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 IT Security among top tech concerns, according to research MENLO PARK, Calif. - The tech world never sleeps and, apparently, CIOs don't get much rest either. According to The CIO Insomnia Project , a recently released research initiative from Robert Half Technology, nearly one-quarter (24 percent) of CIOs cited data security as the primary worry keeping them up at night, followed by hardware and/or operating systems upgrades, with 13 percent of the response. For more, click on Robert Half International

Oakland County Planning & Development Services is hosting these workshops next week. • Effective Networking at 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 2. The cost is $40 per person. • SBA Forum on Small Business Lending from 9 a.m. to noon, Wednesday Aug. 3. There is no cost to attend. Both workshops are at Oakland County Executive Office Building, 2100 Pontiac Lake Road, Building 41 W, Waterford Township. Call 248-858-0783 or visit www.oakgov.com/peds/calendar/.

          Stanford, CA (July 2011)—For many small business owners, business isn’t exactly booming. Forced to do more with much less, the small businesses that have managed to survive and even thrive have recognized one important factor: You can’t always compete on price, but you can compete on service. And the best thing about great customer service is that providing it doesn’t cost you an extra penny. Ed Hess explains that when your competition is scrounging for customers, you have to hold yours close, and that starts with great customer service.           “Today’s small business owners need to understand that cutting costs will not save their business,” says Hess, author of the new book Growing an Entrepreneurial Business: Concepts & Cases (Stanford University Press, 2011, ISBN: 978-0-8047714-1-2, $75.00, www.EDHLTD.com ) and professor at the University of Virginia’s Darden Graduate School of Business.       ...

Buy Michigan Now and downtown Northville are hosting the 3rd Annual Buy Michigan Now Festival, Friday-Sunday, August 5-7. The family-friendly festival will showcase various Michigan entertainers, businesses, products, and educational opportunities with the goal of revitalizing the local economy. For information on vendor or sponsorship opportunities, call Buy Michigan Now at 248-390-0974 or email to info@BuyMichiganNow.com.

Daniel Milstein shares secrets for consistently reaching high sales levels and lays out in clear understandable language what it takes to be a sales superstar in his recently published book, “The ABC of Sales.” Dan Milstein of Ann Arbor is the 35 year-old CEO of Gold Star Mortgage Financial Group, an Inc. 500 Company which closes a billion dollars in loans annually. Milstein has been recognized as the #1 mortgage originator in the nation, has been among the top 40 finance professionals in America for 10 years and has achieved more than $3 billion in personal career mortgage sales. Daniel Milstein, the CEO of Ann Arbor based Gold Star Mortgage Financial Group is passing the secrets of his success on to others in the sales business. A super success in mortgage sales. his book is a guide for professionals who want to soar in sales, revive their sales careers, or position their companies among the elite. Known as a financial wizard with solid experience in planning and managing diversifie...

How to Get Past a Career Rut  Sometimes the key to getting ahead is in your head.  See story on The Oakland Press website business page

The Inventors Council of Mid-Michigan is holding its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 14 in the upper level of Walli's Restaurant in Burton. The speaker is Tracy Joseph, loan officer, Metro Community Development group, discussing local opportunities for funding businesses. The cost to attend is $5. For questions, call Mike Ball at 810-245-5599.

Social Media is a Party! announces its upcoming business networking event for professionals, 6:30 to 10 p.m. Thursday, July 14 at Fifth Avenue Royal Oak, 215 5th Ave., Royal Oak. The panel of social media strategists will discuss creating a solid social media strategy for businesses. It will be moderated by Sola Obayan, Principal at BTO Solutions. Panelists include Jason Ryan, Detroit Sales Executive at Groupon & President at Vision Fuel Media; Pam Perry, PR Coach at Pam Perry PR; Shannon Paul, Social Media Manager at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and David Murray, Director of Social Web Communications at re:group. It will be followed by an extended mixer. Appetizers will be served and there are half off drinks for the evening. Admission is $10 in advance and $20 at the door. Visit SocialMediaIsaParty.com.

Cynthia L. Umphrey by Cynthia L. Umphrey Are you a control freak? If you’re an entrepreneur, I bet you are, at least a bit.  I know I am, at least a bit.  My experience with the pain and pleasure of letting go comes from three sources. As a full time lawyer at Kemp Klein Law Firm since 1997 with mainly entrepreneurs as clients, I gained internal and external experience.  As a co-owner of The Learning Experience of South Lyon, a child development center with over 200 children that opened in 2007, and co-owner of Sixluxe LLC, started in 2010 designing revolutionary women’s clothes for day wear and travel, I gained pure, internal, hands-on experience. My experiences indicate that control solutions are situation specific.  But I believe there are a few constants.  My Core Constant: If you cannot give up control properly, your business will not reach its full potential.  You cannot possibly be the best person for everything. This is WHY you give up some control....

Automation Alley’s Social Media series: A Deep Dive for Business Owners and Marketers Corporate Blogging workshop is noon to 1 p.m. at 2675 Bellingham Dr., Troy. Laura Oliveto of Basso Design Group will discuss how a corporate blog can be a powerful tool to communicate brand message in addition to the basics of setting up a blog. It opens at 11:30 a.m. with registration and networking. The cost is $20 for members in advance and $30 at-the-door. Non-members pay $40 in advance and $50 at-the-door. To register, call 800-427-5100 or visit www.automationalley.com.

Michigan Made Porch Party is 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 15 at Longacre House 24705 Farmington Road, Farmington Hills. Products from around the state will be featured including appetizers, produce, beer, wine and specialty products. The cost is $13 at the door and includes appetizer dinner, wine tasting and entry into the Michigan prize basket raffle. Attendees must be 21 years of age or older.

Business spotlights are profiles of businesses for The Oakland Press Money page.  Please include:     * What is the news? (New location? New business? New owners?)     * How long has the business been in business?     * What is important to readers? (Are expanded services available?)     * What kind of business is it?     * How many employees? Photos Spotlights generally include a photo of the business with an identified person in the photo (owner, manager, etc.) Include electronic photos and shots of individuals. Include photo caption information that identifies all people in the photo from left to right, says where the photo was taken, what event took place, etc. How to submit news Send news releases via email to business.news@oakpress.com. Attach electronic photos to the email.