Cosmo DeNicola Companies News (40)

Monday, May 23, 2016

Futura Services Kicksoff Customer Service Initiative (Vegas Style)

The FSI Project Team was excited to attend Knowledge16, the 10^th annual user conference for ServiceNow! This year’s conference in Las Vegas had more than 12,000 attendees and nearly 500 learning sessions including 173 hands on lab sessions.

Futura decided in 2015 to complete the total overhaul of their support infrastructure and portal. ServiceNow was selected as the tool of choice. The project and offering has been renamed iServe and will be available to Futura and affiliates customers by year end.

The Focus going into the conference were as follows:

1)Knowledge: Attend sessions and continue to build our knowledge of the ServiceNow platform and its capabilities.

2) Confirm our Approach and Scope: Answer foundational questions about our implementation approach and scope.

3) Learn from Other Customers: Network with other ServiceNow users, gain insight and benefit from their experiences.

4) Understand ServiceNow’s Strategic Direction: Meet with ServiceNow executives regarding their strategic direction and latest product offerings that were in alignment with our use cases.

The result was “mission accomplished”. The conference far exceeded expectations. We had great dialogue with numerous customers (including local companies) in varying stages of ServiceNow deployments. We were exposed to some newer functionality (Customer Service Management and Performance Analytics) which could benefit our implementation. We interacted with ServiceNow senior leadership who further connected us with relevant ServiceNow subject matter experts and also other ServiceNow customers who had similar requirements.

“Our B to B customers should have the same positive experience that match those of consumer applications”, stated Cosmo DeNicola. “We are thrilled to be able to elevate the quality of our support and delivery mechanism. We will become a more scalable enterprise positioned for growth.”

Monday, May 23, 2016

New book reveals ‘why valuation is the most important number business owners will ever know’

Authored by best-selling entrepreneurial author Daniel Priestly, BizEquity’s Founder & CEO Michael M.Carter and valuation expert Scott Gabehart

Already Amazon’s number one valuation book and #1 new release for private equity it offers business owners a comprehensive guide to answer the fundamental question – what is my business worth?

WAYNE, Pa., ATLANTA, BizEquity, the leading provider of online business valuation and performance big data, today launches its valuation book ‘What’s your business worth’ for the benefit of the 98% of businesses that do not value themselves annually. Co-authored by Michael Carter, Daniel Priestly and Scott Gabehart, this book offers a comprehensive guide to help readers discover, monitor and optimize their business valuation.

With more than 7.7 million businesses expected to change hands in the next 10 years, with 67% underfinanced and 50% underinsured and with many proprietors planning retirement based on the sale of their business, access to real-time business valuation knowledge is crucial for business owners and the financial professionals who advise them.

Already Amazon’s number one valuation book, the book makes clear that “the main reason you need to have your company properly and accurately valued is to maximize the value you receive from your business,” but it also details 12 other reasons why it is important for entrepreneurs to regularly value their business from securing the most appropriate insurance to helping implement more effective tax planning.

Despite its importance, this crucial valuation data has traditionally been inaccessible to the majority of businesses owners due to time and cost involved. ‘What’s your business worth’ – – together with BizEquity’s valuation service, are democratizing this fundamental information for the business owner through helping them answer the million dollar question; what is the value of their business. Utilizing Big Data technologies, BizEquity has created the first of it’s kind patented online service to democratize this important knowledge for every business owner in the world.

Drawing on the combined expertise of leading entrepreneurial author Daniel Priestly, BizEquity’s CEO Michael M. Carter and business valuation expert Scott Gabehart, the guide covers everything the business owner needs to know about business valuations in comprehensive detail supported with relevant real life case studies, from how a business is valued, ‘deadly sins’ to avoid if you want to have a clear idea of your business’s worth to how a valuation can strengthen your business.

Completing the book and using BizEquity’s valuation service, will give business owners real-time access to the crucial data required to optimize their company’s ability to capitalize on a range of opportunities, such as securing investment from third-parties at the best price, negotiating an appropriate level of debt for expansion or move into new markets, or successfully negotiating a merger or sale.

