One of the nation’s top specialty tax firms that specializes in research and experimentation tax credits and cost segregation analysis has relocated its offices to downtown Indianapolis. McGuire Sponsel recently completed a successful move from the firm’s previous Carmel offices to its new, 4,200-square-foot office suite on the 17th floor of the Capital Center building, located at 201 N. Illinois St. in downtown Indianapolis.

The new space provides McGuire Sponsel the opportunity to better serve its clients from a more centralized location, said director David McGuire. “Relocating our firm to downtown Indianapolis was the right thing to do at this time that we’re experiencing exceptional growth and success as a national specialty tax firm,” McGuire said. “In the past year, we expanded McGuire Sponsel’s reach to more than 70 CPA firms in 19 states and added strong, professional staff members who serve as the foundation of our firm.”

Currently, McGuire Sponsel employs nine and has definite plans of expanding its staff in 2010. The new office space can accommodate up to 20 employees. “Our move helps with the firm’s overall identity and stature and allows us ample room for future expansion and planned additions to our professional staff. Client service is the No. 1 focus of the entire McGuire Sponsel team,” added director TJ Sponsel. “Being in a centralized, convenient and expansive location in the heart of Indianapolis will increase our capabilities to comprehensively meet all client needs and exponentially increase our accessibility to our clients.”

McGuire Sponsel also maintains offices in Dallas, Texas. Founded in 2007, McGuire Sponsel is a specialty tax firm that specializes in research and experimentation tax credits, cost segregation, fixed asset review, rehabilitation tax credit, energy-efficient building deduction and construction cost audits.

The firm’s research and experimentation tax credit practice conducts retroactive studies, current year engagements and risk advisory services. McGuire Sponsel’s professionals combine an understanding of tax law with engineering disciplines to maximize companies’ research credits and reduce their overall tax burdens. The firm’s unique approach to cost segregation employs civil, structural and architectural engineering knowledge to identify components that qualify for accelerated depreciation. All actual and estimated asset costs, along with their classifications, are then documented to withstand IRS scrutiny.

Bright House Networks will launch two new services designed to bring even greater value to its customers’ TV and Internet viewing experience beginning next week.

Customers will now have more control of their TV schedules with the introduction of “Start Over,” a popular and exclusive enhanced TV feature that allows viewers to restart a live program from the beginning at any time during its scheduled broadcast. Bright House Networks will also increase the speed of Road Runner Turbo High Speed Internet service by up to 33 percent next week. http://tinyurl.com/yhpm233

Like many companies, our fax machine has been pretty quiet lately.  No, it’s not dead.  It’s just not being used.  Email is our number one means of communication, along with cell phones, land-lines (yeah, still) and social media. 

And speaking of social media, this article’s headline by Sam Brace, special for Inside Tucson Business, states 2010: The Year Social Media Comes of Age for Businesses.  There are some interesting facts in the article.  Below is an excerpt.

– KRC Research, based in Washington, D.C., found that 88 percent of 200 executives of nonprofits it surveyed experimented with social media in 2009, and 85 percent plan to actively use it in their organizations this year. MarketingSherpa, a research firm specializing in tracking marketing efforts, reports that most industries are increasing their budgets for social media marketing in 2010.

Behind these increases is a booming population of new users of social media. Statistics show that 66 percent of global Internet users have visited social networks and that more have used these sites than traditional e-mail. Facebook grew to more than 300 million users in 2009. Twitter grew by 1,382 percent in February 2009. These sites are where people are gathering and there’s little to indicate they will leave for greener pastures in 2010. –

So here’s my question…will email be the next to die.  If you read this article by Dave Rosenberg at the CNET Blog Network, you might think we heading down that path.

Perhaps it’s too early to kill the fax machine (or email… how do you kill email?) with a baseball bat, as seen in the movie Office Space.  But I don’t think that day is too far away.

With all of the talk surrounding the new Apple iPad — the positive talk about what it can do for newspaper and magazine content providers, not the overwhelmingly negative albeit humorous reaction the name itself has conjured — we are extremely excited to see the possibilities this presents for publishers. As print becomes more and more cost-prohibitive — and feature-prohibitive; it’s hard to print video on paper — more publications than ever are taking the dive into digital, including one of our clients, The Council of Real Estate Brokerage Managers (CRB), a not-for-profit affiliate of the National Association of REALTORS®.

Their bimonthly magazine, Real Estate Business, said goodbye to print with its January/February 2010 issue and will debut its all-digital format for the March/April issue. We’re excited not only because this new format will be free, forwardable and printable (the print edition was exclusive to CRB’s membership of nearly 6,000 residential real estate brokerage owners and managers), but because we now have the opportunity to add rich media, including video, live linking and lead generation/analytics capabilities for our advertisers. This opens up a whole new world of possibilities for the magazine, one that will surely benefit the CRB Council’s membership which depends in part on advertising to fund its cutting-edge educational offerings for brokers, owners and managers.

