With Over 3,000 Business People and 300 Exhibitors Expected, the OC Fair & Event Center Will be Abuzz for the Event’s 9th Anniversary on Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Trusted Technology Partner to Orange County Businesses Reaches Significant Milestone; Kicks Off First of “10 Months of Giving Thanks” with Toy Drive to Benefit Children with Cancer

ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. – Jan. 23, 2012 – For the last decade, Tekcetera, Inc., has provided reliable, cost-effective infrastructure solutions, cloud services, managed IT services, Microsoft specialty consulting, Avaya and Cisco telecommunications, web design, ecommerce solutions, and more to businesses throughout Orange County. Now the Santa Ana-based technology company is celebrating this milestone anniversary by giving thanks to the community that has supported it for 10 years. For the next 10 months, the Tekcetera team will be found serving food at local shelters, hosting free computer training workshops, participating in beach clean-up efforts, sending care packages to military troops, making monetary donations, and much more.

“We have created a very special culture of ‘do what it takes’ to care for people in both business and community,” said John S. Pitts, founder and president, Tekcetera, Inc. “Our 10 Months of Giving Thanks initiative is not out of the ordinary for the Tekcetera team. We have spent the past decade giving back, but for the next 10 months, we’ll give thanks as a team of one, with our managers, staff and family members. Tekcetera is proud to be in this position after 10 years in business and we look forward to the next 10 months and beyond of thanking the Orange County community that has supported us over the years.”

To kick off the 10 Months of Giving Thanks effort, the Tekcetera team is hosting a toy drive to benefit children with cancer. Toy donations may be made through Feb. 15 at the Tekcetera headquarters, located at 3 MacArthur Place, Suite 870, Santa Ana, CA, or by calling (855) 838-1822. The Tekcetera team will personally deliver toys to children at local hospitals during the week of Feb. 20.

The 10 Months of Giving Thanks initiative will culminate at a hosted reception during the month of November, appropriately around the Thanksgiving holiday. Learn more about Tekcetera and its services at www.tekcetera.com and follow 10 Months of Giving Thanks through photos and updates on Facebook and Twitter. To nominate a local nonprofit in need of volunteers, contact pr@tekcetera.com.

About Tekcetera, Inc.

Founded in November 2002, Tekcetera’s mission is to “do what it takes” to provide comprehensive and cost-effective hardware, software and support technology services that deliver peace of mind to businesses that their technology will work, every time. Tekcetera services include infrastructure solutions, cloud services, managed services, Microsoft specialty consulting, Avaya and Cisco telecommunications, web design, ecommerce solutions and more. A trusted partner of Avaya, Cisco, EVault, Hewlett-Packard, TREND Micro, and WatchGuard, Tekcetera solutions deliver improved reliability, increased productivity, and broadened market penetration to clients spanning a wide range of industries.  To learn more, visit www.tekcetera.com.

**Need more exposure for your business? Advertise with OCRG and Welcome Express!

Orange County Advertiser welcomes Guest Blogger Jason Newmark, President of New Insight Marketing.

Things have changed in the world of PR since my early days in 1998. You know, the days when press releases were still stuffed into envelopes and sent via USPS or even Facsimile. Those days are long gone as technology is keeping public relations practitioners on their toes.  Here at New Insight Marketing, we have our sights set on video as the next revolution in public relations.

Here’s our top 5 ways you can use video to take the PR world by storm.

1. Supplement an existing press release

Adding video to an already newsworthy topic increases its impact and widens opportunities for exposure.

• Reinforce core messages
• Easy to share via RSS feeds, social share links, email and online newsletters
• Brings a human element to almost any subject matter

2. Increase traffic and engagement on your Web site or blog

Use video to showcase the company’s strengths, key executives or other likeable personalities within the company:

• Conduct short interviews/testimonials
• Create a video tour
• Create expert “how to…” videos

3. YouTube – Not just for kids!

YouTube is full of marketing and public relations opportunities. YouTube attracts attention from newspapers, TV and enhances the page ranking of featured brands’ Web sites. The exposure for a client’s product or message can be amazing.

4. An opportunity to impress potential clients/customers

With technology advancing every day, PowerPoint doesn’t look so ‘powerful’ anymore. Companies that want to show a forward-thinking approach need to invest in smarter ways to present to clients. Video sales letters and video introductions can really differentiate you from your competition. Video can create the necessary ‘wow factor.’

