The list

2/22/08 Bill E. Martin

1/25/08 John G. Edwards, Review Journal & Steve Stern, PR "How Business Reporters See the News"

12/28/07 Matthew Waymire, CPA United Business Brokers, " Executives Becoming Owners: Buying Your Own Business"

11/30/07 Chad Stone, President PC911, "Competing Against the Big Boys: PC911 takes on the Geek Squad"
10/26/07 George Haskell, CFE, Haskell & Associates, Inc. "Lesson for Las Vegas from the Experience of 9/11 at Radio City Music Hall in New York"
9/28/07 David Teed, Co-Founder of Dauntless Capital Partners. "Turnarounds"
8/24/07 Doug Waggoner, Resolution PI, "Personality Testing"
7/27/07 Maureen Peckman, Peckman Outdoor Media & Council for a Better Nevada
6/22/07 Mark Wayman, CEO of The Foundation, LLC
5/25/07 Mark Howard, President of Mountain View Hospital
4/27/07 Dr. Oliver A. Hemmers, Director of the Office for Strategic Energy Projects at UNLV "Solar, Hydrogen, Bio-Fuels & Sustainability Projects at UNLV"
3/15/07 Margaret Maul, CFP, CIMA. President of Maul Financial, "Financial Planning- New Ideas & Tools."
2/15/07 Somer Hollingsworth, President and CEO of Nevada Development Authority, "Nevada's Business Growth and Strategy for Future Growth."
1/19/07 Steven Zak, President of Zak Consulting, "Tactics and Ideas to Improve your Marketing."
12/28/06 William Stieren.CPA, United Business Brokers, "Think Differently: How I invented the Family Limited Partnership."
11/15/06 Senator Bob Beers & Editor of Liberty Watch Magazine, George Harris, Joint meeting with the Turnaround Management Association. "The Results of the Recent Elections and its effects on Business."
10//26/06 Lanis O'Steen, President of the Profit Group, "The Profit Breakthrough Advantage: Proven Method Guarantees Results."
9/21/06 John R. Blackmon, President of Bank in formation. "Raising Capital for Banks."
8/17/06 Jeff Shaw. CEO of Southwest Gas, "Lessons on Working with Investors and Boards of Directors."
7/19/07 Christopher A. Holmen, CFA, Financial Advisor with Mellon Private Wealth Management, "Investing in Trust Deeds After USA Capital."
6/15/06 Leslie Caprow. Kaercher-Campbell & Associates Insurance, "Everything Your Broker Should have told you, but won't."
5/18/06 John Keel, CFO for Koster Finance, "Profits are Good."
4/20/06 John Laub, Executive Director of the Regenerative Medicine Organization, "How Las Vegas can compete with Phoenix in the new economy.'"
10/20/05 Donald R. Parker, CFA & AFS, President of Gryphon Valuation Consultants, "Selling Your Company Part 2What is my business really worth?"
9/15/05 Douglas Beckley, President and founder of The Beckley Group. "Employee Retention...Strategies for Finding and Keeping"
8/18/05 Shea Gordon. Principal with Berstein Investment Research and Management, "When is it Time to Sell Your Business?"
7/21/05 Lanis O'Steen, President of Strategic Development Worldwide NV LLC, "High Output Growth: Sustainable or Hitting the Wall?"
6/16/05 Jim Bailey, Director of the Masters of Business Administration program at University of Southern Nevada. "Management Skills for the 21st Century"
5/12/05 Paul Cruz, President of The CEO Ventures Inc. "Raising money for Your Company...Part Two - Venture Capital Funding"
4/21/05 Kimberly P. Stein, Esq. and Darrel Niemann, President SecureMind, LLC, "Sarbanes-Oxley - the Brave New World of Information Security and Corporate Accountability."
3/17/05 Ruby Warthan, Group Benefits Broker, Orgill/Singer & Associates, "The Hidden Paycheck."
2/17/05 Ed Wilson, Chairman of Nevada Citizens Bank (in formation), "Raising Money for Your Company."
1/26/05 Kep Sweeney, Founder of the Acceleron Group, "Identifying Problems."
11/18/04 Terry Culp & Max Gregorich, Partners-MAP, "Management Assistance Partnership: A Resource for Manufacturing, Construction and Mining."
10/27/04 Rod Garret, Director of Marketing & Entertainment-Sahara Hotel & Casino, "The Continual Fight to "re-invent" the Concept."
9/16/04 Phil Horrell, Senior VP Wells Fargo Bank-Commercial Lending, "What is LIBOR and Financing using LIBOR."
8/19/04 Brian Stegall, Correspondent Banking, "Everything You Need to Know About Capital & Equipment Leasing."
7/15/04 Jason Lazar, Keyon Communication, "Wireless Internet & VOIP."
6/17/04 Michael Beardslee, President of IT Strategies International, "Technology Never Sleeps: Latest IT Developments."
5/20/04 Valerie E. Weber, Senior Development Officer, Collaborating Solutions, "Emotional Intelligence."
4/15/04 Leo Schafer, Bank of America. "How Bankers Analyze Your Company"
3/18/04 Margaret Maul, CFP, CIMA, President of Maul Financial. "It's Time to Rebuild Your Financial Future."
