News and Information from Omega Performance

Connie Hritz Quoted in SHRM’s 2009 HR Trendbook—Organizational Change Starts With Individual Employees

2009-01-07T14:24:00.001-05:00

Connie Hritz, Omega Performance’s senior vice president of research and development, is quoted in the Society for Human Resource Management’s (SHRM) 2009 HR Trendbook in the article, "Organizational Change Starts With Individual Employees," which appears in the Training & Development section.

The article discusses why some change management practices are unsuccessful and how top leaders can make sure managers are prepared to guide employees to accept change and put new practices into action. The article is based on content Hritz delivered during a webcast she co-hosted with Nancy Moore, Omega Performance’s senior consultant, in August 2008.

According to Hritz, how organizations treat workers during a change initiative determines how successful the change—and the organization—will be. She says that "change starts with individuals; they have to commit to the change in order for the team to commit."

SHRM’s 2009 HR Trendbook is a special supplement to HR Magazine. It covers compensation, benefits, training & development, awards & incentives, technology, staffing management, relocation, and outsourcing & consulting.

Save Money, Boost Productivity: Call Center Professionals Learn How at ICCM Canada 2008

2008-09-15T10:38:00.000-04:00

Omega Performance's Caroline Gray to Share Expertise in Leveraging Technology to Build Corporate Capability and Cut Training Time in the Call Center

CHARLOTTE, NC (September 15, 2008) -- Leveraging technology in the call center to increase employee satisfaction, reduce training time, achieve operational efficiency, and improve overall job performance is the focus of a session to be led by Omega Performance's Caroline Gray at ICCM Canada 2008. The conference will be held October 6-8, 2008 at the Metro Toronto Convention Center in Toronto, Ontario.

Gray will present "Building Corporate Capability and Cutting Training Time through Product Knowledge Reference Tools" on Wednesday, October 8 from 11:10 AM to 12:00 PM. The presentation will address the measurable benefits that can be achieved from using a flexible tool to manage product knowledge within the call center.

"Keeping call center staff abreast of the most up-to-date product information is key to operational efficiency, productivity, and profitability," says Caroline Gray, Omega Performance's SVP, Information Technology and Technology-Based Learning. "During the session, I will conduct a demonstration of the product knowledge reference tool and discuss how it can be used to improve business processes and save training time and money."

To learn more about the ICCM Canada 2008 presentation and other Omega Performance events, visit www.omega-performance.com.

About Omega Performance

Omega Performance has enabled more than 2,500 firms worldwide to drive and sustain improved business results. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Informa plc (INF on the London Stock Exchange), the leading international provider of specialist information and services for the academic and scientific, professional and commercial business communities. Informa has over 150 offices in more than 40 countries and employs over 7,000 staff around the world. Omega Performance is headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., USA, with major offices in Australia, Canada, China, Greece, Nigeria, Singapore, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.

New Financial Services Resource Offers Tools to Manage Today's Credit Crunch

2008-09-08T17:07:00.000-04:00

Omega Performance launches the Race to Accelerate Lending Performance at www.Omega-Accelerate.com where financial services lending professionals can access tools to help produce results in today's credit crunch.

CHARLOTTE, NC (September 8, 2008) - Helping financial services lending professionals accelerate performance through today's credit crunch is the focus of a new resource launched by Omega Performance. The company is hosting the Race to Accelerate Lending Performance at www.Omega-Accelerate.com where lenders can access tools to improve credit quality and prepare for a profitable future.

"The credit crisis is in year two and financial services companies continue to have loan volumes and credit quality impacted," said Mario Berard, Omega Performance president and CEO. "The tools in the Race to Accelerate Performance will help lenders to address today's lending and risk management challenges and take advantage of tomorrow's opportunities."

The four-lap Race to Accelerate Lending Performance includes:

Credit Skills Assessment (demo) - a diagnostic tool that helps to bring lenders to the same level of consistent performance for long-term credit quality.
Omega+ Commercial Lending (demo) - eLearning that ensures financial services lending professionals develop skills in a consistent manner for making sound lending decisions that maximize revenue at acceptable risk levels.
Coaching and Mentoring: Enhancing Education (article) - offers tips and strategies for implementing a successful coaching program to optimize lender performance in today's credit crunch and beyond.
Diagnosis: Cash-Ache—Analyzing Business Borrowing Causes (eBook) - provides insight into reducing analysis time, improving underwriting quality, and building more rewarding customer relationships.

The Race to Accelerate Lending Performance will run September 8-19, 2008. Racers who complete all four laps will be entered into a drawing to win a laptop; the winner will be drawn on September 26, 2008.

About Omega Performance

Omega Performance has enabled more than 2,500 financial services firms worldwide to drive and sustain improved business results. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Informa plc (INF on the London Stock Exchange), the leading international provider of specialist information and services for the academic and scientific, professional and commercial business communities. Informa has over 150 offices in more than 40 countries and employs over 7,000 staff around the world. Omega is headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., USA, with major offices in Australia, Canada, China, Nigeria, Singapore, South Africa, and the U.K.

Upcoming Corporate Finance Seminar to Focus on Commercial Banking Strategies

2008-08-20T11:18:00.000-04:00

Techniques for assessing risk and building client relationships will be shared by commercial banking specialist Omega Performance during Understanding Corporate Finance -- coming to Chicago and Cleveland this November.

