April 9, 2004

The May Report: 4/09/2004: New CEO very much on the horizon at Efoora as the
wheels appear to now really be in motion; letters; events

Editor and publisher: Ron May, ron@themayreport.com, ronaldmay@aol.com,
773-525-3944.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

The Scoop section:

— Briefly noted, by Ron May

1. READER COMMENTS AND RESPONSES
1a. Luis Solano: RFID Information
1b. John P. Katsantonis: “WELCOME TO CHICAGO……..NOW GO HOME.”
1c. John H. Bishop: “National Volunteer Week” is April 18th-24th – Earth Day is
April 22nd – Support “Child Abuse Prevention Month” – Volunteer Match – “Get
out. Do good.”
1d. John P. Katsantonis: ?THE RESURRECTION FACTOR? (An Easter
message to readers of TMR)
1e. Paul May: Has moved and has new address/contact info.

2. OTHER (Events)
2a. Monday, April 12: WaBIO & TMAC Meeting April 12th; next USISTF Workshop
June 17th
2b. Monday, April 12: MEF: ?How to Develop a Marketing Strategy to Meet the
Challenges of the Internet? (repeat of Wheaton meeting in March)
2c. Wednesday, April 14: AMC Net/Content Chicago Meeting: Search Engines and
Content: Why what you say and how you say it determines your ultimate success.
2d. Wednesday, April 21: Chai Tech Professional Networking: Rob Sullivan:
“Packaging Your Potential: Lessons from a Job Hunter Who Learned the Hard Way.”
2e. May 5th and 6th: Indiana Venture Conference 2004, May 5-6 in Indianapolis
_________________
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_____________
Briefly noted, by Ron May

* I promised you an update on the Efoora story today and here it is. I
am comfortable and even confident that David Grosky is committed to making
certain that Efoora reaches the promised land, even if he cannot go
their with his flock, and to his credit he seems to realize that he must
step down as CEO for the good of the shareholders. Sources tell me that
Efoora may well be ready to put a biotech guy in as Grosky’s replacement
who would then be free to concentrate on the business of Efoora, which
at this point is largely limited to getting the FDA approvals for the
HIV and PRIMOS Glucose tests and getting the Mad Cow test validated in
Europe. As most of you know, the test for CWD already has received USDA
approval.

My sources also tell me that both Grosky and Rappin are willing to
return their shares, but that the process has to be coordinated so that the
return happens at the same time.

Part of the story here is the effort of a small but determined group of
shareholders to influence events. In that sense, Efoora, like many firms that
have a wide range of shareholders is very much of a democratic institution. At
the end of the day, the shareholders must decide on whether David Grosky will
stay on as Chairman, and exactly what role he will play. They must decide it
because it is their right to decide it. Based on many discussions I have had
with the players involved, they are anxious to assert that right. Efforts are
now being made to hold a shareholder meeting in the not too distant future.

My sources tell me that a shareholder committee will also probably be formed
for the purpose of establishing processes and procedures that will prevent any
irregularities in the handling of stock or anything else in the future, but
what is really needed, my sources tell me, is a stronger and better board of
directors. Furthermore, certain deals that may be in the works for additional
funding must be dealt with.

I must end with a cautionary note that the story appears to be a
developing one which is hard to pin down. Any arrangement has to be approved by
the board of directors and other parties. I will try to keep you posted on
further developments.

* I got a call from Joe Zingher, who has patented the ATM SafetyPIN and about
whom a Forbes article was written which we reprinted a few months ago. Joe
tells me that Forbes got the story wrong and he wants to tell me what the real
story is. Will have more on this.
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1. READER COMMENTS AND RESPONSES
1a. Luis Solano: RFID Information
From: “Luis Solano”
To:
Subject: RFID Information
Date: Fri, 9 Apr 2004 00:43:06 -0500
Organization: Trivalent Solutions, Inc.

Dear Ron:

Looks like RFID starting to appear on your radar screen.

RFID demand is being fueled by the mandates issued by Wal-Mart, Department of
Defense, Albertson’s , Target and others requiring that transponders (tags) be
placed on pallets and cases shipped to them beginning in 2005. These mandates
have already increased demand, which in turn has allowed hardware producers to
lower costs.

Standards for Electronic Product Codes (EPC) are being developed by EPC Global,
Inc. EPC will be the primary information written on the passive tags for
supply chain applications.

If your readers would like to find out more about RFID they can visit our
website at www.trivalentsolutions.com

Regards,

Luis Solano
President

T R I V A L E N T
SOLUTIONS, INC.

About Trivalent Solutions, Inc.

Trivalent Solutions, Inc. is a process improvement-based management consulting
firm. Our mission is to empower businesses to become client-focused,
best-in-class organizations by aligning people, processes and performance
measurement systems to increase productivity and profits while reducing costs.
We do this by bringing real-world experience and data-based solutions that help
transform your business from a department or function-focused operation to a
process-driven, customer-focused, best-in-class organization.

