Womack owns VerdeGoh Electric Vehicles, a Franklin, Tennessee company that sells and services electric vehicles. His business also converts gas-powered cars into ones powered only by electricity. His first project was a $500 Chevy S-10 truck owned by a Belmont University professor, and the company's mechanic is changing over an Audi TT.
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Few of us have funds set aside for this endeavor. In addition, the College Board's annual "Trends in College Pricing" reports a rise in tuition costs at public and private institutions for the 2009-2010 school year. According to the report, annual tuition and fees at private four-year colleges rose 4.4 percent to $26,273, and public university costs rose 6.5 percent to $7,020.
Prospective students often don't know where to start. But take heart; Darlene Violet, director of Financial Aid at Brown Mackie College - Akron, Ohio, offers advice on funding your education. "The U.S. Department of Education distributes $96 billion a year in grants, work-study assistance, and low-interest loans," Violet says. "Every student begins the process of seeking financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form, known as the 'FAFSA.'" Information submitted on the FAFSA form determines the amount a student may receive through a federal Pell Grant, which is based on financial need. The recent economic stimulus program increased Pell Grant funds by $500 per student. Financial aid is available for those who qualify.
Beyond completing the FAFSA, many turn next to student loans. "An education is always a good investment," says Violet, "but many people don't realize the loans must be paid back starting six months after leaving school. I advise students to seek out and apply for scholarships." Wide varieties of organizations offer scholarships, from fraternities and sororities to community groups, foundations, and corporations. Winning candidates receive funds based on a vast spectrum of criteria, including ethnicity and cultural heritage. "Students just don't take the time to find them," Violet continued. "It can be a lot of work."
The Scholarship Committee at Brown Mackie College - Akron hired a group of honor students to help others navigate through the many scholarships available, complete the application forms, and provide feedback on essays written for submission. "This allows students the security to delve deeper into the scholarship world. It's well worth it," Violet says.
Scholarship awards can be as important to the educational institution as they are to the student. Federal guidelines, known as the 90-10 rule, mandate that no more than 90 percent of the funds received by a college can come from Federal loans and grants. A minimum of 10 percent must come from outside sources, including scholarships, private loans, and the students' own financial contributions.
Violet recommends checking additional resources as well. "Many employers will pay or reimburse tuition expenses, sometimes even for immediate family members. And the Veteran's Administration offers benefits to those who have served our country," she says. The Workforce Investment Act offers grants to those who qualify, and many churches offer scholarship opportunities. In addition, the Orphan Foundation of America offers scholarships to students who are wards of the state.
Further savings can come in the form of a temporary tax credit. The American Opportunity Tax Credit, included in the economic stimulus bill signed by President Barack Obama, can be worth as much as $2,500. People who earn $80,000 or less a year (or $160,000 or less for joint filers) can claim this credit on money paid for tuition, certain fees and course materials for higher education in 2009 and 2010. For complete details, visit www.irs.gov.
Once a student enters college, Violet advises making other financial considerations:
Ride public transportation. In addition to saving on fuel and parking fees, public transportation provides time for students to get a head start on assigned reading and homework.
Avoid credit card offers. However tempting the offer seems, credit cards charge interest on purchases and impose fees for late payments.
Work while attending classes. Many students work full- or part-time while earning their degrees. The federal work-study program helps eligible students find employment on campus.
"Taking the time to apply for scholarship funds is a step that can help now while they're in school, and in the future when no bill comes due," Violet says.
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(ARA) - When US Airways Flight 1549 went into the Hudson River in January, Sherri Shamblin had every excuse to quit her pursuit of her advanced degree.
After all, she was responsible for the training, policy and procedures for 8,000 flight attendants with the airline and she was just burdened with reassuring this corps of professionals, as well as the 1549 flight crew, in the aftermath of the near-disaster. However, Shamblin was able to immediately incorporate lessons learned from her executive MBA classes into her current situation.
"I had to lead by serving them, and surprisingly enough, that's what many executives tend to forget. Rather than being a self-serving leader, you need to be a serving leader," Shamblin says.
Shamblin was one of a class of 12 in the Ken Blanchard Executive MBA (EMBA) program at Grand Canyon University, a 12-month program that is unique with its emphasis on servant leadership - or the idea of leading by serving your key constituents.
In today's economy, an EMBA degree can be a major advantage for job seekers and professionals looking to advance within their organizations, and often employers will provide a stipend for continuing education.
According to the nonprofit Executive MBA Council's most recent study of EMBA graduates, 23 percent reported salary increases, and 43 percent received promotions while enrolled in their programs. Nearly 75 percent said they greatly increased their value to their organizations as a result of their EMBA education.
Shamblin was drawn to the GCU program because of involvement of one of her long-term idols, business guru and "One Minute Manager" author Ken Blanchard.
"If you have any experience with managing in the workplace, Ken Blanchard is an icon," she says.
