425_ Knowledge Makes the Difference When Building a Business
Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) Denver was named ACG 2007 Chapter of the Year out of 53 chapters worldwide. In addition to serving the needs of corporations in Colorado, ACG-Denver is proud to offer a scholarship and mentoring programs for MBA and Executive MBA students at the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver and the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado. Larry talked to Christopher Pelley, board member of ACG-Denver and CEO, Managing Director and Founder of Capital Investment Management Company (CIMCO) an independent financial advisory firm. Chris feels strongly that Knowledge makes the difference when building a business. ACG-Denver delivers that knowledge and is a membership organization comprised of corporate executives, intermediaries, private equity firms and service providers that is rich in networking, relationship building and deal making. Chris feels that supporting an organization that does so much for the business community makes dollars and sense. We'll be hearing more about 6th Annual Rocky Mountain Corporate Growth Conference coming up in March 12 - 13, 2008, and as you can imagine Chris is very involved. The focus of ACG-Denver is to foster growth in private and publicly held companies through 'organic' and 'M&A' strategies.
Related Links:  CIMCO || ACG Channel || Corp Growth Conf 2008 || Web Community Calendar ||  Keywords ACG, Denver, Association for Corporate Growth, Christopher Pelley, CIMCO, Capital Investment Management Company
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422_ Effective Use of Equity Incentives - Challenges and Choices
Compensation and Effective use of Equity Incentives were discussed in detail with Mark Weakley, Partner, Holme Roberts & Owen, Boulder with Irene Gallagher, Partner, Holme Roberts & Owen, Denver. There are three main compensation forms: 1.) Stock Options [most familiar to employees] 2.) Then we’ve got Restricted Stock which can either be bonuses or require payment from the employee; 3.) This category gives us more flexibility in how we structure the actual measure of the incentive – and that would be in the ‘Phantom Stock’ or stock appreciation rights. Issues will vary with Common Law Employees, Contract employees, and Independent Contractors. Mark and Irene are often asked, “How can the state or the IRS know if the person is an independent contractor or not? We have an agreement, the employee signed it, isn’t that good enough?” Clearly this is not good enough. The time comes when you no longer need the employee. Without thought the employee files for unemployment insurance and that’s how the state finds out about them. “Backdoor Discovery”. Now the state can come in and look at all of your employees, reclassify them and you could be looking at back wages, potentially overtime, penalties and interest – it can really stack up. That “Backdoor Discovery” is a sure fire way to get multiple agencies on your coattails. You not only have the state level revenue agency and the department of labor, you also have the federal level because the Social Security Administration is going to want their cut of what you should have been paying in the payroll taxes all along. Then there's 409A...listen now.
Related Links:  Holme Roberts & Owen || It's the Law || U.S. Commercial Service || Entrepreneurs || Keywords: Mark Weakley, Irene Gallagher, Equity Incentives, Stock, Holme Roberts & Owen, 409A, HRO, Entrepreneurs 12/10/07 Bytes: 15612345  >>LISTEN

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424_ Big and Small Companies Look at Outsourcing Differently
"Standing out is a must today when 70% of small businesses fail," claims Wendy Bohling, Vice President Sales & Marketing for Magpie. For smaller companies it is extremely important to differentiate your company from the competition. Terry Morreale, Senior Engineer, Applied Trust and producer of the Women in IT Channel discussed how Magpie handled that in Magpie with fewer than 100 people. Magpie has its roots in Bell Laboratories and Wendy has spent 22 years in the telecommunications industry including AT&T to Bell Laboritoies/Lucent and AVAYA. Wendy pointed out that their software engineers, developers and gurus have mastered the techniques of Agile and Extreme Programming and with a 99% ontime delivery, that has been their differentiator. Terry and Wendy got into a very interesting discussion about outsourcing. What we hear about the most is offshoring. Wendy suggested and Terry very much agreed that there is a movement coming back that's called rural or farm sourcing as well as onshoring. This is a point where smaller companies can take advantage of their flexibility, be priced right and make that one of their differentiators.
Related Links:  Magpie || Women in IT Channel || Applied Trust Engineering || Find It || Keywords:Wendy Bohling, Terry Morreale, Magpie, Applied Trust, Outsourcing, Offshoring, Onshoring, IT >> Bytes: 21671500> LISTEN >> 12/17/07

423_ 20 Types of Experts Needed for International Expansion
Rob Lamb (Holme Roberts & Owen) and Bill Decker (Partners International) continue in part 2 of the discussion about market entry into China. They stress that 20 types of experts are needed for an international entry and China is no exception. This is the list of of other key areas:  Market Savvy CFO; Tax Expert;  HR Expert; Regulator; Liaison;  Evangelist;  Product Modifier;  MarCom;  Mode of Entry.  Each of these points are dicussed including the challenges, choices and necessities. Part 2 of 2

