PLUSS Corporation Newsletter March 2005 - Archived newsletters are here

1. PLUSS Corporation News

2. Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America, Inc. and PLUSS Corporation are teaming up!

3. Disaster Recovery Plans (DRP) explained

4. Control & Effective Management of your Business (Part 7 of 8)

5. PTM ES auto updating service

6. PLUSS Publishing

1.) PLUSS Corporation News

Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America, Inc. and PLUSS Corporation are teaming up!

Press Release:

Columbia Falls, MT. PLUSS Corporations is an aggressive service company with a sharp focus for finding long-term growth opportunities in the heavy-duty trucking and automotive industries. PLUSS Corporation has recently released an upgrade to their industry leading Part Time Manager software in preparation for future alliances with major vendors and their clients. This revolutionary business management software has been named PTM Echelon Suite for the profit levels it can help you achieve. Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America, Inc. (MFTA) has worked diligently to offer their dealer network the same level of success while making communications between vendor and dealer more seamless. Because of the levels of service and success PLUSS currently provides dealerships, MTFA has chosen PLUSS Corporation to provide software and business solutions for their Mitsubishi Fuso Dealer Network. This partnership is creating a team that will achieve long lasting results.

"We purchased the PTM Business Management Software for our dealership nearly 3 years ago. PLUSS Corporation has provided myself and my employees with a very high level of Education, Consulting, Support, and friendly service that has helped us utilize our investment in PTM to the fullest. The wealth of reporting provides up-to-the minute information throughout the system that gives me sales tracking and forecasting I only dreamed of before. I would recommend PTM and PLUSS Corporation to my all of my peers in the Mitsubishi dealer network!" - Rich Jukonski Jr, Jukonski Truck Sales, Middletown, CT

“Our dealers are very happy with the relationship they have established with PLUSS Corporation and with the support they receive from their Specialists. They are extremely pleased with the return on investment along with the degree of reporting, efficiency, company controls, and proper financial record keeping" - Orin Black. VP Business Operations, MFTA.

PLUSS Corporation specialized in complete Heavy-Duty truck/Automotive dealership and repair shop management. Since 1983 PLUSS has been providing PC based Heavy Duty Business Management System solutions. Their solutions have integrated accounting/payroll, automated inventory/labor controls, and preventative maintenance specifically geared to minimize overhead while maximizing profit.

End Press Release:

The February GLBA seminar went better then expected. Because of this, PLUSS is planning a summer conference towards the end of July. This conference will start with 2 days of PTM related classes and hands on training followed by lectures given by Judy Peterson discussing favorable accounting practices and Jeremy Martin covering Disaster Recovering Planning (DRP) and minimizing damage from common threats. The common threats lecture will include items such as disgruntled employees, malicious programs, and hardware failures.

Darryl Padgett recently returned from another series of successful on-site visits. During an average onsite-consulting visit, Darryl not only teaches customers how to run the PTM Echelon program and modules, but also focuses on each department’s procedural practices. His expertise has helped companies save thousands in inventory control, time tracking, and business management. PLUSS Corporation has several experts that commonly travel to a customer’s location with similar success.

Personnel

Jeremy Martin has written 2 articles that will be published soon. The first article will be published in Engine Builder magazine; the article will encompass technology in the automotive world. Engine Builder magazine is geared towards the engine rebuilder and preformance racing industries. The second article titled “Physical Security Design Considerations”, will be published in Hackin9 magazine. Hackin9 magazine is an international publication printed in 6 different languages and distributed globally. Award winning jounalist, Jessica Erickson of Kona communications interviewed Martin recently about his extensive experience with Disaster Recovery Plans (DRP)—watch for that exciting interview this month in Successful Dealer publication.

Jeremy has recently received several honors relating to his expertise in understanding the security business sector. These honors include being awarded member status in the American College of Forensic Examiners Institute (ACFEI), Level III Certification in Homeland Security (CHS-III), and a membership position on the CHS Preparation and Response Team in the ACFEI’s Engineering and Technology division. The ACFEI is an international membership association, providing a reliable and credible forum for ethical and professional standards for forensics. His designation as a CHS-III is limited to a select group of professionals who have demonstrated, by virtue of their experience, training, knowledge, skill and education, and a total commitment to Homeland Security.

The ACFEI recognized Martin for his 10+ years of experience and training in computer forensics & ethical hacking, as part of their desire to make a special note of the experience and education of individuals engaged in forensic examination and multi-disciplinary training in the individual's field. This underlines the fact that in the security industry, it is essential to have the proper experience and credentials to become a trusted partner to clients and business associates and it validates Martin's expertise in his field. Martin now holds the Information Security industry’s top credentials including the CISSP, ISSMP, ISSAP, CHS-III, CEI, CEH, along with several other IT and networking related certifications. Jeremy also writes for several trade magazines and online publications while volunteering his spare time to non-profit high-tech organizations, helping develop industry standards. OEMs, dealerships, and repair shops can rest easy knowing that PLUSS Corporation’s Director of Communication is keeping ahead of today’s standards in expectation of the future!

