RISBJ V5 No9

volume five issue nine

Philanthropy in Rhode Island

A Guide To Local Nonprofits

Professional Growth For The Entrepreneur 2 0 1 6

O C E A N

S TA T E

S M A L L

B U www.risbj.com S I N E S S E X P1 O | volume five issue nine

“A lot of my employees have

chosen Neighborhood because it’s affordable and has what they need.”

-Natasha Harrison, Executive Director Norman Bird Sanctuary

1-855-321-9244 nhpri.org 2

RISBJ | rhode island small business journal

Make energy upgrades, avoid the unexpected, keep focused on your business.

To get started with a no-cost energy assessment, visit ngrid.com/smallbusiness or call 800-332-3333.

That’s business on the grid.

These programs are funded by the energy efficiency charge on all customers’ gas and electric bills, in accordance with Rhode Island law. Š2016 National Grid

www.risbj.com | volume five issue nine

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from the founder Giving back to a cause that is important to you, or to the core values of your business is a great way to maintain your position in your community. With over 8,000 nonprofit organizations registered as a 501c3 in the state of Rhode Island, you’ve got your choice of important, and committed organizations to support. As you read our second annual RISBJ issue featuring non-profit organizations in our state, we hope you enjoy learning more about some of the important work that is being done here in Rhode Island.

Non-profit organizations employ more than 18% of people in Rhode Island. Supporting a local non-profit organization means not only supporting their cause, but also supporting non-profit economic growth. I don’t know about you, but I like the idea of encouraging more people to “do good” in our state. Supporting these mission driven locales in the form of in-kind donations, volunteering, joining a non-profit board, or helping them to promote their work through your channels is a great way to help.

Depending on the size of the organization, they may rely entirely on their in-kind network to help them broaden

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RISBJ | rhode island small business journal

their reach. Consider what your business might be able to do to supplement a non-profits needs. Most often, as with most of our businesses, it comes back to how much money they can bring in. Their mission delivery is not free. It costs money to fund their strategic plans, and organizations work diligently to create their annual goals based on the work they hope to achieve. That being said, whenever possible, they need you to help them to fundraise.

As a local business owner, you have a great opportunity to help them to do this. Your reach likely expands to a network of people that organizations may not be able to reach themselves. Consider taking the time to learn about how the organization you’re supporting raises money.

Can you help? How? Set a plan, set a goal, and set a stretch goal. They’ll thank you for your support, and you’ll be making a tremendous impact on your local community and improving the quality of life of others.

Gil Lantini Founder Ralph Coppolino Co-Founder Mike Casale Senior Designer Keegan Hernandez Junior Designer Digital Marketing Lauren Bansbach Angelica Cabral Julia Cianciolo Alison Dupuis Samantha Gosper Nick Lovett Meghan O’Neill Interns Jennifer Gebhardt Mariana Tzitzouris Jenna Furlong Contributing Writers Lauren Bansbach Michael Brito C. Alexander Chiulli Larry Girouard Nellie M. Gorbea Meghan O’Neill Mary OSullivan Gary R. Pannone Dr. Ronald G. Shapiro Kristen M. Whittle

www.facebook.com/risbj twitter.com/risbj 401 831 7779 info@risbj.com www.risbj.com 1343 Hartford Avenue, Suite 24 Johnston, RI 02919 ©2016 Integrated Media Group D/B/A Rhode Island Small Business Journal

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UPCOMING EVENTS NETWORKING&WORKSHOPS

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Peacedale Mill Complex, Peace Dale, RI

10/15/2016 A Night at the Garden 6:30 Garden pm - 11:30 The Hilton Inn pm Baby Boomer Bash!

6:00 pm Crowne Plaza, Warwick, RI 1 Thurber Street, Warwick

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15th

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World10/13/2016 Trade Day Bryant5:00 University pm - 8:00 pm 7:30 am (All Day) The Taste of Southern RI 1150 Douglas Pike, Smithfield

10/26/2016 11:15 am - 1:00 pm CityBiz BNI Platinum Chapter

The RI Family Owned Manufacturing Consortium 11/4/2016 Polaris MEP 8:30 amam - 9:00 am 8:00 315 Iron HorseCoffee Way, Providence First Friday at

1st 4th

Pamfilio’s Italian Deli and Catering, Cumberland, RI

JUNE NOVEMBER Monsignor Clarke School

First Friday Coffee at South County Museum Wakefield, RI South County Museum 8:00 am 11/5/2016 115 Strathmore Street, Narragansett 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm Northeast Choreographers Festival ISO 9001:2015 Lunch & Learn Polaris BishopMEP McVinney Auditorium, Providence, RI 11:30 am 315 Iron Horse Way, Providence 11/15/2016 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm Capital City General Connection Networking MedMates Networking Event Corner Bakery Cafe Antonio’s Pizza, Pawtucket, RI 8:00 am 140 Hillside Road, Cranston 11/18/2016 7:00 Commitment pm - 11:00 pm Brand Sprout RI House’s 6th Annual Masquerade Ball Sojourner 8:00 am Providence Biltmore, Providence, RI 166 Valley Street, Providence 11/19/2016 Family Affair Event 9:00 am - 3:00 Newport Elks Lodgepm Holiday 10:00 am Extravaganza Craft Fair VFW(Kelley Gazzero), Cranston, RI 141 Pelham Street, Newport

th th rd 15 th 11 19th 10 18th 8 th15th7 th 5th3

Introduction to QuickBooks Course 10/4/2016 The Education Exchange 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm 6:00 pm 33 North Wakefield OutRoad, of the Box Networking Social

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MAY OCTOBER

Chelo’s Banquet Room, Warwick, RI For More Events Visit Business After Hours hosted by Munroe Realtors www.risbj.com For More Event Information Visit www.risbj.com Munroe Realtors 6

RISBJ | rhode island small business journal

5:00 pm 117 Main Street, Wakefield

contents

volume five issue nine

INSIDE THIS ISSUE 6 Upcoming Events

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8 Small Business News 10 Real Estate News 14 Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea 17 Rhode Island Philanthropy 18 Rhode Island Foundation 2016 Grants

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20 RI Non-Profit Directory 22 Checklist For Effective Nonprofit Management 24 Giving And Receiving At The Same Time

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26 Professional Growth For The Entrepreneur 28 Once Upon A Time 30 Motivating Employeesr 32 Personnel Practices

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ON THE COVER volume five issue nine

Philanthropy

34 Ocean State Small Business Expo

in Rhode Island

A Guide To Local Nonprofits

38 Growing With IMG: Recognizable Brand Online 39 Growing With IMG: Instagram to Insta-grow

Professional Growth For The Entrepreneur 2 0 1 6

O C E A N

S TA T E

S M A L L

B U S I N E S S

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Featured Growwing With IMG Rhode Island Philanthropy Guide to Non-Profits

39 www.risbj.com | volume five issue nine

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SMALL BUSINESS

NEWS

University of Rhode Island Celebrates

Official Opening of Beaupre Center for Chemical and Forensic Sciences

KINGSTON, MA – State and university officials, donors to the project and business leaders participated in a ceremonial ribbon cutting today for the $68 million, 134,623-squarefoot Richard E. Beaupre Center for Chemical and Forensic Sciences Center. While faculty and staff members have been moving into the new facility throughout the spring and summer, the four-story structure will welcome its first students Wednesday, Sept. 7 when the new academic year begins.

Funded in large part by a $61 million bond issue approved

by Rhode Island voters in the 2010 election, the facility bears the name of Richard E. Beaupre, an alumnus and longtime supporter of the University who made a major gift to support the project. He is the founder and chief executive officer of Lincoln-based ChemArt. The Cumberland resident graduated from URI in 1962 and received an honorary doctorate in 2003.

His nearly $4 million in gifts to URI, including his recent $2.5 million donation, over the past decade have helped scores of students, including those with financial need and those interested in the arts.

The center replaces Pastore Hall, which was built in 1953 to accommodate 800 students. Today, more than 7,000 students enroll in chemistry classes each year. The Beaupre Center, which houses the URI Department of Chemistry, including its undergraduate, master’s and doctoral programs, as well a federal Center of Excellence for Explosives Detection, Mitigation and Response, triples the amount of space for teaching labs and nearly doubles the space for research laboratories, with 14 teaching laboratories and 18 faculty research labs. The main level of the Beaupre Center also features the 240-seat Victor J. Baxt Lecture Hall and a 95-seat

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lecture hall, each equipped with demonstration hoods.