At Trivalent Solutions, we’re ready to harness this emerging technology for
your business. Our RFID solutions are designed expressly to help manufacturers,
distributors and service organizations select, implement and integrate RFID
into their supply chains seamlessly and successfully.

The way we see it, RFID isn’t just about physical hardware, tags and receivers
that meet the needs of your working environment. It’s also about the design of
the data an RFID solution provides, and the ways that data integrates with your
existing business processes. After all, even the best technology is only as
good as the process foundation it works from. And at Trivalent Solutions, our
business is helping to build strong foundations.
___________________
1b. John P. Katsantonis: “WELCOME TO CHICAGO……..NOW GO HOME.”
Date: Thu, 08 Apr 2004 13:43:26 -0500
To: ron@themayreport.com
From: “John P. Katsantonis”
Subject: “WELCOME TO CHICAGO……..NOW GO HOME.”

At 12:12 PM 4/8/04 -0500, you wrote:
Not sure if you have an opinion on this, but from initial research I’m finding
there’s a gap between the global firms with a limited focus on technology, and
small shops that don’t have the network/experience of a national firm. I’m
hoping to help fill that gap.

If you’re open to this kind of thing, I was wondering if you’d be interested in
letting me take you out for coffee in April to get to know each other. I’d
love to hear your insight into the prospect of “another PR shop on the block,”
as well as share info. on we’re both hearing & seeing in the tech market so far
this year. I’ve also included my bio.

Ron, should I handle this one?

“HELLO, Katey, Welcome To Chicago.” (And ignore the Subj: line above. I stole
it from a bumper sticker I saw in Texas, about three weeks after moving there.
Not very encouraging.)

Your wonderfully optimistic, seemingly logical conclusion is…..how should I
say it?

WRONG.

Chicago is a classic PR-generalist town, and has been, since long before anyone
with a typewriter ever found their way to Telegraph Hill. It also is NOT the
place to open the office of a Bay Area PR firm, because there’s not the
business here to support your overhead.

Believe me.

I know this because I’ve been doing tech PR since 1981. At that time it was
pretty much Regis McKenna “himself” and David Simon out of LA, who were the
California “tech-PR gold rush guys” (Regis took the credit and the spotlight
but David was the real pioneer.)

Here, Chicago’s tech community was mostly mainframe and midrange software
developers until shortly before the Electric Kool-Aid Dot-Com Acid Test was
administered. (BTW, you need to study the brief history of Chicago High-Tech,
about folks named “Flip” and companies beginning with the word “divine” before
going any further, Katey. Seriously. Trust me.)

Before the dot-bomb went off, most of Chicago tech, other than Motorola,
revolved around companies who developing various software applications for the
AS/400 platform. I realized at some point that this probably was because
Chicago is as close to Rochester, MN (home of IBM’s AS/400 division) as anyone
who hadn’t had to move there from Armonk would want to be.

In any case, your presumption is faulty inasmuch as not much of anyone here has
the budget to support the sort of “upper-middle-class” fee structure to which
Sabrina’s agency has become accustomed. And, to a great extent, there’s not
room for another tech PR firm, unless you’re willing to take about 1/3rd of
Horn’s usual Bay Area fees. If not less.

So……with all due respect, Katey, “RUN…….RUN LIKE THE WIND…..!!!!!”
::))

(OR……..actually, I think Slack-Barshinger still has an opening.)

“But seriously…………..”

The business would be here if the Infrastructure were here, but it ain’t. Never
has been.

Not that lots of folks in both the private and public sectors haven’t tried,
and aren’t trying now. But the dot-bomb thing left lots of people for dead,
killed lots more, and gave everyone who was doing business the normal way —-
like, you know, actually building PRODUCT, and stuff —- huge migraines, which
are only-just-now going away.

But Chicago never had the infrastructure of a SF-San Jose/Bay Area, a Boston,
or even a Texas. On the other hand, we DO have lots of smart folks here.
Because this is Chicago……the city of broad shoulders, good hearts, and
hard-working stiffs. Also, the Cubs.

So start networking, and you’ll probably learn that what I’m saying is (mostly)
true.

…………THEN you can go home! ::))

peace/out~jk
___________________
1c. John H. Bishop: “National Volunteer Week” is April 18th-24th – Earth Day is
April 22nd – Support “Child Abuse Prevention Month” – Volunteer Match – “Get
out. Do good.”
From: “John H. Bishop”
To:
Subject: “National Volunteer Week” is April 18th-24th – Earth Day is April 22nd
– Support “Child Abuse Prevention Month” – Volunteer Match – “Get out. Do
good.”
Date: Thu, 8 Apr 2004 17:08:12 -0500
Organization: John Howard Bishop

“National Volunteer Week” is April 18th-24th

Each April, millions of Americans get out and do good during National
Volunteer Week. Since the entire country is focused on volunteer service,
it’s one of the best times of the year to search for an opportunity. As per
our most recent user survey, 86% of volunteers are satisfied with their
experiences volunteering with organizations found through VolunteerMatch and
61% of volunteers report that they have become regular, ongoing volunteers
at an organization they found through VolunteerMatch.

