Cost Telephone Seminars - Training Resources

Corrosion Control for Water System Piping & Storage Tanks ...vice disruptions, and increased maintenance and operating costs. A recent study indicated the annual cost of corrosion of water systems in the United States alone exceeds $22 billion and is expected to grow. The goal of this teleconference is to identify the corrosion process and proven measures that can be employed to reduce corrosion's negative impact on metallic piping and associated  more...

Drafting Document Retention Policies ...ment retention policies after they have been adopted. The cost of these shortcomings is significant. A corporation may lose significant business information required for on-going business needs. It may also be subjected to civil sanctions, including exclusion of evidence, monetary penalties, adverse inference jury instructions and default judgment, as well as the more serious potential for  more...

California's New State Court E-Discovery Rules: Do Try This At Home BenefitsOn June 29, 2009, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law AB 5, California's first set of statutes designed to address the realities of electronic discovery. AB 5 added two new statutes to the California Code of Civil Procedure and amended 19 pre-existing CCP sections. On August 14, the Judicial Council followed suit by amending Calif. Rule of Court 3.724 to require early meet and  more...

Retaining Wall and Slope Design Considerations ...cost sites ideal for development are becoming scarce as growth continues to increase in high density population centers. As a result, sites considered less ideal (small sites, sites with limited right-of-way, and/or sites with excessive topographic relief, etc.) are becoming more attractive. As a result, the design and construction of retaining walls and slopes are becoming more commonplace. A  more...

Improve Productivity While Staying Compliant: Implementing Quality Procedures ...tes across the supply chain) are unaware of the increased costs of tracking, repairing, scrapping and redelivering key products. When the discussion whether lean, six sigma and/or supply chain techniques are singularly the most effective way of dealing with quality problems, you miss the opportunity of using a blended and robust approach. Providing cost effective quality product means you  more...

Cost Segregation: Applications for a Valuable Tax Planning Strategy ...Cost segregation is a powerful tax planning strategy used by real estate owners and tenants to accelerate significant depreciation deductions associated with buildings and improvements of all types and sizes. Although cost segregation has become quite popular in recent years, many tax advisors and real estate owners are still missing significant opportunities because they are unfamiliar with  more...

How to Sell to the U.S. Government BenefitsMany businesses want to sell their services and products to the federal government, but find the process confusing and filled with dead ends and frustration. They see competitors winning contracts but cannot seem to get through to decision makers, or they waste time and resources responding to bids that they never win. This teleconference demystifies the federal contracting process and  more...

Employee Expense Reimbursement Best Practices ...ctices and ensuring compliance is crucial to minimize the cost and legal risk of inappropriate practices. This teleconference will explore the legal landscape governing employee expense reimbursement, outline the legal and financial risks of improper procedures, and provide practical tips and tools for employers to ensure their policies and procedures are in order. Human resource managers,  more...

Mechanics Liens in Massachusetts: Protecting Your Lien Rights in Uncertain Times BenefitsMechanics liens are an essential tool for collection of debts in any economy - in today's uncertain times, a thorough understanding of mechanics liens is even more critical. The mechanics lien process is complex and must be executed flawlessly in order for liens to be perfected. In turn, the Massachusetts mechanics lien law is often confusing, even to lawyers who are not expert in its  more...

Limited Medical Programs: How Employers Are Using Them to Control Health Care Costs ...ng medical premiums, employers are hitting road blocks in cost saving measures. We are at a point of office visit co-pays approaching $50, prescription drug co-pays of $50 to $100, deductibles exceeding $2,000 for in-network benefits, and more and more premium cost shifting from employer to employee. Employee's are finding it hard to afford the per pay premiums and coupled with huge  more...

Rewards Transformation: A Unique Approach to Total Rewards Strategy and Design in the Current Economy ...ic environment, organizations are concerned with reducing costs while retaining top talent. Total rewards costs can often exceed 40 percent of company's revenue and in many cases it is difficult to demonstrate ROI. This teleconference presents a unique approach to total rewards strategy, design and cost management called rewards transformation. Rewards transformation focuses rewards investment  more...

