PowerBusiness Associaties, parent company of AuthorizedAgents announced that Lehigh Valley Dairies in Pennsylvania, a Dean Foods company, contracted PowerBusiness to facilitate strategic goal planning for the year 2008.

The program will be led by Zigmund Sepanski, General Manager of Authorized Agents and President of PowerBusiness Associates Inc. USA. Zigmund Sepanski helped Lehigh Valley Dairies develop its 2007 business plan that led to record profits..

Zigmund Sepanski created such programs for a number of companies, including Coke, Pepsi, Lucent, Apple Computer divisions in Europe.

Articles written by Zigmund Sepanski:

• Do You Really Want Leaders, AMCHAM Journal
• Value of Multi-Level Assessment Instruments
• Role of Human Resources
• Time Management for Home Based Agents

8/8/07
Authorized Agents executive to speak at Leisure Travel Conference in Florida

“What Agents Need to Know about Laws, Lawsuits and Disclosures” will be the topic of a speech to be given at the Leisure Travel Conference in Florida this December, 2007 by Zigmund Sepanski, G.M. of Authorized Agents.

The full description of the presentation is: "Today's laws and courts are getting very tough on agents. Consumers are lawsuit happy too.  You will learn, in lay terms, what you need to disclose to consumers and how to comply with various state registration requirements. You will find out what kinds of lawsuits agents are losing and will receive solid ideas how to cover your ASSets."

Last year the presentation was standing room only and this year the organizers will be allocating a larger hall for the speech. "This is n important area usually neglected by agencies and agents. With the proliferation of independent agents this subject becomes even more timely." states Sepanski

1/1/07
AuthorizedAgents executive appointed to Society of Incentive and Travel Executives Ethics Board
Zigmund Sepanski, general manager of Authorized Agents and President of its parent company, PowerBusiness Associates Inc., was appointed to the SITE board for a two year term. As one of 4 members he will oversee ethics violations of the vast international membership and recommend action by the Society if an ethics violation occurs.

Sepanski writes articles and gives speeches on the subject of duties and responsibilities and served a stint on the California Consumer Restitution Corporation that reimburses consumers for agent fraud as its treasurer and director.

AuthorizedAgents VP to speak on host agency panel in Las Vegas Home Based Agent Expo
San Juan Capistrano, Ca. Nov. 15, 2006 ........Over 4000 independent agents are expected to attend the Home Based Agency Expo in Las Vegas December 5 and
Authorized Agents was selected as one of 5 top panelists, including Nexion, Joystar, Travel Planners to speak on the nature of Host agencies and how independent home
based agent should go about choosing a host.

Representing Authorized Agents is Leslie Bauer, Vice President. Leslie has been with Authorized Agents for five years and will address the vital support issues and challenges faced by independent home based agents.

Prior to joining Authorized Agents Leslie managed the marketing program for the server division of NEC America, was wordlwide director of channel development for a
Lockheed division and was Vice President of Sales for Apple Computer IMC in Europe. Prior to Apple in Europe she also managed distributor channels for Apple in the USA.

Leslie's experience in the corporate world is one of the reasons that Authorized Agents has been able to set itself apart with innovative programs and offer personal
and practical support to its independent home based agent members.

For more information call Authorized Agents at 1 800 684-3260 ext 205 or 203 or go to www.authorizedagents.com

AuthorizedAgents executive to speak on independent contractor laws and responsibilities in Florida
San Juan Capistrano, CA Oct. 16, 2006 ........Leisure Travel and Home Based Winter Cruise-A- Thon in Florida this December will feature a number of experts on a wide variety of industry specific panels and workshops.

Zigmund Sepanski from AuthorizedAgents, a host division of Fun Companies, will lead a workshop entitled "Home Based Agent Responsibilities, Self Protection and Registration Requirements." In addition, he will also will be a Host Agency Panelist. Fun Companies is a member of Signature Travel Network, an upscale consortium of top vacation and cruise consultants.

