16 Feb 12 Improving Communication in Team Interactions (Feb. 21)
International Voice Image Specialist Marlena Reigh will give a presentation on how to improve communication in team interactions on Tuesday, Feb. 21 from 5-7 p.m. at the University of Michigan Center for the Education of Women.
As work environments include diverse groups of people from various cultures, it is more important than ever to develop the ability to communicate effectively and efficiently in order to maximize productivity and to build a sense of community for all team members.
Whether you are a leader or on a team, this program will teach you how you can make an even more positive impact on projects and team member involvement. Learn the essential skills needed for effective communication and develop skills to speak clearly and concisely, skills that you can start using today.
Reigh, owner and president of Radiant Communications Company, has more than 20 years of coaching, speaking and seminar-leading experience. She has worked one-on-one with more than 1,000 voices and is a published author of books and tapes on voice image and presentation skills.
Reigh’s background also includes singing and acting professionally, as well as developing and teaching college courses in voice and vocal performance.
Deadline to register: Thursday, Feb. 16
09 Feb 12 SureWest sold to Consolidated Communications – Granite Bay
After serving the region for nearly a century, Roseville’s SureWest Communications has been sold.
Illinois-based Consolidated Communications Holdings, inc. (Nasdaq: CNSL) announced Monday that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire SureWest.
The cash and stock merger is valued at $23 per share, or approximately $340.9 million, according to a statement released by Consolidated Communications.
SureWest started out as Roseville’s telephone company in 1914 and began offering internet in the 1980s, according to company spokesman Ron Rogers.
SureWest ventured into the cable television market in the early 2000s, Rogers said.
The company employs 600 people in the Sacramento area and another 200 in its Kansas City market, providing approximately 282,000 connections.
According to Laura ZuHone, director of corporate communications for Consolidated, the company has not come to a decision as to whether or not any current employees will lose their jobs.
“Management and overall staffing will be assessed according to business and customer needs, as the two companies (are) being operating as one,” ZuHone said. “Our top priority is taking care of our customers.”
Founded in 1894, Consolidated Communications offers a wide range of services over its IP-based network, including local and long distance telephone, digital phone, high-speed internet access and digital TV.
It currently operates in a mix of suburban areas and rural territories in Central Illinois, Texas and Western Pennsylvania, and it will now take over SureWest’s Sacramento and Kansas City markets.
ZuHone said that Consolidated Communications will operate in the six states as one company, but no decisions have yet been made on branding, meaning the name SureWest may or may not change.
Rogers said it is customers who will benefit the most from the deal.
“It’s going to be a bigger company that can provide more enhanced services and additional programming,” he said. “Combining with this company allows us to have better financial resources.”
Rogers said the deal will likely take six to nine months to close, awaiting approvals from federal and California regulators.
“During that timeframe, all day to day functions and activities will remain the same,” he said. “Expectations going forward are that Consolidated wants to continue growing the company.”
ZuHone said under the terms of the agreement, SureWest’s shareholders may elect to exchange each share of SureWest common stock for either $23 in cash or shares of Consolidated common stock having equivalent value.
Rogers said that when the stock market closed on Friday, the last day of trading, SureWest stock was selling for $15.59 per share. Once the deal was announced Monday morning, the stock jumped up to $22.12 per share, he said.
Rogers said that pensions of retired SureWest employees will not be affected, since the pensions were frozen a few years ago and are under government protection.
Toby Lewis can be reached at . Follow him on Twitter @TobyLewis_RsvPT.
09 Feb 12 AGC Aerospace & Defense Names New Director of Marketing
OKLAHOMA CITY, Feb 07, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) –Johnny Lantz has joined AGC Aerospace & Defense, the operating portfolio of private equity group Acorn Growth Companies, as the Director of Marketing & Communications. Lantz brings with him more than a decade of proven marketing leadership experience from a number of related sectors. He will take responsibility for developing plans and executing projects and initiatives that support the broader short and long-term marketing strategy in accordance with the executive team’s vision.