CHARLOTTE, NC (August 20, 2008) - The key to long-term success in today's sophisticated commercial banking environment is knowing how to effectively assess credit risk and build profitable client relationships, two skills that credit training specialist Omega Performance will teach during Understanding Corporate Finance—its first U.S. public seminar to be held on November 6, 2008 in Chicago, Ill., and on November 13, 2008 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Designed for commercial lending staff who need to understand clients' investment and financing decisions or who underwrite and approve credit risk, the one-day, highly interactive seminar will enable participants to:

Build stronger relationships by identifying corporate finance opportunities and assisting clients to appropriately assess options
Better understand clients' capital investment options by using the principles of time value of money
Assist clients in evaluating appropriate financing options by quantifying and evaluating a company's cost of capital
Effectively advise clients by assessing corporate finance strategies
Determine appropriate strategies by applying business valuation techniques
Determine the most appropriate capital structure using corporate finance instruments, including debt and equity issues

Understanding Corporate Finance will be facilitated by 32-year commercial banking veteran, Dr. Jerry Crigger, Omega Performance's vice president and senior consultant: credit and risk management and Dr. Gary Powell DBA, CFA, a professor of finance who has taught at the university level for over 20 years.

"For over three decades, Omega Performance's world-renowned self-study, workshop, and online credit training solutions have helped clients improve credit quality and increase profitability," said Mario Berard, Omega Performance's president and CEO. "With our first public seminar, Understanding Corporate Finance, we're expanding our portfolio of credit training solutions and giving financial services companies another way to build commercial lending skills."

For more information about Understanding Corporate Finance, visit www.omega-performance.com.

About Omega Performance

Omega Performance has enabled more than 2,500 firms worldwide to drive and sustain improved business results. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Informa plc (INF on the London Stock Exchange), the leading international provider of specialist information and services for the academic and scientific, professional and commercial business communities. Informa has over 150 offices in more than 40 countries and employs over 7,000 staff around the world. Omega Performance is headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., USA, with major offices in Australia, Canada, China, Nigeria, Singapore, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.

Online Training Options Increasing For Bankers This August

2008-07-29T12:19:00.001-04:00

Credit training specialist Omega Performance will deliver U.S. Personal Tax Return Analysis online training on August 12, 14, and 19, 2008.

CHARLOTTE, NC (July 29, 2008) - Skyrocketing gas prices and shrinking training budgets won't keep bankers from attending vital credit training this summer with Omega Performance's online training series, U.S. Personal Tax Return Analysis. The online learning sessions provide convenient, cost-effective, and timely training to help bankers reduce problem assets and minimize losses by more effectively analyzing personal tax returns, cash flow, and debt service capacity—without the hassle and cost of traveling to a live workshop.

Highlights of U.S. Personal Tax Return Analysis include:

Exploring the anatomy of a personal tax return, including the flow of information among the various forms and schedules, and the linkages between them
Using Schedule E and K-1s to identify pass-through items from various business ventures that can affect the accuracy of cash flow calculations
Identifying actual cash inflows and outflows from sole proprietorships, rental and royalties, partnerships, S corporations, and estates and trusts
Isolating and calculating total cash flow to or from the taxpayer from each entity
Calculating total cash flow and debt service capacity

Jan Abrams, Omega Performance's vice president and product manager for consumer credit and sales solutions will facilitate the online training series, U.S. Personal Tax Return Analysis. Abrams says, "Many bankers using personal tax returns to evaluate credit requests are unaware of the nature and location of non-cash information that is included in many of the tax return lines that are commonly used for cash flow analysis. This credit training will help bankers locate and evaluate these items, enabling them to more accurately calculate debt service capacity and make better credit decisions."

About Omega Performance

Online learning and credit training specialist, Omega Performance, has enabled more than 2,500 firms worldwide to drive and sustain improved business results. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Informa plc (INF on the London Stock Exchange), the leading international provider of specialist information and services for the academic and scientific, professional and commercial business communities. Informa has over 150 offices in more than 40 countries and employs over 7,000 staff around the world. Omega Performance is headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., USA, with major offices in Australia, Canada, China, Nigeria, Singapore, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.

New Business Blog For Financial Services Professionals Debuts

2008-07-22T11:53:00.001-04:00

Consulting, training, and coaching specialist to the financial services industry, Omega Performance, launches Ideas You Can Bank On -- a new business blog aimed at financial services executives and managers seeking advice on how to improve credit quality, sales and profitability, and the customer experience.

CHARLOTTE, NC (July 22, 2008) - Finding trusted, timely advice on topics like surviving and thriving in today's uncertain credit environment and delivering an outstanding customer experience has just gotten easier for financial services professionals. With the launch of its new business blog, Ideas You Can Bank On, Omega Performance has brought together the unique voices of banking experts to share advice, information, and the latest trends in the financial services industry--all aimed at helping readers improve business performance.

With posts written by financial services experts Dr. Jerry Crigger and Mark Faircloth, Ideas You Can Bank On is a lively and informative forum that will appeal to executives and managers in both commercial and consumer lines of business. Their posts will cover a wide range of topics focusing on credit and risk management issues as well as sales and customer service issues specific to the financial services industry. Comments from blog readers are welcome and will be reviewed and responded to by Crigger and Faircloth.

"Omega Performance's business blog exists not only to share the thoughts of two of the banking industry's most well-known and respected experts, but also to encourage readers to share their own thoughts and experiences through comments," said Mario Berard, Omega Performance's chief executive officer. "This is a great forum for financial services executives and managers who want to get trusted opinions on current trends in the industry and speak out about their own ideas and opinions at the same time."

Visit Ideas You Can Bank On at http://blog.omega-performance.com/.

