Tuesday, September 8, 2009

“Small-Business Sentiment Improves - Wall Street Journal” plus 4 more

“Small-Business Sentiment Improves - Wall Street Journal” plus 4 more

Small-Business Sentiment Improves - Wall Street Journal

Posted: 08 Sep 2009 06:05 AM PDT

By Kathleen Madigan

Small businesses grew more optimistic in August, following recent data that show a stronger U.S. economy.

The Small Business Optimism Index rose 2.1 points to 88.6, the National Federation of Independent Business reported in a press release Tuesday. The index now stands 7.6 points higher than its recent low point hit in March.

Seven of the 10 components increased or were unchanged last month.

"The gain in the Optimism Index clearly signals that the worst is likely over, but so far there has been no "surge" in sentiment or in the important Index components directly tied to GDP (capital spending, inventory investment and job creation)," the NFIB report said.

The subindex covering expected business conditions jumped 13 percentage points to 10% in August. Sales expectations improved 6 points to -5%. But the subindex for capital spending slipped 2 points to 16%, and the subindex on increasing inventories fell 2 points to -7%.

Reports of better earnings rose 5 points to -40%.

As with other job reports that showed improvement in August, the NFIB subindex on employment rose 3 points to a zero reading last month.

Inflation among small business owners remained muted. The net percentage of owners reporting higher average selling prices remained at -19%, with more businesses cutting prices than raising them.

Business Career Foundation Program (BCFP) - Flight Global.com

Posted: 08 Sep 2009 09:32 AM PDT

The Business Career Foundation Program (BCFP) develops participants into business professionals by providing a challenging, fast-paced learning experience through a diverse two-year rotation program. Program participants are exposed to a variety of business positions such as Contracts and Pricing, Estimating, Business Operations, Integrated Scheduling, Financial Controls, Financial Planning, Supplier Management/ Procurement, Procurement Financial Analysis, and one business elective based on the preference of the participant and assignment availability. These business opportunities are located within the St. Louis region at the major facilities in St. Louis and St. Charles. Upon completion of the program, participants are equipped with leadership and functional skills necessary to excel in a variety of roles across The Boeing Company.

Competencies

 

COMMUNICATION: Listens effectively. Speaks with clarity and precision. Writes clearly and concisely. GENERAL BUSINESS SKILLS: Ability to apply business principles, methods and processes to solve problems. INITIATIVE: Willingness to take prompt and independent action to accomplish objectives. Willingness to seek out additional assignments or tasks to achieve goals beyond what is required. LEADERSHIP: Makes recommendations to improve systems or procedures. Demonstrates a strong work ethic and sense of urgency for completing work assignments. Meets commitments. Seeks out and accomplishes professional development opportunities. PEOPLE WORKING TOGETHER: Effectively participates in accomplishing team goals. Develops and uses collaborative relationships to facilitate the accomplishment of work goals. Values the contribution of people from diverse backgrounds. PROBLEM SOLVING/JUDGMENT: Gathers, examines and interprets information from different sources to generate effective solutions to problems and make sound business decisions.

Typical Education/Experience

 

Bachelor's degree and typically 3 or more years' related work experience, a Master's degree and typically 1 or more years' related work experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Other Job related information

 

Open to students graduating with a Bachelor's degree between December 2009 and June 2010. Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Accounting or other analytical fields are preferred; other undergraduate degrees may be considered. Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25; 3.5 is preferred. Please include GPA, degree and expected date of graduation on resume. This position will include participation in a 2 year/ 24 month rotation program within various business functions. As part of this program, participants will rotate across functions and Business Units every 4 months.

*** Please note that depending on the specific position, you may be required to pass additional medical tests, credit checks, and/or other requirements. These additional items are required for the Company to comply with various laws and regulatory rules.***

Every job requisition has specific and unique requirements listed under 'Description', 'Competencies', and 'Education'. Applicants will increase their opportunities for consideration by demonstrating compatibility with these requirements in their resumes.

The job specifications - including competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics), job-relevant work experience, education, and other requirements described in this requisition - will be the basis for applicant screening, including resume reviews, structured interviews and any other assessments used to support the hiring decision. All candidates considered for this position may be required to participate in a structured interview. The structured interview is a standardized method of evaluating candidates' job-related competencies to support an objective selection and promotion process.

Business Digest - HometownAnnapolis.com

Posted: 08 Sep 2009 08:14 AM PDT

ODENTON - M&T Bank opened a new branch in Odenton last week, part of the Buffalo, N.Y., company's continued expansion in Maryland.

The new branch is located at 1351 Blair Drive in the Fort Meade Small Business Park.

It has drive-up windows, Saturday hours, safe-deposit boxes and two automated teller machines, according to a release.

The branch manager is Susan Coumans, the business banker is Irina Falletta and the licensed financial consultant is James Polucha, according to a release.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. The drive-up windows will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

Nick Lambrow, president of M&T's Chesapeake region, said in a statement that the Odentown branch is the second one the bank has opened in Anne Arundel County in the past six months.

