All posts by admin

Jon Curran – Heading to the U.S Open at Pebble Beach!

2010USOpenLogo
Image via Wikipedia

On June 7th, my good friend Jon Curran, qualified for the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. I have been fortunate to watch Jon grow up playing golf at Framingham Country Club. His commitment to the game is only matched by his family’s love and devotion to him. After 4 successful years leading the Vanderbilt Commodores, Jon turned professional last year. Over the last 12 months we watched him refine his craft on the Hooters Tour. Then came this year’s U.S. Open qualifying rounds.

“Playing the North Course at Canoe Brook, (Jon) Curran earned the final qualifying spot in a playoff over 2008 PGA Tour winner Parker McLachlin of Paradise Valley, Ariz. In the playoff, Curran safely hit his approach shot from 155 yards into the middle of the green on the par-four first hole. After McLachlin missed his three-foot par putt, Curran tapped in his putt for par and saw his U.S. Open dreams become a reality.”

As an aspiring PGA Tour golfer, Jon’s budget is tight.  Hotel’s in the Pebble Beach area are either sold out or $1,000 a night. If anyone reading this BLOG has a friend living in the Pebble area, that would host Jon, please let me know as soon as possible.  Jon is a great kid, and he would be appreciative of any hospitality.

As Jon plays in his first Major Golf Tournament, I wish him focus, tranquility and of course a bit of luck.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

A Golf Dream Becomes a Reality

ACE Colorado Golf Club Hole #6 001

As an obsessive, devoted golfer, there are certain things you dream about doing.

  • Breaking par (73 in 2009 is my best round – I choked on Pradera’s 18th hole)
  • Playing Pebble with your favorite golfing buddies (need to get this done – $500 is a little much but worth it)
  • Playing Ireland with your favorite golfing buddies (did this in 2001 – amazing time, must do it again)
  • Qualifying to play in a state amateur event (at this point I might humiliate myself)
  • Playing in a pro-am event with your favorite PGA professional (Steve Stricker for me)
  • Making an ACE (did this today – 5/31/10 – at Colorado Golf Club)

I have been fortunate to witness 3 hole-in-ones in my 20 years of playing golf.  Every ball was struck perfectly, and looked good right off the clubface (Scott Tynan’s sand wedge in Myrtle Beach, Victor Galvani’s 9 iron on Framingham Country Club’s 17th and Todd Curlett’s 6 iron on Framigham Country Club’s 11th).  As their ball melted inside the hole, I could barley control my excitement.  In fact, given my perfect form-tackle, I am surprised no one was ever seriously injured.

Today (May 31, 2010), I was invited to play in the post Senior PGA Championship event at Colorado Golf Club in Parker, Colorado.  My buddy, Brad Kellogg and I decided to play the course from 7,100 yards, and experience how the pro’s recently played the amazingly difficult layout.

The weather was perfect, 80 degrees with a subtle, but steadily growing, southwest wind.  My warm up could not have been better; everything felt in sync – unfortunately this usually means I will play terribly.  That said the day seemed to start out well.  On the 630 yard (par 5) first hole, I hit a nice drive down the left side.  After two good shots, I was left with a 35 foot put.  Unfortunately, it took me 4 putts to finish the hole – as a confident putter, this result was not what I had anticipated.  On the third hole the pin was tucked in the back right.  I hit a solid 8 iron approach shot (166 yards) downhill and downwind.  My ball hit the green on the left side, and rolled to the collection area about 40 feet to the left of the pin.  I decided to putt the ball as there was trouble just behind the pin. Unfortunately, I hammered my putt and ended up in a bunker from hell (to the right of the green).  Truthfully, I felt lucky walking away with a bogie after my poorly executed initial putt.  Holes 4 and 5 saw me make two more bogies even though I was hitting solid and accurate shots.

As I stepped to hole #6 (par 3, 200 yards), I could feel a slight breeze to my back.  Brad told me that the green rolled left (where the pin was), so I should target the right center as my landing area.  Brad chose a 6 iron, which means I committed to hitting my new TaylorMade Burner 5 iron.

I felt good standing over the ball (a rarity these days), and made a nice fluid swing (in my mind anyways).  The ball was hit high, with an evident and necessary draw.  Upon hitting the green, my ball moved left toward the pin.  I felt my heart race at it neared the cup.  Bingo, right in the jar!  I think I tackled Brad first yelling “I did it, I did it”.  I spun around (still yelling) and jumped on the two guys we were paired up with (Blaine and Casey).  I am certain my histrionics angered some of the other players on the course – truthfully, I really did not care.

Playing the rest of the round was difficult as I was still shaking three holes later.  I finished with an 85…respectable given the circumstances.

I will mount the ball, glove, scorecard and CGC flag later this week.  I am happy to say that one of my golf dreams became reality.

http://youtu.be/e7jIE4296wY

Using Data to Generate Revenue

Business intelligence continues to be an area of high priority for organizations that are looking to improve their decision making on the data collected from processes, people and applications.  Understanding what your customers want is a fundamental principle of marketing. This principle is simple in theory, but challenging to put into practice. 

It is difficult for marketers to know what is on the customer’s mind today, then accurately anticipate what the customer may need/want tomorrow. The challenge doesn’t stem from lack of customer data.  The fact is, customers and prospects are giving us information about themselves all the time.  Through every purchase, response, event, transaction and web site hit, consumers reveal something about themselves.   The challenge is integrating customer intelligence into a powerful business system.

