3 There Telephone Seminars

Payroll Recordkeeping: What You Need to Know BenefitsIn recent years there has been an explosion in the number of lawsuits and claims for overtime and unpaid wages under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Did you realize that liability for FLSA violations can be enormous? Recent reports estimate that over the last few years companies have collectively paid out more than $1 billion annually to resolve FLSA claims! Learn the role of the FLSA and  more...

Understanding the GAAP Codification Update BenefitsThe official launch of the FASB Codification began on July 1, 2009. On that date the codification became the official single source of authoritative nongovernmental U.S. GAAP. The codification will be effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. The codification will supersede existing FASB, AICPA, EITF and related literature, which means there will no longer  more...

Medicare Secondary Payer Act: Protecting Medicare's Interest In Insurance Settlements BenefitsPursuant to 42 USC Section 1395y(b)(2), commonly known as the Medicare Secondary Payer Act, Medicare may not make payment for medical benefits where payment has been made or can reasonably be expected to be made under a workers' compensation law or plan of the United States or a state, or under an automobile or liability insurance policy or plan (including a self-insured plan), or under no  more...

A Regulatory Update on Unclaimed Property Compliance BenefitsWho within your company is responsible for ensuring compliance with the various state unclaimed property laws? Is your company currently undergoing an unclaimed property audit? If you are struggling to find the answer to these important compliance questions, this live audio conference is for you! Believe it or not, there are still many companies who are unfamiliar with the various state  more...

Using Social Media in Banking BenefitsSocial media has become a hot topic for bank boards and senior managers as hundreds of millions of consumers have congregated to social networks, blogs, and other social media platforms. The widespread use of social media has resulted in structural changes in commerce, politics, and now, banking. Banks are being forced to adapt to changes created by social media. Specifically, banks must  more...

Resolving Corporate and Construction Disputes with Collaborative Law BenefitsIn today's economy, all business people are looking for ways to cut costs. One budget item that can be substantially reduced is the expense associated with litigation. Corporations can cut overhead and construction companies can avoid unnecessary project delays by getting disputes resolved quickly and economically outside of the courthouse. Litigation involves more than legal fees; there  more...

Domestic Asset Protection Trusts: Fundamentals and New Approaches BenefitsThis live audio conference will focus on the uses, benefits, requirements and differences among the various Domestic Asset Protection Trusts ('DAPTs') permitted under state law and the reasons why one state law may be preferred over another. There will also be a discussion of the most recent applications involving trusts for protection and other uses. Examples include the use of a DAPT as  more...

Domestic Asset Protection Trusts: Fundamentals and New Approaches BenefitsThis live audio conference will focus on the uses, benefits, requirements and differences among the various Domestic Asset Protection Trusts ('DAPTs') permitted under state law and the reasons why one state law may be preferred over another. There will also be a discussion of the most recent applications involving trusts for protection and other uses. Examples include the use of a DAPT as  more...

Intellectual Disabilities and Employer ADA Obligation BenefitsWith the dramatic expansion of the American With Disabilities Act (ADA) by the ADA Amendment Act of 2008 (ADAAA) and the EEOC's ADAAA final regulations effective as of May 24, 2011, ADA claims are skyrocketing. A great many of the burgeoning claims concern matters formerly called mental disabilities and which are now called intellectual disabilities. Intellectual disabilities, which may  more...

HIPAA Security Compliance Challenges after the HITECH Act BenefitsEveryone who handles any electronic patient information should attend this live audio conference on compliance with the HIPAA security regulation. All entities covered under HIPAA must take special care of electronic patient health information, including establishing policies and taking regular actions as part of a security management process. Under new regulations due to the HITECH Act  more...

Building Effective Sales Relationships BenefitsWhat makes for a good sales relationship? Is it just making 'the sale'? Is there more? As a sales person there are usually four steps in the relationship and each of these stages gives the seller deeper insight into the mind of the buyer. It is vital that in today's highly competitive world of sales, that the representative be prepared with as much ammunition as possible. This is not to  more...

NEPA: Understanding the Basics BenefitsSince 1970, the National Environmental Policy Act has been the cornerstone for environmental protection in the United States. To implement NEPA, federal agencies must prepare environmental impact statements or environmental assessments to study the impacts of their proposed actions. Unfortunately, some federal agencies, their consultants and affected citizens do not fully understand the  more...

Creditors' Proof of Claims and Objection Requirements BenefitsGenerally speaking, a creditor must file a proof of claim with the bankruptcy court prior to the bar date in order to receive a distribution or to vote for or against confirmation of the debtor's plan of reorganization. Unfortunately, the filing of a proof can adversely affect the creditor's ability to defend against claims asserted by the debtor. Additionally, there are a number of  more...

Best Practices in Nursing Documentation: Writing Effective and Legal Proof Notes BenefitsLong gone are the days that nurses and other health care providers hand-wrote cryptic notes on essay paper-like chart pages that rarely were ever looked at again. Long gone, also, are the days that physicians would only look at labs, reports and other physician's notes, expecting the nurse to call to the physician's attention anything important about the patient so they didn't have to read  more...

GSA Leasing: Understanding The SFO Process, Negotiating The Lease and Dealing With The Government As The Tenant BenefitsThe federal government is the country's biggest 'tenant' by far, if not in the world. In both strong and not-so-strong economic times, the federal government is always in the market for new or replacement space ranging from state of the art office space to simple warehousing requirements. When the commercial real estate market is in the doldrums, the federal government is always still  more...

