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On View Now: OCHI Presents Group Exhibition Spring Flowers with Nature-Based Sculpture by Karolina Maszkiewicz

US Business News Staff US Business News Staff on April 15, 2024

OCHI is currently presenting Spring Flowers, a group exhibition featuring the work of Karolina Maszkiewicz, a Polish-born American artist and sculptor, which will be on view through May 10, 2024. 

Karolina’s sculptures often incorporate natural elements and are meant to immerse the viewer in nature. Her Sérpsates series is a meditative series of pendant mobiles. Each composition is made of collected seed pods from their native area that reflect the unique habitat in which they are found. They are then joined with stainless steel rods and transformed into a hanging kinetic sculpture. She finds beauty in the juxtaposition of natural and manmade materials, often incorporating veneer and metal to highlight the organic textures of her sculptures.

The key piece in the show is Maskiewicz’s Black Pearl from 2024, inspired by the Sicilian Island of Pantelleria made with metal mesh and wild cucumber seed pods. 

Other artists featured include Joshua Aster, Debra Broz, Kristin Calabrese, Amie Cunat, Velia De Iuliis, Paige Emery, Sarah Giannobile, Peter Halasz, Ara Hao, Luke Harnden, Phaan Howng, Will Hutnick, Louise Jones, Stan Kaplan, Allison Katz, Thomas Linder, Karolina Maszkiewicz, Mabel Moore, Nicole Nadeau, Francisco Palomares, Annie Pendergrast, Lydia Maria Pfeffer, Sofie Ramos, Benjamin Reiss, Ian Stanton, Paige Turner Uribe, Angela Witmore, Hana Ward, and Jonas Wood. 

Celebrating delightful bursts of vernal energy Spring Flowers blooms after a long Sun Valley winter. In neat arrangements placed throughout the gallery, artists explore myriad themes that expand upon the symbolic power of the flower. Flowers represent life and death, healing, and spiritual rebirth. They stand in for all of nature and for all the love one has to give. Flowers offer insight into cultural constructs and ecological discourse. They are used for medications, meditations on temporality, and for wildly escapist fantasies. Ikebana, garlands, wreaths, pattern and decoration, Art Nouveau, scientific illustrations, memento mori, and beyond—the artists included in Spring Flowers rewild and reimage a bouquet of floral motifs. Spring Flowers proves the persistence of flora and heralds the arrival of new creative seasons.

OCHI is located at 119 Lewis Street in Ketchum, Idaho.

ABOUT Karolina Maszkiewicz 

Karolina Maszkiewicz is a Polish-born American artist currently based in Los Angeles. Karolina’s childhood was imbued with creativity and craftsmanship, as her family was deeply involved in artistic endeavors. Karolina’s early experiences shaped her current artistic aesthetic  – from sewing clothes to crafting furniture, which was often a necessity in the Post-Communism era in Poland. After attending the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in the late 90s, she eventually found her true calling as a sculptor. While studying with modernist sculptor Brad Howe in Malibu, Karolina’s interest in kinetic sculptures was sparked. She was drawn to their ability to evoke motion and interact with their environment. Inspired by her love of nature, Karolina’s work reflects the serene landscapes of her childhood and her experiences exploring the deserts and mountains of California.

Her sculptures, often incorporating natural elements, are meant to immerse the viewer in nature. Through her Sepsates series, Karolina meditates on humanity’s often overlooked connection to nature, transforming foraged seed pods into striking sculptures that command attention and reverence. She embraces trial and error when at work, and allows her intuition to guide the composition of each piece. She finds beauty in the juxtaposition of natural and manmade materials, often incorporating veneer and metal to highlight the organic textures of her sculptures. Karolina finds inspiration in the pioneering female sculptors of the 20th century, such as Niki de Saint Phalle, Ruth Asawa, and Louise Bourgeois. She also admires the fiber sculptures of Magdalena Abakanowicz, whose monumental creations elicit a sense of primal mystery and wonder.