About Omega Performance

Omega Performance has enabled more than 2,500 firms worldwide to drive and sustain improved business results. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Informa plc (INF on the London Stock Exchange), the leading international provider of specialist information and services for the academic and scientific, professional and commercial business communities. Informa has over 150 offices in more than 40 countries and employs over 7,000 staff around the world. Omega Performance is headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., USA, with major offices in Australia, Canada, China, Nigeria, Singapore, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.

Facing Organizational Change? Three Leadership Skills Will Help Your Change Management Efforts

2008-07-15T10:36:00.001-04:00

Change in today's business world is inevitable and the key to success is adaptability. Managers who spend enough time and effort on people in the organization rather than trying to make change happen to the organization will manage the process more effectively, says Omega Performance in an upcoming webcast on July 30, 2008.

CHARLOTTE, NC (July 15, 2008) - Managers who are successful at leading change understand the business drivers of a particular change, can communicate the vision that the change will bring, and can coach their people to commitment to the change so that business results are impacted positively, says Omega Performance, a leadership skills development and change management consulting firm.

Connie Hritz, senior vice president of research & development for Omega Performance, offers the following tip: "Change occurs one person at a time. Without getting individual commitment from people, organizational change efforts cannot be successful. Managers must understand that organizations change when the people in them change. If they can bring people through the change individually, they can manage the change successfully."

Omega Performance is hosting a complimentary, one-hour webcast entitled: "Leading People Through Change" to help managers implement and navigate organizational change more effectively. The webcast will be held on July 30, 2008 at 12:00 PM EDT. To learn more and to register, visit www.omega-performance.com.

About Omega Performance

Leadership skills development and change management consulting firm, Omega Performance, has enabled more than 2,500 firms worldwide to drive and sustain improved business results. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Informa plc (INF on the London Stock Exchange), the leading international provider of specialist information and services for the academic and scientific, professional and commercial business communities. Informa has over 150 offices in more than 40 countries and employs over 7,000 staff around the world. Omega Performance is headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., USA, with major offices in Australia, Canada, China, Nigeria, Singapore, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.

Omega Performance Brings Commercial Lending Training to Sydney and Melbourne with 2 Advanced Cash Flow Workshops

2008-06-16T11:30:00.001-04:00

Commercial lending training specialist is offering Advanced Cash Flow, a commercial credit workshop, in July to help commercial bankers become more proficient lenders by applying cash flow techniques.

SYDNEY (June 16, 2008) -- Commercial credit staff looking to improve on cash flow analysis skills necessary for reducing commercial lending risk and strengthening the quality of their loan portfolios now have a new opportunity with Omega Performance. The commercial banking training specialist is offering a one-day workshop entitled Advanced Cash Flow on 22 July 2008 in Sydney and 23 July 2008 in Melbourne.

Facilitated by Australian banking experts Jim Cassidy and Ken Gibson, the sessions will help participants structure credits that effectively address the underlying drivers of cash flow, reconcile the analysis using different approaches to cash flow, connect underlying industry characteristics and business strategies with cash flow results, and detect early warning signals from analysis of cash flow and debt service coverage. Participants will improve commercial lending skills by working through commercial credit case studies that explore specific analytical insights, requiring them to apply more rigorous cash flow techniques.

"Commercial lending staff are often challenged by complex borrowing situations that require in-depth analysis of cash flow," said Jenny Daley, Omega Performance's Managing Director, Australia and New Zealand. "In just one day, our Advanced Cash Flow workshop will give them the tools and skills they need to make sound commercial loan decisions and ensure their organisation's credit quality."

For more information and to register for Advanced Cash Flow, visit www.omega-performance.com.

About Omega Performance

Commercial banking training specialist, Omega Performance, has enabled more than 2,500 firms worldwide to drive and sustain improved business results. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Informa plc (INF on the London Stock Exchange), the leading international provider of specialist information and services for the academic and scientific, professional and commercial business communities. Informa has over 150 offices in more than 40 countries and employs over 7,000 staff around the world. Omega Performance is headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., USA, with major offices in Australia, Canada, China, Nigeria, Singapore, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.

Commercial Banking Web Conference Hosted by Credit Training Specialist to Discuss Corporate Finance Fundamentals

2008-05-05T10:57:00.001-04:00

Using corporate finance techniques to assess commercial banking risk, build profitable credit relationships is the focus of this live Omega Performance web event scheduled for 15 May 2008.

Charlotte, NC (May 5, 2008) -- In today's sophisticated commercial banking environment, lenders who don't understand key corporate finance fundamentals could be overlooking potential risk factors or missing opportunities to expand business relationships. Corporate finance should be a major focus of credit training and development for any commercial banking institution's lenders and relationship managers who are charged with deepening relationships and building sources of fee-generating services.

On May 15, 2008, credit training specialist, Omega Performance, is hosting a live training and development web event entitled: "Corporate Finance: Viewing Investment Decisions through Your Customers' Eyes" beginning at 12:00 PM EDT. During the session, Dr. Jerry Crigger, senior consultant: credit and risk and Vicki Martell, vice president and product manager for credit & commercial sales products will share key corporate finance fundamentals for assessing commercial credit risk and building profitable client relationships. To register, visit www.omega-performance.com/assets/webinars/05-15-08.asp.

"Most commercial banking professionals are trained to assess risk relative to the extension of credit; not on factors related to the significant investment decisions made by their clients," according to Dr. Crigger. "Vicki and I will discuss key corporate finance fundamentals that will improve overall risk analysis including: three decision criteria utilized by corporate and commercial clients, how to analyze the weighted average cost of capital for a firm, various funding options available to firms, and the importance of identifying and qualifying corporate finance candidates for financial institutions."

