Issue 1 �� Summer 2013
Elevate Performance
Green Investing Making an Impactwith Your Money
Ahead of the Cure “Timmy’s” Encouraged to Heal the World
Strategize the Sale Preparing to Sell Your Company
motion
2 �� inmotion | SUMMER 2013
Issue 1 �� Summer 2013
www.sikich.com
Realize your organizational goals through the
one-of-a-kind solution set that Sikich, a leading
accounting, advisory, investment banking,
technology and managed services firm, brings to
your unique challenges and needs. With more than
450 associates, we rank as one of the country’s
top 40 largest Certified Public Accounting firms
and are among the top 1% of technology Value-
Added Resellers worldwide—yet you receive the
personalization and attention you need to grow
and experience success.
Get to know Sikich by reading IN Motion and taking
a look at our website, sikich.com. You’ll find out how
you can gain value for your organization through our
dedicated industry teams, client commitment and
extensive list of services:
� Accounting
& Assurance
� Business Valuation
� Dispute Advisory
� ERP & CRM Software
� Flex-Staff Solutions
� Human Resources
Consulting
� Investment Banking
& Corporate Finance
� IT Services
� Marketing &
Public Relations
� Retirement Planning
� Supply Chain
� Tax Planning
� Wealth Management
PUBLISHER Michelle Spellerberg, CMO
EDITOR Rebecca Miller
CONTRIBUTING WRITER Julie Krehbiel, CFP
DESIGNER Colleen Hughes
PHOTOGRAPHER Matt Stout
Special thanks to Timmy Global Health for
contributing to the writing of the feature story.
IN Motion is published four times a year by Sikich.
1415 W. Diehl Rd., Suite 400, Naperville, IL 60563
Request or update your subscription
by emailing [email protected].
©2013 Sikich LLP, All Rights Reserved.
Advisory services offered through Sikich Financial, a Registered
Investment Advisor. Securities offered through Triad Advisors,
Member FINRA/SIPC. Securities are offered through Sikich
Corporate Finance LLC, a registered broker dealer with the
Securities Exchange Commission and member of FINRA/SIPC.
motion
ALETTERfrom the
CEO
Throughout the years, we have prided ourselves on
providing you—our clients, our colleagues, our friends—
with news and resources that will help build business,
increase productivity and elevate performance. From tax
alerts to tips on marketing your business to cutting-edge
technology updates, we have had industry and service-specific experts ready to
help you. But we’re upping the ante.
I’m thrilled to introduce you to IN Motion, a Sikich magazine that will appear
on your desk or in your email inbox every quarter. Within each issue, you’ll
find downloads, quick tips and alerts; explore how a valued Sikich client found
success; learn more about our partners; and get access to information that will
help you improve your organizational performance today. We hope you enjoy the
first issue—and all subsequent issues—of IN Motion. I encourage you to let us
know what you think!
James A. Sikich, CPA CEO and Managing Partner
FEATURE STORY
Ahead of the Cure
4Green Investing
Making an Impact with Your Money9
Strategize the Sale
Preparing to Sell Your Company10
LEARNmore:
TABLE of Contents ��
Elevate Performance
SUMMER 2013 | inmotion �� 3
Meet Jeff Rudolph PARTNER
Profile
Partner-in-Charge at Sikich LLP
TECHNOLOGY SERVICES
Naperville, IL Office
Originally from the Bronx, New York, Jeff has been with Sikich since 1998. Find out what inspires him and the technology he’s using today.
What I like most about Sikich: The
way we look outside of the box to grow
our business and serve our clients. How
many CPA firms would build and invest
in a website to sell gourmet food, for
the simple reason of learning about
e-commerce, so we can help our clients
understand the web? Back in 1999, we
built gourmetnow.com for this very reason.
My biggest professional
accomplishment: Helping grow the
Sikich technology practice. We started
with 20 employees as Intelligent Computer
Solutions, merged with Sikich in 1998
and now have 140 tech employees.
In another life, I would be:
A fiction writer.
Three words that describe me:
Short, competitive and disciplined.
I’m inspired by: People who altruistically
take up a cause to help someone or some
group of people much less fortunate,
like a friend of mine who donated his
kidney to a friend of his—a mother of
three—to save her life.
People would be surprised to know:
That I grew up in the Sedgwick projects in
the Bronx where I never went “out” to play,
because when you live on the 10th floor
you only go “down” to play.
