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INDUSTRY RESOURCES DIRECTORY

RESOURCE SITES:

George S. May Home
This is the main corporate site for George S. May International Company.

George S May Ethics
This site provide articles and specific guidelines that can be used to evaluate if business decisions and actions are ethical.

George S May HR
This site is a repository for articles concerning human resources.

George S May Legal
This site provides articles that suggest important legal considerations for businesses.

George S May Management
This site provide articles and specific guidelines for managing a company.

George S May Blog GSMIC Daily business blog

More Resource Sites

George S May Businessweek Profile

George S May Hoovers Profile

George S May Answers Profile

Respect, Responsibility, Results
Who's responsible for acting ethically? You are! It isn't the "company." It isn't just the business owner. It isn't only your manager. It is every person. Ultimately, each of us is responsible for our own actions, including being ethical. Considering the "3R's" will point you and your employees in the right ethical direction.

'Little Things' Mean A Lot
Business ethics involves a lot more than compliance with company policies, laws and financial regulations. These are major concerns with high visibility. It makes headlines when these are not obeyed. For those reasons, most organizations do not have problems with these issues. Instead, it's the “little things” that cause problems.

Know What Cannot Be Compromised
Every business owner knows that there are some aspects of work that are discretionary and other aspects with procedures that must be followed exactly. Do your people know what these discretionary and non-discretionary areas are?

How To Say 'NO' With Tact
You may be faced with a situation in which a partner or co-owner proposes an action that you believe is not ethical or outright wrong. Perhaps an employee comes to you with this situation. What do you do? What do you tell your employee?

The Overpayment Scam
This scam has been around for a long time and it continues to hurt small businesses everyday. This article reviews how the scam is performed and how you can protect yourself.

Doing What's Right
As a businessperson, you have the ultimate responsibility for your actions. You are the person who decides if you should act ethically. If you are a supervisor or manager, you need provide the means that allow your people to act ethically. This is how an organization supports the ethical actions of its employees.

When In Doubt About Ethics Questions - ASK!
There's a common phrase in business that encourages people to display initiative. It suggests that they determine ways to overcome the obstacles of bureaucracy, of "red tape," and to move a project ahead. This phrase is: It is easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission.

Check Yourself Out
Self-evaluation is a critical component of business ethics. People should spend as much time looking in the mirror as they do watching and judging the behavior of others. Periodically examine and reflect on your own behaviors to ensure you are staying on the ethical track.

Everything Counts
Think about it. When is it okay to be unethical? The answer is NEVER! What are the parts of your job - and your human interactions - to which fairness, honesty, respect, and "doing right" don't apply? THERE ARE NONE! Ethics is not a sometimes thing. It's an all the time thing - and it's reflected in everything you do.

Make Ethics Part of Everyday Life
Knowing how to approach situations helps make ethics part of everyday life.

5 Ways To Ethically Consider Situations
Here are five ways to ethically consider situations in your everyday life.

More Guides To Acting Ethically
Being ethical – at work and away from the job – should not mean acting differently. Attention to ethics is not something you turn on and off. For it to be meaningful, practicing ethics must be part of your everyday life.

FINANCE

American Small Business Association
www.asbaonline.org
A partnership of many small business owners across the country with the shared goal of running a profitable business. ASBA provides the office, travel and medical benefits businesses need to succeed, along with personal benefits that improve quality of life. When you join the American Small Businesses Association, you join the collective buying power of a large organization, and your voice on issues that affect small business is echoed in unison with thousands of other members. Whether starting out or expanding, these resources will help give a business the edge it needs to grow and prosper.

Business.gov
The Business Gateway to Federal Resources
www.business.gov
Over 40 different Federal agencies assist or regulate businesses. Business.gov was developed to provide better customer service for small businesses interacting with the Federal Government. Business.gov is a collaborative effort managed by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Partner executive departments include Department of Commerce (DOC), Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Department of the Interior (DOI), Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Labor (DOL), and Department of Transportation (DOT). We also partner with the following independent agencies and government corporations: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), General Services Administration (GSA), and Social Security Administration (SSA).