The former Chief Data Officer and current Chief Data Officer of Honeywell, William Groves commented: “What the credit score has been for consumers and the consumer finance industry, business valuation scoring will be for commercial lending, insurance, and wealth management products and services in the future.”

Michael M. Carter, Co-Author and Founder and CEO of BizEquity stated: “Dan, Scott, and I are on a mission to help democratize this important business valuation knowledge that every business owner or advisor to businesses owners and entrepreneurs should know and have at their fingertips. Now it’s not just online at BizEquity.com or through or over 200 financial services partners, but available online as a book as well.”

Peter Brooks, Previous CEO Sovereign Capital, MD LDC London and partner FB Capital, commented: “BizEquity’s valuation service and accompanying book are great news for both business owners and those who invest in them. Valuation is at the heart of any potential acquisition, sale or investment and knowing what a business is worth from the outset will encourage deal flow and spur businesses performance via the valuation service's comparative ratios and indices output as companies will more easily get the capital and backing they need to expand.”

Profits for the book, available from Amazon for kindle and paperback:

https://www.amazon.com/entrepreneur-discovering-monitoring-optimizing-valuation-ebook/dp/B01FGMDCPG?ie=UTF8&keywords=whats%20your%20business%20worth&qid=1464026084&ref_=sr_1_1&refinements=p_n_feature_browse-bin%3A618073011&s=books&sr=1-1 , will be going to Miles Frost Fund, set up in loving memory of Miles Frost to help end the deadly heart condition hypertrophic cardiomyopathy - https://www.bhf.org.uk/miles-frost-fund/donate-to-the-miles-frost-fund.

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Futura Mobility Drives the Digital Auto Dealership of the Future

Futura Mobility was engaged by a global luxury automotive brand, to implement the Digital Dealership of the Future for its national automotive dealership network, by taking the online brand experience to new levels. With hundreds of independently owned franchises, the dealership IT landscape consisted of a diverse mix of vendors and IT solutions. Given this environment, the approach for implementing the new national standard for the customer experience would call for the ability to work effectively with IT staff, with various infrastructure solutions which supported the program goals, under an ambitious timeline.

Elevating the brand experience, coast to coast

Futura Mobility elevated the world class experience, laying the foundation with a rigorous national standard and national rollout. Resulting in:

· A robust WIFI, wired network and Internet infrastructure

· Turnkey network installation services to meet the most challenging technical requirements

· A national program rollout approach driven by rigorous quality assurance, logistics, and real-time KPI dashboard reporting.

Creating cutting edge, location-based apps to meet dealership sales and brand experience goals

Today’s high-end automotive brands require apps which go well beyond inventory lists and pricing, and the hope of a prospect call to action. Instead, they demand innovative apps designed to help them capitalize on the digital interactions which take place on their premises, which drive sales growth and redefine the customer experience.

When one of the leading dealership groups requested an opt-in mobile app, Futura responded with speed and innovation leveraging location-based services which empowered dealer sales and service centers with real-time interaction and a peerless customer experience. In 30 days, Futura developed a high quality, branded app which leveraged Beacon technologies to provide deep insights into vehicle buying behaviors in the showroom. In just days after deployment, the dealership leveraged a rich pool of information, conducted A/B testing of sales approaches and promotional elements, and made key adjustments. Resulting in:

· Increased customer loyalty

· Increase in Leads and Opportunities

· Boost to Same-Day Sales

· Decrease in the Sales Cycle

· Greater understanding of Customer Behavior

· Provided white-glove customer interaction through real-time customer identification within the dealership

“The automotive Industry is very competitive and requires close customer engagement to drive revenue and profits. We are proud of the results in driving customer service improvements”, stated Chairman Cosmo DeNicola.

Tuesday, May 17, 2016

The SUPERCORR EXPO... A great chance to "show customers the money"

The EXPO in Orlando FL October 17-20 is an amazing opportunity to introduce new products and display all our company has to offer to both current customers (1000 plants and 50,000 users) and hopefully future ones. Historically it has been a terrific place to build opportunities, gain brand awareness and make deals. Our experience has been a real ROI in terms of all our business objectives.

