a building into real property assets and personal property assets. Loosely speaking, real property refers to anything connected to the structure of the building (e.g. the foundation), while personal property assets can be items ranging from non-structural items like carpeting or aesthetic improvements like landscaping. By separating personal property assets, which have a shorter life expectancy than real property assets, you claim a greater rate of depreciation over a shorter period of time.

“Let’s say you buy an inn or resort with millwork and IT wiring.  Prior to cost seg studies, owners would have deducted depreciation of these items over 39 years instead of five or seven years,” said Jeff Hiatt, founder and CEO of Performance Business Solutions, LLC, based in Hampton Falls, NH. “For many commercial property owners, the personal asset depreciation deductions can result in a sizable return.”

Hiatt’s company, Performance Business Solution’s, LLC, specializes in expense reduction consulting for all types of business. One area that he has helped thousands of property owners across the US is with cost segregation studies. “Cost seg” studies can be applied to a wide variety of commercial properties, including apartment buildings, restaurants, manufacturing facilities, grocery stores, office buildings, etc. The process requires examination of any available building plans, site surveys, appraisals and/ or invoices. A site visit is also usually involved so project engineers can take photos and get a feel for the building.

After an inventory of assets is taken, a report of the building, per IRS Standard, is then completed. The numbers from the report can then be interpolated into the building owner’s client’s tax forms and filed with the next return.

The entire project can take from three to eight weeks to complete, with minimal disruption to the building’s activities or work flow. The price tag of the cost segregation study can range from $5,000 to $25,000, depending on the building’s size and tenant count.

“Performance Business Solutions conducted a cost segregation study on our property in York Harbor, Maine, the Stageneck Inn. They were extremely thorough and detailed in their study,” said Mark Foster, owner of Mark Foster, who also owns the Days Inn in Dover, New Hampshire. “When we turned the report over to our accountants, they felt very comfortable with the information provided and applied it to our tax returns. That gave us a fairly sizeable return, which we used to convert a house adjacent to the Stageneck Inn into a furnished rental property. Without the cost seg study, that might not have happened as quickly.”

Performance Business Solutions, LLC is located at 87 Lafayette Rd. Suite 11, Hampton Falls, NH 03844. The company helps businesses nationwide reduce expenses in a variety of areas. Performance Business Solutions, LLC, works with accountants, attorneys, and other experts to determine the best way for clients to reduce costs and increase profits. 

For information on arranging a cost segregation study on your commercial property, call (888) 989-0054 or (603) 926-2888. You can also send an e-mail to jdh@revenuebanking.com, or visit www.RevenueBanking.com.

Appreciating depreciation. Cost segregation studies deliver earlier than expected tax breaks for commercial property owners.Read More

Social media tops agenda at first-ever Franchise Operational Performance Summit (OPS) on December 6 & 7, in Atlanta, GA.

Evan Hackel
Evan Hackel

WOBURN, MA and ATLANTA, GEORGIA…

There’s a social element to every conference, usually involving structured or informal networking. At the first-ever Franchise Operational Performance Summit (OPS), to be held on December 6 and 7 in Atlanta, Georgia, the “social“ part of the agenda involves how franchises can use social media to improve operations.

“For a while now, Fortune 500 companies have been incorporated private social media tools into their operations to share knowledge, promote innovation and improve operational efficiencies, but franchises, for the most part, have not used social media, except for creating Facebook or Twitter pages for their customers“ said Evan Hackel, principal of Ingage Consulting and featured speaker at Franchise OPS.  “We will cover, as part of OPS, how there are a number of ways franchises can utilize social media to improve operations efficiency and improve communications throughout an organization overall.“

Franchise OPS will cover how to use social media to create:

  • Collaboration and engagement within a franchisee council and with the franchisor.
  • Think tanks for franchises to privately brainstorm new ideas among franchisees.
  • Training teams for new product launches.
  • Vehicles to find appropriate personnel with a certain skill set within a franchise organization.

“We’ve billed this as a one-of-a-kind event because very few, if any, franchise conferences are dedicated to franchise operations, particularly for C-level executives,“ said Hackel. “The added element of how social media can improve franchise operations gives Franchise OPS even more cache.“

In addition to the nuances of how social media and franchise operations, a sampling of workshops to be held includes: 

  • Real World Franchise Compliance
  • Turning a Survey into a Powerful Management Tool
  • Supercharge Operational Excellence with Web 2.0 Technology
  • Making the Most of Franchise System Buying Services

Beyond the educational benefits, roundtable discussions and networking opportunities with C-level franchise executives, Franchise OPS offers the added bonus of being approved for 300 CFE credits by the International Franchise Association.