2/19/04 John Wessor, Hickman Telecom. "Voice Over Internet Phones: How to save on Long Distance."
1/15/04 Dr. Oliver Hemmers, CEO of GPmicro, "Latest Development in Backing Up Data."
12/18/03 Don Parker, CFA, AVA. Gryphon Valuation "Valuing Intangible Assets that You Didn't Know You Had."
11/20/03 Steve Hatch, Philip Crosby Associates II, "Reactive Prison: How to Escape with 20:1 Return on Investment."
10/16/03 Doug Bean, Comprehensive Business Strategies, Inc. "ESOP & 419 plans: Tools to Save Money."
9/18/03 Bron Hafner, Celt Capital, "Asset Based Lenders"
8/21/03 David Fishman JD, President of Arbitronix, "High Powered Debt Negotiations"
7/17/03 Frank Yoder, Advanced Information Systems, "Getting 100% ROI on Your Software Investment."
6/19/03 Jonathan Snyder, KeyOn Communications, "High Powered Debt Negotiations"
5/15/03 Michael Marriot, President of IT Strategies Intl, "Why IT Projects Fail"
4/22/03 Judy Irving, President of Moving On, "Helping Executives find their Strengths"
3/20/03 Russ Lombardo, Peak Sales Consulting, "Using CRM tools to Increase Sales."
2/20/03 Robert Massi, Esq., "Mistakes that Businessmen make that Attorneys have to Clean up."
1/16/03 Craig Goesel, Near North Group, "D & O Coverage-Ins & Outs."
12/19/02 John Laub, President of Fluid Capital, "Marketing Strategies for Start-ups and High Tech Companies."
11/21/02 Stephen George, Turnaround Consultant, "Successful Operations Cleanup."
10/17/02 David Josephson, Director of the Western Regional Director Export Import Bank, "Financing Foreign Sales."
9/19/02 Lanis O'Steen, President of O'Steen Investments, "Stories of a Corporate Turnaround Specialist."
8/15/02 Steve Brockman, Builders Capital & Gary Banner, Coldwell Bankers "Where to Invest outside of the Stock Market: Trust Deeds & Apartments."
7/18/02 Mark McNally, President of YourBuyer.com & Bob Moen, Redi-Volt. "Bottom Line Strategies: How to save Money for your Company."
6/20/02 Jeremy Aguero, Applied Analysis "The State Task Forces and the New Proposed Taxes for the State."
5/16/02 Bruce Spotleson, Publisher of InBusiness "Greenspun Media Group and the Characteristics of the Las Vegas Market."
4/1/02 Allen Kaercher, President of Kaercher Insurance, "Risk Management can Lower Your Insurance Costs."
3/21/02 Frank Yoder, President of Advanced Information Systems, "How Recent Technological Advances can Benefit the Financial Community."
2/22/02 Len Krick, President of Sunbelt Business Brokers, "M & A: The Middle Market."
1/18/2002 Mike Ballard, COO of SRD, "Enhancing the Market Capitalization of a Company by Managing its Reputation."
12/20/02 Judi Woodyard, The Equity Group "Commercial Real Estate Trends in Southern Nevada."
11/16/01 Bruce Isaacson CFO "How to Profit in Real Estate."
10/18/01 Fred Alger, Hospitality Network "Competitive Business Analysis: How UPS used it to make better decisions."
9/20/2001 Deedee Molnick, President of IC Corp.com "Internet Gaming: The Industry and Future in Southern Nevada."
8/16/01 Jeremy Aguero Applied Analysis "Analytical Tools to Evaluate Growth in Southern Nevada."
7/19/01 Michael Bonner, Managing Partner with KKBR "Finding Financing."
6/21/01 Jude Wanniski, President of Polyconomics "Supply Side Economics."
5/17/01 Kevin Higgins, Voit Commercial Real Estate Broker "Land Prices and Trends in Commercial Real Estate."
4/19/01 Michael Brown, CFO of GES "Managing in a Down Economy."
3/22/02 Bob Spoth, SVP Alternative Risk Transfer Products, Near North Group, "How Credit Enhancement Products can help Your Corporate Financing."
2/15/01 John Alderfer Former CFO of United Gaming and Interactive Flight Technologies "The Flexible CFO"
1/18/2001 Doug French, Commercial Loan Officer Siliver State Bank "The Economy and Understanding Business Cycles."
12/13/00 Jeff Marquis, Former CFO of Travelscape.com "Starting and Financing an Internet Company"
11/16/00 John Mitchell, Phd, Economists US Bank "Economic Indicators in Las Vegas and the National Economy."
10/5/00 Philip Frazer, Indian Gaming CFO, "Opportunities and Challenges in Indian Gaming."
10/20/99 Dave Ehlers of Las Vegas Investments "The Greening of Las Vegas: Next Round of Growth in Visitor Volume and Population."
6/16/99 Jay Kornmayer, SVP Wells Fargo "Changes in Banking."
5/19/99 Don Rhoads, Former CEO of Alaska Airlines, "Pitfalls of Going Public."
4/21/99 Dennis Stein, Management Consultant, "Strategic Planning."
3/17/99 Kimberly Clark, Phd, "Corporate Divestitures; Equity Carveouts, Spinoffs & IPOs."
1/20/99 Harry Miltenberger, CPA, CFO of the Venetian Hotel & Casino "How the Venetian Financed $1 Billion dollars."

