We appreciate our relationship – you enable us to continue to do what we love to do!

There are three things that you and your leadership team can get better at:

1. Vision – Getting everyone in your organization 100% on the same page with where you are going and how you plan to get there.
2. Traction® – Instilling discipline and accountability throughout the company so that everyone executes on that vision – every day.
3. Healthy – Helping your leadership team become a more cohesive, functional, healthy leadership team.

Please join us as Bryan Uecker of BizRocks walks us through the EOS Model® outlining six key components that any business should manage. B2 Management & Consulting has been following the EOS process for over 7 years and it made a huge difference in the profitability of our company.
Bryan Uecker is the founder of the organizations BizRocks and BizBooks. Prior to that he was owner of Benefit Systems Inc specializing in retirement planning advisory services. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin and is a certified speaker and coach.

When: Tuesday, May 18th at Noon CST.
Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_kJGNSMT7QleK50yoyZIUUA

Brenda Barnes CPA, Managing Principal @ B2 Management & Consulting

Brenda has over 35 years of law firm management experience handling the day-to-day operations of very small, to the oversight of the administration of very large law firms. She has a unique perspective on running a legal practice – she understands how to run your company like a business.

Brenda is the past President of Austin-Central Texas Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA).

• Reopening offices means new concerns on safety, space requirements and staffing. The panelists will share their firm’s reopening plan and Carl Condon with Avison Young will give an update on the real estate market.
• Firms are now faced with managing employees with school-age children that need to be home-schooled. How are firms addressing these needs? In addition, if the home-schooling falls mostly on women, how are firms ensuring women professionals stay on a square footing with their male counterparts when it comes to compensation, partner track, etc.?
• Employee depression during COVID is a major concern for most employers. How are firms keeping employees engaged and assisting them through this difficult time?

We are going to leave a portion of the webinar for Q&A. If you would like to submit your questions before the webinar, you may send them to bbarnes@b2-mgmt.com.

Featured Panelists:
Brenda Barnes, Founder of B2 Management & Consulting – Moderator
Carl Condon, Principal, Avison Young – Panelist
Christine A. Giles, Office Administrator, Bollier Ciccone – Panelist
Summer Jurrells, Office Administrator, Husch Blackwell – Panelist
Tina L. Terrian, Executive Director, Pirkey Barber – Panelist

Register in advance for this webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_NUIVIVE4SBqam4VUKyLaKw

Registration is limited, so please sign-up today!

Today our employee spotlight turns to Jessica Howard, Accountant and Team Manager at B2 Management & Consulting based in Austin, Texas. We are grateful for Jessica’s leadership and dedication. Help us congratulate Jessica, a B2 Boundless Leader! Learn more about Jessica and B2 below.

Jessica Howard-Accountant/Team Manager
B2 Management & Consulting, LLC, Austin, Texas

Why do you believe an exceptional customer service experience is crucial?
Exceptional customer service shows your clients that you care. When you take the time to courteously and effectively take care of your clients’ issues, it shows them you truly care about them and their business.

What is your favorite quote, motto or personal mantra?
“One person can make a difference, and everyone should try.” ― John F. Kennedy

What would you do (for a career) if you weren’t doing this?
Child Welfare Social Work

What charities or organizations do you love supporting, and why?
My personal favorite is the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program. They help the most vulnerable children.

What book did you read last?
Be Safe, Love Mom by Elaine Lowry Brye

More about B2 Management & Consulting: As a full-service management consulting firm, B2 partners with our clients to deliver solutions that help solve their most complicated needs. Utilizing decades of industry experience and functional expertise, we can assist you in growing your practice in a strategic way that helps you prepare for the future. Contact us today.

B2 has exciting news to share! Connie Copeland is now a partner. Connie has been with B2 almost from day one in various roles and responsibilities. And for this reason, Connie has earned a partnership role with B2. Her focus is on financial and operations management and serves as the Controller and Operations Director.