Raising money in these tough times

Arnold - Anne Arundel Community College is offering an event to help officials with area nonprofit groups cope with lingering fundraising issues in the face of the lagging economy.

The networking and training event is scheduled for 7:45 a.m. Oct. 9 in the Center for Applied Learning and Technology as the fall kickoff for the college's nonprofit leadership continuing-education programs.

The morning starts off with a presentation, "Effective Collaboration in Challenging Times," cohosted by the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County and Leadership Anne Arundel. Then from 9 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., Stacey Sickels Heckel, executive director of the AACC Foundation Inc., will offer tips for "Fundraising in Challenging Times," including maintaining donor relationships during challenging times.

The cost is $40 with advance registration required. Seating is limited. For more information, call 410-777-2325 or visit www.aacc.edu/nonprofit.

Consignment shop works with artists

Arnold - Honeysuckle Quality Consignments recently opened Honeysuckle Home, a boutique for new and consignment furniture and home accessories in Arnold.

Owner Katie McKinstry of Linthicum and designer Victoria Larson of Annapolis partnered to open the shop at 1584 Ritchie Highway, according to a release.

Similar to Honeysuckle Quality Consignments, Honeysuckle Home offers gently used furniture and accessories. The new shop also will provide new home accessories, accents and gifts.

"The store has a real boutique feel," McKinstry said in the release.

It will feature a rotating gallery space, which will allow local artists to display and sell their works.

"We want to work with our local arts community," Larson said. "We've got some great display space and we can offer affordable, original art to our clients. The artists have another venue to show their work so it makes a nice relationship."

For more information on consignments, visit www.honeysuckleqc.com.

- From staff reports

More Business - San Francisco Gate

Posted: 08 Sep 2009 08:14 AM PDT

A person familiar with the meeting said GM's board won't make any decision about the automaker, whose brands also include Britain's Vauxhall, until Wednesday. The person spoke anonymously because of the ongoing discussions.

Opel spokesman Frank Klaas said Opel had no comment on the meeting, while GM Europe officials in Zurich, Switzerland did not respond to requests for comment.

GM, which has repeatedly delayed a decision, has two bids for Ruesselsheim-based Adam Opel GmbH to choose from. German officials, Opel workers and unions have declared support for the offer from Canadian auto parts maker Magna International Inc. and Russian state-backed bank Sberbank, because they believe Magna would preserve more jobs in Germany.

The other bid is from RHJ International, a Brussels-based investment house, which many in Germany fear could sell the unit back to GM at a later date.

The European Employee Forum of General Motors, the European Metalworkers' Federation, and other European unions issued a joint statement calling for no more delays in a decision, fearful that it could put Opel and Vauxhall at further financial risk.

They asked that GM's board "agree to a recommendation" so it can be made to the Opel Trust. Just ahead of GM's bankruptcy earlier this year, Opel was transferred to a government-backed trust that holds 65 percent of the automaker, with GM holding 35 percent.

"The EEF, EMF and the European unions are convinced that a decision on the Opel and Vauxhall sale on Sept. 8 is in the common interest of General Motors, Opel and Vauxhall and its European work force," the statement continued.

Last month GM's board declined to choose between the bids, raising speculation that it might not want to sell the unit at all in order to keep its technologies from falling into competitors' hands and to keep Opel engineers under the GM umbrella.

Opel employs 25,000 people in Germany, about half of GM Europe's total work force, and German politicians are keen to safeguard jobs ahead of national elections Sept. 27.

The German government has provided euro1.5 billion ($2.14 billion) in bridge loans to Opel and has offered a further euro4.5 billion in credit to support the Magna bid.

Under the terms of the Magna bid, Magna and Sberbank would get a 55 percent stake in Opel. GM would hold onto a 35 percent stake and Opel workers would get 10 percent.

RHJ sweetened its offer last week, agreeing to provide euro300 million in cash compared to euro275 million offered earlier and would expect loan guarantees of euro3.2 billion from the government, down from euro3.8 billion.

___

On the Net:

www.opel.com

www.gm.com

Business News - Am770chqr.com

Posted: 08 Sep 2009 08:28 AM PDT


Ford's St. Thomas Assembly plant Talbotville. Ford says it has no plans to manufacture vehicles at the St. Thomas plant beyond 2011. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Dave Chidley/ file"

TORONTO - Ford Canada and the Canadian Auto Workers will begin preliminary labour talks today.

Ford (NYSE:F) says it needs a new contract in order to stay competitive with other manufacturers in both Canada and the United States.

The CAW gave both General Motors and Chrysler massive concessions earlier this year as part of a restructuring effort that saw both companies file for bankruptcy protect in the U.S.

In the past, all three North American automakers have reached similar contracts through pattern bargaining, but Ford was left out this time around because it didn't ask for government help.

The CAW has said it's willing to bargain, but wants to secure its current Canadian manufacturing footprint, which would include keeping open Ford's plant in St. Thomas, Ont.

However, Ford says it has no plans to manufacture vehicles at the St. Thomas plant beyond 2011.

Content Provided By Canadian Press.
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