Document Retention: Compliance and Protectionism BenefitsThis live audio conference will cover the importance of a document retention policy starting with the identification of what exists and what should be captured to the different rationales for implementing a retention policy - regulatory compliance to evidence in litigation. There are numerous challenges to an effective policy, which if acknowledged can be worked through. Living with the  more...

Developing a School Wellness Program BenefitsAs many of you are aware, childhood obesity is one of our nation's leading health threats. Today, about 1 in 3 children and youth (ages 2-19) in the United States is already overweight or obese -- that's nearly 25 million young people. - Disappearing recess: Nearly one-third of elementary schools do not schedule recess on a regular basis. - Less physical education: 92% of elementary  more...

Extensive Green Roof Design BenefitsThe market for green roofs in North America has grown dramatically in the last 10 years. Green roofs, while still only a tiny fraction of the overall roofing and landscaping market have become increasingly important in the green building marketplace. As with many young markets there are common misconceptions, and like many other green building techniques there is a lot of hype surrounding  more...

Fundamentals of Section 382 BenefitsOne of the most important assets of a development stage company can be its federal income tax loss carry-forward (NOL). Protecting its value to offset future federal income tax income, however, can be challenging as there are a number of tax rules designed to limit the availability of the NOLs. In particular, Section 382 limits a corporation's ability to offset taxable income with its NOLs  more...

Curbing FMLA Abuse: How to Manage Manipulative Employees BenefitsAbout 62% of workers nationally qualify to take leave under the FMLA, and over 50 million employees have taken advantage of leave under the Act. Managing FMLA leave can be extremely challenging for employers, especially in the face of rampant employee abuse. However, there are tools available to employers seeking to minimize abuse of the protections provided by the FMLA. While there is no  more...

Effective UCC Search Strategies to Minimize Risk BenefitsLenders and other creditors need to know where they stand if a debtor becomes bankrupt. Primarily, this is a function of whether they have a lien or security interest and if so, whether anyone else has a prior lien or security interest. Liens generally must be made public in some way - usually by a filing in a public office - in order to enjoy priority, so prospective lenders and creditors  more...

Tax Consequences of Gifts, Prizes, Fringe Benefits, Business Expenses, and Other Payments To Employees BenefitsPaying employees is not just about wages. Today there are a myriad number of taxable and nontaxable benefits, such as gift cards, moving expenses, educational expenses, meals and travel expenses, that employers provide as part of employee's total compensation. Particularly in difficult economic times, employers are looking to provide such benefits to employees with the least cost, both to  more...

Cold Calling Tips and Scripts BenefitsIn today's very difficult world of selling, there is only one thing to do to make more sales. SEE more people. Steve Schiffman has been teaching sales people the techniques of setting face-to-face appointments for the past 35 years. Perhaps there has been no more difficult time in selling now, when no one is buying. The economy has changed the rules, and sales people who never before had  more...

Everything You Wanted to Know About Drug and Alcohol Testing but Were Afraid to Ask BenefitsMost companies that care about safety in the workplace have implemented a drug and alcohol testing program. An added benefit to companies is a reduction in their workers' compensation insurance premiums. What makes an effective program? What kind of safeguards should there be to ensure accuracy? What does a drug test really measure? What is the best sample: urine, hair or oral fluid? Are  more...

Holding Effective Sales Meetings BenefitsMost sales managers are at a loss as to how to hold a great sales meeting. Many think that it is a session of complaints and not really that productive. This live audio conference will give you the knowledge and skills to help you run the MOST EFFECTIVE sales meeting ever. It takes away the secret tricks-there aren't any, and applies logic to the process. This live audio conference is  more...

The Carryover Basis Election for 2010 Decedents Benefits2010 was the most complex year in the history of the estate tax to administer an estate. The 2001 Tax Act, EGTRRA enacted IRC Section 2210, which made the estate tax inapplicable to 2010 estates, and the GST tax inapplicable to generation-skipping transfers made in 2010. The Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 (the '2010 Act') Section 301(c)  more...

Drafting a Green Ordinance: Case Study BenefitsHigh energy costs and increased public support for sustainable initiatives are driving local governments to respond affirmatively with the adoption of green codes - local ordinances that mandate and incentivize more efficient forms of development. Unfortunately, there are few good models to follow and little operating experience to judge what works and what will not. There is an obvious  more...

IRS Form 1099 Reporting Update BenefitsAs another year passes in the world of 1099 reporting, we have become accustomed to educating ourselves as to the complicated revisions of the 1099 rules. After having prepared to comply with the original text of law thrust upon us by Congress last year, we subsequently became witness to several repeals of the burdensome provisions. There will be continual uncertainty as to what revisions  more...

Strategies to Reduce Bullying and Social Aggression BenefitsIncreasingly, educators, health professionals, parents and lawmakers realize the seriousness of bullying, cyber bullying and social aggression in school. Certain state laws and regulations now hold schools personally responsible for the effects of bullying, including cyber bullying. Whether your school plans to implement one or more bullying prevention strategies or a comprehensive  more...