Connie has worked within the oil and gas industry, public transportation, financial services, public education, and nonprofit sectors. She earned a BS in Management from Louisiana State University-Shreveport and an MBA in Finance from Dallas Baptist University. She has also served on various boards as past Treasurer for the Austin Human Resources Management Association (AHRMA) and the Central Texas Compensation and Benefits Association (CTCBA).

As a volunteer, she has worked with the Austin High School Football Boosters, Cheer Booster, Red Jackets, and Band, as well as many school-related committees. Currently, Connie is an Austin Aggie Mom. She is the proud mom of four children.

Connie enjoys genealogy, history, documentaries, listening to music, and fishing. She considers “football season” a real season and you can see her during this time cheering on her favorite teams — Texas Aggies and of course, LSU!

Please help us congratulate Connie as we know she will continue to be an invaluable asset to the B2 family.

Kathleen Gibson Joins B2 Management & Consulting

We’re also proud to announce joining the B2 team is Kathleen Gibson. Kathleen is the Director of Client Operations at B2 Management and Consulting. She comes to B2 after having spent over twenty years as a Director of Finance, Controller, and Management accountant, where she has led teams and executed – goals by streamlining processes for optimum results. Her background of working in numerous accounting platforms across multiple client specialties and industries offers a versatile knowledge base to service B2 clients.

At B2, Kathleen offers oversight to the Client experience by leading the Legal and Corporate Accountants to ensure delivery of services that align with B2’s standard for excellent service.

Kathleen’s professional training began in public accounting with KPMG after earning her Bachelor of Science degree at Lubbock Christian University.

Her passion outside of work includes serving in women’s ministries – including the Agape Resource Pregnancy Center in Round Rock, Texas, where she is a Client Advocate and Decision Coach, and the Restoration Home for women in Cedar Park, Texas. Additionally, Kathleen assists by teaching and serving in various ministries within her church.

Please join us in welcoming Kathleen to the B2 family.

2019 was a banner year for B2 as we celebrated our 10th Anniversary and we realize that much of that celebration had to do with you.

Thank you for…

Joining us in our support of philanthropy in the workplace! We challenged the Austin business community to give back and the results were resounding! Many of you supported me in my fundraising for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society who had nominated me in their Women & Men of the Year campaign. It was a surprise to receive the Mission Award for personally raising over $40,000 in the memory of Clay Singleton. The overall event raised over $950,000 for the Austin chapter alone! Nothing feels better than being part of something bigger than yourself that is making good things happen in Central Texas.

Asking us to assist you in the modernization of your law firm and the expansion of your company. B2 assisted clients in their conversion to Centerbase software; added Centerbase support services to our service line; conducted partner retreats; developed strategic plans; conducted webinars on Attorney compensation plans and legal pricing; recruited for your difficult positions and served as your HR department to counsel employees.

Voting for us in the Texas Lawyer “Best Of” Survey! For the third year in a row we are the #1 Back Office Support Company in Austin. We also want to thank our voters in Dallas and Houston where we also won. We cannot win that award without your votes and your support means the world to us.

And for your continued confidence in our services. Our B2 Team strives every day to meet our client needs with exceptional service and expertise. It is our genuine aim to be your business partner and help you exceed your goals and help you take care of your clients.

We wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! Travel safe and enjoy this time of family and friends.

Brenda Barnes

Brenda Barnes, CPA

First – Outsourcing. It’s budget time for many of you. If you are personally handling your bookkeeping, billing & payroll, you are losing money. Let’s do the math on this. If you are an attorney or a paralegal, your billing rate is much higher than our billing rate. You can increase your revenue simply by focusing on your passion – the law! And letting B2 focus on our passion – the numbers! B2 is your back-office management solution. We have the expertise and the experience necessary to effectively manage your practice while you grow it.

Second – Practice Management Software. Inefficiencies in a law firm are often caused by outdated or ineffective technology. We had so many clients that use cloud delivery of their document management and practice management systems, that we were on the hunt to find a solution. We found it in Centerbase. B2 became a certified partner to Centerbase software for many reasons, but primarily because it was the first practice management software that was stronger than Clio and also delivered a fully integrated accounting package. From workflows to the newly released Case Chat, Centerbase continues to deliver on new product features. Centerbase also offers an app where you can dictate your time to any of your devices.