2.) PTM - Quick Tips

* PTM Echelon update service: From the main menu, press “Ctrl+Tab”, “G”.

* PTM Echelon read recent version changes: From the main menu, press “Ctrl+Tab”, “H”.

* PTM Echelon printer setup: From the main menu, press “Ctrl+Tab”, “D”.

MISCELLANEOUS

3.) Disaster Recovery Plans (DRP) explained

Disasters happen all the time. It is not a matter of “if” it is going to happen; it is a matter of “when”. They can range from a small power outage that knocks the network off line for a few minutes to a tornado that wrecks havoc on everything in it’s path. Through planning and preparation, potential loss can be minimized to a predictable level.

Most companies require computer systems to keep up with customer demand. Retail outlets are a great example of a business model that requires a high level of availability to properly service customers. One hour of downtime can instantly cost thousands of dollars during the emergency and thousands of dollars in residual cost and future profit.

Many businesses do not have a Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP) in place. A DRP is important to create and only addresses the Information systems or Data Center. Many people confuse this with a Business Continuity Plan. Both are an investment that takes time and resources, but it may save your business in the long run. Once a company realizes the value in creating a DRP, they need to figure out what needs to be protected (these are called assets) and how. The steps for creating a DRP should include:

• Creating the team

• Defining business goals

• Identify threats

• Identify requirements

• Identify personnel

• Identify single points of failure

• Identify safeguards to minimize risk

• Writing the document

Read more: Visit DRP-Overview.pdf

Jeremy Martin CISSP, ISSMP, ISSAP, CHS-III, CEI, CEH, CCNA, Network+, A+

4.) Control & Effective Management of your Business (Part 7 of 8)

There are many very important components that are the base on which to build a successful company. What many owners don’t grasp is the true fact that the greatest asset they can possibly have in building a truly successful company is a good employee.

This month we will look at expectations of owners and employees and the characteristics of building a successful company with teamwork.

THE EMPLOYEE FACTOR

Business owners that have built financially successful companies share a common theme. Surround yourself with good people. These owners share 5 common rules:

ü Entrust employees with both responsibility and authority

ü Respect your employees

ü Show your employees gratitude when they make the effort to excel

ü Reward employees for a job well done

ü Be confident enough in yourself as owner to listen and act on employee recommendations and observations without feeling threatened

We all know it is not easy to just go out and hire the “perfect” employee. What does work is to give them room and authority to grow. I have had successful owners tell me “I have never hired a BAD employee, but I have created some!”

Giving employees ownership of day-to-day issues will encourage them all to pull in the same direction and use their own minds. They will learn to work with you, not just for you. Face it, people enjoy challenge and by taking on the challenge, it gives them the opportunity to excel. As an owner, you cannot continually look over the employees shoulder… give latitude and allow them to experiment. If you give employees what they want, they get you what you want.

You are probably wondering what the key is to maximizing input and efforts from your employees. One way is to reward their efforts by paying incentives based on the profits of the company. Share your financial information so they know what it takes to make a profit and to understand the real cost associated with each job. By doing so, employees will come to understand what it takes to maximize profitability. If employees know you are not tracking efficiency and profitability, they will tend to achieve the lowest common denominator of what they believe it should be.

Employees that know they are appreciated will give their best efforts. The key for owners is to set the tone and atmosphere of the working environment. The atmosphere you create sends a strong message not only to employees, but the trickle down effect will carry on to customers and vendors as well. By running a well-organized company, you send the right message to everyone.

Last but not least, invest in employee education and make changes that improve efficiency. Include employees as part of the process for change and improvement. Employees will help you achieve your goals…if you help them to achieve theirs!

Kenny Nau, Director of Sales

PRODUCTS AND SALES

5.) PTM ES auto updating service.

PTM Echelon Suite software is now ready for release. If your company Subscription Contract is in good standing you will be able to receive the ES Master Package software FREE of charge! If you desire to convert from PTM Version 6 to PTM ES, simply call the Sales Department and request the information. You will be sent a 6-page document that will include an overview of the ES program and a worksheet containing available upgrades for "add-on" products such as Touchscreen Timeclock/Admin, DTOB, PTM COMM, etc. The document will also show available conversion and support packages for you to choose from. Call Kenny in the Sales Department today for more information!

6.) PLUSS PUBLISHING…

1st Price Increase in 5 Years!!!

Effective As of March 1,2005 there will be a 5 percent increase from the printing plants. Although in the past we have chosen not to pass on the previous years price increases as to provide our customers with some of the best competitive pricing in the industry, in that effort to help maintain the lower costs we ask that payment be made in net 30 or less.

Thank you all for your support and we look forward to serving your publishing needs as we Spring forward.

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PLUSS Corporation

5565 Hwy 2 West

Columbia Falls, MT 59912