Featured Partner

Virtual Work Success

Tuesday, Sep 20 2011 8:30AM to 11:00AM

Barbara Ivey, Mark Mahoney, April Simpkins
Bechtler Museum 420 South Tryon Street Charlotte, NC 28202

“Virtual Work Success”

Date:             Tuesday, Sept 20, 2011
Location:     Bechtler Museum
                      420 South Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28202
                       http://www.bechtler.org/Visit/Getting-here
Parking:       $5.00 with validation in Mint Museum garage
Time:             8:30 am – 11:00 am

“Virtual Work Success”

With video calling, virtual meetings, and cloud based software, virtual work is easier today than ever before. We barely think twice about communicating and collaborating across town and across time zones in ways that were unimaginable just a decade ago.

Scratch the surface in a discussion of virtual work, and you quickly find that all virtual work is not the same. One company may wrestle with the question of allowing employees to work from home a few mornings a week. Another may be improving how employees work with team members located in different time zones with varying levels of English proficiency. Balancing the employee’s need to do meaningful work with the organization’s need for them to be engaged and focused can be tricky.

Where does your organization’s virtual work model stand? Was virtual work part of the business plan, or did it just sort of … happen? How are you addressing the collaboration and productivity issues that come with employees who rarely work together in person?

Join this timely discussion as we explore the competitive advantage that can be gained from virtual organizations and employees…..and what to do when things go wrong.

• Learn how JackRabbittech.com has set itself up for success with its Virtual Work Strategy
• Review Human Resources policies you should implement to maintain compliance and solidify organizational expectations
• Explore solutions to the productivity challenges that come with virtual work
• Learn what differentiates great virtual organization from mediocre ones

Presenters for Virtual Work Success:

Mark Mahoney, CEO, Jackrabbit Technologies
Barbara Ivey, President, Optimized Offices
April Simpkins, President, HRS&S Consulting

Speaker Bios:

Barbara Ivey
President, Optimized Offices

Barbara Ivey has a passion for productivity and a heart for virtual workers. Barbara’s ten years as a virtual people manager and a program manager at Microsoft, as well as her continued study of the productivity challenges of the virtual workplace has made her an virtual workplace expert.
Barbara’s experience as a virtual Global Program Manager at Microsoft gave her the inspiration for Optimized Offices. Optimized Offices helps professionals find their most valuable commodity…time. It improves individual and team productivity practices and processes through original one-on-one Executive Productivity Optimization™ coaching services, Lean for Professionals™ training and consulting. Barbara holds a Lean Healthcare Certificate from Belmont University’s Massey School of Business, a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science from Dominican University, River Forest, IL, and a B.A. in English from Concordia University, Bronxville, NY. Her previous professional experience includes positions in Higher Education and as an Assistant Vice President at Van Kampen Investments.
Barbara is on the Board for the Fort Mill Rotary Club, she volunteers teaching Time Management to professionals in career transition through PRONET Charlotte, and she is a supporter of live Americana Music.
www.OptimizedOffices.com
barbara.ivey@optimizedoffices.com

Mark Mahoney
CoFounder of Jackrabbit Technologies

Mark runs Jackrabbit Technologies, a virtual SaaS company, that employees 17 people. In 2004 they initially started virtually due to saving money and decided to remain virtual due to the benefits and advantages.
Now, 6 years later with 2000+ clients and 17 employees, Mark sees being virtual as a big advantage when attracting and keeping the best and brightest employees.
Mark holds a BBA from the University of Georgia and enjoys marathons, water skiing and backpacking. He serves on the MIS Advisory Board for the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia. He also belongs to the National Eagle Scout Association. Mark loves living in Charlotte and spending time with his wife Cheryl and children: Alice Ann, Christian and Katie Ann.

www.JackrabbitTech.com
mmahoney@jackrabbittech.com
 

April Simpkins, PHR
President, HRS&S Consulting

April’s Charlotte, NC based firm provides consulting in Human Resources with a focus on retention, performance and regulatory compliance. HRS&S Consulting specializes in helping small business owners align the organization’s employment strategies with its vision and goals.

April is a nationally certified Professional in Human Resources. She has provided the expertise necessary to shape and develop the human capital of many small- to mid-sized companies. She has partnered with corporate executive officers, business leaders, managers, and sole proprietors to enhance their Human Resources function across a variety of industries. April’s 18 years of Human Resources experience and continued study of human resources trends has made her a trusted advisor for many in the business community.

April is a member of the National Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM), an organization for which she lobbied on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. She serves on the Board of the Carolinas Chapter of SHRM and is also a part of that chapter’s Strategic Planning Committee. April also serves on the board of the Charlotte Area Industry Liaison Group (CALG), an organization that seeks to promote better employment opportunities by improving communication with regulatory agencies.

April gives back to the community by volunteering for Jacob’s Ladder, a non-profit whose mission is to help the unemployed and under-employed find living wage jobs.


Agenda:
8:30 – 9:00 am Registration and Networking
9:00 – 11:00 am Virtual Work Success Panel Discussion

Program Cost:   BIG Members free
                              Guests $40 in advance, $50 at the door

Registration:      RSVP to terry@bigcouncil.com or register below.

Dress Attire:      Business casual