Ania Kubicki, Author at B2B CFO®

Why Your Intellectual Property Is at Risk

by Ania Kubicki | Aug 17, 2012 | Archives

By James O’Brien, AmEx Open Forum Is your intellectual property protected? Small-business owners are often saddled with enough work to fill a 48-hour day. But in efforts to keep your business alive, missing a few key steps in protecting your “great idea” can ultimately lead to your losing that idea to IP theft. A Growing Problem: Intellectual Property Theft in the U.S. Recent statistics from the U.S. International Trade Commission tell the tale: Patent, copyright, trademark and other kinds of IP infringement investigations went up 37 percent in 2011 from fiscal year 2010. The 337 investigations opened under Section 337, in 2011, represent the greatest number of new inquiries started in any given year tracked by the Commission. “This clearly points to a much larger problem and I am willing to bet that the statistics for this current decade will be much higher,” says Jerry Mills, the owner of an accounting firm and a near-victim of IP theft. “Businesses, especially small and growing businesses like ours, are prime targets for intellectual property misappropriation and must take proper measures to protect their intellectual property and trade secrets.” Ideas on the Line: The Story of B2B CFO When Mills started B2B CFO in Phoenix, Ariz., in 1987, he pioneered an idea that he calls “CFO for hire.” His firm provides focused chief financial officer services to mid-market and growing entrepreneurial companies. “Every company, regardless of size, needs a chief financial officer,” Mills says. “With us, people can afford a CFO without hiring a full-time person. On a 1099 basis, we make those services affordable.” In April 2006, Mills’s company brought on a partner with the firm, providing just...

Radio Segment with radioentrepreneurs.com

by Ania Kubicki | Aug 13, 2012 | Archives

On August 6th, 2012, Frank Armenio of B2B CFO was featured on Radio Entrepreneurs highlighting what B2B CFO is and what we do for our clients. Radio Entrepreneurs is a radio talk show highlighting the stories of entrepreneurship. This show focuses on entrepreneurs of all kinds, stories of success, and provides listeners with advice and insight from others. Each week, entrepreneurs come together over the airways and in person to bring entrepreneurship to its full potential. The B2B CFO featured interview is available here for...

B2B CFO® Among Nominees in Small Business Influencers Ranking

by Ania Kubicki | Jul 20, 2012 | Archives

Vote for B2B CFO in the Corporations category and for Jerry Mills in the Leaders category Phoenix, Ariz., July 20, 2012 — B2B CFO and company’s founder Jerry L. Mills are among the nominees in the 2012 Small Business Influencers ranking. Small Business Influencer recognition was established to honor companies, organizations and people who have made a significant impact on the North American small business market. Last year, Jerry L. Mills, founder and chief executive officer of B2B CFO was recognized among the “Top 100 Small Business Influencers” in North America in the inaugural run of the awards program created jointly by Small Business Trends and Small Business Technology. This year, B2B CFO has been nominated in the “corporations” category and Jerry Mills is nominated in the “leaders” category. The polls are now open for casting votes. To vote for B2B CFO follow this link: http://influencers.smallbiztrends.com/small-business-vendors-2012/b2b-cfo-1/ To vote for Jerry L. Mills follow this link: http://influencers.smallbiztrends.com/small-business-leaders-2012/jerry-l-mills-1/ Voters can visit the awards website, http://influencers.smallbiztrends.com/, to cast their vote for the company and/or person worthy of the Small Business Influencers recognition. The community votes account for 40% of the decision and then it progresses to the judging panel where they decide the top 100 champions in the small business market. The polls will be open through August 4th, 2012. ABOUT B2B CFO Headquartered in Phoenix, Ariz., the firm was founded in 1987 by Jerry L. Mills who pioneered the “CFO for hire” concept. Today, B2B CFO is the nation’s largest CFO firm serving entrepreneurial, growth and mid-market companies. The firm’s partners have an average of 25 years of experience and each...

Utah County businessman pays $220K in copyright suit

by Ania Kubicki | Jul 17, 2012 | Archives

By Jasen Lee, Deseret News SALT LAKE CITY – A Pleasant Grove businessman has settled a lawsuit, agreeing to pay $220,000 to his former company for alleged copyright infringment. B2B CFO filed a lawsuit in 2009 against Ken Kaufman and three of his entities, including CFOWise, claiming copyright infringement, misappropriation of trade secrets, breach of fiduciary duty as well as Lanham Act violations and Federal RICO violations. According to a news release, Kaufman – who was a partner in the firm – left B2B CFO to form CFOWise in 2007, and used copyrighted intellectual property owned by B2B CFO in his new business. In agreeing to settle the lawsuit, Kaufman paid $220,000 to B2B CFO, and also admitted to improper conduct. “For business reasons, there was an admission included in the settlement,” Kaufman told the Deseret News. “By executing this Agreement, Defendant Kenneth A. Kaufman admits that he copied the intellectual property of B2B CFO, LLC and B2B CFO Partners, LLC, in violation of federal civil copyright law,” the settlement states. “Our insurance company wanted to be done with it,” Kaufman said. “I was excited to be done with it … and it was an opportunity to put it behind us and move on.” In a statement, Jerry L. Mills, founder and CEO of B2B CFO, said, “We are pleased that the Federal Court upheld the validity of our intellectual property. Intellectual property misappropriation is a serious problem in this country and businesses need to know how to protect themselves and understand the legal process which is very complex and can be quite costly.” Copyright 2012, Deseret News Publishing...