Probably more important than achieving our goals it gives us an opportunity to meet with boxmakers and packaging companies to see what’s on their minds, challenges they are facing and match them up with products and services that can take them to the next level. Many attendees tend to be a bit more diverse than the people we would meet in a typical sales interaction at a plant. The length of the expo also affords our customers and us an opportunity to dig deeper into the details to establish how we can benefit from working together.

“Our company’s strategy in to staff our booth with a multi-disciplined team that is prepared to answer any questions that may arise and to determine Best of Breed Solutions for any attendee that takes the time to meet with us”, stated Amtech President Cosmo DeNicola. Since we are not an equipment company we focus on staffing several demo stations so we can show real-time software solutions in a comfortable and professional manner. Over our 35-year membership in the AICC we always came away from these expos with real value to our company and our customers.

In terms of products, we will be demonstrating at the EXPO clearly the launch of our totally New ERP system iNEXT with take center stage. This system is immediately available for all existing and new customers, our new platform is cloud based, has a great user interface and significant focus on mobility and data analytics. Creating a new and improved way to engage our customer’s end users and manage a modern day plant.

A new cool and impactful product we will be show casing is – Amtech Visual Analytics (AVA). Think Moneyball for the Packaging Industry.

AVA is a completely web-based analytics platform that provides the ability to measure and compare disparate data in concise and understandable formats. AVA will open a world of metrics to help you run more efficiently, help you to control costs that were once invisible to you, measure the effectiveness of machines and staff, and develop new sales compensation programs that reflect the true value of a customer to your company. Its dashboards, graphs and reports provide a visual KPI manager and gets under the covers to help in decision making and customer strategies.

Beyond internal plant data, your future lies in mobility “outside the four walls”. Delivery program (think UPS-style electronic proof of delivery and GPS tracking of trucks via smartphone) and customer self-service portal (think Amazon-style one-click ordering and ease of use).

Other products on display will include our Customer portal that is a complete online customer ordering Engagement Tool, Top Gun bar code inventory system, RPM Real Time Production manager, Mobile logistics that includes electronic delivery signature capture, Mobile Force sales a salesman’s opportunity and workflow manager and many upgrades to our core system.

So feel free to stop by pull up a chair and challenge us to design a solution to your most perplexing issue or opportunity.

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Amtech Invests In People To Handle Growth

May 9, 2016

After investing several million dollars building their next generation of software, Amtech is investing in the people who will program, implement and support it.

“We decided to initiate a packaging industry learning curriculum to develop the next generation of Packaging Software Experts,” explained Stephanie DeNicola, Director Human Resources/Professional Development. Education is the foundation for professional development, and it is essential for us to continue to build great people to deliver great products.

One element of the new program is our partnership with the AICC’s Science of Paper School, who provides a history, background and knowledge of how corrugated is designed, produced, and becomes a finished box. It’s a great course for people new to the industry, and provides hands-on, practical knowledge that we can apply immediately.

The inaugural class consisted of seven students for two intense days of learning everything there is to know about corrugated from A to Z. The seminar was held at Amtech and Futura’s Fort Washington, PA headquarters.

The curriculum focused on:

1. Industry Overview, Container board Grades, Containerboard Manufacturing
2. Corrugated Board and Applications, Corrugated Board Production
3. Characteristics of Containerboard and Combined Board
4. Packaging Performance, Machinery, Structural Design
5. How Boxes are used

Additionally, attendees were given a tour of a local corrugator plant where they were able to see its Corrugator, Finishing Equipment and High Speed Warehousing in action. They were able to see in real time all of the Amtech software modules working together. Amtech will also be hosting a series of “day in the life” sessions with box-maker customers sharing best practices with the attendees.