Consumer spend analytics, derived from prepaid card awards, enables strategic decision making, opportunity assessment and revenue prioritization.  Transaction processing data provides real insight for corporate leaders in marketing, product development, consumer experience, customer relationship and advertising management.  These detailed reports outline:

  • Where in the world your customers are spending their monies.
  • What they are spending their monies on.
  • How much they are spending and in what stores.

 

Synthesized with demographic data, static reports are transformed into a true decision support system for an organization.  A Colorado company called Clear Peak, has been able to harness this powerful solution, and offer their clients a true competitive advantage. 

Enhanced by Zemanta

The Future of Consumer Rebates

Over the last 5 years consumer focused companies have moved their rebate programs from paper checks to plastic prepaid cards.  This demonstrates an ongoing trend to reduce paper in the payments system, while providing consumers with the added convenience of a MasterCard® or Visa® card.  The Mercator Advisory Group, a leading industry consulting group, predicts the growth of prepaid cards in the consumer incentive market to grow at a  200%+ clip by the end of 2010. 

Consumer rebates create an opportunity for a organization to drive brand loyalty by ingratiating themselves with their end user.  A prepaid MasterCard® or Visa® loyalty card offers an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), a unique financial vehicle for promoting their product or service. 

  • Consumers:
    • Get the item they want at a lower price
    • Have immediate access to their funds and universal acceptance –– with no trip to a bank necessary

 

  • Original Equipment Manufacturers:
    • Receive a substantive revenue lift in the product/service being promoted
    • Establish an active, personal connection with the consumer through a customized card activation/registration process
    • Capture end user spending behavior by effectively levering a processor analytics engine
    • Enjoy brand enhancement as the custom designed card is used by the consumer to make subsequent purchases
    • Utilize custom card carriers/greeting cards to construct detailed messaging to be directed at their customer
    • Improve the economics of their rebate program

Some consumer groups claim that the reason for the shift from check to card is the hope (by the OEM) that the end user will forget about using their reward.  The reality is that the “breakage” income is only a small component in the overall revenue derived from the card.  Most OEM’s want their customer to spend the awarded monies on other goods/services they offer. 

My advice to cardholders:

  • Use the card immediately
  • Identify fees and the timing of those fees
  • Monitor your card balance (via the web or IVR) so you can easily navigate a split tender transaction (divide the bill)
  • If your card is lost/stolen, immediately report it so you can receive another card

My advice to OEMs:

  • Prior to making a decision, review the capabilities of both rebate fulfillment companies as well as prepaid card companies (many times money can be conserved by negotiating separate contracts)
  • Look for economic flexibility with your potential partner (what revenue streams can be shared)
  • Understand the personalization capabilities of your potential partner –  can they help establish a one to one relationship with the end user
  • Understand how program change requests will impact the delivery timeframe
  • Ensure that complex reports (spend data) can be accessed in a timely fashion

Prepaid cards are a flexible, cost-effective way to distribute cash rewards to participants.  If utilized correctly, both the OEM and consumer will enjoy the many benefits associated with the card.   

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

The Business Benefit of Corporate Wellness Initiatives

Almost every American is aware of the significant health care crisis in our country. The problem is overwhelming; a third of all adults are considered obese, 33% more are considered overweight, 5% at the dangerously overweight level, diabetes rates are at an all time high and are increasing.  The majority of Americans lead a sedentary existence, while a significant number of people still smoke despite the obvious consequences.  The health care crisis has resulted in medical insurance premiums growing year over year at a double digit rate.  Companies are now forced to cut back on in-force benefit plans as well as pass increases onto their employees. 

Today, many companies are working with their brokers and insurance carriers on solutions that will help mitigate the annual health insurance increases.  One strategy that is succeeding is the institution of a corporate wellness initiative.  This process starts with the creation of an employee personal wellness profile after completing a detailed health risk assessment.   An individual can then choose self selected education for their own health risks and diet, as well as monitored diet and fitness programs.  There is also the ability to screen for high-risk individuals, and proactively approach them for direct lifestyle modification programs via wellness interventions.

In order to effectively impact positive change, employee involvement in a wellness program must be managed through the use of a corporate incentive plan.  The program must:

  • Offer a reward that motivates an employee to participate.    
  • Be simple to implement and administer.
  • Ensure that every participant who achieves a goal receives recognition. 
  • Promotes your worksite wellness program through branding and active communication (via text, email, IVR & web).

A reloadable MasterCard® or Visa® prepaid card is the easiest, most convenient method of rewarding employees for participating in a corporate wellness initiative.  It’s the perfect way to motivate employees to stay engaged with the a wellness program.

  • The program starts with the construction and customization of a company branded, reloadable prepaid card. 
  • Card designs, messaging, card carriers, inserts, letters, envelopes, and website pages are personalized to deliver tailored and precise communication to all participants.
  • Cards are delivered and include a definitive statement on how employees can earn monies on their card.
  • Additional dollars are dropped on the card as long as the employee meets certain program objectives.
  • Good habits are reinforced via immediate messaging on the card (text, email).

Company leaders must look to their insurance brokers, insurance carriers as well as wellness providers to affect positive change within their employee population.  Empirical evidence now suggests that companies that implement, and adhere to wellness best practices will see a dramatic drop is overall claims.  Companies like National Jewish Health and Staywell offer the statistical evidence that reveals that active participation in a wellness program leads to significantly reduced operating costs (medical claim & short-term disability) as well as an increase in presenteeism.  

On June 24th at 2 pm (EST), there will be a web seminar conducted by National Jewish Health and MasterCard.  The distinguished panel will share insights on the effective use of incentives to encourage broad participation in corporate wellness programs, resulting in significant financial savings.  Anyone interested in participating can contact me, and I will email them the online enrollment information. 

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]