Build Expo 2010 Pictures

From the doors and all over the floor, ZBRELLA has been there to see the best and worst of Build Expo 2010. It was quite the experience to see everyone come out and give it their all, and it can’t be denied that this year’s expo packed a punch and came with a big heart. So if you’re looking for all of the coolest tools, hottest toys, and newest tech candy to gorge yourself sick on from Build Expo 2010, look no further. Check out ZBRELLA’S top list of best booths at the show to get the scoop on what really stood out.   

Most Personable

G&G

Angel Roberto from G&G greeted ZBRELLA with a smile and was ready to show us what his company was made of. Informative and friendly, Angel knew how to be not only a good salesperson, but a person who is likeable and genuine.

Overhead Door

A nice change of pace from what typically went down on the floor, Richard and Yasminda were more than happy to talk with us. Welcoming us with a smile, Richard and Yasminda were two personalities we truly felt were easy to connect with and get along with effortlessly.

 Ready Header

Dave from Ready Header was easily the most endearing while remaining entirely professional and clear and concise spokesperson for his company. As somebody who initially thought he would be terrible at being interviewed, we were happy to prove him wrong as he was thoroughly a great person to have met at the expo.

Best Gadgets

SWI

SWI had some of the most impressive gadgets for the tech-lovers in us all. You don’t have to be a part of their security Intel to appreciate the cool and exciting things they had to offer. Their example of focusing in on a single person during a jail break was enough to get our gears turning and wondering what other interesting tech services they had to offer.  

IPRO Blue

This booth was very visually appealing with all of its sleek screens and crystal clear video. Getting to see what IPRO Blue actually does on such a large screen was pretty cool too, and by far they had one of the most stand-out pieces of the expo with such streamline technology.

Allegiance Technology Partners

At this booth we found heavy-duty gadgets that aren’t for the weak of heart. With nifty, small sized computers to knock around, bang up, and pretty much tear apart, who couldn’t love something so durable? We thought the idea of a portable, non-fragile computer definitely had to make our list of Best Gadgets.

Best Sales Person  

Rush & Parker Inc.

Crystal from Rush & Parker not only knew how to handle the ropes of the camera, but she really knew her product and got down to the point. Hats off to Crystal for doing an excellent job and showing ZBRELLA around the booth.

ZBRELLA

When push comes to shove, who says your own booth can’t win? Our very own Georgia from ZBRELLA knew how to work the floor and treat potential customers the way they should be treated. Georgia showed customers what ZBRELLA was all about, being a family first, and a client second.

Best Giveaway

Overhead Door

While some booths skimped on prizes, Overhead Door rose to the challenge…literally. True to their product, one lucky winner walked away with a brand new automatic garage door opener.

Verizon

At the conference Verizon connected a few lucky winners to their brand new phone lines. Although the cell phones that were given away were nothing to gawk at, it was the thought that counted. Plus, they threw in a few TV’s as a giveaway too.

Door Stop

Door Stop came to the rescue with a brand new iPad up for grabs.

ZBRELLA

Also rising to the occasion, ZBRELLA served up a hot game of blackjack with a chance to win cigars and an iPad.

Best Booth

Global Stone Source

This booth was built from dawn till dusk. Built from the ground up, we had the chance to watch the booth come to life ourselves the day before up until the few last moments before the doors opened at Build Expo. This booth had a handful of men working on it and we can assure you that blood, sweat, and tears went into this one.

ZBRELLA

Built to mimic a sleek, modern club, ZBRELLA lit up the show with its design appeal. With comfy couches, a blackjack table, a hot photo spot, and free cigars, we brought the show like no one else did on the entire floor.

