Gaining the Competitive Edge:
Vaco Challenges Clients and Candidates to Reach New Heights
 
Vaco Orlando searches for the best - the best clients and the best candidates. We look for the most successful companies and match those companies with individuals that have an unmatched work ethic and a drive to succeed. We take pride in finding excellence in the companies we serve and the candidates we find. In our search for individuals, we look for those who have a competitive edge, who stand apart from the pack. How can you ensure you or your company is at the top-of-mind for those who search for your services or skills? A few tips go a long way in developing a competitive edge in today's market.

Be genuine.  People  can detect a used car salesman a mile a way, but those who are most successful in their business and positions are those who are honest, upfront, and are comfortable being themselves. 

Be positive.  No one likes a complainer.  So despite what your co-workers talk about at lunch, be different.  Bring out people's positives instead of their faults.  Trade in cynicism for encouragement.  Employees, co-workers, and management gain a great deal of respect for those with a positive outlook.

Be available.  When opportunities for extra work are available, take it on if you have the time.  When you have the opportunity to speak or meet with clients one-on-one, do it.  You never know when these opportunities will lead to greater advancements or business opportunities in the future.

Be innovative.  Think of news ways you can add value to your company, and make a plan to carry out your ideas.  Continually be looking for new ways to add the most benefits to your company or employees.

Be attentive.  Listening to others is key to becoming an effective communicator and a valued employer or employee.  This is one of the most vital skills in moving yourself and your company forward.

Be humble.  Humility is a virtue that is hard to find in many companies, but is an important trait in those who run the greatest companies in America. Learn to value and respect others as much as yourself.

Be passionate.  Someone who is passionate about his or her job is infectious.  Their passion motivates not only their own success, but also the success of others.  Being passionate about your job helps you exude confidence and propel yourself to the top.

Vaco desires to help clients and candidates excel in their personal and professional goals, By gaining the competitive edge, Vaco can help clients and candidates reach new heights together. 

Vaco Resources 
Entrepreneuralism: Assuming Risk, Overcoming Obstacles, Embracing Optimism
Everything But Water President Sheila Arnold Takes On Economic Challenges With Hope And Determination
 
According to Wikipedia, "An entrepreneur is a person who has possession of a new enterprise, venture, or idea and assumes significant accountability for the inherent risks and the outcome." Entrepreneurs are innovative, passionate, and humble.  Successful entrepreneurs look out for the best interest of not only their business, but also their customers, employees, and their community. Vaco Orlando thrives on an entrepreneurial spirit, and desires to recognize those people who have taken on tremendous challenges and risks and have overcome.  This year, Vaco would like to honor Sheila Arnold as the 2009 Entrepreneur of the Year.
 
Sheila Arnold is the President of Everything But Water, a Central Florida company. She is a persistent force in bettering our community and encouraging and inspiring everyone who works with and around her. After moving to Central Florida just three years ago, she took over the company, Everything But Water and transformed it from a struggling business to a successful store whose goal is to make every person who walks in her doors feel at home. Because of her exceptional leadership skills, Everything But Water has prospered.
 
Bear Stearns, a Wall Street firm, identified Sheila as President of Everything But Water in 2007. This specialty swim shop has been based in Central Florida for over twenty-five years. Bear Sterns had recently purchased the retailer along with two other specialty store chains making Everything But Water the largest swim specialty retailer in the country. Sheila was hired because of her outstanding accomplishments and commitment to excellence throughout her business career. She is an experienced executive with highly branded companies, mergers and acquisitions. 
 
As President of Everything But Water, her first job was to evaluate the current operations and team. Sheila quickly hired talented Central Florida professionals that would help her successfully expand the company nationwide. The company grew and has established itself as the number one source for women's swim and resort fashion, offering the latest trends along with an outstanding level of specialized service that inspires confidence and personal style. 
 
During the first few years, the company grew and prospered. A centralized distribution center was established in Dallas, new systems were installed, sales training programs were rolled out and the eCommerce business grew. Unfortunately at the end of 2009 as many retailers struggled, Everything But Water filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection. Sheila streamlined her business and reengineered her team to survive the economic downturn.  Within this time, Everything But Water owner, Bear Sterns, announced Everything But Water would have no way to come out of Chapter 11 without the backing of an owner. 
 
