INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS
New England Chapter

News and Views

In this issue:

Member
News & Ideas

Member Profiles
Ken Lizotte
Ronna Cohen
Michael Katz

Upcoming Events

Strategic Partner
Events

Member News & Ideas

Bonnie Carson DiMatteo CMC, Atlantic Consultants http://www.atlanticconsultants.com spoke at the Boston Rotary Club’s February 6th meeting on “The E Factor; Creating Cultures Inspire Engagement.”

Bonnie will also be speaking at the Women’s Leadership Summit on March 13th at Bryant University, Rhode Island on “The E Factor-Creating Enthusiasm in your Company.”

Bonnie wrote an article in Insights - Winter Edition 2008 New England Human Resource Association entitled “Creating a Leadership Pipeline.”

Genetic Engineering News published an article by Allan B. Haberman, Ph.D. Haberman Associates, http://www.biopharmconsortium.com in its January 1st edition, entitled "Addressing Unmet Type 2 Diabetes Needs." The article is available on Allan’s website, at http://www.biopharmconsortium.com/GEN_diabetes_0108.pdf

2008 is off to a roaring start at Catalytic Management. Shelley Hall, Principal http://www.catalyticmanagement.com is pleased to announce new client relationships with Newmarket International, Chex Finer Foods, Bridgewater Savings Bank, Washington Savings Bank and the American Cancer Society.

Watch for new articles in Banking New York, Business Process Management Magazine and Chief Marketing Officer Magazine. In the coming months Shelley will be speaking to the Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce, Nashua Human Resource Association, American Women’s Accounting Association and the Wellesley Chamber of Commerce.

Ken Lizotte CMC, emerson consulting group inc. http://www.thoughtleading.com will speak about his new book “The Expert’s Edge: Become the Go-To Authority People Turn To Every Time” (McGraw Hill) to IMC San Diego on Wednesday, February 27th.

In the January/February issue of Cape Business magazine John Wheeler, Wheeler Performance Group http://www.wheelergroupllc.com published “Strategic Planning: A Vision and Roadmap to Growth.” The article, part of an 8-part series is being published simultaneously in Plymouth County Magazine. Article 3 in the series will focus on Corporate Statement of Values

On Tuesday, February 12th, John broadcasted segment #15 in my Roadmap to Prosperity Series, on WOMR (92.1) (www.womr.org). The segment was entitled “Creating a Culture of Accountability.”

On March 28th, John will be speaking on “Creating a Culture of Accountability” at JLC Live in Providence. JLC Live is the largest conference for the construction industry.

Is Web 2.0 a new technology or a new way of using the web? The answer is "Yes."

Web 2.0 started as a technology movement within the web community to provide tools and components for better web sites. With the ability to provide drag-and-drop interfaces, update only relevant portions of web pages, and push information to users, these technologies demonstrated that improved usability could lead to improved collaboration via the web.

At about the same time, businesses and organizations using the web began to realize that the web held uses beyond external communications. Yes, the web can be a platform for marketing, e-commerce, and customer service. But the web also provides a platform for extending business applications, workgroups, and information among knowledge workers.

While often a cliché, convergence really does happen. New tools meet new demands and a new breed of web-based capabilities emerges. Real Simple Syndication (RSS) gives organizations and people the ability to push information - text, music, and video - to individual subscribers. Blog technologies give anybody the ability to create and publish content, and to interact with the blog's readers. Wiki technologies allow real-time collaboration and information sharing. New interface development tools allow web applications to perform as well or better than local applications.

By Allen Falcon, http://www.horizoninformation.com

Thinking about the Economy

No one wants to miss out on economic opportunities. It is hard to call the peak in any economic cycle—and we’re not trying to do that. But there are a number of troubling trends in the economy right now that tells us it could be a challenging year ahead.

It is often said that the greatest benefit of planning is not the plan itself but, rather, the thought process that goes into it. Thinking about what to do in an economic downturn is this kind of exercise. What would the effects of a recession be on your market? Your customers? Your business? What are your customers planning for the coming year? Should you adjust what you are doing?

