Jessica L. Owens

Propel your career or business with social media

Register Today!

Learn to use social media to build a personal brand at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 27 at Central Michigan University (location no longer in Grawn and will be announced soon).

This free seminar hosted by Social Media Club – Great Lakes Bay and CMU’s American Marketing Association will feature a panel of three well-known speakers who have successfully built brands for themselves and other companies/

Learn how to build your personal brand online

The panel will consist of Hajj Flemings, Nikki Stephan and Becks Davis. They will discuss how to build a brand using social media tools – such as Twitter, Facebook, blogs and more – and will answer your questions about personal brands. Use hashtag #smcglb to tweet about this event. 

Afterward, join us for drinks and networking at our afterglow event (location to be determined).

About the panel

Hajj Flemings (@HajjFlemings) has been featured on ESPN.com and BusinessWeek.com. He is the founder of Brand Camp University and the author of “The Brand YU Life,” which was selected as one of Fast Company Magazine 2008 Readers Choice Business Books of the year. His branded clients include Walt Disney, Ford Motor Company, Skechers Footwear and U.S. Department of Defense (Telecom Division).

Central Michigan University alumna Nikki Stephan (@EstrellaBella10)  is a public relations professional and social media strategist at Identity Marketing & Public Relations. Nikki is a member of PRSA Detroit and Social Media Club Detroit. She also leads a weekly Tweetea discussion group in metro Detroit. She’s a frequent contributor to Identity’s blog, id tags, and maintains a personal blog, Essential Elements, where she shares stories related to creativity, happiness and success. 

As the founder and editor of detroitmoxie.com, a website focused on Detroit, Becks Davis (@BecksDavis) has built and fostered a community organically using social media tools. She also is active in the Detroit digital community, working on projects such as TEDxDetroit and 140 Characters Conference Detroit.

Social Media Club – Great Lakes Bay is sponsored by:

Platinum: AGP & Associates, Inc. and Dow Chemical
Silver: Think Marketing and Design
Venue: Apple Mountain and Midland Center for the Arts
In Kind: CMU Career Services 

Interested in becoming a sponsor? E-mail SMCGreatLakes@gmail.com for information. 

Creating Organizational Change to Support Social Media Integration

The Speaker: Shannon Paul

Shannon is the Social Media Manager at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and she writes about social media for business at the Very Official Blog, a blog listed in the Advertising Age Power 150.

Prior to her current role, she managed social media for PEAK6 Online, parent company of several web-based businesses in the financial services sector, and the NHL Detroit Red Wings.

Shannon has experience creating and implementing social media programs, policies and workflow systems to help businesses participate in the social web, including those in regulated industries.

The Afterglow: Apple Mountain

Stay after the seminar to network with others. There will be a cash bar at Apple Mountain

I returned from my trip on Sunday a little jet lagged and very renewed. I know, you’re thinking that is impossible, but I must interject my friend, it’s very possible. In London, I sat in a conference room with 30 of my classmates listening to Steve Madincea talk about his experiences, as a fellow Michigander, starting an international business in London.

I was incredibly enlightened and slightly intimidated by his courage to continue to tackle the massive feat of starting a company, literally on his wife’s credit card, in a country foreign to him. On top of that, he can continue to succeed in his industry and refuses to take a step down and coast through life. He constantly pushes against the grain to be the best and keep his team performing at their best.

I learned many valuable lessons in that short hour with Steve. The one lesson that I know I can and will apply in any aspect of my life, personal or professional, is to be open-minded. While we journeyed London, we shouldn’t notice that they drive on the wrong side of the road, we should notice that it is different and then find out why. (Back before there were cars, the folks of the UK would pass someone on the left side of the road or path because most were right-handed and could carry their sword in defense).

This is important internationally when working with many cultures. This is also important as a job-seeker looking to potentially adapt to a different corporate cultures. No matter where this skill is used, it is essential. As I continued on to Paris, I was sure to keep this idea in practice and I have certainly brought it home with me. It is good practice for all business people whether the work is local or international. It keeps our attitudes in check and helps adaptation and keeps good business with all types of people and cultures.

When I logged on to Facebook today, I saw that I had an invite to a group called Nobrokenpromise.com. I knew it was related to the Michigan Promise Scholarship (or lack thereof) and was glad but before I joined, I went to the site and the Facebook group to see what it was about. I was immediately turned off by the site.

The site simply blamed Granholm for the entire situation. There was no information regarding why the promise scholarship was eliminated from the budget, nor where there any proposed solutions on how they could make this better. I looked for a place to contact the blog creators or comment on a post. Nothing of that sort even existed.

I went back to Facebook to see how the group members felt. The comments were limited but I was pleased to see that somebody started a discussion. It was a brief statement mentioning that the members of the group should look at the issues of the congress members.I was happy at how simple and honest his post was. He did not blame a particular person nor did he blame a political group. I joined the group for a moment only to commend him and agree.

12/10/09 Update: The group moderator removed the discussion I just mentioned and replaced it with his own…

I’m pleased to see that people are politically active… but I’m concerned when these activists are so politically ignorant. The site is written at a level of a Jr. High student when the authors are actually students at Central Michigan University.

