Midwest Society of Professional Consultants

October 4^th, 2006

MSPC Consultants College

The "Consultants" College concept in professional society meetings (originally conceived by Dave Taylor in 2003) was reintroduced in May and June of 2006 with such success that we are offering the format again in August, but with fresh subjects.  The August College program will feature four tracks.  All tracks will be conducted before and after dinner.  These smaller-group sessions will be more focused and allow for more interaction between participants and moderators.

Your Technology: A Non-Technical
Review Of MORE Things You Need To Know 
Moderator Gregg Bieser 

In this session Gregg expands on his Consultant's College presentation covering things that all entrepreneurs and business owners should think about at least once... 

We'll briefly revisit critical subjects:   
  * Backup   
  * Disaster Readiness & Recovery

...and cover new topics in greater depth...   
  * Virus/MalWare Protection   
  * Internet Connectivity & Security   
  * Data Privacy   
  * How To Give New Life To Old Systems   
  * ...more...

Be ready to ask your questions and discuss your experiences!

Gregg Bieser is President of Brass Ring Software, a software development and systems support firm providing high-end services to a select clientele since 1994.  Clients include small business, entrepreneurs, and large multinationals (Coldwell Banker,  Mitsubishi, etc.). 

Web Search Marketing
Moderators Tom Casale (Simplified Solutions)
and Jon Morris (Internet Marketing Initiative)

As the Web evolves so too do the ways to effectively market a website with Search Engines.  Tom’s company, Simplified Solutions, designs and develops search-engine friendly sites and leverages new web channels to market them, while Jon’s company specializes in driving measurable traffic to your website through programs like Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Paid Search, Directory Submissions, Yahoo! Paid Inclusion and others.  You’ve got to be smart and tenacious to battle your way to the top of Search Engine results.  Jon knows how to do it.  You’ll learn about the importance of keywords, content and the difference between organic and pay search, plus a few tricks and tips along the way. Tonight’s program features web marketers Tom Casale and Jon Morris for a lively introduction and discussion about Search Engine Marketing.

Tom Casale founded Simplified Solutions (www.simplified solutions .biz) in early 2002 to help businesses communicate better using the Web.  Today the growing suite of Simplified Solutions products and services enhance communities, drive website traffic and build relationships using the latest ‘New Web Marketing’ tools and techniques with businesses and associations across the country.  Mr. Casale has extensive experience in website content development and management.  He was the creator and content manager of CNN Interactive Chicago, producing various forms of content from breaking news stories to streaming video and interactive WebCasts.  He served as the Managing Editor of Consumers Digest Online, a leading Internet product comparison and review site.  Mr. Casale joined the web agency, Web Design Group, Inc., in 1999 as a Senior Account Manager focusing on the specific needs of a growing portfolio of large clients and later served as an Enterprise Sales Manager for Divine Inc.  He was previously an award-winning videographer for CNN, earning an Emmy for news coverage, a Cable Ace and a Chicago Headline Club Lisagor award for Exemplary Journalism.  He has successfully launched other Internet startups including www.AirportFriendly.com (a site for frequent travelers), and www.HurricaneNow.com, the first website to successfully stream more than 50 hours of subscription-based Web-only live hurricane video from 5 major storms in 2005. 

Jon Morris has 10 years of experience in the search marketing field. Prior to creating IMI, Morris managed the Internet Marketing department for Ketchum Directory Advertising an Omnicom Company from January 2002 to June 2003. Some of his group’s accounts included Allstate Insurance, Lowe’s Home Improvement, Kinko’s, Delta and Best Western. He received three industry excellence awards for his work from the Yellow Pages Integrated Media Association.  Previous to working at Ketchum, Morris founded Net Traffic in May 1996. Under Morris’ leadership, Net Traffic served such top clients as FTD.com, SBC, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Red Herring Communications, Neiman Marcus, and Chicago Board Options Exchange. In 1999, Morris was named as one of Chicago’s top 30 entrepreneurs under the age of 30 by the Chicago Sun-Times. Additionally, Net Traffic was recognized by ChannelSeven.com, an industry watch group that tracks Internet marketing trends, as one of the top interactive agencies in the United States in 2000.  Morris served as an elected board member for the Chicago Interactive Marketing Association in 1999 and 2000. He also co-founded LOLA and was on the Chicago organizing committee for First Tuesday in 2000 and 2001.  Morris completed his MBA with high honors from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business in 2005 and was the recipient of the Outstanding Achievement Award for graduating first in his class. Morris also obtained his bachelor degree in Economics from Kenyon College in 1996. 

Consultant Science 551-Graduate Symposium
Moderator Ray Levulis (R J Levulis & Associates)

This is an advanced discussion group for seasoned consultants who want to exchange happenings within the last one to two months with respect to their relationships with customers, prospects, partners, competitors, vendors, etc.  Issues can range from good and bad times to problems they have faced and problems they have solved!  Topics covered in this session will include fee setting strategies, overcoming client/prospect objections, setting client/prospect expectations, and doing background research on client/prospects.

Ray Levulis, a former MSPC president, has over 30 years of management consulting experience.  He holds a BS degree in industrial engineering from Lawrence Technological University and an MBA from the University of Detroit.  Ray is a Certified Management Consultant with the Institute of Management Consultants, and a Life member of the Institute of Industrial Engineers.  His services are geared to reducing costs, improving customer service and planning facilities, domestically and internationally.  Ray has conducted assignments in a variety of industries for organizations such as Deere, Steelcase, Ace Hardware, Kelsey-Hayes, Ford, Sears, Fiat, ITW, and the U.S. Army.