Officeheads is Hiring!

 Officeheads/Apogee Strategies is seeking an ambitious Business Support/Admin Assistant to join our team at the River North location

YOU 
An energetic, enthusiastic and ambitious individual with some experience as an office manager, administrative assistant or bookkeeper. You are ready, willing and able to tackle a different type of project every day and you are unfazed by the need for extreme multitasking. You're eager to learn new things and you accept constructive guidance - you're not set in your ways, but you're also not adrift without constant direction. You are relentlessly focused on details and results, you despise excuses no matter where they are coming from and you don't shy away from hard work or long hours. You take pride in being trusted to deliver innovative solutions for a demanding team and an even more demanding client base. You love working with people, be they customers or coworkers, and especially love fixing problems and finding better ways to do things.

US 
We are an innovative team of business consultants providing operational strategies and back office services to small and mid size offices, with a strong foundation in IT. We are a high energy group of consulting professionals who pride ourselves on doing things better, smarter and more efficiently with each day gone by. We provide back office support to small businesses and associations, including operations/process management, event management, administrative support, bookkeeping and end-to-end technology support; we forge deep relationships with our clients and always strive to go the extra mile. We hold ourselves to the highest standards of thoroughness and service, realizing that communication is as important as results for our clients. We don't accept excuses and expect great things from each and every one of our team members.

THE GIG 
You will be joining the CAPS/Officeheads/Apogee team as a Junior Business Support Associate, responsible for providing support services to CAPS and Officeheads consultants and clients. You will receive day-to-day management from consultants - sometimes you will be supporting their consulting work for clients, while on other days you will be working directly for clients on administrative or bookkeeping projects. You will be expected to learn new technologies and skills on the job as dictated by the needs of the consulting team and their clients. Opportunities for career growth and promotions abound in this high-energy/high-growth environment for those team members that show true dedication to purpose.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE: 

• High-level administrative support to entrepreneurial business owners; and senior/associate staff
• Manage and maintain calendars and appointments
• Record, transcribe and distribute meeting minutes
• General clerical :: reception, data entry, filing, scanning, ordering
• Basic editorial :: review documents for basic grammatical errors
• Basic web-based updates :: social media (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn)
• Transactional bookkeeping :: manage payables and receivables (QuickBooks)
• Facilities management :: office supplies, kitchen, office furniture
• Other office duties assigned by client need -- in office and offsite at client locations

CAPABILITIES 

• Excellent communication skills :: written and oral
• Proficient knowledge of Microsoft Office :: specifically Word, PowerPoint and Excel
• Proficient knowledge of QuickBooks
• Proficient Internet skills :: including online services such as MailChimp, ConstantContact, LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook
• Ability to conduct research when given the opportunity
• Willing to work from both office locations, client locations, plus travel domestically and internationally for several days at a time

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE 

• Currently in college or holds a college diploma
• Proficient basic computer and Microsoft Office skills :: Microsoft Excel skills are a plus.
• Proficient skills with basic office equipment :: printer, scanner, fax, phones, etc.
• Proficient in use of email and Internet
• Good numeracy skills
• QWERTY keyboard skills

A FEW THINGS ESSENTIAL TO YOUR SUCCESS

• You must be helpful to your team mates :: you should have the patience to share your experience with the team and to similarly accept input and guidance with a never ending supply of professionalism and courtesy.
• You must be disciplined enough to manage your list of tasks with minimal oversight, yet team focused enough to rally around your coworkers and help each other out through tough situations.
• You must understand that you are ultimately responsible for your work and you must own that responsibility.
• You must be a committed member of our team that demonstrates ambition each day.

A FEW THINGS TO ENSURE YOUR FAILURE

• Showing up late and/or leaving early, this ain't no 9 to 5 shop.
• Not communicating effectively and continuously, both internally and with customers.
• Ignoring instructions.
• Blowing deadlines.
• Refusing to evolve and learn new skills, from day one.
• Not doing something because you've convinced yourself that it's "someone else's job".

THE PROMISE
You will be joining an energetic, growth oriented company who loves to promote from within; your career path is wide open. Provided you show us drive, commitment and consistent performance, a position on our team can grow in ways that few other small businesses can offer.

INTERESTED?
Take the First Step Here.

OTHER STUFF
You will have access to company sponsored training and bonus compensation opportunities. Medical, Dental, Vision, Life insurance and 401(k) programs are available.

