Our picture gallery has been updated with the photos of our most recent Elder Group event.  Click here to view a list of our event photos.

Thank you!

Kathy Ritchie, Assistant

Elder Group
877-687-5867 Office
kathy@eldergroupusa.com

Greetings from the Elder Group,

Last night the United States government passed health care reform. Regardless of your opinion, there are some facts that we have been gathering if indeed this was passed.

• Everyone owning a business will now be looking at this government plan.
• All business owners are not health care experts
• The move to government controlled health care will be based solely on price
• Health houses who currently provide these health premiums will be put out of business and or their private offerings will be more expensive than ever before.
• You will be at the mercy of the governments information and ability to manage claims and premiums
• Your company will be in need of other insurance reviews such as property and casualty, life insurances and business insurances already in place and keeping your business safe from injury
• We as business owners do not know where all this will lead us as of today.

It is the Elder Group’s opinion that you contact Glenn Tippy and start a dialogue regarding all of these matters. It has always been our intent to keep thinking forward in protecting our companies and growing our businesses and dealing with what is in front of us.

Glenn’s firm was prepared for this outcome and strategically set up to give you the very best information regarding this change. It is a challenge to all of us that needs the very best information regarding what matters most to all of us who own a business. Glenn and his company is without question the ultimate resource for the job.

If any of you think that the present government has the ability to manage health care, well you are entitled to your opinion. However, this letter is not about selling private health insurance. It is about all the other insurances you currently own and what this means moving forward. We do not know where this event from last night will lead all of us.

For now pick up the phone and call our expert to get a clear picture of where you stand in your insurances. It’s a simple phone call with no strings attached. Glenn has accepted this challenge and wants to help anyone reading this letter to keep your business safe from harm. He was in Washington trying to be heard and trying to find out what else this administration was trying to accomplish. He is informed to the best of his ability.

Glenn’s company is GBW and his direct line is 973-476-3934. Take a moment and see what is available and if his council is for you.

God bless America,

Andy

Andy Elder, President
Elder Group, LLC
877-687-5867

Your comments are welcome, feel free to post them here.

Ritchie Secretarial Service is one of the leading virtual office assistance practices.  In business since 1996, they began in the industry while virtual assisting was still unknown by much of the business society.  It was a practice to not only provide great service to their clients around the world, but to also educate the public about the virtues of using a virtual assistant, and to mentor new virtual assistants. Kathy Ritchie, owner of Ritchie Secretarial Service is our interview subject today.

EG: Why are so many companies saying WOW after they start doing business with you?
KR: We pride ourselves in our exemplary customer service, as well as our variety of services available.  We make it a point to get to know you, and your business so that we may tailor our services to suit.

EG: What do you attribute your success?
KR: First, being one of the first in the industry, we have name recognition and a reputation of over 13 years of quality services.  I’ve been a firm believer in cooperation and not competition, I believe there is far too much work to be done and not enough virtual assistants.  This style of working is nothing new; cottage industries have been around for centuries.  We’re just more high tech now.  I’m grateful that technology allows me to work in a manner that highly appeals to me, as well as in an industry I love.

EG: How do you find your opportunities?
KR: Thankfully, our opportunities find us, either from our website, or by client referral. We currently have clients all over the US, as well as Hong Kong, West Indies, Brazil, Netherlands, Canada, England, Scotland, France and Mexico.

EG: How does your internal staff function?
KR: We have one principal, myself, and we utilize a network of sub-contracted virtual assistants.

EG: Where do you see your business as a whole in 10 years?
KR: I anticipate that the next 10 years will offer more cutting edge technology that will offer my clients superior service as they need it.

EG: What are some of the challenges you face as a business owner and how do you rise above them?
KR: The biggest challenge in my business has been educating the public and business sectors on what a virtual assistant does, and how they can be of use to nearly anyone.  Most everyone asks “because you’re virtual, does that mean you’re not really there?”. To alleviate the confusion, and to raise client confidence, I’ve implemented a webcam that is on much of the time while I’m working.  So, this tells my clients I AM actually there, and working.