About Omega Performance

Commercial Real Estate Lending Web Seminar Series to be Hosted by Credit Training Specialist, Omega Performance

2008-04-08T11:22:00.000-04:00

Commercial real estate lending is the focus of Omega Performance's four-part Web seminar which will provide commercial relationship managers and credit staff with the skills needed for prudent underwriting to real estate developers and investors in today's volatile credit environment.

Charlotte, NC (April 8, 2008) -- The commercial real estate market has been impacted less than the residential market plagued by subprime loan defaults; however, loans to developers and investors still require underwriting expertise and portfolio management vigilance. Commercial real estate lending will be addressed during a four-part Web seminar series facilitated by Dr. Jerry Crigger, Omega Performance's senior consultant: credit and risk. The Web seminar, entitled "Commercial Real Estate Loan Analysis: Improving Underwriting Skills for Today's Credit Environment," will be held on April 22, 24, 29 and May 1, 2008. Each 90-minute session will begin at 12:00 PM EDT.

Dr. Crigger's seminar will provide commercial real estate lending generalists and credit and loan review analysts who assess commercial real estate with analytical skills necessary to make prudent loans to real estate developers and investors, and to properly administer the resulting portfolio. Dr. Crigger will introduce Omega Performance's Decision Strategy--the framework of choice for managing risk and making credit decisions for many of the world's top-performing lending institutions.

"The Decision Strategy will give seminar participants a step-by-step approach to commercial real estate lending fundamentals, including: understanding current economic conditions, analyzing the developer and/or investor, analyzing the market and commercial real estate project, and making the credit decision," said Dr. Crigger. "When applied on the job, the Decision Strategy improves underwriting for commercial real estate transactions, enhances existing portfolio administration of commercial real estate loans, reduces problem assets, and shortens turnaround time due to increased underwriting efficiency and better decision-making."

For more information and to register for the Web seminar, visit http://www.omega-performance.com/assets/webinars/series-crela.asp.

About Omega Performance
Omega Performance has enabled more than 2,500 firms worldwide to drive and sustain improved business results with cash flow analysis techniques for reducing credit risk. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Informa plc (INF on the London Stock Exchange), the leading international provider of specialist information and services for the academic and scientific, professional and commercial business communities. Informa has over 150 offices in more than 40 countries and employs over 7,000 staff around the world. Omega Performance is headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., USA, with major offices in Australia, Canada, China, Nigeria, Singapore, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.

Omega Performance Credit Training Specialist to Reveal Cash Flow Analysis Techniques

2008-04-01T13:47:00.000-04:00

Omega Performance to offer bankers strategies for analyzing Form K-1 and assessing repayment sources in connection with their clients' partnerships and S corporations. Cash flow analysis will help identify and reduce credit risks.

Charlotte, NC (April 1, 2008) -- Techniques for conducting an accurate cash flow analysis and reducing credit risk will be shared by credit training specialist Omega Performance during a complimentary, 60-minute Web conference.

Jan Abrams, vice president and product manager for consumer credit and sales solutions, will lead “Unraveling the Mysteries of K-1s and Pass-Throughs—The Secret to Understanding U.S. Personal Tax Returns” at 12:00 pm and 3:00 pm EDT on April 15, 2008 and 12:00 pm EDT on April 23, 2008.

Abrams’ presentation will help train retail lenders, private bankers, wealth management and business bankers whose clients have ownership interests in businesses or receive benefits from trusts or estates analyze those clients’ ability to repay debt.

She will review the three types of Form K-1 which show the owner’s or beneficiary’s share of all taxable items, and explain how to discern cash items from non-cash items and eliminate non-cash items from cash flow calculations.

“The ability to find the true cash items from among non-cash items like interest income and dividends shown on Form K-1 is crucial to conducting an accurate cash flow analysis,” said Abrams. “Only cash can repay a loan and my presentation will provide attendees with techniques for finding it.”

For more information and to register for one of the Web conference sessions, visit www.omega-performance.com. “Unraveling the Mysteries of K-1s and Pass-Throughs—The Secret to Understanding U.S. Personal Tax Returns” is one in a series of Web-based events Omega Performance is hosting in 2008. Others planned for 2008 include:

22, 24, 29 April and 1 May
“Commercial Real Estate Loan Analysis” (series of four, 90-minute instructional Web seminars, U.S. $695)

15 May
“Corporate Finance: Viewing Investment Decisions through Your Customers’ Eyes” (60-minute Web conference, complimentary)

Financial Services Consultant to Reveal How Financial Institutions Can Create an Outstanding Customer Experience During Web Conference March 25 and 26

2008-03-11T11:11:00.002-04:00

Omega Performance to offer retail bankers strategies for ensuring that the customer connections employees make create competitive differentiation, attract customers, and build loyalty during complimentary online presentation.

Charlotte, NC (March 11, 2008) -- Financial services managers who serve the consumer market will have a unique opportunity to learn what they must do to win and keep customers on March 25 and 26, 2008. Omega Performance’s Cindi Campana, sales and service product manager; Jenny Daley, managing director of Australia and New Zealand; and Bonnie Burroughs, senior consultant, will lead a complimentary, 60-minute Web conference entitled “The Profit Potential in Creating, Advancing, and Sustaining Customer Connections” at 5:00 PM EST on March 25, 2008 (North America)/8:00 AM EDT on March 26, 2008 (Australia).

“Retaining customers, earning larger share of wallet, and engendering customer loyalty are among the greatest challenges financial services organizations face today,” said Campana. “Loyalty and expanded customer relationships are earned one customer connection at a time through the sales and service efforts of frontline staff.”