A camera is mounted inside each hood, which allows professors to project their laboratory lessons to large screens for viewing by students. The Beaupre Center also has a 30seat classroom and the Teknor Apex Instrumentation Lab. The center is home to leading faculty who conduct research in such areas as developing advanced batteries to fuel energy efficient automobiles, improving resolution in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, and creating new clinical methods for early disease detection.

“Fostering research, innovation, and discovery is critical to Rhode Island’s future as a center of advanced industries,” said Gov. Gina Raimondo. “This facility, along with other recent projects, positions the University to attract businesses, entrepreneurs, and inventors to our state and grow our economy. I want to commend the University and its leadership for delivering yet another spectacular facility that will provide longstanding benefits to its students and Rhode Island as a whole. This is a proud day for our state.”

The building is expected to achieve Leadership in Environmental Engineering and Design (LEED) Silver status.

It is expected to use 49 percent less energy than comparable existing buildings, and is projected to save 20 percent over the minimum Rhode Island energy code. “URI is extremely grateful to Rhode Islanders for their strong support of URI’s major building initiatives over the last several years, which have positioned the University as an international leader in health, life and natural sciences,” said URI President David M. Dooley.

SMALL BUSINESS

NEWS

RI Based Jobs Down 700 from July August Unemployment Rate Increases to 5.6 Percent

PROVIDENCE, RI – The RI Department of Labor and Training announced today that the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for August 2016 was 5.6 percent, up onetenth of a percentage point from the July rate. Over the year, the unemployment rate is down two-tenths of a percentage point from the August 2015 rate.The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.9 percent in August 2016, unchanged from the previous month and down two-tenths of a percentage point over the year.

The number of unemployed RI residents—those residents classified as available for and actively seeking employment— was 30,900, up 400 from the July figure of 30,500. Over the year, the number of unemployed dropped by 1,000.

A total of 10,497 individuals collected Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits in August 2016,* down from 11,009 a year ago.

This month, UI claimants accounted for 32.2 percent of the total unemployed.

The number of employed RI residents was 525,800, up 1,100 from the July figure of 524,700. Over the year, the number of employed RI residents was up 3,100 from August 2015.

The RI labor force totaled 556,800 in August 2016, up 1,600 from July 2016 and up 2,200 from August 2015.

JOBS BASED IN RHODE ISLAND: Estimated nonfarm payroll in Rhode Island totaled 490,800 in August, reflecting a loss of 700 jobs from the revised July estimate of 491,500. On average, the state added 1,400 jobs over the past three months and now has 5,800 more jobs than a year ago. Thus far, a total of 2,300 jobs were added to the local economy in 2016, on pace with the 2,200 jobs which were added during the same period in 2015.

The Professional & Business Services sector lost 600 jobs in August, erasing two-thirds of the 900 jobs it added in July.

Despite the monthly loss, the sector added 1,900 jobs over the year.

In Manufacturing, jobs fell by 500 in August, ending two consecutive months of job gains which totaled 800 jobs. Most of the monthly jobs losses came from the nondurable goods component of manufacturing. Over the year, the Manufacturing sector added 700 jobs. The Financial Activities and Retail Trade sectors each lost 300 jobs in August, as both industries have reported two consecutive months of job declines. Employment in Financial Activities is down 200 since August 2015, while employment in Retail Trade is down 100 from a year ago.

Smaller job losses were reported in Educational Services (-200) and Arts, Entertainment & Recreation (-100), while employment remained unchanged in Information and Mining & Logging.

Offsetting the job losses was a gain of 400 jobs reported in the Health Care & Social Assistance sector, pushing the employment level up to 81,400, the highest employment level on record. Over the year, the number of jobs in Health Care & Social Assistance is up 600. A gain of 200 jobs was reported in each of the Government, Other Services and Wholesale Trade sectors. Over the year, employment in Government and Other Services is up 1,000 and 600, respectively, while employment in Wholesale Trade is down 500 from August 2015.

MANUFACTURING: In August 2016, production workers in the Manufacturing sector earned $18.27 per hour, down thirteen cents from July 2016, but up eighty-two cents from August 2015.

Manufacturing employees worked an average of 38.2 hours per week in August, down five-tenths of an hour from July and down three-tenths of an hour from a year ago. www.risbj.com | volume five issue nine

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REAL ESTATE

NEWS

July Home Sales S WARWICK, MA – Once again, home sales statistics released by the Rhode Island Association of Realtors showed Rhode Island’s latest monthly sales volume eclipsing all records. Eleven hundred and forty (1140) single family homes sold in July, with a median sales price of $262,500. Those figures represent a 7.5 percent increase in sales activity since July, 2015 and a 9.8 percent increase in median price.

Though single family home sales are currently soaring, moderating pending sales indicate a more tempered market heading into fall. Homes under contract rose by just half a percent in July, compared to double-digit increases earlier this year. The Realtors Association reported that a 13.3 percent decrease in the number of homes for sale is a likely reason for the reduction in contracts. With the exception of one month, the number of listings has decreased year-overyear every month since January, 2015.

“Current conditions are fantastic for sellers. The buyers are out there. We’re seeing multiple offers and reduced selling times. If homeowners list their house with a realistic price, they should see plenty of traffic. The market could definitely use more inventory,” said Arthur Yatsko, President of the Rhode Island Association of Realtors.

Unlike the single family home market, sales activity slowed in the condominium and multi-family home sectors, falling 6.6 percent and 9.7 percent respectively, compared to 12 months earlier. Sales had been up year-over-year in the condo and multi-family markets for most of 2016 thus far, but a dip in pending sales that began in the spring translated into fewer sales this summer.

Sales under contract continued to fall in the condo sector in July, suggesting that the slowdown in sales activity will continue into the fall. By contrast, pending sales rose in

Current conditions are fantastic for sellers. The buyers are out there.

We’re seeing multiple offers and reduced selling times.

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REAL ESTATE

NEWS

Soar in R.I. the multi-family market last month, foretelling a renewal in activity in August and September.While the median price of condo sales fell 5.5 percent year-over-year, July’s median sales price of multi-family properties rose 10.1 percent to $190,000. Inventory decreased in both the condo and multifamily markets.

“There are great opportunities for buyers of all types of properties with mortgage products that offer extremely low rates and flexible down payments. But, while our supply of homes for sale hasn’t depleted to the extent seen in other areas of the country, more inventory of all types would help sustain the market.

“Given the upcoming elections, these conditions could change in the near future. Those looking to buy or sell may want to seriously consider making a move now, rather than later,” Yatsko said.

Pending Sales Lose Momentum

About the Rhode Island Association of REALTORS® The Rhode Island Association of REALTORS®, one of the largest trade organization in Rhode Island with more than 4600 members in approximately 750 offices, has been serving Rhode Islanders since 1948. Advocating for Rhode Island’s property owners, the Rhode Island Association of REALTORS® provides a facility for professional development, research and exchange of information among its members and to the public and government for the purpose of preserving the free enterprise system and the right to own real property.

The Association is one of more than 1,400 local boards and associations that comprise the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). The National Association of Realtors®, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America ‘s largest trade association, representing over 1.2 million members.

www.risbj.com | volume five issue nine

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senior

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Diabetes Resources for Older Adults

In the U.S., there are currently 29.1 million people living with diabetes and more seniors have diabetes than any other age group â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 11.8 million, or 25.9 percent, of all people age 65 and older.

The American Diabetes Association, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island and CVS Health are pleased to announce the continued delivery of the Diabetes Educational Boot Camp for Seniors events in senior centers throughout Rhode Island. These half-day special events are designed to help Rhode Island senior citizens to learn more about diabetes self-management while offering health screenings and additional diabetes resources. The event is free. Registration is required. Please see below for event details.

Please consider joining us at this FREE event!

Wednesday, October 5, 2016 9am-12:30pm

FREE LUNCH

Cranston Department of Senior Services 1070 Cranston Street Cranston, RI 02920

Registration is required.

for all attendees!

Please call to reserve your spot today!

