RISBJ V8 No3

volume eight issue three

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Things To Do When You’re

Overwhelmed

LEADERSHIP LESSONS How Hard Can It Be?

Shopping

Local In The

Ocean State Rhode Island

Foundation

Diretory Guide To

Local Philanthropy

Business

Competition BUY LOCAL, SHOP LOCAL

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Rhode Island

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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

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

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SMALL BUSINESS | 3 Ways To Help Become An Expert In Your Field

3 Ways To Help

B

e c o m e

a n

E

x p e r t

by Ronia Pegeuro

There are many ways to expand your knowledge. Today, a college degree is equivalent to a high school diploma. It’s a minimum requirement for most jobs, but college isn’t the only way to learn new things. Let’s face it, many business professionals do not have many hours at their disposal to dedicate to sitting in a classroom. For this reason, many colleges and universities are creating hybrid learning environments where meetings are done once a week, or even once a month, sometimes for an hour and most of the content is online. This approach is also being used in high schools with an increase of virtual curriculum. Our world is moving and molding into this new direction we call the information era. Companies are simply facilitating the process for you. Right now information is free, it’s out there, and it’s accessible. We all have the power to learn. If you’re not learning something new every day, I’m not sure what you’re doing.

However, real life experience is priceless. Application of knowledge is everything. Surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals is powerful. Calling in experts for quick responses to complicated questions is valuable. There are numerous ways to stay informed and ahead of the competition.

There are many things I do to fill up my time with in between getting work done. Here are three things that will help you become an expert in your field. Keep in mind, it’s important to create a schedule for learning new things and have some sort of regiment. Find what times work best for you and go for it.

1. PODCASTS: I love podcasts because they’re fun, educational and really convenient. I enjoy listening to podcasts in the shower, as I get ready for my day or in long car rides. If you’re short on time, a great podcast to listen to is the $100 MBA, it’s a 10-minute daily podcast that gets right to the point without a lot of extra noise. When I have more time I listen to the BiggerPockets podcast; I’ve been a member of the site for years, it’s all about real estate investing. Even if that’s not your cup of tea, they have expert guests and provide information which can be used across multiple industries.

Right now information is free, it’s out there, and it’s accessible. We all have the power to learn.

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i n

Y

o u r

F

i e l d

2. BOOKS: There are some books that, in my opinion, should be read by everyone. Some of those include, the 4 Hour Workweek, Rich Dad Poor Dad, The Lean Startup, Who Moved My Cheese, The One Thing, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, The E-Myth, etc. I love to search for these books, get some interactive pdfs printed out to follow along to, find the audiobook via Audible or find a streaming audio on YouTube. If you prefer cassette tapes and CDs, you can go on eBay or Amazon to purchase them. When you come across some free time, get stuck or frustrated with what you’re working on, or going on a flight, pick up a book or play the audiobook.

3. ON THE JOB TRAINING: Why not have the experts come to you? You can have workshops, seminars and trainings from the comfort of your office. Currently, 1.7 million dollars has been made available via The Governor’s Workforce Board to increase the skills, competitiveness and productivity of current RI employees. Companies can apply for up to 50% of training cost and no more than $45,000 per year in funding.

Expert can be hired to increase your employee skill set with a 50% reimbursement as a bonus. There should be no excuses for not building up your company’s skill level. Now is the time to act. More information can be found at http://www. gwb.ri.gov/grants.html.

After exposure to the listed recommendations, the next step is to be a creator. To become an expert in any of these things, the key is expanding your knowledge & assessing your lifelong accomplishments in order to be the facilitator for an on-jobtraining workshop, write a book or record a podcast series. Your time is now. Get to it!

Ronia Pegeuro Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder V+R Digital

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MBE/DBE | Philanthropy

Philan L E T ’ S

L O O K

A T

by Michael Brito

When we think of ways to grow our companies, few of us think of how we are able to impact the growth of others. However, this is the very key that unlocks the door to fulfilling the goal we set at the birth of our businesses…we just didn’t know it!

When we were setting things in motion we agreed that our ultimate objective was to get to a place that afforded us the blessing of “giving back”. Giving back is a nice way of paying forward those little miracles that, along the way, enabled us to be where we are today. Without the people, places and things

W H A T

T H I S

that were so encouraging when needed, it would have been impossible for us to continue.

Remember; ”A great man is one that plants a tree under which he knows he will never sit” We are called to be “gardeners” in so much that we are to plant the seeds of encouragement, strength and stability within the young (and even seasoned) entrepreneurs we come in contact with along our way. Call it networking, call it mentoring, call it advising, counseling, call it whatever you wish as long as it becomes a verb instead of a noun!