Partnerships and Section 704(c) BenefitsMany tax professionals and investors in partnerships, LLCs and other entities treated as partnerships struggle with the concepts and the operating rules that apply to Section 704(c). These rules potentially apply whenever property is contributed to such an entity or are distributed from such an entity. The regulations under Section 704(c) provide a very flexible but very complicated set of  more...

New Rule 502: Attorney-Client Privilege and Work Product Limitations on Waiver BenefitsKnowing and preserving the attorney-client privilege and work product protection is a fundamental for most litigators. Rule 502 of the Federal Rules of Evidence has been adopted to clarify and resolve a common dispute regarding the effects of certain disclosures otherwise protected by the privilege or work product, including inadvertent disclosures and the agreement of the parties  more...

Current Issues in Legal Holds: Are You Prepared? BenefitsIf there ever was a honeymoon on preserving discoverable documents and data for litigation ... it's over now. The stakes are higher than ever, and so are courts' expectations for parties and their lawyers. Organizations simply must have in place a compliant legal hold process that effectively preserves discoverable documents and data. This audio conference will help you understand the  more...

Contract Basics for Paralegals BenefitsContracts govern the basic business and commercial relationships for most of us; yet for many the basics of contract law remain a mystery. There is often misinformation about such simple questions as 'Is a handshake enough?' or 'Do all the boilerplate terms of a contract really matter?' This audio conference will address these and many more issues surrounding the formation and enforcement  more...

Implied Obligations in Construction Contracts BenefitsWhen parties enter into construction or design contracts there may be numerous implied obligations that arise under law or in equity. These implied obligations should be carefully considered by owners, design professionals and contractors. These implied obligations apply to most construction and design contracts unless a specific contractual provision is provided in the contract that  more...

Post-Mortem Tax Planning BenefitsWhile death and taxes are both inevitable, taxes do not end with death. The Federal Estate Tax, the Gift Tax and the Income Tax all have bearing on what happens post-death. Further, there are state rules that also are applicable post-death to estate planning documents. There are numerous questions that have to be addressed and answered. This audio conference will cover many of the  more...

Purchasing Contract Remedies BenefitsAccording to the old proverb, 'When things get tough, the tough get going.' A corollary might be, 'When things go wrong, call the lawyers.' At which point a headache could easily become a nightmare. Is there a better way? Of course there is. Litigation can, and should be, a last resort. After all, litigation takes time and our business clients typically need something NOW: the steel for  more...

Today's Multigenerational Workforce: Transitioning from Baby Boomers to the Next Generations BenefitsPeople change. This includes changes in the culture and value systems of the different generations of workers. From tattoos, to iPhones , to flex hours, to work ethics, to worker capabilities, things are different. As leadership transitions from the baby boomers to Generations X and Y, there are issues that will unavoidably arise as a result of cultural differences between the  more...

Preparing for the International Financial Reporting Standard BenefitsOn November 14, 2008, the SEC released its proposed road map for the adoption of IFRS in the United States. About the same time, leaders from the G20 countries at a financial summit in the United States issued a statement which, among other things, confirmed the leaders' support for developing a single set of high-quality global accounting standards. Both of these events represent  more...

Title Issues for Lending Professionals BenefitsWho reviews the title commitment to make sure that there are no title problems? Not having a solid understanding of the title can cause headaches for everyone involved in the title process. This audio conference offers insights into what the title insurance policy really covers. We will answer some commonly asked questions, such as: What should you be concerned about on Schedule A? What  more...

Surety Bonds and Contract Provisions BenefitsWhile there are many general rules of suretyship, a performance bond is a tri-partite agreement among owner (oblige), contractor (principal) and surety (obligor). The surety acts as the guarantor of the contractor's performance. The rights, duties and obligations of the parties will be determined by the rules of contract interpretation. Key areas of potential dispute focus on the surety's  more...

S Corporations: How to Avoid Common and Often Overlooked Pitfalls (Simple to Complex) BenefitsAs many practitioners will attest to, there are many pitfalls when S corporations are involved. This teleconference will identify the most common pitfalls, such as not properly maintaining earning accounts, ineligible shareholders, the one class of stock principle, invalid or missing S corporation elections and built-in gain. You will not only learn how to identify these pitfalls, but you  more...

Principal Diagnosis Selection: Ensure Compliance with Official Coding Guidelines BenefitsIn today's current health care business economic climate, there exists a renewed focus upon third-party payer initiatives to second guess and undermine medical record coder's selection of principal diagnosis selection under the guise of medical necessity and accurate and compliant coding. Under the RAC Demonstration Project, a pattern of supposed coding errors and medical necessity errors  more...

Best Practices in Electronic Invoices and Electronic Payments BenefitsIt may seem impossible to escape the paper-heavy processes in your AP department and achieve the coveted paperless status, but pulling off this caper is not a feat reserved for only paper mavericks. Instead, we can show you there is a way to achieve a paper-free environment and realize your ROI. In this teleconference, e-invoicing architect Henry Ijams will discuss your options for a  more...

Social Media and Law Enforcement: Applications and Liabilities BenefitsAs law enforcement agencies are begining to integrate social media tools into their environments, they're grappling with lack of understanding regarding what they can accomplish, getting started, how to implement the tools and how to write a policy governing it all. There are literally hundreds of social media platforms and younger generations are using them. Law enforcement commanders are  more...