401-780-6000

Note that the event begins promptly at 9am and continues through lunch.

Brought to you by

Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

for more information call 1-800-DIABETES

or visit www.diabetes.org/seniors 12

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SECRETARY OF STATE | Nellie M. Gorbea What Clams Me About SMALL Manage A Remote Worker or Office SMALL BUSINESS BUSINESS || How Dear To Mom: A Taught Letter Home From ALeadership One Day Warrior

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IMPROVING RHODE ISL AN

by Secretary Of State Nellie M. Gorbea

This month I am thrilled to report some great news for businesses in Rhode Island. I’ve been working with Governor Gina Raimondo and the General Assembly to make Rhode Island a more business-friendly state. We have all heard your cries of high fees and I’m happy to report on some legislative changes resulting in lower fees. The minimum corporate tax or the fee paid to the Tax Administrator for all businesses has been lowered to $400. This is a $100 reduction from 2015 fees.

The newly reduced fee goes into effect January 1, 2017.

Fees for partnerships have also been lowered. Starting July 1, 2016, the filing fee of a partnership’s initial application has been lowered to a flat $150. The State of Rhode Island has also reduced the renewal application fee to a flat $50. (Rhode Island General Section 7-12-60)

Identifying Opportunity through Better Information Any businessperson knows that good information is key to growing a business. For example, information on how many new businesses are forming, can be a measure of economic activity. The Department of State has been tracking this sort of business activity for years, but that information alone cannot help us identify trends, opportunities and challenges in Rhode Island’s economy.

To address the need for better economic information, I have been working with my team in the Business Services and

Information Technology Divisions of the Department of State and members of the academic and business community.

Together we are working to improve what information or data we gather so that we can better inform the business community. That’s why, today, I’m excited to report on two enhancements to our annual reports that will be started with the 2016 Limited Liability Companies’ (LLC) annual report form. Eventually, all annual reports will ask for this information.

What types of companies do business in Rhode Island?

Introduction of NAICS Codes I am frequently asked what are the types of companies doing business in Rhode Island.

The truth is we do not know.

We have not been asking businesses what they do in an easy to categorize way. Until we ask this question the right way, we will not be able to answer this simple question.

In order to help us figure out what types of companies do business in Rhode

ANY BUSINESSPERSON KNOWS THAT GOOD INFORMATION IS KEY TO GROWING A BUSINESS. FOR EXAMPLE, INFORMATION ON HOW MANY NEW BUSINESSES ARE FORMING, CAN BE A MEASURE OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY 14 14

RISBJ | rhode island small RISBJ | rhode island smallbusiness businessjournal journal

Nellie M. Gorbea | SECRETARY OF STATE

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lie M. Gorbea

N D ’ S B U S I N E S S C L I M AT E Island, we will now be asking them to select one North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code that accurately identifies the type of business they are conducting in our state. This code system, developed by the US Census Bureau, will replace the open text field on previous annual reports asking for an entity’s purpose. Ultimately, this will help prevent confusion when business owners are selfidentifying their businesses in Rhode Island. For example, someone may identify their business as “manufacturing” while another lists “fabrication of widgets”, instead the NAICS code system provides a uniform standard that allows companies to more accurately report business activity. There are 20 codes for businesses to choose from and we have included instructions on how to choose the code that most accurately reflects your mission.

Other important information about business activity in Rhode Island – the survey In addition to the implementation of NAICS codes, this year’s LLC annual report form will include a voluntary survey aimed at identifying useful economic and industry trends. The data collected through the survey will be aggregated and made publicly available to help business, elected and community leaders learn more about the health of our economy.

Through testing with focus groups and conversations with business leaders, we identified the following three questions as a good starting point for providing a picture of Rhode Island’s economy.

1. Does the business owner self-identify as any of the following? a. Woman

b. Veteran c. Disabled d. Member of a socially and economically disadvantaged group (i.e., as defined under the US Small Business Administration’s 8(a) Program: Black, Hispanic, Native American, Asian Pacific or Subcontinent Asian American)

2. How many full-time employees does the business have? a. b. c. d. e.

0-5 6-50 51-200 201-500 Over 500

3. What are the gross revenues for the business for the past year? a. b. c. d. e.

$0-$50,000 $51,000-$250,000 $251,000-$500,000 $501,000-$1,000,000 Over $1,000,000

As your Secretary of State, I am committed to engaging and empowering all Rhode Islanders including members of our business community. By filling in the NAICS codes and survey questions on your annual report, you are helping us gather information that may, in turn, help you build a better business plan. Let us know if you have any questions about these changes.

Whether you are a new entrepreneur or an established small business, the Department of State’s Business Services Division is here to help. You can reach us by calling (401) 222-3040, emailing us at corporations@sos.ri.gov or visiting our office at 148 West River Street. You can also sign up for our business e-newsletter here.

Finally, I am here to serve you, you can reach me directly with any thoughts or suggestions at secretarygorbea@sos.ri.gov or visit our website sos.ri.gov. We look forward to working with you as you grow your business in Rhode Island.

www.risbj.com | volume five issue nine

15

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RISBJ | rhode island small business journal

Member FDIC Member DIF

®

Rhode Island Philanthropy | SMALL BUSINESS

Rhode Island Philanthropy Nonprofits

in

the

Ocean

8,143

The rough number of active nonprofit organizations registered

State

Providence

has the highest amount of Public Charities is Rhode Island:

3,131

Last year, the Food Bank

distributed

9.9 million pounds of food, 2.5 million pounds of which was fresh produce

More Than

18%

Over $8 Billion is the amount of revenue public charities pumped into the Rhode Island economy

of Rhode Islanders are employed by a nonprofit organization

52.4%

of the sources of revenue for nonprofit organizations come from private sources www.risbj.com | volume five issue nine

17

SMALL BUSINESS | Rhode Island Foundation Awards $18.2 Million In Grants First Half Of 2016

Rhode Island Foundation Hundreds of nonprofits all over Rhode Island receive funding for everything from the health care to housing.

The Rhode Island Foundation awarded $18.2 million in grants to fund hundreds of programs serving Rhode Islanders throughout the state in the first half of 2016. As the largest and most comprehensive funder of nonprofits in the state, the Foundation works in partnership with donors and grant recipients to meet the needs of the people of Rhode Island.

“We connect the desires of our donors to the challenges Rhode Island faces. By encouraging innovation, collaboration, and leadership, we make it possible for nonprofits to take on issues that are crucial to the state’s success,” said Neil Steinberg, the Foundation’s president and CEO. Dozens of nonprofits received funding through the Foundation’s competitive strategy grant program, which targets seven key sectors: arts and culture, children and families, education, economic security, the environment, health and housing.

IN-SIGHT was awarded $9,900 to support its “On the Move Summer” Program, a two-week intensive summer orientation and mobility training program for youngsters age 7 to 17 years who are blind or visually impaired.

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awards $18

“For people living with visual impairments moving from place to place can be one of the most stressful and dangerous things that they do. Orientation and mobility training provides people with visual impairments the skills they need to get around independently, safely, and confidently,” said Christopher Butler, executive director.

The South Kingstown School Department received $15,000 to support its Dual Language Immersion program. The funds will enable kindergarten and first-grade students at Peacedale and West Kingstown elementary schools to spend half of the academic day learning in Spanish and the other half learning in English. Year Up Providence received $125,000 for its work to close the Opportunity Divide by providing low-income Rhode Islanders aged 18-24 with the skills, knowledge and experience that today’s businesses demand, ensuring that they will begin successful careers and earn a living wage.

Hundreds of nonprofits received discretionary grants, which are awarded by the Foundation’s staff and directors. Through these grants, the Foundation invests in organizations and programs that strive for long-term solutions to significant community issues.

More than $50,000 was awarded to organizations that serve Rhode Island’s LGBTQ communities including Sojourner

Rhode Island Foundation Awards $18.2 Million In Grants First Half Of 2016 | SMALL BUSINESS

8.2 million in grants first half of 2016 House, Thundermist Health Center and Youth Pride through the Equity Action Fund.

Nearly $260,000 was awarded to Newport County nonprofits including the Boys and Girls Club of Newport County, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center in Newport and the Visiting Nurse Services of Newport and Bristol Counties. The grants support work ranging from after-school activities and stocking food pantries to Alzheimer’s care and preventing relationship violence.