While you should not religiously use the past as your guide, you can learn from past recessions, especially if you are in an established industry. Does your industry lead or lag the overall economy? What drives demand? Then ask yourself, what is different today that may change the patterns?

You cannot predict the future but thinking about possible scenarios can help you prepare for the unexpected—the unknown that surely awaits you in the coming year.

Share Your News

Member Profiles

Living with Three Females Isn’t Half-Bad

Ken Lizotte, founder in 1996 of the emerson consulting group, inc www.thoughtleading.com, lives with three females: “a gorgeous wife Barbara and a sensational daughter Chloe (8 th grade) and a remarkable quadruped (Golden Retriever) named Chance. We’re in Concord, trodding the same hallowed ground as did Ralph Waldo Emerson, Louisa May Alcott, Henry David Thoreau and Nathanial Hawthorne.”

Ken’s business is to “make consultants famous! We do this by transforming them into thoughtleaders with an 'expert’s edge' so they can separate themselves from the competitive pack!” Ken calls his just-published book, The Expert’s Edge: Become the Go-To Authority People Turn To Every Time (McGraw Hill), his greatest success.

Ten Things You Didn’t Know About Ken Lizotte:

1. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, it would be... every variety of cheesecake offered at the Cheesecake Factory.

2. If I weren't a business person, I would be... a jungle explorer in Africa, specifically on Skull Island where The Phantom lives.

3. Something I would like to do, but haven't had the chance… Tour Africa (especially where The Phantom lives).

4. The last concert I went to… Ringo Starr (terrific!).

5. My favorite toy as a kid… American Flyer electric train set.

6. When I'm not working, you'll find me at... Gold’s Gym, the Capitol Theatre in Arlington or any Starbucks in any part of the known world.

7. My favorite TV show is... “The Office” or “24” (tie).

8. If I could be any animal, I would be... a quick-footed jungle cat so I could escape being hunted by myself, the jungle explorer on Skull Island (see #2 above).

9. The last movie I saw was... Rambo.

10. If I could have dinner with a famous person, dead or alive, he or she would be... Norman Mailer, my all-time favorite author.

Learn more about Ken and his business by visiting his firm’s website http://www.thoughtleading.com

Ronna has a breakthrough idea

Ronna S. Cohen is the founder and president of Breakthrough Business Performance, LLC. She is a successful entrepreneur and compelling speaker with over 20 years of experience in business management, corporate training, and strategic planning. Before establishing Breakthrough Business Performance, Ronna was the founder and president of The 20-20 Group, as well as Daycare Referral Services, Inc, a work/family service firm serving Fortune 500 corporations.

Her latest venture is focused on delivering time savings and new growth opportunities for business coaches and consultants, forever changing the way that they approach the entire assessment process – from pinpointing business concerns through strategizing about solutions and incorporating best practices into their own processes. BreakthroughAssess is the result of years of hands-on experience and Ronna’s own in-depth understanding of what coaches and consultants really need to have in their business toolset in order to succeed.

Ten Things You Didn’t Know About Ronna Cohen:

1. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, it would be… chocolate.

2. If I weren’t a businessperson, I would be an… archeologist.

3. Something I would like to do, but haven’t had the chance… travel to Hawaii and see a volcano.

4. The last concert I went to was… Bob Seger.

5. My favorite toy as a kid was… either Lincoln Logs or my Etch-a-Sketch.

6. When I’m not working, you will find me… gardening or lying in the sun by the ocean.

7. My favorite TV show is… Grey’s Anatomy or Boston Legal.

8. If I could be any animal, I would be a… koala bear.

9. The last movie I saw was… Juno.

10. If I could have dinner with a famous person, dead or alive, he or she would be… John F. Kennedy.

Learn more about Ronna and her business by visiting her firm’s website http:www.breakthroughbusinessperformance.com

Michael Katz: A Funny, Funny Man

Michael Katz is an award-winning humorist, entrepreneur and recovering corporate marketer who lives with his wife Linda in Hopkinton with their three children, Evan, Emily and Jonathan. Michael translates his unique view of everyday life into useful, authentic and entertaining business insights. As Founder and Chief Penguin of Blue Penguin Development, Inc., Michael is a recognized expert in the development of electronic newsletters and helps clients significantly increase sales by showing them how to build on their existing relationships.

