News, Information and Commentary
November 2019
Educational opportunities abound for you
A few thoughts from
Jon Flora, President & CEO
Halloween is over and now, hopped up on leftover candy, we’re all teeing up for the final push of 2019. 

This means educational opportunities designed especially for you.
In the coming weeks, we have a number of offerings. For most, you won’t even have to leave your office. They include our monthly webinar (NOTE THE SPECIAL PRICING), a half day on-line class on how to make better use of Microsoft Outlook, and our Alaska Holiday Luncheon and Seminar in Anchorage. Details on each follow and all require a registration.

Coming in January, our 4 th annual Hawaii Winter Credit Forum returns to the shores of Waikiki. The last few years, we have enjoyed a great turnout from our island members and had a good group of mainlanders, too. Wherever you reside, this will be a full day of excellent programming made all the better by fun social activities. Air fares to Hawaii are reasonable, so this is a great time to consider mixing business with pleasure. 

I also want to direct you to the latest episode of The Credit Roundtable podcast. This time, we focus on our government relations activities. Why do we lobby on your behalf and what’s that really mean? It’s important to the companies we represent. So, give it a listen.

If you’re in the process of writing a new resume, there’s a link to an article about the “7 most annoying mistakes” people make on resumes. We thought you might find it useful if you’re reading resumes, too.

Finally, I want to draw your attention to the Amazon Smile link. With holiday shopping coming soon, most of us use the online option and this link allows you to have a small percentage of your purchase go to our professional scholarship fund. It doesn’t cost you any more and all the money we receive helps us make larger and more frequent educational awards to you and your colleagues. Thanks for helping out.

For everyone at NACM Business Credit Services, I wish you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving. Here’s to a terrific November.

Best regards,  
MEMBER NEWS
SAVE THE DATE: DECEMBER 10th
Join us in Anchorage for the annual Alaska Holiday Luncheon & Forum . Good food, great speakers, and tax-free Christmas shopping! Just bring a coat.

Click on the button below for more information and to register:
SAVE THE DATE: JANUARY 23rd
When you're done in Alaska, join us in Honolulu for the 4th annual Hawaii Winter Credit Forum . New and different speakers, good food and sunset salutations. It's a great time to visit the 50th state with affordable airfares and hotel rates. Click below for more information and early registration.

OH CANADA, WE HAVE A NEW REPORT FOR THEE
Effective October 1, NACM BCS is now providing Canadian credit reports through Experian . You will now be able to order your reports through your regular Experian online access. Fewer passwords, easier access, same great price for the same information you're accustomed to seeing.

If you need help learning how to order a Canadian Report contact your Account Rep or NACM BCS Customer Service.

800-423-5710
EDUCATION
Improve Your Technology Skills
ONLINE COURSE: November 5, 2019

Microsoft Office: Lean Outlook – Simplify & Get More Done

Students will move from using Outlook as a workhorse to riding it like a racehorse. You will discover hidden efficiency tools, understand best practices and how to use the premier email software in a simple yet strategic way.
Takeaways:
On completion of this course, students will be able to:
• Process Outlook information in bulk
• Better organize Outlook information for more efficient retrieval
• Automate routine Outlook tasks

Course Format:
This course is a combination of lecture and hands-on guided instruction. Course manual and quick reference guide provided.

Member Pricing: $135/Call-in line
Non-Member Pricing: $175/Call-in line

12:00 - 1:00 PDT
11:00-12:00 AKDT
9:00-10:00 HST

Monthly Webinar Series
How to Handle Difficult Customers

ONLINE WEBINAR: November 7, 2020

Difficult customers. We all have them. So let's learn how to deal with them. This presentation will provide practical tips and strategies for diffusing angry/difficult customers and turning a challenging situation into a positive win/win for the customer and the credit department.


Speakers: Dee Schneider, Independent Electric Supply & Jennifer Blend, Graybar Electric will lead the presentation.

SPECIAL THANKSGIVING PRICING:

FREE

12:00 - 1:00 PT
11:00-12:00 AKT
10:00-11:00 HST

January 23, 2020
EPISODE #8 - LOBBYING FOR YOU
NACM Business Credit Services has long been active in lobbying elected officials on behalf of members and customers. We have helped pass strong lien laws and advocated for our members on legislation related to taxation, property rights and other matters impacting the business community. In this episode, Jon Flora talks with our contract lobbyists about our activities and what's coming in the next session of the Washington legislature that might impact our member companies. Click below:

TIPS TO MODERNIZE YOUR CREDIT APPROVAL PROCESS
Experian offers up 3 simple steps to modernize your credit approval process through an 18 minute webinar called Sip and Solve". Click on the link below to connect with this helpful webinar presentation from our partners at Experian.

Did you know that when you shop for the holidays at


AmazonSmile donates to the Business Credit Foundation ?

It's best to copy the link and paste it onto your desktop so you can use it all year long.



