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Dads’ Responsibilities: Looking Out for the Family
The Pew Research Center indicates that 25 percent of fathers do not reside with their children. As a result, many fathers may not play an active role in parenting. Despite these unfortunate findings, some fathers in the Gainesville area still manage to share quality time with their children.
Fathers who make spending time with their children a priority enjoy a wide range of activities with them. They may help their children with homework, attend sports events, help with carpooling and participate in other activities their children enjoy. Some fathers even volunteer to spend time with children who are not their offspring. These volunteer activities are varied, but they can include coaching, mentoring students, acting as a homeroom parent and volunteering at the child’s school. Dads who volunteer have the opportunity to make an impression on children who may not otherwise have a positive male role model in their lives.
Many fathers cherish spending time with their children because children grow up quickly. However, being a responsible dad is not just about sharing time with your children; it also involves planning for the future. Parents need to make sure that they have a plan in place in the event a tragedy occurs that prevents them from caring for their children.
Caring for your children is essential to their well-being. The Law Office of Richard M. Knellinger can advise you of the documents necessary to protect your children in the event of a tragic accident or death. Our experienced estate planning lawyers can assist you by drafting a will, creating a trust, or preparing other documents that will protect your children. The ages of your children, your assets and other details about your finances and family circumstances will help our attorneys assist you in drafting the documents that meet your children’s needs and will ensure that your wishes are carried out.
Thinking about your death may be uncomfortable, but preparing for the future allows you to protect your children financially and arrange for their care. The Law Office of Richard M. Knellinger has been helping parents plan for the future for years. Consult with our experienced Gainesville attorneys today.
Read more:
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20110618/ARTICLES/110619549
The Impact of GTEC: Honoring Ten Years of Successfully Helping to Support Technology Companies
A celebration was held recently to honor the tenth anniversary of the Gainesville Technology Enterprise Center (GTEC). Ten years ago, the City of Gainesville and the area’s Chamber of Commerce combined forces to help local companies and inventors fund technological innovations. Additionally, GTEC also gives seminars about technology. The support of GTEC has helped increase the job market for workers with advanced skill sets and has helped provide monetary benefits to the community.
There were several speakers at the event. Conchi Osa, a well-known Gainesville economic developer, discussed how the City and Chamber created a partnership to foster the growth of technology. Todd Chase, City Commissioner, centered his speech on how GTEC evolved by overcoming challenges. He said he feels confident that GTEC will continue to support entrepreneurs, so they can create and perfect new technology. Ethan Fieldman, a previous Cade Prize winner, also spoke at the celebration.
Past recipients of GTEC’s assistance include Sinmat, a company recognized by President Obama for advances with semiconductors and WiPower, which created a wireless charging mat. GTEC has also helped many other companies make technological contributions throughout the Gainesville area. This year the largest Cade Prize award went to Florida Sustainables, a company that makes green, biodegradable plastics. The $50,000 prize covers a year’s rent at GTEC and $5,000 for legal services. Several other companies also received monetary awards for legal services including Synogen, Infinite Energy, Exatech, and NovaMin Technology.
GTEC’s awards for legal services emphasize the importance of using an experienced attorney when inventing a product or starting a business. The Law Office of Richard M. Knellinger, P.A. can help you protect your ideas and/or form your new business. Our business attorneys can help you choose the right corporate structure for you business, help you with contracts, and advise you as your business grows.
Read more:
http://www.gainesvillechamber.com/Innovation_Month.aspx
http://www.gainesvillechamber.com/GTEC_Celebrates_Ten_Years_of_Innovation.aspx
Profitable Love Affair with Food
Photo by PixelShotPhotography.com
Gainesville restaurant owner and executive chef, Bert Gill, is enjoying success and growth with several restaurants in the area. He attributes much of his success to learning from mentors and working in the industry.
Although Gill originally intended to graduate from the University of Florida, he left the University and began working in the food business. He had enjoyed the food industry as a teenager. Eventually, he attended the New England Culinary School.
Gill also learned from his mistakes along the way. Early in his career, he interviewed for a job at the Four Seasons in the Boston area. The chef wanted to hire him, but Gill also had to interview with human resources. Gill scheduled the meeting, but he responded to interview questions as though he had the job already and simply needed the details of the position. Ultimately, he was told that his attitude was unacceptable and he did not get the job. Through this experience, he learned that the right attitude is important no matter your confidence in your abilities.
Instead, he obtained a job at the Pillar House in Boston. He quickly advanced to the position of executive chef. This job required him to oversee budgeting and acquire management skills. Despite his success at Pillar House, he left after five years. He aspired to opening his own restaurant and believed he could have a better lifestyle in a less expensive area.
