B2B Workforce Celebrates 2006 and Moves Full-Speed Ahead into 2007

Here we are again: Returning back to work from the hustle and bustle, family, food and Alka Seltzer of the holiday season. Although this scenario has the distinct feeling of déjà vu, 2006 was a landmark year in its own right for B2BWorkforce and the Super Consultants with whom we partner. With the help of our Management Team, we have compiled a list of the top B2BWorkforce successes of 2006. Also, so as not to rest on the laurels of our '06 achievements, we created a list of our top goals for 2007.

Neither of these lists would exist without our B2B Workforce Consultants working hard in the field, and moving the bar higher and higher with their achievements. Each one of us at B2BWorkforce sends warm thanks to each of you for all your contributions this past year and we sincerely hope to continue our working relationship into 2007 and beyond!

Some of our 2006 achievements include:

1. B2B engaged over 750 experienced Consultants in 2006!
2. B2B was awarded the SAP Premier Partner designation in May 06. We are one of four firms in North America with this level of partnership with SAP America.
3. B2B was once again awarded the Catalyst Top 50 Entrepreneurs and Atlanta Business Chronicle Top 50 Fastest Growing Companies, and was named the 24th Fastest Growing Company in Atlanta by the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
4. B2B developed the Solution Architect Program led by Practice Manager, Ray Kelly to assist our customers with their SAP project design and implementations. The biggest impact of this program is an increased gain of client trust, allowing us to more effectively influence project direction and ultimate success. Secondly, our consultants appreciate a clearer scope of work, allowing for a quicker and smoother transition delving into the meat of the project.
5. Tim Shearer was hired in March as B2B's Vice President of Strategic Accounts, following his tenure as VP at BearingPoint. B2B enjoyed immediate impact on the business as he helped to drive the direction of the company. Tim was named CEO in November.
6. Until 2006 the recruiters and delivery personnel for Oracle and SAP were two separate organizations. In November Rick Joyce became VP of Delivery and with Tim Shearer (CEO) and Ted Justiss's (COO) help, he began integrating both Oracle and SAP businesses to better leverage our Delivery personnel.
7. The B2B Talent Delivery Center (TDC) maintains our Candidate and Vendor Alert program as well as assists the recruiters in identifying available resources. The TDC became fully integrated and we are seeing big impact month over month in the business.

Looking forward to 2007, the primary goals for billable consultants will continue to be specialization and training to keep up with rapid upgrades and enhancements to both the SAP and Oracle suite of products. Our primary goal is to continue leveraging our solid relationships with our primary clients and expand the business accordingly. Below are a few specific goals:

1. Improve Relationships with our Consultants:
• Look for a critical Consultant Survey in your email this month seeking your input on how we can become your "Employer of Choice" when working on consulting engagements.
• Solidify a Preferred Status for our loyal B2B Consultants with premier clients like SAP America and Accenture for priority consideration on leading edge projects.
2. Improve our relationships with our Clients.
• Continue to break our own personal record of number of B2B Consultants we have on engagements at Accenture and IBM.
• We are partnering on key opportunities in PeopleSoft with BearingPoint, Accenture, IBM, CSC, and Deloitte Consulting.
• Expand our offerings into new technologies with EAI and BI focus.
3. B2B is also expanding our marketplace channels to include new System Integrators and Direct to Market Clients.
• Hire a Direct to Market Account Manager.
• Grow with CSC and Deloitte Consulting opportunities.

Critical HR Updates

401K Information for 2007 - PLEASE NOTIFY ANY CHANGES BY FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 2007

For 2007, the maximum amounts you can contribute to your 401(k) plan, as set by the IRS is shown below:

2007 401k Contribution Limit: $15,500
2007 Catch-Up Contribution Limit (only for those over 50 years old): $5,000

If you currently are enrolled in the B2B Workforce 401K plan, please notify hr@b2bworkforce.com if you would like to increase your contribution in 2007 no later than Friday, January 12th.

You are eligible to participate in the B2B Workforce 401K plan at the beginning of the quarter following 3 months of employment.

IMPORTANT UPDATE TO YOUR UNITED HEALTHCARE NETWORK OF LAB SERVICE PROVIDERS:

As we approach 2007, United Healthcare has announced an important change to their network of laboratory service providers. They have reached a ten year agreement with Laboratory Corporation of America (LabCorp) to be UnitedHealthcare's single national provider for laboratory services effective January 1, 2007. LabCorp's national breadth and expanding capabilities is expected to complement their wide range of local and regional laboratory service providers.

Also effective January 1, 2007, Quest Diagnostics will no longer participate in UnitedHealthcare's network except in limited markets.

