Through Telephone Seminars - Training Resources

Form 990 and Unrelated Business Income BenefitsThis teleconference will involve a detailed discussion of the 2008 Form 990 and any changes for 2009, including tips and traps. If you are involved with 990s, you know the effort it takes to complete the form accurately. With renewed emphasis on the filing due to congressional attention and IRS audit activity, this teleconference will go through the respective parts of the form in detail,  more...

Revitalizing Vacant Commercial Properties ...n and know how. This teleconference is meant to guide you through a process on how to capitalize on the current market and take advantage of what may be a once in a lifetime opportunity. The teleconference will walk through a simple process that allows you to evaluate a potential deal and the steps you may need to take to make it worth the effort. The ever-changing market will demand a plan and  more...

Battle of the Forms: Back to the Basics and Recent Developments ...cessary to gather the facts crucial to the analysis, walk through the analysis from different perspectives, and discuss significant majority and minority views throughout the U.S. and how the results may differ under the varying approaches. We will also briefly discuss alternative international approaches and how doing business with international companies may impact the analysis. Finally,  more...

How to Sell to the U.S. Government ... 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 identifies a step-by-step process to increasing sales to the U.S. federal government. The teleconference clearly identifies how to find the agencies, offices and people  more...

Common Pitfalls of Certificates of Insurance Benefits'Trust me, we're covered. We have General Liability Insurance.' This statement is also often times followed by an all too common explanation: 'My company employees are listed as additional insured so we are covered.' Certificates of insurance are meant to evidence insurance coverage for landlords and tenants; secured transactions; and other property, casualty and liability exposures  more...

Access Management Design and Development ...rent and future advancements based on real-life projects. Through access design and development you will be provided with the resources to retrofit existing access problems, quantify the correct number of access points, establish safe spacing between access driveways, financing techniques and the role of access management in land use development. Learning Objectives You will be able to review  more...

Fraud and Embezzlement in Nonprofits: How It Happens and How to Prevent It! ...is fascinating and practical teleconference will walk you through actual fraud scenarios: discuss how the frauds occurred; and show profiles of embezzlers, why they did it, how they did it and what internal controls would have prevented them. Additionally, you will be provided a valuable handout to assess the thoroughness of your existing controls. Accountants, enrolled agents, executive  more...

White-Collar Defense Strategies and Developments ...st 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 approach and execution of white-collar defense strategies and tactics. In addition, the teleconference will take a look at the effect on white-collar  more...

Hot Wage and Hour Issues: Assuring Proper Exempt and Nonexempt Classification of Your Employees ...g these matters and the damages claimed and paid, whether through trial or settlement, are staggering. These cases frequently involve individual and class action claims that employers have misclassified overtime eligible employees as exempt in an effort to cheat them out of their rightful pay. This teleconference will help you understand the overtime exemptions available under the law, the  more...

Revised Federal Form 1065 ...es and being taxed under the partnerships rules as a pass through entity. The preparation of a partnership income tax return is becoming increasingly more challenging as the IRS increases the level of transparency and reporting. The purpose of this teleconference is to highlight important areas for your attention and practical preparation tips as well as discuss recent updates in the form.  more...

Current Issues in Real Estate Appraisals BenefitsThe financial crisis occurred in mid-2008 and was brought to a crescendo when AIG was taken over and Lehman Brothers failed in September 2008. The reasons behind the failures were many but beneath it all was the collateral position of the real estate and proper risk assessment of the asset. The single most important question is always - What is the value? All federally regulated  more...

Sales and Use Taxation of Internet Sales: The Evolving Case Law ...equirement and clarifies the contours of that requirement through a discussion of existing and developing case law. It will explore how Internet vendors can, without careful planning and analysis, establish nexus through either related on unrelated third parties. Finally, this teleconference will explore proposed legislative changes that may effect the taxation of Internet transactions in the  more...

LEED Tax Incentives and Credits for Green Buildings ...y is issuing a series of grant opportunities directly and through state and local government to address these areas. This teleconference will highlight 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  more...

Electronic Invoicing and Payments: Paperless A/P Best Practices 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...

8 Issues When Doing Business or Contracting With Native American Tribes ...hed 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 business with and/or contract with one or more tribes must become familiar with the laws and regulations of each  more...

