by Jenna Daniel
​
I am sad to say that this is my last week as an employee of the Chamber. While my time here was shorter than expected, it has certainly been an experience that I will cherish forever.
 
Getting to know all of the members and their businesses was one of my favorite aspects of working for the Chamber. The relationships I have built with so many of you will carry on long past my departure, and I am grateful that the Chamber brought me to so many awesome people.
 
To my lovely co-workers and boss: I will miss you ladies so much. We’ve laughed, we’ve cried, we’ve spent countless hours outside of work together and we have built such a strong bond. I feel so blessed to have such a good relationship with all of you. You taught me so much about work ethic and what it means to be a team in a business setting. Your influence and mentorship have added an indefinite amount of value to my knowledge and skills, and I am so grateful. I will cherish your friendship and the amazing time we’ve had together forever. I love you all.
 
To my YoPros buddies: it’s been a ride, haha. From fowling to cocktail crafting to bocce to de-stressing, I would venture to say that we’ve just about done it all. Even though we struggled from time to time, we always got it together and kept on keeping on, and things always worked themselves out. I’m thankful to have been a part of this group, and I’m even more thankful for the friendships it brought me. You know who you are.
 
To our awesome members: it’s been an honor to serve you and your businesses. I have learned so much about small businesses, and each of you has played a vital role in that. I am thankful that I have so many new contacts and resources for any needs I might have in the future.
 
I’m thankful that I can look back at my time at the Chamber and have so many happy and fun memories. The many events, ribbon cuttings, Sterlingfest and everything in between were always a great time. I’m glad I got the opportunity to be a part of this community, and I wouldn’t have had it any other way.  
 
While this is an extremely bittersweet goodbye, I’m thankful that it’s not forever. I’ll still be around and I hope to still make it to Chamber functions, and I’ve already got my name on the list as a Sterlingfest volunteer. You know you weren’t going to be able to get rid of me that easily!
 
All joking aside: from the bottom of my heart, I am truly grateful for everything the Chamber has taught me, for getting to meet and have a relationship with all of you and for being accepted into the Chamber family. I know that I will always have a feeling of home here.
 
Not goodbye, but see you later…
 
          - Jenna

Presented by Integrity Wealth Consultants.

CAN YOU PSYCH YOURSELF UP TO SAVE MORE?
You have probably spent decades saving for retirement, and you might have a decade or more of saving to go before you actually retire. At times, your resolve may be tested. The stock market may falter; household money pressures may mount; new near-term priorities may arise. What can you do to stay on point and stick with this financial commitment you have made to your future self?

First, keep picturing the future you want. Envision the dreams and goals you want to accomplish. If you want to retire to a certain place, spend a day or a weekend there. If you imagine yourself enjoying a particular hobby or pursuit, try out that pastime today. This could reinforce the importance of retirement saving at a time when distractions threaten. Second, if you are tempted to spend more and save less after a raise or promotion, think about the opportunity cost of that choice. A $100 or $500 expenditure on some consumer good poised to depreciate is not an investment in your future, but $100 or $500 invested in equities or fixed-income vehicles could result in further progress toward your savings objective. Third, automate your saving and investing, if that is not already the case, so you never have to think about it. You can do this with an IRA, not just a workplace retirement plan. Some workplace plans offer you the option of gradually increasing your contribution rate. So, instead of merely saving for something hazy called "retirement," save for the dreams that inspire you. 

Health Tip
Scrub your hands when you wash them
Some people wash their hands more thoroughly than others, and thorough is good. Start by wetting your hands, then apply enough soap to get a good lather going. Then, vigorously scrub your hands, your fingernails, and between your fingers for 15-20 seconds. This scrubbing is what removes the bulk of the germs and viruses, not to mention oil and dirt.