Earth Day is April 22nd

The first Earth Day took place in 1970 with 20 million people participating
in a nationwide environmental protest. By 1990, Earth Day became global,
encompassing 200 million people in 141 countries, and making the protection
of the environment a worldwide issue. In the past 34 years, Earth Day has
led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency,
and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species acts.
Earth Day is an event anyone can participate in, so help support activities
that promote a healthy planet.

Support “Child Abuse Prevention Month”

Child abuse is a national tragedy, with 3 million cases reported every year
in the U.S. alone. Each April, “Child Abuse Prevention Month” raises
awareness about what can be done to help prevent the further abuse and
neglect of children. A blue ribbon has come to symbolize the fight against
child abuse and to support the efforts of agencies nationwide fighting to
protect children from abuse. Wear a blue ribbon this month, and consider
volunteering on behalf of this important cause.
For Volunteering Opportunities: www.volunteermatch.org/results/

Bottom Line Secrets Article: Volunteer Your Way to Health, Wealth and
Happiness -
bottomlinesecrets.com/blpnet/article.html?article_id=27434&ea=johnhbi
shop@earthlink.net&sid=E011904S6A

John Bishop – www.emotionalmastery.com
________________
1d. John P. Katsantonis: ?THE RESURRECTION FACTOR? (An Easter
message to readers of TMR)
Date: Fri, 09 Apr 2004 07:40:11 -0500
To: ron@themayreport.com
From: “John P. Katsantonis”
Subject: ?THE RESURRECTION FACTOR? (An Easter
message to readers of TMR)

Now that it’s Eastertime, Ron, I’m really aware of the concept of Resurrection.
Especially since the Orthodox and post-Orthodox Easters, and Passover, all
converged this week.

I especially wanted to wish you, your TMR readers, guys like Jerry Mitchell
(not that there’s anyone “like” him), Chris Dever (ditto) and Jim Charney, as
well as our current and past Chicago-area clients (Delta Mobile Software,
Ground Floor Finance, Open Channel Software, KidsDadsMoms.com, and Tomorrow’s
Software), my best wishes for their respective Holidays.

I’m really enthused about everyone’s chances for success, in each of their
chosen markets. Their intelligence, creativity, and diligence in sticking with
a tech market that’s been all been abandoned by outsiders is exemplary. But
it’s Springtime now, and Hope springs Eternal.

I’ve also been laughing a little at the phrase “Dot-Com Boomerang.” That
‘boomerang’ came back three years ago attached to a small thermonuclear device
called The Dot Bomb.

What we have here now, instead, is a full-fledged, post-dot-bomb Resurrection,
of doing business the old-fashioned way: creating a valuable product or service
FIRST, based on strict, specific needs, then taking it to market. Beyond that
there are no shortcuts.

This is, quite simply, how it works.

It was easy for some of us to see what was about to happen when the D-Bomb went
off. Having lived through a number of high-tech-business life-and-death cycles
during my eons in Texas, it was pretty painful to watch what essentially was a
slow-motion plunge off a tall cliff, here.

Fortunately, none of my current clients ever supped at the $20-Million Trough
or sucked at the Divine Teat, when the Electric Kool-Aid Dot-Com Acid Trip was
being administered. (As we’ve discussed, Ron, I tried to warn certain key
players here, at the time, that too much money was being given to startups that
didn’t deserve it…….”Oh, well.”)

Amazing, it was, to watch ten times the amount of capital flying around, that
ever should have been.
Not only was there no infrastructure to support the Chaos (nor is there now)
but no one knew enough to know how to parcel out their investments, much less
enact the Japanese model of self-restraint, patience, market seeding,
mindshare-growing, and gratification deferment.

Unfortunately, it was also like so many times back in grade school, when a
handful of kids would “spoil it, for the rest of the class.” (At least the
greedy, the punks, and the idiots are pretty much gone now, having either
disappeared to one of the Coasts or simply vaporizing, so the rest of us can
get down to the serious task of building winning businesses.)

And, at least now, there seems to be a groundswell of enthusiasm and momentum.