Karolina’s work can be found in galleries such as Twentieth in Los Angeles, Tappan, and Harbinger LA. Her upcoming endeavors include an art residency at Parco de Sesi on the Sicilian island of Pantelleria, where she plans to create a sculpture using natural elements found on the island. Additionally, she aims to refine her painting and drawing skills, exploring new materials and techniques to further enrich her artistic practice. Karolina’s future plans also include a possible semester in Florence to immerse herself in the rich artistic traditions of Italy, ultimately infusing her sculptures with inspiration from around the world.

 

Published By: Aize Perez

Insights into the Average Billable Hours in the Legal Industry

US Business News Staff US Business News Staff on April 15, 2024

On the surface, billable hours appear straightforward. Attorneys meticulously track the time they dedicate to client matters, forming the basis for client invoices. However, this seemingly simple concept belies a much deeper reality. Numerous factors influence the average billable hours an attorney is expected to achieve. 

Furthermore, analyzing the pressure associated with meeting these targets reveals a double-edged sword. While aiming for high billable hours incentivizes productivity, this can have detrimental consequences. The constant pressure often leads to work-life imbalance, leaving attorneys with little time for personal affairs and potentially leading to burnout. This, in turn, can negatively impact the quality of work. Rushed research or neglecting thorough analysis can lead to errors that ultimately cost the firm more in the long run. Furthermore, unrealistic expectations can contribute to high attorney turnover, impacting firm stability and requiring significant resources for recruitment and training. Clearly, a more sustainable approach is necessary to ensure attorneys’ well-being and law firms’ continued success.

Is Law Practice Just a Numbers Game?

The actual number of hours an attorney works often extends far beyond the billable time recorded. Tasks like legal research, case preparation, client communication, and administrative duties all contribute to a successful case but may not be directly billed to the client.

Furthermore, the billable hour standard can vary significantly depending on several factors:

  • Practice Area: Attorneys specializing in complex litigation, intellectual property, or corporate law may have higher billable hour requirements compared to those in personal injury or family law.
  • Experience Level: Associates, particularly those in their first few years, are often expected to log billable hours closer to the minimum firm requirement. Partners, with their established client base and experience managing cases, may have more flexibility in their billable hours.
  • Law Firm Size: Large law firms with a corporate culture often have higher billable hour targets compared to smaller firms or boutique practices.
  • Location: Billable hour expectations can vary geographically, with major metropolitan areas typically having higher targets compared to smaller cities or rural areas.

 

Understanding Average Billable Hours

Several factors influence the average billable hours expected of an attorney. Practice area plays a significant role, with complex litigation or intellectual property cases demanding more time compared to personal injury or family law. Experience level also comes into play, with associates typically logging closer to the minimum firm requirement while seasoned partners have more flexibility. Law firm size and geographic location further complicate the equation. Large, corporate-focused firms often have higher billable hour targets compared to smaller firms or those in rural areas.

Moving forward, a more holistic approach to attorney performance evaluation is needed. This could involve considering factors like client satisfaction, efficiency in handling matters, and innovation in legal solutions. By going beyond the limitations of billable hours, law firms can create a more balanced and sustainable work environment for attorneys, ultimately leading to improved client service and long-term firm success.

Meeting Billable Hour Requirements

The pressure to meet or exceed billable hour targets can have a significant impact on attorneys. Some of the challenges associated with this pressure include:

  • Work-Life Imbalance: Long working hours can lead to burnout, fatigue, and difficulty maintaining a healthy work-life balance. This can negatively impact personal relationships, physical and mental health, and overall well-being.
  • Diminished Quality of Work: When under pressure to log a certain number of hours, the quality of work can suffer. Rushing through tasks or neglecting thorough analysis can lead to errors and inefficiencies, ultimately costing the firm more in the long run.
  • High Attorney Turnover: Excessive workloads and unrealistic expectations can contribute to high attorney turnover, impacting firm stability and requiring significant resources for recruitment and training.