Two things I can’t live without:
ChapStick and reading glasses.
The one person in history I’d like to
meet: I would love to meet Albert Einstein in
present day and see what he can do with all
the advances in technology and discoveries
that have been made since 1955.
My favorite technology/gadget:
Two years ago it would have been my
Blackberry—I used one version or another
since 1997. I miss the Blackberry keyboard,
but the iPhone apps were a game changer.
Also, I never travel without the Paperwhite
e-reader (http://bit.ly/paperwhite-ereader).
I spend my leisure time: Playing poker,
working with my hands, working out,
skiing and if I get lucky, SCUBA diving.
WHAT I’M USING
My Outlook calendar runs my life. If it’s not on my calendar, the event or appointment does not exist. I also make extensive use of my contacts—not only people, but I also record every good restaurant I visit with keywords, so I can easily find each one again.
inspire
QUICK TIPS ALERTS OF THE QUARTER
Attention, recruiters! The secret to
getting top-quality job candidates in the
door while maintaining compliance: avoid
the cookie-cutter approach. Develop
a unique recruitment strategy with the
following steps.
1. Use pre-screening questions to
eliminate candidates who don’t meet
basic criteria.
2. Obtain applications from candidates
who move forward after pre-screening.
3. Conduct pre-employment testing to
determine candidates’ behaviors and
abilities—but don’t use this as a hire/
no-hire tool alone.
4. Get reference checks from past
supervisors and background checks to
determine education, criminal history
and more.
5. Formalize the offer. A good offer letter
will outline essential information and
leave no room for interpretation. Find
more tips at sikich.com/hr-guide.
Organizations currently running on
Windows XP have nine months to upgrade.
Come April 8, 2014, Microsoft will no longer
support the operating system, meaning no
automatic fixes, updates or technical assistance.
Without this support, an organization’s
network is vulnerable to viruses, spyware
and other malicious software. For more
information, visit http://bit.ly/xp-2014.
Every taxpayer that acquires, produces
or improves tangible property will be
required to implement the new IRS repair
and capitalization rules, effective for tax
years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2014.
The regulations provide guidance for
treatment of materials and supplies,
repairs and routine maintenance,
capital improvements and disposal of
property subject to depreciation. Special
consideration should be given when
choosing new tax capitalization methods
as they can impact other tax deductions,
state tax and inventory. Visit bit.ly/tang14.
What laws should I consider while tax planning for the remainder of 2013?Two tax laws will have a significant impact
in 2013—the Patient Protection and
Affordable Care Act of 2010 (PPACA)
and the American Taxpayer Relief Act of
2012 (ATRA). Under PPACA, employers
face a variety of tax-related compliance
requirements, including the “play or pay”
provision that goes into effect in 2014.
Read about changes to the tax code
and more at sikich.com/tax-strategies.
Additionally, ATRA addressed a
combination of higher taxes and forced
spending cuts scheduled to go into
effect this year. Find details about this
legislation at sikich.com/fiscal-cliff. Focusing on tax planning early will
allow you to adjust your withholding or
estimated tax payments to avoid both
a surprise and a penalty in April 2014.
4 �� inmotion | SUMMER 2013
Ahead of the Cure“Timmy’s” Encouraged to Heal the World
W hen Dr. Chuck Dietzen visited Quito, Ecuador
several years ago, he saw a 93-year-old
woman who needed some education on what
causes diabetes and high blood pressure, and how to
reduce her risk. With Dr. Dietzen’s help, she adjusted
her diet—reducing her sodium intake,
in particular—and lost 15 pounds.
When Dr. Dietzen went back to Quito
last year, the woman was doing
so well, she was in a position to
stop taking her medication for both
conditions. Now, she and her two
daughters were concerned about
her 96-year-old husband, who had
been complaining of headaches
and arthritis. Dr. Dietzen reviewed
his charts, looked at the interpreter
and said, “Does he think that these
three women are causing these
headaches?” The interpreter asked
the man, who suddenly looked
up at Dr. Dietzen and said, “Si!”
Translation: “Yes!”
“Yes, he could cut back on the salt, but I’d tell you—if
I look as good as he does at 96, I’ll be very happy; if
I’m even around that long,” said Dr. Dietzen. “That’s the
sort of transformation we’re seeing in the villages; in the
Barrios—an overall improvement.”