So I wish everyone well, congratulate everyone who’s managed to survive the
past couple of years…..tip my hat to the new Constitution, take a bow for the
new Revolution, smile and grin at the change all around me, pick up my guitar
(and my PC) and play, just like yesterday, then get on my knees and Pray we
don’t get fooled again.*

Peace/out~jk

John P. Katsantonis
Principal – The Katsantonis Group
Senior VP/Technology Practice – Northstar Counselors
(A Founding Partner of Pinnacle Worldwide)
www.pinnacleww.com
773-745-1348

*Pete’s birthday isn’t for another month (19 May, 1945) but I wanted to salute
him now and, in case he’s reading this, to tell him I still miss The Ox too.
(“…the bleedin’ wanker.” )
______________
Ron May here. Kat, three things. One, you are starting to write too much for
TMR. One letter a week that is not a rambler will do. This is turning into a
Meredith type situation. Two, Dever tried to unsubscribe yesterday. Makes me
wonder how the young lad is faring. Three, who is “Pete” as referenced in your
obscure footnote? Kat, everyone is not in on your inside baseball references.
You have to be more explicit.

And no, I am not unsubscribing Dever. If he does not like what I write, he can
respond. I am not into the taking my marbles and going home response. Dever
comes under the “I slept in the same bed with him and had to kick him all night
for snoring on our trip to New York” exception to the unsubscribe rule. He has
to do more than just send a request.
_________________
1e. Paul May: Has moved and has new address/contact info.
Subj: NEW Address and phone nbr change for Tricia and Paul May
Date: 4/6/2004 2:01:58 PM Central Daylight Time
From: paul@paulmayassociates.com
To: ronaldmay@aol.com

Well, we finally made the move to the burbs and I wanted to update you on
our new address and phone nbr.

Please make this change in your address book if you ever want to call,
write or even actually drop by someday.

11363 Steeplechase Parkway
Orland Park, IL 60467

h. 708.479.1177
w. 708.479.1111

Only 40 mins from Chicago ( at Midnight).

Tricia is due July 4th and is feeling great ( if you can feel great at 7
mos pregnant .
Hope all is well with you and drop us a line when you get a chance.

Take care and happy Springtime,

Paul and Tricia May
___________________
2. OTHER (Events)
2a. Monday, April 12: WaBIO & TMAC Meeting April 12th; next USISTF Workshop
June 17th
Subj: WaBIO & TMAC Meeting April 12th; next USISTF Workshop June 17th
Date: 4/6/2004 10:02:55 AM Central Daylight Time
From: info@chicagonano.org (Nik Rokop)
Reply-to: kkarasek@nlake.com
To: ronaldmay@aol.com (Ron May)

Dear Ron,

Don’t Miss the April 12th Co-Hosted Event by CMNC Partner Organization Women
Advancing Bioscience and the Technology Management Association of Chicago,
“Bioethical Decisions”

Women Advancing Bioscience (WABio) and the Technology Management Association of
Chicago (TMAC) proudly invites you to the upcoming event, “Bioethical Decisions
in a Pluralistic Society.”

The keynote speaker for the event, Dr. Janet D. Rowley, is an appointed member
of President George W. Bush’s 17-member Council on Bioethics and is
internationally recognized expert on leukemia and lymphoma. In 1998, Dr. Rowley
received the National Medal of Science, America’s highest scientific honor from
President Clinton.

WABio and TMAC invite you to join them for networking and dinner followed by
Dr. Rowley’s keynote discussion on bioethics. The event takes place, Monday,
April 12, at The Parthenon Restaurant, 314 South Halsted St., Chicago from 5:30
to 8:30 pm.

Event registration and additional information, including driving and parking
information, can be found on the TMAC website at
www.technologymanagementchicago.org. Registration including dinner, before
April 9th, is $30.00 for TMAC and WABio members and $40 for non-members.
Registration after the 9th is $40.00 for members and $50.00 for non-members.

If you have any questions regarding this event, please contact Keith Karasek at
kkarasek@nlake.com

============
Mark your Calendars:

CMNC’s recently announced 2004 Nanotechnology/Biotechnology seminar series is
presented in partnership with the US-Israel Science & Technology Foundation
(USISTF). This series of five seminars in 2004 focuses on nanotechnology
issues and opportunities in biotechnology from a global perspective. The
seminars are held at Northwestern University in Evanston and Downtown Chicago,
and linked via satellite to nanotechnology experts in Israel. Attendance is
FREE of charge and each seminar will be archived on the CMNC website.

The first seminar was held on March 24, 2004 and the next seminar will be held
on June 17, 2004. More information is available about this series at
www.chicagonano.org.