Housing Slump Causes Gilbert-Based RE Broker to Shut Doors

The owners of one of the Valley’s largest real estate brokers, Gilbert-based Re/Max 2000 decided over the Christmas weekend 2007 to close its 13 offices, lay off 20 salaried employees and jettison 350 real estate agents. Unfortunately, some of the bills that weren’t paid were the agents’ commission. At a meeting on the Wednesday after the closing is was disclosed that over $110,000 was owed to the agents.

The owners, Robert and Mary Kline wouldn’t respond to questions about the commissions. Earlier in the week they did tell the Arizona Republic that December 2007 was particularly rough. The company’s cash flow was not covering the rent and overhead. They felt it was time to stop the bleeding and close the company. Arizona State University Realty Studies said that the third quarter was down nearly 30% from the previous year and that was also a down year. The owners haven’t filed for bankruptcy but their creditors could force into an involuntary bankruptcy. In September 2007, Phoenix-based real estate broker, Century 21 Metro Alliance, filed for bankruptcy. It’s another indicator that the real estate market continues to be in the dumps.

Re/Max 2000’s most likely problem was that it over expanded during the real estate boom. The broker had acquired a number of offices which was probably financed. Once the market slumped, Re/Max 2000 probably was upside down on its payments. Compounding the problem is a tight mortgage market which has further delayed a turnaround in the housing market.

On Friday the Arizona State Department of Real Estate has began an audit of the records of Re/Max 2000. The Auditors want to ensure that the company was not using the money in the property-management escrow trust accounts to pay for things not allowed under state law.

John Laub is the Founder of the CEO-CFO Group.

1. “Shuttered Re/Max May Have Future.” Andrew Johnson. The Arizona Republic. December 25, 2007.

2. “Agents: Closed Re/Max Owes Them $111,000.” Luci Scott. The Arizona Republic.December 27, 2007.

3. “State to Audit Re/Max Records.” Luci Scott. The Arizona Republic. December. 28, 2007.

4. Real Estate News Access. Lillian Wong. http://blog.lillianwong.com/

Phoenix-Based FreshBrew Named Top Company at Capital Conference

The annual Invest Southwest Capital Conference formerly known as the Arizona Venture Capital Conference and the Arizona Angel Investment Conference announced the top company of conference and winner of the $200,000 prize. The conference’s goal is to link startup companies with investors. This year’s winner was FreshBrew Inc., a Phoenix-based company. The company is developing software that makes it easier to make web-based digital media presentations without coding.

FreshBrew was one of 14 firms that was selected to present at the conference. Other companies included Scottsdale-based Career Tours, Tuscon-based LiPoint which develops nasally delivered drug products and Novo Technologies, a Tempe-based firm that allows bars to digitally monitor their liquor use.