 

A More Sustainable Approach

Fortunately, there’s a growing recognition of the need for a more sustainable approach to attorney workloads. Law firms and legal professionals are exploring ways to balance client needs with attorney well-being. Here are some key considerations:

  • Focus on Value, not Just Volume: Shifting the focus from billable hours to the value delivered to clients encourages efficiency and strategic thinking. This may involve utilizing technology for routine tasks, streamlining workflows, and leveraging attorney billing software to accurately track not just billable hours but also the value of services provided. Law firms can leverage legal practice management software like CARET Legal to address these opportunities, which can help attorneys focus on higher-value activities and demonstrate the true worth they bring to client matters.
  • Promoting Work-Life Balance: Firms can create a culture that encourages healthy work-life balance by offering flexible working arrangements, paid time off, and discouraging “face time” over actual productivity.
  • Transparency and Communication: Clear communication regarding billable hour expectations, workload management, and alternative fee arrangements can help manage attorney expectations and reduce stress.
  • Embrace Technology: Legal technology offers a range of tools that can automate tasks, improve communication, and enhance efficiency. This allows attorneys to spend less time on administrative burdens and more time on strategic work, maximizing their billable hours and overall value contribution.
  • Invest in Professional Development: Firms that invest in ongoing professional development opportunities for their attorneys empower them to develop valuable skills that increase their efficiency and allow them to handle complex matters with greater confidence. This can lead to higher billable rates and increased client satisfaction.

 

Rethinking How Success is Measured

The billable hour, the long-reigning metric for attorney performance, is revealing its limitations. While offering a seemingly objective measure of productivity, it fails to capture the full picture. High billable hour targets can lead to work-life imbalance, burnout, and, ultimately, a decline in the quality of legal services.

This calls for a paradigm shift. Success should be measured by a more holistic approach, considering factors like client satisfaction, efficiency, and innovative solutions.  Additionally, integrating technology, focusing on value delivered, and prioritizing attorney well-being will cultivate a culture of excellence in the long run.

 

Published By: Aize Perez

Clinic Empire: Empowering Medical Weight Loss Clinics for Marketing Success

US Business News Staff US Business News Staff on April 15, 2024

In the bustling landscape of weight loss solutions, where options abound and promises proliferate, medical weight loss clinics stand out as beacons of reliability and sustainability. Among these leaders, Clinic Empire emerges as a guiding force, shedding light on the inherent advantages of medical weight loss while leveraging its technological prowess and industry expertise to bolster clinics’ marketing endeavors.

Ross Mahoney, Co-Founder of Clinic Empire, articulates the essence of medical weight loss succinctly:  “Medical weight loss addresses the core reasons for weight gain, offering patients a healthier and more effective path to lasting results.” At the heart of Clinic Empire’s mission lies a commitment to facilitating clinics in reaching their ideal patients, disseminating educational content within their communities, and nurturing a reputation as vanguards in the weight loss arena.

Partnering with Clinic Empire unlocks a realm of marketing potential for medical weight loss clinics, amplifying their visibility and resonance in the following ways:

Highlighting Medical Expertise: Clinic Empire serves as a conduit for clinics to spotlight their unique approach, accentuating the invaluable benefits of medical supervision, personalized plans, and enduring support structures. By showcasing their medical prowess, clinics can instill confidence in prospective patients and differentiate themselves amidst a sea of options.

Attracting the Right Patients: Clinic Empire’s targeted marketing strategies hone in on individuals actively seeking safe, sustainable weight loss solutions under the guidance of medical professionals. By aligning messaging with the needs and aspirations of this discerning demographic, clinics can effectively capture the attention of those primed for transformative journeys towards wellness.

Emphasizing Results: Through strategic collaboration with Clinic Empire, clinics can amplify their success stories, showcasing tangible outcomes and fostering trust and credibility within their communities. By sharing real-life testimonials and quantifiable achievements, clinics can paint a vivid picture of the transformative potential inherent in their programs, inspiring confidence and conviction in prospective patients.