Please help us keep your contact information up-to-date. To change
your profile please click on:
www.123signup.com/Member?PG=1521297182600&P=15212971466182000

For further information contact
Chicago Microtechnology and Nanotechnology Community
Phone: (312) 404-4454
Email: info@chicagonano.org
www.chicagonano.org

Internal Reference No: 152129714661820122312268119100
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Management and Event Registration
___________________
2b. Monday, April 12: MEF: ?How to Develop a Marketing Strategy to Meet the
Challenges of the Internet? (repeat of Wheaton meeting in March)
Date: Thu, 08 Apr 2004 10:14:31 -0500
To: ron@themayreport.com
From: MEF Headquarters
Subject: MEF Newsletter – Chicago

MEF REPORTER
MIDWEST ENTREPRENEURS’ FORUM, INC., Volume 7, Issue 8a, April 2004

We have never had the amount of comments asking us to repeat a program before
this month. As we try to educate and inform our members about new trends
occurring that impact their business development we listen to their comments.
Because so many of our members requested us to repeat this program we have
agreed to their request. If you missed the last meeting held in Wheaton you
won’t want to miss this exciting, informative, and interactive program.

Come prepared to listen to knowledgeable professionals share their wisdom.
Bring your questions, as there will be a question and answer session. Leave
with the excitement of having new knowledge that you can immediately put to use
within your own company.

President
Jerry R. Mitchell

Come join us on Monday, April 12, 2004 for our Chicago Chapter Meeting:

A Panel Presentation
?How to Develop a Marketing Strategy to Meet the Challenges of the Internet?

Our meeting will be held at:

Chicago-Kent College of Law (IIT)
565 W. Adams, Chicago
Time: 6:00 8:00 p.m.
Cost: Free to members, $20 for non-members
(no reservations are required)

Adding the power of the Internet to your marketing arsenal means the
opportunity to offer new/different products and services. The Internet offers
small businesses an affordable way to compete for customers?whether in your
neighborhood or globally.

So let?s start by reminding ourselves of how well the internet has established
itself as a channel in the less than ten years its been on the go commercially.
According to IDC, 67 per cent of the US population has access to the Internet
already. So there?s a significant online market now. Roughly speaking, half the
developed world uses the Internet. The profile of that marketplace is quite
well understood, with surveys such as the Internet Tracking survey providing
six-monthly updates on user profiles.

In those ten years, we?ve seen the over-excitement of the dot.com boom and the
disillusionment when the balloon burst. Actually, both the excitement and the
disillusionment have been exaggerated. On revisiting these companies you will
find that two-thirds of them are still in business. In fact, some are now
thriving because competitors have closed and there are more potential customers
online.

As always, it takes longer for business, and consumers, to adopt new technology
and so we?re still quite a short way down the road to the integration of the
Internet as a channel of communication between organizations and consumers.

Search engine positioning may be just one part of an online marketing strategy,
but it is the fundamental part. It’s the baseline. If you are doing nothing
else, search engine optimization and keyword-related advertising can make up 80
to 90 percent of traffic.

So how should we go about using that new channel for marketing? Our starting
point is to identify the characteristics of that channel which distinguishes it
from other channels, so that we can begin to work out its strengths and
weaknesses vis-à-vis the competitive channels and that?s what the rest of this
editorial will focus on.

Information is becoming ubiquitous and cheap. Customers are being empowered
with far better information about marketers as well as their competitors. The
leveling of the information playing field has tilted the balance of power in
favor of customers. This shift in the balance of power demands radical changes
in the thought and practice of marketing. It requires reversing conventional
wisdom on the marketing concept, the marketing process and the marketing
organization. It requires marketers to come to terms with customer – initiated
marketing.

In the age of information democracy, these assumptions are being turned on
their head. Customers are arming themselves with information, and the hunters
have become the hunted. Buyers can now seek out the best sellers, and can
initiate relationships with sellers of their choice. The implication is
devastating for Industrial- Age marketing. It means that buyers do not need to
see advertisements, receive salespeople, or visit retail stores to obtain what
they want. They do not need to overpay out of price ignorance. They do not need
to exert physical effort to consummate a purchase. They can dictate whom they
will do business with, and the terms that they will do business on. The
information- rich regime empowers customers with a new set of capabilities.

Of course, in part this revolution is driven by some of the key characteristics
of the Internet. The world-wide web is essentially a ?pull? environment. You
choose to go to a particular web-site, rather than being ?pushed? to particular
information. We ?surf? the net, despite the efforts of marketers to drive us to
particular web-sites through conventional marketing messages delivered through
the email channel. Of course these behaviors are not mutually exclusive, but
the rapid increase in Spam is already reducing the effectiveness of the more
conventional approach. That reduction in effectiveness will increase as
consumers become more sophisticated in their usage, as anti-Spam software
becomes more sophisticated and more prevalent, and as anti-Spam legislation
becomes more effective. Your Internet marketing needs to be designed for a
?pull? environment.

The next key attribute of the Internet from a marketing perspective is its
transactional capability. Quite simply, there is no cheaper or more effective
channel for simple transactions, provided your web-site has been designed well,
from a consumer?s perspective. For companies, it has the huge advantage of
reducing costs. From the consumer?s perspective, it has the huge advantage of
saving them time. This makes it inevitable that it will become the channel of
choice for most simple transactions. This means that service becomes key. The
main differentiators for consumers become price and time. If you want to
maintain margins, you have to offer the consumer value-added services, which
save him or her time. Otherwise they will not be willing to pay the additional
cost.

