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Archive for the ‘Business’ Category

Obama Administration Ignores Small Business

In Business, Economy, Jobs, Opinion, Politics, Uncategorized on February 9, 2011 at 9:47 am

Commentary By Gery L. Deer

DEER IN HEADLINES

 

President Obama addressed the United States Chamber of Commerce this week, receiving a less than warm reception. In his speech, the president stated that American companies are sitting on about $2 trillion and encouraged business leaders to spend that money on new jobs.

Escalating regulations, soaring tax increases and sharply negative rhetoric coming from The White House has kept relations tense between the president and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.  The anti-business agendas of congress and the president pushed chamber leaders to spend millions in support of ousting the democratic leadership.

According to their website, the United States Chamber of Commerce is, “The world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.” They go on to state their core purpose as to fight for free enterprise before all areas of government (domestic and international) including congress, the White House, the courts and regulatory agencies.

Many business leaders insist that the very nature of chamber organizations is contrary to most of the goals of the Obama administration. Any olive branch offered by the president is believed to be merely some type of distraction from the hardships created by the economy and exacerbated by government interference.

President Obama’s call to hire more workers is yet another indication of how out of touch he is with the current state of business in America. What seems like a lot of money just hanging out there waiting to be used is actually in the possession of only the largest U.S. companies. Apple, for example, holds approximately $50 billion, with the rest spread among about ten others.

Not so long ago, the president called upon business leaders to tighten their belts and do more with less, just, as he said, the American people were doing. Now, he’s suggesting that those organizations spend what little capital they may have preserved well before the economic crisis has actually passed. Once more, his lack of insight has him ignoring the largest group of players in the game – small business owners.

According to the Small Business Administration, U.S. small businesses represent 99.7 percent of all employer firms, generating half of all private sector jobs. Concentration on the survival of these companies seems at least prudent if not essential but they have been largely ignored.

While Washington has handed over billions in tax dollars to rescue big business, government has done nothing to help small businesses secure credit and spur recovery and growth. Because smaller companies have a harder time procuring capital, either through investors or loans, they are unable to take on more employees.

In addition, most business leaders agree that belts should remain tightened until consumer spending increases. Before smaller manufacturers can hire more workers, there must be an increase in demand of their products, a statistic that is not evident in the well-spun economic figures spewing from The White House.

The West Wing might be rejoicing at growth numbers taken out of context but Main Street has to deal with the reality that the rough patches are far from over. Any stockpile of cash being hoarded by America’s largest corporations is useless to the overall growth of the country’s economy because it has no effect on small business.

Until the government begins to turn its attention to the struggles of the little guy, the country will continue to crawl to recovery. Fortunately, small business owners represent the best of America. Their entrepreneurial spirit, determination and ingenuity will carry them through these tough times – no hand outs required. That’s far more than any Wall Street executive can say.

Gery L. Deer is a freelance columnist and business writer based in Jamestown. For more visit http://www.gerydeer.com.

Jamestown Firm Offers Resume Help

In Business, Economy, Jobs, Local News, Uncategorized on January 20, 2011 at 2:19 pm

GREENE COUNTY, OH – As hundreds of thousands of Ohioans continue to search for a job, a well written resume can get be the difference between getting the interview and getting shut out. GLD Enterprises Commercial Writing based in Jamestown has just announced an affordable service for those having trouble creating an effective resume.

While a resume will rarely be the determining factor in why an applicant is hired, it is usually the first impression that a potential employer gets of the individual. For as little as $20 per hour, GLD Enterprises Commercial Writing will work one-on-one with clients to help customize a resume to suit the applicant and the desired position.

Owner and managing copywriter of GLD Enterprises, Gery L. Deer, is an award-nominated freelance journalist and business writer. “A resume is one of the most important parts of anyone’s job search and, oddly, it’s also the one document that is reviewed more subjectively than people realize,” Deer said. “There is no way to really know what a human resources professional is going to be looking for, so it’s important that the information is well written, clearly explained and economically worded.”

According to Deer, basic language and communication skills are essential to any job and many resume coaches or free help centers ignore a prime factor in resume development – the writing. “Resume help programs often over emphasize the layout of a resume, or more trivial issues like whether your name should be in bold print,” he said. “We can help the applicant to focus on the wording and content of the document to make it stand out from the competition. The improvement they gain in their communications skills will
also benefit them once they land their new job.”

