$Account.OrganizationName
  )
Diversity Matters Winter
In this issue
  • Achieving Organizational Excellence Through Diversity
  • Politics and Diversity
  • Winning the MarCom Awards
  • Red Condor
  • The Pinata
  • Media Review: Michael Richards
  • Tips for Talent Retention
  • A Holiday Meal
  •  

    Welcome to Mosaic Xpressions.  

    Welcome to the winter edition of Mosiac Xpressions, the quarterly newsletter brought to you by ASG Renaissance.  ASG Renaissance is a minority and woman-owned professional services firm specializing in Human Capital, Consulting and Marketing.  We are proud to present today’s most diverse issues and events in business and media.  Although Mosaic Xpressions has been created with the business community in mind, be on the lookout for topics the entire family can enjoy!

    Sincerely,
    Toni K. Walton
    Mosaic Xpressions

    Achieving Organizational Excellence Through Diversity

     
     

    As the face of the American consumer changes, businesses are finding that old business models are obsolete.  The challenge is to leverage the demographics for today and tomorrow. 

    In the United States, the Hispanic population is trending at 50% of the total population in the next 50 years.  Diversity and inclusion are fundamental values and a key business strategy to enhance competitiveness in the global economy. 

    A high performance organization with a productive and innovative workforce will not happen with yesterday’s business model and management practices.  It’s all about attracting and retaining the right talent. 

    The “war” for talent is intensifying, becoming more complex and costly, unless you have a strategy in place to manage the recruiting processes.  Evaluating your current recruiting process is critical to the success of your business.  If you need a comprehensive analysis of your recruiting processes, technology, and strategies, contacts Mosaic Advantage today!  Don’t wait, because your competitors will recruit your talent right from underneath your nose!

    Whether your business market is local or global, whether you are a manufacturer or service provider, Mosaic Advantage can help your business to develop and implement a strategy to achieve sustainable and improved business results.

    www.asgren.com

    Your One Stop Source for

    Diversity Services

    (313) 565-4700

    Politics and Diversity

     

    In January 1995, Dick Gephardt handed the Speaker of the House Gavel to Newt Gingrich after the Republicans declared a solid victory over the Democrats.  The election this November was more than just an end of an era for the Republican-controlled congress.  This election also resulted in the selection of Nancy Pelosi as the first woman to hold the position as Speaker of the House of Representatives.    

    Speaker Pelosi is a diversity champion that has served the multicultural and diverse neighborhoods of California's Eighth District, which includes most of the city of San Francisco, in the House of Representatives since 1987.  In the fall of 2002, she was elected by her colleagues as Democratic Leader of the House of Representatives.  She is the first woman in American history to lead a major political party in Congress.  Speaker Pelosi also served as House Democratic Whip and was responsible for the party's legislative strategy in the House of Representatives.     

    A graduate of Trinity College in Washington, D.C., Speaker Pelosi is married to Paul Pelosi and they have five children and five grandchildren.

     

    ASG wins MarCom Creative Awards

     
     

    We wanted to share some great news. ASG Renaissance won nine 2006 MarCom awards for media kits and marketing materials developed for Jaguar and Land Rover North America.  The MarCom Creative Awards is an international awards competition that recognizes outstanding achievement by marketing and communication professionals.

    ASG Renaissance was recognized for outstanding work with three Platinum Awards for the Jaguar Model Year Media Kit, Range Rover Launch Kit, and Jaguar XK Launch Brochure.  Platinum awards are awarded to entries that are judged to be among the most outstanding in the competition.  ASG’s Platinum Award winning kits and brochures were recognized for their excellence in quality, creativity and resourcefulness.  

    ASG received four Gold Awards for packaging developed for the Jaguar XK launch in Los Cabos, Mexico, Land Rover & Maria Sharapova Reception Invitation, Maria Sharapova/Land Rover Campaign Announcement Kit, and LR Articulated – a quarterly Land Rover dealer professional publication.  These entries were judged to have exceeded the high standards of the industry norm.

    ASG received honorable mention from the judges for the Land Rover Experience Brochure and additional Jaguar XK/Los Cabos packaging materials. 

    The MarCom Creative Award is administered and judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals. Entries are received from large public relation agencies, boutique design firms, production companies and freelancers.  Winners range in size from individual communicators to media conglomerates and Fortune 50 companies.  Judges are industry professionals who look for companies and individuals whose talent exceeds a high standard of excellence and whose work serves as a benchmark for the industry.  There were 5,000 entries from throughout the United States and several foreign countries in the MarCom Creative Awards competition.