What impact will this new high-service environment have on marketers? In the
nineties we learnt how to cross-sell to customers during a service telephone
call. We now need to learn how we make consumers aware of relevant cross-sales
opportunities during an Internet service transaction.
Finally, the other major characteristic of the Internet from a sales and
marketing perspective is that the relationship between the organization and the
individual becomes much more complex.

Conventional sales and marketing thinks of customer acquisition as a
three-stage process generate suspects, qualify suspects into prospects, and
convert prospects into customers. On the Internet, the relationship between
consumers and organizations becomes much more complex, with consumers playing
many different roles. Learning to migrate consumers across those different
roles becomes a key skill of the new marketing.

So shifting marketing activities to the Internet channel gives rise to
significant challenges:

· The Internet reduces the conventional information imbalance between
consumer and organization, which in turn will lead to a shift from business-led
marketing to consumer-led.
· Price and time become the key currencies in the new marketplace, with
consumers becoming willing to trade price for savings in time.
· This leads to a service-driven environment, where meeting the
consumers? requirements in how they want to deal with you, as well as in the
products and services you offer them, becomes key to success.
· The relationships between consumers and organizations become more
complex and sophisticated, requiring new marketing skills to manage them
effectively.

So how do we develop a marketing strategy to meet the challenges of the
Internet and take advantage of the emerging environment?

Plan now to be part of an intellectual capital endeavor where winning
strategies and integrated business solutions will be defined, examined and
debated. You’ll benefit from an agenda focused on one common goal developing
an integrated marketing strategy that fuels long-term, bottom line success. And
you’ll have plenty of opportunities to engage in stimulating, open dialog and
gain valuable inside information you won’t get anywhere else.

We invite you to join us at the premier event for top-level marketers and
e-business executives to engage in a thoughtful exchange of ideas with an
extraordinary group of speakers who understand how to target a message to the
most profitable behavior and leverage brand loyalty.

Tonight?s moderator is Jerry R. Mitchell President of Jerry R. Mitchell and
Associates, Inc. and President of The Midwest Entrepreneurs Forum. Panelists
are: Bill Carrier Director of Merchandising for an industrial supply company,
Rosemary Walter President of Mosaic Marketing Management, Inc. and John Schoeph
president of Reinhart Technologies Inc.
____________________
2c. Wednesday, April 14: AMC Net/Content Chicago Meeting: Search Engines and
Content: Why what you say and how you say it determines your ultimate success.
Date: Tue, 06 Apr 2004 09:26:17 -0500
Subject: AMC Meeting 4/14
From: “Harvey S. Tillis”
To: Ron May

AMC NET/CONTENT/CHICAGO MEETING
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 2004

SEARCH ENGINES & CONTENT: WHY WHAT YOU SAY AND HOW YOU SAY IT
DETERMINES YOUR ULTIMATE SUCCESS

Why does Google rank one piece of content higher than another? Is
there a magic formula you can employ – number of words, occurrence of
keywords, frequency of repetition – to guarantee a high placement?

Many factors are at play in the search engine game. Key among them
are the actual content of the page, and its relationship to other
pages. When building a website that pleases both crawler-based search
engines and visitors, your challenge lies in adhering to standards
and writing for your audience. We are pleased to present two
perspectives on this issue: from an in-house expert and a consultant.

The discussion will include:

* How site architecture, page elements and design technologies may
affect your search engine results.

* How going beyond just selling to providing useful, substantial
information can be key to long-term success with search engines and
visitors.

* How to write descriptions, meta tags and target keywords that
increase the relevance of your site.

* How careful organization of content elements helps search engines
understand the details of your site.

About our speakers

Randy Pickard manages the search engine optimization for iNest
Realty, a leader in online real estate, which competes with 500,000
real estate websites for traffic. Previously, Randy was the Director
of Electronic Marketing at Peapod, where he developed Peapod’s
comprehensive Internet marketing program from the ground up.

Jonathan Ashton is VP of Business Development, Mir Internet
Marketing. The company was formed in 1996 and is the exclusive
Internet Marketing and Search Engine Optimization partner of the
American Marketing Association. Mir’s clients range from nonprofit
organizations seeking to inform the public and potential donors about
their services to Fortune 500 companies looking to increase overall
profitability through intelligent search engine marketing.

WHEN
Wednesday, April 14, 2004

WHERE
Harold Washington Library
Lower level Multi-Purpose Rooms
400 South State Street, Chicago
(enter on the west side of building, Plymouth Ct.)

MEETING AGENDA
5:30-6:15 Registration, networking, light buffet
6:15-8:15 Introductions, card swap, presentation
8:15-9:00 Q&A, networking

COSTAMC members and full-time students free; non-members $10.