Call it networking, call it mentoring, call it advising, counseling, call it whatever you wish as long as it becomes a verb instead of a noun 12

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M

Philanthropy | MBE/DBE

nthropy E A N S

T O

Y O U R

As my DBE/MBE Company grew, I was very eager to become a source of value to those emerging behind me. This may be due to my personal vision and Christian view where we are seen only to be caretakers and trusted stewards of our companies thereby being totally available to our fellow DBE’s/ MBE’s. Let’s look at what Webster has to say…

What does this translate to when considering our own growth?

When we reach out to others we are already in the “growth posture” needing to move forward; we move them=we move ourselves! There are so many ways to motivate, so many ways to build up ourselves through the act of defending against attrition, so prevalent in the minority business community.

Our outreach can take many forms through industry focused involvement, teaching a class with a DBE/MBE target, assisting a small company with bid preparation, joining a board to give voice to the minority community, offer training on best practices, and many more! As you can see, these efforts will expand your own brand as you gain recognition by leading others down the path you’ve already traveled. Increased brand

B O T T O M - L I N E recognition equals increased client base equals increased revenue. I have to be clear that I defiantly am not suggesting we engage in any philanthropic endeavors with the motivation being “what’s in it for me” however this is the cycle of fruition realized when we do the right thing!

So, how do we begin?

Examine your present situation regarding existing resources.

If you are able then go for it and seek out some small ways to become a company known for its charitable mindset. Never jeopardize your company’s welfare but do realize that we must have some of our time, talent or treasure to share, no matter the amount!

Think about it: The Dead Sea is dead because it takes all it can from its Northern neighbor the Sea of Galilee and gives nothing away!

Michael Brito

DBE Account Manger, Mission-360, Turino Group, mbrito@turinogroup.com BUY LOCAL, SHOP LOCAL

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Immigration LEGAL | Immigration & Hiring: What Supervisors Need To Know

W H A T

S U P E R V I S O R

by Karyn Rhodes

Under the Immigration Reform and Control Act, hiring of undocumented workers and employment discrimination is prohibited by employers. And while the requirements for documentation to comply with the law may seem straightforward, errors are common, putting companies at risk for civil and criminal penalties.

What the Law Requires

The Immigration Reform and Control Act requires: • Proof of identity: employers must confirm the identify of all new hires • Verification of employment eligibility: employers must verify the eligibility of new employees to work in the United States • Completion of Form I-9: all new employees and employers must complete certain sections of the Employment Eligibility Verification Form, also known as Form I-9

Documentation Options

Certain documents can satisfy both the proof of identity and employment eligibility requirements, which are commonly known as List A documents and include: • U.S. passport or U.S. passport card • Permanent Resident Card of Alien Registration Receipt Card, or INS Form I-551 • Foreign passport that contains a temporary I-551 stamp or notation on a machine-readable immigrant visa, or MRIV • Employment Authorization Document that contains a photograph or INS Form I-766 If a worker doesn’t have a List A document, a List B document can be used to establish identity. List B documents include: • Driver’s license or ID card issued by the state or outlying possession of the U.S. • ID card issued by federal, state or local governmental agencies or entities • School ID card with photograph • Voter registration card • U.S. military card or draft record • Military dependent’s ID card • U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Card • Native American tribal document • Canadian driver’s license Individuals under the age of 18 who don’t have documentation from either List A or B can provide alternative documents, such as a school or medical record.

While List B documents establish identity, they are not valid for

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employment eligibility. If an employee presents a List B document, one of the following List C documents must also be presented to verify eligibility: • U.S. Social Security card • Original or certified copy of U.S. birth certificate • Certification of birth abroad • Native American tribal document • U.S. Citizen ID card (INS Form I-197) • Resident Citizen ID card (INS Form I-179) • Unexpired employment authorization document issued by the Department of Homeland Security All documents presented must be originals and unexpired. And remember that, when verifying employee eligibility, employees must be allowed to choose from the USCIS lists of acceptable documents; employers can’t ask for specific documents.

Timeframes for Documentation Compliance New employees have three business days from the start date of employment to produce the required documentation. If a worker can’t produce the necessary documents but has a receipt indicating that he or she has applied for them, the deadline extends to 90 days from the date of employment to provide the actual documents. There is no need to keep copies of the documents unless an employer uses E-Verify.

