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INSTITUTE
OF MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS |
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News and Views |
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eNewsletter for the New England Consulting Community October 2006  |
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In this issue: IMCNE Member Profiles Member Article |
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Friday, October 27, 2006 October 28-31, 2006 Tuesday, November 7, 2006 Meeting client expectations is arguably the consummate definition of a successful consulting engagement. In defining what makes a successful project certainly the client’s perspective, i.e. have their expectations been met, is vital. But meeting client expectations goes beyond the identification of deliverables in the statement of work or contract. And even though we may painstakingly document our deliverables and contractual obligations with full customer/client agreement, proceeding with singleness of purpose in that direction does not assure a successful engagement and satisfied client. Join Rob Cimini (www.apogeemg.com) to discuss how to meet your client’s expectations. Thursday, November 16, 2006 A "thoughtleader" communicates meaningful, innovative ideas about issues and trends in a targeted industry via "thoughtleader channels," such as publishing articles and books, speaking before professional groups, and spreading their original messages via the media and their own networks. Being recognized by your clients, prospects and peers as a thoughtleader creates a clear competitive advantage, separating the thoughtleading consultant from the competitive pack and boosting profitable relationships with both new and existing clients. By making yourself "famous," your target market seeks you out, wondering if they can afford you! Join Ken Lizotte, CMC (www.thoughtleading.com) and learn how to make this happen. Thursday, December 7, 2006 Strategic Partner Events — Check out our Calendar of Strategic Partner and Other Events on our web site for more information on events of interest. Click www.imcne.org/spcalendar.html, then click on the appropriate link for detailed information that could save you money. |
| News from the Board CMC Summits: We are still looking for our CMC members to submit proposals for these powerful CMC-only events. This is a great way to elevate your profile in the Boston market. More information and a downloadable proposal form (Word format) is available at http://imcne.org/forms/CMC%20Summit%20RFP%202006-07.doc |
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Tony Raymond, (New Harbor Technical Management) will be presenting Software Quality Planning - The essentials, this fall at the The North East Quality Council (NEQC) Conference is to be held in Mansfield, MA. He also presented at The Better Software Conference and Expo which was held in Las Vegas this past summer. For more information visit www.newhabortechmgt.com Lewis Green, (L&G Business Solutions - www.l-gsolutions.com) will present Direct Marketing Doesn’t Need to Cost a Bundle at the Hartford County Exchange on November 2, 2006, Vito's By The Park, Hartford CT, 8 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. |
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Allan B. Haberman, Ph.D . (Haberman Associates - www.biopharmconsortium.com) is the author of an article published in the September 22, 2006 web edition of Pharma DD, entitled "Safety Issues Hamper Dual PPAR Agonists: Is Partial Antagonism the Solution?" Read the article by clicking here: www.pharmadd.com
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Bill Gately (The Rockland Group, Inc.) Christopher Taylor (Taylor & Taylor Consulting)  Bill Gately has over 25 years’ experience managing in several startup, growth and turnaround businesses. He has held executive level and management positions responsible for business P&L, business development, finance, sales, marketing, operations, and product development. His most recent position was general manager of Philips Advanced Metrology Systems, Inc. a startup semiconductor capital equipment company, wholly owned by Philips, which Bill successfully grew and divested to a private equity firm. This effort required extensive technology and product development, strategic marketing, and identifying and negotiating strategic partnerships with existing industry leaders to accelerate the growth curve. Bill has extensive international experience in sales, business development, and effectively establishing distribution and support channels. Bill holds a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering from Northeastern University, an MBA from Babson College, and a Professional Engineering license.