Since launching Blue Penguin in 2000, Michael has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Business Week Online, Bloomberg TV, The Boston Globe, The Boston Herald and other national and local media.

Ten Things You Didn’t Know about Michael:

1. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, it would be... lobster.

2. If I weren't a business person, I would be... an E-Newsletter consultant.

3. Something I would like to do, but haven't had the chance to... dunk a basketball.

4. The last concert I went to was... The Evan Goodrow Band.

5. When I'm not working, you'll find me... shoveling the snow off of our ice skating rink.

6. My favorite TV show is... The Daily Show.

7.  If I could be any animal, I would be... anything with hair on its head.

8. The last movie I saw was... “To Kill a Mockingbird.”

9. If I could have dinner with a famous person, dead or alive, he or she would be... naked.

Learn more about Michael and his business by visiting his firm’s website http://www.bluepenguindevelopment.com

Upcoming Events

Friday, March 28, 2008
Thought Leading Conference
8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Hilton Garden Inn, Waltham, MA

The End of the Boom-and-Bust:
How Thought Leading Can Help You
Rise to the Top

A thought leading conference offered by IMCNE

• What separates the truly successful consultant from all the rest?
• How can you make your consulting practice THRIVE year in and year out? No more Boom-and-Bust cycles!!!
• Can you win recognition as THE authority in your field, bar none?
• How could you boost your annual revenue to mid- or high six figures, year after year? And keep it there!

Positioning yourself as a thought leader offers you the potential for such results. Your credibility with clients and peers will soar as word-of-mouth referrals send qualified prospects your way.. rather than you having to seek them out!

And you'll join the ranks of the highest paid consultants because thought leaders (research shows) do make the most money.

At "The End of Boom and Bust," you'll learn why this is so, how others have achieved it... and how you can take your own thought leading to the next level!

AGENDA
7:30 AM Registration and Continental Breakfast

8:45-9:00 AM OPENING/INTRO with Conference Chair Ken Lizotte CMC

9:00-9:50 AM KEYNOTE: "Developing Leading-Edge Ideas" with Alan Weiss CMC

10:00-10:50 AM BREAKOUT SESSIONS

• "Publishing Your Ideas" with Ken Lizotte CMC
• PANEL: "Conducting Research Projects" with Bob Buday, Mary Adams CMC and Curtis Bingham

11:00-11:50 AM "Speaking to Different Audiences" with Tom Kennedy CMC and Suzanne Bates

NOON -1:20 PM LUNCH KEYNOTE
"The Harvard Business Review Breakthrough Ideas of 2008" with Lew McCreary and Jeff Govendo

1:30-2:20 PM BREAKOUT SESSIONS

• "Traditional vs. ‘Social’ Media?’ Which Work Best for Promoting Your Ideas?" with Lewis Green
• ROUNDTABLES: "Selling Your Services Effectively," with Nancy Stephens, Ron Vissochi, Shelley Hall, Denise Clancey and Ronna Cohen

2:30-3:20 PM "Tying It All Together" with Michael Katz

3: 20-3:30 PM Summary and Send-off

For more details on the individual sessions, speaker bios and the 2008 HBR Breakthrough Ideas visit http://www.imcne.org/events/2008/mar2808.html

INVESTMENT
Early bird for Members $125, Non-members $150 through March 7th.
Regular Pricing for Members $150, Non-members $175 through March 27th.

If room is available $200 at the door.