Apogee Strategies LLC is an equal opportunity employer and works in compliance with both federal and state laws. We are committed to the concept of Equal Employment opportunity. Qualified candidates will be considered for employment regardless of race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation/identity, national origin, marital status, medical condition or disability.

Officeheads, Inc. and Apogee Strategies LLC, Complete Combination; Berneck is Welcomed as New Principal.

Officeheads and Apogee Strategies Complete Combination
Officeheads and Apogee Strategies are pleased to announce the combination of the two firms. The combined entity, using the name Apogee Strategies LLC, will maintain an Evanston office presence in addition to the combined Chicago headquarters.  Officeheads' President and Founder, Rebecca Berneck, is pleased to be joining as a Principal of Apogee Strategies. The combined entity can now offer clients a complete back office solution, including operations/process management, administrative support, bookkeeping and, of course, technology.  In addition, Rebecca brings years of experience in branding, marketing and social media, adding to the deep capabilities of Apogee's existing Association Management and Conference Planning subsidiary Conference & Publication Services, LLC.

Berneck is Welcomed as New Principal
Rebecca Berneck is now Apogee's Director of Consulting and Client Relationships, in addition to overseeing the integration of Officeheads services and clients into the Apogee family.  Rebecca will focus on working with the Client Service and Support teams to ensure that the services we deliver to the combined base of customers are true to our guiding principles: to provide comprehensive, leading edge solutions; to deliver a concierge-like service experience; and to be a trusted advisor to our customers.

More About Apogee Strategies
Apogee Strategies LLC, formed in 2000, is an information systems resource offering advanced technical and development solutions in information technology, systems and software for small to midsize businesses in a wide range of industry and service segments.  Apogee builds collaborative partnerships with our clients to provide comprehensive, leading edge information systems and services.  Apogee's services are based on our four value pillars: Expand Knowledge; Improve Efficiency; Increase Effectiveness; and Reduce Technology Program Costs.  Apogee delivers the Virtual Office suite of integrated services to clients from our private cloud, often combined with remote and onsite support services delivered by Apogee's team of support technicians and engineers.  Apogee clients choose Apogee because of the quality of our team, our reputation for superior customer service and our ability to understand the unique needs of their particular industries and businesses.
www.apogeestrategies.com- Derek Huyser 312.327.2220

More about Conference & Publication Services, LLC.
CAPS was formed in 1979 to meet the conference planning, execution and publication needs of business, government, academia and non-profits. Since 1979, CAPS has worked with a variety of clientele both domestically and internationally, creating and managing unique meetings, workshops, conferences and corporate events.  Since that time, CAPS has expanded the service offering to include complete Association Management, including membership, sponsorship, outreach, operations, finance, communication and events.  CAPS is an innovative team of association and event management consultants committed to client success.  CAPS is a true single resource for association, conference and event management.
www.capsllc.net- Traci Wei 312.372.1255



New business = New business needs: Why you should outsource

You were fed up.
You worked at a desk for another person. Spent hours being delegated useless tasks. Counted down the days until the weekend, and then the next paycheck. And you spent a ton of energy appearing too busy just to appease your boss.

Then, you wised up.
And quit. You had big ideas and were sick of not being able to act on them. And you wanted the control of being the boss. So you started your own business.

 Now you’re riding high. You’re the boss; you make all the big (and small) decisions. Every detail needs a “go ahead” or a “not so fast” from you. And it doesn’t take you long to realize that being the sole decision maker for your company is as time-consuming as it is rewarding. The little things are adding up and you need help, but you can’t afford to hire full-time staff just yet.

So what now?
Outsource.

Outsource? You can’t outsource! You didn’t jump the corporate ship in search of complete freedom just to relinquish control over your new business to strangers. Besides, what do they know anyway? Your ideas are unique and complex; you don’t have time to break down your every detail to someone who isn’t as invested as you are.

But you can’t do it all.
Well, with outsourcing, you can do it all. And the first thing you can do is let go of the fear of letting go. Having a few extra sets of hands isn’t losing control; it’s a little something that businesses owners do – delegate.

We know that you are totally capable of being, at the very least, proficient (maybe even great) at all aspects of your new business. But face it: there are some things that are better suited to be delegated to other people that are more suited for the task.

So instead of trying to do it all on your own…
…do what you need to do, and outsource the rest.



Assessing your first quarter of 2011 (Are you on mark for reaching your goals?)