If college students can’t make a good political argument how will the future of the United States turn out? In my opinion, there will be a lot more government control and a lot more dependent citizens. Worst of all, I fear these dependent citizens will not be those that are low income citizens or people who dropped out of high school. These people will be college graduates. These people will be leaders in our society…

Oh wait. It’s already happened. Our largest corporations have failed and depended on the government to make corrections. Many of my working peers are applying for the bridge card to keep their spending habits at a desirable level. My peers are depending on money from the government to get a higher education.

Guess what? The government is not in the business of education.  The government is not in the business of medicine or health care. The government is not in the business of real estate. The government is in the business of international defense and securing our boarders from outside attacks.

The only thing I can do to protect what the founding fathers had originally planned for the United States is what I know best. I am writing to those who will listen. I am educating to those who are open for knowledge. In the matter of the Michigan Promise Scholarship, I took the time to contact the people who actually make decisions… Below is the email communications:

From: Senator Tony Stamas [ofctstamas@senate.michigan.gov]
Sent: Thursday, October 08, 2009 9:35 PM
To: Owens, Jessica L
Subject: Re: Other issues not listed=OTHER

October 8, 2009

Dear Jessica:

Thank you for your letter regarding the Michigan Promise Grant scholarship. I appreciate knowing how important this scholarship is to you.

First and foremost, I feel the Michigan Promise Grant is a valuable program. I have supported it, and fought to protect it from budget cuts in the past. As such, making the decision to eliminate funding for the program was difficult. I am taking this opportunity to explain my reasons for ultimately doing so.

Michigan’s budget struggles through the last decade are well known. As over a quarter of our manufacturing jobs have evaporated, efforts to balance the state budget have produced one time adjustments, short term fixes, clever accounting and significant tax increases. In the last 14 months however, we have gone from difficult and challenging budgets to an unprecedented decline in ours state’s economy. Since the fall of 2008, we have seen a 21% drop in revenue. Michigan’s general fund – the dollars over which the state has discretion – has dropped from $9.3 billion to $6.9 billion.

The options facing the State are either cut state programs to the extent proposed in the State Senate’s budget, or increase revenues by increasing taxes, reducing or eliminating tax credits, or completely restructuring our tax system.

As to the first option, the proposed cuts are slightly mitigated and restricted by Federal stimulus dollars. After using stimulus dollars for the current year budget, which ended September 30, the state is left with roughly $1.4 billion in unrestricted dollars. If these dollars are divided over the next two budget years, as allowed, the current year deficit could be reduced by $700 million, still leaving a roughly $1.7 billion current year deficit. The restrictions on these dollars prohibit the state from cutting in several areas: non-optional Medicaid services, appropriations to public universities, and funding of our K-12 system.

The second option is looking at increased revenues. In 2007, this was an option advocated by many, and was, in large part, the resolution of the budget stand-off in Lansing. We saw an increase in our individual income taxes from 3.9% to 4.4%. Many businesses saw dramatic increases with the new Michigan Business Tax and certainly many saw an increase in the MBT surcharge (which replaced the short-lived service tax). Understandably, given our unemployment numbers and business struggles, very few are actively advocating an increase in individual and/or business taxes as a resolution for the 2009-2010 budget year. The most serious debates in this area are proposals to eliminate tax loopholes (in essence, a tax increase). While there are suggestions of temporarily reducing tax exemptions, such as the Home Heating Credit or the Earned Income Tax Credit, no firm plan has been put forward. Some groups have advocated changing Michigan’s tax structure by either reducing or eliminating items such as the MBT surcharge, while other groups have called for a Constitutional amendment in order to institute a graduated income tax.

Taking these options into account, the budgets presented by the Senate presume no new revenues. They present an honest picture of the decisions facing the Legislature and the Governor. While additional revenue may, ultimately, be deemed necessary by a majority of the Legislature, it is fair to assume a large portion of the remedy will have to come from cuts to current programs. I have heard from many constituents and representative groups regarding the effects of such dramatic cuts. While it is fair to say in many cases the state would be forfeiting additional federal dollars by cutting programs, it is also fair to say if the state does not even have the dollars to spend to begin with, we will not be able to see the federal return. Lacking those funds, we certainly are unable to reap the less measurable investment returns from the Promise Grants and early childhood programs.

There is no question, program cuts proposed in the budgets are painful to many, especially those who, in the case of the Promise Grant, were depending on the scholarship for tuition. In the past, the Legislature and the Governor have tried to prioritize funding for programs, but the dollars to fund these very necessary programs simply no longer exist. The hard reality is that Michigan’s revenue base has dropped 21% in the last fiscal year. The elimination of the Promise Grant does not reflect a lack of importance in priority by the Senate, far from it, but simply a lack of resources to pay for the program at this time.

As Legislative leaders and the Governor negotiate final agreements on these important budget issues, some programs, such as the Promise Grant, may be saved and funded (to a certain extent). Many will not. It is a reflection of Michigan’s economic reality. As mandated by our State Constitution, Michigan must have a balanced budget and we are working towards that end. However, it is important to realize Michigan can no longer afford to pay for many programs to which we have become accustomed.