Grand Canyon University's EMBA graduates rate the quality of faculty, fellow students, curriculum and program management higher than graduates from full-time or part-time MBA programs, according to the 2009 GMAC Global Graduate Survey. Shamblin's academic experience, which included three in-person residencies with Blanchard and his advisory board members including Harvey Mackay, former Southwest Airlines President Colleen Barrett and other nationally known business leaders, reinforces this research.
"It's important for students to interact with people who have held high-powered jobs, and classmates that have different but complementary experiences to yours," Shamblin says.
While she was enrolled in the program, Shamblin started introducing new concepts and best practices in areas that fell under her authority. The results were almost immediate. "I talked with people about things I had learned that we might implement, applying situational leadership, and people loved it. It absolutely made a difference."
After taking early retirement, Shamblin is no longer with the airline, but she's confident that the practices that she learned through her degree program and the experiences that she has had with the airline has prepared her for her next professional challenge.
"It seems simple but it's easy to lose sight of it - be a serving leader," she says. For more information on Grand Canyon University's EMBA programs visit www.GCU.edu.
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(ARA) - Job hunting has gone from searching the classifieds to roaming online job boards and career search engines. But before you sit down in front of your computer, ask yourself some important questions and then be prepared to go social.
Marc Scoleri, director of Career Services at The Art Institute of New York City, recommends doing a self-directed job search in conjunction with other search techniques.
A self-directed job search requires the job-seeker to take into account personal preferences and businesses of interest. Realizing personal preferences and having a sense of self-awareness as it relates to a career is important when clarifying which companies to research. In working with students attending Art Institute schools, he has compiled the following inventory questions:
* What industry is most interesting to you for a career? Why?
* What geographic location is most appealing?
* What duties do you enjoy doing most and least as they relate to your industry?
* What is the minimum pay you can survive on?
* What topics within your industry do you want to learn most about?
* What position do you want three to five years from now?
* What personal goals can you achieve by obtaining a position in your chosen industry?
* What is your ideal work schedule?
* What employer-offered benefits are important to you?
* What are some of the job titles that interest you?
* Whom can you contact within your industry of choice?
Afterwards, target companies based on the answers. Then, contact managers within the department of interest, even if they are not currently hiring.
"Personally, I'd prefer to interview someone who went out of his or her way to call me directly over someone who found a posting on some stale job board," Scoleri says. This is where socializing begins and networks are developed.
LinkedIn.com has become one of the most respected online networking tools for professionals. Complete a profile on LinkedIn.com and get one step closer to creating a powerful online network. It takes, on average, 65 contacts to create a network large enough to result in substantial and meaningful findings on LinkedIn.com, says Victoria Snabon-Heath, Career Services director at The Art Institute of Tampa. Snabon-Heath urges job-seekers to set themselves apart from the load of resumes that inundate companies on a daily basis. "Go social. Begin utilizing virtual, social marketing techniques in addition to your online job search," she says.
Snabon-Heath says it's important that students, recent graduates and the unemployed extend themselves by joining and volunteering with professional organizations in their field of focus. Attend a monthly professional organization meeting such as the local American Advertising Federation meeting, if advertising is your profession. To learn more about The Art Institutes schools, visit www.artinstitutes.edu/nz.
"Students have participated in monthly social mixers in order to meet the hiring managers and directors who may be too busy during the workweek to respond to e-mails and phone calls from eager prospective hires," Snabon-Heath says. "Put yourself out there. It's who you know that can help get you in the door and what you know that keeps you there."
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(ARA) - When a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, many of her most important questions can't be answered by a doctor. What if my insurance won't cover a new treatment? Do I risk losing my benefits if I am not working full time? Will my boss let me take time off for treatment?
To help women answer these questions, the American Bar Association, and state and local bar associations across the country sponsor breast cancer legal advocacy workshops. This landmark project features panels of local legal experts who train other attorneys on how to represent breast cancer patients facing legal challenges related to their illness.
One Indianapolis expert on the Family and Medical Leave Act explains that when it comes to breast cancer, the No. 1 legal issue is not the denial of insurance coverage, but in fact, continuation of employment.
Many breast cancer patients face employment discrimination due to misconceptions about the disease and a lack of empathy and understanding of cancer. However, both federal and state laws protect against unlawful employment actions.
Legal professionals can help patients understand the complex health care provisions of insurance coverage that are often difficult to understand and can fight for patients' employment rights. Women with breast cancer should work with legal advocates and know that lawyers stand ready to be partners in the fight against breast cancer.
One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, underscoring the need for more legal advocacy workshops and more partnerships between doctors, lawyers and patients.
The American Bar Association's Breast Cancer Legal Advocacy Workshop Toolkit offers advice and aid for lawyers wishing to help patients navigate their situation and provides a blueprint for attorneys to use for developing training programs to educate other advocates. Here is a sample of the advice the toolkit offers anyone facing breast cancer:
Ten steps to protecting the legal rights of breast cancer patients:
1. Read your health insurance policy carefully.
2. Determine if the treatment prescribed by your physician is covered by your policy.
3. Find out about the appeals process under your insurance policy.
4. Consult with an expert who is knowledgeable about health insurance law.
5. Plead your case in person to your insurance carrier.
6. Personalize your written case with your insurance company.
7. Obtain copies of your medical records.
8. Document everything.
9. Ask your physician to advocate for your treatment.
10. Be prepared to fight.
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(ARA) - With a wide-spread recession and high jobless rates, it would be no surprise to find that many employed Americans are in "survivor mode" - doing what they can to make the most of the jobs and resources they have at hand.