SBA and its partner agencies share the belief that government can be more customer-focused and user-friendly in helping U.S. small businesses gain access to information and services from the government. Business.gov provides a one-stop, common access point for Federal Government services and information needed to assist with starting, running, and growing a business.

BusinessTown.com
www.businesstown.com/associations/index.asp
Provides links to associations and online services for 34 key industries.

Internal Revenue Service IRS.gov
The Small Business and Self-Employed One-Stop Resource
www.irs.ustreas.gov/businesses/small/
Provides resources such as Online Classroom, a series of self-directed workshops on a variety of topics for small business owners; information on employment taxes for small businesses; tax change updates; current mileage rates; tips for starting, operating or closing a business; links to small business resources and more.

International Council for Small Business
www.icsb.org
An umbrella organization that integrates the activities of diverse organizations and professionals who deal directly with small business. It creates and distributes new information on small business management and entrepreneurial development. Ideas drawn from government, education, and commerce are provided to the small business community through the efforts of Council members. ICSB actively stimulates research in new areas of inquiry through conferences, education/teaching exchanges, small business consulting/advising and global networking. Since the Council reinforces rather than duplicates the work of other organizations, it seeks to expand the information-exchange network by encouraging development of national and associate affiliates. Originally organized in 1956 in the United States, ICSB has now grown to more than 2,000 members in over 60 countries. Affiliates span the globe.

National Association for the Self-Employed
www.nase.org
Since its beginning in 1981, the National Association for the Self-Employed has pioneered support for micro-businesses and the self-employed while helping to define this important part of the American economy. The NASE understands the unique needs of micro-business owners and removes many of the hurdles to starting and growing a business by providing a comprehensive range of benefits.

Small Business Administration Federal Grant Resources
http://www.sba.gov/financing/basics/grants.html
Links to resources for Federal grants.

Small Business Administration Financing Basics
http://www.sba.gov/financing/index.html
Provides basic information on financing a business: Financing Basics; SBA's Role; Estimating Costs; Personal vs. Business Finances; Small Business Lenders; Capital for Growth; Equity Financing; How to Read Financial Statements. The SBA does not offer grants to start or expand small businesses, but does offer a variety of loan programs (see below.) SBA also offers information on resources Federal grants (see below.)

Small Business Administration Loan Programs
http://www.sbaonline.sba.gov/financing/sbaloan/snapshot.html
The SBA offers numerous loan programs to assist small businesses. It is important to note, however, that the SBA is primarily a guarantor of loans made by private and other institutions.

Small Business Pipeline
www.smallbizpipeline.com
CMP Media's Small Business Pipeline site and newsletter are aimed squarely at the informational needs of small businesses - those companies with 1,000 employees or less and the backbone of the U.S. economy. And they share a host of unique business needs, from managing their finances to capitalizing on technology to achieve maximum efficiency and competitiveness. Small Business Pipeline connects business owners to critical small business technology and strategic knowledge. Small Business Pipeline is brought to you by CMP Media LLC.

The National Business Association
www.nationalbusiness.org
A not for profit association, specifically designed and actively managed to assist the Self-Employed and Small Business Community in achieving their professional goals. The NBA uses its group buying power to provide members with support programs, cost and time saving products, services and valuable small business resource materials.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Center
www.uschamber.com/sb
A one-stop resource for small business needs. Whether you own a business, represent one, lead a corporate office, or manage an association, the Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America SM provides you with a voice of experience and influence in Washington, D.C., and around the globe.

The expert staff includes policy specialists, lobbyists, and lawyers, all of whom make up the world's largest not-for-profit business federation, representing: 3,000,000 businesses, 2,800 state and local chambers, 830 business associations, 96 American Chambers of Commerce abroad.

Members include businesses of all sizes and sectors-from large Fortune 500 companies to home-based, one-person operations. In fact, 96% of our membership encompasses businesses with fewer than 100 employees.