     

    Internet Security

     

     

    Red Condor is a Managed Service Provider of comprehensive email security systems that eliminate spam, viruses, spyware, phishing schemes, and other offensive content -- dynamic, “living” threats to security and productivity. Red Condor’s next generation, behavior-based filtering technology eliminates fraudulent and predatory email based on absolute criteria that results in decisive action. The system’s design has built in zero tolerance for lost email, resulting in a less than 0.01% false-positive rate while achieving long-term spam block rates greater than 98%. The solution is precise and effective, establishing Red Condor as an industry thought leader with enthusiastic customers throughout enterprise, government, and service provider markets.

     

    Mosaic Advantage Invitation

     

    Leverage Diversity with Mosaic Advantage
    W
    orld Class Suppliers!

    Many organizations find it difficult to locate minority firms for their specific business needs.  Mosaic Advantage helps to facilitate the search and selection process.  All network suppliers are pre-qualified, certified and provide best-in-class services.

    So, whether you are a minority firm interested in joining Mosaic Advantage or you have sourcing needs for best-in-class services, contact us today at (313) 565-4700 or visit our website at: www.asgren.com

    Happy Holidays
    from Mosaic Advantage

     
     

    The Pinata

     

    Most people think of piñatas as a fun activity for children, but the history of the piñata is long and interesting.  Piñatas are thought to have originated in China where they were used to celebrate the New Year.  Marco Polo is believed to have brought the piñata to Europe, and in the 14th century it was adapted to the celebrations of Lent in Italy where ‘pignatta’ means “fragile pot.”  The custom later spread to Spain and the first Sunday in Lent became a fiesta called the ‘Dance of the Piñata.”

    At the beginning of the 16th century, the Spanish missionaries to North America used the piñata to attract converts to their ceremonies.  In Mexico, the piñata is traditionally shaped like a seven-pointed star.  The seven cones represent the seven deadly sins of greed, gluttony, sloth, pride, envy, wrath and lust.  Beautiful and bright, the piñata represents temptation with candies and fruits representing wealth and pleasure within.  Blindfolded participants, representing faith, are given guidance, “Higher!, Lower! Swing!” while others cry out deceits or false directions.  Eventually the piñata is broken and everyone shares in its blessings.

    Piñatas are especially popular during Las Posadas, a traditional religious procession that symbolizes the search for shelter by Joseph and Mary just prior to the birth of the baby Jesus.  During the reenactment, each participant travels from house to house carrying images of Joseph and Mary as they search for shelter. 

     

     

    Media Review

    Cloak and Dagger

    The Unveiling of Michael Richards

    Michael Richards should count his blessings that he did not incite violence during his failed attempt to fend off hecklers.  Professional comics, at least the successful ones, prepare their lines in advance of being heckled.  As a matter of fact, the best comics engage rudeness effectively with witty lines that entertain the entire audience.  

    It is rare that comics become so enraged and viciously attack a patron.  Richards left himself completely exposed and will forever be remembered for his botched stage performance. 

    The offensive and racist comments that Richards delivered during his act were unscripted, most revealing of his thoughts and beliefs about African Americans. 

    Did he deal a fatal blow to his career?..........stay tuned for the answer. 

    Toni K. Walton

    Tips for Talent Retention

     

    Do you focus on retaining staff?

    Yesterday's employee perks are today's standard fare. Therefore, it's essential that you offer your best workers more of what they want to keep them happy and on board.

    Take this quiz to rate your retention savvy:

    1. Another firm wants your top employee. You should:

    a. Remind employees that your firm offers many perks not available elsewhere.

    b. Match or beat the other company's offer.

    c. Create your own retention program that will accommodate your employees' needs—now and later.

    2. Sarah has worked long hours and weekends all month—sacrificing her family time—and you want to show her your appreciation. You decide to:

    a. Send her and her family to a local amusement park.

    b. Present her with the "Employee of the Month" award.

    c. Give her a bonus.

    3. You need more incentives for employees to stay. Aside from monetary perks, you offer:

    a. Flex-time for work/life balance.

    b. Progressive retirement plans.

    c. Stock option plans.

    4. Staff members seem restless, and you want to offer them better perks to stay. However, you're not sure what they really want. Your best bet is to survey employees now. If you wait for upper management's approval, you may lose valuable workers.

    a. True.                                   b. False.

    Answers:  1. c, start a retention program now to continuously monitor what employees need most.  2. b, thank Sarah for the time she "borrowed" from her family to help your firm.  3. a, do what you can to help employees balance work and family.  4. False. Reason: If you promise workers anything that top management doesn't support, failing to deliver will surely drive them away.

    Source: Manager's Legal Bulletin, Alexander Hamilton Institute Inc., 70 Hilltop Road, Ramsey, NJ 07446.

     

    Holiday Dinner Entree

    TURDUCKEN

    A gourmet de-boned duck inserted into a de-boned chicken that is inserted into a de-boned turkey.  Each meat layer is separated by stuffing. An average Turducken will feed 15 to 20 people

     

    Quick Links...

     

    email: mosaic@asgren.com
    phone: 313-565-4700
    web: www.asgren.com