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Throughout the month, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we see many companies jump on the “pink bandwagon” simply for the month of October. Yet, about a year ago, one company in particular, The Pink Plumber, decided to change its entire corporate structure and devote its energyand financial resources to the cause. It’s now ingrained in the company and all of its employees, including many who have loved ones also affected by breast cancer to support this important cause.

Owner Geoff Gillon has a reason to be passionate about breast cancer research. He had a very personal experience with the disease, as his mother was diagnosed several years ago and is now a survivor. He helped her through tough times as she battled the disease and shared his story with his employees. As he sought to find meaning in the ordeal, he had an idea: to use his company to make a difference, and do what he could to raise awareness of the cause. As a result, last year, Aames Plumbing morphed into “the Pink Plumber.” Gillon painted his fleet of 40 trucks pink and completely re-branded the company. He sat each employee down and shared with them his mission. And he started giving back.

Gillon gives back 5% of his net profits year-round — and has done so since the company morphed philanthropically in March of 2010. The Pink Plumber has already donated $20,000 to the National Breast Cancer Foundation this year alone. And this month, he will raise the percentage donated to 10% and focus on helping provide mammograms for under or uninsured women.

 

A twenty plus year veteran of franchising, Stan Friedman is an “outside the box” thinker. In 1998, while directing global development for Blimpie International, he created an Urban Expansion initiative that was heralded by the media, as well as leaders of both the public and private sectors. This culminated in an invitation to the White House, where he participated in the President’s “Conference for Community Empowerment.”

Stan is a member of the board of the Southeast Franchise Forum and serves the International Franchise Association, (IFA) as First Vice-Chair of its Diversity Institute. He is a frequent speaker at business development conferences nationwide, contributes regularly to the IFA’s Franchising World Magazine and posts regularly to the blog at www.franconnect.com. StanFriedman is also the proud recipient of the IFA’s 2010 Ronald E. Harrison Diversity Award.

Specialties: Franchise development, franchise relations, marketing and public relations. Stan’s specialty is maximizing the valueproposition of franchising, for all parties concerned.

For More Information: www.stanfriedman.info

 

Shedding the Corporate Bitch is a personal story of author, Bernadette Boas, that details hertransformation from sassy young girl, into a greedy, power driven, and ego led corporate woman. Itwasn’t until she shed or let go of all of the angst, attitude and negative mindset, was she able to findhappiness and riches in her life!

Bernadette will be a Featured Speaker at Pena Global’s “Stay In The Game” Business Summit – January 14, 2012

 

The elite Afternoon in the Country event is in its 11 year as a much-anticipated fall food and wine tasting fundraiser.It includes inspired tastings by 85 of the area’s renowned culinary artists, paired with local farmers, and joined by top winemakers and brewers under festive big-top tents with live music, the famous cake raffle, huge silent auction and children’s activities. Proceeds benefit Georgia Organics and the scholarship fund for women in the culinary, beverage and hospitality arts. The event is hosted by Atlanta Les Dames d’Escoffier International, is held at Serenbe and is produced by ideaLand.

See http://www.cookswarehouse.com/about_us for more information on Mary S. Moore.

See http://ldeiatlanta.org for more information on Atlanta Les Dames d’Escoffier International

See http://georgiaorganics.org for more info on Georgia Organics

See http://idealand.com for more info on ideaLand