Yet, a 2009 World of Work study by recruitment agency Randstad found a workforce that is ready to step up and regain control of its own and its companies' destinies. In fact, the study revealed that only one in four employees is concerned he or she will be laid off in the next six months.
"This is one of the most challenging workplace environments in decades. Layoffs are forcing people to wear more hats and take on more responsibility," says Eileen Habelow, Randstad's senior vice president for organizational development. "Because of this, many people forget about exploring new opportunities within their current organization."
So, how do you push beyond survivor mentality and begin focusing your energies on a future where you will thrive at work? Habelow recommends a few ideas:
Ask questions
If your only source of information is coming from the chatter at the office water cooler, chances are you aren't getting the full story. Stay connected to what's going on at work by making a list of questions and scheduling time with your manager to discuss. While a manager may not be able to tell you everything, chances are he or she can provide timely, transparent information that can help maintain your workplace focus and fine-tune your personal goals.
Increase your value
While others around you may be just happy to have a job, improving basic skills such as organization and time management can increase your productivity and show your manager that you have the capacity to take on a larger function within the office. Have years of experience under your belt? Consider mentoring a colleague. Demonstrating a hands-on, teamwork approach to helping your company achieve success can speak volumes about your value to your company.
Be social
Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn are fast becoming part of today's business landscape. Get to know what they offer, how they work, who uses them and why. No longer are phone and e-mail enough. To thrive you must not only understand the new communication tools being used, but how to use them effectively within your role.
Expand roles and responsibilities
Whether assigned by a leader or proactive in nature, by exposing yourself to new opportunities at work, you just might find that you have hidden talents that can be of added value to your company. Consider job-sharing a manager's role left vacant due to layoffs; volunteering for new business, recruiting and internal committees; or teaching a skills workshop to others in your office.
Be innovative
The days of business as usual are gone. In today's workplace, employees are expected to contribute above and beyond their job description. Be accountable for change as well as improvement in your office by building creative skills, offering new ideas and implementing best practices where you can.
To learn more about how you can thrive at work, visit www.us.randstad.com. of ARAcontent
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(ARA) - Losing your job is tough. But in the midst of a recession, rebounding and finding new employment is even harder. While uncertainty and doubt may overwhelm you, job loss can be an opportunity to reevaluate your career, take control of your situation and, most importantly, regain your self-confidence.
However, while building a resume and making connections to find a new job are a priority, the first issue most people should address is money.
The following checklist from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, a not-for-profit financial services organization, provides some immediate tips to stay financially afloat after a job loss.
* Draft a survival budget
Anticipate that you'll be out of work for at least six months. It's impossible to predict how long your unemployment will last, of course. But you can control what you spend and save. Tips on increasing your cash flow are also available at thrivent.com/jobchange.
* Make sure you and your dependents have health insurance coverage
It may be least expensive to join your spouse's plan, if that's an option. If not, look into COBRA coverage through your former employer. The 2009 economic stimulus package from the federal government requires that a percentage of COBRA premiums be paid by your previous employer for a period of time. Details are available on the U.S. Department of Labor Web site, DOL.gov.
* Examine credit card debt
Contact your credit card company about lowering your interest rate. If you have credit card debt, you may need to make just the minimum payments until you get back to work. If your debt is significant or you are having trouble making even the minimum payments, try to negotiate a payment plan with your creditors. For help managing your debt, learn about Thrivent Financial Bank's Debt Savvy program.
* File for unemployment benefits
You have a right to receive benefits you've paid for. Rules may vary by state.
* Maintain your life insurance coverage
It may be tempting to save cash over the short-term by canceling your life insurance contract. But if you try to resume coverage on a lapsed contract at a later date, you'll pay more and you may have to prove insurability with a medical exam.
* Avoid drawing upon retirement funds
Resist the urge to dip into retirement savings except as an absolute last resort. Receiving that money now could mean early withdrawal penalties and taxes you hadn't anticipated. Plus, you'll lose the potential earning power of that money for your eventual retirement.
You can find additional tips on job interviews, information on job boards and networking, sample resumes and more, including money tips for after you land a job at Thrivent Financial's Web site www.thrivent.com/jobchange. financial security is a critical part of dealing with job loss," says Laura Dierke, manager of financial education programs for Thrivent Financial. "Working in partnership with your family to discuss these money topics can be extremely beneficial."
"Regaining
The road to a successful job transition will come with many twists and turns. But taking ownership of the situation, moving forward with confidence and taking advantage of the tools available will help you get back into the job market.
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