Determining the Best Service Delivery Options for Public Works and Utility Projects: In-House or Contract? ... 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 help you determine how public works services should be structured and delivered to gain the  more...

Foreclosing on Real and Personal Property Collateral: What You Need to Know ...e once again having to think about enforcing their rights through foreclosure of real and personal property collateral. This can be a complicated process that requires a good deal of planning in order to reach a successful outcome. This teleconference will help the people responsible for loan workout and enforcement evaluate their positions and formulate and execute foreclosure plans for loans  more...

Setting the Stage for Rehiring: Logistic and Liability Issues ...eps you should take from before the rehire process begins through actual rehiring and on-boarding. Topics to be covered include setting the stage for a successful rehire process, identifying which employees to rehire, dealing with employees who are not rehired, and logistical issues from communications to benefits issues and reintegrating employees back into the organization. We will also cover  more...

Preparing for Medicaid Audits ...ooking toward Medicaid providers to make up the shortfall through the use of post payment audits and overpayment recovery. The use of statistics based upon a small sample of claims but extrapolated over an entire population of claims can lead to multimillion-dollar overpayments. The typical overpayment is no longer solely based on a medical necessity analysis, but instead extends to instances  more...

Deductions From Pay ...through the complex requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Misclassifying employees' status can be costly to an employee. It is estimated that at least 70 percent of employers are not in compliance with the FLSA. As Department of Labor audits increase, it is critical for employers to understand the FLSA and to recognize the permissible deductions. This teleconference is intended to  more...

Nanotech Materials for Sustainable Buildings ...ll be able to describe nanotech 'smart' materials created through molecular manipulation. - You will be able to discover how available nanotech materials have already lowered costs and improved performance in actual installations. - You will be able to construct work environments with electronic fabrics, mold-proof ceilings and flooring that is impervious to dirt. - You will be able to review  more...

Managing 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...

Documenting and Organizing LEED Projects: Lessons Learned for Better LEED Submissions ...LEED certification, until they have managed a LEED design through certification, do they really know what it takes to get a building LEED certified? This teleconference will use case studies and the experiences of designers who have completed the LEED certification process to help you better understand how to organize your LEED project, how to track progress toward achieving your LEED goals and  more...

Impact of Confidentiality Rules in Bankruptcy Proceedings BenefitsDistressed companies struggle to protect their proprietary and strategic information against the assumption that a bankrupt's financial affairs are public. Since 2005, creditor committees have similarly confronted their statutory obligation to share information with creditors with their practical duties in working through a Chapter 11. This teleconference will provide both a relevant  more...

Legal Traps of Internet Activities for Nonprofits ... activities, the potential issues involved in fundraising through the Internet and the risks of utilizing emerging social media to further your organization's mission. Join two of the nation's leading nonprofit attorneys as they navigate the top online legal issues for nonprofits - and what your organization should be doing to stay out of trouble. FACEBOOK is a registered trademark of  more...

Subleasing Issues In A Down and Recovering Market BenefitsBrokers and property owners agree: The subprime mortgage meltdown has finally reached the office market, bringing with it a flood of subleases as the economy continues its downward trend, and even as it recovers. It is time to dust off the practices and procedures lessons first learned in 1991 and 1992 when the savings and loan industry collapsed, and then again in 2000 and 2001 when the  more...

Working With Challenging Parents: Strategies and Techniques ...ts their child, are in denial, chronically fail to follow through and parents of students who demonstrate high risk behaviors. This teleconference will provide you with an understanding of the factors that inflame and prolong difficult situations with parents. This workshop is important for everyone who is seeking solutions that can improve even the most delicate and trying situations with  more...

Commodity Risks: How to Identify and Implement a Corporate Hedging Program ...ns, and gain concurrence on a course of action and follow through with implementation from the supply chain through sales contracts and into the boardroom. This teleconference is critical for firms with significant exposure to commodity prices that want to improve their strategy in managing commodity risks. Purchasing managers, supply chain managers, buyers, contracting and materials  more...

Collection Issues for Condominium and Homeowners' Association: Legal Tips, Concepts and Current Trends in Assessment Collection ...uing litigation, either against a homeowner personally or through lien foreclosure, will also be summarized discussing related costs, risks and other considerations to assist associations in making more effective and sensible business decisions to adapt to current market and economic conditions. Attorneys, presidents, vice presidents, real estate professionals, owners, property managers,  more...