Form I-9

In addition to appropriate documentation, a Form I-9 is also required for every new employee – and for all active employees hired after November 6, 1986. These forms are not submitted to USCIS but are subject to audit with just

n

R S

& Hiring Immigration & Hiring: What Supervisors Need To Know | LEGAL

N E E D

three days’ notice. And certain industries historically face a greater risk of audit, including landscaping, office cleaning, manufacturing, hospitality and agriculture.

For the Form I-9, both employees and employers must complete certain portions of the form: • Employees: Before or on the first day of employment, the employee must complete Section 1. While employers must make sure each new employee completes this section, they do not need to check for the accuracy of the information – that’s the employee’s responsibility.

• • Employers: Employers must complete Section 2 of the form no later than three days after the date of employment.

While the two-page Form I-9 may be short, completing it correctly can prove very challenging. Many employers struggle to complete Section 2 correctly. Common mistakes – and

T O

K N O W

fineable offenses – include: • Leaving lines blank • Providing incorrect information • Failing to sign and date the form • Using write-out instead of crossing out, initialing and dating the information • Accepting the wrong documentation

2017 Changes to Form I-9

Adding to the complexity surrounding Form I-9 are frequent changes to the form. In fact, there’s a new form for 2017, which must be used effective January 22, 2017. The new form reflects some changes, which require employers’ attention. Specifically: • Middle Initial: While the middle initial field used to be optional, it is now required. If an employee does not have a middle initial, then N/A should be entered.

• PO Box: A PO box is now allowable on the new form.

• Apartment Number: For those employees without an apartment number, N/A must be entered in the field.

• Birth Date: The new form requires that the date of birth be entered in an easily recognizable format.

Previously, a strict month, day and year format was required.

• Social Security Number: A social security number is still optional – and N/A doesn’t need to be entered – unless the employer is using the E-Verify system.

• Email: The employee email field is still optional and N/A is not required.

• Phone: While optional, N/A must be entered if an employee doesn’t have a telephone number.

• Notes: There’s a new field that allows employers to enter notes, although it is not required.

Even the largest HR departments struggle to comply with Immigration Reform and Contract Act requirements.

The key is to understand exactly what’s expected.

For more information on the law’s requirements or guidance for properly completing Form I-9, visit www. Uscis.gov/I9-Central.

Karyn Rhodes

Director of Human Resource Consulting at The Hilb Group in Warwick

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SMALL BUSINESS | 7 Things To Do When You’re Overwhelmed

7 THINGS TO DO WHEN YOU’RE

by Kristin MacRae

You’re disorganized at work and your life is chaotic. You find yourself stuck because you can’t get past the feeling of overwhelm and you just don’t know how to move forward. Do you crave structure and organization but don’t know where to begin? This feeling of overwhelm can be avoided if you take a step back, breathe, break the process down, and put a plan into motion.

Here are 7 things to do when you’re overwhelmed:

Stop. Don’t move. When people are overwhelmed they tend to waste energy. They get stuck and get busy but not productive. Take a minute to step away from the situation and breathe. Before you start bouncing around your office, take a minute to empty your mind. Plan your next move and waste less energy.

Empty your mind. Sit for a few minutes and just empty your

mind. Jot down everything you have to do and everything that’s running through your mind. Don’t worry about the order of things you need to do, just write. Once your thoughts are on paper, then you can break them down and organize them. You may find you have a sense of relief after you do this. Now that everything is on paper, it’s not as bad as you thought. You can now get a solid plan of what you need to accomplish and use this to-do list as a guide.

Just say no. It’s ok to say no. If you have the option to say no, do it. Sometimes you have to say “no” at the time so you can focus on more important things that are going on in your life.

Don’t procrastinate.

If you have time to

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tackle your task now, do it. You may get busy and as your deadline approaches, you may not have the time to spend on this. Block off some time when you work your best and just do it.

Break it down. Break the process down into pieces.

Once you break the process down, it’s not going to be as overwhelming as you thought. People tend to look at the big picture and think that it’s just too much and they shut down and nothing gets done or they wait until the last minute. Map out your project and tackle in small increments.

Step away. Go for a walk, exercise, or get some fresh air.

Stepping away from the situation will clear your mind and help you focus. When you go back to your project you’ll find that you’re more productive and have a clearer vision of what you need to accomplish.

Relax. This feeling of overwhelm will pass. It’s not the end of the world. If you put a plan into motion of how you’re going to attack your project, the end result will be amazing. You will look back and say, “Wow, that wasn’t so bad.”

