Traverse Angels


  • Traverse City & Beyond

    Posted on March 16, 2012 by admin

    We have several primary concerns here, although a range of concerns is covered. Why a range? Well, we’re a little ADD, and there are so many interesting things.

    Michigan City Lighthouse

    Michigan City Lighthouse

    Nonetheless, primary concerns are investment, technology, and the general northern Michigan area. These are, after all, where we started: Investing in technology business in Michigan. From there, interests expanded into all kinds of cool and sometimes unexpected places.

    It started with a select network of successful entrepreneurs, professionals and as business and community leaders in the Traverse City, Michigan area. The network provided investment capital, strategic advice and mentoring to early-stage companies to help them achieve market leadership. This work was with early-stage, technology and non-technology companies from the greater Traverse City region and beyond. Of course, in addition to identifying and helping grow early-stage companies and the local economic base of the Traverse City, MI geographic region, we wanted to provide exceptional “quality” deal flow and an outstanding financial return on time commitment and invested capital.

    We focused on “quality” deal flow with both a local geographic footprint, in Traverse City, MI, as well as an extended and targeted geographic footprint. This cross-geographic structure provided unprecedented access to “best-in-class” investment opportunities without limiting investments to any one specific geographic area, ensuring higher returns.

    The network included founders, CEO’s and business and community leaders working in conjunction to invest and grow world-class organizations. They mentored and coached the entrepreneurs they invested in, served as board and advisory board members, provided contacts and assisted the entrepreneur with team building, strategic planning and follow-on fund raising.

    From that auspicious beginning grew a lasting interest in the entire technology and entrepreneurial environment of the geographic area of northern Michigan and beyond. Through business relationships, a lasting fascinating with the newest technologies developed. And from investing locally, a focus on the region naturally followed.

    This entry was posted in Business & Finance and tagged . Bookmark the permalink.

  • Top 5 Advantages of Using a Medical Transcription Service

    Posted on May 16, 2012 by admin

    In the healthcare industry, as in many industries, outsourcing can be a valuable way to maximize cost savings, improve efficiency and even enhance the quality of your operations.  Using an external vendor for needs from dictation services to administrative support can offer significant advantages over in-house transcription.  Here are five reasons why outsourcing is a good choice for fulfilling your medical transcription needs.

    1. Cost savings on personnel
    By looking beyond your in-house staff for services, there’s no need to pay for training, management, taxes, office space requirements or benefits for a transcriptionist.

    2. Access to cutting edge technology and methods without the investment
     There’s no capital outlay for equipment, programming and training, but you’re still poised to take advantage of state-of-the-art systems and technology.

    3. Efficient pricing structure eliminates excess
    You pay solely for services you’re using; not those you don’t use.

    4. Expert skills without compromise
    Supplying ample proficiency with whatever core competency is required means work gets done faster, with fewer errors. 
     
    5. Flexibility
    A quality medical transcription service will offer several ways for your business to take advantage of the benefits of outsourcing.  Total, partial or backup outsourcing service choices mean you can find the right solution to fit your needs.  Total outsourcing allows a complete off-site locale as your source for data processing.  Partial capabilities let you keep in-house staff working on transcription as they perform other job functions. When this staff reaches a critical workload capacity with issues other than transcription, the service will then take over transcription to keep things on track and running smoothly. Using backup services, a service can assist with a backlog of reports or help manage unexpected surges in dictation needs. Also, in the event there are system errors or equipment crashes at your facility, your staff can easily transfer transcription to the vendor’s system seamlessly and without the sacrifice of downtime.

    This entry was posted in Business & Finance. Bookmark the permalink.

  • Boiler Safety and Maintenance Tips

    Posted on May 14, 2012 by admin

    There are many types of boilers available on the market to meet the many varied needs. One thing they all have in common is the need for proper safety and maintenance procedures. Even though the modern heat recovery steam generator and other boiler systems are very sophisticated, accidents can and do happen. It is therefore necessary to take every precaution to maintain the safety of staff members and equipment.

    Maintenance is a major part of promoting boiler and boiler room safety. By thoroughly maintaining the boiler room equipment it is more likely to prevent boiler room accidents. The boiler should be inspected regularly in order to detect and prevent any threats from early on. Operating procedures should be written and posted for all employees to see, electrical and other equipment must always be kept clean and there should always be a sufficient supply of fresh air.

    Even with the very best maintenance and safety precautions, accidents may still occur. If they do, it is very important that the right people with the very best training are in place to help deal with the situation at hand. It is likely that you will need individuals who are experienced in first aid and fire control as well as engineering. These people will help to respond to any injuries, fires or equipment failures.

    Safety Precautions

    1.Persons entering the boiler room should always wear the correct safety gear, including shoes, clothing and eye gear.
    2. Always wear a hard hat to prevent possible head injuries.
    3. Wear protective gloves when you are handling hot items.
    4. Only use ladders that are safe and never use anything in lieu of a ladder.
    5. Do not use ladders as bridges.
    6. Always use the right tools for the job.
    7. Never use defective tools.
    8. Never leave loose tools lying on ladders, scaffolds, catwalks or on top of the boilers.
    9. Periodically check fire extinguishers to ensure that they are in the right place and have the proper charge.
    10. Occasionally check to ensure that all fire safety equipment is functioning correctly.