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Independence Came Knocking and David Answered the Door Today he works with a variety of clients, helping grow their businesses by developing marketing strategies. To date, his most interesting client work was to help a sales force prioritize their efforts by developing a model predicting what each of their 20,000 customers would spend the following year. Unfortunately, the company was purchased so we never knew the results. David was born in Canada and has been a citizen for about 10 years now (Yes, he's legal). His wife Jeanne is a nurse at Mass Eye and Ear Hospital in Boston and their son is a developer for the investment trading software firm The McGregor Group. His parents are jealous of all his activities and travels. Ten Things You Didn’t Know about David Wright: 1. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, it would be… turkey - it's a food I just never get tired of 2. If I weren't a business person, I would be a… successful golf professional - travel, camaraderie, career longevity and good money. (Of course, with my game I'd never be successful.) 3. Something I would like to do, but haven't had the chance…travel more abroad. 4. The last concert I went to… Technically, like Chris V from last month's issue it was the Bare Naked Ladies, but that was free. The last one I paid for was Paul Simon and Bob Dylan. The biggest name I ever saw live (and I'm dating myself here) was the Beatles. 5. My favorite toy as a kid… My bicycle: it gave me independence & freedom. 6. When I'm not working, you'll find me… in some athletic endeavor in any season. 7. My favorite TV show is… 24, unrealistic, but riveting. Forget those reality shows. 8. If I could be any animal, I would be a... A golden lab, I could play and rest when I wanted and receive lots of attention. I like penguins though, but that's a rough climate to be in. 9. The last movie I saw was… Won't mention it because we only went to it because we couldn't get into our first choice. Last good recent movie was Munich. 10. If I could have dinner with a famous person, dead or alive, he or she would be… Anwar Sadat to see if he thinks there is any hope for peace in the Middle East. In business it would probably be Bill Gates to find out what it takes to transform a culture. Brooks Fenno: Consultant Extraordinaire and Secret Spy Brooks used to climb mountains and play tournament tennis, but his legs gave out so it’s on to golf. He continues to ski and SCUBA dive worldwide, and last year took up flying. His greatest success was reaching the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, and his biggest surprise is that he remains active (and alive) into his 70s. Since 1970, Brooks has been an independent management consultant under the SALESMARK banner. Specialties include helping companies pursue new market opportunities or better penetrate the ones they now have, assessing new product/service opportunities and strengthening sales to enhance revenue production. His clients represent some 250 diverse companies, ranging in location from Germany to China. Industries span coal mining to marine to transportation to medical products. Ten Things You Didn’t Know about Brooks Fenno: 1. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, it would be… Shredded wheat 2. If I weren't a business person, I would be a… A spy - a secret behind-the-lines commando 3. Something I would like to do, but haven't had the chance… Climb Mt. Everest 4. The last concert I went to… Unknown 5. My favorite toy as a kid… Electric trains 6. When I'm not working, you'll find me… Participating in sports or working out 7. My favorite TV show is… Sopranos 8. If I could be any animal, I would be a... Tiger 9. The last movie I saw was… So numerous I can't remember which one I saw last. 10. If I could have dinner with a famous person, dead or alive, he or she would be… George Bush, Sr. He is a Great Success by any Measure More important, I think, Tom has three great children, two through college and gainfully employed (off his payroll) and one, a senior at Tufts, who next year will start Med. school. Tom and his kids lost their wife and mom, who had an MBA and started two successful companies, a couple of years ago so he knows how life changes when you least expect it. He is also a private pilot with multi-engine and instrument ratings and, when he was young and crazy(ier), earned a skydiving jumpmaster license. The Kennedy Group (www.kennedygroupboston.com) was founded in 1992. When asked his greatest success and surprise, Tom answered: "My greatest success to date, besides raising three children, was being on air at WHDH and program consultant at WCOZ when we were the number 1 & 2 stations in Boston and then going to WBZ to win the ratings back. My biggest surprise to date happened everyday: I’m amazed at what I learn from my clients." Ten Things You Didn’t Know about Tom Kennedy: 1. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, it would be… Anything Italian, preferably in Italy . 2. If I weren't a business person, I would be a… Host of the Tonight Show 3. Something I would like to do, but haven't had the chance… Travel the rest of the world, by sail would be nice. 4. The last concert I went to… U2 5. My favorite toy as a kid… My bike, I lived on it. 6. When I'm not working, you'll find me… Playing golf, occasionally pretty well. 7. My favorite TV show is… 60 Minutes since The West Wing has ended. 8. If I could be any animal, I would be a... After a recent visit to Africa , a lion or anything at the top of the food chain 9. The last movie I saw was… The last good ones were Good Night and Good Luck and Capote 10. If I could have dinner with a famous person, dead or alive, he or she would be… Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton, together, to discuss communications and how we can disagree and remain friends. These member profiles were written by Lewis Green the Founder and Managing Principal of L&G Business Solutions LLC. (www.l-gsolutions.com). Lewis is the new editor of News & Views. Profile candidates are selected from our volunteers, new members and a random selection of attendees at IMCNE events. |