See the Video

2.) King Architectural Metals
While this company may not be the big thing you are looking for, all the small details do count! King Architectural Metals is a leading competitor and award winning with beautiful custom hand forged metals for all types of purposes. Be sure to check them out at www.kingmetals.com

See the Video

3.) Ready Header
Ready Header is easily one of our favorite booths of the expo, not only because of design, but because of how personable Dave was. Engaging, informative, and downright fun, you don’t need an excuse to check out this next video, or to visit them at www.readyheader.net

See the Video

4.) ServPro
If you’re wondering why ServPro gets another go, it is because this company has many components. This section deals with water, mold, and fire damage cleanup, so if you have a problem that fits these credentials, check it out and visit them at www.servprooffreehold.com

See the Video

5.) Allegiance Technology Partners
Allegiance stands as one of the most helpful booths at the expo. For heavy duty lifting, building, or all around dangerous/heavy construction environments, Allegiance delivers literally durable promises you can count on with their durable, easy to handle computers. Check out how it works below and visit them at www.ALLTP.com

See the Video

6.) Conserv
This next booth deals with Building and Architectural, Civil and Structural, and Building and Facilities maintenance. For further information on Conserv visit www.conservconstruction.com

See the Video

7.) Instatel
For the latest technology in vibration monitors, Instatel is a great place to start. Learn more at www.igs-inc.com

See the Video

8.) Rush and Parker, Inc.
We didn’t only find a great service in this booth, but great clarity and personality. For new and used construction equipment and to learn what else they can offer, visit them at www.rushandparkerinc.com

See the Video

9.) HB Communications
Providing some of the best custom solutions for Audio visual since 1946, HB Communications Inc. provides some of the best equipment around. There video is worth a view. For more information, check out www.hbcommunications.com

See the Video

10.) Global Stone Source
With one of the most visually genius booths, Global Stone Source knew how to market themselves to the public, as the company name was still on our lips long after we left. Their product wasn’t bad either. In fact, it was just as fantastic as their display. To learn more about their stones, give them a try at www.holyland-stone.com

See the Video

11.) Doorstop
In addition to having one of the coolest displays- a life sized superhero action figure- what they have to offer is just as great. Find out what they do below and check out their site at www.doorstopny.com

See the Video

See the Video

ServPro
This next booth we visited knew how to draw a crowd with goodies and giveaways that make expos so great. Specializing in fire and water cleanup restoration, you can learn more about them if you want by contacting either Dan Fedan at info@servproofportjefferson.com or going onto www.servpromorrissex.com

See the Video

Permit Expediting Services (PES)This booth offered various services in permit expediting like environmental assessments, zoning reviews, and other helpful things of the same vein. If you’re interested in permits and the like or simply want to learn more, you can visit their site at www.PermitExpediting.com

See the Video

Ecology Roof SystemOur next stop took us to Ecology Roof system, a roof manufacturer company that claims longevity and durability. Put them to the test at www.ecology.com

See the Video

G&GThis next booth was packed full of energy with the all too helpful and upbeat Angel Roberto. He took us through G&G Electric and gave us a run down on what they are about. Check out the video and if you’re interested you can contact him at ar@ggelectric.com

See the Video

SWI
Short for Service Works, Inc., SWI is an integrated security company that boasts access control and video surveillance, just to name a few. Winners of Honeywell’s Platinum Dealer status, you can decide for yourself at www.serviceworksinc.com if SWI is what you’re looking for. Don’t forget to check out the short video clip to get a better feel.

See the Video

William ScotsmanAmong the expo was William Scotsman, a service that calls themselves “the mobile office solution leader.” You can learn more about them and what they do at www.willscot.com

See the Video

Overhead DoorAt the top of our list for nicest presentation/pamphlets, the sleek appearance of Overhead Door was smart and appealing. With doors for the MTA, Yankee’s and Met’s stadium, and Port Authority under their belt, Overhead Door piqued our interest. If that hasn’t drawn you in, maybe our video will. So if you’re interested, you can visit them at www.dockndoor.com

See the Video

Pilkington
Imagine a window frame with no glass. Now imagine there really is glass. This is what our next stop, Pilkington, promises, and because we love sleek solutions like streamline glass, we thought you would too. Pilkington melts their sand to make glass and ships it down river for manufacturing. If this interests you, check out their website www.pilkington.com/na

See the Video

IPRO Blue
If you’re looking for something new and exciting, IPRO Blue is the booth for you. With its tech savvy approach, you’ll want to learn more. So here’s our video. Don’t forget to swing by their website www.IPROBLUE.com if you’re interested.