Following all of the tips above will help you get a handle on your situation. You may find you were wasting energy and creating more work for yourself in the past. Sometimes situations aren’t as bad as they seem, but we tend to make more out of a situation because we dive head first without a plan or process.

Next time you’re feeling overwhelmed, approach it differently and then observe how you feel after you’ve completed your project.

Kristin MacRae

Organizing and Efficiency Expert, organizinginri.com

Brian McGloin 401-829-0318 Email: bmcgloin@cox.net

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SMALL BUSINESS | Leadership Lessons, How Hard Can It Be?

Leadership Lessons, H S O M E

M U S I N

by Mary OSullivan

The management guru, Abraham Zelnick theorized that there was a good reason that managers managed and leaders led. It all has to do with which one is willing to take a risk.

“For those who become managers, a survival instinct dominates the need for risk, and with the instinct comes an ability to tolerate mundane, practical work.” – Zelnick.

Jake is a manager who survived much reorganization and always lands some position with a fair amount of power.

Evidently, the key to his survival is to ensure some level of attention from those at the next level up. His goal was to “be the chief of staff” for upper management. Jake ensured that he had some part, no matter how small in senior level meetings, even if it meant his only function was advancing the slides. He actually grew in this miniscule role, and soon he was scouting out venues for management retreats. He finagled a major award from Special Olympics for the the company’s president by manipulating the company’s internal finance system: The award was given in exchange for a $10,000 corporate donation. And, he was in charge of the invitation list, with all the perceived rising stars attending.

Jake made it a point to let everyone know that he was the president’s (always using his first name) right hand man.

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Leadership Lessons, How Hard Can It Be? | SMALL BUSINESS

How Hard Can It Be? G S

O N

A B R A H A M

Others may have overlooked this behavior, except that Jake was responsible for a sizable organization of his own.

To ward off failure, he surrounded himself with a group of marginally competent sycophants, not unlike himself, who executed his business obligations. Projects underway were handled with a check in the box mentality, always perfunctory and under the radar. One of Jake’s direct reports, with no business experience, led a major review of new business failures. She conjured up an action item list for everyone else in the department to complete. Acceptable responses consisted of only the bare minimum amount of effort. Instead of showing how things could be done differently or improved, the last paper or policy created for similar issues was resurrected . The project was considered completed in the specified amount of time, and Jake’s whole internal team received an achievement award, permitting Jake to be free do master yet another mundane skill he perceived to be needed by upper management. (Purchasing a GPS for a new VP, using company funds.) Jake’s major talent was to perform the most

Large corporations often discourage the described leadership behaviors of challenge, aggressiveness, and innovation, as these behaviors often are seen as negative and even threatening.

Z E L N I C K

ordinary and commonplace work. He knew in order to rise in the eyes of upper management; he had to make himself indispensable. Jake endured some level of derision in his role: “lapdog, lackey, water boy”, etc. were applied. But he seemed to take it all in good cheer. “Somebody has to do it” became his mantra.

Jake’s management style seems to defy definition. He has the qualities of an administrator: he believes in a strong chain of command, and unity of command principal, but lacks the elements of fairness and equity that characterize “Administrative” style. It would seem that Jake is really not managerial material, but more of an individual contributor, even though he relies on a certain number of direct reports to ensure his feeling of power and importance and actually do work.

If we use Zaleznik’s model for describing leadership behavior, specific examples become less clear. Large corporations often discourage the described leadership behaviors of challenge, aggressiveness, and innovation, as these behaviors often are seen as negative and even threatening.

The website Changing Minds.Org devotes a page to leadership versus management. (http://changeminds.org/disciplines/ leadership/articles/manager_leader.htm) They assert that true leaders attract voluntary followers, possess a charismatic, transformational style, people focus, and seek risk.

There are many leaders who fit that description, however, managers like Jake with their sycophantic style, ability to manage up, and knack for self preservation somehow seem to survive for years.

Mary T OSullivan

MSOL, ACTP, ACC, An ICF Certified Coach 401-742-1965 mary@encoreexecutivecoaching.com www.encoreexecutivecoaching.com

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SMALL BUSINESS | Monthly Learning Tips For Rhode Island Small Business Owners

MONTHLY LEARNING TIPS FOR RHODE ISLAND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS:

Recommendations from Rhode Island Chambers

by Ronald G. Shapiro, PhD1

This month’s learning tips come from Elizabeth Berman (Executive Director, Southern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce), Stephen M. Lombardi (Executive Director, East Greenwich Chamber of Commerce), Suzanne Munroe (Executive Administrator, East Bay Chamber of Commerce) and Mark G. DeVine (Chairman, East Bay Chamber of Commerce).

