Times Telephone Seminars

UCC Article 9 Update BenefitsThe revisions to Article 9, which generally became effective in 2001, substantially changed the law. Now, with years of experience, the case law is developing, and practitioners are beginning to identify issues not contemplated by the original drafting committee. As a result, a Joint Review Committee was formed and has recommended changes to Article 9 that are expected to be approved this  more...

Economic Development Financing Update Benefits'In the space of two days I had evolved two plans, wholly distinct, both of which were equally feasible. The point I am trying to bring out is that one does not plan and then try to make circumstances fit those plans. One tries to make plans fit the circumstances.' - General George S. Patton, Jr., War as I Knew It, page 116 (1947) Those localities that have not planned for the current  more...

GSA Leasing: Understanding The SFO Process, Negotiating The Lease and Dealing With The Government As The Tenant ...t 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 there. Understanding how to successfully deal with the government and obtain a  more...

Developing a School Wellness Program ...ors report eating fruit and green vegetables five or more times a day. - Diabetes on the rise: Type 2 diabetes used to be called 'adult-onset diabetes.' Now, the rise in childhood obesity is linked to a dramatic rise in the number of children suffering from type 2 diabetes. Some experts believe that if obesity among kids continues to increase at this rate, our current generation could become  more...

Common Conflicts in the Tripartite Relationship ...thing shared by client stays with his/her attorney. Often times, it is shared with the insurance carrier that has retained counsel pursuant to their insurance policy. However, some information cannot be shared with the carrier, to their detriment but to the benefit of the insured. What can an attorney share with his client's insurance carrier, and what is he prohibited from doing? What other  more...

Rain Water Harvesting ...l be able to discuss the historical overview from ancient times to the present. - You will be able to identify engineering solutions. - You will be able to review objectives of rainwater harvesting. - You will be able to explain costs for harvested water. This live audio conference is designed for engineers, construction and project managers, city administrators, public works and utilities  more...

Making Shared Services Work ...for more efficient ways to deliver services in these lean times. In addition to internal budget and efficiency initiatives, many governments are looking to partner with other governments or the private sector in an effort to reduce costs while maintaining service quality. These approaches include contracting, privatization, functional consolidations, collaboration, asset sales, and the like.  more...

Tax Consequences of Gifts, Prizes, Fringe Benefits, Business Expenses, and Other Payments To Employees ...'s total compensation. Particularly in difficult economic times, employers are looking to provide such benefits to employees with the least cost, both to themselves and employees. Failure to understand the tax consequences of such benefits can cause unintended and unwanted tax consequences. This live audio conference will explain the tax consequences of gifts, prizes and other awards to  more...

Use of Terms and Conditions in Purchase Agreements ...f agreements for the purchase and sale of goods. How many times do you get boilerplate agreements without truly reading the small print? When is small print even acceptable? What do these terms and conditions mean? How do I go about negotiating the terms? Do they really matter? This audio conference will provide a helpful explanation of these terms so that you are in a better position to draft,  more...

Dynamic E-Discovery Tips for Paralegals ...ertainly has earned this status, but its notoriety can at times belie the legal community's tender grasp of its many complexities and implications. Paralegals and legal assistants, the 'case managers' during discovery, are perhaps the people most dramatically impacted by the way electronic discovery continues to change case workflow, yet many paralegals and other legal professionals remain  more...

Positive Strategies For Dealing With Problem Performers ...he various levels of an organization. In today's economic times, reward systems are difficult and costly to implement, thus we will look at other positive strategies to encourage positive performance. Finally, you will discover how to turn your organization from a toxic environment to a positive, performance-oriented workplace! This audio conference is designed for human resource managers,  more...

HR Time Lines: The Complex Integration of FMLA, WC, Disability and COBRA BenefitsHow do workers' compensation, FMLA, disability and COBRA laws work - together, independently or concurrently? What can run together? What cannot? When can we cancel the health plan, for what reason and is it a COBRA qualifying event? During this audio conference we will pull all of these together to explain the employer's liability. When can coverage be canceled? What laws protect  more...

Digital Manufacturing: Improve Productivity, Lower Costs and Compress Delivery Times BenefitsToday's globally competitive environment is forcing manufacturing companies of all sizes to rethink and better integrate their overall approach to product development, from concept to product design to manufacturing engineering and beyond. As a result, many companies are seeking new ways to improve their competitive position through the proper adoption of digital manufacturing and other  more...

Competitive Public Bidding and Public Contract Code in Florida ...times, more and more companies are looking to the government for opportunities to grow their businesses. While competing for government contracts presents expanded opportunities for success, participation in such procurements is governed by rules, laws and case law precedent not generally applicable in the private sector. This teleconference helps you understand how to obtain contracts with the  more...

