Using Telephone Seminars - Training Resources

Understanding LEED for Sustainable Building ...n. USGBC has now focused rating and certification efforts using this latest unified version and rapidly will move away from the multiple-criteria products of the past. Use of older LEED versions is no longer permitted (c. June 2009). The information in this teleconference is important to anyone involved with major green building projects This teleconference is based on publicly available  more...

Partnerships and Section 704(c) ...s for such entities; and those who structure transactions using such entities, understand and work with the Section 704(c) regulations. There will be a discussion of the various elections that are available to adopt methods of allocation under Section 704(c), as well as a discussion of reverse allocations. Failing to have a proper understanding of these provisions can potentially result in  more...

IRC Section 41: Credit for Increasing Research Activities Update BenefitsThis teleconference will feature a discussion around one of the most misunderstood and misapplied sections of the Internal Revenue Code, Section 41 - Credit for Increasing Research Activities. Our team of former Big Four partners and managers has collectively worked on more than 500 research tax credit studies during our careers. Learn from some of the top technicians in the industry on  more...

Improve Productivity While Staying Compliant: Implementing Quality Procedures ...ealing with quality problems, you miss the opportunity of using a blended and robust approach. Providing cost effective quality product means you understand the importance of a strong process for minimizing nonvalue added activity, refining process capability and reliability, and designing quality at the source. This is a case study of how an organization was able to use this blended approach  more...

Creating and Using a Salary Increase Matrix BenefitsThis teleconference will discuss the concept, implementation and best practices associated with a merit matrix. Implementing a merit matrix is one of the easiest and most direct ways to link pay with performance and manage turnover. Sharing of pitfalls that many companies encounter when implementing a matrix and how to avoid them will be addressed. The teleconference will provide insight  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...

Avoiding the Pitfalls of GMP Contracting ..., so have disputes that strongly suggest that the parties using them do not fully understand: (a) the differences between GMP contracts and the contracts that the users are used to working under, or (b) the risks that are inherent to this delivery system. This teleconference is designed to highlight those differences and alert you to the unique risks of using this format. This program will be  more...

Noncompetition Agreements for the HR Professional: Protecting the Company's Business Resources? ...ng employees is the noncompete agreement. But effectively using noncompetes requires knowledge of your and other states' laws, and good decisions both in the design and enforcement of the noncompetes. This teleconference will give you the tools to start effectively using noncompetes or, if you already are, to improve your company's program. Human resource managers, benefits and payroll  more...

Using Social Media in Collections ...king any debt collection laws? In this teleconference, 'Using Social Media in Collections,' you will learn how you can use social media web sites and new technology to maintain a good customer base, keep good paying customers on track, and find and collect from past due customers. Learn how these popular web sites can improve your collections, what some of the most common mistakes are when  more...

Mechanics Liens in Massachusetts: Protecting Your Lien Rights in Uncertain Times ...n turn, the Massachusetts mechanics lien law is often confusing, even to lawyers who are not expert in its detailed provisions. By attending this teleconference you will learn how contractors, subcontractors and suppliers can protect their payment rights by using mechanics liens, and to learn how owners can defend their rights against liens by understanding the many technicalities of the  more...

Limited Medical Programs: How Employers Are Using Them to Control Health Care Costs BenefitsAfter years of increasing 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  more...

Enforcement of Judgments BenefitsThis teleconference will present the fundamentals of locating and collecting assets to enforce a civil judgment. Topics will include asset search methods, the elements of a debtor's examination, obtaining liens against assets, executing on judgment liens, using garnishment procedures to collect assets, domesticating foreign judgments, handling bankruptcy filings and many other issues  more...

Microsoft Outlook 2007 Tips and Tricks ... in Outlook. This teleconference offers a quick course in using Microsoft Outlook, showing users how to use Outlook and get the most use from their investment. It teaches Outlook users how to use Outlook's many features to manage email, appointments and tasks, and address books. The teleconference includes many tips and shortcuts Outlook users can use to help them work smarter, not harder, and  more...