EG: What sets your company apart from other virtual assistants?
KR: My company is rather unique, I get a great deal of traffic on my website, because when a potential client searches for a virtual assistant online, they invariably type in the search term “secretarial service”, because Ritchie Secretarial Service is the name of my business, I generally come up in the top 10 companies, worldwide.  For this reason, I’ve never considered paying for search engine positioning.  Second are the services I offer and philosophy I govern my business by.  I make it a point to learn about the person/business I’m working for. I take calls for many clients and feel a fierce desire to answer intelligently, not just take messages.  I want your clients to feel they have reached the administrative assistant in your offices; they have no idea most of the time that I’m not even in the same state.

EG: Can you tell us a success story about one of your clients
KR: For practical purposes, I’m relaying a client comment: “Kathy supports both of my companies, StaffingU and simplyEffective(tm). Using her services was not only a wise investment, but also brought immediate returns in increased revenues right from the first month. I can’t imagine what it would be like without her. Run, don’t walk, to talk with this savvy lady about what she can do for you.”  (Scott Wintrip, StaffingU)

I have been very fortunate, even in this economy, to have clients come to me after they have outsourced their staff – the work must still get done – as well as clients that have stayed with me for many years.  While I’m not a client of the Elder Group, I’ve certainly benefited from the association.  I’ve learned so much from Mr. Elder and happily apply what I’ve learned to my own business success. The Elder Group has offered me a platform to work with larger companies without jeopardizing my time for all my clients. We have several clients from the Elder Group because of this association.

~*~

Kathy Ritchie, President
Ritchie Secretarial Service, LLC
877-897-1859 Office  www.thebestva.com

Recently, the Elder Group with Glenn Tippy and GBW Insurance recently hosted a luncheon. Guest speakers were Michael Lazerow of Buddy Media and Dave Kerpen of kbuzz. To view the photos please click here.

NOTE:  The software I used to create the slideshow has been updated, as a result, I’ve reloaded the images for you.  You should not get a browser crash now while trying to view them.

Thanks for your patience while I searched for a solution.

Today we are happy to speak with Barry Poskanzer, Senior Partner of Poskanzer Skott Architects. Poskanzer Skott Architects has many years of experience in planning, design and construction of a wide range of projects, from large-scale master planning to new construction, adaptive reuse, interior architecture, retrofit and restoration. The scope of their award-winning work encompasses corporate, medical and healthcare facilities, retail, residential and historic preservation projects.

Why are so many companies saying WOW after they start doing business with you?

I think they’re impressed with the energy and enthusiasm generated by our team and our ability to come up with innovative designs that are a direct response to their needs. They particularly appreciate the hands-on involvement of the principals. Insight and understanding of our clients’ projects instill great confidence – they know they’ve come to the right firm.

What do you attribute your success?

Our bright, hardworking and loyal staff and the long-standing and trusting relationship I have with my partner, Larry Skott. He and I are both involved in every project and our engagement and genuine enjoyment contributes to what we do. We complement each others’ strengths and balance the necessary skills it takes to manage a successful architecture firm.

How do you find your opportunities?

Our normal business development is through outreach and word of mouth, especially from repeat clients and their recommendations to friends and colleagues. In addition, it’s important to keep abreast of the changing construction environment, real estate and market trends and the opportunities they present.

How does your internal staff function?

We function as a team in a very relaxed, familial atmosphere. We challenge one another in an ongoing attempt to develop the best ideas for our clients’ needs.

How do you promote your business?

Working on various municipal, residential, corporate and medical projects has made us well known in the area. We have a strong presence in the community and support local organizations. Of course we do some advertising and public relations in targeted markets. But the most important promotion is our track record of successful projects and word of mouth from satisfied clients

Where do you see your business as a whole in 10 years?

I’m generally skeptical of ten year projections but for the next five years I see us continuing to grow incrementally and expand into new markets.

What are some of the challenges you face as a business owner and how do you rise above them?

The biggest challenge is continuing to provide excellent service for our clients in these difficult times. Next, would be generating new clients and interesting projects. In addition, we carefully monitor staff size and our production style to adapt to changing conditions.

What sets your company apart from other architecture firms?

It has to be creativity and personal service as well as our energy and enthusiasm. Our sophisticated understanding of the real estate/construction environment and the cross pollination of ideas from our wide variety of projects is unique. Though most of our projects are “within lunch hour” of the office and centered in the Mid-Atlantic region we are also involved in national and global work.

Can you tell us a success story about one of your clients

We’d like to think each project is a success for our clients – that it was completed on budget, on time and met their requirements. The validation is when they call back. Our success is measured by repeat clients and their recommendations.

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