To register, please send an email to Hilary Marsh
indicating that you will be attending.

About NetContent/Chicago

NetContent/Chicago offers information, hot topics and current events
for the online content industry. Our network enables content
professionals to meet online and network in person during monthly
events held in downtown Chicago. Our events attract a diverse
audience of content management professionals, communicators, internet
and intranet managers from large corporations, small business,
nonprofits and government.

NetContent/Chicago is a Special Interest Group of the Association for
Multimedia Communications, , an organization
of people who make New Media happen. For more information about this
meeting, please contact Lisa Mayer or Hilary Marsh
.

**
Harvey S. Tillis
773-276-9320
TILLISWEB
Communication Through Interactive Media & Photography
www.tillisweb.com
_____________________
2d. Wednesday, April 21: Chai Tech Professional Networking: Rob Sullivan:
“Packaging Your Potential: Lessons from a Job Hunter Who Learned the Hard Way.”
From: Bruce Malter
Subject:
Date: Thu, 8 Apr 2004 22:31:14 -0500

APRIL MEETING

Chai Tech Professional Networking
Chicago Chapter

Wednesday April 21
Weinger JCC
Northbrook, IL 60062
6:30 – 9:00 pm

Our speaker for April 21st is Rob Sullivan. Rob is a Chicago-based
motivational speaker, career coach, and corporate trainer. He is the
author of “Getting Your Foot in the Door When You Don’t Have a Leg
to Stand On” (McGraw Hill). His subject is “Packaging Your
Potential: Lessons from a Job Hunter Who Learned the Hard Way.” Rob
has something to offer for people “in transition,” those who want to
make a job or career change and those who want to get more out of
their present job situations. Here are some of the subjects he will
cover:

* Have you ever thought to yourself: “I know I’d be great at that
job if only someone would give me a chance”, or “I would love that
job, but I could never make money doing that”?

* Do you struggle with the concept of networking and/or feel that
you have fewer valuable contacts than others?

* Do you ever find yourself apologizing for your age, level of
experience, or education?

* Have you sent out resumes for jobs you know you’d be perfect for
yet never received a response?

* Do you have trouble getting interviews or turning interviews into
job offers?

* Are interviews uncomfortable because you find it difficult to talk
about yourself without feeling like you’re bragging?

If you answered “yes” to even one of these questions, then you won’t
want to miss Rob Sullivan’s presentation at ChaiTech on April 21st.

Chai Tech is a Jewish professional’s forum for person to person technology
industry networking, community service, and developing social
relationships.

Chai Tech seeks to provide a framework to promote a Jewish presence in the
technology community, explore the role of Judaism in our business lives,
and bring shared values to the workplace.

For more information please visit
groups.yahoo.com/group/chaitechchicago/

Please feel free to pass this information along.

If you wish to be removed from the email list please just respond
__________________
2e. May 5th and 6th: Indiana Venture Conference 2004, May 5-6 in Indianapolis

Subject: Event: Indiana Venture Conference 2004, May 5-6 in Indianapolis
Date: Thu, 8 Apr 2004 16:45:54 -0500

Hello Ron,

When your next event list is published in the newsletter, could you please post
this event for your readers?

Regards,
kroe

Ken A. Roe
inception, LLC
7820 Innovation Blvd
Suite 205
Indianapolis, IN 46278-2721
kroe@inceptionLLC.com
www.inceptionllc.com

Direct# 317.610.2319
Fax# 317.610.2301

——————

The Indiana Venture Conference 2004: Bringing Entrepreneurs and VC’s Together

On May 5- 6, 2004 in downtown Indianapolis, the Indiana Venture Conference 2004
will provide an opportunity for entrepreneurs, investors and business leaders
to network and explore business opportunities. The inaugural Indiana Venture
Conference held in November of 2002 attracted nearly 500 attendees with
approximately 35 venture firms from fifteen different states.

Please read below for additional details on the conference agenda, panel
sessions and registration. Also learn more at www.indianaventureconference.com

Don’t miss your chance to be a part of the Indiana Venture Conference 2004!

——————
Schedule of Events
–
May 5, 2004
11:30 am – 5 pm
Lunch and Company Presentations

Enjoy a special VIP luncheon at the Indianapolis Zoo with guest speaker
followed by presentations from companies in all stages of growth next door at
White River Gardens. Attendance at the company presentations is limited to
institutional and accredited individual investors. This half-day session will
provide investors the chance to learn about the great opportunities available
in Indiana through the presentations of 10 companies carefully selected by some
of Indiana’s business leaders.

–
May 5, 2004
6-8 pm
General networking reception at White River Gardens

–
May 6, 2004
All conference events held at The Westin Hotel Indianapolis.

