Come learn and network with participants in the new Jewish Community Career Network. Regular meetings offering a combination of speakers, workshops and practice feedback sessions are held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. For information contact: info@jccnboulder.org.

If you don’t feel prepared, you really need to come so you you can learn how to be prepared for interviews. Don’t use your first real interview as practice.

This workshop will provide practice for some of the tough interview questions and show how to improve your answers. Please bring the following with you: two copies of your resume, any job postings you have, SOARs if you’ve started working on them (Situation Obstacle, Action, Result for anything you’ve done), any tough questions you hope you don’t get asked.

JCCN is a free service open to all. Consult our website for future topics and career materials.

By connecting with me, I will provide you a personal introduction to anyone in my extensive network.  I’ve always believed in the ‘pay it forward’ principal in life and practice it daily in all I do. I believe in living life to the fullest and helping others before myself,” says Keith.

This is a hands-on workshop, so bring your laptop if you have one.  Or just come and get some great pointers on expanding your networking contacts.  To rsvp or for more information, contact info@jccnboulder.org or visit www.jccnboulder.org.

Mr. Steve Bigari

The Jewish Business Group (JBG) is proud to present its upcoming breakfast meeting with guest speaker Mr. Steve Bigari. Mr. Bigari is CEO of Stellar Restaurant Solutions, a leading provider of remote ordering services for restaurant take-out and delivery orders.  The meeting will take place on Friday April 27 from 7:30 am – 9:00 am at the SpringHill Suites in Westminster, just two blocks southwest of the Boulder Turnpike on Church Ranch Blvd.

Prior to launching Stellar, Mr. Bigari owned and operated 12 McDonald’s restaurants and served as the innovation chairman at McDonald’s.  Mr. Bigari has also founded America’s Family to provide low-income families with access to capital, financial education, and financial coaching relationships to help move individuals out of working poverty. As a result, he was inducted as an Ashoka Fellow in 2004.

Mr. Ed Rothschild, a local business owner and a regular attendee at the Jewish Business Group. thinks that Mr. Bigari’s message will resonate with many of the JBG attendees.

… people come to the JBG meetings to learn new business techniques and to be motivated in their line of business, and based on Steve’s experience and his upbeat messages I look forward to a very informative presentation,” said Mr. Rothschild.

March Jewish Business Group Meeting

The JBG offers professionals, CEO’s and entrepreneurs an opportunity for business networking, expanding business skills through informative and empowering presentations and Jewish social interaction. The JBG gathers monthly and is open to the entire community regardless of affiliation.

A buffet breakfast is served. $15 to cover. For more information please call 720-984-5805 or email milehighchabad@aol.com or visit www.JewishBusinessGroup.com

“How to Ace Your Interview: 

JCCN programs (on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month) are free, confidential and open to all. The JCCN website is at www.jccnboulder.org.

Bruce DeBoskey, of the DeBoskey Group

Bruce DeBoskey, principal of the DeBoskey Group and a BJN contributor, joined Boulder Jewish News’ supporter group this week.  BJN caught up with Bruce just before Passover for one of our “4 Questions” interviews about creating a consultancy around philanthropy.

1. You were a Colorado lawyer for 25 years and then became the Regional Director of the Anti-Defamation League. Why did you then become a Philanthropic Advisor? How did that prior experience prepare you for this work?

As ADL’s Regional Director I had the challenge of raising money to support our work. Although individuals, families, businesses and foundations made donations for different reasons, I learned they often were disorganized and not strategic about their philanthropy. As a trial lawyer I had learned about strategy, confidentiality and fiduciary duties. As a nonprofit executive, I learned about how the nonprofit sector works – and doesn’t work. As a Philanthropic Advisor, I use those experiences to help individuals, families, businesses and foundations organize, strategize and maximize the impact of their philanthropic investments.

2. Explain a typical engagement. What should a person, family, business or foundation expect?

The first step is to ascertain and understand the reasons why the client chooses to be philanthropic. Then, utilizing different methodologies, we determine which style of philanthropy (traditional, venture, transformational, etc.) the client is most comfortable with, and the causes or issues they wish to address. If it is a business, we ascertain whether employee engagement and volunteering is a part of the overall philanthropic initiative, who their customers are, and in what ways their business might impact, or be impacted by, social issues. Then, we develop a strategy to achieve the client’s goals, and metrics and other evaluation tools to help determine the impact of their approach. For businesses, we work to align their philanthropic goals with their other business objectives. We help clients view their philanthropy as a social investment…and help them achieve the return on that investment – for themselves and the people or causes they wish to help.

3. Is there a particularly Jewish perspective you bring to the work? Does that fly even with non-Jewish clients?

Although the teachings of Tikkun Olam (“to repair the world”), Tzedek Tzedek Tirdoff (“Justice, Justice shall you pursue”), and Tzedakah (“Charity”) are Jewish values that motivate and inspire me in my work, such values are universal and appeal to people of all faiths or none.