    This entry was posted in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink.

  • A Brief History of Organic Production Methods

    Posted on May 8, 2012 by admin

    Organic production methods for clothing have experienced a renaissance of sorts. With more options and colors available than ever before in everything from organic baby clothing to adult apparel and footwear, a look back at the history of organic clothing helps show how the industry has evolved and what gave rise to it.

    Up until the beginning of the 20th century, most plant-based fabric production methods were managed organically. As modern industrialization took hold with inventions like internal combustion engines, synthetic pesticides and fertilization and the cultivation of hybrid plant species, farming and production methods changed dramatically.   The natural processes used to create textiles were lost and as a global crop, cotton is one of the most genetically developed in the world. Alarmingly, the enduring impact of these changes on the environment is still undetermined.

    As a widening interest and awareness of the differences between the industrialized methods of farming and the use of organic practices grew in the late 1960s and early 1970s, an increasing demand for organically produced foods took hold and a similar market need for organic fabrics developed soon after.  By 2001, organically-grown cotton was being produced as a crop on farms in over 18 countries.

    Organic clothing is available today for reasonable prices and in various channels, from online sites to specialty stores.  The organic label doesn’t simply mean the use of natural pesticides and fertilizers.  The entire farming and production method is based on knowledge of the whole agronomic process. This includes establishing a level of diversity and balance within the farm’s ecosystem to ideally include many types of crops and activities. Soil fertility and crop nutrition are rooted in the concepts of crop diversity and organic input materials like compost, mulch and manure.   Today, farms transitioning to organic also need to undergo a two-year conversion timeframe to move their production methods from conventional to organic. Another important part of today’s organic crop production is targeted selection of plants that are adapted to local growing conditions.

    This entry was posted in Babies, Home, Garden, & Family. Bookmark the permalink.

  • The pros and cons of a Career in the Beauty Industry

    Posted on May 5, 2012 by admin

    While many people have dreams and aspirations of becoming doctors and lawyers, there are many among us who dream of pursuing careers in the beauty industry.  And to that we say, why not? There are many worthwhile professions within the industry and like any other industry there are disadvantages and advantages that await career hopefuls who venture into these professions. Like any other profession, training is essential and there are many schools like La James that offer great training opportunities.

    Before entering into a career in the beauty industry however, it is a good idea to first be aware of the pros and cons of your career choice so that you can better be able to make an informed decision about your future.

    The Pros

    1. One of the advantages of seeking a career in the beauty industry is that not much training is required before you can begin your career. Schools like La James offer short certificate and diploma courses that are designed to prepare individuals to work in the beauty industry.
    2. The job growth forecast for careers within this industry remains extremely high as the beauty industry is one of the fastest growing industries currently.
    3. Another advantage of working in the beauty industry is that employment may be found in a number of settings, like salons, spas, hotels or even self-employment.

    The Cons

    Unfortunately along with the positives come some negative considerations about careers in the beauty industry.

    1. One of the biggest disadvantages of choosing a career in the beauty industry is that earnings are generally low. This could be disheartening for some but if you are truly passionate about your craft, it will be a satisfying experience to work in your industry of choice. This is not to say however, that there are not exceptional cases in which people employed in the beauty industry go on to make a very handsome living.
    2. Another disadvantage to consider is that you may be required to work long hours, nights and weekends and most of this time will be spent standing.
    3. Finally, you may be required to be in constant contact with strong chemicals, so proper safety precaution must be followed.

     

    This entry was posted in Education, Skills Training. Bookmark the permalink.

  • The Industrial Coating with a Golden Tinge

    Posted on April 12, 2012 by admin


    Early Electro-Plating Process

    The silvery-white coloration of nickel is a characteristic that it shares with silver. However, the former can be distinguished through its slight golden tinge. It has been known to man as early as 3500 BC and became popular in modern times in the production of metal alloys. It is the chemical element being utilized in the production of stainless steel and other superalloys. Nickel Plated products are widely used in many industries. There are plenty of consumer products which utilize nickel such as rechargeable batteries, tint in glass, and microphone capsules. It is also being combined with other metals for minting of coins.

    For decorative and anti-corrosion purposes, the process of nickel electroplating is utilized to provide nickel coating for metals. It is also a good protection against immediate wear and tear of different parts and components. Metals are not immediately being coated with nickel because they need sufficient amount of preparation. The materials that have to be coated need to be free of impurities. There are a number of protection and cleaning techniques that can be utilized such as cleaning, etching, masking, heat treating, and pickling. Immersion into an electrolyte solution is the core process of the electroplating method.   

    Products and materials that are coated and enhanced with nickel have been found to improve not only the cosmetic finish but also the strength of materials. From the outside, the kind of substrate that is coated is not easily identifiable. If the right process has been used, nickel-coated items are able to increase in value and improve the quality of the material that was used. The percentage of nickel being employed in electroplating must be in sufficient and controlled quality. Like other elements, exposure to large amounts of the processed nickel can be hazardous to health.

