Stunt group signs with Boardman agency

Stunt group signs
with Boardman agency

BOARDMAN — Starboyz Motorcycle Stunt Group has signed with Boardman-based Farris Marketing for lining up sponsorship and endorsement opportunities. Starboyz, founded in 1997, performs stunts in front of more than 250,000 fans annually throughout the U.S. and Europe.

Real estate firm
opens new office

BOARDMAN — Northwood Realty Services, western Pennsylvania’s second largest real estate firm, has opened an office in Creekside Plaza, 1449 Boardman-Canfield Road. It is the company’s 36th office. The new office will house four brokers at the start headed by Sam Segretario, sales director. A lifelong resident of Youngstown and graduate of Youngstown State University, Segretario has been a licensed agent for more than 25 years and previously worked for Howard Hanna Real Estate.

Company offers advice
on workplace behavior

NEW YORK — For many, the modern workplace is another chance to relive the taunting and cruelty of middle school.

The bullies may wear business casual now, but in a random phone survey of office workers, 29 percent of respondents said they still deal with rude or unprofessional co-worker behavior.

Different troublemakers require individualized coping mechanisms, but directness, confidence and flexibility are essential in any confrontation, said Diane Domeyer, executive director of staffing company OfficeTeam, which conducted the survey.

“Recognize that it’s not going to change overnight,” she said. “Learn to adapt.”

Meanwhile, avoid chatting with the office gossip lest his reputation damage your standing with colleagues. Defuse a belittler’s invective by confidently asserting your position. Don’t be afraid to tell her or a supervisor your feelings.

“Stand up and be brave,” said Domeyer. “If you find over and over again that it’s starting to affect your morale and productivity, that will affect your career.”

OfficeTeam and research company International Communications Research interviewed 532 randomly selected full- or part-time adult office dwellers in an unscientific August phone survey.

Expert provides tips
on taking vacations

NEW YORK — For anyone planning to squeeze in a vacation before the end of the year, preparation can be the key to a relaxing break — but that means more than just buying a new swimsuit.

Prepping for your departure can spell the difference between a restorative respite and a harried holiday, according to organizing and time management expert Julie Morgenstern.

She offers the following tips for unplugging from the office:

• Let co-workers know a few weeks ahead of time that you’ll be away, and ask if there’s any tasks that need to be completed before you leave. That allows your colleagues to gear up for your departure while preventing last-minute projects from getting dumped in your lap.

• Visit a resort or stay at a hotel chain you have enjoyed in the past. If you have only a week or two to unwind, you want to avoid unexpected complications, Morgenstern said.

• Consider breaking up your vacation days into several long weekends, rather than a two-week break once a year. You should be able to arrange for full coverage of your duties, which allows you to handle work only in case of an emergency. Plus, returning to the job will be easier without the loss of momentum that often follows a longer vacation.

Vindicator staff and wire reports