Hunting Unicorns in the Gig Economy
Written by Leigh Picchetti on December 7, 2017
Once upon a time, every worker in an organization had a specialty. The person in charge of personnel didn’t do marketing; the accounting team didn’t do project management; and the CEO didn’t lead team-building initiatives at employee off-site meetings.
Then the pendulum swung, and suddenly, everyone was expected to perform ‘other duties as assigned’ without batting an eye. Copywriters were expected to become social media gurus and recruiters felt more like psychologists, vetting personality traits and administering a variety of mental acuity assessments. Video producers and editors are now expected to perform both roles, earning them the combined title of ‘preditors.’ In fact, earlier this week I staffed a television news interview for a client with a local TV station and the reporter (who is also the anchor) acted as his own cameraman, expertly positioning lights, cameras, and interview subjects. Read More
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Advisor Spotlight: Sam Bugg, Marketing and PR consultant
Written by Sam Bugg on November 8, 2017
What work did you complete for the American Cancer Society?
I was a community liaison and fundraiser at the American Cancer Society (ACS). As Senior Manager, I led a team to raise $1 million annually through 25 grassroots fundraising events called Relay For Life. Funds went to ACS research, education, advocacy, and patient services.
How do you use your uniques interests in science and technology to differentiate yourself from others working in your field?
I approach everything I do with a scientific mind. This makes me curious, consider information objectively, and to strive to always improve. I differentiate myself as I'm trained in both science and communications, being able to serve as a translator between the two fields. I can take complex, technical information and translate it to easy-to-understand formats for various audiences. Read More
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Advisor Spotlight: Nonprofit Consultant, Barbara Berv
Written by Barbara Berv on October 18, 2017
How has your past professional experiences enabled you to better satisfy your current client’s needs?
My experience as a fundraiser and as the executive leader of a high-level development teams has been valuable to clients interested in improving their fundraising results. My advice has helped my clients identify the strengths of their organization’s mission, staff and board to make their fundraising more effective. I can help my clients more effectively engage important supporters inside their organizations, identify new supporters and increase support from current donors with the goal of furthering the mission of the organization.
How were you able to turn your passion into a career? Read More
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Data Analytics: You don’t have to be big to do Big Data
Written by Jed Summerton on October 13, 2017
Some leaders of small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) may think that they don’t need advanced analytics: they are doing just fine, thank you, with reports and basic dashboards. Besides, they don’t have the resources to leverage data, or don’t need analytics.
From my experience, they should reconsider: reports only look in the rearview mirror. Modern, forward-looking tools and techniques are more accessible, powerful and affordable than ever. Businesses are to the point that they can’t afford NOT to do data analytics – especially because their competitors probably are.
If you’re not sure how to get more out of your data, and then how to reap the benefits, this series of blogs may be helpful to you. Read More
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Canopy Consultants Offer One-Two Punch for Client
Written by Canopy Advisory on October 5, 2017
“With the help Canopy and its talented consultants, we were able to bring rigor to our financial processes, allowing us to make better decisions for our investors.” —Daren Schmidt, managing partner, Allante Properties, LLC.
Founded on the heels of the Great Recession, Denver’s Allante Properties has burnished its reputation as a multifaceted real estate firm that aggregates private investors to fund acquisitions and developments of apartment communities.
In 2016, the firm determined it needed a more streamlined approach to its finance system to ensure that there would be no gaps in how staff at the corporate office managed cash flow and accounting processes with its subsidiaries and project entities.
“We’re a small company with big projects, and our finance and accounting system was not where we wanted it to be,” says Daren Schmidt, managing partner, Allante Properties, LLC.
The firm engaged Canopy Advisory consultant Jennifer Almquist — whose expertise lies in solving complex issues concerning corporate finance, accounting and finance reporting — to take a deep dive into Allante’s existing finance and accounting processes, and make several high-level recommendations for a more efficient operation to support the company’s strategic objectives. Read More
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Featured Advisor: Nonprofit and Financial Consultant, Amy
Written by Amy Slothower on September 20, 2017
What motivated you to become a Founding executive of Get Smart Schools and Co-founder of Denver School of Science & Technology?
I got involved with the charter school movement after learning more about the low graduation rates for students in Denver Public Schools. I was appalled to realize that, at the time we started DSST, the odds of a low-income DPS student attending college were about 10%. I believed that my previous experience as an entrepreneur had prepared me to tackle the challenge of starting new, more effective schools. After the launch of DSST, I saw an opportunity to support others who wanted to create innovative new schools. Between my work with DSST and Get Smart Schools, I’ve played a role in the development of more than 20 schools, and those schools are changing the future for thousands of students. Read More
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Financial Tips for Startups
Written by Jennifer Almquist on September 7, 2017
There’s no shortage of financial tips that can be given to the new entrepreneur, ranging from the tactical to the strategic. Here are a few things we recommend entrepreneurs keep in mind as they begin making critical financial decisions for their business: Read More
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Business of Aging
Written by Boots Gifford on September 7, 2017 for Denver Business Journal
Canopy Advisory consultant Karen Larsen, second from right, works with a team at Graebel, which includes Gen X'ers, millennials and boomers. Photo by Kathleen Lavine, Denver Business Journal
Baby boomer Karen Larsen used to be afraid to talk about her grandson at work because it would draw attention to her age. Now, she has now found an encore career where her years of experience as a chief marketing officer are wildly sought after. Read More
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Featured Advisor: Branding and Graphic Design Consultant, Jenn
Written by Canopy Advisory on August 23, 2017
Canopy Advisory is pleased to introduce you to our featured advisor, Jenn. Jenn has over 15 years of experience in advertising and design working to bring her clients thoughts to life through varying physical representations. Jenn has worked for major ad agencies covering TV and print campaigns for brands like Gatorade, TJ Maxx, Hillshire Farm and Wachovia Bank. Read More
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The True Cost of a Bad Hire
Written by Canopy Advisory on August 9, 2017
Businesses often hire when their needs are no longer quiet whispers but rather have grown to screaming gaps in their talent pool. Time is frequently condensed compromising the recruiting, vetting, and onboarding processes. Whether part of a startup or a globally established company, hiring managers frequently settle for less than ideal hires leading to material costs to the organization.
Zappos CEO, Tony Hsieh, estimates that bad hires have cost his company more than $100 million. The Department of Labor says the price of a bad hire is at least 30 percent of the employee’s first year earnings. Finally, a well-known recruiter estimates the cost of onboarding an employee at $240,000. Read More
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