5.  Social Video Newsroom^SM

Imagine having just one place to send the media, prospective clients and customers, or anyone who wants to know about your business.  A Social Video Newsroom^SM will provide one of the most effective and interactive ways to increase search engine rankings, improve your Internet presence and brand your company or organization online. Utilizing a specialized blend of strategies and tactics, a Social Video Newsroom^SM can be an extremely valuable addition to any corporate communication campaign.

About Jason Newmark

Jason is an award winning, enthusiastic marketing industry veteran with 14 years experience. His philosophy is that the most successful strategies are those that combine the best of branding, marketing, advertising, public relations, and design. As president of New Insight Marketing, he brings BIG strategies to small and medium sized business. 

You can find Jason online everywhere:

 http://www.newinsightmarketing.com

https://www.facebook.com/newinsightmarketing

http://gplus.to/newinsightmarketing

http://twitter.com/newinsightmktg

http://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonnewmark

Contact Jason Newmark directly at jason@newinsightmarketing.com

**Need more exposure for your small business? Advertise with OCRG and Welcome Express!

The Mission Viejo Activities Committee (MVAC) is proud to announce the return of a unique event for Mission Viejo and surrounding communities. Up in the Air – Mission Viejo Takes Flight will take place on Saturday, March 3, 2012, from 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. on the Green next to the Norman P. Murray Community Center. This exciting event will showcase everything that goes Up in the Air or uses air to operate. Examples include planes, kites, bubbles, balloons, pinwheels, and more.

This fun family event will include professional kite flyers synchronizing kites to music, disc dog shows, various flying contests, non profit food booths, exhibitors and entertainment. Over the years, the MVAC has implemented many annual events including the Fourth of July Celebration and Santa’s Arrival. Up in the Air was offered for the first time in April of 2011 and was well received by the community. The event was an overwhelming success with more than 2,500 participants. As a result of its success, the event allowed us to support local non-profits, furthering their success and purpose within the community.

As with any free event we are seeking individuals and businesses to get involved with the success of this program. We anticipate at least 2,500 people in attendance at the event and even more exposure throughout the community in various marketing publications. The MVAC is a 501c3 non profit organization and all contributions are tax deductable. Please look through the attached benefits of partnering with us on this event and consider supporting this wonderful event in Mission Viejo.

Thank you in advance for your support of family programs and we look forward to hearing from you. If you have any questions or would like additional information, please contact Mark Nix at 949-413-9369 or MKNX@aol.com.

Respectfully,
Mark Nix
Up in the Air Committee
TAX ID #: 95-3756238

Sponsorship packets can be found at www.mvactivities.com

And to learn more about Mission Viejo and other OC cities, visit OrangeCountyResourceGuide.com

Today’s post comes from Norm Bour, a blogger with the  NewportBeachPatch, CoronaDelMarPatch, and LagunaNiguelPatch.  

Norm is a 30 year veteran entrepreneur, specializing in creating workshops in partnerships with cities, chambers, nonprofits and associations. www.OPISnetwork.com

For the past several years I have been monitoring and reporting on  how the public feels about the “trustworthiness” of small business.  I  was pleasantly surprised in 2009 when I shared in workshops that small  businesses had a higher degree of confidence over virtually all other  “institutions”, including organized religion, the educational system, TV  and all media outlets, banks and certainly Congress and major  companies.

The Gallup organization has been doing these types of surveys since  1973 and small business has consistently been close to or at the top  level. The latest survey backs that up and it seems that 64 percent of the  American public trust small business owners and is surpassed only by the  military with 78 percent. The complete survey can be viewed at http://www.gallup.com/poll/148163/Americans-Confident-Military-Least-Congress.aspx. Following small business is Police departments with 56 percent and at the bottom with a dismal 12 percent; Congress.

In reviewing the historical averages since 1973, the top two, the  military, with 67 percent and small business with 62 percent have remained consistent  as have the BOTTOM ones which are Congress, Big Business and HMO  organizations.

So, putting numbers aside let’s find out WHY Americans trust small  business more than any other organization that they regularly deal with:

#1) They are just like me and you.

The cliché of the “Ma & Pa” store is not just a cliché; it really  means that the owners can be a husband and wife or any derivation of  family that owns a business. The business can be a local restaurant,  nail salon, dry cleaner, car repair place or any other types that you  can imagine. In many cases they have been in the family for years or  even decades and this business is their livelihood. The service you get  is probably better than at a bigger chain store and that sense of  belonging and identity may keep you going back for years.

