[nfbmi-talk] Business Enterprise Program article ann arbor news

Fri Nov 30 20:37:58 UTC 2012

Matt and Fred,

It truly is sad, especially for me, given that I know what the BEP and
private sector business can be, and sad that management, from the governor
to LARA, and BS4BP don't know and appreciate the value of quality guest
service and food presentation.  I hope, yet don't know if I will ever see my
dreams for the BEP become reality.  But my passion for quality food and
service will never subside.    

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbmi-talk [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Fred
Wurtzel
Sent: Friday, November 30, 2012 9:27 AM
To: 'NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] Business Enterprise Program article ann arbor news

Hi Matt,

I think the BEP has lost all sight of your points.  We were working hard to
create such a comprehensive training program and now it has degenerated into
a system where the trainer calls in via conference phone to students in a
hotel for direction.  The human aspect is gone.  After all it is a
combination of numbers applied with good human relations that make a
successful business.  The real tragedy is that only a handful of BEP
operators cares enough to try to make improvements. Where is the pride?
Where is the determination?  I am very sad, yet hopeful that the kernel of
strength we possess will be successful in saving what we have and growing it
into a robust and inspirational business model.

Thank you for your insightful comments.

Warmest Regards,

Fred

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbmi-talk [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Matt
Sievert
Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2012 11:30 PM
To: Joe Sontag; NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] Business Enterprise Program article ann arbor news

Group, this is sad.

Not only is there apparently a lack of accounting from the previous
administration. But the quote from Mr. Rothenhauser gives the appearance
that neither side was interested in keeping accurate records.

If some of these folks have the desire to move out of the small vending
business and into a real restaurant, then some real training is going to
need to take place. Mr. Sontag, is there a program in place to continue
training above and beyond running a snack bar/vending area?

I know as a food service worker that the availability of a quick service
outlet in an office building can turn into a great opportunity to expand
into other areas of hospitality/restaurant management.

You offer a good product at a slight premium with good service and clean
environment. People will come back. Even if it is a chicken salad wrap or a
hot pretzel. Being known for the quality of the coffee will get folks into
your shop. From there you can peddle the breakfast sandwiches, and let them
know what is coming up for lunch.

On Thu, Nov 29, 2012 at 10:59 PM, Joe Sontag <suncat0 at gmail.com> wrote:

> You'll never guess how some members of the Elected Operators' 
> Committee and other operators are reacting to this article.  They are 
> heaping abuse on Mr. Rothenhauser, even his  sister, saying he's a bad 
> operator who should be removed from the program.  I know nothing about 
> his abilities as an operator, but I know that his facility has been a 
> troubled location for many years, well before Mark took over.
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "joe harcz Comcast" < 
> joeharcz at comcast.net>
> To: "NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2012 19:47
> Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] Business Enterprise Program article ann 
> arbor news
>
>
>  Outragious. Simply outragious. My copy of this report was totally and
>> outragiously inaccessable.
>>
>> That is a fact Jackson!
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "trising" <trising at sbcglobal.net>
>> To: "nfbmi List" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2012 6:36 PM
>> Subject: [nfbmi-talk] Business Enterprise Program article ann arbor 
>> news
>>
>>
>>     Mark Rothenhauser, 55, operates the snack bar at the state Capitol.
>>> He's been participating in the state's Business Enterprise Program 
>>> for people who are blind and visually impaired for six years.Melissa 
>>> Anders | MLive LANSING, MI - The state did not properly manage a 
>>> program that helps blind people run vending facilities in government 
>>> buildings, according to an audit report that estimates the program 
>>> improperly spent about a quarter million dollars.
>>>
>>> A report released Tuesday by Michigan's Auditor General found that 
>>> the Michigan Commission for the Blind did not effectively monitor 
>>> the finances, contracting and inventory for its Business Enterprise 
>>> Program. The program offers licenses to blind and visually impaired 
>>> people to operate vending machines, cafeterias, snack bars, carts 
>>> and other food services in state and federal buildings, highway rest
stops and visitor centers.
>>>
>>> The audit generally covered Oct. 2008 through July 2011, when the 
>>> program was still managed by the Michigan Commission for the Blind.
>>>
>>> The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) realized 
>>> there were several issues with the vending program and requested the
audit.
>>>
>>> Gov. Rick Snyder responded to broader issues surrounding the 
>>> Commission for the Blind with an executive order that replaced the 
>>> commission with the Bureau of Services for Blind Persons in October.
>>>
>>> Ed Rodgers took over as director of the bureau last month with the 
>>> mandate to make improvements.
>>>
>>> "While there's issues and problems we need to correct, the public 
>>> needs to be reassured that this administration is not wasting 
>>> taxpayers' dollars and that we are running an effective and efficient
program," Rodgers said.
>>> "We're doing what we're supposed to be doing."
>>>
>>> The Business Enterprise Program had eight staff members and more 
>>> than 80 licensees who operated about 400 sites throughout the state as
of July 2011.
>>>
>>> Operators give 10 percent of their profits to the commission to pay 
>>> for expenses such as new equipment and retirement funds.
>>>
>>> "The public needs to be reassured that this administration is not 
>>> wasting taxpayers' dollars." - Ed Rodgers The audit estimates that 
>>> the commission improperly spent $254,000 in operator fees from Oct. 
>>> 2008 through July 2011 on miscellaneous program expenses that were 
>>> not in accordance with state code.
>>>
>>> The commission also did not effectively confirm operators' monthly 
>>> sales reports, meaning the state couldn't make sure that it properly 
>>> calculated and paid retirement contributions, pension payments and 
>>> operator fees, the audit found. Even though the vendors are 
>>> independent contractors, the program pays out such benefits.
>>>
>>> That finding didn't surprise Mark Rothenhauser, who operates the 
>>> snack bar at the state Capitol. He sells pizza slices, popcorn, soda 
>>> and other snacks from a small shop located on the ground level of the
building.
>>>
>>> "An operator can basically pull a number out of the air and report 
>>> that as sales," he said. "There's not a mechanism in place to 
>>> authenticate what the operator reports as sales is actually their 
>>> sales. So if you go with that, you don't know if they're paying the
correct set-aside fee."
>>>
>>> Rodgers said he set aside $150,000 to create a new data program for 
>>> the entire bureau that will keep better track of vending sales and net
income.
>>> It should be in place early next year.
>>>
>>> Other audit findings dealt with deficiencies in monitoring equipment 
>>> inventory, contracts and operator assistance.
>>>
>>> The bureau is completing an inventory of its equipment, such as 
>>> coolers and microwaves, and is setting up performance measures for 
>>> staff members who assist operators.
>>>
>>> "The auditor general's office should be applauded for the thorough 
>>> job they did in this," Rodgers said.
>>>
>>> Email Melissa Anders at manders at mlive.com. Follow her on Twitter:
>>> @MelissaDAnders.
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