Click here (or the picture above) to see a sneak preview of the new digital reader format and all that it can do!

Summer Advantage USA, a national non-profit organization providing children with accelerated summer learning programs focused on academics and enrichment, will bring more than 300 teaching jobs to the State of Indiana this summer. 

Summer Advantage USA operates on the premise that summer learning provides children with academics plus enrichment, such as the arts, engineering and technology, health and fitness and community service. The organization works to connect children with experienced educators and adult mentors, and engages parents more deeply in the education of their children. 

This year, Summer Advantage USA programs are taking place in four different regions throughout Indiana: Indianapolis, Muncie, Angola and Mitchell. The following teaching positions are available: 

• Academic Teachers — offer the primary support to ensure the academic and social development of the student scholars
• Enrichment Teachers — create and lead a specific enrichment program that augments the academic program
• Teacher’s Assistants — support the teachers in providing academic and enrichment lessons to the student scholars    

“Through our stringent hiring process, we are able to select the highest-rated certified teachers, college students and instructional assistants,” said Ronda Freeman, President of the VivIO Group, who operates the Summer Advantage USA recruiting process. “We seek to hire individuals who have a passion for teaching and enriching the lives of children.” 

Over the summer months, Summer Advantage USA student scholars progress further in mathematics, reading and language usage than the national average, according to NWEA RIT Scale data comparing 2.8 million students nationwide. 

“Participation in quality summer learning programs annually makes a five-month difference in the learning achievements of children,” said Earl Martin Phalen, Founder of Summer Advantage USA. “We believe that if we provide rigorous academic programming and an array of enrichment activities during the summer months of the primary and middle school years, then children will show significant academic gains in reading and math, improve their self-esteem, and aspire to be leaders in their families, communities, nation and world.” 

To apply for a teaching position and to review job descriptions, please visit the Summer Advantage USA Web site at www.summeradvantage.org and click on the Careers tab.

One of the nation’s largest family-owned oil companies has chosen Blue Horseshoe as its integrated software solutions provider to sustain and enhance its entire business operations. Amalie Oil Co. has contracted with Blue Horseshoe for its entire suite of integrated software solutions, including:

• Microsoft Dynamics AX: A Tier 1 ERP Solution, Microsoft Dynamics AX is a smart, safe, long-term decision designed to better equip employees with tools that automate and streamline processes while continually fueling business productivity.
• Business Intelligence as a Service (BIA2S): BIA2S provides a real-time, global view of a business and extracts critical information from all data sources to optimize a business and immediately impact the bottom line.
• Warehousing for AX: WAX provides a complete real-time, global view of a business by extending significantly advanced functionality around the ability of the Dynamics AX platform to accomplish warehousing tasks easily and efficiently while optimizing the supply chain. WAX aggregates and consolidates warehouse data.
• Vendor Portal: A Supplier Management Solution that integrates seamlessly into a new or existing Enterprise System and provides a real-time, automated, global view of a supply chain.

Founded in 2001, Blue Horseshoe is a privately held solution services firm that provides expert consulting in system implementation and integration to Fortune 500 and mid-market businesses throughout the world. Based in the Midwest, Blue Horseshoe assesses business needs and applies world-class business applications to improve profitability and increase efficiency.

“Amalie Oil Co. has an outstanding operation with a proven track record of providing the best products in the marketplace,” said Kevin Paul, vice president of Blue Horseshoe. “We are excited to put the entire, extensive suite of Blue Horseshoe integrated software solutions to work for Amalie Oil Co. and both improve and enhance the company’s total business operations.”

Founded in 1903 in Franklin, Pa., Amalie Oil Co. produces a full line of automotive, fleet, industrial and specialty lubricants. With a main production facility in Tampa, Fla., and satellite facilities in Jacksonville, Fla., and L.A., the company blends and packages nearly 200 different products shipped to every U.S. state and to more than 70 foreign countries. The Official Motor Oil of the International Hot Rod Association since 1999, Amalie Oil Co. also blends and packages private label products for other major oil companies, automotive retailers, programmed distribution groups, food and drug retailers and mass merchandisers.

“Blue Horseshoe was able to analyze our entire business operations and propose a very strategic, comprehensive bundle of solutions that will quickly and ultimately improve our overall efficiency as a company,” said Gianni Burket, chief information officer of Amalie Oil Co.

Win tickets to the 2010 Indianapolis Home Show!