“We’ve seen the transformation because we’re
consistent. We don’t just show up once every few
years—we are there every two to three months,” Dr.
Dietzen continued. “We’ve seen a substantial drop off
in the number of emergencies we see, and we’ve seen
incredible improvement in the sustainability of all the
chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and hypertension.”
Dr. Dietzen has been going to underserved communities
since 1999. At the beginning of his journeys, many of
the communities he visited had no infrastructure, clean
water, plumbing, roads or even
houses. He realized that quality
health care was a necessity for
these communities, but questioned
how he could deliver it in an
innovative way.
After landing an opportunity to work
with Mother Theresa on orthopedic
missions in India, Dr. Dietzen found
his answer, and Timmy Global
Health was founded in 1997 upon
his return to the United States.
“Ultimately, while working with
the South India Church of Christ
Mission and the Missionaries of
Charity, it became apparent to me
that we needed to start something
different—a different idea about how you deliver health
care to the poor,” said Dr. Dietzen. “The idea was that
we could transform the world by taking advantage of
the fact that the young people in this country have great
hearts, they are creative and resourceful, and they could
do great things.”
So Timmy Global Health, previously Timmy Foundation,
was founded in Indianapolis out of the notion that
students should be empowered to tackle global health
challenges and provide quality health care to those
who wouldn’t typically have access to it. Named after
Dr. Dietzen’s oldest brother who passed away a few
days after he was born, Timmy manages projects in
Ecuador, Guatemala, Nigeria, the Dominican Republic
and the United States. The organization sends
medical service teams made up of doctors, nurses
and students to these countries to work with partner
organizations and treat patients. Timmy also invests in
public health projects, provides financial contributions
to build the capacity of their partners, and donates
in-kind medicines and medical supplies necessary for
expanding access to care.
“One of the things that really distinguishes us and we’re
really proud of is that when we provide our services
abroad, we don’t just send medical teams—we
understand that meeting health care challenges isn’t
“The idea was that we could transform the world by taking advantage of the fact that the young people in this country have great hearts, they are creative and resourceful, and they could do great things.”
innovate
Dr. Chuck Dietzen founded Timmy Global Health
in 1997 after working with Mother Theresa on
orthopedic missions in India and delivering quality
health care to the poor.
Continued ��
SUMMER 2013 | inmotion �� 5
Timmy sends medical
service teams to Ecuador,
Guatemala, Nigeria and the
Dominican Republic, and
around the United States.
6 �� inmotion | SUMMER 2013
just about sending volunteers to a rural community,”
said Matt MacGregor, executive director of Timmy.
“It is setting up the infrastructure and the long-term
commitments to our partners and to those communities
[that need quality health care].”
“Imagine finding a young boy in the Amazon base
of Ecuador who has a heart murmur,” MacGregor
continued. “Seeing that patient in his community is
important, but it’s the first step in a long process to
making sure that he is healthy. We have set up systems
so that we can provide the best possible chance for
our patients to thrive.”
Part of Timmy’s mission also includes financing its
partners and investing in public health programs. In
fact, Timmy distributes approximately $2.6 million of
medicine and medical supplies each year to its partner
organizations abroad, as well as to organizations in
Indianapolis that work with low-income and uninsured
populations.
“It’s a big effort to distribute $2.6 million worth of
medicine and medical supplies,” said MacGregor.
“We work on a lot on paperwork so that the health
administration and customs agencies approve [the
medicine and supplies] entering the country. We have
a big focus on making sure that we are not violating
any laws in the places we work. We understand that
there are health challenges in the places that we work,
but we’re not the type of organization that thinks we
are the ‘be all, end all’ by any means. We want to work
with local organizations and governments to make sure
we’re providing the services in the best manner.”
All of the supplies that Timmy medical teams bring
along are stored in a warehouse at the non-profit’s
Indianapolis facility. Storing them on-site allows Timmy
to ensure they are not using any tampered goods or
expired medicine.
The final part of Timmy’s mission is working with
and encouraging the next generation of health care
professionals to help improve the quality of health care
that these countries receive.
“A big part of our work is making sure that future
doctors, future nurses, future public health professionals
and future pharmacists understand how they can
transform the lives of other people and understand what
health disparities mean,” said MacGregor. “When [Dr.
“…when we provide our services abroad, we don’t just send medical teams—we understand that meeting health care challenges isn’t just about sending volunteers to a rural community; it is setting up the infrastructure and the long-term commitments to our partners and to those communities [that need quality health care].”