More than $195,000 was awarded to food banks, homeless shelters and free clinics that provide needy Rhode Islanders with basic human needs, including the Blackstone Valley Community Action Program in Pawtucket, the West Warwick Senior Center and the Jonnycake Center in South Kingstown.

The announcement comes as the Foundation is marking its 100th anniversary. Founded on June 13, 1916, with a $10,000 gift from industrialist Jesse Metcalf, the Foundation’s assets have grown to nearly $800 million. Over the past five years, the Foundation has awarded more than $165 million in grants.

The center piece of the centennial celebration is a $10 million campaign to restore Roger Williams Park. The work will include improvements to the park’s entrances, new signage,

expanded walkways and bicycle paths and repairs to the Museum of Natural History, the Bandstand, the Casino and the Temple to Music.

The Foundation has already raised $5.7 million. The support includes $1.5 million from the Foundation itself as well as a $1.15 million gift from The Champlin Foundations to restore the historic Bandstand and Museum. In addition, more than 90 other donors have contributed to the campaign.

The Rhode Island Foundation is the largest and most comprehensive funder of nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island. In 2015, the Foundation awarded $41.5 million in grants to organizations addressing the state’s most pressing issues and needs of diverse communities. Through leadership, fundraising and grantmaking activities, often in partnership with individuals and organizations, the Foundation is helping Rhode Island reach its true potential.

For more information about the grants awarded in the first half of 2016, visit...

www.rifoundation.org.

www.risbj.com | volume five issue nine

19

Rhode Island

L O CA L N O N - P RO Adoption Rhode Island www.adoptionri.org 2 Bradford Street Providence, RI 401-865-6000

Child & Family www.childandfamilyri.com 31 John Clarke Road Middletown, RI 401-849-2300

American Diabetes Association of New England www.diabetes.org 10 Speen Street Framingham, MA 617-482-4580

Comprehensive Community Action www.comcap.org 311 Doric Avenue Cranston, RI 401-467-9610

American Lung Association www.lung.org/associations/charters/northeast/ 260 West Exchange Street Unit 102b Providence, RI 401-421-6487 Boys and Girls www.bgcpawt.org 1 Moeller Place Pawtucket, RI 401-722-8840

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Delivering Hope www.deliveringhopenow.org 1 Main Street Wickford, RI 401-225-9205 J. Arthur Trudeau Memorial Center www.trudeaucenter.org 3445 Post Road Warwick, RI 401-739-2700 Kent Center www.thekentcenter.org 2756 Post Road Warwick, RI 401-691-6000

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of RI www.lls.org/rhode-island 2348 Post Road - Suite 202 Warwick, RI 401-943-8888 Meeting Street www.meetingstreet.org 1000 Eddy Street Providence, RI 401-533-9100

OFIT

D I R E C TO R Y

MS Dream Center www.msdreamcenter.org 155 Gansett Avenue Cranston, RI 401-383-8878

Providence Children’s Museum www.childrenmuseum.org 100 South Street Providence, RI 401-273-5437

The Empowerment Factory www.theempowermentfactory.org Hope Artiste Village Pawtucket, RI 401-365-1010

Muscular Dystrophy Association of RI www.mda.org/office/rhode-island 931 Jefferson Boulevard Unit 1005 Warwick, RI 401-732-1910

RI Coalition Against Domestic Violence www.ricadv.org 422 Post Road - Suite 102 Warwick, RI 401-467-9940

United Way of Rhode Island www.uwri.org 50 Valley Street Providence, RI 401-440-0600

RI Foundation www.rifoundation.org 1 Union Station Providence, RI 401-427-4001

WaterFire Providence www.waterfire.org 101 Regent Avenue Providence, RI 401-237-1155

Rhode Island Community Food Bank www.rifoodbank.org 200 Niantic Avenue Providence, RI 401-942-6325

West Bay Community Action www.westbaycap.org 224 Buttonwoods Avenue Warwick, RI 401-732-4666

School One www.school-one.org 220 University Avenue Providence, RI 401-331-2497

www.risbj.com | volume five issue nine

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LEGAL | Best Practices Checklist For Effective Nonprofit Management

Best Practices

by Gary R. Pannone

The board of trustees of a nonprofit organization has a fiduciary responsibility relating to policies, procedures and governance matters. The organization should conduct an annual review of its mission statement, structure, compliance policies, and financial viability in order to confirm that the business operation is being conducted in a manner consistent with the mission statement of the organization, as well as State and Federal law. The summary below provides a checklist that should be conducted annually by the organization.

OVERVIEW

Checklist 2. Board Structure •

Size and expertise of board members should be reviewed annually. Size of Board should accommodate the business operation; i.e., the more complicated the business, the more there is a need for a variety of skills among board members. Minimum size is a five-member board.

•

Two-thirds of the members should be independent.

Independent is defined as members who: (1) are not compensated by the organization as employees or independent contractors; (2) do not have their compensation determined by individuals who are compensated by the organization; or (3) do not receive, directly or indirectly, material financial benefits from the organization except as a member of the charitable class served by the organization. There is a process for Board oversight and the annual evaluation of the performance of the chief executive officer of the organization; conduct an evaluation prior to any change in that officer’s compensation.

•

The Board has an established and systematic process for orienting, educating and communicating with its members relating to their ethical and fiduciary responsibilities.

•

There is a process for evaluating the performance of Board members.

•

The Board has an established policy setting forth the length of terms and the number of consecutive terms a board member may serve.

•

The Board has a process for: (1)

Confirm that the organizational documents are consistent with the business operation.

2. Code of Ethics Policy •

The Directors and Officers have a working knowledge of the policies and how they should be implemented.

3. Confirm Existence and Enforceability of Policies and Procedures of the Organization • • •

Conflict of Interest Policy is current and enforced.

Whistleblower Policy is reviewed annually.

Directors and Officers Errors and Omissions Policy.

4. Document Retention Policy and Enforcement Procedures •

The Document Retention Policy is consistent with the Internal Revenue Code and State Law.

5. Financial Viability of the Organization •

Balance Sheet review of assets and liabilities; human resources.

GOVERANCE

1. Mission Statement for the Organization

E

The Board has charged members with the responsibility of reviewing the Mission Statement and it has confirmed that operation of the organization is consistent with its mission.

1. Compliance with State and Federal Law •

for

The board of trustees of has a fiduciary responsib procedures and go 22

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Best Practices Checklist For Effective Nonprofit Management | LEGAL

Effective Nonprofit Management reviewing the organization’s mission statement against performance; (2) reviewing the strategic and financial plans against performance; (3) review of 990 filing by Board members on a consistent basis.

•

Board members are generally expected to serve without compensation, other than reimbursement for expenses incurred to fulfill their board duties.

behalf of the organization? The policy should describe the types of expenses that can be paid for or reimbursed and the documentation required. The policy should require that travel on behalf of the organization is to be undertaken in a cost- effective manner.

FUNDRAISING •

Solicitation materials and other communications addressed to donors and the public must clearly identify the organization and be accurate and truthful.

•

Contributions must be used for purposes consistent with the donor’s intent, whether as described in the relevant solicitation materials or as specifically directed by the donor.

•

Does the organization provide donors with specific acknowledgments of charitable contributions, in accordance with IRS requirements, as well as information to facilitate the donors’ compliance with tax law requirements?

•

Has the organization adopted clear policies, based on its specific exempt purpose, to determine whether accepting a gift would compromise its ethics, financial circumstances, program focus, or other interests?

•

What type of training and supervision are provided to those soliciting funds on its behalf to ensure that they understand their responsibilities and applicable federal, state and local laws? It is imperative that anyone soliciting funds does not employ techniques that are coercive, intimidating or intended to harass potential donors.

•

How does the organization compensate internal or external fundraisers? Compensation should not be based upon a commission or a percentage or the amount raised.

FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT •

The organization maintains complete, current and accurate financial records. Management is required to provide the Board with timely reports of the organization’s financial activities. Qualified, independent financial assessment on an audited or review basis is completed annually.

•

There are policies and procedures to ensure that the organization (and, if applicable, its subsidiaries) manages and invests its funds responsibly, in accordance with all legal requirements. The full board reviews and approves the organization’s annual budget and monitors actual performance against the budget.