See the Video

TNT EquipmentNeed construction equipment? This vendor told us all about it. Selling more than 100 new and reconstructed vehicles and trailers, this company may just be what you were looking for. If you are interested, check them out at www.tntequipme.com

See the Video

To kick off our first conference ever, we wanted to commemorate each and every thing that happened at the event for those of you unable to attend, or for those who did but didn’t have a chance to look around.

Follow the ZBRELLA CAM as we navigate our way through the twists and turns of the Build Expo. Come see what is really behind the booths and meet some of the people who make it happen.

Vote

As a CEO, I know quite a lot about the P&L and what affects the bottom line, or so I thought. Information about sales, how efficient processes are, changes in pricing, time to delivery, employee happiness, and response times are critical early indicators about what the quarterly P&L is going to look like. But, it never dawned on me to monitor the political environment. I just assumed for business purposes that the political environment was the realm of large multinational conglomerates who communicate their concerns as “constituents” through cash to elected officials. Needless to say, my assumption made a fool out of me.

I have always taken an avid interest in finding out who my local elected officials are and what the officials stood for, but it was from the perspective of an individual citizen not a business. So I started to think:

As a business operator, I am ultimately responsible for the well being of my employees, customers, and partners. Our well being is in the best interests of the communities we contribute to whether it’s in the form of community service, taxes, or income. Therefore, I should be more cognoscente of the external political factors affecting the P&L and the entire ecosystem. If I don’t, who will? I think I should not just be informed but vocal as well. If I do not communicate what is important to me, how will anyone ever know?

The thought led me to scour the Internet on the lookout for resources to easily keep track of politicians, political decisions, upcoming legislation and vehicles I could use to communicate my position to politicians. I want to know what my elected officials are doing to support my small business and indirectly my entire network. By sharing, I hope to make your search easier.

Who are my elected officials?

Federal Government

• Senators http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
• House Reps http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW_by_State.shtml

Local / State

• State Government http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem

What are my elected officials voting records?

Phone Applications

Political GPS

Political GPS’s Congress Tracker gives you detailed information for each member of the US Congress. From biographical information and links to each member’s website to in-depth voting information and the ability to easily contact each member by phone, email, or twitter, Political GPS helps you to learn more about your congress.

http://thomashuntington.com/iPhone/Political_GPS.html

Visible Vote

Visible Vote lets you advise congress on how to vote on the major upcoming legislation, follow current events, understand your legislators’ voting records and compare your voting preference to your legislators’ voting history.

http://visiblevote.us/iphoneinfo.php

Congress

For the civically minded amongst us, keeping track of our elected officials and their affiliations, committees, voting records and other essential information can be a challenging task. The information is out there for sure, but wouldn’t it be great if all of that information was brought down into one place for quick and easy reference while on the go?

http://www.precentral.net/quick-app-congress

Web sites

The Washington Time

Votes database – washingtonpost.com’s U.S. Congress Votes Database, is a deep database of every vote in the United States Congress since the 102nd Congress (1991). It lets you browse votes in a variety of ways — both in aggregate and for individual members of Congress.

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/about/

Who are the candidates?

This is a great source of information on candidates, elected officials, voting records, relationships, and information on money trails. They even have a 1-800 line that you can call to talk to someone. http://www.votesmart.org

What legislation is coming that might affect my business?

Create an RSS feed that will alert you when legislation is coming up the pike.

• http://www.sba.gov/news/sbanewsalerts/index.html
• http://www.sba.gov/advo/laws/law_regalerts.html

When sifting through the information, I used the following criteria to make sure I would be able to incorporate the tools into normal business operations.

• Simple
• Mobile
• Flexible
• Fast
• Redistributable

Be informed, receive alerts, communicate your priorities and protect your business. One vote makes not only a difference, but it solidifies your commitment to self, company, community, and country. Good luck in finding what you need.

Memorial Day weekend holds a special place in my heart and I am grateful for those who have sacrificed their lives so that I may take part in this wonderful country. I also see my participation in voting as the least I can do to let those fallen heroes know I did not waste their gift to me.

To all of you who sacrificed so much for me.

Thank you

EMR Maintenance is important

To ensure you can extract the maximum value out of your new EMR, you will need a multipronged approach to control, monitor and avoid costly disruptions. The approach will require that you first change your perception of what the value of technology delivers to your company and how to preserve the value of the entire system. 