Obtaining Surety Bonds for Construction Projects BenefitsThe current heightened risk environment caused by increasing contractor failures have raised concerns in the surety markets, however underwriting standards have not materially changed. What has changed is that sureties are more closely scrutinizing contractors' balance sheets and underwriting information to meet these standards and this trend will remain until the construction industry  more...

Express and Implied Warranties Under UCC Article 2 ... vast amount of information that can seem overwhelming at times. This teleconference will provide a general overview of the scope of Article 2 and the types of warranties offered by the UCC, and discuss the various defenses, remedies and damages available for each type of warranty. The discussion will include express warranties, the implied warranty of merchantability, the implied warranty of  more...

Land Abandonment and Vacation Fundamentals ...tes over real property happen all too frequently and many times the issues involve who has the right to a particular parcel or strip of land. In some situations, a government will reserve a road that never gets opened or falls out of use over time. In others, neighbors will agree on use of another's property for access but a problem arises or a use will be established without anyone reaching an  more...

Not in My Backyard (NIMBY): Overcoming Development Resistance BenefitsNot long ago, few places ever said no' to new real estate development. Then came environmental movements, smart growth, anti-sprawl and people who said 'not in my backyard.' Because a politician who annoys enough people will be voted out of office, public officials started listening to them - and the process of deciding who gets to build what, where, was politicized. Today, land use  more...

Screening Commercial Tenants: Priorities and Pitfalls ...securing viable commercial tenants during these turbulent times by providing methods to create a uniform tenant screening process. This teleconference will highlight key due diligence during the tenant screening process and provide tips to avoid common leasing pitfalls. Inasmuch as selecting a viable tenant and conducting the right due diligence before executing a commercial lease can result in  more...

Techniques to Prepare for Difficult Employee Discussions BenefitsSexually offensive behavior, poor communication and leadership skills, excessive absenteeism, and attitude problems - whether you're encountering commonplace or exceptionally serious employee relations issues, you'll need a down-to-earth strategy to protect yourself and your organization. Verbally addressing problems head-on can be a daunting task because of their confrontational nature,  more...

Workout Strategies for Troubled Condominium Projects ...r the distressed condominium project in today's uncertain times. Attorneys, real estate developers, lenders, borrowers, mortgage companies, mezzanine lenders, financial institutions, loan servicers, investment banks, private equity companies and other investors, real estate professionals, condominium associations and their board members, unit owners, management and leasing agents, brokers,  more...

Purchasing Law: Effective Contract Negotiation & Management In Times Of Financial Uncertainty BenefitsCompanies are working harder than ever to reduce costs through better inventory and supply-chain management. At the same time, economic pressures are putting historic strains on their supply base. This creates the opportunity for supply chain interruptions that can threaten the very existence of a company. This teleconference helps the persons responsible for supply chain and purchasing  more...

Construction Release Due Diligence ... impact your right to make a claim. In these recessionary times, money is tight and cash is king. Claims are at a premium. Pressure to make the schedule trumps claims administration. 'Do the work and we'll sort it out later' is the mantra of the modern construction project. And, it causes contractors to take their eye off the ball. They do things and they sign papers that prejudice their  more...

Preparing for the Unexpected Departure of Key Employees: An Introduction to Replacement Planning BenefitsFewer than 40 percent of U.S. organizations, public or private, have functioning replacement plans in case of the disastrous loss of key people to death, disability, sudden resignation or the potential threatened loss in hostage-taking situations. Replacement planning is not the same thing as succession planning or talent management, though many organizational leaders confuse them. This  more...

Getting Advice from the IRS: Letter Rulings, Pre-Filing Agreements, TAMS and GLAMs ...times clients must have certainty as to the federal tax consequences of a proposed transaction - and while tax opinions are helpful, they do not provide the certainty of qualified advice from the IRS. This teleconference is designed to discuss how, when and why to seek qualified written advice from the IRS, normally in the form of a private letter ruling request, a review of the ruling  more...

Contractor Selection ...times when construction is considered, it is vital to have the best construction team members available. While design professionals, lenders and other professionals are important for a successful project, in these 'watch the bottom line' times, the contractor you place in charge of the work is the most important person on the project. This teleconference will assist you review the key issues on  more...

Using Green Strategies for Your Business to Increase Your Profits ...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 infrastructure.  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...