    Entities that are involved in nickel electroplating and other coating processes follow specific standards in their operations. This is crucial to be able to minimize the harmful effects of the elements to humans and the environment. Part of the safety procedures is the proper disposal and processing of waste materials. With the popularity of nickel-coated products, manufacturers must be aware of the long-term benefits and disadvantages of the raw materials they are using.       

    This entry was posted in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink.

  • Valuable tips for getting free stuff from the manufacturers

    Posted on April 9, 2012 by admin

    Almost all of us love to get free stuff; whether we get it via the mail or we get it from the grocery or departmental store that is in our locality. However, the best way to get the free stuff is to get it from the manufacturers. If you really want to get the stuff from the manufacturers free of any cost, then you will need to be patient, use your creativity and also learn the tricks to get the stuff. Therefore, it is important for you to know the ways of getting the free coupons, free samples and other great stuff from the manufacturers.

    The most effective way is to sign up for the freebie and sample lists online. You will be able to find lots of lists on the Internet. However, you must narrow down your search to sites that are catering to the products and manufacturers that you would prefer to sign up with. You can start your search by typing the keywords such as free stuff or online free samples in any of the search engine and you will be given a long list of the offers. You must carefully browse through the list and select the ones that best meet your requirements. It is advisable that you create a separate account for such kind of activities so that your important emails don’t get lost in the long list of such mails. The main reason for having a separate account for signing up for free stuff is that you will be giving the list creators the permission to give your email address to their sponsors who will send you mails.

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    However, the best way to get your favorite products from your preferred manufacturers is to contact them directly. You can easily find the website of most manufactures online by browsing their names in the search engines. Once you find the website, go to their contact information section and write them that you would like to receive some of their product free and would like to help them out. On the manufacturer’s website, you will also find some offers being made by them about free samples or free stuff and you can sign up for these offers as well. Another good way is to enter the contests that are being done by the manufacturers and there will be chances that you win free stuff which can be your favorite product or some other prize as well. Hence, you must remain alert about the free sampling or free stuff offers done by the manufacturers so that you can get your favorite products free of any charges.

    This entry was posted in Promotion and tagged . Bookmark the permalink.

  • IPAD HAS BECOME A NECESSITY

    Posted on March 16, 2012 by admin

    The Ipad has become a status symbol as well as a necessity for most of us, making any accessories excellent opportunities for investment.

    Expensive equipment like this requires proper handling and care to protect the screen and the unit. At the same time many people think that it takes too much space on their desks and gets in the way when they are doing paper work or working on the computer. The perfect solution is to get an IPAD wall mount. There are many types of wall mounts available in the market and they provide security to the IPAD as well as giving you more desk space. You can get it mounted right above your desk so you won’t have to get up to use it.

    The price range of the IPAD wall mount (more…)

    This entry was posted in Science & Technology and tagged . Bookmark the permalink.

  • Modular Homes are Investment Bonanzas

    Posted on March 16, 2012 by admin

    When building a home from scratch a lot of unplanned delays can occur during the building process. Such delays can be in the form of a weather condition, an unscheduled holiday or a worker getting sick. To avoid these delays modular homes are gaining popularity these days. Although these homes have been around since the late 1800s and soldiers returning from World War 1 used them when building their homes, they are now fast gaining popularity. Buying Modular Homes in NC saves you a lot of time and money. It is also a great way to get a house from scratch and still avoid the usual delays that are part and parcel of normal building process.

    Modular homes are basically houses that are constructed almost entirely in a factory and then the pieces are brought to the site and fitted together. Since they are constructed in bulk so the cost is low and the construction is not done on site so there are no unnecessary delays due to weather and there is no problem of quality as well because the product is built in bulk and not by an individual builder. In the past people used to object that modular homes are all of the same types and there is no individuality among them. All of this has changed now and today’s home can be individualized according to persona desires. In fact a few builders may also copy a design or add something in the original construction to suit your needs.

    Modular homes in NC are very popular nowadays because it saves lots of time to buy a pre -constructed home and still get to add a personal touch if needed. The assembling on the site usually takes no more than six weeks, so there is no waste of time. As for financing modular homes, they are financed in the same way like ordinary houses and be bought through mortgage. While going for modular homes, you can be assured of the quality of the products because they conform to all building codes of the North Carolina state.

    This entry was posted in Business & Finance and tagged . Bookmark the permalink.

  • THE REAL ESTATE BUSINESS WON’T GET OLD

    Posted on March 16, 2012 by admin

    Real estate businessmen can never go out of business. No matter what season it is they are always in demand. There are many people every day that are paying these real estate agents to show them a place to in which they can call at their home. The Atlanta Commercial Real Estate is also getting high in business. They are also earning quite a handsome amount of money each day. The commercial real estate is getting very popular.

    Nowadays what people are doing is that they are buying land in a commercial area and then they give it to some company so that they can run their business on that land. What really happens is people buy the commercial plot when it is being sold at a low price. They keep the land until the price of that place has gotten higher. There are many plots whose value increases as the area started to get populated.

    (more…)

    This entry was posted in Business & Finance and tagged . Bookmark the permalink.


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