The savings to your firm in the first 30 days alone, will pay for your subscription to Centerbase! And it’s not a software for just small firms – Centerbase’s client roster of large clients continues to grow. Why? Because it is that good.

We would love to show you a demonstration of Centerbase or discuss with you how B2 can benefit you and your back-office. If you would like to schedule a time to see Centerbase, please book a time on my calendar below!

Time to pick up those dollars!

I can show you how! Please contact me at bbarnes@b2-mgmt.com or 512-381-1500, ext. 105

Brenda Barnes

As a full-service management consulting firm, B2 partners with our clients to deliver solutions that help solve their most complicated needs. Utilizing decades of industry experience and functional expertise, we can assist you in growing your business in a strategic way and help prepare you for the future.

For the Third Year in a Row!

Many Thanks to Those of You who Voted!
We Value Your Continued Confidence in Our Services!

Julie Ellison and Hudson

Recognizing that those dynamics create a healthy, happy and productive work environment is crucial to the success of any business. And what makes employees happy? Studies show that when people are engaged in endeavors greater than themselves, they have stronger connections to each other and their communities. Companies providing that opportunity for philanthropy for their employees see greater productivity, decreased attrition and increased revenue.

As we celebrate our 10th anniversary, B2 has made a personal commitment to “10 Give Backs” this year. Every community has organizations and people in need. We welcome you to join us as we give back, get involved and make a difference! Encouraging and supporting philanthropy within your own workplace starts a domino effect with nothing but good results!

This month, we’d like to spotlight our very own Julie Ellison – B2’s HR expert. Julie is passionate about animals and has an especially soft spot in her heart for rescue dogs. She has been a volunteer and foster parent with Heart of Texas Lab Rescue (HOTLR) for over 15 years and is committed to the organization’s mission of placing dogs in need with foster homes until they find a forever home with a loving, dedicated owner/family. HOTLR is instrumental in saving dogs from animal shelters where they risk euthanization. However, they are only able to save as many dogs as they have foster homes so their need for help is a constant. The fostering experience is especially meaningful as these dogs make the transition into new homes.

Julie can speak from personal experience having adopted Hudson through HOTLR. Hudson is an 8-year-old yellow Lab that was born at the HOTLR’s president’s house after his mother was found wandering the street, taken to a shelter and then brought into the HOTLR program. He has been to many events around Austin and is always eager to represent HOTLR and the quality of Labs that we have in our program.

You can learn more about Heart of Texas Labrador Rescue at www.hotlabrescue.org. There are many ways to support this amazing organization…one of the easiest ways is through HOTLR’s Amazon Wish List: https://smile.amazon.com/registry/wishlist/39WHXD50U4WF/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_gm__wl

Please join B2 in making a contribution to Heart of Texas Lab Rescue or any dog rescue organization of your choice (a list of other organizations appears on the HOTLR website). The point is to give. The reward is knowing that you made a difference.
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As a full-service management consulting firm, B2 partners with our clients to deliver solutions that help solve their most complicated needs. Utilizing decades of industry experience and functional expertise, we can assist you in growing your business in a strategic way and help prepare you for the future.
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B2 is proud to announce it is a certified Centerbase consultant!

Centerbase is a fully integrated cloud-based practice management system. Visit Centerbase for more information and then contact me at bbarnes@b2-mgmt.com. We can guide you through your conversion, implementation and training!

With the celebration of our anniversary year beginning, I thought I would share 10 things that I have learned these past 10 years…

#1 You may feel alone at times, but never go it alone.
Surround yourself with advisors and advocates. Early on, I had trusted mentors in Paul Skeith, Monica Emilienburg and Jerry Pritchard – to name a few – who were extremely helpful to me. They believed in what I was doing and encouraged me to stay focused. It is very easy for COOs, CFOs and owners to get distracted. Never hesitate to ask for help and never let pride keep you from doing the “right thing.”