Utilizing Data in Microsoft Access BenefitsOriginally released in 1992, Microsoft Access is part of the Microsoft Office Suite. Microsoft Access is the most popular Windows desktop database used by most organizations around the world, from small to large businesses, government agencies, nonprofits, etc. Microsoft Access fits a unique space between the skills of the information worker and professional developers. It's a database  more...

How to Save Millions in Claims Through Ergonomics and Injury Prevention BenefitsWe all know how to do our jobs, but no one has ever taught us how to work 'safely.' While there have been attempts to federally regulate ergonomics, these have failed in all but one state, California, which has the only active OSHA regulation to protect workers from repetitive motion injuries. With this in mind, employers are encouraged to voluntarily support an active ergonomics process  more...

Illinois Accessibility Codes BenefitsIn order to address the needs of constituents with disabilities throughout the state, Illinois developed their own accessibility code. This is required to be enforced by all municipalities. While there are a number of applicable accessibility codes that may need to be addressed, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the International  more...

Is Your Health Care Plan Grandfathered Under the Health Care Reform? BenefitsEmployers and other sponsors of group health plans routinely make annual changes to their plans that are designed to reduce costs, increase efficiency, and improve employee health and productivity. As plan sponsors consider design changes for 2011, they must also take into account new federal mandates under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as modified by the Health Care and  more...

Understanding, Preventing and Addressing Well Performance Issues BenefitsThe demand for reliable clean water continues to grow across the country and one of the most common sources is ground water. The most important component in a ground water based supply system is the wells used to extract water from underground aquifers. Maintaining the long-term performance of wells requires an understanding of the factors that effect well performance. Problems with well  more...

Using Payroll Audits to Detect Errors and Fraud BenefitsAs a finance professional, you probably are expected to safeguard your company's money. Unfortunately, there is no typical picture of the fraud perpetrator and embezzlement of funds is all too common place, so you have your work cut out for you! An excellent place to start is with Jeffrey G. Matthews' 'Using Payroll Audits to Detect Errors and Fraud' teleconference. You will learn about  more...

Building Information Modeling: Planning, Design and Legal Considerations BenefitsWhether you are an owner, a designer or a builder, you need information about building information modeling. The good news is that there is lots of information out there; the bad news is that much of it is not useful. No one knows everything about BIM but we can start by talking about authoritative sources for BIM information, then sprinkle in some basic BIM concepts. Information will be  more...

Condition Assessments and Structural Evaluation of Existing Buildings BenefitsCondition assessment and structural evaluation of existing buildings is not a course that is taught in most engineering colleges. However, this is a task that many engineers are asked to do by their clients and not all of them have had the experience to take on this seemingly simple task but which has several pitfalls. The client's reasons for requesting this service could be due to  more...

Recognizing Child Abuse BenefitsA study shows that many RNs, including pediatric RNs, feel uneasy or inexperienced with regard to recognizing and reporting child maltreatment. In addition, many myths and misconceptions exist surrounding the issues of child maltreatment. This teleconference will assist in dispelling some of these myths and will provide resources so that you can feel more confident with how to respond and  more...

Writing Scripts That Sell BenefitsWe may not think about it, but we use scripts all the time. In our everyday lives, in interviews and especially in sales situations, we are using scripts to get our point across to the other person. Sometimes we are in front of the other person and sometimes we are on the telephone. Nevertheless, in all situations there are definitely key items and statements that we want to make, and in  more...

SAS 70 and SSAE 16: Basics, Rules and Standards for Service Organizations BenefitsThis teleconference will discuss the rules of SAS 70s and the benefit/costs for the organizations and auditors using the SAS 70. In addition, there will be discussion on how SAS 70s have gained attention in the post Sarbanes-Oxley era. This will help you implement internal controls in becoming SAS 70 compliant. This will also assist you in analyzing the results of SAS 70 reports.  more...

Efficiency Estimations and Payback Periods for New Equipment BenefitsEnergy savings is possible for nearly every electric motor application but there are obstacles to buying and installing a higher efficiency motor. Practical considerations of the real world such as initial purchase, accounting system roadblocks, and installation and operating cost, must be part of the decision process. This teleconference will explain basic principles of electric motor  more...

An Introduction to L3Cs: Low-Profit Limited Liability Companies BenefitsThe current state of the economy has left many charities and businesses, all with great intentions, struggling for financial support. These organizations need to re-evaluate their business models to successfully adapt in this economic climate. This teleconference will provide advisors and business owners with a broad overview of a new hybrid for-profit/nonprofit business model: the  more...

The Fundamentals of Estate Planning for Pets BenefitsPets are an important part of the lives of many individuals. People own pets for a variety of reasons - they love animals, they enjoy the companionship and they enjoy receiving unconditional love. On many occasions, pets have supplanted children in people's lives. Planning for these companions requires a comprehensive look at the various opportunities and techniques which are available to  more...

Strategies and Techniques for International Debt Recovery BenefitsGlobalization has taken business and industry to new levels of competition. To stay in the game, successful organizations need to adjust to the demands of an international market. Most foreign buyers expect to receive credit terms. However, once popular tools, like the letter of credit, are becoming too expensive and complicated for the quick pace of today's international business  more...

Language to Avoid During Sales Conversations - Are Your Words Costing You a Sale? BenefitsHow many more sales could you or your salespeople make if they stopped making stupid mistakes and started giving totally awesome sales presentations? Suppose there was a way to get your prospects to remember and repeat what you say to others in their organization. Remember, every sales presentation is a captured or a missed opportunity. When you lose business you should have captured, you  more...

