Posts by Carrie Ann Green
Corporate Business Solutions Supports Military Families
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Corporate Business Solutions employees attended the 2nd Annual Dinner Gala Event benefiting the Jason McKie Foundation and Operation Homefront Illinois. The Jason McKie Foundation provides scholarships for children and spouses affected by the loss or the severe injury of a parent or spouse, while Operation Homefront provides emergency financial aid and other assistance to families of service members and wounded warriors.
The Benefit was hosted by Jason McKie, former Chicago Bear, who grew up in a military family and launched his foundation in 2008. His father spent 21 years with the Air Force and escaped from his Pentagon office …
CBS Reviews: A Truly Successful Engagement Is Never Finished
Situation
A construction materials firm sought Corporate Business Solutions’ insight regarding operating in a tighter economy as opposed to the ‘good years’ and managing the next phase of their growth.
Process
The CBS team reviewed the firm’s records, clearly outlining problems as well as opportunities going forward. The focus was upon what had to be accomplished in order to make their established company more sustainable and profitable.
The lead consultant of the project was “professional, understanding, driven but not overwhelmingly, and knew how to make needs known without impeding the daily workflow that has kept us alive for over 100 …
The Benefits of Engaged Employees
A relatively new school of management thought, since the 1990’s, is that engaged employees are better employees. There has been some amount of confusion about this softer metric ever since, which this handy infographic by Ceridian helps to clarify—what exactly does engagement mean, anyway?
Nope, It’s Not Employee Happiness
Engagement does not mean employee happiness or satisfaction, although this can be a side-effect of employees feeling engaged (and, therefore, the reason for that common misunderstanding), but rather an employee who is committed to their organization’s goals and objectives.
A better term may be ownership. Engaged employees actually take personal …
The Art of Office Space
Elizabeth’s office is full of drama. The soft green walls turn richer and deeper in hue when the overhead lights are switched off and the jeweled tones of her numerous Tiffany style stained glass lamps glow upon the clean simple lines of her desk.
She recommends decorating an office to your personal taste, “Most people function better in an office where they feel comfortable.” Elizabeth’s degrees and certificates are framed and hung on the other wall space, but her favorite part of her office décor would be the photos of her children. “Lighting, temperature, along with decoration and arrangement of …
CBS Employees Rally For Our ‘DRESS FOR SUCCESS’ Donation Drive!
Loading Up the First Batch of Donations
We’ve been astonished by both the quantity and the quality of the new and/or gently used business attire—clothing, accessories and shoes suitable for job interviews, which has been donated by CBS employees for our ‘DRESS FOR SUCCESS’ clothing drive.
Donations are being collected for the Howard Area Community Center which provides career and skill training for the unemployed, among many other services.
Employees have been so generous that we’ve had to empty the boxes located in the reception area, early, to make room for more donations!…
CBS Reviews: A Real Pleasure and a Learning Experience Working with CBS
Situation
Energy industry client brought in Corporate Business Solutions (CBS) to provide the guidance and direction that their management team required in order to drive a difficult recovery.
Process
The CBS consultants interacted directly with the entire staff, operations and contract personnel, making them feel comfortable and open to new ideas and procedures. Employees were able to take ownership of the changes being implemented.
Result
“I firmly believe their approach to solving problems and issues with all of our processes and their innate ability to cut to the chase with all of our folks allowed us to recover and excel …
Not a Dairy Queen Commercial, But…
After singing ‘Happy Birthday,’ celebrating a birthday Corporate Business Solutions style means DQ’s Dilly Bars for all! Ah, sweet indulgence… Happy Birthday, Tina!…
Take Me Out to the Ball Game
Saturday, May 4th, Corporate Business Solutions headed over to Wrigleyville for a Chicago Cubs game. We feasted on a full spread of traditional ballpark food including brats, Chicago-style hot dogs, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, pasta salad, nachos, cookies and frozen yogurt. Food & refreshments were served downstairs in the VIP lounge with big screen TVs playing the game and giant picture windows overlooking Wrigley Field.
“Take me out to the ball game,
Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack,
I don’t care if I never get back.
CBS Reviews: Challenged to Rebuild the Foundational Structure of a Business
Situation
A retail business that had evolved in a haphazard fashion based upon ‘things have always been done this way’ family traditions and many periods of reactionary expansion. Client felt that the business was now running the family rather than the other way around.
Process
Reviewed the historical roots and defined the ideas that had started the business. Rediscovered and renewed the core business values. Established stabilizing structures and systems to continuously reinforce the corporate mission and believes, so that they’d never be lost again, and position the business for future growth.
Result
“We now have a greater awareness and …
Doing Our Part To End World Hunger
Volunteers, friends and family of CBS gathered at Willow North Shore, A Willow Creek Community Church, to pack seeds as part of the more than 17,000 volunteers needed to help fill nearly a million family seed packs to be distributed by local churches in El Salvador, Zimbabwe and Zambia.
It was really exciting to take part in volunteer work that really makes a difference. Each family seed pack, once planted, can produce approximately 1,000 pounds of vegetables. This allows families in these Latin American and African countries to feed themselves as well as earn additional income by selling their …