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Five more than okay in OKC. DirectBuy of Oklahoma City celebrates five years in business.

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA

For five years, DirectBuy Club has been offering consumers in the greater OKC area a brand new way to save on home improvement projects, furnishings, and accessories.

The leading home improvement and furnishings club with direct insider prices, DirectBuy of Oklahoma City offers products ranging from light fixtures to televisions to kitchen cabinets, from more than 700 manufacturers or their authorized suppliers at direct insider prices.

“We’ve had a wonderful five years here in Oklahoma City,” said Brandon Parker, owner of DirectBuy of Oklahoma City. “It’s been particularly rewarding to see how DirectBuy has been able to help its members save literally thousands of dollars on their home improvement projects and home furnishings in what’s been a very difficult economy for many people.”

In addition to helping members, Parker also had the opportunity to hand over a $50,000 check to Moore, Oklahoma resident Kelly Clarkson, winner of DirectBuy Club’s Home Makeover contest.

“We’re used to helping people save money but to put actual cash in somebody’s hand, especially somebody who really needed it, that was quite a thrill,” said Thompon.

In addition to tremendous savings on home furnishings, home improvement items, entertainment and outdoor products, flooring, and accessories, DirectBuy Club also offers design and delivery services to its members, as well as a listing of local contractors who offer installation services many times at a discounted rate.

Conveniently located at 8330 Glade Avenue in Oklahoma City, DirectBuy Club offers consumers a comfortable setting where they finally have the financial control of buying direct.

About DirectBuy Club

For more than 39 years, DirectBuy Club has been showing thousands of consumers unparalleled ways to save as they shop for virtually everything for in and around their homes – from furnishings, home improvement, and flooring, to entertainment and outdoor products, accessories, and much, much more. With more than 150 locations in North America, DirectBuy Club offers its members access to more than 700 brand-name manufacturers or their authorized suppliers in the U.S. and more than 500 brand-name manufacturers or their authorized suppliers in Canada. Consumers interested in seeing DirectBuy Club’s savings, service, and selection up close may obtain a Visitor’s Pass to attend an Open House by visiting www.directbuy.com or www.directbuycares.com.

Old Colony Elder Services to Hold Cooking for a Cause Fundraiser for Meals on Wheels Program on June 26

Due to budget cuts and a greater number of elders needing meal assistance, the non-profit Old Colony Elder Services has come up with a unique way to raise money for the Nutrition Program, which runs the Meals on Wheels and congregate meal sites.

OCES will hold a “Cooking for a Cause” family-friendly event on June 26th from 11AM-4PM at the Middleboro Council on Aging, 558 Plymouth St., Middleboro.

Attendees will be able to sample cuisine from area restaurants and enjoy entertainment by the Baha Brothers, face painting for the kids and raffles. Tickets are $15 Adults, $12 Seniors, $7 for 10 & Under.
For tickets, call OCES (508) 584-0561. Tickets also available at the door.

Participating restaurants include: Burrito Wraps of Brockton, RooBar in Plymouth, Veronica’s Treats of Middleboro, Mike’s House of Pizza in Hanson, Lindley Food Service of Connecticut (the caterer for Meals on Wheels), BJ’s Wholesale of Stoughton, Hideaway Restaurant in Middleboro and the Middleboro Council on Aging.

Sponsors are also needed. Sponsorship levels vary from the “Bronze Baker” $500 commitment to the “Platinum Platter” $5,000 commitment. Event program advertisements are also available. Sponsors who RSVP immediately will be included on all marketing materials.

“Because of increasing costs and budget cuts, OCES cannot keep up with the demand of the growing senior population and increasing needs. The competition for grants is tough and we needed to find a way to raise the additional funds necessary to keep the Nutrition Program running. The number of seniors who rely on Meals on the Wheels and the congregate meal sites is growing exponentially and it’s imperative that we have an initiative in place so no senior goes hungry,” explained Diana DiGiorgi, Executive Director of OCES.

Interested vendors and potential sponsors should contact Lucille Dallaire at OCES (508) 584-1561.

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.

Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield Partners with Proactive Philanthropy in the Launch of New Non-Cash Asset Donation Program

The non-profit Marshfield Boys and Girls Club has partnered with Proactive Philanthropy, another Marshfield non-profit that specializes in non-cash charitable transactions, to launch a new donation program.

The new Non-Cash Asset Donation program enables the Boys and Girls Club to accept a full range of donated assets, including real estate. Proactive Philanthropy accepts non-cash asset donations on behalf of the club; locates a buyer for the asset and forwards the proceeds in the form of a grant to the Boys and Girls Club.

All proceeds from asset donations are used to fund the Boys and Girls Club’s current operations and/or they are added to the building fund for the construction of a new Marshfield facility.