Use of Terms and Conditions in Purchasing Contracts BenefitsAs companies seek to reduce transaction costs by doing business with standardized business forms, the old 10-point, double-column terms and conditions provisions have taken on new importance for purchasing professionals. This teleconference is going to expose that what is hidden in that microscopic text are not only acronyms that can be legally determinative if a controversy develops, but  more...

Low Quality Asphalt: How to Avoid Problems Down the Road ...l include complete reconstruction; full-depth reclamation using lime, Portland cement or foamed asphalt; stress relieving inter-layers; and milling with conventional overlays. We will discuss how to tell which methods are practical and how to choose the specific materials for use under different conditions. Both advantages and potential problems with each method will be discussed. Learning  more...

Employee Safety and Health Systems: Cutting Injuries Using the Team Approach BenefitsTraditional safety committees involve a small number of employees and are often managed by the individual responsible for the facility safety and health system. The problem is that the success of the committee, and thus the system success, is predicated by the authority given to the committee and its leadership which in most cases is low to nonexistent. The bottom line is that employee  more...

Using Investment Policy Statements as an Investment Tool: It's an Art, Not a Science BenefitsThis teleconference will bring together a panel with differing perspectives on the use and creation of investment policy statements, including outside legal counsel to address perceived problems arising from nonconforming activities; inside legal counsel to discuss techniques for ensuring that the instrument clearly and fully reflects the investor's expectations and the firm's  more...

Drafting Clear and Enforceable Contracts ...ear and enforceable contracts in a business environment - using language that everyone can understand. It will cover the critical details that need to be in every contract and the language that can be used to simply express these details to achieve the legal result desired by both parties. It also will provide you with an appreciation of how what is included (and what is omitted) in a  more...

Preparing an Accurate Form 1041 ...using trusts in estate planning, knowing how to prepare an accurate Form 1041 is becoming more important than ever. Properly computing taxable income and correctly allocating taxable income between the entity and its beneficiaries can avoid not only challenges by the IRS but also disgruntled beneficiaries. This teleconference will help you understand the main rules on how to properly prepare  more...

Online Collection Techniques: Do's and Don'ts BenefitsTechnology has changed how we communicate and do business. Debt collectors have the added challenge of trying to contact debtors who may only correspond via email or online portals. Some debtors no longer have a land line phone and only use cell phones, texting, email and instant messages to communicate. How can debt collectors face this challenge while following debt collection laws that  more...

Construction Payment Remedies: Using the Right Tools BenefitsThe recession has made nonpayment and late payment critical concerns to many in the construction industry. The unique nature of the industry and the special remedies available to those in it make payment disputes matters of much interest to all involved in the construction process. The recession has only made resolution of these disputes more challenging. This teleconference will cover  more...

Legal Issues Surrounding the Utilization and Maintenance of Computerized Medical Records ...dentify the key legal issues and pitfalls associated with using and maintaining EHR systems, with an emphasis on potential litigation issues. This teleconference is critical for hospitals considering an EHR implementation - whether for internal use or for use by community physicians - and for physicians and other users of EHR technology. You will learn risk management strategies for structuring  more...

How to Legally Handle Travel Pay ...panies send employees to conferences and other work sites using commercial travel and personal vehicles. This teleconference will enable you to understand how and when to compensate an employee for travel time away from a work site. You'll find out how to determine which employees are entitled to travel time pay and at what rate. With air travel being as busy as it is today, it is very  more...

Statutory Research and Legislative History for Paralegals ...sed a particular law. Courts have different approaches to using these unique secondary materials in conjunction with standard rules of statutory construction. This teleconference will explore the methods to research statutes and codes, explain the various documents used by Congress and the states in considering and passing statutes, identify the significance of these documents in creating an  more...

Funding Trusts in Estate Planning BenefitsIt is all too common for clients who go 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  more...

Lawful Hiring BenefitsEmployers must navigate a minefield of complicated and, in some cases, conflicting laws that affect the hiring process Discrimination claims often arise out of the hiring process. The new U.S. Supreme Court decision in Ricci v. DeStefano, 557 U.S. ___ (2009) shows how an employer (the New Haven Fire Department in that case) can violate discrimination laws when taking steps to attempt to  more...