Educating the Community: Clinic Empire equips clinics with the tools and resources necessary to craft informative content that underscores the value of medical weight loss. By positioning clinics as authoritative sources of knowledge and insight, this educational outreach not only cultivates awareness but also establishes them as trusted thought leaders within their respective communities.

In essence, Clinic Empire’s partnership empowers medical weight loss clinics to navigate the complex landscape of marketing with confidence and efficacy, positioning them for sustained success and prominence as purveyors of transformative health solutions. By harnessing the collective power of medical expertise, targeted outreach, results-driven narratives, and community education, Clinic Empire and its affiliated clinics pave the way for individuals to embark on journeys towards lasting wellness and vitality.

About Clinic Empire:

Clinic Empire is transforming the weight loss industry with its cutting-edge technology and personalized marketing approach. Their proprietary 4-Phase Clinic Accelerator System empowers clinics to deliver sustainable results, driving patient success and clinic growth. Clinic Empire is the future of effective weight loss marketing.

For more information, visit https://clinic-empire.com/

For media inquiries or to schedule an interview with Ross Mahoney or Jeffrey Polaski, please contact:

Media Contact:

Company Name: Clinic Empire

Contact Person: Ross Mahoney

Email: ross@clinic-empire.com
Contact Person: Jeffrey Polaski

Email: jeff@clinic-empire.com

Website: Clinic-Empire.com 


SOURCE: Clinic Empire

 

Published by: Khy Talara

 

Want Lead Ninja CEO to Visit Your HVAC, Plumbing, or Electrical Company in Person? Here’s What To Expect

US Business News Staff US Business News Staff on April 15, 2024

By: Victoria Kennedy

In a remarkable showcase of expertise and dedication to the HVAC industry, CEO and Founder of Lead Ninja System Gene Slade, a renowned figure in sales training and business growth in the plumbing, electrical, and HVAC industries, recently completed an intensive on-site training session with an heating and air-conditioning company in Louisiana. The company is part of one of the world’s largest franchises and the second-largest company inside of that franchise doing approximately $20 million in HVAC business per year.

Over four half-days, Slade imparted his wealth of knowledge and strategies, tailored specifically to the unique needs and dynamics of the HVAC sector. We sat down with him post-on-site to hear all about it.

Bigger Impact

“The mansion events that we do — the next one is scheduled for May 29th to June 2nd — the class or the content that we teach there is the same that we would teach at an on-site,” Slade said. “It was a straight heating and air-conditioning company this week, which is great! I was able to focus and make a bigger impact. It’s a bigger company inside of a huge franchise. I was there from Monday to Thursday, a half day each morning. Then, the folks I trained were released to implement the training!”

His commitment to delivering high-caliber training was evident as he told us how he engaged with the sales team, ensuring they were equipped with his tried-and-true techniques and insights to elevate their sales processes. Slade’s approach is deeply rooted in understanding the core values and goals of the businesses he works with, thereby crafting training sessions that resonate well with the team’s aspirations and market challenges.

“It was a great group of people, there were almost 70 people in the room, and the level of engagement was awesome,” Slade said of the on-site. “One thing that was really cool was that even though it usually takes two or three days for us to start seeing results, after the very first training session — on the second morning — I asked for success stories, and one of the guys stood up and shared that he had closed an $11,000 sale already. He said he never would have closed that amount had he not been through day one with me. So, that was an immediate success.

“Another success that was significant — there were a bunch of them — happened when we were on our follow-up mastermind call this morning. One of the guys who signed up for the continuing education training — the mastermind training, which he paid for himself — has more than quadrupled his average ticket. So, his average sale has increased by four, and his closing ratio has increased by 280%, so almost 300%. Those were two cool successes that happened from this on-site almost instantly, and there were quite a few others like that.”