•

•

•

Organization should NOT provide loans (or the equivalent, such as loan guarantees, purchasing or transferring ownership of a residence or office, or relieving a debt or lease obligation) to directors, officers or trustees.

What is the percentage of annual budget expended on programs that pursue the mission? Does the budget provide sufficient resources for effective administration of the organization? If the organization solicits contributions, does the budget provide sufficient resources for appropriate fundraising activities?

What is the policy for paying or reimbursing expenses incurred by anyone conducting business or traveling on

Gary R. Pannone Managing Partner Pannone Lopes Devereaux & West LLC

f a nonprofit organization bility relating to policies, overnance matters www.risbj.com | volume five issue nine

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MBE/DBE | Philanthropy…Giving And Receiving At The Same Time

PHILANTHROPY G I V I N G A N D R E C E I V I N G AT T H E SA M E T I M E

by Michael Brito

What does it really mean “to give is better than to receive”?

Maybe we should look back into our own way of conducting business for a deeper understanding into why we went into business in the first place. When we had that first idea that being an entrepreneur was real and achievable and nothing would be impossible…then we heard that first “no”!

If we think that we did this all by ourselves or on our own, we would be sadly mistaken remember the turtle on the fence post I mentioned several months ago? Well you’ll also remember that, like that turtle, we never really achieve anything on our own! We will always need others to make any gains whether in our professional or personal lives.

Here’s what I mean…we are here to be in community to live with and among others. If we know this and embrace the idea then we will indeed be successful if not, the road will be much more difficult. When our company applied for our MBE/DBE status certification it would have been impossible without the help of several individuals that I am still in relationship with!

My life was and continues to be enhanced by helping them and being helped by them. We will always need others, no matter what we are involved in.

The way we advance in our careers is actually helping others to achieve as well! Looking back at my goals and milestones in my business and personal life, every time I reached the next level, I was also reaching back to help someone else up as well. Call it Karma, stewardship or whatever you like but for us and our way of conducting business; success just doesn’t happen without first thinking of how we are able to best serve our community!

We have always hired individuals that are somehow getting looked over and just need a break. Once hired we know that individual will be eager to excel through various educational programs we offer, industry specific training or other types of focused support. We have also sponsored certificate courses that teach through our exclusive class time supported by our hands-on approach. These classes have been conducted at our Church and through existing Christian based programs.

Most of the time you can find a course or study group that’s already in place to become involved with so reinventing the wheel isn’t an issue. We chose to associate our programs through our Church since our business is based upon a “higher principal” however you may find that there are many other programs out there that are a fine fit for your time, talent or treasure!

You will find as you progress into this “giving of yourself” mind-set that you’re the one learning the most. It’s hard to say what I’ve gained through all the various ways we’ve given of ourselves and our resources but I can say that I wouldn’t want one minute or one dime back! So look through your own community first for groups in need of what your company has to offer, find a need and fill it. My Grandfather always said… ”Mike, if I don’t see your impact, I don’t see your blessing”! He was a very wise man and through his love of others showed me just how important filling the needs of our community actually fills our own life to a point of over abundance. So, go ahead…give of yourself and see what a difference it makes in the lives of those you touch and what a difference it will make in you! If you need any help getting matched with a community based program, civic group or just have a heart to reach out to your own employees and fill a need. Contact me and I will be happy to meet with you for some help getting started. Live a full life, give of yourself!

Michael Brito

Team Member, Managing the Road Ahead, managetheroadahead.com

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www.risbj.com | volume five issue nine

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PROFESSIONAL GROWTH | Professional Growth For The Entrepreneur

Professional Growth F I T

I S

A L L

A B O U T

by Dr. Ronald G. Shapiro, PhD

As part of a series focusing on Rhode Island organizations whose mission includes helping small businesses, their owners and employees grow throughout 2016, we turn to Dr. Dennis Rebelo who is an Assistant Professor of Industrial Technology, Assistant Professor of Technology, Leadership and Management and Director of the Credit Documentation Learning Programs at Roger Williams University’s School of Continuing Studies. Dennis is known globally for his research in storytelling; its helped businesses in create sales, employee development plans and culture and change management initiatives that will help small and medium enterprises thrive. He has a background in manufacturing dating back to his youth when his father ran a steel mill. He has always had a passion for helping people to achieve their potential through learning based upon the individual’s strengths and life experiences and creating new learning experiences inside and outside of the classroom.

Today he brings his expertise, and that of his colleagues, to students offering them credit for worklife experiences (at no cost to the student), prior formal and informal education combined with an education plan to help students achieve professional success. Students may choose to grow in Dennis’s focus area Technology, Leadership and Management (TLM) as well as in areas such as Community Development, Criminal Justice, Public Health or Humanities and Social sciences and even Individualized Degree Programs.

Dennis recommends that all students and business professionals do the following in order to lead and create thriving cultures in today’s work climate.

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B U I L D I N G

O N

E X P

1. Become deep listeners, proactively receiving information. Be curious. Explore!

2. Gather information and do exploration before making a major commitment. For example, before committing to change careers and become a teacher speak with teachers, volunteer to teach some classes, take one or two education courses.

3. Remember that life is a narrative. Always ask yourself am I where I want to be?

4. Be the person you would want to be around. Are you living the top 3 values you respect in others?

5. When you come back to work from a conference,

class or convention tell your colleagues about your

Professional Growth For The Entrepreneur | PROFESSIONAL GROWTH

For The Entrepreneur E R I E N C E S :

W I T H

D E N N I S

Gravitate from being a smart person to being a wise person.

Reaching the best solution to a problem is not about being right.

J .

R E B E L O

experiences in 3 minutes or less. Explain the experience, why it was important to you, and why it is important to them.

Check for signs of alignment as you present (such as smiling or head nodding). Pause at least twice during the brief presentation for listeners to integrate the content into their story.

6. Gravitate from being a smart person to being a wise person. Reaching the best solution to a problem is not

about being right. It is about conveying information, listening, reaching agreement and gaining respect. Remember, todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s employees want to earn money, but a profession is more than a salary. It is having a great experience, feeling valued, and feeling that one made a valuable decision. Dennis also suggests trying the GAR (Green â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Amber â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Red) technique to determine what to do next in life.

1. Divide your age by 2.

2. For the first half of your life record what you really

enjoyed doing and did very well (green), did well but needed some help, and did not enjoy/do well.

3. Repeat step 2 for the second half of your life.

4. Consider the green activities from the first half of your life. Are you still doing them today? If not, why not? Try to reintroduce them into your life to make life more enjoyable and perhaps, help you to really achieve your potential.

5. Consider the Amber activities from the second half of your life. What do you need to do to develop skills to really achieve your potential? How do you plan to achieve these?

Dennis would be delighted help individuals turn their GAR into meaningful plans, integrating what they really enjoy, their business needs and their worklife experiences utilizing credit for professional experiences (up to 75% of a degree) with the academic offerings at Roger Williams University.

Working with Dennis, the college experience will be about achieving goals for professional growth, not about number of courses taken to achieve arbitrary requirements. Contact Dennis at askdennis@hotmail.com for a free career development consultation.

I would like to thank Industrial Consultant Dr. Margarita Posada Cossuto for helpful comments. www.risbj.com | volume five issue nine 27

SMALL BUSINESS | Once Upon A Time

by Mary OSullivan

Many years ago, a naive 23-year-old woman packed up her car and drove from New Jersey, which was her life long home, to an unknown land way up in upstate New York, all alone, without knowing a soul. Her long sought after job was as a secondary English teacher, in a large school district. After many years as a high school English teacher, and because she knew somebody, she landed a job at a big, major corporation, General Electric.

GE needed English teachers to edit major proposals (of thousands of pages) to submit to the US Government. These proposals were all worth millions and millions of dollars. Years later, the woman was in her mid thirties, and ready to make another change. She moved to New Hampshire to work in the same industry, but a different company, Sanders, a Lockheed Martin Company, because she knew somebody. After several years in this role, the woman now in her forties, decided to get married (again), which took her back to her upstate NY roots, and created a new, blended family.