Event Sponsors:

IMCUSA Academy Affiliate Course

RAINTODAY
Death To The Billable Hour: How To Develop Value-Based Pricing - 20% IMC Member Discount

IMC Members: Use this special registration link to receive your 20% discount - http://www.raintoday.com/billablehourimc.cfm

No client buys hours, and hence services professionals don't sell time. Yet two generations of accountants, lawyers, consultants, and other services professionals have been taught they do, and by forcing them to account for every six minutes of their day, they begin to internalize this attitude to the detriment of focusing on wealth creation for their clients.

Based on upon Ron Baker's best-selling book, Pricing on Purpose: Creating and Capturing Value (John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2006), this webinar will give you alternatives to pricing your services based on client-perceived value, rather than hours spent.

Webinar Details:

• When: Thursday, February 28, 2008 at 2:00 PM EST
• Duration: 90 minutes - Includes a 30 minute interactive Q&A session
• IMC Member Registration Fee: $79 per line (this is 20% off the regular registration fee of $99)
• Who Should Attend: Consulting and professional services marketers, business developers, leaders, and partners who are interested in being a leader in moving away from the hourly billing method.
• Money-Back Guarantee: If you are note completely satisfied, we will refund your registration fee

Registration also includes:

• Copy of presentation slides
• Webinar recording
• 30 minute interactive Q&A session

The chance to win one of five copies of Ron Baker's book, Pricing on Purpose: Creating and Capturing Value

Strategic Partner March Events

The following is a Calendar of Events listing upcoming meetings of our STRATEGIC PARTNERS. As a member of IMCNE you may register for ICFNE, NEWBO, SPC and ICCA events at the member rate and for ODLG you may attend for $20. All other Strategic Partner events you must pay the guest fee. To learn about the details of each meeting or to register, click on the web site listed with the event.

Assoc. for Development, Advancement & Productivity through Technology Training (ADAPT)
www.adapttrain.org
Next Event: TBD

Independent Computer Consultants Association (ICCA)*
www.icca-boston.org
Next Event: Mar. 25th
Assessments: A Consultant's Tool for Organizational Change

International Coach Federation of New England (ICFNE)*
www.icfne.org
Next Event: Mar. 3rd
Jam Night with Cynthia Loy Darst and Chrissy Carew —
Up-Close and Personal with Two of our Finest Masters

Massachusetts Bay OD Learning Group
www.learninggroup.org
Next Event: Mar. 18th
Four Types of Conversation

Merrimack Valley Venture Forum (MVVF)
www.mvvf.org
Next Event: Mar. 19th
Investments for Your Business with No Strings Attached

National Speakers Association of New England (NSANE)
www.nsanewengland.com
Next Event: Mar. 8th
Members Only: The Nest Step in Growing Your Business -
Six Hours of Personal Coaching & Business Planning

New England Women Business Owners (NEWBO)*
www.newbo.org
Next Event: Mar. 12th
Your Branding Bootcamp - How to Tell Your Story So It Sells

Society of Professional Consultants (SPC)*
www.spconsultants.org
Next Event: Mar. 24th
Consultants Makeover

WPI Venture Forum (WPIVF)
www.wpiventureforum.org
Next Event: Mar. 11th
Traditional Manufacturing Is High Tech Today

Roundtables: Next Event Featuring You?

Have you read a good business book lately? Do you have a question that you would love to ask a group of consultants? Are you one of our New England members that are tired of all our meetings being held in Boston? Do you have a challenge that you are facing and would like to get feedback? Do you have a case study that would fuel a good discussion? THEN USE THIS RESOURCE.

It takes about three minutes to fill out a Roundtable Proposal. You give us a title and description; we’ll publicize it and handle registrations. This program helps our members Get Smart, Get Known, Get Business. What are you waiting for? Download the form today from our Programs page (http://www.imcne.org/programs.htm) or contact Linda Watson at 508-400-3011 or lwatson@whirlawaygroupllc.com