Whether you’re a seasoned business owner or a newbie, quarterly assessments are vital. When you sit down and survey these past three months, remember that taking inventory goes beyond the numbers. Hopefully, this post will provide you with some good jumping off points at whatever level you’re at in your entrepreneurial quest. 

Rookies

Congrats on the decision to go into business for yourself! The first quarter in business is a rocky ride; every day is a brand new learning experience. How you handle the curve directly affects everything you do from now on. If you made a profit this early in your new business, that’s great. If not, there’s other ways to assess what you’ve accomplished. Here are a few questions to get you started.

• Did I make a profit? Break even? Am I in the red?
• How many clients do I have? Were my rates competitive with the market, too high or too low?
• How were my marketing efforts? What worked and what didn’t?
• How do my products/services compare to what’s already out on the market?

Second-year starters

You’re wrapping up the first quarter of year two. You no longer make the rookie mistakes of a first-time brand-new entrepreneur.  After a year of being in business, you’ve come to expect a bumpy ride. But this time around, you’re more prepared for the kooky situations and the head-scratching clients. Your set of questions looks something like this.

• Did I reach my profit goal? Am I satisfied with my sales percentages? What can I do to improve them?
• How can I improve my product to better serve my existing clients? How can I enhance my services to attract new clients? What specializations can I do within my current services that I can charge a higher rate for?
• What percentage of my total income is coming from my current marketing efforts and what’s from referrals? Do I want to continue investing in marketing or focus more on getting business through word-of-mouth?

Year three and beyond

The veterans. No more slippery rocks; you’re footing is firm and you’ve found a strange comfort within the sometimes chaotic life of an entrepreneur. You’ve got a few employees, you’re solid in your foundation and you’re ready to move up the ladder. Here’s what you need to consider.

• What did the numbers say: profit or not? Did I reach my profit goals?
• Am I pleased with my employees? How can I compel new people to join my team? What changes do I need to make in my current staff to have continued growth?
• Is it time to re-evaluate my marketing strategies? Or do I need to add more services/products to bump the company to the next level?

These are all starting points when considering your first quarter gains and losses. When you sit down to assess your first quarter of 2011, look at every aspect of your company. Because each action, each step and certainly every destination reached plays its part in your bottom line. 

5 Tips to prepare for tax season

We felt the collective eye roll, but it’s that time. We at Officeheads would be doing a disservice if we didn’t discuss taxes. Since you can’t avoid it, or die of boredom via line-by-line instructions, let’s just cut the excuses and get started. 

Tip 1: Step away from the ledge

Maybe your record-keeping wasn’t perfect. Or maybe it was, but you still get that sinking feeling come March or April. We realize that you didn’t become a freelance marketing consultant to be a part-time bookkeeper. But taxes are something – no matter what career – that must get done, and the best way to do them does not include a panic attack. So take a deep breath, open your files and start going over the past twelve months by seeing where you stand. 

Tip 2: Sort through receipts, invoices, stubs and spreadsheets

Figure out exactly how much money you made and spent. If you kept track of incomes and expenses on spreadsheets, double check them with actual invoices, check stubs, bills and receipts. Then, double check it again. 

Tip 3: Rule-breakers beware

Everyone knows the two non-breakable tax rules: File them. Pay them. Yet as you sift through all the intimidating forms and pages of line-by-line instructions, you may see that there are advantages to being an entrepreneur. As a business owner (big or small), you’ve got some serious advantages.  Research the deductions you get for being a business owner, and educate yourself on exactly how much of your income is taxable. The more you know, the more you save in the short and long term. 

Tip 4: Get a second opinion

All the forms are complete and the check is ready to be mailed. You kick your feet up, lean back because you think you’re finished. Not so fast. We applaud your confidence, but we suggest you stay on the safe side and talk to a financial professional. More specifically, get an accountant. Worse-case scenario: they reassure you of your vast knowledge of tax laws. Best case? They find that you missed thousands in deductions, or that you made a crucial error that could net an unexpected five-figure bill a year down the line. Either way, win for all. 

Tip 5: Celebrate…and start planning for next year

You’re alive! You made it though the eye-glazing tasks of reading dreadfully small-type forms, recording and re-recording dollars and cents, and a meeting with an accountant. Bust out the sparkling apple juice, and start creating a spreadsheet with income and expenses for 2011. The earlier you start thinking about next year, the easier it’ll be when that time comes. Better yet; get yourself a bookkeeper to do the dirty work for you.  That way you can focusing more on running your business, not working in it.