During the Web conference, the presenters will reveal how retail financial services managers can create an outstanding customer experience through the connections they and their staff make with customers. “Cindi, Bonnie, and I will discuss the specific behaviors of staff that most profoundly impact business results, identify the tools and sustainment methodologies proven to help staff master difficult sales and service skills, and review the coaching skills managers need to enhance performance at all organizational levels,” said Daley.

For more information and to register for the Web conference, visit www.omega-performance.com. “The Profit Potential in Creating, Advancing, and Sustaining Customer Connections” is one in a series of web-based events Omega Performance is hosting in 2008. Others planned for 2008 include:

15 April
“Unraveling the Mysteries of K-1s and Pass-Throughs—The Secret to Understanding U.S. Personal Tax Returns” (60-minute Web conference, complimentary)
22, 24, 29 April and 1 May
“Commercial Real Estate Loan Analysis” (series of four, 90-minute instructional Web seminars, U.S. $695)
15 May
“Corporate Finance: Viewing Investment Decisions through Your Customers’ Eyes” (60-minute Web conference, complimentary)

About Omega Performance
Omega Performance has enabled more than 2,500 firms worldwide to drive and sustain improved business results. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Informa plc (INF on the London Stock Exchange), the leading international provider of specialist information and services for the academic and scientific, professional and commercial business communities. Informa has over 150 offices in more than 40 countries and employs over 7,000 staff around the world. Omega Performance is headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., USA, with major offices in Australia, Canada, China, Nigeria, Singapore, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.

New eLearning Commercial Lending Course for Beating the Credit Crisis by Ensuring Credit Quality Now Available

2008-03-04T09:05:00.002-05:00

Launched by credit solutions company Omega Performance, Omega+™ Commercial Lending develops consistent commercial credit analysis and judgment skills for improved credit decision-making. With the company’s acclaimed Decision Strategy at its core, this new training innovation is designed to accommodate a variety of learning styles and provide a one-of-a-kind learning experience by enabling lenders to focus on the precise skills they need to build.

Charlotte, NC (March 04, 2008) -- A new commercial lending eLearning program designed to help lending institutions combat the credit crisis and build quality commercial loans is now available from Omega Performance. Omega+ Commercial Lending combines the company’s Decision Strategy— the framework for managing risk and making credit decisions employed by many of the world’s top-performing lending institutions—with simulation-based, interactive learning methods focused on building the skills lenders need to perform effective risk analysis and avoid loan losses.

“When applied consistently, accurate credit analysis and decision-making skills will help lending institutions to ensure credit quality during both good economic times and down cycles,” said Vicki Martell, Omega Performance vice president, product manager, credit and commercial sales. “Omega+ Commercial Lending accelerates the learning experience around these critical skills and reduces the time to transfer the learning to the job, resulting in higher quality credit decisions.”

Omega+ Commercial Lending helps lenders to achieve proficiency quickly and apply the new skills and knowledge more rapidly by providing a unique learning experience to each lender. “Instead of requiring lenders to page through content linearly, Omega+ Commercial Lending enables lenders to customize their learning by focusing on the particular skills they need to build,” said Caroline Gray, Omega Performance senior vice president, information technology and technology-based learning.

“Throughout the learning experience, lenders demonstrate mastery of the material by completing a variety of tasks,” added Jan Abrams, Omega Performance vice president, product manager, consumer credit and credit sales development. “Participants can choose to analyze historical financial statements or perform sensitivity analysis of projected cash flow, for example. We designed a highly flexible program to let participants engage in as many or as few activities as required to master each task.”

Omega+ Commercial Lending features:

A virtual online coach who provides guidance and rich, individualized feedback to lenders at points of interaction
Self-check opportunities to help lenders establish their competency level
Task tests and simulated conversations to test proficiency
A toolkit of resources including question banks, job aids, worksheets, useful tips and information, and a bookshelf of articles that are directly related to the tasks lenders must perform on their jobs
Pre- and post-testing to ensure the required skills and knowledge have been mastered
Linkage to standard learning management system (LMS) tracking

About Omega Performance
Omega Performance has enabled more than 2,500 firms worldwide to drive and sustain improved business results. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Informa plc (INF on the London Stock Exchange), the leading international provider of specialist information and services for the academic and scientific, professional, and commercial business communities. Informa has over 150 offices in more than 40 countries and employs over 7,000 staff around the world. Omega Performance is headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., USA, with major offices in Australia, Canada, China, Greece, Nigeria, Singapore, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.

To learn more about the Omega+ Commercial Lending eLearning course or Omega Performance credit solutions, visit www.omega-performance.com.

New Paper Reveals How Financial Institutions Can Create an Outstanding Customer Experience

2008-01-22T10:50:00.000-05:00

Omega Performance publishes 'A New Era in Retail Financial Services: The Profit Potential in Creating, Advancing, and Sustaining Customer Connections.'

Charlotte, NC ( January 22, 2008) -- A new paper by performance improvement specialist, Omega Performance, details how financial services companies can create an outstanding customer experience. "Research indicates that businesses of all kinds are going to extremes to provide consumers with things like IMAX theaters, restaurants, and even trapezes in their showrooms in an attempt to win their business," says Connie Hritz, Omega Performance senior vice president, research and development. For financial institutions striving to win customers but struggling with execution, Omega Performance's new paper outlines how financial institutions can achieve success without building trapezes in their lobbies.

The paper, "A New Era in Retail Financial Services: The Profit Potential in Creating, Advancing, and Sustaining Customer Connections," reveals the seven critical steps financial institutions must take to create an outstanding customer experience -- the key factor in winning and keeping customers -- according to the company's research and more than 30 years of work with financial institutions around the globe. The paper also includes examples of organizations that have successfully employed Omega Performance's recommendations to improve the customer experience and boost business results.

