Archive: Business & Technology

How do you approach the major decisions you make in your business?  Do you ever think, pray, or meditate about how to best interact with your employees, your customers, or your vendors?  Or do you go through each day tackling each challenge or problem as it comes along, with no intended consequence, but instead working to put out endless fires?

In a prior article I mentioned Lynne McTaggart’s  book,  The Intention Experiment: Using Your Thoughts to Change Your Life and the World.   She wrote it in 2006, it was published in 2007, and today it has continued to evolve through her interactive website . 

The search for Ithaca and Tompkins County rental properties just got a whole lot easier, thanks to a new website recently launched by The Landlord Association of Tompkins County. The new site, located at www.ithacarents.com , was designed to compete locally with Craigslist.

The website is free for any renter or potential renter to use and there is no registration required. Property owners must be members of the Landlords Association of Tompkins County, in order to post a listing.

Last week I promised to share resources and a bibliography of works on the concept of intention, what Lynne McTaggert calls “using your thoughts to change your life and your world.” 

Whether one experiences answer to prayer, a flash of insight or intuition, a message from one's Higher Mind, or a download from the ascended masters, there is a connection between the our thoughts and the divine.   The power that comes from this communication is unmatched in any other human experience.

Referral Institute , the world’s leading referral training organization, announced its spring program schedule here in Ithaca.  The region (covering Tompkins and Cortland counties), is run by networking and referral expert, David Makar.  All programs are held in the South Hill Business Campus located at 950 Danby Road, Ithaca.

“Referral-based marketing is proven to be the most effective way to grow your business.  Our programs deliver cutting edge marketing training and results our clients demand.” Makar said.

It’s not unusual for business owners to be focused on the day-to-day operations in this very challenging economy.  To that, I say, “Beware!”  However exhausting it may be to deal with the fluctuations in the marketplace, now, more than ever, it is imperative to also keep an eye on one’s long-term intentions.

I have learned from personal experience, that writing one’s intentions, and goals, is integral to manifesting aligned results.  In fact, I have found over the past eight years in my work with my partner, Michael,  that in our business as well as in our personal life, we have realized every goal listed on our annual plan, year in and year out, without fail.  I stopped wondering why that is so, because I came to understand the power of intention.

Albany, New York — Ithaca/Tompkins County Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) was awarded the 2010 Marketing and Advertising Tourism Excellence Award at the Empire State Tourism Conference in Albany on February 9, 2010. The CVB was selected for the award by the New York State Travel and Vacation Association (NYSTVA), in recognition of its overall vision and approach to marketing.

In presenting the award, Lori Solomon-Duell, chair of the Tourism Excellence Awards committee, remarked that the Ithaca/Tompkins County Convention and Visitors Bureau and its community are “liberal thinkers and anything goes — they take chances that most would not. This is why they are able to brand their destination as smart and beautiful—basically they are someone everyone wants to date.”

Miller Mayer LLP has named a new partner and a new attorney. Kimberly N. Rothman has become the 12th partner and Randall L. Reed has joined the firm as Counsel.

Ms. Rothman has been an associate attorney at the firm since 2005, specializing in estate planning, estate administration and real estate law. She is a founding member of the Finger Lakes Women’s Bar Association, and serves on the board of the Community Foundation of Tompkins County and Habitat for Humanity of Tompkins and Cortland Counties. Rothman received her law degree from Harvard Law School and undergraduate degree from Cornell University.

Lincolnshire, IL – Ithaca, New York’s SATORI, owned by Lynette Grider and Christi Boothe, was named to the Salon Today 200 by Salon Today magazine, a top national business publication for salon and spa owners.

The magazine’s 13th annual Salon Today 200 issue profiled the selected salons in its January 2010 issue. The 200 salons were selected for their best business practices from applications submitted by Salon Today readers, who represent the 25,000 top-producing salons and spas in the country.

One year ago Wednesday, after several months of planning and negotiation, President Barak Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) into legislation.

According to the White House, ARRA is “a strong start towards economic viability,” but one year later, what has this signing meant for New Yorkers facing poverty?

Wells CollegeAURORA, N.Y.—Wells College is announcing the addition of an innovative new business center to its liberal arts offerings. This program puts Wells at the forefront of national efforts to revitalize undergraduate business programs by connecting them more fully to the liberal arts.

The College will immediately launch a center for the study of business through the liberal arts, which will focus on teaching business in a manner that stresses interdisciplinary and experiential learning, in keeping with Wells’ core curriculum. The College is charging the new center to build signature programs in areas of business that best leverage Wells’ distinctive values and strengths, including arts administration; non-profit business; “green” business; entrepreneurship; and hospitality.

Better Housing for Tompkins County held a forum for community leaders Tuesday morning to update them on the need for affordable housing and related services in Tompkins County.  Speakers included Tompkins County Legislature Chair Martha Robertson, Tompkins County Area Development (TCAD) Vice President Marth Armstrong, Ithaca College President Thomas Rochon, Cornell University President David Skorton, and Better Housing Executive Director John Spence.  Cayuga Radio Group's Geoff Dunn interviewed Better Housing clients.

In 2006 the county undertook an affordable housing needs assessment that showed that nearly 14,000 workers commuted to work in Tompkins County.  This led the county to try to encourage affordable housing construction at a rate of about 400 houses per year.  While that goal has not been met consistently Better Housing has partnered with other agencies to encourage such development (see story on Village Apartments ).

The State Theatre celebrated its one year anniversary under new management with a ribbon-cutting Wednesday. One year ago, The State Theatre of Ithaca, Inc., a 501c3 not-for-profit organization, purchased the Theatre from Historic Ithaca. A new business plan has been adopted to ensure a healthy future for theater. 

Over the past twelve months, many significant changes have been made at The State Theatre.   A new board of directors has been formed and a new Executive Director has been hired.  An innovative and sustainable business plan has been adopted to ensure a healthy future for this community treasure.