Feedback was positive on the seminar. “I am excited to learn about the packaging industry. I’m sure I’ll be able to deliver more value to our customers as my knowledge grows,” stated Zach Handzlik, Amtech’s Marketing Technologist. Ralph Young, Consultant to AICC and instructor of the course, said “like children in a candy store, employees were wide to learn and the questions just kept coming. They were eager to understand the science of paper making, combining and connecting and analyzing the end users need for corrugated packaging.”

“The industry overview is the first phase of our Education and Professional Program,” stated Stephanie DeNicola. Our new business motto is “In order to grow, you have to know.”

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

New Chicken Soup Anti-Bullying Program

HOUSTON, TX - How do you stop bullying in schools? Just ask the experts:

"I would tell them to stop because it's hurting other people's feelings," said second-grader Diego Mendoza.

And what if a kid you know is being bullied?

"If you're bullied, just ignore whoever is bullying you and don't pay attention to them," expressed 7-year-old Evan Lucio. "Be proud of who you are," added Monse Pineda. "And you always need to believe in yourself," concluded Aliyah Rodriguez.

Bullying is a serious issue, and the fight against it should be serious too. It's good to know that someone is starting early. The KIPP Explore Academy in Houston's East End is the first school in Texas to launch the new anti-bullying program from Chicken Soup for the Soul, called "Hallway Heroes."

"At KIPP it's really important to us that we're teaching our kids about character and building their character," explained Frank Cush, KIPP Explore Academy's founder and principal. "With this program, the students are learning about what are the things that they should be doing. Not necessarily in the situation where they face a bully, but it's about being more proactive, learning how to be good citizens. We're also encouraging our students to know more about themselves and what makes them unique."

That's probably the key: real strength comes from within. To learn that and many other things, these kids are using the book "Be The Best You Can Be." Houston philanthropist Dr. Milton Boniuk is funding the program, and is happy to see these children grow wiser and wiser.

"We need to continue to do these things not only in this country but all around the world," he exclaimed after witnessing one of the workshops. "Especially if we want a better world, a more peaceful and more tolerant society. People should learn to have universal respect for everybody: to treat everybody with respect even if you don't like them."

The message is clear, and it looks like it's sticking: "I would say (to kids who are being bullied): be proud of yourself," suggested Monse Pineda; "and if they say mean things about you, just think about the opposite, the opposite meanings of those words."

Bullies, we have you surrounded!

Story is by the user PABRAMZON2 and was posted on April 26, 2016. The full story and video can be found on http://cw39.com/2016/04/26/fighting-bullying-early-on/

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

The Sites and Cities of the CAFL Super Series

Conshohocken, Pa (May 3, 2016) – Six cities,1300 miles 110 million potential fans. Those are just some of the impressive raw numbers attached to the recently announced Super Series, the six-stop tour that marks the CAFL’s historic first season of pro football in China. From the northernmost city of Dalian (the “smallest” in terms of population with over 3 million) to the southernmost tip of the tour, the massive “mega-city” region of Guangzhou (44 million) , the CAFL will introduce the relatively new sport of US-style tackle football, to over 6 centuries of Chinese culture. Terra-Cotta Warriors, say hello to the Gridiron Gladiators!

Below, meet the sensational venues and cities of the CAFL Super Series 2016.

Series Weekend I – Beijing, LeSports Center. Opened 2001

This modern multi-purpose arena is very much like The Staples Center in scale and capability. With seating for over 18,000 when the Ducks play here, the CAFL will draw from a local population of over 21 million residents. Beijing, with over 6 thousand years of recorded history, will make sports history when it hosts the first ever CAFL pro football game on the weekend of October 1. Beijing is also the home of the world famous Forbidden City, The Summer Palace, and the best spot for visitors to climb The Great Wall. The CAFL begins its climb to success here.

Series Weekend II – Dalian, Dalian Superdome. Opened 2012

A city small only by China’s standards, but with over 3 million in the city limits, Dalian would rank among the top 5 cities in the US. This futuristic looking arena is big league in every way. Opened in time for hosting of the 2013 National Games of The Peoples Republic of China, the Superdome is booked year round. Recently Justin Bieber performed here to a sellout crowd of over 18,000. With the nicest and most varied amenities that the CAFL scouting group visited, it is part of a massive sports training and testing complex amongst the best in the world. Dalian is a booming seaport along China’s east coast.