In addition, help is available for preparing job-specific cover letters and for those job-hunting professionals who require a CV, or curriculum vitae, which is a more expanded listing of academic achievement and work history. For a minimal hourly fee, GLD Enterprises experts can also assist people with the completion of online job applications, which can often be tedious and frustrating.

“If people have patients, and prepare before trying to fill out internet-based job applications, the process will go smoothly, but it is still time consuming. We can help with that,” Deer said. For more information on resume assistance programs call GLD Enterprises Commercial Writing at (937) 902-4857 or visitwww.gerydeer.com.

 

Only Loughner Is To Blame for Tucson Shooting

In Business, Media, National News, Politics, State News, Uncategorized on January 12, 2011 at 11:51 am

Commentary By Gery L. Deer

DEER IN HEADLINES

As authorities work to piece together more details on the Tucson, Arizona shooting that killed six and critically injured Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, people should be mindful of the dangers involved with courting rumor and speculation.

Pundits are inundating the airways and cyberspace with opinions, speculation and finger pointing in an effort to use this horrific event to discredit the platform of their opponents. Politicizing this event in such a way is shameful.

While there is little doubt that the shooter, 22-year-old Jared Lee Loughner, is a deeply troubled and unstable individual, no evidence has been uncovered at this point to support theories of conspiracy. Nor has he been officially tied to any sort of anti-government organization or political party.

Yet, there is further talk about this man being encouraged to violence by the politicians themselves through metaphor or badly worded speeches and writings. However, to blame Sarah Palin, Barak Obama or anyone else for this man’s twisted behavior is pointless and disrespectful to all involved, particularly the victims.

The events of January 7th were perpetrated by one man whose dissatisfaction with the world around him combined with his mental and emotional issues to push him over the edge of reason and compassion.

No doubt the Hollywood left will soon weigh in about the fact that the man used a gun. A gun control argument regarding this situation is pointless. If Loughner was as mentally disturbed as has been reported, he would have found a way to do this, whether by way of a gun or some other weapon. And if the gun could not be bought legally, he would have obtained it illegally.

Just a reminder, Presidents Reagan and Kennedy were both shot while surrounded by the United States Secret Service – the best-trained and best-armed security officers in the history of the world. Crackpots will always find a way.

Through all of the mindless conjecture being bantered about on television news and talk radio, one argument does have some merit. Political rhetoric and unrest is at a long-time high in America right now. Not since the Vietnam War have Americans been so politically divided.

Clearly America’s political landscape is toxic and shows no immediate signs of improvement. Even so, how one chooses to respond to the current state of government separates activists from lunatics. There is no way to know what Loughner hoped to gain by attacking Congresswoman Giffords, but it is likely he expected to be killed in the attempt.

No one made this man act as he did. It was his choice – whether he proves out to be sane or not. His political or emotional motives are little comfort to families and friends of his victims who struggle to cope with the loss and injury of loved ones.

The big question now is to determine how something like this can be prevented from happening again? Unfortunately, there is just no way to do that. As long as there is a voice of the people, there will be no way to please everyone and fanatics always manage to float to the top, like flotsam in the currents of history.

Occasionally, those fanatics turn out to be great heroes, like our own founding fathers. Usually, however, they are just misguided malcontents who never see the bigger picture or have any understanding of how their actions affect others.

Winston Churchill said, “Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.” As long as people are free to speak their minds, people will voice their discontent. Practiced peacefully, protest brings about healthy change and keeps politicians on the straight and narrow. When protest turns violent however, as it did in Tucson, innocent people pay the price.

Gery L. Deer is a freelance writer and columnist based in Jamestown, Ohio. More at http://www.gerydeer.com

Xenia BNI Informational Session Set For Friday at XACC Office

In Business, Local News, Media, Uncategorized on January 12, 2011 at 11:48 am

XENIA, OH – Jim Weghorst, executive director of the Miami Valley region of BNI, or
Business Network International, has announced the formation of new chapter of
the organization in Xenia. Local business professionals are invited to attend a
free informational session beginning at 1 p.m. on Friday January 14 in the
meeting room of the Xenia Area Chamber of Commerce office, 334 W. Market Street.
Weghorst will show participants how referral based networking can increase
visibility, credibility and profitability in today’s difficult economic
environment.