Advanced Microsoft Excel Formulas and Functions BenefitsEven if you are fairly comfortable with building formulas and functions in Excel , you might still be missing out by having overlooked some powerful functions or just not be aware of special capabilities, like array formulas. There's no question that Excel's 300+ functions give you tremendous capabilities to tackle a myriad of statistical, mathematical and financial challenges, not to  more...

Overcoming Employee Absenteeism and Tardiness BenefitsManaging absenteeism and tardiness can be a sticky issue - it is rarely a black and white issue. There are mandatory leave laws that have to be incorporated into your leave policies and some of those can create restrictions on how to administer your leave policies. There are also some restrictions on disciplining employees when they appear to abuse policies. This teleconference will help  more...

Current Issues in Cloud Computing: Is There Sun Behind Those Clouds? BenefitsCloud computing is an enormous, pervasive and game-changing technology. Tech industry heavyweights such as Microsoft , IBM and Google have each committed billions to developing and marketing it. Smaller players and startups are cropping up daily with new offerings. Yet, for all the hype, few people understand the technology nor the unique issues cloud computing poses - particularly when it  more...

Statutory Research and Legislative History for Paralegals BenefitsWhenever a case or issue is covered by statutory authority, there may be questions as to what the language of the statute means and how it can be applied to a given situation. Attorneys often need to research the legislative history of the applicable statute to create a viable argument as to what was the intention of the legislative body that passed a particular law. Courts have different  more...

ADA Interaction with Addictions and Personal Habits BenefitsOne of the most confounding problems for employers is what to do when an employee comes forward with a drug problem or when an employee appears to be intoxicated while at work. This teleconference is designed to educate legal and HR professionals in addressing those situations within the boundaries of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which generally protects recovering drug addicts and  more...

Discover the Secrets of Microsoft(R) Excel Pivot Tables BenefitsAny Excel user who maintains database-like data invariably needs tools to manage and analyze the data beyond mere sorting and filtering. Excel 's pivot table feature gives you a quick and powerful way to create summary cross-totals combined with an enormous flexibility to restructure your results with simple dragging of fields. Whether you need the ability to create a quick look at the  more...

Implications of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act BenefitsInternet gambling is legal in many parts of the world and remains one of the most profitable e-commerce activities, despite a crackdown by authorities in the United States at both federal and state levels. U.S. law in this area is both risky and complex. Intermediaries such as payment services, banks, publishers, and Internet portals all face risks under U.S. law for providing services  more...

Criminal Liabilities Under HIPAA BenefitsMany hospitals, physician offices and other covered entities have been surprised to learn that HIPAA rules provide for criminal penalties - up to 10 years in prison for intentional violations! Now the stakes are higher and there are more stakeholders: recent stimulus legislation dramatically increased the stakes for HIPAA compliance by substantially increasing penalties for HIPAA  more...

Influenza: Seasonal to Pandemic BenefitsSeasonal influenza continues to be a regular challenge for health care and public health personnel. However, the events of April 2009 changed our perception of influenza when a novel Influenza A strain emerged and produced the first pandemic in almost 50 years. This teleconference will explore the changing influenza strains and the illnesses that result. You will come away enabled to  more...

Buying and Selling Claims in Bankruptcy BenefitsYou will benefit from an analysis of the latest bankruptcy procedures and forms for the trading of claims in bankruptcy, strategies for maximizing the value of claims, and recent court decisions and orders that could have a substantial impact on the value or enforceability of the claims purchased. In addition, you will gain insights on trading for passive investment to gain a return on  more...

8 Issues When Doing Business or Contracting With Native American Tribes BenefitsThere are more than 500 federally-recognized American Indian tribes in the United States, each established under a constitution unique to the tribe. Each tribe, through its constitution and subsequent legislation, has developed its own laws and regulations addressing issues of contracting, jurisdiction and waivers, if any, of sovereign immunity. Individuals and entities seeking to do  more...

Integrated Project Delivery Principles and Building Information Modeling BenefitsMany in the facilities community, including designers, builders and owners, need a hand understanding IPD and BIM. What does it all mean? Who benefits and how? Some that have heard about IPD and BIM may be wondering how to either ask for it in their projects or implement these principles in their firms. There are some basic concepts in IPD and BIM that can be used in every project large or  more...

Federal Tax Classification of Series LLCs BenefitsThe series LLC may be the solution to many issues that confront federal tax practitioners on a daily basis. For example, the series LLC is very useful in situations where long and expensive regulatory processes are involved with a new state law entity. The series LLC also can be used in asset backed securitizations in place of business trusts in those states that treat single member LLCs  more...

Understanding LEED for Existing Buildings Operations and Maintenance BenefitsThe U.S. Green Building Councils' LEED for Existing Buildings Operations Maintenance program goal is obtaining higher performance in buildings that have already been constructed and are currently in operation. LEED EBO M emphasizes maximizing operational service and efficiency while minimizing environmental impacts. The system addresses whole-building energy and water use, indoor comfort  more...

White-Collar Defense Strategies and Developments BenefitsWhite-collar criminal defense is very different from the defense of other criminal cases. It must be approached uniquely from the time an attorney first learns of a client's target status in an investigation through trial. Failure to understand these differences and nuances can be fatal. This teleconference will examine some of these most important distinctions, and discuss the proper  more...