The value: 

· Process automation – example: patient charts can be automatically pulled based on schedule appointments without the staff having to perform the action 

· Workflow improvements and improved customer service – example: when a patient calls, the staff can now instantaneously answer questions because all the information is at their finger tips 

· Easier to document – example: an EMR 

· Potentially higher billing level – because of more detailed documentation, higher levels of billing can be achieved. 

· Empower marketing opportunities – example: an EMR can easily report all patients that have not scheduled an appointment in the past x months. A “We haven’t heard from you in a while” campaign can be emailed or mailed to all patients facilitating more business. 

· Billing efficiencies- example: once a doctor finishes a patient chart, smart diagnosis codes and billing codes can automatically be applied making the record ready for immediate billing without the need of further interaction of your staff. 

· Less time – example: by using templates for repeat diagnosis’s, putting together treatment plans and patient notes can be as simple as dictating a command or a click of a mouse. This means less time on documentation and more time with the patient. 

· Process automation – example: choosing a drug to prescribe, choosing a local pharmacy for the patient, and clicking a button to execute. Safe, secure and fast. 

Most if not all medical practices are unfamiliar with supporting a mission critical system. And therein lies the problem. 

Improvements in business processes, efficiencies, and profit can all be made by EMR technologies but practices cannot and should not assume the technology is a onetime capital expense that requires no additional investment. If no value is placed on maintaining and operating the practice’s technology efficiently and effectively, then the only result will be expensive outages. Assuming the systems will run themselves can be the last mistake your practice ever makes because you will be out of business. A great analogy: 

You purchase the car of your dreams. You use it as your sole transportation to work and without it you could not work. You drive and drive and drive with total disregard of checking the engine lights and maintenance schedules. At last you break down on your way to work. When you finally get to the mechanic, the car requires extensive work. Because your job depends on you having a vehicle you are unable to work until the repairs are complete. Furthermore, the damages to the vehicle cost 10 times more than the investment that was required for a good maintenance plan. If you had only invested in that support plan the likelihood of experiencing significant downtime and higher repair costs would have been slim. You could have also planned the maintenance of the vehicle during a period of time that it was not in use instead of having it not available during peak times of use.  

So, what changes when you implement an EMR? 

· Totally dependent on your technology infrastructure – if your systems are down, you cannot practice medicine and all business stops. This is what is meant when you hear “mission critical system.” If your system is not function, you’re not functioning. 

· Control and monitoring of your information technology is critical – potential issues need to be identified before it causes a system outage. The only way to accomplish this is to monitor your most important assets. 

· Security is paramount. HIPAA security and privacy standards mandate auditing, control and protection of patient information and systems. This will require policies and procedures that ensure you are complying with regulations. For instance, employees can no longer have full rights to a computer and install any application because it may open your systems up to unauthorized entry. 

· You are now required to have a backup and disaster recovery plan for your digital information. That translates to backups happening on a continuous basis, being tested and monitored for failure. 

· Training is essential. The more training and retraining of users you invest in the more they are knowledgeable and efficient with the system. 

In summary, protecting your EMR system requires technical, organizational, and management strategies to ensure availability of critical business functions now and in the future. It is a continuous process of improvement executed by instruments such as: alerting, auditing, reporting, monthly reviews, training, re-training, more training, policies, procedures and strategies. The paradigm has changed for the medical practice; technology is no longer a novelty but an operational necessity and a cost of doing business. With so much riding on technology, I have been a big supporter of having professionals manage the environment. People often hear me repeatedly say, “do what you do best and outsource the rest”. But that doesn’t mean you should not understand what is required to support an EMR and what processes are necessary for continued compliance. 

Once the EMR goes live, your practice is totally dependent on the underlying technology to keep your medical practice up and running. Below I have provided considerations you should account for and blueprints to utilize in an effort to support your most valuable asset: the EMR and the information contained in it. 

For this posting, I will only outline and summarize. If you wish to receive the full blueprint please request a copy by sending an e-mail info@zbrella.com with your name and mailing address so I can send you the complete printed report. For the first 5 people to request the report I will also offer to perform a detailed needs analysis for their practice. 