We have question #7 ready. The first person to answer wins a pair (2) of Indianapolis Home Show tickets.

Visit http://www.facebook.com/pages/Indianapolis-IN/Indianapolis-Home-Show/119350166735 for question #7.

********

RULES: Adult admission only, no refunds/no dollar value, a (one) ticket is valid for one admission.
Tickets can be picked up at Will Call starting January 29 through February 7.

Photo ID must be shown at the time of pickup.
Name must be included with your answer. (Answer must be posted on Facebook Fan Page)
One winner per question.

**ALSO: One pair of tickets per person maximum.

Check back often, new questions may appear often today!!

Well, it has arrived. The much talked about new product by Apple – the iPad. This new device is being marketed to fill the gap between the iPhone and a MacBook laptop.

The keynote presentation by Steve Jobs was executed perfectly, leaving viewers thinking that they all needed one. Do we all need one? Maybe not. But man, it is one cool piece of hardware. And at a $499 base price, this is truly  “the most advanced technology in a magical and revolutionary device at an unbelievable price.”

To really simplify, it is a huge iPod touch. But, because of it’s size (roughly 8”x10”) it really does fill a gap. I think the iPad has a specific spot in the marketplace because there are many users that don’t utilize or need production-based applications (i.e. Word, Photoshop, InDesign, etc.) – hence a laptop is overkill for them. This is a great product that allows users to do almost everything else, more “entertainment-based” while hanging out on the couch. I think the addition of video chat would have been a great addition, and of course, Flash capabilities (someday). I’ve always been a believer of leaving the “office production tool” in the office, and the “fun, entertainment tool” in the family room. Now don’t get me wrong, the iPad can generate files – my point is that not everyone needs to generate files.

This device allows you to fully browse the Web with full, tactile sensitivity; check your e-mail; view your photos in many ways; watch videos & TV shows; link directly to YouTube and watch the latest HD videos; full iPod capabilities; full access to the iTunes store and the App store; access to the new iBookstore (a free app from the App store) which allows a new way to read and buy books; and full Maps, Notes, Calendar and Contacts applications as well.

As the digital movement continues to grow, the desire for users to read eBooks and eMagazines is growing exponentially. This is a perfect device for that market. And as Coles Marketing continues to create digital content for our clients, we see the potential for beautiful devices such as the iPad.

Super Bowl XLIV (or 44) pits the AFC champion Indianapolis Colts against the NFC champion New Orleans Saints. It will be the first time since Super Bowl XXVIII that both number one seeds will face each other in the Super Bowl. It also marks the first time that two teams who play in an domed/retractable roof stadium will play each other in a Super Bowl.

How’s that for some excitement?:)

But with these super-sized offenses unfortunately come some super-sized scams. The Better Business Bureau says that scam artists look to take advantage of these high-emotion situations with fake Super Bowl ticket giveaways and travel packages.

Some tips for purchasing Super Bowl tickets include:

· Deal with a reputable, local company that has a track record with Bowl game packages and ticket sales.
· Research any company you might do business with at http://www.bbb.org/.
· Use a credit card or PayPal for your purchases as they offer additional protection if the offer falls short and provides a means to track your purchase.
· Make sure the Web site where you buy tickets is secure and reputable. Look for a seal of approval from the BBB or similar organizations.

In addition, the BBB encourages consumers to watch out for travel package deals that may “include” Super Bowl tickets. Package prices may be severely inflated to accommodate the purchase of tickets, while other aspects of the package may be below expectations.
 
Other tips for purchasing Super Bowl tour packages include:

· Get all the details in writing, including price, cancellation penalties and all of the other specifics of the package, including the name of the hotel, the airlines, etc.
· Verify that your travel package includes guaranteed tickets to the Super Bowl game.
· Independently verify your travel arrangements, including your flight and hotel reservations. Then, follow up with your travel promoter a few days before departure to confirm reservations.

Make sure your purchase is guaranteed — so that you can be guaranteed the Super Bowl experience of a lifetime.

Win tickets to the 2010 Indianapolis Home Show.

We have question #2 ready.  The first person to answer wins a pair (2) of Indianapolis Home Show tickets.  Your hint is in the picture….

Visit http://www.facebook.com/pages/Indianapolis-IN/Indianapolis-Home-Show/119350166735 for question #2.

********

RULES: Adult admission only, no refunds/no dollar value, a (one) ticket is valid for one admission.
Tickets can be picked up at Will Call starting January 29 through February 7.

Photo ID must be shown at the time of pickup.
Name must be included with your answer. (Answer must be posted on Facebook Fan Page)
One winner per question.

Check back often, new questions will appear now until the end of the show.