Timmy stores all of its supplies in a warehouse at the
non-profit’s Indianapolis facility, ensuring they do not
use tampered goods or expired medicines.
Ahead of the CureCONTINUED…
Matt MacGregor, executive director of Timmy, states
that the non-profit works with 35 universities and 10
high schools across the U.S. encouraging students
to get involved.
SUMMER 2013 | inmotion �� 7
Dietzen] started the organization, he looked at this scale
and scope of health care challenges and said, ‘I’m going
to throw myself at these things, and I hope other people
do as well. But I also know that meeting the needs of
the millions of people around the world who don’t have
access to health care is going to require that the next
generation is very involved.’ At our core, we are really
trying to do both of those missions—trying to expand
access to care while at the same time empowering
that next generation to tackle health disparities, both at
home and abroad.”
Though based in Indiana, Timmy works with 35
universities and 10 high schools across the United
States by encouraging those students to be on the
front lines of this movement. Timmy students—dubbed
“Timmy’s”—go abroad for a week or two and work the
rest of the year on their campuses and communities to
further Timmy’s mission.
“Our students in many
ways are our interest
groups of future health care
professionals who want to
eliminate health disparities in
any way, shape or form,” said
MacGregor. “They might do
that by traveling abroad with us
and volunteering in our clinics.
But they also do that by holding
advocacy events on their college
campuses, fundraising money
for patients they see in our
clinics, doing local service or
volunteering at a local hospital
or free clinic.”
According to Dr. Dietzen, Timmy
is an organization that truly
belongs to the students who take part in the program,
regardless of whether they aspire to work in health care
or be a community leader for another field.
“The transformation we see in the students is really in
their confidence and ability to heal,” said Dr. Dietzen.
“We give them the head nod that we believe in them,
that we actually are confident that they can step forward
and do this.”
“We’ve had some students who we’ve mentored since
high school who went on to undergrad and graduate
school, and in many of their cases medical school,” Dr.
Dietzen continued. “We recently got an email from one
of our former ‘Timmy’s’ who is finishing up his residency
in global medicine. He will be working with another not-
for-profit and actually be stationed in Rwanda. These
are the world changers.”
Dr. Dietzen is proud that patients say they love going to
Timmy clinics because they receive genuine care.
“I think that’s evident in not only what we do in each
clinic, but the compliance that we get with those
patients,” said Dr. Dietzen. “They come back to
report to us how life has changed, that they’re doing
their part and they’re pleased that we’re returning to
continue our part.” �
16 Years in Business
10 Employees One Board of Directors and hundreds of volunteers
Sikich Services They Use � Audit� Tax Planning� Consulting
Contact Information22 E. 22nd StreetIndianapolis, IN 46202
Ph: (317) 920-1822
www.timmyglobalhealth.org
QUICK STATS
“A big part of our work is making sure that future doctors, future nurses, future public health professionals and future pharmacists understand how they can transform the lives of other people and understand what health disparities mean.”
8 �� inmotion | SUMMER 2013
Enduring a hip replacement on both hips is tough. Add an aneurysm that nearly kills you and
four months hospital bed rest, and one
might find the situation near impossible
to handle. Last year, this happened to
Charles Hardin, an Aurora, Ill. resident.
With a good attitude, but no wife or
children, Hardin, 59, needed help making
a variety of house repairs to create a
healthier place to live—enter Rebuilding
Together Aurora (RTA).
“Taking a day to make an immediate
impact on someone’s life was a no-
brainer,” said Timm Bellazzini, audit
supervisor at Sikich. “Hearing Charles’
story made me realize how lucky I am
and how important it is to give to others
in need.”
Helping others is second nature at Sikich;
this was the fourth year the firm has
participated in RTA. Throughout the day,
a group of nearly 20 volunteers installed
electrical outlets and wiring, repaired
water damage, installed a garage door
and worked on many other projects that
positively impacted Charles by making
his house more like a home. View all our
photos at http://bit.ly/rta-2013. �
involvement
Sikich Employees Lend a HandRebuilding Together Aurora 2013
Sikich forms advisory board
Sikich has formed an Advisory Board,
to which three Chicago-area business
leaders were appointed. The leaders offer
perspectives and advice to the Sikich
Executive Board and management team
to assist the firm in reaching its goals and
continuing its quick growth.