Employee Wages: Administration of Caps, Freezes, Reductions and Furloughs ...sEmployers continue to search for ways to control payroll costs in response to economic uncertainty. Layoffs and force reductions have pared many workforces to the bone, but the pressure to manage costs is relentless. Adjustments to compensation and to working time can be viable alternatives to job cuts, but they are not without legal risk. This teleconference will address the legal and  more...

Basics of Reverse Osmosis for Brackish Groundwater Treatment ...membranes and how they can improve water quality at lower cost. You will learn about potential pitfalls and get suggestions on how to avoid these problems. This teleconference will also discuss software and guidelines for how to select and employ software both in system design and troubleshooting. n nLearning Objectives n- You will be able to discuss reverse osmosis process principles. n-  more...

Everything You Wanted to Know About Drug and Alcohol Testing but Were Afraid to Ask ...more questions relating to establishing and maintaining a cost-effective drug-free workplace program to comply with state and federal regulations and also to insurance companies dealing with workers' compensation claims. We also discuss some of the misinformation in the testing of alcohol and some of the myths surrounding drug testing. Don't miss this fun and interesting discussion of issues  more...

Taxation of Gifts, Prizes, Bonuses and Awards ...e looking to provide benefits to employees with the least cost, both to them and employees. Gifts and prizes can be a good yet inexpensive way to boost morale, unless employers and employees alike fail to understand the tax consequences and end up with an unintended and unwanted tax bill. This teleconference will explain the tax consequences of gifts, prizes and other awards to employees, as  more...

Low Quality Asphalt: How to Avoid Problems Down the Road ...ibution center, can be time consuming and very expensive. Costs associated with loss of use can easily exceed costs of construction. We will discuss alternate methods of rehabilitation or remediation which can shorten construction time and lower construction costs. Methods discussed will include complete reconstruction; full-depth reclamation using lime, Portland cement or foamed asphalt;  more...

LEED Tax Incentives and Credits for Green Buildings ...t the numerous opportunities companies have to reduce the cost of investment in green buildings and energy efficiency by appropriately utilizing business incentives and tax credits. This teleconference is based on publicly available information concerning the LEED rating and certification system, and is not specifically endorsed or approved by the U.S. Green Building Council. Learning  more...

Direct Cost Accounting and Indirect Cost Allocation for Not-For-Profit Organizations BenefitsThis teleconference will help you deepen your understanding of direct cost accounting and indirect allocation rules, risks and best practices to achieve compliance with accounting requirements and maximize cost reimbursement. Accountants, attorneys, executive directors, officers, controllers, CFOs, tax managers and enrolled agents  more...

Opt-Out Incentives and Other Cost Cutting Measures for Health Plans ...ve ways to alleviate double digit annual increases in the cost of health coverage provided to its employees. Employers have toggled deductibles and co-payments, and they have implemented wellness programs and consumer driven health care programs. While many of the measures taken by employers have operated to reduce costs, the cost to provide health care is still high. An often overlooked method  more...

Efficiency Estimations and Payback Periods for New Equipment ...ounting system roadblocks, and installation and operating cost, must be part of the decision process. This teleconference will explain basic principles of electric motor life cycle costs to understand how and when a new energy efficient motor can significantly save on total expenses. Special emphasis will be on understanding what affects the efficiency has on operating expenses, how to  more...

Determining the Best Service Delivery Options for Public Works and Utility Projects: In-House or Contract? BenefitsIn this teleconference, you will learn principles and techniques for determining when a project or activity is best delivered by in-house staff, through a contract with a neighboring government or a private contractor, or a combined approach with some tasks performed in-house and others by a contractor. The teleconference will present a practical, nuts-and-bolts approach with examples to  more...

Understanding the Basics of Lean Accounting ...ey 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 will help companies view the value streams associated with specific products, there  more...

Developing a Community Nonemergency Response System ...ter. During this discussion, we will explore conducting a cost-benefit analysis and calculating return on investment which is even more critical in these lean times. In addition, we will focus on how to develop a change management program to help ensure that changes enabled by a new call center are adhered to and results in a tangible ROI by more efficiently managing and balancing non-emergency  more...