After several years back in the defense industry and in industrial sales, her life changed again. Now she and her husband went to Australia for a year because his job required it. Once they returned from their year long journey 10,000 miles from home, the husband’s job went away due to “right sizing”. Then, because they knew somebody, their careers brought them to Lockheed Martin in Moorestown, NJ, and eventually to Rhode Island to work for another defense giant, Raytheon, where they knew somebody. Along the way, the woman, now in her 50s, completed her Masters Degree in Organizational Leadership, and actually stayed in the same place long enough to receive her certificate in contract management, six sigma, and complete a high potential course at the Lead Institute. Eventually, family and work events overtook her career plans and, by now, no longer naive about the ways of the world, she figured

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out her best exist strategy; She knew the best option was to volunteer for a layoff, and receive the many benefits offered by generous folks at Raytheon. She was able to obtain a tuition stipend for higher education and applied that toward a Graduate Certificate in Executive and Professional Coaching from the University of Texas at Dallas.

There are a lot of twists and turns to this story, but by persevering, sticking to her goals, being flexible and pragmatic, and leveraging help when she could, allowed this woman get to where she wanted to be; doing something she loves, with the ability to use her 30 plus years of experience to guide her clients do the same. Because everyone wants to love what they do. The big question is how do I do that?

That’s what I’ll be sharing with you at my October 1 workshop at The Crowne Plaza.

You see, I’ve whittled down my story into four distinct steps that I learned by trial and error and hook or by crook:

Step 1 - I had to clarify my story. So to start

off, clarify what you really want. Tell people who can help you what you want, clearly and openly.

Step 2 - Determine your readiness to change.

Strengthen your motivation to act. Be willing to male a change and show your commitment. Build your confidence to engage in change.

Step 3 - Ask yourself; What do you

Once Upon A Time | SMALL BUSINESS

want to be different going forward? How is that different than what exists currently? Be willing to challenge your assumptions and beliefs. State what you want in positive terms. Is the change under your control? What you (and others) see, hear or experience that will show you’ve been successful?

Step 4 - Answer 3 Questions: What do you have to

do to get what you want? How are you going to go about it? When and where are you going to start doing it? Take manageable first steps (Don’t try to boil the ocean.) Experiment, explore and try different options to bring you closer to making the change you want. You only need to take one small step at a time, a nano change works just fine!

And of course, any change takes time, and often there can be some pain involved. However, you can minimize that pain by tackling one small thing at a time until your life looks more like you want it to.

Have you tried going it alone?

I did that, too, and paid a heavy price for it. It was only when I realized that I needed help and I was willing to ask for it, did my circumstances improve. And I’m here to tell you that it’s an evolving process because life morphs every day. What’s true for you now, may not work tomorrow, next week, next year or ever.

The key is to get help when it’s needed to navigate these tricky waters of life and avoid getting sucked into the maelstrom, boat, sails, oars and all.

And don’t wait until you find yourself in the midst of a catastrophe. Then you may have no money, no time, no friends left, and lack other key resources to pull yourself back up out of that hole! Don’t wait until it’s that bad.

So, get your tickets today, mainly because they are really going fast! I only have a few seats left in my early bird tickets block, which I’ve expanded a few more days. And remember, if you bring a friend, you and your friend will each receive $50 off the regular price.

I’ll share more of my story during the day at the workshop, and I’ve arranged some amazing guest speakers and panelists to help us all become better at what we want to do. And I’ve chosen quality food for us so we are all going to be eating healthy! Plus, a chair massage therapist will be available all day for your comfort and relaxation.

Remember, Saturday, October 1, 2016 8:30AM-1:30PM, The Crowne Plaza Hotel Mary T OSullivan

MSOL, ACTP, ACC, An ICF Certified Coach

www.risbj.com | volume five issue nine

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SMALL BUSINESS | How Does Management Address Their Most Pressing Issue...Motivating Employees?

HOW DOES MANAGEMENT ADDRESS

THEIR MOST PRESSING ISSUE

by Larry Girouard

This is THE million dollar question. Actually the answer in quite simple. Empower your employees to make decisions in making improvements regarding what they do, and trust that these employees will have the company’s success at heart in making these decisions.

That said, it is a big leap of faith for management empower employees when what we were taught in school was “management by objectives”, “command and control”, and “drive activity down the organization chart”. In most businesses, employees near the bottom of the organization chart have little, or no, input into the jobs/activities that they perform 8 hours a day, 40 hours a week.

With employees that are really motivated, companies that have a small market share can easily penetrate their target markets, and I mean easily.

Employee Motivation and the Value Proposition Our last few newsletters have focused on the importance of measurably improving the value proposition of a company.

Other terms for the value proposition might be the company output, or the customer touch points. Call it what you will, the value proposition, output, or customer touch points must have quantifiable elements that are superior to competition if differentiation is to be established.

Every process in an organization is linked to the value proposition in some way. So how do you motivate

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employees to improve the processes they are involved with in order to quantifiably improve the value proposition?

Consider these options:

1) Establishment of Trust. Let’s face it, as soon as you mention process improvement, process optimization, efficiency, and the like, employees will think one thing .. reduction in force. Employees feel that if employees become more efficient you will not need as many employees. Makes sense. Who can blame them?

If process improvement is the goal, management must make a commitment that no one will lose their jobs as the result of improved efficiency.

No one! The one caveat is that an employee is not “on the bus” regarding process improvement. Establishing trust is a major hurdle, if you expect buy-in from the rank and file.

2) Why is process improvement needed? The goal is to improve

the company’s performance in all parts of the value proposition like on-time delivery, lead times, response to quotes etc. so that the company can differentiate itself from competition. This is accomplished by identifying and improving

M

How Does Management Address Their Most Pressing Issue...Motivating Employees? | SMALL BUSINESS

Motivating Employees? the processes that support each element of the value proposition.

management is consistent in its actions to empower and encourage employees.

3) Employee Empowerment. If you want engaged employees they must be part of the solution. Who better to improve a process than the employees that drive that process? They make the improvements and it is their idea .. they own it, and the change has a much greater chance of being sustainable. One other point hear that relates to Maslowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hierarchy of needs (graphic below). Employees want to be involved, if they feel safe in doing do. Employee empowerment embraces each of the six elements in Maslowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s chart.

5) Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in it for the employee? There is no question

4) The Fear of Empowerment, Training and Encouragment. For years employees have essentially been told what to do and how to do it. Now management is encouraging them to make decisions on what to change to make the processes they are responsible for better.

There are tools available that will help them, with training and encouragement, to overcome this fear. In time employees will embrace process improvement. It will happen if

that empowerment will be stressful for both the employees and management. Change is never easy. If management is to expect employees to improve their processes through empowerment, and the associated stress that comes with it, what is in it for them beyond feeling better about themselves ... Maslow.

The concept in simply stated as follows: When, through process improvement, the value proposition is measurably improved it is now up to sales to market these improvements. As the company increases sales, they do not add employees at the same rate because of the improved efficiency. The result is that the sales/employee and profit/ employee ratios increase by default. It is now beholding on management to provide more benefits to the employees who have provided the gift of efficiency through improved wages, bonuses, benefits and the like. To not close the loop with the employees.

In closing, it is important to understand that wholesale change does not happen overnight. It is suggested that a beta program within the company be set up initially, measuring the before and after performance of the employee team. Once employees see the results they will be more ready to jump on board as a group.

Larry Girouard

CEO of the Business Avionix Company, LLC, A Business Consulting Firm

www.risbj.com | volume five issue nine

31

LEGAL | Personnel Practices: Workplace Privacy Considerations

Personnel Practices

W O R K P L AC E P R I VAC Y C O N S I D E R AT I O N S

by C. Alexander Chiulli, Esq. and Kristen M. Whittle, Esq.

As part of the employment bargain, employees forgo many everyday privacy rights while at work. The reasons for lesser privacy rights include improving workplace safety and security, maintaining productivity, and protecting confidential information. For these reasons and others, employers are generally permitted to monitor employees so long as it does not become excessive or unjustified, i.e., unreasonable.

Though public-sector employees still enjoy strong privacy rights under the Constitution, these rights may not fully extend to the relationship between private-sector employers and employees.