Lantz will collaborate with Acorn’s portfolio companies to ensure the AGC brand remains relevant to customers and that all initiatives support the brand promise. He will also be responsible for company and industry-related communications and relations and will take a lead in managing vendor partners and communication agencies.
“We recruited Johnny for his unique combination of knowledge and experience,” said Jeff Davis, President of AGC. “His skill set is a great fit for our companies’ needs and vision for this role. He has the full support of our executive team and we expect his transition into the defense and aviation industry to be a smooth one.”
Davis also added, “Part of our success is built upon our ability to recognize talent and we understand the importance of investing in a seasoned professional to guide our brand’s message as we continue to grow our portfolio.”
Lantz is an accomplished marketing strategist and tactician with significant experience in start to finish multi-million dollar campaigns. his primary background experience includes: B2B publishing encompassing magazine subscriptions, website traffic, trade show exhibit, advertising, and attendee revenue streams. He has extensive continuing education in experiential marketing, social media, SEO, database management, corporate identity, and website functionality.
Lantz attended Oklahoma State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from the Spears School of Business. He is currently an active member of several professional organizations, including the American Marketing Association.
About AGC Aerospace & Defense
AGC Aerospace & Defense, the unifying brand of private equity group Acorn Growth Companies, is a global supplier of technologies, systems and services that support key commercial and military programs. Capabilities within the AGC Aerospace & Defense portfolio range from financing, engineering, and integration services to manufacturing, logistics, and aircraft modifications. AGC Aerospace & Defense is organized into four operating groups: Composites, Finance, Integrated Defense, and Services.
for additional information about AGC Aerospace & Defense, please visit agcaerospace.com .
SOURCE: AGC Aerospace & Defense
AGC Aerospace & Defense Johnny Lantz, 405-737-2676 Director of Marketing & Communications
Copyright Business Wire 2012
07 Feb 12 Effective Communication: How to Promote Yourself at Work
It is not easy to promote yourself. You have made a positive contribution for the benefit of the company. But, your bosses were not around to witness the situation. Yet, you want them to know so that your efforts are recognized and they remember you for the next job promotion. If you make blatant loud claims, people may think of you as a show-off. Yet, some people do it so effortlessly and get recognized for the next job promotion.
How do you impress your bosses and co-workers so that they think well of you and recognize your contributions? Is it possible to do so without being ostracized? yes, you can.
Here are some practical suggestions:
Tell an interesting Story
Report like a journalist. Describe what happened rather than boasting loudly and focusing on you. Give details of how things happen from A to Z, highlighting the interesting angle. It doesn’t have to be a unique story about aliens falling from the sky. an interesting but ordinary daily encounter can be a good starting point for your story. because it involves you, people will remember what you contributed.
Add Some Light Humor
Interject some light humor. Nothing beats a funny story to draw attention. If it is funny, people will hear you out. A witty person is often seen as more intelligent. It doesn’t have to be a 5-Star joke that you memorize from some bestseller joke book. It can be a simple statement of how unexpectedly someone behaved or how different a situation turned out. Laughter can bring people together. Laughter also lightens the atmosphere.
Bad Vs good. before Vs After
Describe the situation before you solved the problem. how bad it was, and how good it is after you have resolved the matter. It gives magnitude towards the difference you have made to the situation. Compare the worse (negative) that it was and how well (positive) it turned out after you have intervened.
What Is Your Reason
Try not to make stand-alone statements. Support your statements. Add a reason why you say or do something. When people understand why you’re doing something, they will tend to be more acceptable to what you say.
Who else Agrees With You
Who else is in agreement with you? When you have support from other people, it will tone down people’s (your listeners) inherent defensive nature to critically evaluate your statements. People now are not dealing with you alone. they are dealing with you and a few other people who happen to share the same opinion. With strong support, your statements will go a long way.
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