As President of the company, Sheila took responsibility in marketing Everything But Water to Wall Street Firms.  Through her hard work and determination to keep the company alive, Sheila was able to find a new owner who purchased the assets of the company. On May 4th 2009, the new company began. The company currently has 58 locations including one of their newest stores that recently opened in the Florida Mall. With Sheila leading the way, Everything But Water foresees a bright future that will propel the company forward during challenging economic times. 
 
Sheila Arnold's entrepreneurial spirit has helped her overcome obstacles and embrace optimism. She embodies the heart of what Vaco Orlando values most: persistence, dedication, humility, and a commitment to serve others. We look forward to watching her spirit propel the company to unchartered success as her optimism inspires others to take on new challenges with a drive to succeed and a commitment to excellence.

Vaco Financial
Making Your Words Count:  It All Adds Up to Great Communication

Have you ever sat through a meeting and felt like you were in an episode of Charlie Brown, when the teacher speaks to her class with the infamous, "WAH, WAH, WAH, WAH, WAH."  Failure to communicate effectively is costly in business.  Communication is an important skill for business leaders and employees for conducting everything from basic daily tasks to complicated business projects and proposals.
 
Whether writing or speaking, it is important to keep the following questions in mind:

Know your target audience.  Who are you talking to?  What is their demographic?  What are their lifestyle characteristics, business goals, or common interests as a group?

What is your call to action?  What do you want your audience to do in response to your discussion or writing?

How can you bring added value to your audience?

What medium will communicate your message the most effective way?

When communicating to an audience, it is critical to remember what you learned in school. The KISS method, "Keep It Simple Stupid." Less is more. The fewer words to read and speak, often the more powerful and clear the message. Google is the most popular search engine in the world. Why? Compare the home page of Google to competitors, Yahoo and AOL. Google is simple. It is not busied by the latest breaking news or ads. It is easy to use and read due to its simplicity.
 
Avoid using technical terms for the sheer sake of sounding educated. Write and speak like you talk on a daily basis without distracting words and redundancy. The most effective communicators are the ones who know how to speak to human beings, not over-educated robots. 
 
A key element in communication is learning to listen. Rather than thinking about what you want to say next while someone is speaking, carefully listen to their concerns and respond with your feedback. Listening is often a critical skill in creating a positive and healthy work environment.
 
Lastly, be positive in your approach to communication. Build up and encourage co-workers and fellow business leaders to achieve their goals. Make your words count when communicating with others. Bring value and optimism to the workplace.

For more detailed reading about effective communication, click on the following link:
http://www.bus.wisc.edu/update/winter05/business_communication.asp

For more information about how you can effectively communicate specifically within the Accounting or Finance arena, join guest speaker Dr, John Salter, CPA as he leads an interactive discussion on the Fundamentals of business communication on Tuesday, June 15th, 4:00-5:30 PM. For more information, be sure to check out our Events and Seminars section below. 

Vaco Technology
Scrum Methodology and Agile Programming

Scrum is a framework for managing projects or work.  According to Wikipedia, "Scrum was intended for management of software development projects, it can be used to run software maintenance teams, or as a general project/program management approach."  The following excerpt from scrummethodology.com details the history and benefits of using Scrum Methodology:

Most folks know that agile methodology was a direct response to the dominant project management paradigm, waterfall, and borrows many principles from lean manufacturing. In 2001, as this new management paradigm began to pick up momentum, agile was formalized when 17 pioneers of the agile methodology met at the Snowbird Ski Resort in Utah and issued the Agile Manifesto. Their manifesto is now considered the foundational text for agile practices and principles. Most importantly, the manifesto spelled out the philosophy behind agile, which places a new emphasis on communication and collaboration; functioning software; and the flexibility to adapt to emerging business realities.