Practical Transportation Design and Solutions: Concepts and Implementation ...ned budget, a practical solution approach can treat three times as many miles of road as a traditional design approach, with a 20 percent reduction in system-wide crashes and a 10 percent reduction in delay. This teleconference is critical for understanding the need for a disciplined planning and design approach not encumbered by arbitrary design guidelines, which will free resources to meet  more...

Developing a Community Nonemergency Response System ...n 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 calls, tracking citizen interactions at the enterprise and departmental levels, measuring service  more...

Green Building: LEED Water Efficiency Credits ... next to reliable sources of fresh water. In contemporary times the availability of water has become a major design driver and, in some cases, a limiting factor in development. As demographics continue to change and water becomes less available these issues will only increase in importance. This teleconference discusses how the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and  more...

Best Practices in Budget Development and Analysis ...times many budget officers and municipal managers begin the process by a rather simple approach: 'Revenues are down 10%, we need to cut the budget by 10%'. Then they wait for the battles to begin, internally with department heads, externally with council members and other public stakeholders. This teleconference will provide budget preparers with a comprehensive framework for preparing the  more...

Early Case Assessment Strategies for Paralegals ...ases can last for years. In light of these tough economic times, clients are looking to their legal team to control legal costs while at the same time producing favorable outcomes. Studies have indicated that early case assessment evaluation, if done correctly, can accomplish both of these goals. Irrespective of the complexity of the case, early case assessment can be beneficial not only to the  more...

Trends in Miranda Rights and Violations ...e. But what does it really mean? Has it changed in recent times? What makes a valid waiver of those rights? Can you ever use information you get in violation of those rights? Anyone responsible for, or involved with, law enforcement officers and their actions during citizen-police encounters needs to be up to date on what Miranda means today. This teleconference will help you with the results  more...

Total Compensation Statements as a Tool to Communicate Total Value ...d by your organization. During these challenging economic times when salary increases are low or nonexistent, creating customized compensation statements for your organization can be a valuable communication tool. Generally, total compensation ranges from 30 to 50 percent above base compensation for an organization and most employees are unaware of the benefit. This teleconference will help you  more...

Best Practices to Manage Your Multistate Payroll ...ot only do you have to know your own state laws but often times neighboring state laws if you have employees across state lines. The taxability of employee benefits is confusing and the regulations are constantly changing. Working time for nonexempt employees is not well-understood throughout the payroll profession and many professionals spend more time on payroll forms than is either necessary  more...

Effective Fundraising Techniques for Nonprofit Organizations ...ts 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 participate in the coming intergenerational wealth transfer through a planned estate giving  more...

Purchasing Contract Disputes ...times inevitably result in serious business disputes. This teleconference will help you plan and implement a practical strategy to minimize the business interruptions (and costs) that can occur when purchasing contract disputes occur - and turn potential career-limiting purchasing disasters in 2009 into success stories. This introductory course will help you understand how such disputes arise,  more...

Designing Effective Interest Rate Risk Management in Turbulent Times nThe current market has created challenges in managing risks while making a profit. Our tools for risk measurement were in place to help us take action to avoid as much of the impact as possible; yet a review of bank interest margins in the wake of massive rate reductions shows that bankers have a ways to go when using the interest rate risk information to make decisions. n nDuring this  more...

Estate Planning Opportunities in an Uncertain Environment ... decide what to do after experiencing 2008? The uncertain times and uncertain market have actually created the perfect time to use some of the advanced planning tools in the estate planner's arsenal. Depressed values for good assets open up the opportunity to leverage our clients' assets to achieve bigger results down the road than we thought possible. In this teleconference, you'll find out  more...

Workers' Compensation Settlements nSometimes a workers' compensation case is litigated until conclusion, but many times the parties prefer settlement. This comprehensive teleconference will provide a summary of the do's and don'ts of settlements, what to consider, what to avoid, and how to most effectively ensure that you have considered every issue and have minimized your loss prior to signing on the dotted line.  more...

How to Get Your Prospect to Move From "I ll Think It Over" to Yes! ... you specifically what you can do to reduce the amount of times you get those responses and what to do when you hear those replies. You'll get sales skills, people skills, life skills and marketing skills that will separate and elevate you from the competition. You will understand clearly how to bring a much larger share of your deals or projects to a positive solution. The teleconference will  more...

Overcome Your Competition: Stand Out in a Crowded Marketplace ..., your qualification process is suspect at best. Too many times sales professionals employ a bottom-up sales approach versus the top-down approach that has proven to be more effective. Even the best sales skills, or sales approach, even the quid pro quo approach, is not effective if applied to the wrong people. As economic conditions become more challenging, salespeople have to improve their  more...