Purchasing Law: Breach, Repudiation and Excuse BenefitsYou have survived the battle of the forms or signed a supply agreement but there is a problem - your supplier hasn't delivered, the goods don't work the way they should or you have reason to think that they won't be delivered. This teleconference will provide you a basic understanding about what you can do when your purchase contract goes bad. You will receive a primer on the steps you  more...

Valuation and Reporting of Gifts and Service Donations BenefitsAs not-for-profits continue to face challenges related to raising money, they are becoming more creative in soliciting donations, resulting in more donations of noncash assets and greater restrictions on contributions received. This is occurring at the same time that there is a higher focus on the definition of fair value. Contributions of gifts and services should be measured at the fair  more...

When Worlds Collide - Bankruptcy and Probate BenefitsUntil the U. S. Supreme Court's 2006 decision in Marshall v. Marshall, 547 U.S. 293 (2006), there was a common belief among many bankruptcy and probate practitioners that the so-called probate exception to federal jurisdiction served to prevent bankruptcy courts from adjudicating any matters that were related, even only slightly, to a probate estate. In giving a very narrow interpretation  more...

Employee Engagement in Troubled Times BenefitsEngaging and retaining valued employees is particularly critical amid periods of economic uncertainty if organizations are to maintain product and service quality, and lay a foundation for future growth. Yet while challenging economic environments make employee motivation more critical, they also make employee engagement more difficult to achieve. Belt tightening often results in  more...

Eichleay Damages and Delay Claims BenefitsThe latest issue in Eichleay debates is whether Eichleay damages are dead or just dying. Eichleay damages are only recoverable upon certain elements being met, but the elements continue to get stricter interpretation. Entitlement to Eichleay damages requires proof of three elements: 1) an owner imposed delay; 2) there is standby; and 3) while on standby the contractor cannot take on  more...

Commodity Risks: How to Identify and Implement a Corporate Hedging Program BenefitsMany firms are unprepared to manage the risks associated with changes in commodity prices and their effect on the bottom line. Such firms often wonder if there is a way to manage the risk differently - could they identify the risk in advance, anticipate the impact and mitigate the changes such that their bottom line is preserved? Yes. This teleconference will help you identify the risks of  more...

Understanding the Basics of Lean Accounting BenefitsAs mid level manufacturing firms migrate to advanced manufacturing processes, they have become uncertain about the ability of traditional cost accounting tools to provide meaningful and accurate measurements. This teleconference outlines a hands-on view of the process needed to evaluate, establish and maintain lean accounting in a mid-level manufacturing environment. While lean accounting  more...

15- Minute Expert Adult Patient Assessments: Practical Strategies, Tips, and Updates for Health Care Professionals BenefitsEverything seems to move faster these days and patient care is no exception. The patient's clinical acuities and complexities are increasing and the amount of available time to be hands-on with each patient seems to be decreasing. That is why every health care professional needs to be proficient in assessment skills. This teleconference, '15-Minute Expert Adult Patient Assessments:  more...

Slope Stabilization: Best Practices and Challenges BenefitsThis teleconference will address the types of slope stabilization failures and techniques used to avoid failures by the application of best practices. There are well-established engineering principles for the design and maintenance of stable slopes. This teleconference summarizes practices to overcome challenges to enhance slope stability. Many engineers are faced with challenges to  more...

Enterprise Resource Planning - Getting the Payback From Your ERP System BenefitsYou will get an overview of the planning hierarchy in world class businesses and how the planning process utilizes the ERP system. You will better understand the need for robust metrics and an accountability infrastructure, and will become more aware of the power the ERP discipline has in getting the most return for the effort invested. It will become apparent that there is a lot of  more...

Private Foundation Requirements and Restrictions BenefitsMany families and corporations establish private foundations to carry on their personal philanthropy. While private foundations offer significant opportunities for family and corporate philanthropists, there are special federal tax rules that apply. Failure to fully understand these rules can subject the foundations and those involved with them to substantial excise taxes. This  more...

Revitalizing Vacant Commercial Properties BenefitsWith the tremendous turmoil in the commercial real estate market, there will plenty of potential opportunities for owner-users and investors to purchase vacant properties at pennies on the dollar. The question is how? The ability to acquire these properties and bring them back to a viable place to do business or to investment status will require a plan and know how. This teleconference  more...

Implementing a Health Risk Assessment for Your Health Plan: What Works, What Doesn't, What's Legal BenefitsMaybe you've heard about health risk assessments and wonder if they're a good idea for your organization. Or you've been tasked with implementing a health risk assessment as part of your health plan and don't know much about them. You have a lot of questions such as 'How can a health risk assessment help control health care costs?,' 'What makes for an effective health risk assessment?,'  more...

Navigating through the Maze of Unclaimed Property Compliance - Unique Rules and Regulations for Financial Institutions BenefitsFinancial institutions are frequently challenged to keep up and implement the ever changing federal and state requirements imposed on this industry. Ensuring that proper internal controls, risk management and fraud prevention are adequately addressed is critical. One of the additional areas of compliance includes ensuring that you have established proper procedures and controls to prepare  more...