FreshBrew was started in 2003 by Don Pierson who is best known as one of the founders of the e-learning company, Learning-Edge. The company also received a boost when Pat Sulivan, founder of Sales Logix and ACT!, agreed to be the CEO.

FreshBrew reported that it had recently signed a term sheet for equity financing with the Menlo Park based venture capital firm, Sierra Ventures. The amount was not disclosed. The conference did help connect venture capital to new companies.

John Laub is the Founder of the CEO-CFP Group.

1. “Tech Startup Gets Lift at Conference: Software Maker Receives a $200,000 Investment.” Andrew Johnson. The Arizona Republic. December 15, 2007.

2. www.freshbrew.com

3. www.investsouthwest.org

Owners of the Cardinals Football Team to Build $1.2 Billion Office Park

The Bidwill family which also owns the Arizona Cardinals Football team has announced that it is developing a $1.2 billion office, retail and residential district, north of the University of Phoenix Cardinal Stadium on Bethany Home Road and the 101 Loop. The project is called cdb101 which stands for "central business district" will take 10 years to build out. The project will have 2.6 million square feet in the 77-acre project which will include a 36-story tower, retail shops, restaurants, 900 residential units and 3 stand-alone hotels. Tim Bidwill, 35, will be running the project. The Bidwills had commissioned Elliot Pollack to estimate the economic impact of the project. Pollack forecasted that the development could mean 11,600 jobs and ultimately $2.1 billion in sales for the valley. The project will be reviewed by the Glendale Planning Commission and the Glendale City Commission in January 2008.

John Laub is the President of the CEO-CFO Group.

1. “Bidwill Project Could Generate $2.6 Bil a Year Report Says.” Scott Wong. The Arizona Republic. December 15, 2007.

Startup Scottsdale Company Receives High Praises

Scottsdale-based WildCharge Inc. received high praises in November 2007 from Time magazine, Wall Street Journal and the Consumer Electronics Association for its charge pad that allows consumers to charge multiple phones at once on its pad. The product, the WildCharger, took six years to develop. It uses a small adaptor that is connected to the back of the phone. The phone is then laid on the pad for charging. Up to three phones can be charged at one time. Currently, only Motorola’s RAZR line of phones is set up for the charge pad; however, the company is expanding to Apple and Blackberry phones. Izhar Matzkvich PhD, the president of the company, said that they received a patent in February 2007. The company was founded in 2005 and has 10 employees. In 2007 the company had sales of $100,000 and forecasted sales of $4 million in 2008.

John Laub is the Founder of the CEO-CFO Group.

1. “Innovator’s Charge Pad Wins Fans.” Jane Larson. The Arizona Republic. December 14, 2007.

2. www.wildcharge.com

Another Phelps Dodge Official Leaves

Tim Snider was the former President and Chief Operating Officer of Phelps Dodge and Freeport-McMoRan. He had worked at Phelps Dodge for 37 years. The company announced that it was reorganizing its management team and Snider will resign as of April 1, 2008. Phelps Dodge was acquired in March 2007 by Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold. It is fairly typical that the executives of the acquired company leave shortly after they have been purchased. Ramiro Peru, the former CFO of Phelps Dodge had left at the time of the merger. He subsequently went to Swift and is now being replaced by another Phelps Dodge Employee, Stan Rideout as Swift’s CFO.

John Laub is the Founder of the CEO-CFO Group.

1. “Former Phelps Dodge Executive to Step Down.” The Arizona Republic. December 14, 2007.

Swift Hires another Phelps Dodge Executive as CFO

Swift Corporation has hired Stan Rideout as its CFO. Rideout had worked for 25 years for Phelps Dodge, most recently serving as its treasurer and director of investor relations. Phelps Dodge was acquired in March 2007 by Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold. Rideout will replace Ramiro “Ramey” Peru who was previously the CFO of Phelps Dodge before taking the Swift CFO position in on May 4, 2007. Peru said that he was retiring for personal and family reasons. In other news, Peru was recently appointed as a director of the Tuscon-based UniSource Energy Corporation in December. Swift Transportation is privately owned by Jerry Moyes who took the company private in May 2007.

John Laub is the Founder of the CEO-CFO Group.

1. “Swift Corp. Again Hires a Former Phelps Official.” The Arizona Republic. December 15, 2007.

2. “UniSource Energy Adds 2 to Board of Directors.” The Arizona Republic. December 15, 2007.