#2 Be confident in the expert you are.
Over 35 years of working with attorneys has afforded me a great deal of experience to pull from and apply to B2. I have always known knowledge is key and I have always been hungry for knowledge. I was very active in the local chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators and continue to be an active public speaker in areas of my expertise. Some would say I have a healthy confidence in my abilities, but to sit at the table during partner meetings and be heard, how can you not?

#3 Be irrationally optimistic.
I think some may call it “fake it till you make it.” We knew from the beginning B2 had a great offering for attorneys and we enthusiastically sold it. We didn’t know necessarily how we were going to always service the needs of the client, but we never faltered in our optimism and belief that we could do it. This optimism continues to serve us and our clients well!

#4 Be a visionary and lead your team to join and achieve the vision.
B2 follows a book called Traction. It keeps us true to the vision of what we want to be when we grow up! Whether you follow the EOS system or another system, my advice is follow one that works and STICK TO IT! Too many owners get too caught up working in the business and get off track. B2’s management team takes the time out of their very hectic schedules to work ON the business. Our clients benefit from the results.

#5 Be brave and know you will make mistakes.
Those that know me well, know I am a risk taker. I like the word “try.” We have added some service lines over the years that have been big flops and it will always serve as a thump on the head that we need to stay true to our core services. It’s why Texas Lawyer continues to recognize us as the best back office support company for lawyers. But we still continue to listen to our clients and introduce new ideas when new needs develop!

#6 Be true to your people.
Loyalty is everything to me. I support my team knowing that we are there for each other in every circumstance. Never do I throw them under the bus. If there is a mistake, we own it and we fix it. And while we are focused on our clients’ needs, I also focus on my team’s needs. It’s why we went virtual a couple of years ago. The commute was affecting productivity and morale. While non-traditional, it has made all the difference in employee happiness! Happy employees = happy clients.

#7 Talk to your clients.
We call it the “Client Experience” at B2. From the initial sale to the onboarding to the daily/monthly service we provide, we establish effective communication tools to ensure we are doing what we said we would do. Client feedback is critically important to us. We celebrate our victories and learn from our defeats. We take all feedback seriously and will make changes to processes as needed. If you never listen to your clients, don’t be surprised when they leave.

#8 Look further than likability when hiring.
This was a hard one for me to learn because I always want to give someone a break or a new opportunity. But when you are in a service business, our clients need more than a nice person managing their money. We now use a screening tool that identifies communication styles, learning behaviors and how detailed oriented innate abilities are. If someone does not meet the criteria, it doesn’t really matter how nice they are. It’s all about being the right person in the right seat to meet our goals and our clients’ goals.

#9 Establish core values and follow them.
We have six core values at B2: Strong Work Ethic, Client Service, Respect for Everyone, Integrity & Honesty, Professionalism and Teamwork. We live by them, we hire by them, evaluate by them and – if necessary – terminate by them. They have served us well!

#10 LOVE what you do.
At the end of the day, each of us must take great satisfaction that we have made a difference and are doing what we enjoy doing. Whether it is professional, personal, or spiritual, we all work hard, so it is imperative you love what you do. At B2, we love that we can partner with our clients and assist them in solving an issue – whether it is attorney compensation, succession planning or cleaning up messy books left by a previous bookkeeper – at the end of the day, we know we made a difference! We LOVE that!

These last 10 years have been a great ride and we know that much of our success comes from our successful clients! We look forward to our celebration this year and many more years to come!

…Brenda

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As a full-service management consulting firm, B2 partners with our clients to deliver solutions that help solve their most complicated needs. Utilizing decades of industry experience and functional expertise, we can assist you in growing your business in a strategic way and help prepare you for the future.
_________________________________________________________________________________

B2 is proud to announce it is a certified Centerbase consultant!

Centerbase is a fully integrated cloud-based practice management system. Visit Centerbase for more information and then contact me at bbarnes@b2-mgmt.com. We can guide you through your conversion, implementation and training!