“Essentially, this program enables us to convert assets that people or businesses have donated into cash for our fundraising campaigns. It’s unique and provides us with an additional source of funding that we really need,” noted Shawn Costa, Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club.

Currently, the club has received a donation of a BT WSX 20 Electric Walkie Forklift Stacker and is looking for a buyer.

Buyers or those who wish to make a non-cash asset donation should contact Shawn Costa at 781-834-2582 or Edward McPherson, president of Proactive Philanthropy at 781-929-9861.

About Proactive Philanthropy

Proactive is a grant-making organization that conducts charitable real estate transactions as a means of creating funding for nonprofit organizations. Since graduating from MIT’s Center for Real Estate with a Masters Degree in Real Estate Development, Proactive’s Ed McPherson has spent more than a decade focusing on how to meet the needs of donors and the nonprofit of their choice. Proactive has assembled a world class team of attorneys, accountants, investment bankers and wealth managers to create win-win charitable transactions. Located in Marshfield, Proactive is working with the Boys and Girls Club to offer their supporters more options to achieve its fundraising goals. Proactive encourages the donation of ANY asset that can be converted into funding for the capital campaign. To learn more, visit them online at www.iamproactive.org

The Boys and Girls Club

The Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield provides a safe haven for recreation and fun, which includes a variety of supervised activities for the 1,300 current members and is available to youth (between the ages of 6 to 18 years old) within the town and surrounding communities. The Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield has five Core Areas: Character and Leadership; Education and Career; Health, Sport Fitness Recreation and Life Skills; The Arts; and Technology. These Core Areas serve as the foundation for all programming.

As a privately-funded, non-profit organization, the Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield relies tremendously on the generous philanthropic support of individuals. Financial gifts assist in providing the financial strength necessary to continue the club’s mission “to enable and inspire all young people to realize their full potential as productive and responsible citizens, as well as become tomorrow’s capable leaders.”

For more information about the Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield, please contact (781) 834-CLUB (2582) or visit the club in Library Plaza or the website at MarshfieldBoysAndGirlsClub.com. The club’s mailing address is P.O. Box 311, Marshfield, MA 02050.

A big event for Todson event director…Todson promotes Dorothy Nichols.

Todson's Dorothy Nichols

NORTH ATTLEBORO, MASS…

Todson, Inc., the U.S. distributor for Topeak cycling accessories and OnGuard Locks, recently promoted Dorothy Nichols to the role of senior director of events.

In this expanded role, Nichols will continue to represent Todson at trade shows for both Topeak and OnGuard. Most recently, she represented OnGuard at the Daytona 200. In addition, Nichols will also act as an advocate with governmental agencies and legislators. That includes events like the National Bike Summit in Washington DC, which Nichols attended in March.  

“In the few years with our company, Dorothy has done an outstanding job of representing Topeak and OnGuard products and has been tremendous advocate for safer cycling practices,” said Neal Todrys, president of Todson, Inc. “We look forward to her continuing her outstanding work in this expanded role.”

A former member of USA Cycling, Nichols previous worked in management positions for a number of cycling or cycling-related organizations. That included tenures as race team manager for Yeti Scott and Schwinn and as a bike leader for Bike Vermont, a bike touring company offering tours throughout Europe.

“OnGuard and Topeak both have a reputation for quality and innovation. My role as events director has enabled me to bring that to an even broader market and that’s something I look forward to continuing in this expanded role,” said Nichols.

A Denver, Colorado native, Nichols earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Colorado College and a master’s from Denver University. Married, she and her husband Brad reside in the greater Denver area.

World Class Sports Accessories

Todson, Inc., the exclusive importer for Topeak for the U.S., is committed to providing the best in sports accessories to consumers around the globe.  Over the past 16 years, Topeak has risen to become the top cycling accessories brand in the world. 

In addition to Topeak cycling accessories, Todson is the distributor of renowned OnGuard line, the toughest line of power sport, bike and gear security products in the world.  The OnGuard line is available only through authorized dealers. Recognized for their legendary anti-drill and pick-proof M-Cylinder mechanism and flat key lock system, OnGuard’s locks, whether key or combination lock, are tested, approved and certified to guard bikes or power sport vehicles the world over.  OnGuard is the leading lock brand in Europe, in particular, Amsterdam, the bike theft capital of the world. 

Todson has successfully marketed recreational goods for more than 50 years. Now in its third generation of family ownership, Todson specializes in strategic sales and marketing, distribution, brand management and e-commerce. For more information about Topeak cycling accessories and OnGuard Locks, visit www.Todson.com or contact Todson at (800) 213-4561.  The company is located at 73 N. Washington Street, N. Attleboro, Mass.