Privacy rights in the private-sector workplace are primarily determined through an evaluation of whether an

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employee’s expectation of privacy is (subjectively and/ or objectively) reasonable. This determination is made on an individual basis based on the actual conditions of the workplace, which of course vary greatly depending upon the nature of the job and business. Employers are thus wise to regularly audit their businesses and clearly communicate to their employees what degree of privacy should be expected at work.

The following best practice tips are intended to provide guidance for employers in navigating workplace privacy issues. When drafting policies and implementing changes to internal privacy practices, employers are best served by seeking the advice of a seasoned professional.

Incorporate Privacy Considerations into Workplace Policies

Workplace policies may alter an employee’s expectation of privacy and can be an important factor when evaluating the merit of privacy violation claims. The purpose of such policies is to provide notice and transparency to employees about what privacy rights do and, equally importantly, do not exist in the workplace.

Specifically, workplace policies should contemplate the full scope of an employer’s needs and preserve their ability to monitor employees’ activities. For example, in today’s technology-dependent environment, workplace technology policies should expressly preserve the employer’s right to search, monitor, and intercept any information created or shared on employerowned networks or devices.

Collective bargaining agreements between employers and employees

Personnel Practices: Workplace Privacy Considerations | LEGAL

Though public-sector employees still enjoy strong privacy rights under the Constitution, these rights may not fully extend to the relationship between private-sector employers and employees. should also outline issues that directly affect an employee’s expectations of privacy.

Collect Data Carefully

Even during the hiring process, employers must responsibly collect and maintain private information. For example, the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act regulates the use of credit reports when screening and conducting background checks of employees. Rhode Island law additionally prohibits employers from inquiring about a job applicant’s criminal history prior to the first interview. Moreover, Rhode Island law significantly restricts employers’ ability to conduct drug testing, given the privacy considerations involved. Rhode Island employers are typically permitted to drug test a job applicant after making a conditional offer of employment, but no further testing is generally allowed unless supported by documented observations of impaired job performance.

Rhode Island employers also cannot require a job applicant or employee to provide them with access to the employee’s personal social media account.

Proceed with Caution With Respect to Search & Seizure

Public-sector employers, and those acting on behalf of the government, remain subject to the prohibitions the Fourth Amendment and the broad protections it provides with respect to searches. Public employers must therefore take great care to avoid practices or polices that that violate an employee’s constitutional right to be free from unwarranted searches and seizures. While private employers are less restricted than in the public sector, they should nevertheless be conscientious when conducting searches of employee information, communications, and workspaces to limit their liability for privacy violations. In particular, employers should proceed with extreme caution when conducting physical searches of an employee and/or his or her workspace. The search of an employee or his private property is inherently intrusive and thus subject to increased scrutiny as to its reasonableness.

C. Alexander Chiulli, Esq. Associate, Barton Gilman LLP

Kristen M. Whittle, Esq. Associate, Barton Gilman LLP www.risbj.com | volume five issue nine

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2016 OCEAN STATE BUSINES 12:30pm – Adding a 529 Plan as a no cost, no contract, voluntary benefit to help employees save for college, with Melissa A. Bailey.

This presentation will help employees save for college through after-tax direct deposit into Rhode Island’s own 529 plan, CollegeBound Saver. Offering this innovative benefit to employees requiring no added costs, systems or contracts. Gives competitive benefit edge.

1:00pm – From Hassled to Happy, with Mary T. O’Sullivan

The Ocean State Business Expo, Rhode Island’s premier event for connecting businesses to each other, is scheduled for Thursday, September 29th, 2016 at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick.

This presentation is designed for managers, executives, and professional who are ready to make a move, either upward or outward, regardless of circumstances. Her mission is to help clients to exhibit appropriate grace under pressure when they find themselves under stress in career, job, relationship, or personal situations.

In this presentation you’ll learn: • Mary’s 4 Step Process to How to Clarify What You Really Want and Take Action to Get It • How you can learn to take small steps to make big changes • How to get what you deserve from your current situation when contemplating a job change.

• How to tell what you can and can not control about your current situation.

• When and How to Formulate your Plan B

The expo’s mission is to support the growth and development of Rhode Island’s business community. The excitement is building as we welcome more sponsors and exhibitors than ever before.

In this workshop, veteran and award-winning radio producer and host of “The Patricia Raskin Show”, will show you how talk radio can help your potential clients and customers “know, like and trust” you on the air and keep coming back for more!

You will learn how to: • Get listeners engaged and “sell without selling” • Answer questions that work in your favor • Be compelling and get listeners to take action • Find support and sponsors • Get legs out of your radio - use it for demos, ads, website segments • Create shelf life with your interviews • Appeal to local and/or global audiences

The expo features over 120 exhibitors and valuable informational seminars throughout the day. Take a look at the Seminar Schedule so you can mark your calendar for the ones you are planning to attend.

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After four career transitions, from education, to industry, sales, and coaching, Mary’s learned what it takes to land the job that she really wanted, and how to make a graceful, productive exit when she needed to. Mary can help you find the same equilibrium in the midst of tumult that she was able to find.

1:30pm - Using Talk Radio To Grow Your Business, with Patricia Raskin

2:00pm - Words of Wisdom for Running and Growing a Profitable Small Business, with David Lucier David Lucier, owner of Lucier CPA, Inc specializes in small business. David J. Lucier CPA is an entrepreneur, CPA and business advisor for small businesses. In this seminar you will receive the best ideas from over 30 years of working with over 1500 small businesses.

The following are some of the secret tips you will learn: 1. What is small business greatness 2. Business success traits 3. The secret formula to successful partnerships 4. The six steps to read financial statements 5. Low cost marketing tips 6. The strategy of profits and pricing for profits 7. Five keys to “Financial Greatness”

S EXPO SEMINAR SCHEDULE 8. What are the best small business books 9. How to prosper in the new economy 10. Strategic marketing planning

2:30pm - Get Out Of the Elastic and Into Their Phone, with Liz Brown Smartphones and the Cloud have revolutionized the way business is done. Business cards provide vital information about your business and are one of the most effective direct marketing tools. Unfortunately 88% of the business cards that are handed out will be thrown out in less than a week. Busidex realizes the impact that these have on business and has combined these 3 powers. By giving you complete control of your business card using proprietary software you can share it for a lifetime. Your business card is in the cloud. You OWN it and SHARE it using the Busidex Phone App directly to a smartphone. Need to update your business card? Go ahead it will update on everyone’s device. This workshop will teach you how to put your business card in the cloud and onto their smartphone.

3:00pm - Business and Branding with Soul, with Victoria Haffer Learn how your limiting beliefs may be getting in the way of your abundance while exploring the key elements of your business and personal brand while getting into divine alignment with your core message so you can easily attract your ideal clients. Learn how to go from barely surviving to brilliantly thriving in your soul based business.

3:30pm - Grow Your Business Online: Simple Strategies to harness the power of email and social marketing., with Michelle Giasole

790AM Talk & Business OSSBE Broadcast Schedule Live Broadcast during the Expo!

12:00-4:00 pm AM 790 Hosts

L e a rn mo re a b o u t ou r k e y no t e s p e a k e r a n d pre s e n t e rs a t OceanStateBusinessExpo.com

Many small businesses and organizations find themselves seeking the right strategies, tools and tactics to make their marketing efforts as effective as possible.

But between Facebook and Twitter, email and mobile, and other marketing options— there’s a lot to keep up with. And there are only so many hours in each day. This session will help make sense of the noise. Today we’re going to show you how to make the most of the combination of email and social media for your business.

When the session is done you’ll have a outline your marketing basics, like goals and objectives. You’ll learn what a “campaign” is and what to write about and offer in that campaign. You’ll be given some simple but powerful tips for how to get your messages opened and read, shared and socially visible. Throughout the session you’ll build out the framework of your own “next great campaign.” that will help you grow your business. This workshop also includes a brief demo of new innovations from Constant Contact.

4:30pm - Negotiating Your Career: How to Prevent Common Mistakes, with Tad Mayer Have you ever been disappointed because “the” job you wanted was not available?

Have you ever aimed for a new job or position, only to find that when you got it, it wasn’t what you expected? Have you ever described what a great match you were for the job description and the hiring decision maker didn’t really care? There are three common mistakes in career development that lead to these situations and can be prevented. This workshop will describe how to approach each situation (and your entire job search) differently. Building your career is the product of interactions with people—would be employers, colleagues, clients, and advisors (not firms or departments)—the intersection of career and negotiation. This workshop will explore that intersection and introduce how to utilize three specific negotiations that all take place in each stage of constructing your career.