Franchise OPS will be held on December 6 and 7 at the Twelve Hotel – Centenniel Park in Atlanta, Georgia. Interested parties can register for the Franchise OPS for $599 if you take the Franchise OPS survey within five days of registering, $699 if you do not. Five spots are still available. You can register online at http://www.franchiseoperationssummit.com. 

Franchise OPS is sponsored by Franchise Business Review, Kilpatrick Townsend, Actio Marketing, BizUnite, FranConnect and Ingage Consulting. For complete information on Franchise OPS, 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.

Social media tops agenda at first-ever Franchise Operational Performance Summit (OPS) on December 6 & 7, in Atlanta, GA.Read More

Great OPS for C-Level Franchise Execs…First-ever Franchise Operational Performance Summit (OPS) to be held December 6 & 7, in Atlanta, GA.

Evan Hackel
Evan Hackel

WOBURN, MA and ATLANTA, GEORGIA… 

Traditional franchise conferences provide networking opportunities, seminars, vendor presentations and meetings for franchisee councils. Very rarely is attention given to franchise operations. The first-ever Franchise Operational Performance Summit (OPS), to be held on December 6 and 7 in Atlanta, Georgia, focuses exclusively on how C-level franchise executives can improve their respective franchise operations.

Five franchise experts—Evan Hackel of Ingage Consulting, Eric Stites of Franchise Business Review, Rupert M. Barkoff of Kilpatrick, Townsend and Stockton, Barth Getto of BizUnite and Bob Hutter of CCA Global Partners—will lead the two days of workshops at the Franchise OPS, which will be held at the Twelve Hotel – Centennial Park, adjacent to the site of the 1996 Olympic Games. 

“You won’t find another workshop like Franchise OPS. Each session has been uniquely designed for franchise CEOs, COOs and VPs of Operations and specifically addresses the critically important issues facing today’s franchise operations executive,” said Hackel. “Besides the team of franchise experts providing their insights, attendees will also be active participants in each session.”

 A sampling of the workshops to be held includes:

  • Real World Franchise Compliance
  • Turning a Survey into a Powerful Management Tool
  • Supercharge Operational Excellence with Web 2.0 Technology
  • Making the Most of Franchise System Buying Services

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.

“With a lot of conferences, you come away with good ideas and make some good connections but because you get that information on the fly, it’s not as easy to implement when you get back to the home office,“ said Hackel. “With Franchise OPS, each attendee will be able to take actionable items back with them to help improve their franchise operations.”

Interested parties can register for the Franchise OPS before November 21 for as little as $499 (a $599 registration and a $100 discount for taking the Franchise OPS Survey within five days of registration). After November 21, the fee increases to $599 if you take the Franchise OPS survey within five days of registering, $699 if you do not. 

Franchise OPS is sponsored by Franchise Business Review, Kilpatrick Townsend, Actio Marketing, BizUnite and Ingage Consulting. For complete information on Franchise OPS, 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.

Great OPS for C-Level Franchise Execs…First-ever Franchise Operational Performance Summit (OPS) to be held December 6 & 7, in Atlanta, GA.Read More

East meets west to make best…Resort Maps Franchise joins forces with Discovery Map International to form the world’s largest illustrated map publisher

WAITSFIELD, VERMONT AND LA CONNER, WASHINGTON… 

Waitsfield, Vermont-based Resort Maps®, creator of more than 100 hand-drawn travel maps across the United States, Canada, England, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico, recently announced its acquisition of Discovery Map International of La Conner, Washington. The acquisition unites two of the leading publishers of illustrated maps in the United States. Both companies have published colorful hand-drawn free visitor maps of popular destinations for more than 25 years. 

“We are thrilled to be coming together with Discovery Map® for a number of reasons,” said Peter Hans, president of Resort Maps Franchise, Inc. “Beyond being able to work with an innovator like Victoria Starr, her talented staff and map owners, it gives our company a coast-to-coast presence and opens the door to a number of expansion possibilities. We focus on the user experience; so having our maps available across the country will give travelers a consistent resource to find great places to eat, shop, stay and play.”

Combined, the new company will boast 90 independent owners in 150 markets, in 33 states and four countries. Annual circulation will top 25 million maps in the new entity’s first year of operation.

“Resort Maps is a top-flight company that shares our commitment to producing first-class, user-friendly maps,” said Victoria Starr, owner of Discovery Map International. “This unification is going to produce some unbelievable maps, both in print and online, and soon lead to Discovery Maps being available via handheld devices.”

In addition to printed maps, Resort Maps® has developed a mobile application for iPhone and iPad. The app is available for free at the App Store.