Let us first get to know the chambers and chamber leaders. While all chambers have the goal of supporting small businesses, each chamber and chamber leader has their own special projects, too.

The Chambers The East Bay Chamber is in a small community, which allows them to really get to know most of their members well. The chamber hosts a Women’s Group (WEBOND) and a CEO Manufacturing roundtable, which is a mastermind group made up of experienced decision makers from non-competing small to mid-sized manufactures located in the East Bay area. They also participate in national manufacturing day each year, organizing a tour of 3 Manufacturing companies, that open their doors to the public for exploration. The chamber hosts artist’s exhibits, puts on a Fashion Show, works with the Small Business Administration on Shop Small Saturday, and offers one on one counseling at the chamber office

with a representative from the Senior Core of Retired Executives (SCORE) and the Rhode Island Small Business Development Center. Their summer clam boil and annual restaurant challenge & beer and wine tasting are popular events.

The East Greenwich Chamber blends the use of social media and website, electronic communications through emails with old-time, traditional “Americana” features like their Greenwich Greeter program, their 100-page Welcome to East Greenwich guide book, and the promotion of public events on fabulous Main Street. The chamber promotes many events during the year and distributes some of the proceeds to various non-profits and charities.

The Southern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce has a very active Young Professionals Committee (SRIYP). They are currently working on volunteering with Habitat for Humanity for a build day in March. They will also be working with the Jonnycake Center to do a project in November. Their Young Professionals committee is committed to helping their community.

The Leaders Elizabeth Berman, the middle of 7 children, grew up in New York just outside of NYC. She takes pride in being the loudest of the seven, and never needing a microphone at chamber events!

Elizabeth’s dream is to open a Pit Bull rescue that focuses on educating the public about the breed. She would rescue every pit bull if she could.

Steve Lombardi enjoys both the sense of community and the promotion of many different events in his position as Executive Director of the East Greenwich Chamber. Steve has served on many different non-profit boards and is a Past-President of the University of Rhode Island Alumni Association. He became experienced in community outreach and managing events through positions as the Executive Director of the Providence Civic Center (Dunkin’ Donuts Center) and Great Woods (now Xfinity Center) in Mansfield, MA. Suzanne Munroe is celebrating her thirteenth year working with some amazing business owners at the chamber. She spends her spare time creating art, focusing on merging her love of painting and digital art and her love of quilting, creating art quilts that feature portraiture. Please visit Suzanne’s website at SuzanneMunroe.com.

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East Greenwich Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, Stephen M Lombardi with Shelley Pezza as Pezza Farm’s Garden Center was welcomed to the East Greenwich Chamber. Photo by Ernest Price, EL Price Photography

m Some s of Commerce Tips provided by our chamber leaders for running your small business more successfully follow: • • • •

• •

•

•

•

•

Listen to your customers and be sensitive to their needs.

Treat people with respect, even in disagreements.

Be creative and think outside the box.

Entrepreneurs can get stuck in their business because they do everything. Taking a step back to work on the business instead of in the business can be very valuable.

Talk to other business owners about challenges. They may be able to help or suggest new ways of thinking.

A fresh pair of eyes never hurts! There are so many organizations, including chambers, that have people that would be willing to look over, talk over any new ideas you may be working through.

Networking – you need to get out there and meet new people.

You never know what connections you will make that will result in new business. You might also be able to help someone else, who will think of you when there is an opportunity for new business.

You need an accounting system. Without it, you won’t know how your business is doing and can’t make good management decisions without knowing your numbers. You also won’t be able to get financing when you need it.

Treat your customers well. Great customer service is all about making your customer feel good. They will always remember how you treated them.

Treat your employees well. If you make them feel respected, valued and listened to, they will go the extra mile for you.

The leaders also suggested ways in which you can work with a chamber to benefit your business: • Support your chamber by being active in events. Chamber membership will give you opportunities for networking and meeting new people. You get out of Chamber membership what you put in. Benefits are many-some are tangible, and some are intangible.

• Be visible, attend and participate in events. As a Chamber member gets known to the membership, trust is developed.

Ultimately, referrals and recommendations occur.

• Support other Chamber members. Oftentimes, the favors are returned; at least when a need arises. Shopping and buying local helps support the local economy, and as we like to say, a rising tide lifts all boats.

• Participate in a Chamber to give your business extra visibility, more potential customers, and a feeling of community.