Related Links:  Partners International || China-Bashing Blog || China Biz Info || Holme Robers & Owen || It's the Law || Keywords:China, Rob Lamb, Bill Decker, Holme Roberts & Owen, Partners International, Guan Xi, Bytes: 23679376 > LISTEN >> 12/17/07

Part 1 of 2 419_ International Market Entry Into China
Garth Jensen introduces two of his colleagues, Rob Lamb and Bill Decker, they discuss what is required for market entry into China. Robert Lamb is Special Counsel in the HRO Commercial Law and Securities Practice Group. His practice is largely focused on international business, and he brings extensive experience with matters involving the Far East market including China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Mr. Lamb works with local and national businesses, as well as government entities, to access the Chinese markets, and he has experience with transactions involving private equity investments. Bill Decker is founder and managing director of Partners International. He consults in foreign and domestic market penetration, negotiation, cross-cultural understanding, and strategy for Start-ups and company growth. Bill speaks fluent Chinese as well as four other foreign languages. They both agree that 20 types of experts are needed for an international entry and China is no exception. Here are a few topics: A Strategist, someone who knows and understands the nuances of China; An International Negotiator, not just a regular one, because those negotiating rules change; A Connector, someone who has the right connections. “Guan Xi”; Translator, meaning what’s in the written word. What’s in the brochure, what’s in the emails; Interpreter. Means someone actually at these meetings and interpreting what’s being said and what’s being heard.; Market Researcher for the Chinese Market; There's more.
Related Links: Partners International || China-Bashing Blog || China Biz Info ||  Holme Roberts & Owen || It's the Law || Keywords: China, Rob Lamb, Bill Decker, Holme Roberts & Owen, Partners International, Guan Xi, >> Bytes: 26440414  LISTEN  12/10/07
Doing Business in China Series - Part 1 of 2: Patience and Getting a Deal Closed in China

421_ Life of the Entrepreneur: Controlling Your Destiny
A few keys for being a successful entrepreneur shared by Nancy Phillips were: maintain a good sense of humor; overcome the nay-sayers; and practice real-world economics. Nancy is the Co-Founder, Director, COO of ViaWest and shared her story and poignant points about building and growing a business even in the toughest of times to Lucy Sanders, CEO and Founder of the National Center for Women & Information Technology and NCWIT board member, Lee Kennedy along with Larry Nelson. Nancy loves technology and people and has a long history with the Telecom industry. She enjoys the challenges of being an entrepreneur for many reasons including her passion to control her destiny. Nancy says her husband claims, "Because I'm a control freak." Phillips has also been a principal, executive and consultant for numerous successful telecommunications companies including France Telecom, MCI and Qwest. Over 15 years ago, she began her career with Teleconferencing Systems Canada as Vice President of Sales and it was in this role that she met Roy Dimoff - the two have been loyal business partners ever since. Nancy shares some excellent advice for managers, leaders and entrepreneurs.
Related Links: ViaWest || NCWIT Heroes || NCWIT Blog || CO Coalition for Gender and IT || NCWIT Practice|| Keywords: Nancy Phillips, ViaWest, Lucy Sanders, Lee Kennedy, Entrepreneurs, National Center for Women & Information Technology, NCWIT Heroes > 12/10/07 Bytes: 48124972 LISTEN

420_ Bio Startup with $7.2 Million in Angel Investments
SUPER Bug beware. MicroPhage is focused on improving health worldwide through leadership in rapid bacterial detection says Jack Wheeler, Founder and VP Business Development of MicroPhage (and Chairman of the Board, Colorado BioScience Association). They have raised over $7 M in angel capital to date. The Company develops and markets diagnostics for use in the clinical marketplace through the use of its bacteriophage enabling technology. The company has chosen to focus its initial efforts to help solve medical crises involving such problems as over use of antibiotics and antibiotic resistant bacteria. Its first products expected in late 2008 are anticipated to set a new standard for clinicians and hospital staff in methicillin-resitant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) identification and antibiotic testing. MicroPhage’s mission is to be a worldwide leader in rapid bacterial diagnostics, both identification and antibiotic susceptibility / resistance testing, through its bacteriophage-based amplification platform for immunoassay diagnostics. The company will develop, manufacture, and market these tests into the clinical market. Phage Enabled diagnostics allow for: More precise detection: More direct detection; More affordable detection; More rapid detection with results in a little as 45 minutes instead of 72 hours.
Related Links: MicroPhage ||  BioWest 2007 || BioScience Channel || w3w3.com Blog || Keywords: Jack Wheeler, Life Sciences, MicroPhage, Super Bug, MRSA, MSSA ID, Susceptibility, BioWEST 2007 > 12/10/07 Bytes: 16323294 > LISTEN