Pricing and Cost Analysis in Purchasing ...price of a product or service should be expected to cover cost of production, promotion and distribution, plus reasonable profit. In order to obtain the most efficient and acceptable price the purchasing professional must make sure that they are aware of market conditions and prices associated with quality levels required for the buying firm's needs. The effective buyer must become an expert  more...

Wellness Programs: Legal Developments, Requirements and Risks ...lness programs and healthy lifestyles to help control the cost of health insurance and much of their interest is based on success stories from the private sector. But privacy advocates and some federal regulators take the position that wellness programs erode individual rights. Despite the regulatory uncertainties, more employers than ever are looking to wellness programs to control health  more...

Financial Planning After Retirement: Coordinating the Retirement Plan with the Estate Plan ...es as a designated beneficiary of retirement benefits can cost the owner decades of tax deferral as well as 50 percent excise tax penalties. Learn how to provide the best asset protection and estate planning benefits for large retirement plans so that the valuable 'stretch out' does not become a 'blow out.' Most trusts are inadequately drafted to handle retirement plans, especially in light of  more...

Federal Flood Plain Regulation BenefitsSafety and environmental issues are the most significant issues in flood plain development today. Practitioners continue to struggle with jurisdictional issues under the Clean Water Act regarding wetlands regulation, with new EPA and USACE guidance following the Rapanos decision offering limited relief. In the post-Hurricane Katrina era, FEMA is proposing sweeping changes to flood plain  more...

Not in My Backyard (NIMBY): Overcoming Development Resistance ... resistance to land use proposals can add millions to the cost of the development project and add months to the permitting process. This teleconference will provide practical, actionable tools to anticipate and avoid community resistance to controversial land use projects and to actively build community enthusiasm for the proposal. We'll begin with an in-depth look at managing hostile audiences  more...

Automated Meter Reading and Advanced Metering Infrastructure: A Guide for Municipal Water and Energy Utilities BenefitsCan you make a sound business case for AMR/AMI? What does it take to have a successful advanced metering system project? Advanced metering systems are evolving to meet municipal needs for efficient customer service, infrastructure management and conservation. But, acquiring and successfully integrating automatic meter reading/advanced metering infrastructure presents unique challenges to  more...

Employment Law Compliance: Disciplining or Terminating a Workers' Comp Claimant ...goldbricking, there is no debating that employee absences cost employers in lost productivity, missed deadlines, supervisor stress and tension among co-workers who are required to pick up the slack. Often an employer's plan to discipline or discharge is put on hold when the employee goes out on leave. How can employers deal with these situations? This teleconference will review when you may  more...

Using Green Strategies for Your Business to Increase Your Profits BenefitsEven though times are tough, companies with green products and services are weathering the storm better, and are better positioned for the future. CEO's of many of the largest corporations say sustainability is just as relevant during this economic crisis, if not more so (source: World Business Council on Sustainable Development). Obama's Stimulus Plan is focused on green jobs and  more...

Don't Bet the Company: Understanding and Avoiding Class Actions in Labor and Employment Law! BenefitsYou have all seen in the news media reports of companies settling employment-related class actions for many millions of dollars. The horror of class actions is that a small claim among a few employees can mushroom into a huge claim worth millions of dollars once some ferocious plaintiff's lawyers get their teeth into it and add hundreds of additional claims through the simple process of  more...

Achieving Clarity and Value From Nonprofit Financial Reporting, Ratio Analysis and Benchmarking ...ce of its financial reporting. Using ratio analysis, unit cost and benchmarking techniques, you will improve the clarity and understanding of your financial reports. You will learn the importance of communicating financial results in narrative English instead of simply numbers. The goal will be for you to speak 'Dollar$ and $en$e' and re-engineer your internal financial reporting processes to  more...

Paperless Payroll: Essentials to a Seamless Transition ...omic 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 W2s. In this  more...