"In the competitive world of retail financial services, what matters most is delivering an outstanding customer experience that creates differentiation, attracts customers, and builds their loyalty," says Hritz. "Designing this experience and delivering it successfully requires a lot of hard work and commitment, but as many of our clients have shown, the rewards are well worth the effort."

Omega Performance has also launched 10 new retail financial services solutions that bring the best practice techniques detailed in the paper to life through consulting sessions, training workshops, and coaching methods. To learn more and to download a complimentary copy of the paper, visit www.omega-performance.com/solutions/consumer-banking.asp?VIPCode=8712.

About Omega Performance
Omega Performance has enabled more than 2,500 financial institutions, firms and corporations worldwide to drive and sustain improved business results. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Informa plc (INF on the London Stock Exchange), the leading international provider of specialist information and services for the academic and scientific, professional, and commercial business communities. Informa has over 150 offices in more than 40 countries and employs over 7,000 staff around the world. Omega Performance is headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., USA, with major offices in Australia, Canada, China, Greece, New Zealand, Nigeria, Singapore, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.

Cadre of Financial Services Experts Grows at Omega Performance

2007-11-15T12:22:00.000-05:00

Credit consultancy strengthens as performance improvement specialist, Omega Performance, names Dr. Jerry Crigger as senior consultant, credit and risk management.

Charlotte, NC (November 15, 2007) - Performance improvement specialist to the financial services industry, Omega Performance, has appointed Dr. Jerry Crigger to the newly created position of senior consultant, credit and risk management. Dr. Crigger joins Omega Performance after more than 32 years of building financial services expertise in commercial lending and risk management with such financial institutions as Wachovia, SouthTrust Bank, BancBoston Financial, and American National Bank.

"Dr. Crigger is a recognized industry expert in the credit and risk management fields, and brings a wealth of knowledge and capabilities to our clients. Whether it's advising the 'C-suite' or helping to improve the skills of frontline credit employees, Dr. Crigger helps clients produce tangible results," said Margie Kensil, Omega Performance senior vice president, director of services and ITF. "Together with our other credit and risk management experts, Dr. Crigger will help our clients increase lending efficiency, improve loan quality, reduce risk, and strengthen their client relationships for greater revenue growth and profitability."

Dr. Crigger is spearheading the development of Omega Performance's Advanced Business Finance curriculum, scheduled for release in 2007. These advanced lending and credit courses will focus on Corporate Finance, Advanced Cash Flow, Financing the Service Industry, and Loan Syndications. In addition to his consulting work with Omega Performance, Dr. Crigger has held faculty positions with more than a dozen banking schools and universities throughout the United States.

Dr. Crigger is a member of the faculty at The Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin, The Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington, The Graduate Commercial Lending School at Southern Methodist University, the Southeastern School of Commercial Lending at Vanderbilt University, and The Graduate School of Banking of the South at Louisiana State University.

Dr. Crigger's university faculty appointments include Belmont University, School of Economics and Finance; Middle Tennessee State University, School of Economics and Finance; and Tennessee State University, School of Economics and Finance.

About Omega Performance
Omega Performance has enabled more than 2,500 firms worldwide to drive and sustain improved business results. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Informa plc (INF on the London Stock Exchange), the leading international provider of specialist information and services for the academic and scientific, professional, and commercial business communities. Informa has over 150 offices in more than 40 countries and employs over 7,000 staff around the world. Omega Performance is headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., USA, with major offices in Australia, Canada, China, Greece, New Zealand, Nigeria, Singapore, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. To learn more, visit http://www.omega-performance.com.

Bankers Respond to the Credit Crunch

2007-10-25T10:55:00.001-04:00

A recent Omega Performance survey provides important insight as bankers respond to the current credit crunch: Outsell the competition while proactively managing credit risk.

Charlotte, NC (October 25, 2007) - A recent Omega Performance survey provides important insight as bankers respond to the current credit crunch. Bankers around the globe are preparing to face stiffer competition for quality credit relationships, while taking proactive measures to manage risk in order to survive and capitalize on the continuing uncertainty in the credit markets.

That's the opinion of financial institution executives and officers recently surveyed by credit and risk management training specialist, Omega Performance. Bankers from the U.S., Canada, the Middle East, Africa, Australia, and Asia participated in the company's survey, the details of which are revealed in the new report, "Profiting from Uncertainty in the Credit Markets."

Respondents indicated that two broad strategies are being employed to address both the risks and the opportunities arising from this crunch. To protect market share and take advantage of targeted, high-quality lending opportunities, 89% cited customer acquisition activities and 91% pointed to developing the selling skills of lenders as two of the most important tactics. To manage risk proactively, 79% of respondents advised they are re-emphasizing lending fundamentals and 82% reported they are developing lender skill and knowledge to deal with the credit crunch.

"These findings are well aligned with what we hear every day from bankers who are trying to balance managing risk with achieving growth goals in an increasingly uncertain environment," says Vicki Martell, Omega vice president, manager credit & commercial sales products. "In Omega's 30 years of helping bankers improve operations, we've found that the most successful institutions are able to achieve a balance between conservative risk management practices and more assertive sales approaches."

"Profiting from Uncertainty in the Credit Markets" is one of many complimentary resources offered by Omega to help financial services companies improve business. The report is available for download at www.omega-performance.com.