From TV to Twitter: Working With the Media During a Crisis ...and the media demand answers and information now, whether through traditional or new social media channels. Managing and surviving a crisis depends on your ability to respond quickly, to communicate with authority and to demonstrate leadership. Are you ready to survive a crisis - and the media attention that goes with it? This teleconference, created specifically to meet your needs, covers the  more...

Medical Identity Theft: Why You Must Prevent and How to Minimize Its Occurrence BenefitsMore and more patient information is being captured electronically, both within the provider setting and remotely from the patients themselves. Additionally, an increasing number of myriad touches of this data occur on a daily basis by various known and unknown entities, not all of whom are authorized or have a specific need to know. In this environment, ample opportunity exists for  more...

Measuring Inefficiency on a Construction Project ...d proven analytical techniques, they will also teach you, through practical exercises and case studies, how to perform a measured-mile analysis. Learning Objectives - You will be able to identify potential sources of inefficiency. - You will be able to manage and measure productivity. - You will be able to describe methods of measuring inefficiency. - You will be able to breakdown pricing  more...

Restructuring the Commercial Loan ... you with an understanding of these issues from inception through the end of the commercial loan restructuring process. Listen to our panel of experienced counsel provide seasoned advice so that you will be able to understand various issues and approaches to loan workouts; learn the significance of key loan provisions to both borrower and lender, and market trends; and obtain negotiating  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...

Funding Trusts in Estate Planning ...through the time and expense of creating a revocable trust to not properly fund the trust. Failing to fund a revocable trust will often defeat the very purpose for creating such a trust, i.e., avoiding probate and the public disclosure of assets. This teleconference will provide an overview of the mechanics of contributing property to revocable trusts, and the timing and tax consequences of  more...

Obtaining a Portion of the Stimulus Grant Funding ...omic stimulus program that has been primarily implemented through grant funding. The Recovery Act (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 signed by President Obama on February 16, 2009) is the economic stimulus package of $787 billion. Because of the national scope of the economic situation, stimulus money has been targeted at nearly every business and industry sector, and many grants  more...

Protecting Attorney Work Product in Communications With Testifying and Consulting Experts ...ormal communications with experts that are later revealed through discovery. Experts also create materials or communicate in a way that is subject to disclosure. These communications and materials can undercut the authority of the expert, embarrass the lawyer or worse. Alternatively, these communications can provide a treasure of cross-examination materials. This teleconference will review  more...

Promoting Wellness and Recovery of People With Mental Illness Through Strengths-Based, Person-Centered Practice BenefitsThis topic is important for all levels of the human service and community corrections fields. Policy-makers and funders must develop policies and procedures that support and promote evidence-based practice with this challenging group of service participants. Service organizations must become more outcome-focused in their helping efforts. Direct practitioners, therapists, case managers and  more...

Cash Is King: Effective Cash Flow Management BenefitsA balance sheet is often described as a snapshot of your financial situation at a single point in time. (Think of it as the balance in your personal checking account.) An income statement summarizes revenue, expenses and net income for the entire year or other period of time. Both of these financial statements are important tools to measure the success of your business but do little to  more...

Excel Formulas and Functions De-Mystified: Manage Your Excel Worksheets With Power and Confidence as You Master Formulas and Fun ... an internet active tool which allows the speaker to walk through examples in real time. This will be the best way to follow along with the program and a link will be provided for you prior to the program date. This teleconference will be presented in version 2007, but covering all recent versions - 2003, 2002, 2000, 97, etc. Business owners and managers, supervisors, associates,  more...

Current Issues in Attributional and Agency Nexus ...to direct presence. It may also be established indirectly through relationships with third-parties in the taxing state. In today's economy, states are pushing nexus limits farther than ever before and are increasingly focusing on third-party and affiliated relationships as a means to create nexus. This teleconference will explore the concept of third-party nexus - often called agency nexus or  more...

Construction Project Management in Remote Locations: Site Considerations and Unique Challenges ... weeks. A sense of urgency is the common thread that runs through all of the construction planning steps and is essential to the success of the project. Carefully planning the work and then executing the work in a timely fashion according to the plan will either make or break the project. The principles of sound construction conceptual planning are illustrated in this teleconference. Whether  more...