In terms of day-to-day operations, the new company will maintain offices on both coasts, with headquarters in Waitsfield, Vermont and Discovery’s current office in La Conner, Washington.  The company will also maintain websites at discoverymap.com and resortmaps.com.  

For more information on any of the 100+ Resort Maps destinations or if you interested in potentially owning a Resort Maps franchise, please visit www.resortmaps.com.  Alternatively, you can call 802-496-6277.

About Resort Maps®

Headquartered in the Green Mountains of Vermont, Resort Maps® has been creating and publishing visitor maps in the northeastern U.S. since 1986. In 1993, Resort Maps® expanded its reach by creating a franchise model for distribution of its colorful, hand-drawn maps of resort towns and cities. With its recent acquisition of Discovery Map International, Resort Maps’ network has grown to 150 markets in 33 states and four countries (US, UK, Canada, and Costa Rica). More than 25 million Resort Maps will be printed and distributed in 2012.

For more information on Resort Maps and/or the franchise opportunity, visit www.resortmaps.com or call 802-496-6277.

Resort Maps franchises serve cities and towns in California (Carmel, Monterey, San Diego), Colorado (Boulder, Breckenridge, Cherry Creek, Colorado Springs, Denver, Vail & Beaver Creek, Estes Park, Fort Collins, Glendale, Summit County), Delaware ( Rehoboth Beach), Florida (Boca Raton, Clearwater Beach and Gulf Beaches, Cocoa Beach, Daytona Beach, Delray Beach, Key West, Melbourne, New Smyrna Beach, St. Augustine), Georgia (Savannah/Tybee Island), Kentucky (Lexington) Maine (Bar Harbor/Acadia, Boothbay region, Camden-Rockland, Kennebunkport, Kittery, Mt. Desert Island, Portland, Wells, York-Ogunquit), Maryland (Annapolis, Eastern Shore, Ocean City,  Solomons Island, St. Mary’s County), Massachusetts (Berkshires, Brewster/Harwich/Dennis, Chatham-Orleans, Eastham-Wellfleet, Falmouth, Hyannis-Yarmouth, Martha’s Vineyard, Newburyport, Plymouth, Sturbridge, Worcester), Michigan (Northern Michigan/Petoskey/Harbor Springs; Traverse City), New Hampshire (Franconia/Notch Region, Hampton Beach, Hanover/Lebanon , Keene, Lakes Region, Mount Washington Valley, Portsmouth), New Jersey (Barnegat Bay, Cape May, Hoboken/Jersey City, Hunterdon, Lambertville , Long Beach Island, New Brunswick, Ocean Grove, Point Pleasant, Princeton, Sandy Hook), New York (The North Fork, Lake George , Lake Placid, Saratoga Springs, East Hampton), North Carolina (Asheville, Brunswick County, Chrystal Coast, Hendersonville, Outer Banks, Sandhills, Wilmington), Pennsylvania (Bucks County, Chestnut Hill, Delaware River Valley, Gettysburg, Lehigh Valley, The Main Line, Lancaster County), Rhode Island (Newport, Providence), South Carolina (Charleston, Hilton Head,), Tennessee (Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge), Vermont (Addison County/Brandon, Barre/Montpelier, Burlington, Killington/Rutland, Mad River Valley, Manchester, Mount Snow, Okemo, Smugglers’ Notch, Stowe, Waterbury/Richmond, Woodstock/Quechee) and Virginia (Alexandria, Northern Neck & Middle Peninsula) —as well as towns and cities in Canada (Charlotte Coastal Region), England (Chicester, Lewes), Puerto Rico (San Juan, Vieques, Culebra) and Costa Rica (Escazu-Santa Ana). 

New maps coming soon in North Lake Tahoe, CA; South Hampton, NY; Charlotte Harbor/Venice/Gulf Islands, FL; Orlando, FL; Tucson, AZ; South County and Block Island, RI and Georgetown, DC.

Discovery Map®:

Arizona (Flagstaff, Grand Canyon, Sedona), California (Carlsbad, Los Gatos, Saratoga), Colorado (Durango, Steamboat Springs), Florida (Amelia Island, Destin), Georgia (St. Mary’s), Idaho (Coeur d’Alene, McCall, Sandpoint, Sun Valley), Montana (Bozeman & Big Sky, Butte, Kalispell, Missoula, West Yellowstone, Whitefish), New Mexico (Santa Fe, Taos), North Carolina (Charlotte), Oregon (Bend), Virginia (Charlottesville, Lynchburg, Norfolk, Richmond, Virginia Beach), Washington (Anacortes, Bellingham, La Conner) Wisconsin (Door County).

East meets west to make best…Resort Maps Franchise joins forces with Discovery Map International to form the world’s largest illustrated map publisherRead More