Series Weekend III – Qingdao, Qingdao Sports Center. Opened 2009

The home of the CBA Qingdao Doublestar, the Week 3 home of the CAFL Super Series is, by comparison, a smaller, more intimate setting with seating for 12,000. Located in the center of this bustling city of over 3 million, public transport will shuttle fans to the front gate. This is a prime port of the Chinese Navy. It is also a famous tourism site, as it home to the world famous Tsingtao beer brewery. Originally a German company, this beer has been around almost as long as the city – some six thousand years!

Beer

Here the CAFL crew takes a break from a rigorous day of meetings to sample the local product and toast the future of the new league. “Ganbei!”

Series Weekend IV – Guangzhou, Guangzhou Gymnasium Hall. Opened 2001

The CAFL travels south some 1100 miles for week IV in this, the most southern stop of the Super Series. The setting is deceptive. Park-like and serene. The Gymnasium Hall indeed sits amongst the campuses of several universities, and has a pastoral feel. Guangzhou means City of Flowers in Mandarin.

The Hall is part of a complex dedicated to collegiate and pro sports,it is another stunning architectural design. The city itself is also remarkable. This is the southern region’s hub of commerce. Guangzhou, which sits just 75 miles north of Hong King, is home to 18 million within the city limits. However, the extended “Mega-city” as it is called, or metropolitan region is home to over 44 million people! The city sits on a bustling delta of industry, and now welcomes US-style football to its economy.

Series Weekend V – Shenzhen, Shenzhen Dayun Arena. Opened 2011

Among the three “Southern stops” in the Super Series tour, Shenzhen is an international city of modern business, the home of a prime stock exchange, and the site of an enormous influx of foreign investment. This is reflected in the explosion of modern buildings and lifestyle on display everywhere here. At the same time, it sports a sea -side resort feel, as it sits on the Topic of Cancer along the sunny coast. Ultra – modern business buildings contrast with tall, flowering palm trees and stunning mountain ranges that ring this city of close to 18 million. The Dayun Center will seat 17,000 for the CAFL games with sensational, modern amenities for fans, athletes, and VIPS.

Series Weekend VI – The China Bowl – Shanghai, Shanghai Oriental Sports Center. Opened 2010

Surrounded and framed by a moat, and with the visual appearance of a crown, the CAFL decided this would be the perfect place to crown the first ever Kings of China Football. The Super Series concludes here with the China Bowl. Shanghai, China’s largest city with a population of over 24 million, is nestled between the Yangtze River and the ocean. In fact, Shanghai means “Above the Sea.” A wonder to behold with its breathtaking skyline, this now is among the most photographed city in all of the world.

Combined with its rich and well preserved history, Shanghai is often called “The Paris of the East.” Indeed a French influence is widely evident in its superb cuisine and old city architecture. The Oriental Sports Center is one of the busiest venues in China, and regularly hosts popular sporting events like badminton, figure skating and short track speed skating. Now, the Crown Jewel of China will see the CAFL’s historic first China Bowl champion crowned here as well.

For more information, contact Lou Tilley, VP of Media and Communication CAFL, at Ltilley@Caflfootball.com, or LTilley@Tilley.tv

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

HERE COMES THE JUDGE! Official football of The CAFL named after founder and Chairman

The CAFL continues to make news as China’s first ever USstyle Pro football league accelerates towards its inaugural season. Today, the CAFL announces the premier of the official game ball to be used when league play begins in the fall of 2016. Here is a first look at the ball, developed in partnership with the Spalding Company. Streamlined with an aerodynamic swirling golden stripe, the ball is named “The Judge” for the founder and Chairman of the league, businessman Martin E. Judge. Marty, to all who know him, even added his signature to the official ball of the CAFL.