But for all of the strides the Agile Manifesto made in revising a philosophical approach to software development, it didn't provide the concrete processes that development teams depend on when deadlines - and stakeholders - start applying pressure. As a result, when it comes to the nuts and bolts of running a team with agile everyday, organizations turn to particular subsets of the agile methodology. These include Crystal Clear, Extreme Programming, Feature Driven Development, Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM), Scrum, and others.

Scrum is unique because it introduced the idea of "empirical process control." In Scrum, projects are divided into succinct work cadences, known as sprints, which are typically one week, two weeks, or three weeks in duration. At the end of each sprint, stakeholders and team members meet to assess the progress of a project and plan its next steps. This allows a project's direction to be adjusted or reoriented based on completed work, not speculation or predictions."

Philosophically, this emphasis on an ongoing assessment of completed work is largely responsible for its popularity with managers and developers alike. But what allows the Scrum methodology to really work is a set of roles, responsibilities, and meetings that never change. If Scrum's capacity for adaption and flexibility makes it an appealing option, the stability of its practices give teams something to lean on when development gets chaotic.

In addition to Scrum Methodology is Scrum or agile programming.  According to agileprogramming.org, "Agile programming is, an approach to project management, typically used in software development. It helps teams react to the instability of building software through incremental, iterative work cycles, known as sprints. But before turning our discussion to the details of agile programming, it's best to start at the beginning with the project management paradigm that preceded it: waterfall, or traditional sequential development."  The following excerpt from agileprogramming.org explains the benefits of  Agile and Scrum Programming:

Agile programming gives teams repeated opportunities to assess the direction of a project throughout the entire development lifecycle. These chances for evaluation are built into the natural work flow of agile programming through regular cadences of work, known as sprints or iterations. At the end of every sprint, the team presents a functioning piece of software to the Product Owner for review. This emphasis on a shippable product ensures that the team doesn't get bogged down with gathering requirements. Because sprints repeat and the product continually adds increments of functionality, agile programming is described as "iterative" and "incremental." In waterfall, development teams have a single shot at getting each part of a project right. Not so in agile programming, in which every aspect of development is revisited throughout the lifecycle. There's virtually no chance that a project will follow the wrong direction for very long.

Perhaps the effects of this "inspect-and-adapt" strategy are obvious: Namely, they significantly reduce both development costs and time to market. Because teams can gather requirements while coding, exhaustive requirements gathering can't prevent a team from making progress. And because agile teams develop within the short, repeatable work cycles, stakeholders have ongoing opportunities to ensure that the product being created matches the customers' vision. In essence, it could be said that agile programming helps companies build products their customers want. Instead of committing to market a piece of unwritten, sub-optimized software, agile programming empowers teams to build the best software possible. In the end, agile programming protects a product's market relevance and prevents a team's work from winding up on a shelf, unreleased, which is an option that makes both stakeholders and developers happy.

For more information about the history and benefits of Scrum Methodology and Agile Programming or to view these articles in full, visit: http://scrummethodology.com/ and www.agileprogramming.org.

Vaco Staffing
Join LinkedIn Today

LinkedIn is the world's largest professional network with 60 million+ members and growing rapidly. Your LinkedIn profile is discoverable through the millions of searches on search engines and on LinkedIn.

More and more qualified job applicants are getting their next interview via LinkedIn. If this is the first time you are hearing about this website, you need to join now, whether you are unemployed or happily employed. 

Cultivating relationships and staying in touch with business associates, former co-workers, former supervisors, friends, and networking contacts has never been easier. In today's challenging job market you should have several job seeking tools working in your favor. LinkedIn has become as relevant as CareerBuilder, so join today. Following is a link with more instructions: 

http://learn.linkedin.com/what-is-linkedin/

Creating a profile is easy and important. Remember you have control of what you put online. Make sure your information is accurate, grammatically correct, and showcases your talents.
It is completely free to get started and utilize many of the valuable resources.  Following is another link to the helpful learning center that assists you with getting started and explains how to add contacts today: 

http://learn.linkedin.com/the-homepage/#overview

Once you get started, look up your Vaco representative and ask them to join your network, and don't forget to join the Vaco Orlando Staffing Group for our job postings and events. Simply follow this link:

http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=2110836&trk=myg_ugrp_ovr