FOOD SERVICE

Food Service Associations
National Restaurant Association | Society for Foodservice Management | American Culinary Federation | More Food Service Associations

Food Service Books
Restaurant News.com | University of Nevada Las Vegas | NRN Bookstore

Food Service Colleges/Universities
Culinary Arts Schools Worldwide | CookingSchools.com | Cooking & Culinary Schools

HEALTH CARE

Healthcare Books
Medical School.com Bookstore | MedicalBooks.com

Healthcare Colleges/Universities
Association of American Medical Colleges | Medical School Online

HOSPITALITY

Hospitality Colleges/Universities
The International Association of Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education | The American Spa Therapy Education & Certification Council | American Association of Cosmetology Schools | Golf Pro Help

HUMAN RESOURCES

Customer Complaints
Every business is bound to have a few complaints. Address them early and satisfy your customers, so they come back often.

Remedy For Healthcare Problems
Various models of managed healthcare cost increases hit with a vengeance.

Insurance Broker/Health Plan Consultant Expectations
Today more than ever, employers should be demanding in their choice of a broker or health plan consultant.

Assessing Business Insurance Risks
Discover the solution to controlling rising insurance costs lies in sound, proactive risk management.

Hiring The Best Person
Here are some tips to help you hire the best possible person.

Terminating Employees
Terminating a person can be difficult but planning makes the situation less traumatic for you.

Equally Enforcing Summer Clothing Standards
Summer is here and with it comes concerns about employees wearing casual clothing.

INSURANCE

Insurance Associations
About.com | A.M. Best | Insurance Information Institute | Munich American Reassurance Company | National Association of Insurance Commissioners

Insurance Books
CCH Insurance Services | Insurance-Finance.com

Insurance Helpful Links
CCH Insurance Services | Insurance Newsnet

LEGAL

Create A Corporate Compliance Program
Any business that has Officers and a Board of Directors needs to pay increasing attention to the liability of the actions of management. This article discusses several actions that should be considered by the Officers and Boards of Directors to insulate the corporation and reduce the potential for criminal liability.

When Does Your Business Need A Lawyer?
Whether you are just starting a business or your enterprise is already up and running, seeking the advice of a trusted attorney is an important step toward protecting your business and securing your financial future. Here are several key areas where expert legal advice and guidance will benefit your business.

Employer Fire Response
Unfortunately, there appears to be a reemergence of neglect, and resulting potential civil and criminal liability, involving fire safety procedures and emergency response. Recent examples should remind business owners that they should be aware of the issues and have procedures in place to protect their people and their facilities.

MANAGEMENT

Avoiding Roadblocks To Employee Productivity
Are your employees performing up to expectations? Before you start a review of your employees' strengths and weaknesses, look at your own management practices. Read more to find out how even the most well-intentioned managers can undermine productivity.

Effective Public Relations Builds Business
Many businesses rely solely on advertising to make people aware of their operation and to bring in customers. If ads are the only means you have of promoting your business, you're missing the profit-building potential of public relations - a variety of activities that range from free stories in your local newspaper or trade magazine to speaking opportunities.

Time Management Action Plan
Do you feel like your workday is out of control before it even begins? If you spend your days keeping up instead of getting ahead, bad time management could be the culprit. Too often our consultants find business owners overwhelmed by excessive detail work. Adhering to a few time management principles helps to avoid these situations.

What Does Your Website Say About Your Business?
If you are among the Internet-savvy business owners who have merged their businesses onto the information highway, how can you ensure that customers will continue logging onto your website instead of veering over to the competition? Take an objective look at your website and find out what this valuable marketing tool is really saying about your business.

The Right Customer
When it comes to dealing with difficult customers, when is it best to bite your tongue and when is it appropriate to tell a cantankerous client to "talk to the hand?" Although business dictates that the customer is always right, frankly you know sometimes the customer isn't right for your business. Read more to find out when to cut your losses and begin building less contentious - and more profitable - business relationships.

Military Reserve Employees
Do you know your business requirements involving Military Reserve employees? There's some confusion among employers and employees regarding reserve unit military call-ups.