• Every chamber has a publicized listing of its members. If someone is looking for the service you provide, they will find you on their database.

• Advertising is available on the chamber websites, publications and at all of their events.

• Attending a lunch-and-learn or other presentations offered by the chamber is an excellent way of picking up some tips that might help your business.

• Access to local and state government and political advocacy.

Take Action Now: All of the chamber leaders invite you to check out their website, reach out to them via email or telephone and attend their March networking events (for only $10.00).

East Bay Chamber: Mark DeVine (mark.devine@devineaccounting. com, 401-254-0151, eastbaychamberri.org) and Suzanne Munroe (smunroe@eastbaychamberri.org, 401-245-0750, www. eastbaychahmberri.org). Next Monthly Mingle: Lobster Pot, 119 Hope Street, Bristol, RI 02809, Wednesday, April 10, 5:30 - 7:00 pm.

East Greenwich Chamber: Steve Lombardi (steve@ eastgreenwichchamber.com, 401-885-0020, eastgreenwichchamber. com). Next Business After Hours: HarborOne Bank, 5750 Post Road, East Greenwich. Tuesday, April 23, 5:30-7:30 pm.

Southern Rhode Island Chamber: Elizabeth Berman (eberrman@ srichamber.com, 401-783-2801, www.srichamber.com). Next Business After Hours: Gemelli Bistro, 2 Falcone Lane, Charlestown, RI on Wednesday, April 17, 2019, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm. Contact the chamber for information about their April First Friday Coffee.

You may also wish to attend the Statewide Business After Hours sponsored by many chambers at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet, 60 Rhodes Pl, Cranston, RI, March 26, 2019, 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm ($15 per person).

1 I would like to thank Industrial Consultant Dr. Margarita Posada Cossuto for helpful comments.

Dr. Ronald G. Shapiro

Independent Consultant in Human Factors, Learning and Human Resources BUY LOCAL, SHOP LOCAL

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SMALL BUSINESS | Your Home Could Be Your Greatest Asset. Protect It.

Your home co

PRO

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Your home could be your greatest asset. Protect it. | SMALL BUSINESS

ould be your greatest asset.

OTECT IT.

by Ted Donnelly

Here’s the good news: Property values continue to rebound after the Great Recession. In fact, Zillow.com reports that the median home value in the U.S. now stands at $180,800—an increase of 3.3% in just the last year.1 So what’s the bad news? According to BloombergBusiness, housing represents 67% of the total wealth held by most Americans—a figure that includes personal savings, investments, and even workplace retirement accounts.2 Given these statistics, it’s easy to see why so many new homeowners are eager to purchase mortgage insurance from their lenders. That way, if something tragic happens, they can be sure that the lenders will be paid in full and that their families will retain ownership of this valuable asset.

Be sure to consider all the options.

It’s important, however, for homeowners to realize that there are other ways to protect the lifestyle and wealth of their families. Personally owned life insurance, for example, can perform many of the same functions as mortgage insurance, but it offers greater flexibility. That’s because life insurance gives your beneficiaries the freedom to determine how the death benefit will be spent. Let’s take a look at why that might be important.

You—and your loved ones—may want greater flexibility.

While your family can always use the death benefit to retire

the mortgage, there may be more immediate financial needs.

With life insurance, they have the option of using the money to pay medical bills, cover funeral expenses, or simply keep the household up and running in your absence.

It may also make sense for your loved ones to pay down the mortgage over time, so they can use the insurance proceeds for other purposes and take advantage of the mortgage interest deduction. What’s more, personally owned life insurance is portable, so as long as your policy remains in good standing, you will remain covered—no matter where you live or how many times you move.

Of course, most people don’t buy a home simply for its value—but now, more than ever, that is an important consideration. If your home—and any equity you have built up—represents your largest financial asset, be sure to weigh all your options and take whatever steps you can to protect it.

No matter what you decide to do, there’s a good chance that you—and your loved ones—will sleep better for it.

This educational third-party article is provided as a courtesy by Ted Donnelly, Agent, New York Life Insurance Company. To learn more about the information or topics discussed, please contact Ted Donnelly at 401-276-8728 or efdonnelly@ft.newyorklife.com.

Ted Donnelly Agent New York Life Insurance Company

With life insurance, they have the option of using the money to pay medical bills, cover funeral expenses, or simply keep the household up and running in your absence.

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Rhode Island Foundation The Rhode Island Foundation posted a record-setting year in 2018, awarding $52 million in grants and raising $114 million from individual, family, organizational and corporate donors.

