Friday, February 1

Business Managers: Challenges and Best Practices
Moderator: Mike Naar, Chief Financial Officer, Embarcadero Publishing Company
This is primarily intended as an opportunity for Business Managers to share challenges, best practices and network with each other. Financial reporting; adjusted budget concept, automation of processes; staff responsibilities and organization.

Before the conference:
Email Mike Naar mnaar@paweekly.com your questions before December 21, 2007 to assist him in organizing an agenda.

Saturday, February 2
On Saturday, we will have two Business sessions running concurrently: Credit and Collections Q&A with an Expert, aimed at Business Managers and AR staff; and HR Roundtable with an Expert, aimed at Business Managers, HR Managers and payroll staff.

Business Track One for Business Managers and AR staff
9am to 12 noon; 1:30 to 4:30pm
(Note: This session will break from 12 noon to 1:30pm for a box lunch, which is included in the registration fee. There will also be a mid-morning and a mid-afternoon break.)

Credit and Collections Q&A With An Expert
Our expert: Charmaine Wagenseller of Continental Commercial Group
Bring your best practices, examples of horrible messes, case studies from your publication and your questions.

Topics:

• "What To Do Before You Have To Do What You Don't Want To Do" – General Collection Policies and Procedures
• "Getting More Than Just Your Money" – Sample Credit Application with Provisions for Owner Guarantees, Legal Fees, Collection Costs and Service Charges
• "Would YOU Give ME Credit?" – How To Do a Credit Evaluation Using a Simplified Scoring Sheet.
• "How to Avoid The 'He Said/She Said'  Blues" – How to Prepare for Trial and What Documentation To Bring.
• "We Won The Case But They Have Our Money: Now What?" – Judgment vs. Collection – How to Convert the Decision into Dollars.
• "How To Rebound Big From the Bounced Check" – The 30 Day Letter and Treble Damages.
• “Hi, This Is Charmaine From Your Local Alt-Weekly…” – Practice “soft” collection calls.
• "Humbly Speaking, Check Out CCG" – What Should You Look For In Your Credit Collection Agency

Questions And Discussion.

Before the conference:
If you provide questions in advance (send to Mike Naar, mnaar@paweekly.com before December 21, 2007), Charmaine will discuss these during her presentation.

Business Track Two for Business Managers, HR Managers and payroll staff
9am to 12 noon; 1:30 to 4:30pm
Note: This concurrent session will break from 12 noon to 1:30pm for a box lunch, which is included in the registration fee. There will also be a mid-morning and a mid-afternoon break.)

HR Roundtable with an Expert
Our expert:  Doug Moore of Printing Industries of California
Bring your best practices, examples of horrible messes, case studies from your publication and your questions.

Topics:

• “Leaving On A Jet Plane, Don’t Know When I’ll Be Coming Back Again…” How to Handle Employees’ Leaves of Absences.
• “No Free Lunch” – Reviewing Wage and Hour Issues & Meal and Break Periods.
• “Time Out for Overtime” – Who’s Exempt?  Who’s Not?
• “The Discriminating Palate” – Avoiding Discrimination Lawsuits: Knowing  Harassment Regulations and Medical & Mental Disability Laws.
• “Don’t Get Mad, Get Even (Better)” – Investigating, Disciplining and Motivating Problem Employees
• “General Salutes Private” – When Privacy Issues Trump Employer’s General Interests including Conflict of Interest policies, Drug and Alcohol Testing, Observing Employees and Electronic Equipment Monitoring.
• “At-Will Hunting” – Discussion of At-Will Employment, Difference Between Layoffs and Terminations, and Proving Business Motivation in Separation Decisions.
• “Sales Inside and Out” – Payment Methods for Inside and Outside Sales Personnel.
• “What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger” – Review of Serious Work-Related Issues, including  Cal-OSHA  Reporting Requirements and Workplace Violence.
• “And You Won’t Believe What Happened Next…” – Case Studies from the Alt-Weekly Audience.
• "Humbly Speaking, Check Out Printing Industries of California" – What Should You Look For In Your Insurance Benefits Broker? 
  

Questions And Discussion.

Before the conference:
If you provide questions in advance (send to Mike Naar, mnaar@paweekly.com before December 21, 2007), Doug will discuss these during his presentation. Bring case studies from your newspaper and we will work on them during the afternoon.

Programming, schedule and speakers are subject to change.