Management Associations
American Management Association | AAIM Management Association of St. Louis | American Society of Association Executives | More Management Associations

Management Magazines
1to1 Magazine | American Executive | Benefits & Compensation Digest | Benefits & Compensation Solutions | More Management Magazines

MANUFACTURING

Manufacturing Associations
Society of Manufacturing Engineers | Society of Manufacturing Engineers | Tooling & Manufacturing Association | More Manufacturing Associations

Manufacturing Books
Society of Manufacturing Engineers

Manufacturing Magazines
American Machinist | American Machinist's Cutting Technology | American Tool, Die & Stamping News | More Manufacturing Magazines

Manufacturing Colleges/Universities
AllEngineeringSchools.com | Manufacturing Is Cool

PRINTING

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics
Provides overview of the printing industry, including the nature of the industry, working conditions, employment, training and advancement, and outlook.

Printing Associations
International Association of Printing House Craftsmen | Business.com | Screenprinting and Graphic Imaging Association International | Digital Printing & Imaging Association | More Printing Associations

Printing Books
Graphic Arts Information Network | National Association for Printing Leadership

Printing Colleges/Universities
Graphic Comm Central

REAL ESTATE

Real Estate Associations
National Association of Realtors | Coalition of Commercial Real Estate Associations | The International Real Estate Federation | RE Buz

Real Estate Books
First Multiple Listing Service | National Association of Realtors Bookshelf | Wealth of Information REcampus Bookstore

Real Estate Magazines
The Apartment Professional | Building Operating Management | Buildings | Business Facilities | More Real Estate Magazines

RECREATION

Recreation Associations
American Alliance for Health Physical Education Recreation & Dance | National Recreation & Park Association | More Recreation Associations

Recreation Colleges/Universities
North Carolina Central University | Northern Arizona University | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Recreation Helpful Links
North Carolina Central University | National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials

RETAIL

Retail Associations
National Retail Federation | Association for Retail Technology Standards | National Council of Chain Restaurants | More Retail Associations

Retail Books
National Retail Federation

TRANSPORTATION

Transportation Associations
Truckinfo.net | National School Transportation Association | American Ambulance Association | American Bus Association

Transportation Books
Truckinfo.net

Transportation Colleges/Universities
Truckinfo.net

Transportation Helpful Links
J.J. Keller & Associates | U.S. Department of Transportation | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

WAREHOUSING

Warehousing/Wholesale Associations
Warehousing Education and Research Council | WERC.org | Modern Materials Handling Online | American Wholesale Marketers Association

Warehousing/Wholesale Books
Warehousing Education and Research Council

Warehousing/Wholesale Magazines
Warehousing Education and Research Council

Warehousing/Wholesale Colleges/Universities
Warehousing Education and Research Council

Warehousing/Wholesale Helpful Links
Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) | Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration | More Warehousing/Wholesale Helpful Links

WHOLESALE

Warehousing/Wholesale Associations
Warehousing Education and Research Council | WERC.org | Modern Materials Handling Online | American Wholesale Marketers Association

Warehousing/Wholesale Books
Warehousing Education and Research Council

Warehousing/Wholesale Magazines
Warehousing Education and Research Council

Warehousing/Wholesale Colleges/Universities
Warehousing Education and Research Council

Warehousing/Wholesale Helpful Links
Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) | Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration | More Warehousing/Wholesale Helpful Links

* This information is compiled and provided by George S. May International Company. Visit the George S. May International Company Web site to learn more about our services.

Mail: George S. May International Company; 303 South Northwest Highway; Park Ridge, Illinois 60068-4255
Contact: corpcom@georgesmay.com; tel. 847.825.8806
George S. May International Company® is a registered service mark of the George S. May International Company.
© Copyright 2004-2006 George S. May International Company. All rights reserved.

Provided by George S. May International Company

INDUSTRY RESOURCES DIRECTORY

RESOURCE SITES:

INDUSTRY RESOURCES DIRECTORY

AGRICULTURE

HUMAN RESOURCES