Sikich welcomes the following members:
Paul S. Detlefs, founder and president of
The Prestwick Group, a consulting and
advisory firm focused on small and mid-
sized businesses and their owners; Dennis
M. Malchow, senior operating partner at
Arbor Investments, the leader in food and
beverage private equity; and Keven Wilder,
owner of Wilder, Inc., a retail consulting
firm that helps clients develop successful
marketing and merchandising strategies.
Sikich acquires technology practice
Effective June 1, Sikich acquired the
technology practice at PKF Texas, a
CPA and professional advisory firm.
This acquisition expands Sikich into
Texas and adds to its team of Microsoft
Dynamics NAV professionals. Eight
individuals joined Sikich through this
acquisition, including Gregory Price, CPA,
CISA, CFE, joining as a partner in the
firm’s technology practice. �
The Sikich ScoopFIRMNews
SUMMER 2013 | inmotion �� 9
influence
Green InvestingMaking an Impact with Your Money
F rom driving vehicles powered by natural gas or
hydrogen fuel cells, to recycling electronics, to
installing solar panels, the opportunities to live
green are becoming endless. But individuals are not
the only ones living this way—companies have been
changing their ways to reduce their carbon footprints
as well. And as the trend to live green continues and
grows, so does the trend to be a socially responsible
investor for those companies going green. According
to the Forum for Sustainable and Responsible
Investment (USSIF), $3.74 trillion in total managed
assets use one or more sustainable and responsible
investing strategies, or 11 percent of the dollars under
professional management in the U.S.
Many new green investment groups use an ecological
strategy to select companies to support with investors’
money. With the recent initiatives of many local
governments and the increasing pressure to transition
from carbon dependence to alternatives, the demand
for green technology and alternative energy has been
increasing, creating a growing market and subsequently,
a new trend for investors—green investing.
What is green, or socially responsible, investing?
Green investing is investing your money in a way that
matches your values. This may mean screening out
companies that violate the Environmental Protection
Act, have bad labor conditions, have little diversity on
the board or make a product contrary to your morals.
Green investment activities focus on companies
committed to conserving natural resources, producing
alternative energy sources, and implementing
clean air and water projects or other environmentally
conscious business practices.
Pure green investments derive all or most of their
revenues from green activities. Green investments can
also be made in companies with other lines of business
in addition to green-based initiatives or products.
How can I invest in socially responsible companies?
There are several ways you can invest in green
companies, including:
� Buying the stock or bonds of individual companies
� Purchasing shares of mutual funds that only invest in
these companies
� Using a socially responsible money management firm
that asks companies about diversity programs, labor
practices, environmental issues, product safety, etc.
Green investing happens through individual securities or
pooled investment vehicles. However, green investing
is not safer than a market index (such as the S&P 500).
In fact, investing in “green” companies can be riskier
than other strategies, since many green companies are
in the development stage, with low revenues and high
earnings valuations.
What is the goal of socially responsible investing?
A major goal of socially responsible investing is to shift
your money away from destructive companies, such
as those that pollute, discriminate, employ sweatshop
labor, produce harmful products or support oppressive
governments. Shift your investments toward companies
such as renewable energy, health care and education.
Focus on diverse organizations that employ good
labor practices and have no environmental issues—or
other issues that are important to you. By investing in
socially responsible companies, pressure is put on all
companies to implement and adhere to positive social
and environmental policies.
What is “greenwashing” and how can I avoid it?
The term “greenwashing” is a combination of green
(environmentalist) plus brainwashing. Greenwashing
Continued ��
10 �� inmotion | SUMMER 2013
happens when a company creates a superficial display of
concern for the environment by promoting environmentally
friendly programs to deflect attention from an
organization’s environmentally unfriendly activities.
In addition to greenwashing, is there anything else
I should be aware of?
Don’t believe everything you hear. Many environmental
claims made by consumer products are false or
misleading. Organizations are attracted to act green
for various reasons, including to:
� Divert the attention of regulators and deflate
pressure for regulatory change
� Persuade critics of good intentions
� Expand market share
� Reduce staff turnover
� Make the company attractive for potential investors
The most effective way to avoid misleading companies
is to do your research and take the time to discuss
green investing options with a professional who can
help you with the necessary research.
How do I start?
