Anoka Halloween Ambassador Candidate Samantha Meyer

October 21, 2016  |  Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.

In keeping with our mission to support the community in which we are located, Barna, Guzy & Steffen is sponsoring a candidate in the 2016/17 Anoka Halloween Ambassador Scholarship program. Samantha Meyer is a senior at Anoka High School this year and maintains a GPA of 4.01, along with participating in many extracurricular activities and sports. She is a member of the National Honors Society, Rock Climbing Club, Lacrosse, Concert Orchestra, and dance and is involved with her church. She also works at Stoney River Assisted Living in Ramsey. Her creativity shines in this spooktakular decorated BGS pumpkin she created to recognize BGS for her sponsorship and was on display at the Sponsor Dinner on Oct. 20th. Samantha sent the gift back to BGS with Attorney Joan Quade who attended the event. The Anoka Royal Ambassador Program raises money for scholarships for young women and its mission to “support the growth and development of young women in Anoka through scholarship, achievement, and grace.” Samantha’s goal is to attend the University of Minnesota next year to study dentistry.

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Is it Real or Make Believe?

October 20, 2016  |  Carole Clark Isakson

by Carole Clark Isakson My daughter and I recently enjoyed the weekend Renaissance Festival.We expected to be delighted by the disguises and costumes and this event did not disappoint! The make-believe is fun and often we’re too excited to question – “ who is behind the mask?” Possibly my character, possibly my training, but I’m always curious as to what lies behind the facade, so I asked one particular long-haired-leather-wearing-sword-wielding giant of a man what he did during the week, “I sell car insurance!” he happily told me. Love it, that radical change between real and make-believe is fabulous… in the entertainment industry! However, in the more traditional business settings disguises and make-believe can be dangerous. All kidding aside, this is a question we need to ask ourselves in ANY business setting… with whom am I doing business? Start by asking this question with regards to your suppliers, customers, and business associates. Suppliers may all look excellent at first, as you are greeted with professional marketing pieces and a vibrant website. But who is behind that mask? Before betting some of your company’s success on a supplier, ask some hard questions. What is the company’s financial condition? Has it been sued? Filed for bankruptcy relief? Owe taxes? Many of our attorneys can check…

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Seminar by BGS Attorney Carole Clark Isakson Successful

October 18, 2016  |  Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.

BGS attorney Carole Clark Isakson continues her long tradition of partnering with Forius NACM North Central to educate trade creditors in the bankruptcy area. Forius NACM North Central, a proud affiliate of the National Association of Credit Management, is dedicated to serving the needs of commercial credit professionals. Why Does Forius work with Carole? Forius President and COO Toni Nuernberg said , “Carole always brings a wealth of information to our members. After her most recent presentation, I asked members for feedback. They said Carole provide relevant information that is easy to understand and somehow manages to make what could be a “boring topic” come to life. Our members love her!” Forius members attended Carole’s seminar on October 11, 2016 at the Forius office in Minneapolis. Topics included: 1. Filing a proof of claim (when, and WHY!). 2. 503(b)(9) claims – the all too frequently missed opportunity to get your claim paid FIRST (which is often the difference between payment and no payment) 3. 546 reclamation rights – getting your widgets back, or at least obtaining an enhanced claim (again, it’s all about getting paid) 4. Critical vendor status – when you can rely on the “don’t worry you’ll be paid we need you” statement from the account manager… and when you CAN’T…

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