Vaco Orlando's Top Consultants of the Quarter

Every quarter Vaco Orlando will choose professionals who exemplify our core values of leadership, integrity, entrepreneurialism, and professionalism, just to name a few. The consultants chosen have excelled both personally and professionally and deserve recognition. This quarter, Vaco would like to name the following people as our top consultants:

Vaco Resources- Margaret Watson
Margaret has been a Vaco Consultant since October of 2006. She has worked on a variety of projects in tax, finance and accounting, ranging in length from 3 weeks to 1.5 years. Margaret is currently working as a Senior Tax professional at a local CPA firm to add depth to their tax staff through the busy season and is also working as a part-time Controller with a local non-profit organization to help them create financial statements that will help them move through their future expansion. As a consultant, Margaret becomes an integral part of the client's financial team and adds tremendous value to their company. Thanks Margaret for a job well done!

Vaco Technology- Scott Krutsinger
Scott Krutsinger has been an instrumental part of an enterprise-level application development project with one of our largest clients in Central Florida. As the lead architect and programmer, he works closely with the management team and company stakeholders to identify critical components of the ER, and he ensures they are integrated into the solution. Scott's sunny disposition and willingness to help has earned him the respect and admiration of his fellow teammates as well as recognition for his exceptional customer service from other departments within the company. We are honored to represent Scott and appreciate his unique contributions to our client's efforts and his overall ambassadorship for Vaco. Congratulations on being our Consultant of the Quarter, Scott!

Vaco Staffing- Karen Poor
Karen Poor has successfully worked two long-term executive assistant positions for Vaco in the last 8 months. In her most recent position, a manager in the company noticed the benefits that Karen brought to the company. This confidence led to the client's increased confidence in Vaco and a request to hire two additional temporary employees. Karen is a loyal worker, effective communicator, and a high achiever.  We are glad to honor Karen this month as Vaco Staffing's Employee of the Quarter.  
 
Congratulations and thank you to this quarter's top consultants!

Make Me Laugh

Laughter increases the morale of the workplace. So following are a few business quotes to make you smile today:
 
I think it's wrong that only one company makes the game Monopoly.
 - Steven Wright
 
I don't want yes-men around me. I want everyone to tell the truth, even if it costs them their jobs. -Samuel Goldwyn
 
Informed decision-making comes from a long tradition of guessing and then blaming others for inadequate results. -Scott Adams
 
We don't have a monopoly. We have market share. There's a difference.
-Steve Ballmer
 
When in doubt, mumble; when in trouble, delegate; when in charge, ponder.
-James H. Boren
 
By working faithfully eight hours a day you may eventually get to be boss and work twelve hours a day. -Robert Frost
 
There's no reason to be the richest man in the cemetery. You can't do any business from there. -Colonel Sanders

Vaco's Events and Seminars are Hosted By The Vaco Team. These Events and Seminars will be held at the Vaco Orlando Location in Maitland, FL

Ruby on Rails
Tuesday, May 4th 4:00-5:30PM 
Vaco cordially invites you to an open source Web application framework written in Ruby, a dynamically typed programming language similar to Python, Smalltalk, and Perl.  Its focus is simplicity, enabling real-world applications to be produced in less code than other frameworks and with minimum configuration. Some Ruby on Rails websites include: Twitter.com, BestBuy.com and YellowPages.com. If you will be joining us please RSVP by Monday, April 19th, 2010

Using LinkedIn
Tuesday,  May 18th, 4:00-5:30PM  
Join Vaco partners, Tim Lesnick and Jason Snow, as they go through the basics of how to get started on LinkedIn and dive into advanced job searching techniques.  They will also cover important security tips, how to best get recommendations, how to develop your network, and how to utilize "group".  If you haven't already, please look into joining the Vaco Staffing Orlando Group on LinkedIn to see our weekly job positions, events, and discussions.  If you will be joining us  please RSVP by Monday, May 3rd, 2010.