7:30 – 8:30 am
A breakfast presentation from the National Venture Capital Association,
President, Mark Heesen

7:35 – 8:35 am
General conference registration and continental breakfast

8:45 – 9:00 am
Welcome and introductions

9:00 – 11:55 am
General interest panel sessions

11:55 am – 1:45 pm
Lunch and Keynote Speaker, G. Steven Burrill, CEO, Burrill & Company
“Biotech 2004 – Life Sciences: Back on Track” Steven will discuss current
trends and investment opportunities in Life Sciences.

2:00 – 4:00 pm
Early stage and late stage track panel sessions

4:00 pm
Conference closing statements

——————
Panel Sessions
–
General Session:
–
9:00 – 9:45 am
“The State of Private Equity”
Investors discuss the present and future environment for investing in early,
growth, and late stage companies.
Moderator: Scot E. Swenberg, CID Equity Partners
Panelists: George M. Jenkins, Apax Partners; Charles E. Schalliol,
BioCrossroads; James C. Snyder, Hammond, Kennedy, Whitney & Company, Inc.; Gary
D. Stevenson, MB Venture Partners

9:50 – 10:35 am
“Creating a Passionate Growth Culture”
CEOs and investors discuss how to develop and maintain focus on growth in order
to inspire achievement and value enhancement.
Moderator: David W. Amick, Premier Capital Corporation
Panelists: Doug F. Cobb, Appriss, Inc.; Fred S. Klipsch, Klipsch Audio
Technologies; Robert S. Saunders, Chrysalis Ventures, LLC

11:10 – 11:55 am
“Assessing the Management Team in a Growing Venture”
Investors and a NASDAQ representative discuss the issues involved with the
proper management team as a venture attempts to grow toward an IPO.
Moderator: Dr. Donald F. Kuratko, Ball State University
Panelists: George J. Berry, Jr., NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc.; John H. Groth,
Beacon Global Advisors, Inc.; Dr. Charles O. Heller, Beacon Global Private
Equity Funds; Michael J. Rosenman, Paramount Capital Group

–
Early Stage Track:
–
2:00 – 2:45 pm
“Leveraging Resources: How to Get Something out of Nothing”
CEOs will discuss how they have utilized certain available ‘assets’ to add
value to their companies without spending cash.
Moderator: Steven J. Beck, Indiana Venture Center
Panelists: Scott A. Doughty, Financialware, Inc.; Ted R. Schenberg, Eldorado
Chemical Company, Inc.; Evan A. Werling, Moore Langen Printing, Inc.

3:15 – 4:00 pm
“Non-Return Driven Capital – The First $2 Million with no Dilution”
Company founders and venture capitalists discuss unique capital resources which
avoid or forestall ownership dilution.
Moderator: Dr. Sam V. Florance Jr., Purdue University Gateways Program
Panelists: Douglas G. Bailey, American Bailey Ventures; Dr. Dennis J. Barket,
Jr., Griffin Analytical Technologies; P. Ron Ellis, Endocyte; Dr. Peter T.
Kissinger, Bioanalytical Systems, Inc.

–
Late Stage Track:
–
2:00 – 2:45 pm
“Identifying and Executing Growth Strategies”
Company executives and institutional investors discuss how to identify
appropriate growth opportunities and how to fund and execute chosen growth
strategies.
Moderator: Jean L. Wojtowicz, Cambridge Capital Management Corp.
Panelists: Mike C. Gallman, Blueridge Industries; J. Mark Jones, River
Associates, LLC; John P. Vota, HillStreet Capital, Inc.

3:15 – 4:00 pm
“Controlling Your Destiny – A Management Buyout”
Corporate executives and equity sponsors discuss the challenges and benefits of
funding and transforming company ownership to its management team.
Moderator: Paul J. Count, PNC Business Credit
Panelists: Joseph P. Schaffer, Monument Advisors, Inc.; Michael D. Trebilcock,
Miami Computer Products & Consulting; William R. Yager, Midwest Cabinet Brokers

——————
Registration
–
Before April 30, 2004:

Venture Club of Indiana and
Indiana CPA Society Members $175
Non-Members $195

After April 30, 2004:

Venture Club of Indiana and
Indiana CPA Society Members $250
Non-Members $250
——————

For more information or to register for the May 5-6, 2004 Indiana Venture
Conference, visit www.indianaventureconference.com. To register for the NVCA
breakfast, e-mail your contact information to
info@indianaventureconference.com.
_______________________
The May Report Ron May: editor, reporter, commentator,
and publisher. 773-525-3944. E-mails for Ron:
ron@themayreport.com. Unless otherwise requested by
the sender, all correspondence addressed to Ron May
and/or The May Report is subject to publication in the
newsletter and on the website. To unsubscribe from the
free newsletter, go to www.themayreport.com, click on
the free newsletter and send and unsubscribe request.
_________________
END OF REPORT.