Pervious Concrete - The Pavement That Drinks! ...models natural ground cover, allowing rainwater to filter through to the underlying soil. This leads to an equivalent aquifer recharge and groundwater increase as would occur in a grass-covered area. Furthermore, the air voids of pervious concrete provide a medium for aerobic bacteria that naturally break down many of the pollutants that seep from parked cars. Engineers, presidents, vice  more...

Collection Issues for Attorneys: Practical and Ethical Considerations ... paid is to establish an effective business intake system through investigation of the client, the use of engagement letters and adequate retainers. Also, intake is only the first step. The teleconference will explain how to effectively monitor client payments and proactively pursue collections. If those efforts do not result in payment, the teleconference will explore the ethical ways to  more...

Don't Bet the Company: Understanding and Avoiding Class Actions in Labor and Employment Law! ...their teeth into it and add hundreds of additional claims through the simple process of becoming a class action. Not only do you have to pay a huge settlement to a large number of class members, but attorney's fees are added on top of that. A classic example of this concerns overtime payments. Employees may show up early or stay a few minutes late, but the employer is responsible for paying  more...

How Letters of Credit Work and Why Sometimes They Don't ...through the steps in the life of a letter of credit, identifying pitfalls along the way. The teleconference will review and illustrate fundamental principles using real-life examples. Our presenter will explain how these principles apply to both commercial and standby letters of credit and how these two types differ. In particular, you'll learn why letters of credit might not get paid. Along  more...

Value Engineering Change Proposals in Government Contracting ...ng 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 reduction suggestions. Using a Value Engineering Change  more...

New Rules and Formats for International ACH Transactions nInternational commerce is rapidly growing but with that growth comes challenges, the most significant being the need to track transactions to ensure funds are not being disbursed to or from individuals that are threats to the U.S. The Office of Foreign Asset Control is the government organization that tracks this information. Their regulations require that all international transactions comply  more...

Building Information Modeling: Planning, Design and Legal Considerations ...processes, we will explore some costs and benefits of BIM throughout the team. We will talk through a couple project examples where BIM tools and processes were used to really make a difference in the outcome of the project and finish up with a section focusing on the "What's in it for me?" question, again addressing your needs. n nYou will come away from this teleconference with some solid  more...

Voir Dire: Effective Techniques for Getting and Using the Information You Need nVoir dire is one of the most important phases of a jury trial. However, the rules and procedures governing the jury selection process are often informal, subject to the broad discretion of the trial court, and can vary widely between jurisdictions, judges and even different cases before the same judge. A trial lawyer's strike decisions are some of the most important strategic decisions made in  more...

Benchmarking your Health Benefit Program: How Do You Stack Up? ...nd 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 benefits and give you benchmarking statistics on the current landscape for including that trend in your health  more...

How To Prevent Construction Projects From Going Bad ...tive of the owner and the contractor, ways to manage risk through key contract provisions and project management tools, and how the surety's ability to perform may be affected by the actions of the parties during the construction process. n nLearning Objectives n- You will be able to arrange a plan for success. n- You will be able to predict when is "bad" too bad? n- You will be able to  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...

FIN 48 - Uncertainty in Income Taxes ...U.S. GAAP financial reporting enterprises, including pass-through and not-for-profit entities, for tax years beginning after December 15, 2006, and for private companies beginning after December 15, 2007. This teleconference will cover the new FASB rules that are applicable to the identification, documentation, recording and disclosure of income tax contingencies. Examples of exposure items and  more...

Understanding Legal Issues with Construction Subcontracts ...isions and other common clauses. The information obtained through this will assist you in fully comprehending the risk you are assuming in a contract. Knowledge of the risk will allow you to better evaluate the desirability of bidding upon or taking a specific job, and how to protect yourself from unforeseen or unanticipated loss. n nLearning Objectives n- You will be able to predict the risk  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...

Brownfield Redevelopment and LEED. in 2009 - What Happens When You Mix Green and Brown? ...elopment of brownfields in urban centers also reduce GHGs through fewer vehicle miles traveled because of pedestrian-friendly, biking, multiple transit options, housing density, mixing of building uses and proximity to job centers and infrastructure. n nThe U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for new construction and neighborhood development is  more...