To view a list of participating laboratories for 2007, visit our UnitedHealthcare Lab Locator.

Health Tip from Web MD:

Tips to Reduce Stress

Stress is our response to daily life. It affects us emotionally, physically and behaviorally. The right amount of stress can be a positive force that helps us to do our best and to keep alert and energetic. Too much stress, however, can make us tense, anxious, and can keep us up at night.

What Are the Signs of Stress?

Common signs of stress include depression, insomnia, tension, anxiety, work mistakes, poor concentration and apathy, among many others. If high levels of unwanted stress are not properly managed, your health and sense of well-being can suffer. Therefore, it is important to learn how to manage stress.

Stress Busting Tips

• Assess what is stressful: The first step in getting a handle on stress is to figure out what is causing your stress. Take a good look at your daily activities and see what is causing stress in your life. Once you identify your stressors, you can take steps to reduce them.
• Seek social support: Spending time with family and friends is an important buffer against stress. It can be helpful to share your problems with people who care for you.
• Practice thought management: What we think, how we think, what we expect and what we tell ourselves often determine how we feel and how well we manage rising stress levels. You can learn to change thought patterns that produce stress. Thoughts to watch out for include those concerning how things should be and those that over generalize sets of circumstances (for example, "I'm a failure at my whole job because I missed one deadline.") Many commercial audiotapes and books can help you learn thought management exercises.
• Exercise: Exercise can help you blow off steam thereby reducing stress. In addition, flexible, loose muscles are less likely to become tight and painful in response to stress.
• Eat a healthy diet: Junk food and refined sugars low in nutritional value and high in calories can leave us feeling out of energy and sluggish. A healthy diet, low in sugar, caffeine, and alcohol consumption, can promote health and reduce stress.
• Get adequate sleep: A good night's sleep allows you to tackle the day's stress easier. When you are tired, you are less patient and easily agitated which can increase stress. Most adults need 7-8 hours of sleep per night. Practicing good sleep hygiene tactics can help improve your quality of sleep.
• Delegate responsibility: Often, having too many responsibilities can lead to stress. Free up time and decrease stress by delegating responsibilities.

Link to article: http://www.webmd.com/content/article/104/107651.htm

FUN STUFF

B2B Workforce Explores~ Winter Travel Deals:

All work and no play? Well we all know how that cliché ends. If you are planning to take a break this winter, check out some of the following winter vacation destinations recommended by expedia.com. Happy Travels!

Expedia is currently advertising a Sunny Getaways Sale as follows:

"Instead of just wishing you could escape winter-book a getaway today! Special deals include free nights or up to $100 in resort credits (and more) at top tropical resorts in Hawaii, Mexico, Florida, and the Caribbean. Bask in sunny days and enjoy the balmy nights. Book your escape today (before all the rooms are gone)."

Here are the basics on the warm-weather winter getaway deals:

Hawaii- Expedia is offering one free night when you purchase airfare plus a hotel stay of three nights or more through their site. Deals on the Big Island start at just over $900 for airfare and a 4 night stay at a 4 star hotel for one person (the 5th night is thrown in for free). Sale prices on the smaller islands (Oahu, Maui and Kauai) are similar and range from $764 to just over one thousand dollars for a 4 or 5 night stay in a 3 and a half star hotel or better with the 5th or 6th night thrown in for free (includes airfare).

Mexico- If you wish to slip south of the border for a little mid-winter sunshine, Expedia is offering up to $100 resort credit toward resorts located in Cancún, Riviera Maya, Cozumel, Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos, and more. Deals range from $822 to just over one thousand dollars per person for a 4 night stay in a three star or better resort plus airfare. The best part of this deal: some of the listed resorts are all inclusive!

Florida- The offering here is 20% off a hotel stay of 4 nights or more. The special applies to several cities in Florida such as Orlando, Miami, Tampa and Daytona. Whether you would like a quick trip to see the home of world's most famous mouse or prefer the glitz and glamour of South Beach you can choose from several hotels ranging in price from $300 to $600 per person. The price includes a 4 night stay and airfare.

The Carribean- Expedia's deals on Carribean winter vacations start at just $503 per person for airfare and a 4 night hotel stay. Vacation packages are offered in Carribean locations such as Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Bermuda, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Aruba, St. Lucia, Grand Cayman and more.

One restriction on all these travel deals: you must Book by February 19, 2007 for travel through March 31, 2007. To learn more visit Expedia's website: http://www.expedia.com/daily/deals/sunny-getaways/default.asp?mcicid=Sunny_Getaways_1206?rfrr=-22847