NEW INGREDIENTS ENHANCE CULINARY TOURS
If some of your fondest travel memories center on the cuisine you have savored abroad, you may be intrigued to know how culinary vacations are taking on a whole new flavor. The new trend is toward a deep food experience: exploring the origin and culture giving birth to the food, not merely the food alone.
These trips strive to provide a memorable balance of activities, culture, and cuisine. You might ride a conventional or electric bike from one prime foodie destination to the next in Italy or Spain, fish for salmon and gather edible herbs in Alaska or the Yukon, or go clamming and cook on wild rhubarb-covered rocks in Patagonia. Obviously, trips of this sort are not cheap (think $5,000-$10,000 for two weeks, not including airfare), but they can provide a profoundly immersive experience and lifelong memories. In some areas, you can even add this kind of encounter to a vacation yourself: travel services like NOSHtrekker in Singapore help travelers dine at the homes of locals who share their interest in art, history, and other disciplines. 

DID YOU KNOW?  
Famous fast words
Some celebrated novels and novellas have been written with astonishing speed. Irish author John Boyne wrote the first draft of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas in 60 hours. Fyodor Dostoyevsky wrote The Gambler in 26 days. Jack Kerouac wrote On the Road in three weeks. 

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE
Participants in employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) have an average balance of $170,326 by the estimate of the National Center for Employee Ownership, which is more than twice the mean savings that workers have amassed in other kinds of employer-sponsored retirement plans. There are about 6,700 ESOPs nationwide.


This blog was originally posted by Integrity Wealth Consultants.

​by Terri North, Legal Strategies, PC.

Methamphetamine, also known as crystal meth, was initially produced by gangs on the West Coast. But since that time, meth production has moved to small, residential home labs, especially in rural areas.
 
Meth residue poses significant health risks for the buyers of those homes, especially for the younger members of the family, but there is no obligation for a seller to disclose whether a home was used for meth production.
 
Michigan requires that sellers of residential property complete a Seller's Disclosure Statement for potential buyers. The Disclosure asks about environmental problems, such as asbestos, radon gas and lead-based paint, that could be a risk for future owners. However, the form was created before meth labs were a problem, so there is no question regarding the production of meth in the home. Currently, a seller does not have any legal duty to mention that information.
 
Until the Legislature acts to update the Seller's Disclosure Statement, the burden will be on the buyer of a home to protect himself. There are both home tests available for detecting meth residue and companies that can test for and remediate the contamination if any meth residue is detected.
 

* This blog was originally posted by Legal Strategies, PC.

by UHY LLP

​With the increasing number of cyber attacks and data breaches affecting companies, there are more demands on organizations to protect the confidentiality, integrity and availability of sensitive data and systems.
 
The solvency of your organization can be jeopardized with a single click by one employee. Ransomware, phishing and online banking fraud are on the rise and targeting the middle market and sole proprietors at an ever-increasing rate. Cybersecurity events are not a matter of if, but when. You can no longer prevent an attack. You can, however, manage the impact and magnitude.
 
WHAT WE'VE SEEN

UHY has seen first-hand the damaging effects of cyberattacks. We have numerous clients who have been the victim of a ransomware attack which disabled their business. We have clients who have been hit with wire-transfer fraud resulting from Business Email Compromise (BEC). Other clients have had individuals within their payables group individually targeted through a phishing campaign and had malware installed on the banking laptop, resulting in fraudulent ACH transactions in excess of $250,000.

MORE THAN ONE 'NO'? ALARMING, BUT WE CAN HELP!

We share our clients' vision to minimize risks, enhance security, avoid pitfalls, implement best practices and ensure stability. One of UHY Advisors' cybersecurity experts can schedule 30 minutes to further define the scope of services needed.

NEXT LEVEL OF SERVICE

UHY's commitment to client service is personable, value-centric and cost-effective. We call it The Next Level of Service. Our goal is to exceed our clients' expectations. Our professionals are committed to helping you develop an approach to cybersecurity that protects your organization. We have designed our service offerings to be cost-effective and impactful. Please contact your local UHY professional to learn more about cybersecurity and mitigating the risk to your organization.

THE NEXT STEP
 
For a strong and compelling cybersecurity program aligned to your client's business, please contact the UHY Advisors' Technology, Risk & Compliance team at cyber@uhy-us.com.