Excel Formulas and Functions De-Mystified: Manage Your Excel Worksheets With Power and Confidence as You Master Formulas and Fun ...using Excel invariably needs to create and understand how to use formulas and functions. For some Excel users, it is the centerpiece of what they do on daily basis. Many Excel formulas involve simple mathematical constructions using addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, but sometimes you need more complex formulas to reach an answer. Excel has more than 300 built-in functions that  more...

Automated Meter Reading and Advanced Metering Infrastructure: A Guide for Municipal Water and Energy Utilities ...ing robust project controls, and managing and effectively using all the information provided by the system will be discussed. Finally, it will present real-world examples, highlighting successes and how to avoid pitfalls. Learning Objectives - You will be able to summarize emerging technologies and applications. - You will be able to differentiate between alternative deployment and migration  more...

Pervious Concrete - The Pavement That Drinks! ...opers can also reduce fees and enhance the bottom line by using pervious concrete, which commonly provides 20 or more years of service with little or no maintenance. You will learn about the latest mix designs, freeze and thaw resistance, environmental benefits, storm water management planning and placement techniques. This teleconference will provide examples of projects and you will learn how  more...

ALTA Policy, Endorsements and Transaction Strategies with Title Insurance ...w policy forms, with an emphasis on the 2006 ALTA Policy. Using the commitment for title insurance, the course will discuss how counsel, investors and lenders can avoid title pitfalls and coverage gaps, expedite a pre-closing response to coverage requests, and ultimately enhance coverage. Critical legal issues and practical considerations often coincide with factors that mask underlying real  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...

Social Networking in the Workplace: Policies, Monitoring and Discipline Issues ...Despite these numbers and the risks inherent in employees using social networking tools, such as harassment, dissemination of trade secret information and lost productivity, employers have been slow to adopt and disseminate policies for appropriate usage of these web sites. Thus, employees are left to guess at what kind of conduct is permissible online; and, without effective policies in place,  more...

Buying and Selling Partnerships, LLCs and Other Similar Entities ...ses and sales of equity interests in alternative entities using concepts from the corporate model. Failing to account for the differences between the corporate model and the alternative entity model may result in transaction documents that do not accurately reflect the parties' intent and may result in unexpected, adverse tax consequences to the parties. This teleconference will identify some  more...

Achieving Clarity and Value From Nonprofit Financial Reporting, Ratio Analysis and Benchmarking ...ove the clarity and substance 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  more...

How Letters of Credit Work and Why Sometimes They Don't ...ference 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 the way, you will learn about standard and silent confirmation and how to get paid in hours instead of  more...

Value Engineering Change Proposals in Government Contracting ...rovide increased profits from cost reduction suggestions. Using a Value Engineering Change Proposal ('VECP'), a contractor may suggest a contract change that, if accepted and implemented, provides cost savings to the Government and a substantial share in those savings to the contractor. Contractors that do not understand the VE clauses and their specific submittal requirements will ultimately  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...

Voir Dire: Effective Techniques for Getting and Using the Information You Need ...ve techniques for eliciting, organizing and intelligently using the most complete and accurate information possible through the voir dire process. Regardless of whether you represent plaintiffs or defendants, whether you are in state court or federal court, whether your case is civil or criminal, or whether you are preparing for your first jury trial or your 100th, this teleconference will  more...

FIN 48 - Uncertainty in Income Taxes ...wing number of diverse accounting practices companies are using to analyze and report their tax positions, the Financial Accounting Standards Board recently enacted FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes. It is effective for all U.S. GAAP financial reporting enterprises, including pass-through and not-for-profit entities, for tax years beginning after December  more...

Using Failure Mode and Effects Analysis to Reduce Defects, Improve Quality and Make More Money nFailure modes and effects analysis is an increasingly popular tool that must be mastered by Lean Six Sigma professionals and can be used in every type of organization to reduce defects, improve quality and make more money! n nThis easy tool asks these simple questions: n- What can go wrong? n- Where can it go wrong? n- How bad will it be? n- Can we see it coming? n- Should we try to prevent  more...