4. How do you know when things are really clicking -or not- with clients?

When successful people bring their business and other skills to bear upon their philanthropy, it is an entirely different experience that goes beyond the act of writing a check. When parents engage their children, young or grown, in meaningful conversations about money, philanthropy and legacy, families develop new bonds and discover shared values about their place in the world and their ability to make a difference together. When foundations focus on a mission and develop strategies to achieve it and tools to evaluate their efforts, their ability to have an impact soars. And when business leaders understand that the ultimate profitability and success of their business depends upon their participation in creating healthy, safe, educated, inclusive and life sustaining communities, everybody wins.

Thank you Bruce, for supporting the Boulder Jewish News.

The meeting takes place at the SpringHill Suites in Westminster  at 6845 W. 103rd Ave (SW corner of the Boulder Turnpike and Church Ranch Blvd.) The meeting begins with a buffet breakfast at 7:30 am and a presentation from 8:10 – 9:00 am.

Hyde Park Jewelers is a great example of a successful retail establishment that many in the small business community can learn from”, says Mr. Edward Rothschild president of the Jewish Business Group.

Mr. Pollak will talk about his experiences of taking Hyde Park from inception to its currents prominence and the trails and challenges he faced. Michael will also share Hyde Park’s customer service techniques that have been the hallmark of their excellence.

The presentation promises to be a great learning experience in business entrepreneurship.

A delicious hot breakfast will be served along with bagels and spreads and fresh coffee.

Your RSVP is appreciated to 303.429.5177 or at www.JewishBusinessGroup.com . There is a $15 cover fee.

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Michael Pollak, co-founder of Hyde Park, with over 35 years in the jewelry business, started by selling turquoise on the lawn of Denver University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Michael has spent extensive time in New York, Geneva, Televiv, and Belgium cultivating his skills, knowledge and expertise in the field of gemology, fine jewelry and Swiss timepieces.

With over 30 years in retail management, developing three regional, luxury jewelry stores, Michael Pollak became Chief Executive Officer of Hyde Park Jewelers in 2007. Michael has received numerous industry awards including an induction into the National Jeweler Retailer Hall of Fame 2008, and Ernst & Young, Entrepreneur of the Year in 1999.

He is currently a board member of Jewelers of America, Denver Health Foundation and the Mizel Museum. He is a co-founder of Diamonds in the Rough, a non-profit organization to support the efforts of individuals and local charities in their quest to reach their goals

Michael has also served as a past board member of the National Jeweler Advisory Board, Natural Color Diamond Association, the Anti-Defamation League and as a Trustee for Youthbiz. He is a past member of the Thinking Blue benefiting The Kempe Foundation and the past President of Luxury Jewelers Resource Group.

Michael continues to position Hyde Park as an award-winning company by focusing on quality, value, selection, customer service, and innovation offering a trendsetting, proprietary customer loyalty program named Platinum Rewards. Michael has been essential in driving the expansion of Hyde Park into markets by creating the presence of an important luxury jeweler, offering exclusive designers and timepieces.

A recent JBG Meeting

On Thursday February 2^nd, Colorado Attorney General John Suthers will address the JBG (Jewish Business Group) at its monthly breakfast meeting at the Westin Westminster. The meeting is from 7:30 am – 9:00 am.

Mr. Suthers will discuss significant current lawsuits of interest to Coloradans including the National Health Care Lawsuit that headed to the Supreme Court. The presentation will be followed will by a Q & A.

The February meeting promises to be very informative in understanding the challenges of the National Health Care debate as it heads to the Supreme Court in the spring.

The JBG offers professionals, CEO’s and entrepreneurs an opportunity for business networking, expanding business skills through informative and empowering presentations and Jewish social interaction. The JBG gathers monthly and is open to the entire community regardless of affiliation.

“The Jewish Business Group has really worked for me” says Mrs. Sharon Prager-Wortham owner of Custom Made Fitness a business that helps businesses introduce healthy lifestyle in their work environment and at home. “I have made quite a few new contacts by attending the meetings and have enjoyed the presentations immensely.”

Meetings are open to employers and employees of the business and professional community. Retirees are also welcome.

A $15 fee covers a buffet breakfast. For more information and to RSVP please call 720-984-5805 – email milehighchabad@aol.com or visit www.JewishBusinessGroup.com

About Mr John Suthers

Mr. John Suthers, Colorado Attorney General

John W. Suthers has served the citizens of Colorado as District Attorney, presidentially-appointed U.S. Attorney and now as Colorado’s 37th Attorney General, having just been reelected to his second term. He also served as the Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Corrections under Governor Bill Owens. As Attorney General, he represents and defends the interests of all Coloradans and is chief legal counsel and adviser to state government and its many agencies, boards and commissions. In his tenure as Attorney General, Mr. Suthers has initiated successful programs to protect children from Internet predators, reduce mortgage and foreclosure fraud, and combat methamphetamine abuse in Colorado.