Understanding Bankruptcy Code Section 503(b)(9) BenefitsIn today's economy there is an unprecedented wave of retailer bankruptcies that is likely to increase over the next year. Frequently, sellers of goods to insolvent retailers end up financing, unwittingly, these bankruptcy cases. In 2005, the bankruptcy laws were amended to provide sellers of goods received by a debtor within 20 days before bankruptcy an administrative expense priority  more...

When Bad Things (Unexpectedly) Happen to Good Projects: Force Majeure Clauses in Contemporary Construction Contracts BenefitsWhat happens when unforeseen external events, such as an act of nature (e.g. a hurricane or flood), an act of war (e.g. a terrorist attack) or similar sudden, disruptive developments impact a construction project and result in schedule delays and substantial increased costs? Virtually every construction contract contains a force majeure clause providing for schedule and price relief for  more...

Estate Planning for Non-Traditional Couples BenefitsThe arena of estate planning for non-traditional couples is a growing field laden with opportunities and land mines. Whether it be a gay or lesbian couple, or a heterosexual couple living together but simply choosing not to get married, the need to be proactive in their planning is essential. Two primary issues arise when it comes to planning for non-traditional couples: (1) Unlike  more...

Fast-Track Construction: Opportunities and Challenges Management BenefitsMore and more construction projects are being done with at least some fast-tracking where construction starts before the design is complete. At the same time, there are industry trends that are dramatically changing the way projects are designed and built. Understanding the challenges and inherent risks of fast-track construction and these trends can help owners, architects, engineers and  more...

Can Medical Tourism Lower Your Healthcare Costs? BenefitsThis teleconference will address a myriad of legal issues associated with persons traveling abroad for their medical care. Medical travel, or medical tourism, has become a major focus of interest as a potential means for helping to mitigate the high cost of health care in the United States. It is no longer really about tourism but substantially more about the nature of medical care that  more...

Understanding the Development Approval Process Benefits'Understanding the Development Approval Process' is a coherent and concise program that will lead you through the essential steps that need to be taken in preparing for and completing the approval process for the development of land with county and municipal authorities, permitting authorities, surrounding property owners and other interest groups. The teleconference will explain the pre  more...

Suicidology: Your Responsibilities for Protecting Your Clients and the Public BenefitsThe assessment of suicidality is among the most important functions exercised by mental health professionals. The imperative of keeping the client safe constitutes not only the most important initial clinical objective, but is at the core of good risk management. Research continues to help clinicians predict suicidal behavior in the individual with increasing accuracy. However, there is no  more...

Understanding Insider Lending and Regulation O BenefitsLending to insiders can be a regulatory danger zone for bank officers and directors. While loans to bank insiders are not prohibited, they are tightly regulated and attract greater than normal regulatory attention, and not without good reason. Insider loan abuses historically have been a major reason for bank failures. This teleconference will review the rules applicable to loans to  more...

Work-Related Stress Claims: Overview, the Law and Strategies for Defense BenefitsPerhaps the most nebulous and ill-defined workplace injury involves the claim of mental disability as the result of stressful working conditions. Unlike the garden variety orthopedic injury and even pulmonary injury, there is no objective medical evidence that can unequivocally establish psychiatric disability, let alone its relationship to workplace stress. This teleconference will solely  more...

Doing Business in Mexico: What You Need to Know BenefitsThis teleconference will focus on legal issues commonly encountered by American companies doing business in Mexico. We will highlight key differences in conducting business in the U.S. and Mexico, both from a business and legal point of view. Typical issues will be analyzed from an American legal perspective, the Mexican legal viewpoint will be outlined and we will give potential solutions  more...

Infection Control Programs BenefitsHealth care associated infections have moved into the forefront of the health care industry due to emerging and re-emerging issues, the human toll and reimbursement challenges. Central to this problem is the impact of the infection preventionist and the infection prevention function. This teleconference will help identify specific elements of an effective infection prevention program and  more...

Paperless Payroll: Essentials to a Seamless Transition BenefitsIn today's economic environment, every organization is looking to reduce costs. Paperless processes have the potential to be a healthy boost to the bottom line without eliminating employees. The notion of paperless payroll has come a long way since the introduction of direct deposit in the 1970's, but despite the advances, most companies are still distributing paper checks, pay advices and  more...

Understanding the New Penalties for Tax Preparers nSignificant changes have been made to the preparer penalty of IRC §6694 since 2007. The standard of care needed to avoid the penalty has been raised, the penalty is greater and the reach of the penalty is broader. In addition, there are various other penalties and rules of conduct you must be aware of and new guidance has been issued in several of these areas in the past year. It is imperative  more...

Introduction to New ICD-10 Coding: Preparing for Implementation nThe International Classification of Disease and Operations, Ninth Edition has out-lived its usefulness for capturing morbidity and mortality amongst the world population. Most developed nations transitioned to ICD-10 several years ago, but because of the tie of ICD-9-CM to payments in the United States there have been a series of delays in the US implementation. As the US moves a lightening speed  more...

Increasing the Effectiveness and Efficiency of Manufacturing Logistics nIn manufacturing logistics, the first priority is providing the right support to make production flow smoothly and put out the goods the company sells. This is effectiveness. The second priority is to provide this support without wasting human, technical or financial resources. This is efficiency. What most companies do in logistics is pursue efficiency at the expense of effectiveness, curtailing  more...