Value Engineering Change Proposals in Government Contracting ...Many federal contractors are greatly focused on achieving cost reductions in their production processes, such as through lean manufacturing and Six Sigma programs, to become more competitive and increase profits. However, few contractors take advantage of a contractual tool, the Value Engineering ('VE') contract clause, which was established specifically to provide increased profits from cost  more...

Statement on Auditing Standards No. 104 - No. 111 Risk Assessment Standards nThis teleconference will provide experienced and inexperienced auditors a concise summary of the risk assessment standards. In addition, this will provide auditors recommendations on how to become more efficient and effective in their application of these standards leading to less time required to implement the standards and a greater realization on audits. Since the majority of auditors may be  more...

Benchmarking your Health Benefit Program: How Do You Stack Up? ...arks will help fuel your strategies not only for reducing cost, but also for recruiting, employee retention and health plan design. n nThis teleconference will work through several methods to evaluate your health benefit program's cost, design and impact on employees with an eye to comparing your plan to others - regionally and nationally. In addition, we will discuss the trends in health  more...

Construction Contract Accounting: A Three-Dimensional Look at the Numbers nFinancial reports do more than help you comply with the terms of the contract. Financial reporting can help you become more profitable by giving you the information you need to make smart management decisions. This teleconference will discuss three types of accounting - financial, tax and internal/management. Learn how to combine the different methods to get a three-dimensional view of your  more...

Commercial Tenant Defaults: Practical Issues and Legal Remedies nIn what some have described as the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, landlords, property owners, and property management companies have found or will find themselves facing an increasing number of tenant defaults as well as incredible pressure to fill vacancies resulting from defaults and non-renewals of leases. Managing risk associated with tenants and efficiently handling  more...

Enabling Loan Processes with Paperless Files nLenders today face a variety of challenges - loss mitigation, fraud detection, audit compliance, underwriting and risk mitigation; and access demands on loan documentation are greater than ever. This teleconference will help you understand the benefits and potential pitfalls of paperless loan files, the considerations that must be made in choosing and implementing paperless systems, and the ways  more...

Water Well Rehabilitation - Technical Considerations and Economic Advantages ... entities and other large well owners, from incurring the cost of installing new wells. However, the decline of the economy has not reduced the requirement of water purveyors and other well owners to provide a safe and dependable supply of high-quality groundwater. Recent drought conditions in some areas have increased the demand on groundwater supplies, and in less arid areas groundwater wells  more...

Successful Strategies for Controlling Workers' Compensation Costs ...aintaining workers' compensation insurance is a necessary cost of business, but how do you stop the costs from spinning out of control? An effective workers' compensation program will utilize the available remedies to achieve the goals of reducing injuries, reducing benefit payment and reducing unsuccessful litigation results. This 90-minute teleconference will review the myths and  more...

Brownfield Redevelopment and LEED. in 2009 - What Happens When You Mix Green and Brown? ...sition on the learning curve. Conventional wisdom was the costs incurred for green building related costs may not enhance the market value even on greenfield sites. Now studies indicate that increased energy efficiencies and a market demand for a limited supply of green buildings can provide ROI when measured against the up-front development and construction costs. Green buildings can also  more...

A Practical Guide for Using Litigation Technology During Discovery and at Trial ...ice of law. Using and managing these complex systems in a cost effective and advantageous manner is a major challenge. This teleconference is intended to provide you with a practical guide to successfully use electronic discovery and trial presentation software; manage large document productions and reviews with technology; control costs for you and your clients; an overview of the various  more...

Stemming the Tide: 10 Best Practices for Litigation Expense Management nNew rules governing e-discovery, a continued increase in corporate reliance on electronic data and growing sophistication of plaintiffs' counsel have all combined to result in skyrocketing litigation costs with no end to this growth in sight. This comes at a time when pressure from business clients to reduce the cost of legal services is at an all time high. This teleconference will suggest 10  more...

Understand and Interpret Financial Statements nIn 90 information-packed minutes, you will gain the essential knowledge you need to read and interpret financial statements. First, you will learn what the major financial statements - the balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement - tell you about an organization and how they tie together. You will examine the concepts behind the major sections in the financial statements, such as  more...