The Brand You

Tuesday, June 8th, 4:00-5:30PM 
Join Vaco Orlando's Managing Partner, Denise Bennett-Walls as she supplies techniques on how to prepare for your career search and your next promotion. She will provide insight on how to maximize your branding techniques. She will discuss how to successfully brand yourself, how to create your personal mission and vision, and help you promote the values you bring to the bottom line. If you will be joining us, please RSVP by Monday, May 24th, 2010.

Communication or Miscommunication: It's Mostly Up to You
Tuesday, June 15th, 4:00-5:30PM
Vaco cordially invites you to join our special guest speaker, Dr. John H. Salter, CPA as he leads an interactive discussion on the Fundamentals of Business Communication within the Accounting and Finance arena.  Dr. Salter will cover topics such as: "Basic Communication Concepts," "Communication Pitfalls," and "Don't Intentionally Mis-communicate." 
 
Dr. Salter retired from the Dixon School of Accounting at the University of Central Florida in 2004, after 29 years with the school. He was honored with the title of Professor Emeritus. His BS degree is from Auburn University, and he has MS and Ph.D. degrees from Louisiana State University. Since moving to Orlando in 1975, Dr. Salter has developed and conducted over 100 Continuing Professional Education programs (over 250 hours) for the university, professional accounting organizations, Orlando area businesses, and CPA firms.
 
We hope that you can join us for this very interesting and informative seminar. If you will be joining us, please RSVP by Tuesday June 1st, 2010, as seating is limited for this event.

Vaco's Five Year Anniversary Martini and Water Happy Hour
Thursday, June 24th at 4:00-7:00PM
Vaco cordially invites you to join in the celebration of Vaco's Five Year Anniversary Martini and Water Happy Hour. The Vaco community will be discussing current business trends, great things happening in Orlando, and goals for 2010.  We will also be honoring our Vaco Consultants of the Quarter: Margaret Watson, Scott Krutsinger and Karen Poor for their outstanding contribution and dedication. We look forward to seeing you there!  If you will be attending please RSVP by Monday, June 7th, 2010.

Please RSVP Brittany Smith at bsmith@vaco.com or (321) 445-2100 or Gilda Diaz at gdiaz@vaco.com or 321-445-2121 for questions about upcoming events or seminars.

 

Vaco Volunteers

Vaco gives back to organizations in the community that are valuable in helping others maintain a better way of life.  Check out any of the organizations we support, and join with us to build brighter futures and hope for people in our community and nation.  Thank you for your support!

Vaco is a Title Sponsor of americanSociety of Women Accountants (ASWA) ASWA enables women in all accounting and realted fields to achieve their full personal, professional and economic potential and to contribute to the future development of their profession. For more information on hor to become a member, please contact Vaco at 321-445-2100. 

Covenant House
Please join Vaco Orlando as we continue to partner with Covenant House. The Covenant House provides a community of hope and healing to homeless youth. Its incorporation in New York City in 1972 formalized a ministry to street kids started in 1969 by volunteers with a simple vision: runaway and homeless kids should not be alone and on the street, hungry and dirty, sleeping in alleys and abandoned buildings, prey to danger and exploitation. Every quarter Vaco Orlando will continue to support Covenant House by collecting lynx bus passes for their youth. If you would like to help us lend a hand to Covenant House this quarter by buying or donating a lynx bus card, please contact Gilda Diaz at gdiaz@vaco.com or 321-441-2121 before June 30th, 2010.
 
Lynx Bus Fares: Standard Fares: Standard One-way fare - $2.00; Standard Single Day Pass - $4.50; Standard 7- Day Pass - $16.00; Standard 30 - Day Pass - $50.00. Youth Pass: Youth One-Way Fare - $1.00; Youth Single-Day Pass - $2.25; Youth 7-Day Pass - $8.00; Youth 30-Day Pass - $25.00
 
Dress for Success
Please join Vaco Orlando as we continue to collaborate with Dress for Success. Dress for Success promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. If you would like to help Dress for Success in any way, please give us a call! Clothing drop-off dates are April 29th, May 27th, and June 24th. For donations or questions, you may contact Brittany Smith at 321-445-2100 or bsmith@vaco.com or Gilda Diaz at gdiaz@vaco.com or 321-445-2121. If you need assistance please feel free to visit, www.dressforsuccess.org/orlando

In Other News 

Vaco In Attendance

OBJ - 12th Annual Women Who Mean Business Awards Ceremony 

Thursday, April 8, 2010 will join Orlando Business Journal for their 12th Annual Women Who Mean Business Awards Ceremony. This elegant evening celebration, honoring Central Florida's top female executives, will be held at the exquisite new Waldorf Astoria. During the awards program, they will name the Business Owner, Business Executive and Up & Comer of the Year. 
 