Finding, Qualifying & Closing Sales Leads nIt's getting harder and harder to find new prospects. Once you find them you may think you have a hot one, and suddenly the sale slips through your fingers. There is nothing more frustrating for professional sales people than to spin their wheels with unqualified leads. In this fast paced teleconference learn how to identify good leads, qualify those leads to find the top prospects and then use  more...

Making It Through the Land Entitlement Process nWith a multilayered regulatory framework and a myriad of reviewing agencies and stakeholders, the land entitlement process is often bewildering. The rules, processes and players vary widely by jurisdiction but there are common keys to success. Get an insider's perspective on differentiating the various regulatory processes, understanding and addressing stakeholder concerns, getting staff on your  more...

Patients' Rights Update nHealth care providers, particularly long term care providers, mental health providers and hospices, have become increasingly aware of patients' rights concerns in recent years. Many states have passed bills of rights for their residents living in mental health, skilled nursed or other health care facilities. These bills of rights cover basic and not so basic concerns. From the right to be treated  more...

Differing Site Conditions nThe advent of and increasing use of 3-D building information modeling is taking much of the guess work out of a variety of different types of construction. For example, through BIM, the structural steel, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, fire sprinkler and communications subtrades can all determine whether the new and existing utilities, beams, piping and conduits are going to run into each other or  more...

Effective Exit Interviews nMost employers are always looking for ways to improve employee relations, attract new employees and retain the ones they have. But how do you know what to do to improve if you don't know what employees are looking for or why they are leaving? n nImplemented properly, a good exit interview program can provide an employer with a host of valuable information that can be used to improve its employee  more...

Paycheck Calculation Basics nThis is an excellent teleconference for those new at withholding payroll taxes or for those who need a refresher course. You will learn tips on how and why to determine if the worker is exempt or nonexempt. We will cover the calculation of and the maximum deductions for Social Security and Medicare taxes in 2009. n nThere are multiple methods of calculating federal withholding, which one should  more...

Best Practices in Purchasing Software nNegotiating software licenses can be frustrating for the business owner. Once you get past the 10-point, double column format of most vendors' license forms, you begin to understand that there are no standard terms and conditions for licensing software - each deal is unique. This teleconference will help the person responsible for evaluating, purchasing and maintaining enterprise-wide software  more...

Current Trends in Green Lending nDon't let the housing market slow down get you down. Learn an exciting new business opportunity while aiding the environment. Green lending, also known as Energy Efficient Mortgages, have been around for more than decade but have been seldom used. With the growing concerns over the nation's addiction to imported oil and climate change there is a new push to create a greater market demand for this  more...

Hot Topics for 501(c)(3) Organizations nThere has been a lot of talk about the revised Form 990 and it's finally here! Whether you love it or loathe it, you can't put it off any longer. We will spend a majority of the time talking about some of the hot-button issues that the new form raises both in terms of simple compliance and in communicating with and involving your board. But wait, there's more! After this teleconference, you'll  more...

Reducing Insulin Errors nThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced this past June that 24 million Americans now have diabetes, an increase of three million people in just two years. Diabetes is also one of the most common diagnoses seen in hospitalized patients. Moreover, insulin may be the preferred medication to manage glucose while patients are hospitalized. The Joint Commission of Accreditation of  more...

Same-Gender Marriage Rulings: Impacts on Employee Benefit Plans Across the Nation nIn May 2008, the California Supreme Court ruled that the state cannot deny same-gender couples the right to marry. Same-gender couples - many of them, in fact - flocked to California and started getting legally married on June 17, 2008. But then in November 2008, California voters approved Proposition 8, which bans same-sex marriage going forward. Massachusetts and Canada also allow same-gender  more...

Estate Planning for Vacation Homes nSummer and holiday gatherings at the family vacation home have become important traditions for many families. Providing a place where family members can relax, reconnect and escape the busy pace of life is increasingly significant to many families. Parents want to perpetuate these cherished memories and experiences throughout the generations. To do so requires careful, thoughtful planning by both  more...

Alternatives to Reductions in Force nLayoffs spawn headlines, adverse publicity and labor relations challenges. While the economic crisis has caused numerous companies to consider restructurings in response to a turbulent business environment, there are compelling business and legal reasons to consider alternatives to layoffs. This teleconference will address the legal and business cases for considering alternatives to layoffs and  more...

Understanding the COBRA Alternative Coverage Rules nThis teleconference is essential for company personnel who are involved with COBRA coverage and what can be done to reduce costs. In lieu of a company's traditional health plan, for COBRA purposes, the company is allowed to offer alternative health coverage although the procedure for doing so is quite complicated. n nDiscussed first is what constitutes the various forms of alternative health  more...

Estate and Gift Tax Audits nThe first question the executor asks when the estate tax return is selected for audit is "why this return?". What was it about the return that caused it to be selected for IRS examination? n nThis teleconference answers that question and many more related to the subject of estate and gift tax return audits. Learn about the characteristics that trigger audits and why some estate and gift tax  more...

Internet Techniques for Locating Lost Relatives nMany professionals are called upon to locate lost relatives of clients or patients. Attend this teleconference and learn the methodology, strategies and techniques that can lead to successfully locating the lost relative. Each search is unique. One always begins by establishing the goal - who needs to be located; determining what is known - the identifiers; and creating a basic research plan.  more...