Robbie F. Woods, entrepreneur, is a wheeler and dealer in the world of real estate and business. A darned nice guy, he does his best to overcome obstacles Fate seems to haphazardly hurl his way. Sitting in jail too often and being accused of a murder come to mind. Golfing adventures, misadventures, and former high school escapades somehow occasionally block his path, although he manages to circumvent them in one way or another. A bachelor by preference, he winds up with a family of cats and groundhogs but still longs for the stability of marriage and children. With the considerable help of his sister, Jessica, an attorney, his brother-in-law, Ken, a dentist, and his father figure, Chris, Robbie manages more often than not to successfully tackle the ineffable striving that plagues some of his dreams. He does so with aplomb, a good heart, and a round or two of golf on a summer night. That and an occasional visit to a covered bridge in Wyandot County.

In the early morning a couple out walking is horrified to discover the body of a woman impaled on a fence surrounding the prestigious Harding Memorial. Is it murder? Who could it be? The city of Marion, Ohio is abuzz with conjectures but answers are not readily forthcoming. Eventually it is learned that the dead woman was a notorious judge in Columbus, Ohio. But why did she die? Who could have hoisted her body onto the fence? Attorney Jessica F. Woods, her brother Robbie, and her husband Dr. Ken Halberstrom reflect on their involvement with the deceased Susan Dial. A former sweetheart appears and an inmate escapes from prison to muddle Jessica’s life. Another man who got away with the murder of a young waitress years ago returns to town seeking revenge. Events at the men’s golf invitational at River Tree Country Club might begin to provide resolutions.

Jessica F. Woods, attorney of record, experiences the romantic and professional vicissitudes, the ups and downs of life in Columbus, Ohio, where she is immersed in the beginning practice of law for a prestigious firm breaking into the central Ohio market. Young, single, and beautiful, Jessica wrestles with navigating through her past and her lawyer father's sudden death as she engages with leftover clients from her dad's estate. Along the way, her professional colleagues, family, friends, boss, new clients, and a recalcitrant Maine Coon appear sometimes timely—sometimes unexpectedly—to make life particularly interesting, if not occasionally unnerving. Jessica manages them all with humor and practicality. A Lemontini now and then serves, too, as an anodyne if professional or romantic engagements get too hectic.

This second edition provides both a history of black entrepreneurship in America throughout all periods of American history and a roadmap that explains the steps that prospective entrepreneurs must take to achieve success in business. This second edition of The African American Entrepreneur explores the lower economic status of black Americans in light of America's legacy of slavery, segregation, and rampant discrimination against black Americans. The book examines the legal, historical, sociological, economic, and political factors that together help to explain the economic condition of black people in America, from their arrival in America to the present. In the process, it spotlights the many amazing breakthroughs made by black entrepreneurs even before the Civil War and Emancipation. Part One explores the history of African American entrepreneurs from slavery to the present; Part Two provides a primer and roadmap to success for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Marketing often scares entrepreneurs. They've sweat buckets coming up with a valuable product or service, and now they have to sell it? Won't it sell itself? No. But, as marketing expert Bob Everett shows, marketing is just not that hard. At some level, entrepreneurs know that. They know what appeals to them and what leaves them cold. They know when a person or marketing claim is trustworthy, and they know when claims are exaggerated. Yet when it comes to marketing their own products and services to others, entrepreneurs often find it difficult to apply that same judgment and common sense. Everett to the rescue! He helps entrepreneurs position products in the market, then sell them effectively and ethically. Everett first destroys marketing myths: • Marketing is difficult and needs to be done by professionals. • Good marketing has to be expensive. • Marketing skills require extensive training • Marketing requires a great deal of creativity These myths have spawned a multi-billion dollar industry consisting of advertising agencies, public relations firms, marketing consultants, and academic marketing programs in business schools. But as this book shows, marketing is a simple process that anyone can master—and that entrepreneurs must master if they are to succeed. Fortunately, the most effective marketing programs are usually the most honest, simple, and inexpensive. The Entrepreneur's Guide to Marketing is designed to help the entrepreneur, business owner, manager, or marketing professional harness his or her own inner wisdom and personal experience to develop powerful and efficient marketing programs. Both a how-to and a how to think about it book, it takes readers through a step-by-step process of figuring things out for themselves. The result? A successful marketing program that will help entrepreneurs harvest new customers, more dollars, and overall success.

Praise for Private Capital Markets Valuation, Capitalization, and Transfer of Private Business Interests SECOND EDITION "In the years since publication of the first edition of Private Capital Markets, the concepts and ideas that it presents have been widely accepted by progressive members of the business valuation community. Now with the Second Edition, author Rob Slee has included empirical data on capital markets for midsized businesses. This book remains a must for everyone involved in appraising, buying, selling, or financing privately owned businesses." Raymond C. Miles, founder, The Institute of Business Appraisers "The Graziadio School of Business has used the Private Capital Markets book for several years with great success. This course, along with the Pepperdine Private Capital Markets Survey project, has helped our students better prepare for careers in middle market companies." Linda Livingstone, Dean of the Graziadio School of Business and Management, Pepperdine University "Our international association of independent M&A professionals recommends this text as the most comprehensive foundation for understanding the private capital marketplace. This book is essential reading for middle market M&A advisors, investors, and other decision-makers in the private capital markets." Mike Nall, founder, Alliance of M&A Advisors A practical road map for making sound investment and financing decisions based on real experiences and market needs Now fully revised and in a second edition, Private Capital Markets provides lawyers, accountants, bankers, estate planners, intermediaries, and other professionals with a workable framework for making sound investment and financing decisions based on their own needs and experiences. This landmark resource covers: Private business valuation Middle market capital sources The business ownership transfer spectrum And much more Private Capital Markets, Second Edition surveys the private capital markets and presents the proven guidance you need to navigate through these uncharted waters.

Any company violating the public trust today puts itself at a disadvantage. Competitors who are more eager to please their clients will gain the upper hand by developing trusting relationships. Readers are exposed to ethical problems, striking examples of unethical conduct, and a variety of moral dilemmas and temptations businesses encounter every day. The aim of this book is to teach from the mistakes of the well-known cases described and to show how to avoid, and how to respond best, should the worse scenario occur.