Winters Company Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Launches New Website

Winters Company Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, a Cambridge based company serving thousands of customers throughout New England, has recently launched the second generation of their website – Wintershomeservices.com.

Winters’ sleek new website is intuitive and very user friendly. Site visitors can quickly learn all about the company, their services and their team. The website is packed with resources offering do-it-yourself tips, industry terminology and an FAQ section. A frequently updated blog provides the latest news and tips. Videos on the site allow visitors to meet the Winters team and see them in action. A service call may be scheduled or an estimate requested online in just one click. Visitors can even talk to one of Winters’ experts online.

“Our new website has all the bells and whistles needed to provide the most up-to-the-minute service and information to site visitors. It enables visitors to schedule an appointment or ask a service question of one of our experts online. The new site was built to be extremely user-friendly, but in addition to that, SEO and lead generation were key elements we wanted to focus on. We’re very pleased with the results,” noted Tim Flynn, Winters Company president.

ROCKET MEDIA of Arizona was the website architect. According to Ben Kalkman, CEO of ROCKET MEDIA, “Winters was looking to make a significant impact on their Internet presence and online leads. As a home service company specializing in heating, cooling, ventilation and plumbing, it’s important they position themselves at the front of an already competitive industry. When they contacted us they already had a working website, but after their initial consultation realized they were not performing to their full potential. We are proud to help Winters aspire to meet their Internet marketing goals and we are excited to help them continue to grow.”

Visit Winters Company Plumbing, Heating & Cooling at http://www.wintershomeservices.com.

About ROCKET MEDIA

ROCKET MEDIA creates custom website and Internet marketing solutions for clients who want to expand their business through effective social media and Internet marketing. ROCKET MEDIA offers creative minds that listen and deliver unparalleled technology, with measurable results, in a professional and timely manner. For more information contact (800) 339-7305 or visit the website at Rocketmediastudios.com.

About Winters Company Plumbing, Heating & Cooling

Since 1994, Winters Company Plumbing, Heating & Cooling has specialized in providing home services of plumbing, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), and kitchen and bath remodeling projects to thousands of homeowners throughout Eastern Massachusetts.

Winters Company is the largest residential plumbing company in the state, with 20 trucks on the road and a full staff of licensed and insured plumbers and technicians. In addition to 24 hour service and lifetime guarantees on many of their services, Winters Company has standardized their services, which ensures that every customer receives the same high quality workmanship delivered in the same professional and courteous manner.

Winters Company’s trusted professionals are trained to care for a home ‘s systems as well as the home and homeowner. All of Winter’s technicians undergo drug-testing and background checks, ensuring that only first-rate providers comprise Winter’s team.

Winters Company has been honored with a number of awards over the years including the Local Torch Award for Excellence from the Better Business Bureau, and Angie’s List Super Service Award. Winters Company is headquartered in Cambridge, MA. For more information, call (617) 484-2121 or visit the website at www.wintershomeservices.com.

Business coaching vs. business consulting: what’s the difference?

MANCHESTER, MARYLAND …

In the past several years, business coaching has gone beyond a luxury reserved for Corporate America’s executives but an invaluable tool for small business owners. Yet many small business owners are still unclear on the difference between a business coach and a business consultant.

“The difference is as simple as the old expression ‘give a man a fish, he eats for the day, teach him to fish and he feeds himself for life’,” said Karen Boyd, a master licensee for ActionCOACH, the top business coaching firm in the world.

Continued Boyd, “That’s not to say that business consultants do not perform a valuable service. Their expertise is used to complete tasks where the business owner is deficient or does not have the time to do themselves. A business coach teaches the business owner either how to do those tasks or how to find the resources to ensure that the task is completed both in the present and future.”

So what are the main differences between a business coach and business consultant? Here are a few of the chief differences:

  • Business coach transfers their knowledge to the business owner; the business consultant takes their knowledge when their mission is complete.
  • With business coach, plan is driven by client needs; with consultant, plan is driven by deliverable definition
  • Business coach works in 90-day planning cycles; business consultant’s schedule is based on deliverable milestones.
  • Business coach helps implement self-sustainable systems; business consultant sets up maintenance contracts for deliverables.
  • Business coach is a generalist; business consultant is a specialist.
  • Business coach paid by the program; business consultant paid by the hour.

“In its simplest form, a business coach is a teacher. The business consultant is a doer. Both have a place in the business world,” said Boyd. “When you own and operate your own business, you get used to calling all the shots, even if some of those shots might be off-target. A business coach not only will tell you why you’re off target, but shows you how to stay on target and that’s a service that has real value for the small business owner.”

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 and use code KBM001. 

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.