Do You Know about the Trademark Statute Changes in MA?By Carol Bergeron, Bergeron Associates (www.bergeronassociates.com) Not too long ago I heard about a new Massachusetts statute that reduces the effective period of state registered trade and service marks. The news prompted me to inquire with Gary W. Smith of Posternak Blankstein & Lund LLP, a sponsor of an IMCNE program last fall, about when the new law goes into effect and other details. Q: Gary, what are the changes? A: The new statute reduces the term for new or renewed Massachusetts state trade and service mark registrations from 10 to 5 years. There are also a number of important substantive changes that bring Massachusetts trademark registration and enforcement requirements into line with federal requirements. Q: What are some of those substantive changes? A: Some of those changes are: a) registrations will be cancelable for genericness or abandonment; b) an applicant will have to certify there are no state or federal registrations for confusingly similar marks; c) an applicant must state whether it previously attempted to obtain a federal registration for the mark, and if it was refused, why; d) mark owners may be awarded treble damages for willful infringement; and e) Massachusetts courts will be able to rely on federal trademark case decisions when deciding infringement cases involving state registered marks. Q: When does the new MA statute go into effect? A: The new statute takes effect on October 29, 2006. Q: Does the new MA law get applied to existing state registered trade and service marks? A: The new statute expressly states that it will not affect the remaining term of marks registered under the old statute. When the 10 year term for marks registered under the old statute expires, renewals will be subject to the 5 year term in the new statute. Various other provisions in the new statute will, however, apply to existing registrations immediately. Q: What are the other provisions that get applied immediately to existing marks? A: The provisions relating to cancellation, treble damages and reliance on federal case law in infringement actions will all apply to existing registrations. Q: Will the state notify you that your term of mark(s) is about to expire? A: No, there is no notification requirement. It is up to the owner of the mark to know when the registration will expire and to file a timely application for renewal. A trademark attorney can help you keep track of this. Q: What is the logic behind the new statute? A: The primary purpose of the new statute is to make the Massachusetts registration procedures and requirements consistent with those already in effect in a majority of states. The new law is also more consistent with existing federal trademark registration requirements. The reduction in term length is designed to reduce the number of registrations for marks that are no longer being used. Q: Are similar changes planned for federal registration of trade and service marks? How long are they good for? A: No similar changes are planned for federal trade and service mark registrations. In fact, the new law makes Massachusetts trademark law more like the existing federal law. Federal registrations are for a period of 10 years. However, a further filing must be made in the fifth year of a federal registration, or it will be cancelled by the trademark office. This requirement has the same overall effect as the shortened 5-year registration term in the new Massachusetts statute. Q: What is the best place to go to get more information on how and where to register state trade and service marks? Federal trade and service marks? A: The Secretary of State’s office is responsible for registrations in Massachusetts and there is some helpful information on its Web site (www.sec.state.ma.us). The United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) is responsible for federal registrations. The USPTO Web site (www.uspto.gov) has a searchable trademark database and a great deal of helpful information. You can also consult a trademark attorney for information and advice. Gary W. Smith can be reached at: |
Share Your NewsShare news about your firm with our community by submitting information on collaborations with other members, upcoming speaking engagements, and new publications. Eligible publications are books or articles that have been published recently by a print or on-line magazine. We are happy to post a copy of your article on the IMCNE website if you send us a Word or .pdf document with the full text. To make next month’s newsletter, send your material by the third Tuesday of the month to . |
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Advertising Rates Would you like to advertise an event, product or service in this e-letter? Request our advertising fee schedule by emailing IMCNE's administrator at or by calling 800-696-7399. About IMCNE Learn more about IMCNE's programs, membership details and services to New England consultants by clicking here or calling us at 800-696-7399. News and Views Editor Lewis Green L&G Business Solutions Phone: 978-371-0823 Email: Mail: IMCNE "News & Views", P.O. Box 774, Westford, MA 01886 Copyright © 2006 IMC New England |
David Wright founded Synchronous Solutions (
Brooks Fenno (
Tom Kennedy’s name may be familiar to you, even if you aren’t sure who he is. Briefly, Tomis an Associated Press award-winning broadcaster and former strategic communications instructor at Emerson College. Tom has more than 20 years of on-air media experience and 14 years' strategic-communications consulting experience with officers and senior executives of public and private companies including IBM, Roche, MIT, Bosch, Millipore and others.