About Omega Performance
Omega has enabled more than 2,500 firms worldwide to drive and sustain improved business results. The company, which recently announced the results of a survey regarding the current credit crunch, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Informa plc (INF on the London Stock Exchange), the leading international provider of specialist information and services for the academic and scientific, professional and commercial business communities. Informa has over 150 offices in more than 40 countries and employs over 7,000 staff around the world. Omega Performance is headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., USA, with major offices in Australia, Canada, China, New Zealand, Nigeria, Singapore, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.

Omega Performance Updates Call Center Health Check

2007-10-22T10:56:00.000-04:00

Call center performance improvement expert is offering a complimentary 30-minute phone consultation to assess Health Check results.

Charlotte, NC (October 22, 2007) - Omega Performance (www.omega-performance.com) introduces the enhanced Call Center Health Check. Call center managers now have an improved way to conduct performance evaluations of their center and make comparisons to industry leaders. For a limited time, when call center managers take the online Call Center Health Check, they can schedule a complimentary 30-minute phone consultation with Laurie Hotard, Omega Performance senior consultant, Contact Center Practice, to discuss the results and ways they can advance to the next level of performance.

"The Call Center Health Check-with performance evaluation questions, immediate scoring based on the answers provided, and a best practices tool for improving performance-already provides call center managers with valuable information," says Hotard. "With the addition of a 30-minute, complimentary phone consultation, we can give managers a more thorough performance evaluation and give them the steps that they need to improve results going forward."

The Call Center Health Check is available at http://www.omega-performance.com/register.asp?id=179. The complimentary phone consultation will be offered for a limited time only.

About Omega Performance
Omega Performance has enabled more than 2,500 firms worldwide to drive and sustain improved business results. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Informa plc (INF on the London Stock Exchange), the leading international provider of specialist information and services for the academic and scientific, professional and commercial business communities. Informa has over 15 offices in more than 40 countries and employs over 7,000 staff around the world. Omega Performance is headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., USA, with major offices in Australia, Canada, China, New Zealand, Nigeria, Singapore, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.

New Paper Details Leadership Skills for Effective Change Management

2007-10-15T10:54:00.000-04:00

Performance improvement expert has released Leading People Through Change: The Essential Guide for Building Your Change Resilience, Coaching Your People to Commitment, and Increasing Business Results. The report focuses on leadership skills and techniques that managers can employ in change management.

Charlotte, NC (October 15, 2007) - Omega Performance announces the release of Leading People Through Change, its new paper on leadership skills and techniques for change management. The paper is available for download at omega-performance.com.

Organizations that are successful at change understand that change occurs one person at a time. Effective change management is based on spending enough time and effort on the individuals in the organization, not trying to make change happen to the organization. This distinction often challenges today's change leaders, according to company research and analysis presented in the paper.

"If managers can find a way to bring people through a change individually, they can manage the organizational change successfully," says Connie Hritz, Omega Performance senior vice president, research and development. "Leading People Through Change is our guide for doing that. It addresses the steps managers need to take and the leadership skills they need to have to be authentic about their own feelings regarding the change, gain commitment to the change from individual employees, and ultimately realize the benefits of the change."

Leading People Through Change is one of many complimentary resources offered by Omega Performance to help organizations improve business. For more information on Leading People Through Change, a new paper on leadership skills and techniques for effective change management, please visit omega-performance.com.

About Omega Performance
Omega Performance has enabled more than 2,500 firms worldwide to drive and sustain improved business results. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Informa plc (INF on the London Stock Exchange), the leading international provider of specialist information and services for the academic and scientific, professional and commercial business communities. Informa has over 150 offices in more than 40 countries and employs over 7,000 staff around the world. Omega Performance is headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., USA, with major offices in Australia, Canada, China, New Zealand, Nigeria, Singapore, South Africa and the United Kingdom.

Upcoming Omega Performance Corporate Finance Webinar on Building Profitable Commercial Credit Relationships

2007-09-10T11:46:00.000-04:00

Financial Services' commercial and corporate relationship managers and credit officers to benefit from key corporate finance fundamentals during an October 2, 2007 webinar.

Charlotte, NC (September 10, 2007) - Long-term success in today's sophisticated financial services environment requires commercial and corporate relationship managers and credit officers to understand, and be conversant with, key corporate finance fundamentals utilized by financial institution clients. However, most of these financial services professionals are trained to assess risk relative to the extension of credit; not on factors contributing to the significant investment decisions made by their clients. In response to this critical need, Omega Performance is offering a complimentary, 60-minute webinar entitled, "Corporate Finance: Viewing Investment Decisions through Your Customers' Eyes" on October 2, 2007 at 12:00 PM EDT.

During the session, participants will examine three decision criteria utilized by corporate and commercial clients, analyze the weighted average cost of capital for a firm, explore funding options available to firms, and review the importance of appropriately identifying and qualifying corporate finance candidates for financial institutions. As a result, they will gain a better understanding of their clients' investment decision criteria and be able to deepen client relationships through more consultative selling.

Omega Performance's Dr. Jerry Crigger, senior consultant: credit and risk and Victoria Martell, vice president, manager credit & commercial sales products, will co-host the webinar. "Omega Performance clients have successfully used concepts embodied in the field of corporate finance to assess risk and build profitable commercial credit relationships for more than 30 years," says Crigger. "Their best practices will be shared during 'Corporate Finance: Viewing Investment Decisions through Your Customers' Eyes.' "

For further information or to register for the webinar, visit www.omega-performance.com.

About Omega Performance
The financial services consultant, Omega Performance, has enabled more than 2,500 firms worldwide to drive and sustain improved business results. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Informa plc (INF on the London Stock Exchange), the leading international provider of specialist information and services for the academic and scientific, professional and commercial business communities. Informa has over 150 offices in more than 40 countries and employs over 7,000 staff around the world. Omega Performance is headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., USA, with major offices in Australia, Canada, China, New Zealand, Nigeria, Singapore, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.