Despite these hard economic and budgetary realities, I remain optimistic Michigan will weather this storm, as we have in the past. Michigan will once again become a thriving economic state. Until that time comes, the State, like every Michigan family, must live within its means.

Again, thank you for writing. Please know I will certainly keep your thoughts in mind as debate on this matter continues. In the meantime, if I can be of assistance with any state government matter, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

TONY STAMAS

State Senator

36th District

Working at a large corporation has given me great insight to many situations in business. I’ve been able to see different types of conflicts and how to handle it. I’ve also been placed in different conflicts through out my years here, and I’ve learned how to handle different personality types and different working types. I’ve also come upon a personal conflict and I have yet to understand how to handle it. Let me give you some insight.

I was hired into Dow in mid 2006. Times were turning tough for the US but little ol’ Midland and big ol’ Dow hardly felt the punch. Spending was being cut- at least that’s what we were told. I remember that by summer and fall 2007 travel was reduced to domestic and almost eliminated all together. By 2008, travel continued to get reduced and the word was simple: Don’t spend money.

By Christmas 2008, the K-Dow venture failed, travel was non existent and there were rumors that some departments were asked to bring their own pencils to work with them. Then in 2009, it literally felt like a bombshell; family members lost jobs, early retirements were handed out like Christmas bonuses and suicide was not unheard of as the job cuts continued. I still think Dow was better off than the rest of Michigan, but it still wasn’t easy.

As someone who hardly saw the best days of Dow, and someone who has absolutely seen the worst of times at Dow, I saw how many jobs were lost and I knew how to be frugal. We switched from Starbucks to Folgers. We packed a lunch if we had a lunch meeting. We reused note paper. Instead of sending our paper to the recycler, we cut it in quarters and used the back. We stoped printing in color unless someone at a higher level was going to see it. When managers had to travel, we stayed at a Holiday Inn instead of the Marriott Suites.

I almost felt like one of the women of the Great Depression. When you hear of the women who lived through the Great Depression, you hear how they still wash their Ziploc bags to reuse them instead of throwing them out. You see a wealthy family but they still wear their old shirts and patch the worn spots because it’s still wearable.

In 2009 I worked for a department that was “that wealthy family.” This department was the only department in Dow that was seeing decent money coming in from the budgets. A new director came in with a new plan. Upon many other changes was the changing in spending. “Buy a large, flat panel monitor, just in case,” they’d say. Or, “buy a few lunches today, I think the managers have meetings.” “Which color swatch for the walls looks better?” “This carpeting is horrible, I hope to replace it.” “Please buy a mini-refrigerator for each conference room and be sure they’re all stocked with pop and water at all times.” “Make sure my candy jar is well stocked, just put it on the company card.” “Please make sure there is always plenty of Starbucks coffee in the kitchen for everyone.”

My initial feeling was pleasant, I’m not going to lie. Seriously, I got a new monitor that I probably didn’t need. I got a new ergo-keyboard and I was taken care of. But after I got over my ridiculous ego gloat, I was concerned. Maybe some spending is okay or even necessary, but people who would never think to ask for lunch was now asking for a special trip… at least twice a week. Yes we were busy, but so is the rest of Dow. In fact, the rest of Dow may have been that much more busy because half of their co-workers had been cut in the May round up of lay-offs. I was continuously being asked to buy more water, order nicer table clothes for tours, order flowers, and more lunches. My job description my have looked something like, “Money spender…” or “Job stealer!” because that’s what I felt like. I spent thousands of dollars every month on little things like pop, water, and lunch. And another thousand on monitors and computers for people who had a second office in our building and outside of the building people were loosing their jobs, families were packing up camp and their house was probably being foreclosed. How was anything that I was doing right?

I tried to be conservative but got a slap on the wrist because they always needed a surplus, just in case. The times have not passed to where the rest of Dow could spend on extra office supplies let alone lunches and snacks for their employees. I felt like if we were awarded this great spending money from executives who believed in us, we should have been spending it on things like capital, employees, and production supplies. In the end, I moved on to a different department. My ethical compass was just too distorted for me to continue working like that. I had already begun to voice my concern and it would begin to cost me my job if it continued.

_____________

Is it okay to spend on luxuries when others are loosing their job in the same company? Maybe I was conditioned to not spending because I entered the professional workplace at a time when money was tight.

How does one even approach the situation to try and sooth the moral compass? Is the only way to fix it to get out? Am I wrong for wanting out or should I have tried to make it right? Do you need to be at a certain level to have the chance to make a difference? This is an ethical struggle so I understand that HR doesn’t have an opportunity in this equation. I still struggle with the thought, but I’ve moved on. It still doesn’t change that people are still loosing jobs.

June:

-the Bavarian Festival in Frankenmuth

-the Lilac Festival on Mackinac Island

-the Michigan Challenge Balloonfest in Howell

-Detroit’s International Freedom Festival

-the Muskegon Summer Celebration

-the Nascar Sprint Cup Series, 2009 LifeLock 400 at Michigan International Speedway