Eventually, Gill moved to the Gainesville area. He opened and operated a restaurant for the owners of Mildred’s of Micanopy. The restaurant was originally a sandwich shop, but he noticed that dinner was their busiest time. He restructured the business and created another restaurant that used the same kitchen, but focused on dinner fare. Currently, he operates Mildred’s Big City Food, which offers cold lunches and bistro style dining for dinner, and New Deal Café, which offers casual hot lunches. He later opened another restaurant, Ti Amo!. Ti Amo! utilized the same facility, but Gill recently decided to close it to focus his energies on his newest venture, Blue Grill. He found that managing Ti Amo! independently was challenging, so he now uses a management style that incorporates all of his restaurants regardless of their location.
Blue Grill, a restaurant with native Florida cuisine, is located in the Shands Cancer Center garage, and offers the convenience of ordering and paying for food electronically via a computer or telephone. This new restaurant also delivers to the hospital.
Increasing the number of restaurants Gill owns also increases his staff, inventory, and suppliers. Whether you are in the restaurant business or another industry, it is crucial to use the experience of a knowledgeable business attorney when expanding your business. Our business attorneys at the Law Office of Richard M. Knellinger, P.A. can help you with various contracts such as leases and employment contracts, assist with negotiations with suppliers and distributors, and help you decide the best way to structure your expansion.
Read more:
http://www.gainesvillebizreport.com/the-ingredients-of-success/
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20110622/ARTICLES/110629843
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20110420/ARTICLES/110429952
Are You Ready to Turn Your Passion into Your Paycheck?
Pursuing your passion can allow you to enjoy your work and lead to success. Gainesville jewelry designer, Bernard Reller, learned how to work with metals from his father, but his passion and interests ultimately allowed him to find his niche in a business that is successful and meaningful to him. Formerly a pilot and treasure diver, Reller began helping his father craft precious metals in Miami, Florida.
At that time, Reller’s father specialized in making cigarette cases and other metal boxes. Bernard helped with lost wax casting, which is a way to create a pattern that can be duplicated on metal to embellish it. Reller enjoyed creating patterns and gradually began to create his own detailed designs, which often mirrored his interests in the sea and sailing. Eventually his distinctive style earned him an outstanding reputation and he branched out from his father’s business. Currently, he has a studio in Gainesville and spends the majority of his time designing jewelry.
Because of his nautical jewelry specialty, he has been commissioned to create jewelry out of sunken treasure. Now he has expanded his art and his business to creating many diverse lines of jewelry. Reller has designed a line of pirate-themed jewelry and has also created Swamp Gold, which features Gator-themed jewelry. Additionally, he designed a line of aviation-themed jewelry inspired by his love of flying.
Bernard Reller not only enjoys designing jewelry, he also markets his creations. He identified the need for self-adjustable rings that can accommodate the changing sizes of female fingers, and has begun to market them. His jewelry is sold in jewelry galleries and other stores. He uses the Internet to display and sell his jewelry, as well.
As his success continues to grow, he is determined to maintain the quality and customer service that his father provided to his customers. His dedication to his craft and his customers helps his business flourish.
Like Bernard Reller, many entrepreneurs aspire to a career that allows them to make money doing what they love. This does not happen by accident. It takes planning and good business decisions.
Let the business attorneys at the Law Office of Richard M. Knellinger, P.A. help you get your business up and running. We can help you choose the best corporate structure for your business, draft and negotiate contracts, and help you make sure that your ideas are protected.
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DayJet: Convenient Flights for Business
Business travelers constantly face the problem of driving many hours for a meeting when a flight is too expensive or unavailable. Sometimes flights are available, but the number of stops turns a short flight into an all day trip. Charter flights are an option, but they are often very costly. Fortunately, DayJet is giving travelers a new option that is time-saving and more efficient for on-demand traveling.
DayJet offers three small passenger jets that provide travelers with the convenience of taking a direct flight without the expense of a charter flight. DayJet operates small jets to many small airports, and offers nonstop flights that may not be available or are unaffordable on other aircraft.
DayJet’s prices fluctuate depending on passenger flexibility. Sophisticated computerized pricing is based on the time frame a passenger is willing to book a flight; the larger the time frame, the more economical the flight. DayJet planes do not have the bells and whistles of large aircraft, but they are still comfortable. Additionally, passengers need to pack carefully because their luggage affects the balance of the small planes.
The company’s services are geared toward businesses and scheduling cannot be accessed without paying a $250 membership fee. DayJet is focusing on the consistent patron rather than the occasional person who wishes to take an isolated short flight. Nevertheless, DayJet is filling a need for providing affordable, convenient business air travel. As travelers take advantage of DayJet’s service, the service between airports is likely to expand.
Although you may not have an expanding transportation business, your business that meets the needs of consumers will likely grow. The Law Office of Richard M. Knellinger can help you negotiate contracts or purchase new equipment. Our experienced business attorneys can also draft and review non-compete contracts and financing agreements.
Read more:
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_04/b4068000133381.htm
Better Fit for Mucho Macho Man?