Optimize Your Workforce Scheduling ...ce can become a nightmare. Because labor is a significant cost of production, management is often under pressure to keep their workforce lean and flexible. The aim of workforce scheduling is to balance constraints to ensure that the right people with the right skills are in the right place at the right time. Workforce planning provides a systematic approach to determining staffing needs,  more...

401(k) Plan Costs Including Recent Update on Supreme Court Rule LaRue v. DeWolff, Boberg & Associates Inc. ...is posed by the rigorous ERISA fiduciary laws - which can cost you plenty if you're not prepared! n nThis teleconference will provide a best practices review and overview of ERISA fiduciary concepts that impact the way your 401(k) plan is structured and operates, with a focus on fees and expenses, and the new class action lawsuits. You'll learn about the issues facing 401(k) sponsors and  more...

Commercial Leases: A Discussion of Legal, Negotiating and Drafting Considerations For Build-Out, Operating Expense, Tax and Othe nBy attending this teleconference, you will learn the types of expenses commercial tenants should expect to incur and how to appropriately attempt to limit such expenses. By limiting expenses, you'll go a long way toward protecting the tenants you represent against unforeseen leasing costs. Such expenses include the cost of improving the premises, operating cost pass-throughs, real estate taxes,  more...

Pros and Cons of Cost-Plus vs. Fixed Price Contracts ...cost-plus contracts for construction projects offer different protections and incentives for both owners and contractors. With today's economic pressures, it is important that project participants know the factors to consider in choosing between these pricing approaches and to understand the advantages and disadvantages to each. n nThe current economic situation has imposed great strains on the  more...

What You Need to Know About Section 404 Permits ...or any permits can influence project design, schedule and cost. In today's atmosphere of changing regulatory practices, particularly with respect to the determination of federal jurisdiction, it is critical to understand how the Corps administers its regulatory programs. This teleconference will help you understand how the federal wetlands program works, introducing you to the field or filling  more...

Advanced Records Management: The Intersection of Good Records Management and eDiscovery Preparedness nEffective records management can have an enormous impact on e-discovery preparedness and a corporation's bottom line. While many corporations have established policies related to paper records, many of those same corporations have failed to update those policies to account for their rapidly increasing volumes of electronically stored information. No form of ESI demonstrates these complex issues  more...

Capital Improvements for Condominium and Homeowners' Associations ...p is to develop a financial planning model to support the cost of maintenance. The end result will be all about maintaining the highest possible level of property values. n nLearning Objectives n- You will be able to distinguish different legal requirements. n- You will be able to prepare Board and Unit Owners for proper financial planning. n- You will be able to devise funding sources. n- You  more...

Effective Job Cost Reports in Construction Project Management ...nt management tools available to project teams is the job cost report. Properly designed and used, the JCR can be a powerful document that provides an up-to-date snapshot of the project status that also highlights potential problems before they seriously impact a project's success. This 90 minute teleconference will address the entire life cycle of the JCR, including the proper creation,  more...

Answers to Top 10 Common Payroll Questions ...ting in protracted litigation, business interruptions and costly settlements. Employers are often shocked to learn that their payroll practices, which may be entirely compliant under federal regulations, do not comply with differing state laws and regulations. Register for this teleconference and learn how to prevent 10 common payroll-related mistakes that employers face, such as proper pay  more...

Controlling Purchasing Card Risk ... acquire low-value goods and services from suppliers in a cost-effective and timely manner. Purchasing cards expedite payment to suppliers and reduce or eliminate the paperwork associated with requisitions, purchase orders, invoices and checks. Estimates of cost savings by use of purchasing cards are commonly estimated to be around $70 per transaction. Further, purchasing cards have been found  more...

Reduce Downtime and Enable Lean With Total Productive Maintenance nEquipment breakdowns create chaos and reduce effective capacity in most companies. They are often a significant roadblock to lean manufacturing. Total productive maintenance is the proven approach for minimizing surprise breakdowns and increasing the utilization of plant and equipment. It is a major component of lean manufacturing and the Toyota Production System. n nThis teleconference will  more...