More than 1,800 organizations received grants, the most in the Foundation’s 102-year history.

As the largest and most comprehensive funder of nonprofits in the state, the Foundation works in partnership with donors and nonprofits to meet the needs of the people of Rhode Island. At the end of 2018, total assets stood at approximately $970 million.

“We are grateful for the visionary donors who have joined with us for more than a century to take on the state’s challenges and opportunities,” said Neil D. Steinberg, the Foundation’s president and CEO. “Partnering with nonprofit organizations to support their important work, engaging generous donors and providing leadership around key issues for our state all contributed to this outstanding growth as we strive to meet the needs of all Rhode Islanders.”

Of the $52 million in grants awarded last year, many were aligned with the Foundation’s three strategic priorities: educational success, healthy lives and economic security.

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targets educa

Fuerza Laboral, which received $90,000 to train low-income workers to create worker-owned-and-operated cooperative enterprises; the Social Enterprise Greenhouse, which was awarded $75,000 to expand its HUB programing; and the Center for Women & Enterprises, which received $125,000 to support its work with start-ups; were among the organizations that won economic security grants.

The Foundation also introduced a new online directory that helps local businesses and entrepreneurs find services to help start and grow businesses in the Ocean State. BizBuilderRI. com provides access to information about low- and no-cost help with borrowing, marketing to potential customers, local regulations and taxes, finding employees and more.

“Whether you are an established business, or a startup, or if you just have an idea, the point of RI BizBuilder is to quickly connect you with the people and entities that can help you with whatever you need, so you can move on, quickly,” said Jessica David, the Foundation’s executive vice president for strategy and community investments.

The site contains more than 100 listings of resources and services that are available for startups and small businesses in

Rhode Island Foundation Has Record-Breaking Year | SMALL BUSINESS

ation, health and economic development Rhode Island. Visitors can narrow their search using a variety of filters including the type of assistance they are looking for, their industry and special factors such gender or military veteran status.

Jr. Community Center in Newport, the Jonnycake Center in South Kingstown and Sojourner House in Providence and Woonsocket. In addition to grantmaking and fundraising, community leadership is central to the Foundation’s work.

“RI BizBuilder is easy to use; just answer four questions about the stage of your business, the type of assistance you’re looking for, your industry and whether you have any special circumstances. The site will find the most relevant information for you. You choose who you want to connect with, and RI BizBuilder will contact the provider on your behalf,” said David.

In 2018, the Foundation raised a record $600,000 for its Civic Leadership Fund. The annual fund enables the Foundation to go beyond traditional grantmaking to meet emerging opportunities and challenges, and engage Rhode Islanders in civic and civil dialogue. For example, in 2018 the Foundation launched Together RI, a series of 20 neighborly get-togethers that offered people a chance to talk face-to-face about topics that are critical to our common future over a free family-style meal.

The Foundation also made grants organizations working in arts and culture, education, the environment, health housing and basic human needs; including the Woonsocket School Department, which will receive $675,000 over three years to strengthen school leader development and support in order to improve academic outcomes; and Visiting Nurse Home & Hospice of Portsmouth, which was awarded $80,200 to implement a Community Pharmacist Program that integrates the services of a homecare clinical pharmacist in a multidisciplinary transition of care team.

Other grant recipients include the Dr. Martin Luther King

“Our Civic Leadership donors understand that progress requires many different approaches. Having the means to tackle opportunities as they arise enhances the work that our community partners already do,” said Jessica David, the Foundation’s executive vice president of strategy and community investments.

For more information about the application process, please visit...

www.rifoundation.org.

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BUY LOCAL, SHOP LOCAL | How To Pick The Best Features For A New Product

H o w

T o

P i c k

T h e

bestforfeatures a New Product

by Bryan B Mason

You may be challenged to figure out how to select from a range of features in the development of a new product or service. How are you supposed to understand what features your prospective customers really want? After all, the product development process is critically important and very expensive for small companies.

Product or Service Feature Optimization

Product feature optimization is the process where the best combination of product features is determined that will drive sales, market share and profitability. Many products have a huge array of features that customers will trade off to select a specific product. Think insurance products, laptops or even TVs. For TVs, there are features such as screen size, resolution, voice activated controls, internet integration ease, and of course, price.

Bigger companies have typically done market tests with concepts or even prototypes. Potential buyers are shown the products and asked for their reactions. These tests can

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cost a lot of money and take a lot of time. Many smaller companies don’t have the resources for this kind of effort.

