|
|
Welcome
|
|
. . . . .
Warm winter greetings, Nextworking friends, and thanks to all of you who participated in our 4th year of Nextworking events. Between the wine tasting at Spill the Wine in January, the bowling event at Park Tavern in April, to the trivia fun at Bar 508 this fall, we count 2009 as another successful year of professional networking and relationship building – two important practices to claim center stage during these rocky economic times.
With the changing of the seasons, we’re also seeing changes on our Steering Committee. Having served their full 3-year terms on the planning team, Nick Bolton of Ballenthin, Funk & Johnson, LLP and Kevin Leja of Best Buy are being replaced with four new committee members: Nikita Patel of Baker Tilly; Anna Piermantier of General Mills; Nick Raykov of Thomson Reuters; and Cayla Schroeder of Eide Bailly. Make sure to look for them at upcoming events!
We know time is limited and we promise this edition of The Spot is well worth the read, including information about our popular 5th Annual Nextworking Wine Tasting event at The Walker Art Center on Friday, January 22. You’ll also meet Katie Meester of our Steering Committee, gain some tips for mastering non-verbal communication, and learn a Best Kept Secret that will set your iPod on overdrive!
Here’s to prosperity and optimism in 2010. Cheers! |
|
Do you hear that noise? It’s the buzz that surrounds our annual wine tasting every year! Whether you’re a first timer or a returning fan, you will not want to miss one of the hottest networking events to happen on what is notoriously one of the coldest nights of the year. Sample incredible wines (did we mention Wolfgang Puck paired appetizers) while building your network with other emerging leaders in the local finance and accounting industry. What’s not to love?!
Register today, as this is our highest attended event and books up fast!
5th Annual Wine Tasting Event
When: Friday, January 22
Time: 8:00-11:00 p.m.
Location: The Walker Art Center –Cargill and Hennepin Avenue lounges
To register: Email Melissa at mmlakar@certespros.com
|
|
|
|
. . . . .
The consummate student and professional combined with a well-rounded, fun personality all play a part in defining Nextworking Steering Committee member, Katie Meester. An Audit Leader at Wells Fargo in the Audit and Security department, Katie’s team executes internal audits for Wells Fargo Home Mortgage (an area of the business that has seen sweeping changes in the last 12 months). In addition to getting familiar with a number of new regulations and programs introduced by the Obama Administration, she leads the planning, fieldwork, and reporting phases of the individual audits. Needless to say, 2009 has been a busy and challenging year for Katie professionally, but she has still found the time to enjoy her favorite leisure time activities including a serious passion for all things Hawkeye.
|
|
On the Spot
|
|
. . . . .
You’ve done all the right things to position yourself for that next promotion or dream job in a new organization, but you still find yourself falling short. Did you know that your eyes, posture, hand gestures, and even the way you walk may be impacting the way others think of you? It’s true. The softer skills of non-verbal communication help shape the way you’re perceived by others and can play an important role in helping you achieve your goals.
|
|
What They've Learned
|
|
. . . . .
|
|
 “Something I still practice today – being an individual and creating my own personal brand (the reflection of who you are and what you believe). Know your strengths and find ways to use them in your professional life. Understand and accept your weaknesses and know that you can’t be everything to everyone. Put yourself in situations where you can practice your strengths and be successful, and remove yourself from situations where you cannot succeed. Always practice your relationship skills: actively listen, appreciate differences of opinion, support your colleagues, own your mistakes, and always do what you say you are going to do, even if it’s not popular.”
- Theresa Voit, CPA (inactive) and former Director of Finance at Best Buy who recently joined the Certes team as Director of Client Services
|
|
Best Kept Secret
|
|
. . . . .
The best things in life can be free, can’t they?! That’s why this edition’s Best Kept Secret is all about what you don’t have to spend to have a good time in the Twin Cities this lovely winter season. Power up your iPod, because we’re about to share some free music downloads that are such good finds, they feel illegal even though they are very much legit.
|
|
|
