NEWTON, NJ – The Alternative Board, a global Peer Advisory and Executive Coaching membership organization dedicated to the success of small business leaders, will be hosting “2011 Strategies for Success,” a Business Leadership Summit on January 27^th.  The full day meeting will bring together national experts in the fields of Social Media and Internet Strategies, Heath Care Reform and Tax/Stimulus Plan Strategies, and Branding, along with area business owners, executives and partners. Speakers include Eric Frenchman, Chief Internet Strategist for Connell-Donatelli Inc.; Dave Evans, Senior Vice President & Publisher for Independent Insurance Agents & Brokerages; and Ken Hydock, Esq, CPA, PFS, AEP of Sobel CPAs.  In addition, Jake Sasseville, Executive Producer and Host of TV’s nationally syndicated Late Night Republic, will discuss “Your Sixth Sense in Business – Nurture & Massively Act on Goals at Lightning Speed.”

Marcy Turkington, Chief Executive for The Alternative Board shared goals for the Summit:  “Each year, we bring together our area members to hear the latest trends and opportunities, legislation and regulation, and best practices that will impact business owners.”  Results prove this out as published by CBS Money Watch – "small businesses that participate in [The Alternative Board] TAB’s peer advisory boards are on track to achieve greater growth and profitability than non-member business owners." 

More than 200 leading businesses from the Tri-State area participate in TAB memberships, taking advantage of peer insights, coaching, best in class business tools and, currently in development, a mentor and internship exchange program for members’ children.

The “Strategies for Success” Summit will be held at the new Lackland Center for Performing Arts at Centenary College in Hackettstown and is supported in part by sponsorship from First Hope Bank.  Limited seats are available for non-members, and can be purchased by calling 973.940.2020 or online by visiting http://www.AchieveNextLevel.com/StrategiesForSuccess

About The Alternative Board® (TAB):  TAB organizes peer advisory board meetings of non-competing owners, CEOs and presidents of privately owned companies, creating “think tanks” and accountability forums for sharing best practices and strategies for their companies. The groups serve as highly cost-effective means for business leaders to gain expertise, advice and insights. 

About Jake Sasseville:  Executive Producer and host of "Late Night Republic starring Jake Sasseville" and President of LNR Studios, Jake is energetic, irreverent and a bit outrageous, which is how this 25-year-old has been contending with some of the brightest stars in late night since 2007.  Sasseville launched his former show, "The Edge" on ABC after Jimmy Kimmel when he was 21.

Local Owners Use Business Advisory Services to Recession-Proof

 

Newton, NJ/Stroudsburg, PA (April 20,2008) – In the wake of warnings by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke that the U.S. may be headed for a recession, peer advisory boards have become a key resource for business owners across the country who are scrambling for tactics to protect their businesses.

While leading economists and Bernanke take opposing views on the definition of a recession, successful business owners are taking a more proactive approach to future financial and business crises. One of the proven factors for success regardless of the economy has been the use of peer advisors—who can offer expertise and experience from a perspective only possible by a business owner.

“There are a number of areas that business owners should be regularly reviewing to ensure they are as efficient as possible,” said Mary Turkington, President of Achieve Business Solutions and the local facilitator for The Alternative Board^® (TAB).  TAB is an organization that provides small to medium-size companies with peer advisory boards and business advice through private coaching. “Those businesses that survive and even prosper during tough times are those that operate from a strategic plan. It’s critically important to monitor the direction your business is headed—and adjust your plan quickly at the first sign of the economic impact to your company.”

For example, local members of The Alternative Board meet monthly to share ideas and challenges with one another. A hot topic in recent weeks has been realistic tips to recession-proof a business, such as:

1. Do not overreact— take action based only on data.
2. Revise cash flow for the next six-month period.
3. Make cuts in personnel (quickly if necessary), starting at the top of the organization.
4. Maintain larger cash position to take advantage of sale prices.
5. Sign all checks for 60 days to a get feel of cost areas of company.
6. Be very careful to not cut back on your marketing, this will create a double problem in your sales.
7. Review recent monthly P & L statements for percentage trends.
8. Don't manage for the moment. Consider long-term goals of the company before taking any action that could affect the future of the company. 

 
Peer Advisory Board Advantage

The results of TAB’s 2008 annual survey clearly indicated that organizations that participate in  peer advisory boards are on track to achieve greater growth and profitability in ’08 than non-member business owners.

Marcy Turkington, the area's TAB representative and President of Achieve Business Solutions, explains, "Business owners need to take advantage of any opportunity they can to stay ahead of the competition. TAB membership allows just that opportunity. If you had the chance to sit once a month with other business owners in your area to discuss your challenges—and hear what worked for them—why wouldn’t you?  Combine that with reinforcement from your own executive coach to help you develop and focus your strategic plans and action items, and you know you will stay on track during any economic cycle."

About The Alternative Board^®

The Alternative Board^® is an international provider of peer advisory and coaching solutions to leaders of privately held businesses. TAB members meet monthly in over 1,000 cities across the United States, Canada and Latin America.  For more information about the survey or about The Alternative Board^®, contact Marcy Turkington at 973.940.2020.

TAB’s Annual Business Survey shows expectations for profitable 2008 February, 2008   President Bush, Congress and the Federal Reserve Chairman may be worried about a recession in 2008, but according to a recent annual survey of the nation’s small business owners, confidence is more the order of the day – in direct opposition to recent Congressional testimony.  The Alternative Board^® (TAB) – an organization that provides small to medium-size companies with peer advisory boards and business advice, in connection with CfMC, a leading market research firm based in San Francisco – annually polls members as well as a mirror group of non-member business owners regarding their performance relative to projections and their coming year business forecasts. As Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke and Congress discussed in January, the prevailing attitude among business owners on the state of the economy is mixed. However, the 2008 TAB survey findings reveal that small business owners forecast an increase in these leading economic performance indicators:  

• Hiring (with downsizing numbers as contrast)
  • Add employees: 56.8%
  • Stay the same: 39.5%
  • Downsize: 3.7%

• Profitability in 2008
  • Increase: 72.7%
  • Stay the same: 17.98%
  • Decrease: 9.3%

• Capital Spending
  • Increase: 60.7%
  • Stay the same: 28.8%
  • Decrease: 10.4%

 Peer Advisory Board Advantage The results of TAB’s annual survey also clearly indicated that organizations that participate in TAB’s peer advisory boards are on track to achieve greater growth and profitability in ’08 than non-member business owners.  Over 80 percent of TAB members across the US and 65 percent of other business professionals projected an increase in gross revenue for the year.  In addition, while capital spending and hiring were key components of confidence for everyone, profitability and revenue gains are significantly stronger for TAB members than those that do not share in a peer group.   Noted Marcy Turkington, president of Achieve Business Solutions and the local TAB facilitator for Northwestern New Jersey and the Poconos  “Small business is the chief driver of the nation’s economy. While economic stimulus programs are welcome, the results of the annual TAB survey demonstrate that those business owners participating in peer network organizations have already put a plan in place to maintain their economic momentum. “