Community Banks Can Rapidly Improve Business Performance with Strategies Offered in New, Free eNewsletter

2007-08-21T09:17:00.000-04:00

The Competitive Edge for Community Banks, the newest complimentary resource offered by bank training specialist Omega Performance, provides tips and techniques to help community bankers differentiate from competitors and increase business results.

Charlotte, NC (August 21, 2007) - Competition is on the rise for community banks and a free eNewsletter launched today by bank training specialist, Omega Performance, helps them to compete more effectively and win. The Competitive Edge for Community Banks focuses on the business issues and challenges community bankers face and provides them with strategies to outperform larger banks, credit unions, and other community banks.

The Competitive Edge for Community Banks is delivered bi-weekly on Thursday directly to subscribers' inboxes. Each issue contains advice targeted to helping community bankers make smart decisions and deliver better business results. Topics focus on ways community banks can create true differentiation in the market, including how to build a strong sales culture, enhance personal service levels, improve the customer experience, and increase customer satisfaction and loyalty.

"True differentiation for community banks translates to the value they add to each encounter they have with people," said Mario Berard, president and chief executive officer of Omega Performance. "The Competitive Edge for Community Banks spotlights our best practices for building and strengthening local relationships, and offers at-a-glance performance improvement tips that can be implemented immediately, all in a concise email format."

To register for The Competitive Edge for Community Banks, visit www.omega-performance.com.

About Omega Performance
Since 1976, bank training specialist, Omega Performance has enabled more than 2,500 firms worldwide to drive and sustain improved business results. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Informa plc (INF on the London Stock Exchange), the leading international provider of specialist information and services for the academic and scientific, professional and commercial business communities. Informa has over 150 offices in more than 40 countries and employs over 7,000 staff around the world. Omega Performance is headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., USA, with major offices in Australia, Canada, China, New Zealand Nigeria, Singapore, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.

Leadership Webinar to Address Managers at Risk of Meltdown

2007-07-31T06:30:00.000-04:00

For managers who are overwhelmed, for leaders who admit they’ve had it, and for all those who have lost the drive to move forward, Omega Performance will reveal a three-step system for re-energizing leadership roles when the heat to perform is on during an August 22, 2007 webinar.

Charlotte, NC (July 31, 2007) -- In today’s ever-changing business environment, first-class leadership is a must for all managers and companies. The task of leadership, especially during challenging times, has perhaps never been more complex. In response to this critical need, Omega Performance is offering a complimentary, 60-minute webinar entitled, “Leadership Meltdown: Freeze -- Wait -- Reanimate. Master a three-step system for re-energizing when the heat is on" on August 22, 2007 at 12:00 p.m. EDT.

The webinar is geared to help managers at all levels of an organization strengthen their leadership skills when the demands of leading staff has left them overwhelmed and under-prepared to move forward. Participants will leave the one-hour session equipped with tools and techniques to keep their leadership skills from eroding, increase staff production and retention, coach individuals to build the team, and maintain the customer experience.

Connie Hritz, Omega Performance senior vice president, research and development, will host the webinar. “Maintaining leadership effectiveness can be difficult, especially when commitment and energy levels begin to wane,” says Hritz. " ‘Leadership Meltdown: Freeze -- Wait -- Reanimate’ will give managers a proven strategy for keeping their leadership skills sharp, even when involved in the most demanding business situations, and on the path to improving business results."

For further information on leadership effectiveness or to register for the webinar, visit www.omega-performance.com.

About Omega Performance
Omega Performance has enabled more than 2,500 firms worldwide to drive and sustain improved business results. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Informa plc (INF on the London Stock Exchange), the leading international provider of specialist information and services for the academic and scientific, professional and commercial business communities. Informa has over 150 offices in more than 40 countries and employs over 7,000 staff around the world. Omega Performance is headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., USA, with major offices in Australia, Canada, China, New Zealand, Nigeria, Singapore, South Africa and the United Kingdom.

Omega Performance and ACB Agree to End Partnership

2007-07-20T17:19:00.000-04:00

Companies mutually decide to end three-year relationship in pursuit of new business opportunities.

Charlotte, NC (July 20, 2007) -- Omega Performance announced today that a mutual agreement has been reached with America's Community Bankers (ACB) to discontinue their three-year business alliance. In an exclusive partnership formed in July 2004, the companies joined forces to help ACB members boost profits in commercial and consumer banking with Omega Performance's credit, sales and service, and contact center solutions.

"The partnership between Omega Performance and ACB has served our company well," said Mario Berard, Omega Performance president and CEO. "It provided us with a strong trade association alliance that enabled us to connect with the community bank market. But now it is time for Omega Performance to pursue other opportunities within community banking as we grow our share of this segment of the financial services marketplace."

Omega Performance's solutions enable community banks to compete more effectively in commercial and consumer markets by balancing credit risk and opportunity, attracting and retaining profitable customer relationships, and turning routine service requests into sales opportunities. To learn more, visit www.omega-performance.com .

About Omega Performance
Omega Performance has enabled more than 2,500 firms worldwide to drive and sustain improved business results. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Informa plc (INF on the London Stock Exchange), the leading international provider of specialist information and services for the academic and scientific, professional and commercial business communities. Informa has over 150 offices in more than 40 countries and employs over 7,000 staff around the world. Omega Performance is headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., USA, with major offices in Australia, Canada, China, New Zealand, Nigeria, Singapore, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.