Policies & Procedures

Position Contracts

Updating job descriptions to record the necessary changes brought on by EMR. 

Training Standards

Computer Use Policy

Security Standards

Examples: 5 minute lockout, mandatory encryption on USB keys, no e-mailing of patient information 

Blueprint for Support Strategies & Continuous Improvement Program

Training Program

The what, who, and how often 

Performance Monitoring & Alerts

Monitor your server, Internet, firewall and application. Know when something happens 

Problem Resolution

When something happens, what is the process to fix it? Then find out what happened so it doesn’t happen again? 

Maintenance Program

What are you doing on a monthly basis to make sure your server and the databases holding all your EMR information are healthy? 

Support Program

How do you get support when something happens? How fast? On-site with professionals that know your environment? 

Security Program

How are you securing your most important information? How are you sure it is working? 

Disaster Recovery Program

Do you have backups of the server? Do you receive alerts when they fail? Have you tested your backups to ensure they are good? If a failure happens, how long will it take to recover? What happens if you arrive at your office tomorrow and it is up in flames? How would you recover? How would you inform your employees and patients? How will you recover operations? Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How? It’s only your livelihood and your business. 

Reports

Do you receive monthly reports telling you how your technology is operating? How would you know if there is a storm coming? Don’t you do the same when someone comes into your practice by ordering tests? 

Monthly Meetings

Do you have someone to meet with every month to review and discuss? Who is accountable? Who has the domain knowledge? How do you know you meet meaningful use? 

Audits

Test and verify everything – saying you do something doesn’t mean it’s working. This is a quarterly or annual process. 

There will never be enough resources to implement a perfect system. Rather, elevate the level to good enough, move forward, learn and get better day-by-day. That is the entire purpose of the Continuous Improvement Program. 

For this posing, I will only outline and summarize. If you wish to receive the full blueprint please request a copy by e-mailing info@zbrella.com with your name and mailing address so I can send you the complete printed report. For the first 5 people to request the report I will also offer to perform a detailed needs analysis for their practice. 

By Michael Zucchi

What can you accomplish in 15 minutes a day?  What would that equate to by the end of the year? Don’t kid yourself that you need to designate a solid 4 hour block to working on this project or that task. Start working on it day by day and you will find the project or task stays fresh in your head and much more progress will be made than you think.

4 Ways to Fight Back 15 Minutes A Day

1. Sit down and write about anything for 15 minutes when you wake up. This will help you clarify your thoughts and ideas and provide you the ability to communicate them to others much more efficiently.

2. Read a book for 15 minutes a day. Before the end of the year you would have read 18 books (assuming the average length of a book is 300 pages and the average reading speed it 250 WPM).

3. Perform another 15 minutes of exercise on the treadmill. It will result in 101 calories per day, and at the end of the year you could have lost an extra 6lbs (WolframAlpha computation http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=walking+15min%2C+2.8mph) (additional computational information: gym 4 x per week, 52 weeks, 3500 cal per lb).

4. Perform at least 1 15 minute sales activity to grow your business. By the end of the year you would have worked on growing your business for 91.25 hours!

The point is that you always have time if you can learn to be flexible and push yourself beyond the comfortable boundaries’ that you have erected. Good luck and achieve success day by day.

Interesting facts found when writing this post:

• · 5 characters/keystrokes constitutes a single word when calculating how many words per minute someone can type
• · The generally accepted number of words per page for a published novel is 250. Great post found here
• · The words per minute the average person in the United States can read is 250/300.

On March 18^th, the President of the United States signed into law H.R. 2847 – Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act. The HIRE Act comes on the heels of Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 as an extension. Many of the financial incentives offered to small businesses in the previous two bills have been extended to 2010 through the HIRE ACT.

The 4 pillars of the HIRE ACT

1. New hire payroll tax exemptions

a. Incentives for hiring and retaining unemployed workers between February 3, 2010 and January 1, 2011.

b. Requirements to qualify: a new hire must an addition to the staff and not a replacement of an existing employee, the employee must certify by affidavit that the employee has not been employed for more than 40 hours a week in the past 60 days, and the employer must retain the employee for a 52 week period.

c. Receive $1000 or 6.2 percent of the wages (only the employer’s responsible portion of social security).