Financial Executives International (FEI) 

FEI's mission is to advance the success of senior-level financial executives, their organizations and the profession.
 
·    FEI: Chapter Dinner Meeting April 8th, 2010

ChristianHELP / CFEC -

ChristianHELP & Central Florida Employment Council are ministries committed to preventing homelessness through finding people jobs while providing for them materially and spiritually.  ChristianHELP/CFEC holds a free lunch once a month for anyone who wants to learn more about the value they provide to the community.  Come tour their facility and see what they do first hand 450 Seminola Blvd, Casselberry, FL 32707.  Christine Jacob serves on the Board of Directors as the Secretary and is part of the Fund Raising Committee.
 
 ·    Monday May 3rd - Lunch and Learn, Free Lunch and InformationTour

American Society Of Women Accountants (ASWA)  The American Society of Women Accountants represents professional women in accounting and finance and provides them an opportunity for networking and continuing professional education (CPE) with peers at the local, regional and national level. 

 ·   Thursday May 13, 2010 Officers Inducted: Christine Jacob to be installed as 2010 President of the Central Florida Chapter of ASWA

Community Based Care of Brevard (CBC)

Community Based Care of Brevard now doing business as Brevard Family Partnership has a mission to protect children, strengthen families and change lives through the prevention of child abuse and the operation and management of a comprehensive, integrated, community-based system of care for abused, abandoned and neglected children and their families.  Brevard Family Partnership has created this conference for CEO's and CFO's of Florida's state wide Community Based Care agencies.  The focus of this conference is education, collaboration, and strategic partnership building.  Christine Jacob and Tim Lesnick will be in attendance.

 ·   Friday May 19th - Sunday May 21st - 2010 CBC CFO Conference -Vaco is a Silver Sponsor

Society for Informational Management (SIM)

SIM is an association of senior IT executives, prominent academicians, selected consultants, and other IT thought leaders built on the foundation of local chapters, who come together to share and enhance their rich intellectual capital for the benefit of its members and their organizations.

SIM meetings are held every month - usually 3rd Thursday of the month (CIOs, CTOs, VP of IT)

·    Wednesday, April 21st:Workforce Central Florida
·    Thursday, May 6th:Level 3-Cloud Computing

www.simnet.org

Seminole Chamber

Seminole Chamber events:
·    Wednesday, April 14th - Altamonte Area Chamber Networking Breakfast
·    Wednesday, April 21st - "Chamber U" Member Reception - New & Existing Member Orientation
·    Thursday April 22nd - Special Event! Meet the President Reception
·    Thursday May, 6th - Good Morning Seminole! Monthly Membership Breakfast
·    Wednesday May, 19th - "Chamber U" Member Reception - New & Existing Member Orientation
·    Thursday May, 20th - Annual Economic Summit
www.SeminoleBusiness.org 

Central Florida Employment Council (CFEC) Breakfast 
Tim Lesnick, Director of Vaco Staffing along with Tami Mann of Navigator Executive Advisors will be the guest speakers at the CFEC Breakfast on Tuesday, June 8th, 2010 from 7:30am - 9am.
Discussion:
New Trends in:
1. Recruiting 
2. Interviewing
3. Assessments 
 
Location:
High Tech Institute

3710 Maguire Blvd., Orlando, FL

(407) 893-7400
high-techinstitute.com

Orlando Convention & Visitor's Bureau
The CVB has 3 Networking groups which meet weekly at different local restaurants throughout Central Florida, every Tuesday, 2nd Wednesday and 3rd Thursday of the month. 
www.orlandoinfo.com