There are a number of resources that provide
information on green investing, including the USSIF
(ussif.org), Green America (greenamerica.org) and
SocialFunds (socialfunds.com). Using these resources,
start your green investing journey with these steps:
1. Start by researching companies before you invest.
Learn what corporations are doing about green
practices and be an active shareholder.
2. Determine which issues matter to you. You may want
to eliminate investments by larger categories, such
as tobacco. You may want to divert your investments
away from companies that spread pollution, have
poor labor policies, lack diversity in management or
the board room, or have product safety issues.
On a positive note, one option is to use your
investment dollars to do good for other people.
3. Bottom line: Put your investments where
your values lie.
Going green isn’t just great for the environment; it can
be good for your wallet too. Learn to impact change by
directing your investment dollars. By watching what your
investments are supporting, another area of your life will
match your values —just as your efforts to recycle and
use other green practices do. �
Advisory services offered through Sikich Financial, a Registered
Investment Advisor. General securities offered through Triad
Advisors, Member FINRA/SIPC.
Source: Green America: Guide to Socially Responsible
Investing (2012)
Green InvestingCONTINUED… Strategize
the SalePreparing to Sell Your Company
I f you are a business owner contemplating selling
your company, you understand that many facets
of sale preparation are complex. As with many
important endeavors, proper preparation can have
a dramatic impact on results. Paying close attention
to a number of key issues can help business owners
increase the chances of selling at an attractive
valuation while reducing the stress and headaches
that typically accompany the sales process.
While it is impossible to identify all potential
eventualities, there are key steps business owners
can take before initiating a sales process that
are likely to enhance both the experience and
value attained. For example, understanding one’s
motivation for selling, whether for exit or retirement,
diversification of assets, need for capital growth
or another reason, can affect the entire process.
Learn more about the steps one can take for sale
preparation by downloading our whitepaper at
sikich.com/preparing-sale-whitepaper. �
Securities are offered through Sikich Corporate
Finance LLC, a registered broker dealer with the Securities
Exchange Commission and a member of FINRA/SIPC.
SUMMER 2013 | inmotion �� 11
Do you know what your customers want?Keeping up with changes in technologies, methodologies or consumer
tastes is difficult. The marketing landscape is constantly evolving—
new technologies develop, new skill sets are deemed invaluable and
Google changes its algorithm. Staying current will help your products
and services stand out—and your customers coming back for more.
For more stats and tips, visit sikich.com/marketing-ebook.
DOWNLOAD THIS
sikich.com/marketing-ebook
13 Marketing Trends
for 2013 eBook
SOURCES: INSTAGRAM; COMSCORE
100+MILLIONU S E R S G L O B A L L Y
THIS PHOTO-SHARING-BASED SOCIAL NETWORK
HAD 30 MILLION USERS LAST YEAR.
48+MILLIONU S E R S G L O B A L L Y
ARE ACTIVE
ON PINTEREST,
COMPARED TO
APPROXIMATELY
11 MILLION
USERS ONE
YEAR AGO.
Video is surprisingly powerful.2
SOURCE: CONTENT MARKETING INSTITUTE
85%OF INTERNET USERS
IN THE U.S.
VIEWED ONLINE
VIDEO CONTENT
IN SEPTEMBER
2012 ALONE.
50% OF ALL INTERNET
TRAFFICCOULD COME FROM VIDEO CONTENT BY
201446%
OF PEOPLESAY THAT SEEING A PRODUCT OR
SERVICE MENTIONED IN AN ONLINE
VIDEO WOULD LEAD THEM TO SEEK
OUT MORE INFORMATION.
We’re in a four-screen world now.3
THIS MEANS
YOU NEED A
WEBSITE THAT
ACCOMMODATES
LAPTOP OR PC,
TELEVISION,
TABLET AND
SMARTPHONE
USERS. A WEBSITE
BUILT WITH
RESPONSIVE
WEB DESIGN
AUTOMATICALLY
RESIZES FOR THESE
DIFFERENT DEVICES.
SOURCE: GOOGLE
inbox
80%
TIME SPENT ON
APPS
OF TIME SPENT ON MOBILE DEVICES,
THE AVERAGE U.S. CONSUMER SPENDS
80% OF THAT TIME ON APPS.
� THE AVERAGE MOBILE USER LAUNCHES
NEARLY EIGHT UNIQUE APPS PER DAY.
� THE APP ECONOMY IS WORTH AN ESTIMATED
$25 BILLION IN ANNUAL REVENUE.