AIA Document A312 Payment Bond Forms ...quire contractors to obtain payment and performance bonds using the American Institute of Architect's A312 bond forms, but those bond forms require contractors, owners and sureties to contend with a number of challenges - the most recent of which is the surety industry's refusal to issue such bonds without modification because of the so-called 45-Day Rule. This teleconference is designed to  more...

More Affordable and Sustainable Communities: The Role of Good Design for Workforce Housing ...ee dozen case studies of completed affordable workforce housing developments which were well-received by their neighbors and residents. These will be explained using images of plans and photos of the completed developments. This teleconference will help you understand how to successfully organize a community to engage rationally and creatively in the design of new housing developments which  more...

A Practical Guide for Using Litigation Technology During Discovery and at Trial ...rial is now a requirement for the modern practice 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  more...

Payment Fraud ...? How do you know if the payments they are making to you, using credit cards or ACH, are good? Fraud is on the rise, with a tough economy and the abundance of malware in the market today, it is only a matter of time before your company becomes a target. As a business owner you need to understand the signs to look for that an order may be bad. You need to understand the tools that are available  more...

Differing Site Conditions ...significant. Accordingly, for those projects that are not using BIM, differing site condition claims continue to be an issue of serious magnitude. Moreover, BIM cannot solve issues such as unexpected soils issues, native burial sites, endangered species, severe weather conditions, or underground utilities not previous documented, to name a few. Accordingly, the issue of differing site  more...

Workplace Flexibility: Innovative Strategies for an Evolving Workforce ...nd how employers in a range of industries and regions are using flexibility to improve business and employee outcomes. You will gain the ability to communicate effectively about policy approaches on workplace flexibility currently being considering in Washington - and understand how those policies may impact your business practices and strategies. More critically, you will learn about the  more...

Designing Effective Interest Rate Risk Management in Turbulent Times ...rate reductions shows that bankers have a ways to go when using the interest rate risk information to make decisions. n nDuring this teleconference, we will explore the common tools in use today by bankers for the management of interest rate risk and their use in the decision process. We will explore the value proposition between doing what we need to for regulatory compliance versus making  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...

Begin With the Brain: Three Things Educators Need to Know! ...m retention, the brain must actively process new learning using a variety of instructional strategies. You'll gain specific practical strategies to help reduce student stress, create systems and procedures for effective classroom management, encourage discovery play and orchestrate opportunities for active processing. Discover how to create a brain and body compatible environment that will  more...

Using Medical Certifications to Minimize Employer Liability: FMLA, ADA and Workers' Comp nSince the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in 1990, proactive and proper use of medical certifications has proven to be a valuable tool to protect employers from liability under the ADA, the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1994, and state workers' compensation statutes. But the legal landscape for managing employee health issues has had many changes in recent months. Amendments to the  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...

Effective Job Cost Reports in Construction Project Management nIn today's fast-paced and complex construction environment, construction industry professionals require immediate access to timely and accurate information. One of the most important 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  more...

Effective Program Evaluation for Nonprofits nThe importance of evaluating your nonprofit cannot be underestimated! The data you collect and analyze will let you know the extent to which you have met your goals and objectives, how your clients feel about your organization and its services, whether you are using quality processes, what you can celebrate and how you can improve! Effective evaluations can also tell you about the program design  more...

Aging Building Management: Best Practices in Development Long-Term Capital Plans ...ng associated costs. Capital projects must be prioritized using consistent criteria. And the various stakeholders in the capital planning and management process must be able to see the long-term impact of different investment decisions. In addition to condition information, by considering sustainability recommendations along with systems life cycle requirements, building owners and managers can  more...

Current Issues in Revocable Living Trusts Benefits Revocable living trusts are a foundation of many estate plans. The use of a revocable living trust generally provides for a confidential distribution of family wealth without required court interference and also allows for assets to avoid probate in most jurisdictions. Using a revocable living trust allows for planning in the event of incapacity without having to formally declare a  more...