The shoes of a racehorse are essential to his performance. Unfortunately, Mucho Macho Man, owned by Patti and Dean Reeves, lost a shoe while racing in the Preakness. Despite his dislodged shoe, Mucho Macho Man managed to finish sixth in the race, but his trainer recognized that it was time for Mucho Macho Man to be fitted for different shoes.
Mucho Macho Man’s new shoes are synthetic shoes affixed with glue. They were designed by his new blacksmith, Curtis Burns. This shoe style, glued to the horse’s hoof, has been worn by other racehorses with success.
Although they are expensive, trainer Kathy Ritvo hopes that the new shoes will prevent future mishaps. The unique feature of the new shoes is that they were shaped to conform to Mucho Macho Man’s feet.
Past performances of other racehorses are increasing the popularity of the shoes. Mucho Macho Man’s trainer is optimistic that the shoes will help the horse achieve success in other races.
If you own a business and the demand for your products is rising, our business lawyers at the Law Office of Richard M. Knellinger P.A. can help you manage your growth.
Additionally, if your business’ growth is driven by a new product you have developed, consult with our intellectual property attorneys. We can assist you in protecting your new product so that your business can continue to grow.
Read more:
http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/triplecrown2011/news/story?id=6603622
http://www.unicorn-horseshoe.com/show_content.php?id=127.1
http://www.dreamteamracingstable.com/pages/stable_news
Retired Teachers Can Pursue Other Careers
Workers who are not involved in the profession may envy teachers’ hours, their summer breaks, and their school vacations. Nevertheless, those outside of the profession may not realize the tight line that teachers straddle between teaching students, managing classrooms, interacting with administrators and satisfying parents. In addition to their many hats, teachers are now faced with dealing with legislative cuts and state standard requirements that are affecting their abilities to teach effectively.
In some districts, teachers’ evaluations and raises are also being more closely tied to students’ performances on standardized tests. Furthermore, the time period and age requirement to receive full pension benefits has been increased by three years. Thus, teachers are working harder than ever to balance the demands of the legislature and the needs of the students while their benefits are being cut or taking longer to accrue.
Districts are feeling the pinch of losing qualified teachers because of the changes and are worried that the increasingly high volume of retirements may impact students’ education. Districts know that senior teachers are familiar with the curriculum and have the expertise to mentor beginning teachers. Thus, they help many districts maintain their quality of education.
Meanwhile, many teachers and retirees from other professions may seek second careers or even become entrepreneurs. If you are embarking on a second career, contact the Law Office of Richard M. Knellinger P.A. so we can help you. We can review employment contracts, non-compete agreements, and help you negotiate better terms of employment.
If you decide to work for yourself, we can help you get your business off the ground. We can handle licensing issues, incorporation, investor financing, negotiate partnership agreements, and advise you on other business issues.
Additionally, if you are enjoying your golden years, our probate attorneys can review and draft wills, create codicils, create trusts, and advise you of needed documents that will ensure your assets are properly distributed when you die. The Law office of Richard M. Knellinger P.A. can also assist you in making sure that your pension benefits are distributed according to your wishes. Contact our law offices for your probate and business needs.
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High Identity Theft in Florida: Minimizing the Effects
Retailers and consumers should be aware that Florida ranks second for receiving complaints about stolen identities and consumer fraud. The areas with the highest volume of complaints were the Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Port St. Lucie areas.
While many people associate identity theft with credit card fraud, the bulk of complaints involve using fraudulent documents or information to obtain government benefits. Examples of this type of fraud could cheat the victim out of social security money, tax refunds, government funded food or other benefits. Scams involving electronic transfers are typically used to commit this type of fraud.
Consumers can reduce their chances of becoming fraud victims by limiting the personal information they make available on the Internet. They should also refrain from responding to fishing expedition email requesting information about bank accounts or passwords. This type of email message also typically mentions an electronic transfer.
Similarly, consumers should only share credit card information on a secure website or call in their payment information. Paying via Paypal can also help reduce distribution of credit card numbers. Consumers should be aware that credit card theft can occur even if the consumer still has his credit card in his possession. The vital information on the credit card is all that is needed to make fraudulent purchases. Review credit card statements regularly for unusual charges and periodically check your credit history to ensure that it remains strong.
Retailers and banks can also do their part to protect against fraud. Employees should request identification before cashing checks or accepting credit cards.
If you learn that you are a victim of credit card fraud or identity theft, immediately close any bank accounts that are affected. Contact your credit card company and follow their procedures. Alert the fraud departments of credit bureaus to your situation and request reports. The Florida Office of Attorney General’s website can provide additional ways to minimize the effects of identity theft and fraud.
Read more:
http://creditidentitysafe.com/credit-monitoring/your-identity-in-an-online-world.htm
http://www.gainesvillebizreport.com/florida-near-top-for-identity-theft-fraud/
http://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/business/florida-leads-the-nation-in-identity-theft-government-1428203.html
http://myfloridalegal.com/pages.nsf/main/3db2c79bd0ed84b585256cc9005a0a8c!OpenDocument