Creating Investment Policies For Your Nonprofit: Risk Tolerance, Reserve Funds and Portfolio Management Capacity ...ccounting and performance measures. n nYou will be guided through the investment policy process from both a managerial and accountant perspective. This teleconference will provide you with the skills to develop policies to support and expand your current portfolio of funds. You will walk away from this event with the following knowledge: the impact of short-term and long-term goals on  more...

2009 Updates to the International Residential Codes ...lt under the 2006 code. This teleconference will take you through the changes to learn what lies ahead in the building code industry and how it will affect your business. n nLearning Objectives n- You will be able to apply new regulations for automatic sprinklers. n- You will be able to report plumbing provisions. n- You will be able to paraphrase requirements for storm shelters. n- You will be  more...

Tax and Practical Aspects of Business Succession Planning nClosely held family businesses are often as important to the owners of that business as are their own children. With business failures increasing in today's economic environment, the importance of a well planned, dynamic and long-term succession plan is vital to the continuation of the family business as it is passes from generation to generation. Tax considerations are one part of that plan, but  more...

Differing Site Conditions ... 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 not. Accordingly, there should be less in the way of differing site condition claims as between those subtrades  more...

Effective Fundraising Techniques for Nonprofit Organizations nNonprofit organizations always need to diversify their revenue from earned income, government grants with philanthropic fundraising. Now, in tough economic times, you must determine how to maximize the effectiveness of your fundraising program. This teleconference will cover the basic elements of a complete fundraising program for annual operating support as well as ways every organization can  more...

Uniform Division of Income for Tax Purposes (UDIPTA): Business vs. Nonbusiness Income Tax nWhile most U.S. states impose income tax on multistate business under the principles contained in the Uniform Division of Income for Tax Purposes Act, state courts and taxing authorities have interpreted that set of relatively uniform laws differently, especially with regard to the definition of business income. The differing interpretations of business income have increased significance to  more...

Lease vs. Buy: Choosing the Best Option ...through lease programs or by purchases is one of the most difficult and important decisions faced by businesses every day. Making the wrong choice can not only result in economic loss but significant disruption of business, loss of time and opportunity. This teleconference will provide you with a comparison of the benefits and pitfalls of financing business equipment through equipment lease  more...

On-Site Power Generation: Challenges, Opportunities and New Developments ...nce will help you to ensure appropriate power reliability through an understanding of proper design and safe operations of on-site generator equipment and controls. n nNew developments in this field include new air quality requirements under federal New Source Performance Standards and federal NESHAPS. These new requirements are in effect now and additional NSPS requirements are being  more...

Current Trends in Transit-Oriented Development ...l governments are doing to encourage economic development through TOD and the role for the private sector, including investors and developers looking for new opportunities in our stagnating economy. n nLearning Objectives n- You will be able to summarize what transit-oriented development is. n- You will be able to predict issues facing American cities. n- You will be able to explain the public  more...

Appellate Process Basics for Legal Professionals nFiling an appeal is a specialized process with particular requirements and deadlines. Failure to follow the appropriate procedures can be fatal to an appeal or, at a minimum, compromise its chance of success. A paralegal's thorough assistance is invaluable in making certain the rules are followed and obligations are met. This teleconference will provide you with an overview of the life cycle of a  more...

Writing the Critical Teacher Evaluation nThe act of teaching is what finally determines the success or failure of the school. To that end, a well-developed and wisely used evaluation system is the most important tool of school administration. Teacher associations will (appropriately) protect memberships from evaluations that are poorly constructed or poorly delivered. Teacher associations also understand the importance of working with  more...

Restructuring: Changing Your Choice of Business Entity ...through various stages of its life cycle as it grows. The plans of its owners change, and management succession and exit strategies become more immediate concerns. As a result, initial tax and state law decisions need to be revisited, and when warranted, consideration of changes to a company's tax and legal structure may be advisable or necessary. This teleconference will provide you with a  more...

A Tax Primer on Real Estate Investment Trusts nMore than $375 billion are invested in approximately 180 publicly traded real estate investment trusts (or REITs). In addition, billions more are invested in privately held REITs. This teleconference will provide an introductory summary of the tax requirements REITs face in their formation and ongoing operations. You will develop a basic understanding of REITs through this program. The  more...