PROVIDENCE • WARWICK

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List of Expo Exhibitors: A.B. Munroe Dairy AA Thrifty Sign & Awning ABC Specialtees ADT Security AFLAC AM 790 Talk & Business Anchor Telecom Inc. Ascensus College Savings Bank Newport Better Business Bureau Serving Eastern MA, ME, RI, & VT Block Advisors Brave River Solutions Bryant University Executive Development Center Busidex, LLC Camp Bow Wow Career Negotiations Cartridge World Centers for Integrative Medicine Central Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce Centreville Bank CFS, Inc. Citizens Bank City of Cranston Clean Rite Cleaning and Restoration Conlon Containers ConnectPay Pa​yr​oll Services Constant Contact Corner Bakery Cafe Cornerstone Commercial Capital Corrente for Mayor Cox Business Security Solutions DAI LLC Dave & Busters Denis Robichaud Design

DocWeb Employers Association of the Northeast Encore Executive Business Coach Fisher College Full Power Radio WKKB-Latina 100.3FM FUN Enterprises, Inc. Hanks Protein Plus INNOVEX Interstate Battery System of Greater Boston Island Carpet Tile & Hardwoods It’s Your Call Johnson & Wales University Johnson & Wales University Graduate Admissions Joseph Schechtman Business Coach KYOCERA Document Solutions New England Lang’s Bowlarama LeafFilter North Massachusetts, Inc. Liberty Mutual Insurance Company Lucier CPA Inc. Lynch’s Cleaning & Restoration Service Massage Envy Mazone Home Improvement Medi Weight Loss Cranston, LLC Minuteman Press MOD Data Tech Inc. Natural Awakenings Magazine Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island Nerium Independent Brand Partner Newport County Chamber of Commerce Office Direct Oooh La Lashes by Younique Paint the Town Studios, LLC Pampered Chef People’s Credit Union

Pure Haven Essentials Quality Transitions R.E. Coogan Heating Inc. R.I. SCORE Rescom Exteriors Rhode Island Commerce Corporation (Commerce RI) Rhode Island Small Business Development Center Rhode Island Small Business Journal RI Realtors RI Telephone Inc. RTS Embroidery & Promotional Solutions Sampson’s Automotive, LLC SATA Airlines/Azores Scandinavian Home, Inc. SEED Corporation Service Master Restore of Rhode Island Servpro of Providence Spectrum Marketing Group State of RI General Treasurers Office Stepping Up Stillwater River Publications T-Mobile U.S. Small Business Administration US Solar Works USI Insurance Services Victoria Haffer - Business and Branding with Soul Vive Communications Waddell & Reed Financial Services Waste Management Webster Bank Williams & Stuart Real Estate WRIK Entertainment & WRIK Photo Booth Xzito Creative Solutions Zipcar

See A Complete List Of Exhibitors At OceanStateBusinessExpo.com “A lot of my employees have chosen Neighborhood because it’s affordable and has what they need.”

-Natasha Harrison, Executive Director Norman Bird Sanctuary

1-855-321-9244 | nhpri.org

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Visit us online today!

• Having an Event?

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Thursday, September 29, 2016 Crowne Plaza Hotel 801 Greenwich Ave, Warwick, RI 12:00 - 6:00pm OceanStateBusinessExpo.com MEET with a variety of businesses throughout the state of Rhode Island. Networking is key to business growth and potential opportunities.

DISCOVER small businesses in the state that have services you can use on business and personal levels as well as key contacts that may be able to use your services or products.

LEARN from an array of workshops. Explore new tools to run your business and new technology that will bring your business to another level.

www.risbj.com | volume five issue nine

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GROWING WITH

IMG

T I P S

T O

H E L P

T U R N

Y O U R

S T A R T U P

I N T O

A

Recognizable Brand Online

by Lauren Bansbach

So, you started a great business and now itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to share it with the online world. Establishing your brand online is the first step in the marketing strategy. An online brand increases the effectiveness of all marketing messages.

It all starts and ends with leaving a positive impression on consumers from your product, or service. Here are three benefits of establishing an online brand.

Trustworthiness

Brands with the most exposure are more likely to gain authority. The more authority that your brand creates often results in people trusting the quality and expectations of its products and services. When a brand is trustworthy, the messages are assumed to be reliable, accurate, and helpful to readers.

Credibility

Being credible is the difference between a successful and failing business. It is important to develop a business that people can rely on to have integrity and leave a positive impression. Establishing a level of integrity will help increase any level of credibility that you are trying to achieve.

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Improve Marketing Effectiveness

Once you have developed a trustworthy and credible reputation, you have become an online marketer. Having a great reputation with these qualities help make promoting easier and effective. After all, people are more likely to listen and take actions from messages delivered from a reputable business.

Once you have reached your desired level of trust and credibility, you now need to continue to maintain this level. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to understand how quickly impressions can change in consumersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; minds if your business fails to live up to its reputation, which can quickly dissolve all of your efforts.

Online branding is based on maintaining a consistent level of association with a specific product or service that leaves a positive impression. Building a positive online brand is what increases the effectiveness of your marketing messages.

When consumers have a positive impression in their minds, more sales and greater profits are expected to result. To ensure your business achieves long-term success, we recommend that you focus your efforts on building and maintaining an online brand.

Lauren Bansbach Digital Marketing Coordinator, Integrated Media Group

GROWING WITH

Social Media Tips...

IMG

Instagram to Insta-grow

by Meghan O’Neill

Since 2010, Instagram has been providing a community of users with a personal and creative means of expression. This popular social media site serves as more than just a means of capturing moments through photos and videos. It is a tool to globally connect with an audience through various channels of communication: visual, audio, and word.

Applying Instagram’s services to your business’s marketing strategy allows for rapid networking with imaginative hashtags that connect you to other relevant pages and posts as well as establishing a visual representation of your brand. It also serves as a fun way to showcase your employees and the behind-the-scenes of daily activities! Once your business’s free account is created, growth within this social media platform is not difficult to achieve.

Here are some tips on how to utilize the potential marketing capabilities offered by Instagram.

Followers

Follow your followers! A “follower” on Instagram is the equivalent of a “friend” on Facebook. This means that your posts will appear in their feed so they are able to readily interact with your page.

Engage with your follower’s posts (like and comment) as well as those who comment on your own. This provides a personal relationship and demonstrates that your business about customer feedback and experience. The more followers gained, the more exposure your page receives.

Hashtags

Hashtags are one of the most important factors to brand growth on Instagram. They are a link that is created by use of a hash mark or pound sign (#) followed by an applicable phrase or word, and will appear in the “caption” section when uploading an image or video.

Use trending/industry-related hashtags to enable the networking exposure they provide. Potential customers are able to come across your page through the hashtag link, increasing your business’s discoverability. This is a community building technique that keeps your page relevant.

It is important to note that your account’s privacy settings should be set to “public.” If it is not, your profile will not appear when relevant hashtags are searched.

Photos/Videos

Instagram is most noted for its photos (It is essentially an online photo album). However, in 2013, they introduced a video capability feature. You are able to upload images/videos of your choosing that represent your business’s personality

and functions. Display your employees performing their daily functions or even just having some fun! You may even utilize this feature to upload graphics.

The site also offers editing tools to personalize your images/ videos even more. Filters can be applied that change the tint and look of your upload as well as a standard package of adjustment options such as “contrast,” “brightness,” and “saturation.” The benefit of editing your image is that it may look more professional and ultimately, more attractive to potential customers.

Bio

At the top of your Instragram page is a “bio” section that allows you to have up to 150 characters written. This is where you can create fun quips that introduce your brand or even a direct link to your business’s homepage, making your Instagram’s marketing efforts a follow-through action.

You are not able to attach links to web pages in the caption section of your uploaded image or video – so the bio section is a great outlet to do so. Now that the basics of this innovative social media outlet are established, let your creative edge flow and allow your business to grow!

Meghan O’Neill Digital Marketing Coordinator, Integrated Media Group www.risbj.com | volume five issue nine

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