2. Section 179 extension

a. Increase the total amount of allowable write-offs for 2010 depreciable expenses from $185K to $250K. The total amount of allowable purchased assets is still limited to $800K.

b. In short: any business can make capital improvements and take 5 years of depreciation upfront. Some examples that are applicable: software, computer systems & support, vehicles, office equipment, electronic medical record systems.

3. Expanding the Build America Bonds

a. Allows state and local governments to borrow via low interest bonds to finance infrastructure projects.

4. Extension of Current Surface Transportation Programs

a. The Highway Trust Fund will be utilized in the same manner as of 2009 to fund public works projects that improve transportation systems throughout the U.S. Appropriations will be based on what States received last year for specific sections of the ACT.

What does this mean for our construction clients?

Infrastructure projects requiring heavy construction and contractor services for job owners like NYDOT, MTA, etc will have access to low interest loans (bonds) allowing existing projects to continue and new projects to be funded. Don’t forget about the second half of the ARRA2009 funds that are still owed to states if obligations are met by June 29^th of this year. If that wasn’t enough to foster hope of improvement, the extension of the current surface transportation program via the Highway Trust Fund will create new projects that have not yet been funded.

With the available funds, there are more opportunities for winning jobs but much more competition. Construction companies will be required to find new ways of controlling costs, deploying project sites faster, limiting reworks, and limiting project delays.

Receiving stimulus dollars pertaining to new hires will only be available if construction bids can be won and that requires significant investment in business process management and technologies to empower process improvements. Luckily, Section 179 will be able to offset the necessary investments in technology and infrastructure improvements necessary to gain a competitive advantage and win more project bids.

What does this mean for our medical practice clients?

Many medical practices are now investigating how to go digital in an effort to meet upcoming federal regulations, meet the challenges of pay for performance, and quite frankly control costs. Section 179 also offers a great opportunity to fund Electronic Medical Record systems in year 1 without having to wait for the $44K committed for “meaningful use.”

Being that medical practices also are the largest employers in a number of states, the employer tax credit can provide some relief to strained cash flow.

What does this mean for small business?

Small businesses will benefit from the new hire tax exemptions, but it will be the small businesses that provide support services for construction and healthcare that will really benefit. As the construction industry recovers, there will be a larger need for business support services.

Where can you find more information?

• http://www.Section179.org
• http://whitehouse.gov/recovery
• http://cspan.org/stimulus
• http://finance.senate.gov/sitepages/legislation.htm
• http://www.recovery.ny.gov/

Before we begin: It is always with the most sincere effort that I try to be totally objective but I must disclose the following: I am currently an employee of ZBRELLA Inc. and I assist medical practices in choosing and implementing successful EMR systems. ZBRELLA also participates in supporting the EMR package, the network and ensuring HIPAA regulations are met through security and Disaster Recovery planning.

ZBRELLA is a certified partner of gloStream and offers the EMR package as an option but only after rigorously understanding the workflows and business goals of the medical practice.

Now that I have disclosed the information, I can continue …

The first step in the process is to begin identifying the some 500 software packages that are available on the market today and provide some preliminary information. As the process continues I will provide suggestions for how to categorize the available options to assist you in your choice.

I feel that I am in a great position to offer this information because I can leverage my practical experience to help others make informed decisions. I am not all knowing, I make plenty of mistakes but I love to learn and share, for what good is knowledge if no one shares it. It is also wise to remember what works for one medical practice or hospital may not work for the other. The success or failure of EMR projects depend heavily upon documenting business processes, reengineering processes where necessary, committing to the process, having committed user champions, and totally dedicating your organization to continuous improvement and continuing education, meaning training, training and more training. For those of you that have implemented EMR you know what I am talking about. Very little has to do with software to start, but it is later when these questions are answered that you will be able to take a list of vendors and match it to the criteria your organization or medical practice has created. For this fact alone, copying what others have done without performing your own due diligence is folly.

The EMR packages are organized in alphabetical order according to the manufacturers name and only the more significant players in the industry will receive a summary. Important categories for consideration will also be included but by no means is the list complete or authoritative.