Sepanski is a keynote and featured speaker in many business events, such as International HR Directors Conference in Prague and Compaq Computers top sales perfromers awards in Singapore. He was director of strategic markets for Sun Computers Inc., C.O.O. for Apple Computer IMC in Europe, instructor in marketing and advertising in California University and Colleges and former president of Intelcom Corporation and PowerBusiness Europe. He has been featured on Wall Street Week, written up in Entrepreneur magazine has written numerous articles on management for the American Investor and a number of Chamber of Commerce publications. He served on many executive boards and commissions, such as California State University, County of Los Angeles, and several federal/state agencies.

Fun Companies, AuthorizedAgents, Agency Promos are owned by PowerBusiness Associates Inc.

For a published version of the presentation go here

Travel Trade: Headline News
www.traveltrade.com/headline_news.jsp?articleID=5798
  

Zigmund Sepanski, treasurer of the Travel Consumer Restitution Corporation, said initiation assessments for new agencies, interest on money already in the fund and "good management" are responsible for keeping the fund at $2.2 million, well above the $1.6 million minimum.

The closings of Visions Travel in San Diego cost TCRC about $400,000, Sepanski said.
...
Sepanski is general manager of AuthorizedAgents.com, a Signature Travel member based in San Juan Capistrano, CA.

Sepanski said TCRC gets 80 to 100 cases a month, which are handled in lengthy conference calls. Any aggrieved person can file, as long as the purchase is made while they're in the state. Agents can file, too, against wholesalers. In all cases, it's a last resort. Claimants waive their right to sue.

The biggest problem, according to Sepanski, is agencies that fail to keep clients' payments in a proper trust fund.
...
Speaking at the Signature Travel Network annual meeting in Los Angeles last week, Sepanski reminded his audience that "everybody" has to register, including non-profits and even hair salons, if they sell travel in California. Failure to do so makes travel sellers liable to criminal fines of $10,000 and a year in jail , $25,000 and 16 months in jail if fiduciary money is involved. Non-registrants are also liable to civil suits by consumers and the state attorney general.

Sepanski urged agents to have a written contract for each sale, with a disclaimer about accidents and responsibilities, and pointed out that the seller is acting only as an agent, and is not responsible for a bad hotel view, an auto accident or other misfortune.

Presidential Business Commission

Congressman Jim Ryun of Kansas announced today that Zigmund Sepanski of San Clemente has been appointed to serve the state of California on the new Presidential Business Commission.
...
Zigmund, a former member of the United States Congressional Advisory Board foundation, is a keynote speaker and held a number of senior corporate positions. As a turn-around expert he held positions as C.O.O. of an Apple Computer IMC country operation in Europe, Director of Strategic Markets for Sun Computer Inc in the USA, President of Intelcom Corporation and executive director of Central and Eastern European Business Agency.

Zigmund is one of the most hotly thought after seminar speakers and consultants. His personal clients included Coca Cola, Unilever, OCE, Avon, Ericsson, Compaq Computers, Best Foods and many more. He was also consultant to the State of California in time management and is credentialed to be President of California Community Colleges.

His articles appeared in a number of magazines, including Personnel Magazine, American Investor, American Chamber of Commerce Magazine and he appeared on such shows as Wall Street Week. Currently he is involved in PowerBusiness Corporation, his consulting practice in San Clemente and in FunCompanies, a vacation marketing company.

Mr. Sepanski was selected to the commission based on his contributions as an Honorary Chairman of the Business Advisory Council.

Who: Orange County cruise company FunCruise.com
What: During the month of January, FunCruise.com and FunHawaii.com are donating 5 percent of what they make on all new Carnival, Holland America, Radisson, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and Celebrity cruises and Pleasant Holidays reservations to the Tsunami victims.
How to help: All bookings made on the Internet at www.funcruise.com, www.FunHawaii.com or through direct calls to (800) 324-2000 will qualify. "The monies will be paid directly to major aid agencies and nothing will be taken out for administration or other costs. We hope to raise a significant amount," General Manager Zigmund Sepanski said.