“I remember growing up, I got my hands on a real gameused NFL football from the Eagles. It was labeled “The Duke.” I never, ever dreamed that someday, there would be a ball with my name on it, and in a league that I founded,” said Marty as he happily flipped the ball around his office outside of Philadelphia. “I love the way this looks. To me it is the most beautiful thing in the world right now.” “The Duke,” football, was named after legendary New York Giants owner Wellington Mara, who took his first name after England’s Duke of Wellington. That ball, bearing his nickname, debuted in the NFL in 1941. “Who would have imagined then, that someday I would have my own game ball, “The Judge” in a professional football league, in China?” said the smiling founder and Chairman of the CAFL.

“The Judge sports the newly created CAFL shield and logo, flanked by “The Judge, Official Game Ball,” and the cursive signature of, Martin E Judge, Jr. “My father helped launch my business career with a small loan. I hope he can see where that has taken me. I am grateful to him and all of my family, and the CAFL staff who have turned this dream, into a reality.”

The Judge” actually saw its first action over the past two weekends in China, where the CAFL staged the first evertryout combines, in search of potential Chinese stars for the new pro league. Over 300 hopefuls turned out, and helped test out “The Judge” – by all accounts, it is a touchdown!

For more information, contact Lou Tilley, VP of Media and Communication CAFL, at Ltilley@Caflfootball.com,or LTilley@Tilley.tv

Friday, April 15, 2016

CAFL Kicks Off Open Tryouts

BEIJING, April 15, 2016 – The CAFL (China Arena Football League) announces an exciting mile post on the road towards their historic first season of pro football in China – the first ever open combine and tryouts of Chinese athletes hoping to play as professionals in the CAFL beginning in the Fall of 2016.

Open tryouts will be held in two major Chinese cities beginning in Beijing on April 16, and concluding in Shanghai on April 23.

Ken Bozarth, the CAFL Head of Football Operations, who has been building a database of scouting and player information for 30 months in China, says he is expecting anywhere from 150 to 200 hopefuls at each of the 10-hour tryout and workout sessions.

“While American-style football is not yet played by the majority of young athletes here, I have personally seen tremendous growth just in the last three years that I have been on hand,” said Bozarth, a New Jersey native with extensive background in the indoor version of the game in the US. “We founded college programs at six major China Universities almost three years ago, and many of our prospects from those programs will have an advantage as they have been training and studying the sport, but there are many others we are watching who have been playing in the club-level leagues that have sprung up as western sports in general have become increasingly popular.”

In addition to Bozarth, six US-based coaches will be on hand to put the young men through the paces of the tryout process, including Ed Wang, the former NFL-star offensive tackle and son of Chinese Olympic parents, and former US star wide receiver Darrick Branch.

Approximately 66 roster spots will be made available to the Chinese players on the rosters of the original six Chinese teams who will play the inaugural CAFL professional season in 2016, paired with players from the US and other nations.

For more information, contact Lou Tilley, CAFL VP of Media and Communications at LTilley@CAFLfootball.com

Monday, April 11, 2016

Going Strong at 35: Amtech Celebrates Its 35th Anniversary

April 1, 2016

Today Amtech Software celebrated its 35^th anniversary providing software to the Packaging Industry.

Amtech was founded on April 1, 1981 by Cosmo DeNicola to provide management systems to Packaging Companies throughout North America. From those beginnings, the company grew to install software in over 1,000 plants and 50,000 users to provide a wide range of business and management software to operate packaging plants throughout the US, Canada, and Mexico.

Cosmo noted that the values upon which the company was founded remain the basis of its success and sustainability, stating “Our focus on innovation, R+D, quality service, responsiveness and trust are designed to enable our clients to excel in their market, our employees to grow in a positive environment and the packaging industry to enjoy long-term success”.

"I made a personal, lifelong commitment to the industry. However, Amtech would not have thrived all these years without our amazing customers and dedicated employees, all of whom feel like my extended family. After 35 years in business, and 42 years in the industry. I look back with pride at what we’ve accomplished and look forward to the next generation of software systems we are creating for our customers."

2016 will see the introduction of Amtechs next generation system iNext: is a cloud & web based platform that creates a competitive advantage for their clients and 15 year sustainable business plan.

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