As a result, they often use their own sense of the market, copy competitors’ products while adding features or just take the recommendations of their engineering or product development staff. Especially for smaller companies, producing a product that flops can be disastrous.

Potential customers consider a wide range of factors when selecting a product and different people will prioritize these considerations differently. So how is any small company to figure out what to do?

Conjoint Analysis

This is where Conjoint Analysis comes in. The heart of this process is getting potential customers to fill out a survey where each question offers a set of hypothetical buying choices that the potential customer must choose between (sometimes you even give them a choice of none). Then the results of the survey are analyzed using advanced statistical techniques to determine the importance of each feature as well as modeled to provide predictive information.

How To Pick The Best Features For A New Product | BUY LOCAL, SHOP LOCAL

Potential customers consider a wide range of factors when selecting a product and different people will prioritize these considerations differently.

Unlike most of the topics I discuss in this column, this technique is not something that can be accomplished by a typical business owner. The design of the survey is very complex and flaws in survey design can lead to erroneous conclusions. The statistical analysis requires training and advanced skills as does the predictive modeling. I bring up Conjoint Analysis because it is an extremely valuable tool.

Summary

In summary, Conjoint Analysis is a rapid and cost effective way to gather useful information. It is one of the best ways to get results with a small market research budget.

It has also revolutionized marketing research at larger companies. It helps in determining the importance of

specific features, which bundles of features are best, what the penalty of having a lesser known or unknown brand will be, and how much the customer will pay. When combining this information with the costs of designing, producing and marketing the new product, the best course of action can be determined. I have seen cases where the loss of value from an unknown brand can reduce the price customers are willing to pay to the point that the new off brand product cannot be offered at a profit. This would certainly be good to know before you spend the money to develop the product.

Conjoint analysis can help small companies get their product development right the first time and make the company much more successful.

Mr. Mason founded the Apollo Consulting Group in 2008 to help small and mid-sized companies in solving their challenges. Mr. Mason brings over thirty years of corporate, consulting and entrepreneurial experience in a variety of industries. He possesses skills in general business management, analysis, strategy development, marketing, finance/ budgeting, operations, pricing optimization, workflow optimization, process reengineering, project management, and information technology.

Mr. Mason has two degrees in Economics and was a Volunteer Mentor for the Rhode Island Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (RI-CIE). He writes a weekly blog on his company website at www.apollogr.com/blog.

Bryan B Mason

Principal | (401) 862-6339 The Apollo Consulting Group LLC

Do You Want to Determine the Best Features to Put in Your Next Product or Service?

Please join Bryan Mason of the Apollo Consulting Group for a free seminar.

Tuesday, April 9th, 2019 | 7:30 AM – 8:45AM Providence Chamber of Commerce 30 Exchange Terrace, Providence, RI 02903

CALL 401-862-6339 TO REGISTER FOR THIS VALUABLE EVENT.

BUY LOCAL, SHOP LOCAL

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Pannone Lopes Devereaux & O’Gara attorneys are innovators and collaborators with a record of achievement representing clients with the highest level of legal services in a wide range of disciplines and industries. Our firm’s success is rooted in its cutting edge approach to modern legal representation, commitment to teamwork and providing superior service for clients built on respect, urgency and efficiency that results in long-lasting relationships.

Great legal teams working for YOU. 401-824-5100 pldolaw.com

Northwoods Office Park 1301 Atwood Avenue, Suite 215 N Johnston, RI 02919

$10 Gift CertifiCate For Havana Cigar Club

(Limit One Per Customer. Must Present Ad For Discount)

From Your Friends at RISBJ

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• Full Bar for Both The Public & Members • Largest Walk-in Humidor in the State • Fresh Air Cycles 14x Per Hour • Function Room • Card Tournaments, Cigar Nights, Scotch Tastings and Much More

Join Us May 7th 2019!

Winners of the 2019 Rhode Island Business Competition will be announced Winners & finalists will share prizes valued at more than $185,000

May 7, 2019 Awards Ceremony 5:00p.m. - New England Medical Innovation Center, Providence

Free and Open to the Public Hosted By

We’re building the next generation of companies in Rhode Island Since 2001, the Rhode Island Business Competition has awarded more than $2.6 million in prizes to help entrepreneurs build growing businesses in Rhode Island, and today is the largest community-supported business plan competition in the Northeast. Our sponsors include private companies, professional service providers, foundations, colleges and universities, public agencies, investors, banks – and previous participants. Full details at www.ri-business.com BUY LOCAL, SHOP LOCAL

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