REGION

REGION

Gold Certified Partner status is given to Cboss

BOARDMAN – Cboss, which produces software for business and government, has attained Gold Certified Partner status in the Microsoft Partner Program with a competency in the areas of advanced infrastructure solutions, business process and integration, and data management solutions. Gold Certified Partners must demonstrate expertise with Microsoft technologies and an ability to meet customers’ needs.

“We are extremely pleased to have attained Gold Certified Partner status in the Microsoft Partner Program,” said Doug Carr, Cboss interim general manager. “This allows us to clearly promote our expertise and relationship with Microsoft to our customers. The benefits provided through our Gold Certified Partner status will allow us to continue to enhance the services and solutions that we provide to customers.”

Grantz is honored as ‘2007 Top Gun’

BOARDMAN — James Grantz of Grantz Family Properties and Komar Plumbing was honored recently at the spring meeting of the Ohio Home Builders Association in Columbus as the “2007 Top Gun” recipient. The award is given to the person who recruits the most new members into their local HBA. Grantz recruited 24 new members last year. Grantz also received this honor as the 2006 Top Gun. He is a member of the executive board of the HBA of Mahoning Valley and was president in 2006.

NATION

Grads are optimistic about getting a job

NEW YORK — Employers are antsy this year. Graduating students, however, remain optimistic. Employment data nationwide may be flagging, but 73 percent of job-seeking students expect two or more job offers after finishing school, according to a recent survey by MonsterTRAK, a subsidiary of job search company Monster Worldwide Inc. As of early spring, 59 percent of employers said they would be hiring, 17 percent less than in 2007.

“It’s a little bit more of an employer’s market — 29 percent of folks are still unsure” they will hire recent grads, said Mark Charnock, MonsterTRAK vice president. That is twice as many uncertain employers as in last year’s survey.

The expected average salary for ’08 graduates has grown almost 10 percent, to $39,500 from $36,000 for grads last year, in line with increases over the past couple of years, he said.

The MonsterTRAK Entry Level Job Outlook polled 4,720 employers, students and recent alumni online from Feb. 12-22.

Avoid practical jokes while at the office

NEW YORK — While Saran-wrapping the office toilets may seem hilarious to the trickster, a prank that upsets or inconveniences anyone at work may leave him feeling stupid at the end of the day.

In a recent survey, marketing and advertising executives found most felt April Fools’ Day jokes to be inappropriate at work. Even creative professionals don’t want to find their cars sitting in the middle of a fountain or have a co-worker break into personal e-mail and send their supervisor a fake letter of resignation — two examples staffing firm Creative Group offered of unusual or extreme pranking.

“If you don’t know how it’s going to be perceived, then don’t do a practical joke,” said Megan Slabinski, executive director of Creative Group.

The man who sent in the fake resignation letter was sent a warning that further inappropriate e-mail use could lead to losing his job.

Vindicator staff and wire reports