SOURCES: FLURRY ANALYTICS;
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
90% OF
ALL MEDIA
INTERACTIONS
ARE SCREEN-
BASED.
WE SPEND 4.4
HOURS OF OUR
LEISURE TIME IN
FRONT OF SCREENS
EACH DAY.
Incorporate search engine optimization to get found online.6
93%
PERCENTAGE OF ONLINE EXPERIENCES THAT START WITH CONDUCTING A SEARCH.
75%
PERCENTAGE OF WEB USERS WHO DON’T SCROLL PAST THE FIRST PAGE OF SEARCH RESULTS.
39%
PERCENTAGE OF BUSINESSES’ CUSTOMERS WHO COME FROM ORGANIC SEARCH.
Social media is a business function.5
Visual storytelling is the wave of the future.1
4 Mobile apps are booming.
U.S. COMPANIES USING SOCIAL NETWORKS FOR MARKETING PURPOSES: 2009-2014
SOURCES: FORRESTER; HUBSPOT; MARKETINGCHARTSSOURCE: EMARKETER
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
57% 72% 81% 88% 91% 92%
1415 W. Diehl Rd., Suite 400Naperville, IL 60563
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
2013 calendar of events
7.23DATE:
TUESDAY, JULY 23
TIME:
NOON – 1 P.M. CT
DETAILS:
sikich.com/tangible-property-webinar
NEW TANGIBLE PROPERTY REGULATIONS
Join this webinar to learn
more about the new temporary
regulations for tangible
property. These regulations
apply to the entire lifecycle of
tangible property, including
expenditures to acquire,
improve, maintain and dispose
of tangible property. The
webinar will cover issues such
as unit of property, materials
and supplies, improvements of
tangible property, accounting
method changes and more.
8.21DATE:
WEDNESDAY,
AUGUST 21
TIME:
NOON – 1 P.M. CT
DETAILS:
sikich.com/supervisory
SETTING EXPECTATIONS
As a supervisor, you must
do more than set and
maintain basic standards
if you are going to build
performance. You must
also establish individual
objectives tailored to the
needs of the organization
and employee. This
webinar will explore
what a performance
expectation looks like
and your role as a
supervisor in defining
those expectations.
8.29DATE:
THURSDAY,
AUGUST 29
TIME:
NOON – 1 P.M. CT
DETAILS:
sikich.com/retirement-webinar
MEASURING SUCCESS IN YOUR RETIREMENT PLAN
A strong and effective
retirement plan is key in
recruiting and retaining
top employees as well as
meeting your fiduciary
obligations as a plan
sponsor. Determine
whether your program is
helping your employees
achieve maximum
retirement security during
our informational webinar.
9.10- 9.12DATE:
TUESDAY, 9/10
(SPRINGFIELD, IL);
WEDNESDAY, 9/11
(NAPERVILLE, IL);
THURSDAY, 9/12
(CHICAGO)
TIME:
7:30 A.M. – NOON CT
DETAILS:
sikich.com/2014-hr
WHAT’S ON YOUR 2014 HR TO-DO LIST?
Dive into your human
resources planning
activities for 2014 by
attending this seminar.
Determine what should
be on your radar screen
to help you create a
productive year for
your organization, and
examine upcoming
issues, trends and
changes in HR to get
your planning off to
a strong start.
Advisory services offered through Sikich Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor.
Securities offered through Triad Advisors, Member FINRA/SIPC. Securities are offered through Sikich Corporate
Finance LLC, a registered broker dealer with the Securities Exchange Commission and a member of FINRA/SIPC.
For more events, visit www.sikich.com/events.
SIKICH OFFICES
CORPORATE OFFICE1415 W. Diehl Rd., Suite 400
Naperville, IL 60563
(630) 566-8400
CHICAGO – MONROE STREET
(312) 541-9300
CHICAGO – WACKER DRIVE
(312) 648-6666
DECATUR, IL(217) 423-6000
sikich.com/decatur
DENVER, CO(720) 200-0142
HOUSTON, TX(713) 860-1466
INDIANAPOLIS, IN(317) 842-4466
sikich.com/indianapolis
ROCKFORD, IL(815) 282-6565
sikich.com/rockford
SPRINGFIELD, IL(217) 793-3363
sikich.com/springfield
ST. LOUIS, MO(314) 275-7277
sikich.com/stlouis