SUPPORT OUR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS
Your shopping can help us fund more professional scholarships. When you do your online shopping with NACM BCS member Amazon, just click on the following link:


For most purchases, a percentage will be given to our Business Credit Foundation which awards scholarships for your professional education. If you've won a scholarship in the past or just believe in keeping our profession strong, this is an easy way to support the cause.

It costs you nothing to do this and every little bit helps grow our local scholarship program.

Will YOU help? Thanks!
BUSINESS & ECONOMIC NEWS
SEATTLE-AREA HOME PRICE-TRENDS ARE DRIVEN BY THIS HOT, HOT CITY. HINT: IT'S NOT SEATTLE.

After three straight months of negative growth, home prices around Seattle are on the upswing again. That growth can be attributed to Seattle’s southern neighbors.
In other words: It’s all about Tacoma , where homes are flying off the market.

TOP ECONOMISTS: AN ENGLISH MAJOR IS STILL IMPORTANT

As humanities majors slump to the lowest level in decades in favor of STEM classes, calls are coming from surprising places for a revival. Some prominent economists are making the case for why it still makes a lot of sense to major (or at least take classes) in humanities alongside more technical fields.

Seattle Times
OIL PRICES, PRODUCTION DIP; ALASKA EXPECTS $200 MILLION SHORTFALL

Lower-than-expected oil production from the North Slope and lower global oil prices have opened a state budget gap of $180 million to $200 million, analysts and state officials estimate.



U.S. TRAVEL INDUSTRY TO CHINA: WHAT TRADE WAR?

Across the country, the U.S. tourism industry is trying to counter one of the casualties of the trade war with China: A drop in the flow of affluent Chinese visitors to the U.S. As the conflict has dragged on with no meaningful breakthrough, the travel industry is trying to minimize the damage.

home_wood_construction.jpg
UNFORSEEN FORCE HOLDING BACK AFFORDABLE HOUSING

When the smoke cleared after the Great Recession, the home builders who survived were in a surprisingly strong position. They had fewer competitors and more power in their local markets. Their power has exacerbated the affordable housing crisis.

Click below for more:

KYO-YA REDEVELOPMENT ON WAIKIKI MOVING ALONG

Kyo-ya Hotels and Resorts’ long-delayed plan to redevelop the Princess Kaiulani Hotel with a new 33-story hotel tower with 1,009 rooms on a 4.1-acre site at the corner of Kalakaua and Kaiulani avenues in Waikiki advanced this week with approval from the Honolulu City Council ’s zoning committee. Kyo-ya is a long time NACM BCS member.

strategic_journey.jpg
BOOMERS FACING TOUGH DECISIONS WITH BUSINESSES

As Boomers reach retirement age, the question of what to do with the businesses they own quickly surfaces. Three such people in Spokane exemplify this interesting challenge hitting the US.

Click below for the story:


Spokesman-Review
CATERPILLAR: A WARNING SIGN FOR GLOBAL ECONOMY

Caterpillar produces so much of the world's equipment that a decline in its business often indicates a broader slowdown in construction and factory activity. Weaker demand for its products typically means people are building and manufacturing less, which may not bode well for global economic growth.

CAREER PLANNING
BUILD YOUR PROFESSIONAL NETWORK THROUGH OUR LINKED IN AND FACEBOOK PAGES. JUST CLICK BELOW TO BECOME PART OF OUR GROWING OUTREACH. JOIN TODAY!
NEW OPPORTUNITIES
If you're looking to fill a position or looking for a position to fill, check out or Job Center. It's a continually changing group of postings for those seeking employees or those looking for a job.

Businessman or job seeker review his resume on his desk before send to finding a new job with pen_ necktie_ glasses and digital tablet.
7 MOST ANNOYING MISTAKES MADE ON RESUMES
Since she founded  Resume Writers’ Ink in 2010, Tina Nicolai has read over 50,000 resumes. And there are a few  mistakes  that she’s seen over and over again that are “pretty irritating.” Read more below:

EVENTS & EDUCATION CALENDAR
Industry Trade Groups
Puget Sound Area

November 14

11:30 a.m. Floor - Duke's Chowder House

November 19

11:30 a.m. HVAC - Duke's Chowder House

November 20

11:30 a.m. Tacoma Construction - The Poodle Dog *Note location change
11:30 a.m. Food - Duke's Chowder House

November 21

11:30 a.m. Wholesale Electrical - Duke's Chowder House
11:30 a.m. Eastside Construction - 13 Coins Bellevue


Honolulu

November 19

11:30 a.m. Hawaii Hospitality - Hilton Waikiki Beach Hotel

November 22

11:30 a.m. Hawaii Building - Waikiki Yacht Club


Anchorage

November 20

12:00 p.m. Alaska Suppliers and Food - ReHARU * Note location change


November 28 - HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Upcoming Professional Programs, Seminars and Conferences
NACM BCS presentations
January 12-15 - National Insulation Contractors Exchange
Scottsdale, AZ; Jon Flora and Jan Minniti invited to present
Serving the Commercial Credit profession since 1899
NACM Western Washington Alaska Hawaii | 800-423-5710
P.O. Box 3665 - Seattle, WA 98124 | www.nacmbcs.org

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