Rick also told us that he has already sent eight more participants to Slade’s next Lead Ninja Mastermind Mansion Event, which happened at the end of March, just two weeks after the on-site. At the time of this writing, Lead Ninja has already acquired 29 five-star reviews on Google from Rick’s team. What’s more, Rick is speaking with Slade about a second on-site visit, which costs around six figures. If that wasn’t enough to impress, every single one of Rick’s team members are moving forward with Slade’s continuing education program!

“Last year my average maintenance ticket was 86 dollars, after going to gene Slade class last week, my average maintenance tickets for this week went to 5785.60, thank you gene for teaching me how to better myself,” JJ Matherne posted in the Lead Ninja Facebook group.

In response, Slade shared with us, “That was never gonna happen for JJ, it was a miracle. Mark my words, he’s gonna add tens of thousands in personal income. Old dogs that can still learn new tricks, it just took the right person and tools.”

This particular training session in Louisiana is part of Slade’s broader mission to enhance the sales capabilities of HVAC, plumbing, and electrical companies, recognizing the pivotal role these businesses play in providing essential services to communities.

One Drop Makes a Ripple

By focusing on a company that is a significant player within a larger franchise this time around, Slade’s training promises not only to uplift the company’s performance but also set a benchmark within the industry for excellence in salesmanship.

We reached out to the owner of the company where the on-site was held, Matt Rick, for commentary. He has been in the HVAC industry for 30 years and has worked on everything from refrigeration, commercial, new construction, and residential service maintenance and replacements. For the past 16 years or so, he has been primarily in residential work.

“I have learned to be successful the hard way, through trial and error,” Rick shared. “I heard about Gene Slade and Sales Ninja on a podcast, and I felt that we had very similar views and opinions when it comes to client interactions. I ended up scheduling a Zoom call with Gene, and within a week, I decided to move forward with onsite training. This was not an easy decision due to the initial investment cost, especially being this was the slowest time of the year for us — February — with cash flow being at a yearly low.

“I decided to take the leap and invest in the training opportunity. I had all my guys listen to the podcast episode and buy into the opportunity to better themselves and our clients. The overwhelming feedback from my guys has been nothing short of great. I was able to meet with Gene and Britney Slade outside of the training classes and was able to build a very strong relationship that will last. Looking forward to continuing to see my guys’ success increase!”

The training covered a comprehensive range of topics, from customer engagement and retention strategies to exact scripts for sales efficiency. The choice of conducting the training on-site was strategic, allowing Slade to immerse himself in the company’s environment and tailor his training to their specific needs and challenges.

Weeks after the on-site, Rick let Slade know that he ordered $300k worth of supplies for his team to keep up with demand brought on by their new sales skills.

As the HVAC industry continues to evolve, the demand for skilled sales teams that can navigate the complexities of the market and connect effectively with clients is at an all-time high. Slade’s latest training endeavor in Louisiana is a testament to his commitment to meeting this demand, fostering growth, and instilling a culture of continuous improvement among sales teams in the HVAC, plumbing, and electrical sector.

As companies look to the future, the importance of robust sales training tailored to the unique demands of the HVAC, plumbing, and electrical industries cannot be overstated. Slade’s work in Louisiana is a shining example of how focused, on-site training can make a significant difference in a company’s trajectory. With Slade’s guidance, the team is now better positioned to tackle the challenges ahead and achieve new heights in customer satisfaction and sales performance. Plus, Slade keeps himself available to advise and troubleshoot after the on-site if needed.

Want to schedule Slade to personally overhaul your HVAC, plumbing, and/or electrical sales team? Start by attending a mansion event! Check out more info here: https://www.leadninjahvac.com/mastermind

About Gene Slade

Gene Slade, CEO of Lead Ninja System, is a pioneering force in the realm of AI outbound sales, sales training, and business development. With a steadfast commitment to empowering professionals in the HVAC, plumbing, and electrical trades, Lead Ninja AI offers transformative AI packages that revolutionize the way business owners approach sales and growth through personalized responses, unlimited memory and recall, and total versatility. For more information, please visit leadninjaai.com and https://leadninjasystem.com/

Published by: Martin De Juan