The international BNI organization was started in 1985 by professional
networking guru Dr. Ivan Misner and has grown to more than 5,000 chapters
world-wide.  The goal of BNI is to help members develop a profitable,
direct-contact referral network free of internal competition because only one
representative from each profession is allowed per chapter. Through the BNI
structure, a network of professional connections will grow well beyond the core
group and extend small business contacts to unrealized potential customers.

Local writer and public relations consultant Gery L. Deer, of Jamestown, is a
long-time member of the Greater Dayton Professionals Chapter of BNI which meets
in Beavercreek. Deer has served several positions in his chapter’s leadership
team over the years and will be attending Friday’s session to answer questions
and offer a member’s perspective.

“A membership in BNI compliments other networking activities such as chambers of
commerce and service clubs while offering the opportunity to grow by focusing on
the exchange of qualified referrals rather than cold leads,” said Deer. “My
chapter closed 2010 with over a million dollars in referred sales and my hope is
that a chapter in the Xenia area can do the same.”

BNI also offers members access to extensive educational programs in the areas of
business growth and networking. For more information call Jim Weghorst at (513)
314-1236 or go online to www.bni.com.

Jamestown Commercial Writing Firm Announces Re-Launch

In Business, Local News, Media, Uncategorized on December 29, 2010 at 10:39 am

GLD Enterprises Commercial Writing managing copywriter Gery L. Deer at his Jamestown office.

JAMESTOWN – After nearly a year of retooling, the management of GLD Enterprises Commercial Writing in Jamestown is looking forward, and in a new direction. Established in 1998 as a media production and talent referral agency, the company has changed names and focus to concentrate solely on business copywriting and public relations consulting services.

Freelance writer and speaker Gery L. Deer is the managing copywriter and owner of the firm. While much of his early background is in engineering and technology, he has had more than two decades of experience in freelance journalism, public relations and commercial business writing.

“We were already handling a good deal of work in the areas of business writing and public relations, so it wasn’t a difficult transition but it meant redirecting our focus, especially in the new economy,” said Deer. The company has already provided services to major players in the Dayton regional business market including accounting firms, chiropractic clinics, marketing and advertising agencies, construction firms and specialty companies.

No stranger to the business community, Deer has worked with some of the best known organizations such as Standard Register, IBM and Whirlpool Corporation. As a freelance writer, he has provided content and editorial services to every major print publication in the Dayton region and had his share of notoriety.

In 2010 Deer was nominated for the Ohio Public Image Network Award in Media and considered for a Pulitzer Prize in journalism. His weekly, self-syndicated op-ed column, Deer In Headlines, is featured in more than a dozen print and online publications. His work in the entertainment industry spans the gambit from stage to television and includes event development, script consulting, stunt work and variety performance.

“Over the years, nothing proved to be more important to the success of any business than a consistent message,” Deer said. “We work alongside marketing and public relations personnel to bring more focus to a company’s message inside and outside the business.”

Reworking the operation required some outside input, so Deer enlisted the resources available through the Small Business Development Center at Wright State University’s Raj Soin College of Business. Over three months students from the college were assigned to help analyze the company’s business plan and make adjustments where needed.

The result was a thoroughly different company, complete with a new marketing objective, updated products and a fresh website full of information and testimonials reflecting more than a decade of work in the commercial writing industry.

Thanks to an efficient network of contacts, GLD Enterprises Commercial Writing, nicknamed The Concierge Copywriter ™, will be able to assist companies located anywhere in the country. According to Deer, however, they will focus on the areas of Dayton, Columbus and Cincinnati, Ohio at first.

“The southwest central Ohio region is underestimated and underserved in the areas of business copywriting and media relations, especially the small and medium sized companies,” Deer said. “There are blossoming new industries forming in the wake of a diminishing recession and I believe we can help them grow.”

Deer also noted that the new spin-off firm will operate out of their main office in the studios of GLD Enterprises & Productions in Jamestown. For more information, contact Gery L. Deer by calling (937) 902-4857 or visit www.theconciergecopywriter.com.