#2) You can talk to them and they listen.

How many times have you had a dispute with a major company and drove  yourself crazy getting it resolved? Big Business can be unwieldy to work  with and it may be difficult to get satisfaction working through 800  numbers or overseas call center in case you have a conflict or dispute.  Small business cares and they understand that one unhappy customer can  create many more, as can a happy one.

#3) Convenience

Small business in many cases is not that small at all, but generally  they are more proximate in your life and local enough to be within your  travel route. The corner hardware store that you can walk in to and talk  with someone that knows your needs is a valuable magnet that keeps you  coming back for more. The definition of what constitutes a small  business can be whatever you think it means. SBA defines it as a  business with less than 500 employees, but for most of us it means that  you can speak with someone in charge and feel some degree of  communication and comfort.

If you are a small business owner, congratulations! YOU are what  fuels the economy, so take the confidence that the public feels for you  and be the best you can be and keep the trend going.

Happy New Year and Welcome to 2012!

Part of our service involves collecting stats and factoids on state & county trends in population, migration, shopping patterns – things that can impact your business.

In the past year, California experienced the largest population gain since 2008 – up 260,000. OC added 27k in population—a 1% increase & the biggest local gain since ’01, marking the 1st time OC grew faster than CA since the year 2000 and the 1st time since ’01 the county had more people move in than out.

OC home sales increased 9.5% between 8/10 and 8/11. OC housing prices are expected to rise 34.6% between now and 2017. With current median house prices near $430,000 that represents a gain of $148,780 in six years.

In 2011 Measure M receipts rose 6.5% – twice the annual growth seen in the previous 19 years. Since these funds derive from sales tax, this is a sign that OC residents are shopping again. An improving local economy helped the county’s appeal to outsiders.

These trends suggest that OC looks like a better place to live. To see why many families decide to make Orange County their home, watch the video at http://www.welcomeexpress.com/life-in-the-oc.html

Directing newcomers to your business is a smart marketing strategy. Today’s newcomers have good credit and money in the bank.  Learn how Welcome Express can help you reach the newcomer market.

Sources:

State, OC Adding People by Jonathan Lansner; Orange County
Register 12-9-11

The Demographic Research Unit Report, California
Department of Finance

The UCLA Anderson Forecast

DataQuick Information Systems

Orange County Realtor®, The official publication of OCAR, December 2011

A Basic Listing is always free, but from now until January 30, 2012, receive an enhanced listing for FREE!

Here’s how to get your free enhanced listing:

1.  Go to http://www.OrangeCountyResourceGuide.com/listmybusiness. Go to Step One and click Business Account Listing. Choose a user name & password and enter your business information.  Click Submit and a confirmation email will be sent to you.

2.  Click on the confirmation link in your email.  Enter your user name and password. Click Add Listing.

3.  Choose “Free” then enter the information you want posted on your directory listing.  Enter Happy2012 in the Promotion Code box and Submit.

4.  Allow 24-48 hours for your ad to be approved and upgraded to an enhanced listing.
When notified, log into http://www.OrangeCountyResourceGuide.come and click on Directory Advertiser Log-in, near the top of the page.  Enter your user name and password, click login.  Select View/Edit (located to the right of your listing) then Edit Listing to take advantage of the enhanced features.

**Your enhanced listing will run for 3 months.  At the end of the 3 month period, you will have the opportunity to continue the enhanced listing for the regular fee or revert to the basic listing for free.

Local Orange County Businesses Join Together to Support the Local Thanksgiving Day Running Tradition

DANA POINT, Calif. – Nov. 8, 2011 – With race day approaching in just a few weeks, the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce and RUN Racing, organizers of the Dana Point Turkey Trot, are pleased to announce sponsors for this year’s race: AT&T; BuildingOnline; City of Dana Point, the presenting sponsor; Clif Bar & Company; Dana Point Chamber of Commerce; Collins Holdings LLC; Cox Communications; The Dana Point Harbor; The Dana Point Times; Dick’s Sporting Goods; Hodel Briggs Winter LLP; Independence Bank of San Juan Capistrano; Lantern Bay Village; Mahé; Mix1; Ohana Preschool; Renaissance ClubSport of Aliso Viejo; Second Harvest Food Bank; South Coast Water District; Sunsets Cabo Beach; The Strand at Headlands; Subway of Laguna Beach; Taste of Brews Dana Point; The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel; Vintage Marina Partners; and Vivos Fitness.

