You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view some these linked files. Click here to download the reader now.

Your Only Competitive Advantage - Your People

With the possible exception of bankruptcy attorneys and collection agencies, the last five years has been very tough on small businesses. We were not immune to this as many of the businesses in our market cut back on all types of expenses including human resources. The economy has been in the pits for the last 5 years. But there are signs of improvement. The Dow Jones Industrial Average has been hovering around the 14,000 mark for a few weeks now. Sooner or later, it will get over that milestone and stay there for a while. Business owners seem to have some pent up demand for our services. We are getting calls from old and potential clients to write job descriptions, conduct compliance audits, compensation studies and training. This part of our business has been almost non-existent since 2008. So, in the first two months of 2013, we are seeing much more activity.

The Potential of People
As many of you know, our tag line is The Potential of People. This was inspired by the saying,

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

- Margaret Meade

Are You Ready?
There’s no question that when a bunch of like-minded people work together toward a common goal, amazing things can happen. Give them the right vision and leadership then get out of their way. Let them do amazing things with your guidance and support and without too much intervention. Communicate your expectations, goals and the rewards for meeting them and for exceeding them as well.

I Gotta Tell You About TeamMcKenzie
We are building our team too. So I figured the best way to explain how a high performing group of thoughtful, committed people work together is to tell you about TeamMcKenzie. I am excited again about the prospects of our business growth this year and want to do a little bragging.

Darlene Thomas Rivers
Knowing that our only competitive advantage is our people and anticipating an uptick in business, I knew we needed to strengthen our team and hired the best. I have been trying to get Darlene Thomas Rivers to join us for a number of years. Finally, in October of 2012, Darlene agreed to be a part of McKenzieHR as a Senior HR Advisor. Woo Hoo!! I have known and worked with Darlene since 1995. Darlene is very knowledgeable in Human Resources. Her best trait is her attention to the needs of the clients. Her passion is Organizational Development and training. She has already brought new life into our group.

Michelle Darmanie
I met Michelle during a presentation I made at Webster University in the beginning of January. She approached me after her class and told me she had recently retired from the Navy and that she wanted to go into Human Resources. She also told me she would work for free to learn HR in the private sector. Michelle is getting paid, and here is a picture of Michelle receiving her first civilian paycheck. Michelle is starting from the ground floor and seems happy to do so (well at least for a little while). She started working for us on January 31 of this year. So far she is extremely impressive. An intelligent self-starter, she has already made a positive impact in a number of projects. Woo Hoo!!

Terrie McDonald
Terrie joined us three years ago as a Client Service Representative. I keep telling her she is the best because it is true. She is one of those very rare individuals who quietly goes about her work and gets it all done. She is a bit of a perfectionist and is harder on herself than she should be. Smart, intelligent, good with clients and does a great job. As an employer, Terrie is one of those dreams come true. Woo Hoo!!

You can see from her picture that she is very serious about her work. She did not like leaving the office to get her picture taken. She preferred to stay in the office and take care of her clients.

Chuck Petruska and Peggie Leitereg - The Stalwarts
Saving the best for last. Chuck's picture is on the left and that's Peggie on the right. These two professionals have been with McKenzieHR as Senior HR Advisors for a number of years. They have stood by through thick and thin. Unfortunately, the last five years have been more thin than thick. Grateful and appreciative are not strong enough words to describe how I feel about them. They are seasoned professionals who are dedicated to the cause. I cannot thank them enough for their dedication. Chuck and Peggie have been instrumental in maintaining great client relationships and we look forward more of the same in the future. Woo Hoo!!

There you have it, the makings of a great team. All are committed to the profession and making things better for our clients. It just doesn't get any better than this.

As we enter our eleventh year in business, we are very optimistic about our future. Good things are happening - Woo Hoo!!

Have a great month and thanks again for reading the McKenzie Mailer

Bob's Visit With Rick Scott

On February 7, 2013, Florida Governor, Rick Scott paid a visit to Operation New Hope in Jacksonville. Just as an FYI, Operation New Hope puts non-violent ex-offenders through a job search and work ethic program and helps them get a job in the community. McKenzieHR has used this program for its client with a great deal of success - due to the group of thoughtful and committed people they employ. The graduates of Operation New Hope are trained on how to interview, the importance of showing up for work on time as well as working hard. The net result is our clients get good employees as well as Work Opportunity Tax Credits. It's a Win - Win - Win - Win - Win situation.

Bob McKenzie was invited to meet with the Governor to give a testament to the services provided by Operation New Hope.

	Here's Bob and Rick for the photo op. Rick is a lot taller than Bob, so they had to cut the top of his head off to fit both in the picture.
	This is Rick Scott shaking Bob's hand.
	This is a picture of Bob making a presentation to Rick Scott. It appears that Mr. Scott is actually listening to what Bob has to say. It just proves that amazing things really can happen.

The Required Disclaimer
The McKenzie Mailer is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Before implementing any action on this subject, contact an expert in the field.

Thank you for reading The McKenzie Mailer.

Bob McKenzie, President
McKenzieHR
Winner of the 2012 Ultimate HR Executive by the Jacksonville Business Journal and the Man of Steel Award from Entrepreneurial Anchor Magazine.
potential@mckenziehr.com

Members of TeamMcKenzie
Bob McKenzie, Head HR Guy
Darlene Thomas Rivers – Senior HR Consultant
Chuck Petruska – Senior Advisor
Peggie Leitereg – Senior Advisor
Terrie McDonald – Client Services Specialist
Michelle Darmanie – Client Services Specialist