The Dana Point Turkey Trot, named one of America’s best Thanksgiving Day runs by Fitness Magazine, attracts more than 16,000 participants, including friends and family, to its 5K, 10K and Kids’ Gobble Wobble. This year, the Dana Point Turkey Trot has made race enhancements to improve the Southern California tradition, including wave starts based on anticipated race times to alleviate congestion, stroller-specific wave starts, and widening of the lane for the finish-line shoot. In addition, the Dana Point Turkey Trot will host a two-day health and fitness expo and finish line festival for all participants. The health and fitness expo, held on Nov. 23 and 24, will offer an abundance of exhibitor booths featuring the latest and greatest the fitness and health industry has to offer, as well as industry expert speakers.

The Dana Point Turkey Trot is still accepting sponsors for this year’s event, including title sponsorship, Friends of the Turkey Trot and expo exhibitors. With registration numbers surpassing previous years, sponsors of the Dana Point Turkey Trot are able to reach tens of thousands of runners, athletes and community members, and millions more through media impressions, all while making a  vital impact on the Orange County community and local economy.

The Dana Point Turkey Trot is also helping to fundraise for the Dana Point 5th Marine Regiment and Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, accepting donations on the website and through the on-line registration system. The Dana Point Turkey Trot is currently providing a registration discount to all active duty Camp Pendleton Marines, as well as offering the community the opportunity to sponsor a Thanksgiving Day dinner for the Dana Point 5th Marine Regiment personnel and their families.

For more information about the 34th annual Dana Point Turkey Trot and to become a sponsor, visit http://www.turkeytrot.com and follow the event on Twitter at http://twitter.com/turkeytrot and Facebook at http://facebook.com/danapointturkeytrot. Turkey Trot participants and supporters are encouraged to download the Dana Point Turkey Trot Cause Layout at http://www.causelayouts.com/DanaPointTurkeyTrot/. For every original download of the Facebook layout, $1 will be donated to the Dana Point Turkey Trot.

About the 34th Annual Dana Point Turkey Trot:

Produced by the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce in partnership with RUN Racing, the Dana Point Turkey Trot is the nation’s sixth largest turkey trot in the country. Named one of America’s best Thanksgiving Day runs by Fitness Magazine, the Dana Point Turkey Trot has become an Orange County tradition, attracting more than 16,000 participants, including friends and family, in its 5K, 10K, Kids’ Gobble Wobble, and two-day health and fitness expo. Featuring scenic routes through picturesque Dana Point Harbor and Doheny State Beach, the Turkey Trot offers something for every member of the family. The Dana Point Turkey Trot is a USA Track & Field (USATF) sanctioned and certified event and a 2011 USATF Southern California Championship 10K Race. The Dana Point Turkey Trot is helping to fundraise for Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County and the Dana Point 5th Marine Regiment, accepting donations for each through the on-line registration. The Dana Point Turkey Trot is currently offering a registration discount to all active duty Camp Pendleton Marines, as well as a Thanksgiving Day dinner for the 5th Marine Regiment personnel and their families. For more information, to register for a race, or to become a sponsor, visit http://www.turkeytrot.com

Business owners in towns and cities all over the world form Chamber of Commerces to advocate on behalf of the business community. Orange County is home to a plethora of chambers, all serving the unique needs of their population.  Take some time to look at your local chamber and see not only how they can help you and your business, but also, what you as a local business person can also bring to them.

South Orange County Regional Chambers of Commerce

Since 1969 the South Orange County Regional Chamber of Commerce has been recognized as the premier business organization dedicated to creating a vibrant business community, advocating on behalf of business, helping business grow and prosper, while preserving a quality of life for residents and visitors to enjoy.

Irvine Chamber of Commerce

Thirty years after being incorporated, the Irvine Chamber stands at roughly 800 members strong. The chamber’s continued success has played an important part in creating an attractive environment for major companies who now make Irvine their home.

Lake Forest Chamber of Commerce

The Lake Forest Chamber of Commerce is a volunteer-driven professional organization committed to promoting and supporting its member businesses and the surrounding community.  To accomplish their mission they create unique networking and strategic partnering opportunities, proactively market their member businesses, and offer opportunities for growth through professional development.

Ladera Ranch Chamber of Commerce

We are dedicated to supporting the needs of the local Ladera Ranch based businesses, at-home businesses as well as businesses that want to have influence into the Ladera Ranch community and the developing community of Rancho Mission Viejo.

Our goal is to keep costs to the participating businesses low and the value from a membership very high. We’ll do this with great events and networking opportunities. And the funds raised go back into the community for local charities and community needs such as schools and community members in need.

Mission Viejo Chamber of Commerce

The Mission Viejo Chamber of Commerce is a membership organization for businesses and professionals in our community and the surrounding area. The Chamber strives to create leadership and support for local businesses, strong partnerships between businesses, social and networking functions, and help with marketing your business.

Laguna Niguel Chamber of Commerce

The objective of the Laguna Niguel Chamber of Commerce is to create an understanding of and an appreciation for the business community, a concern for their problems, to educate and represent them in city, county, state or national legislative and political affairs. It is our goal to promote business and community growth and to expand the income potential of all business in the trade area. We seek programs of a civic, social and cultural nature designed to increase the functional values of Laguna Niguel.

San Juan Chamber of Commerce

The San Juan Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit membership based organization dedicated to economic development and enhancing the community of San Juan Capistrano.

Here at the Chamber of Commerce we strive to create and promote a climate where business can operate in a productive and profitable manner.  We are not just an event Chamber but we are very active and do offer many networking  and promotional opportunities for all to share their business and for visitors to find what their heart desires. Being both a Chamber and visitor center we are a bridge between the lookers and the providers.

SanClemente Chamber of Commerce

San Clemente has a vast network of people and businesses that help turn its wheels of production, making the city an economically viable home for its residents, and a desirable destination for visitors. However, behind the machine of business in all its forms, a particular set of people aid in its organization, and help promote the general welfare and prosperity of the area business community—the San Clemente Chamber of Commerce.

Don’t see your city’s chamber on this list? Not to worry, take a look at this Quick Link to locate your local Chamber of Commerce.

Today’s post comes from Norm Bour, a blogger with the  NewportBeachPatch

Most of you “unemployables” know WHO you are and WHAT you are, but you may not know what you do. That’s OK. Once you acknowledge that the J-O-B channel is not for you then it’s a matter of applying Socrates Concept of “Know Thyself.”

You may see signs and symptoms and recognize that some of us sickies; those who are always looking for Opportunity. That cause is Discontentment. It’s discontentment in watching things happen the “same old way”; watching people with less skills do boring things all day and you having to march to the same beat. One of our new partners has been a wonderful experiment in watching entrepreneurship unfold before my eyes.

Gitonga Kanampiu is an interesting man, and the only person I ever met that does not know his date of birth. In the bush of Kenya where he was born, the date and the weight and the length of the child is insignificant. All that matters is the healthiness. He came to the United Sates as an exchange student in the 70′s, became an accountant by trade, got an MBA (actually two) and got involved with nonprofit organizations in many areas of finance. As the CFO of Easter Seals he helped them on many telethons and over the years has written hundreds of grants for as much as $40M dollars. Life was good, but he was unsettled and wanted more and about 18 months ago he left his very well paying job to venture on his own. He struggled to find his niche for quite some time and now is the CEO of Nonprofit Development Alliance which is designed to keep nonprofits out of trouble and teach them how to operate like a business. The quote he shared came back to me as I was watching SHINE: “Rather than work for Easter Seals I would rather help create 100 little Easter Seals.”

The Discontentment haunts many of us and many more that don’t know what to do about it. To quote Henry David Thoreau, “Most men lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them.” Speaking for myself I know that I was a horrible employee. Always looking to change things or improve things or just plain unsettled. If I couldn’t find that rapture in the job I usually tried it after hours in some form of business venture which usually failed. I had the desire and the drive, but what was lacking was the focus, the vision and the direction. Having a mentor would also
have been a big help.

Are you a Closet Entrepreneur? There is only one way to find out and that is to try it out and see if the shoe fits. There is no lack of opportunity out there and plenty or need and many that will share and teach and mentor and motivate. As someone that discovered the cause of his illness late in life I encourage you to soul search sooner than later. If a bushman in Kenya can find his calling from halfway across the world, you should have no valid excuses.

**Need more exposure for your business? Advertise with OCRG and Welcome Express!