Category: News & Events

Naked on the Bus

September 5, 2018  |  Carole Clark Isakson

The less catchy title of this blog is “DON’T USE OPEN PUBLIC WIFI!!!” Doing so may expose you, quite literally, to the world. I am the mother of a teenager– a really smart teenager who is proficient at Snapchat®, Instagram®, WhatsApp® and a host of other applications (Facebook® of course has been left for we older folks). I vainly tried to explain the dangers of open wi-fi to this smart person a few days ago, to be met with an eye roll and a “c’mon mom, it’s no big deal. Free wi-fi is everywhere if it weren’t safe I would know”. [maxbutton id=”1″ ] Well, dear reader and dear daughter, it is indeed true that open wi-fi (i.e. wifi that you don’t need a password to access) is EVERYWHERE, and this is likely why the many warnings of danger have been so ignored. We love our free wi-fi, and the free public wi-fi has been a magnet for business for every café and coffee shop around. But the dangers ARE real. And if your phone is set (as many are) to automatically connect to available wi-fi, you are literally walking naked down the aisle of a big bus, in full view of every person you pass. Now that I have your attention, let’s…

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MTA Convention 2018

August 8, 2018  |  Carole Clark Isakson

As they have done for many years, the members of the BGS transportation department attended the Minnesota Trucking Association’s annual conference in August. This year’s conference was held at Cragun’s resort in the Brainerd area, and BGS is proud to have been a silver sponsor of the event. To say that trucking is a significant industry is an understatement… with a very very few exceptions EVERYTHING spends time in the back of a truck. Trucks may haul goods from origin to destination, or deliver or pickup the goods from a dock, airport or railroad yard. This will not change, and as populations increase and online retailers promise ever faster delivery, the role trucks play in commerce is becoming even more critical. Where do the attorneys at BGS come in? We advise new and old trucking companies, logistics companies and freight brokers in contract and other matters. Our experienced and knowledgeable attorneys help clients in the transportation industry negotiate fair contracts, comply with state and federal regulations, manage employment and other internal issues, and improve operations. We are proud to have attorneys with decades of experience in trucking!

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Preparing Students for Jobs

April 20, 2018  |  Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.

As she has for many years, BGS Attorney Carole Clark Isakson recently spent a morning at Osseo Senior High School conducting mock interviews with students. This year nearly FIVE HUNDRED students will participate  in mock interviews, which are well designed to give each student a taste of what a real job interview is like.  “It is an activity I really enjoy”, said Isakson, “and I know it has tremendous value for the students, many of whom have never interviewed for a job.”   Students are randomly assigned to one of the many interviewers, and are evaluated on everything from their responses to questions, to their posture.  The interviewers are provided a range of questions that employers may ask, including those general “tell me about yourself” and “what has been your biggest challenge” questions that can temporarily stump even the most practiced adult.  Working with students on how to answer those questions in a way that tells a potential employer something good about the student is one of the jobs of the interviewer, but not the only job!  Resumes are reviewed and edited, and  questions are answered. And while an interviewer works on content, he or she also works with the students on appearance and posture.  Most students are aware that eye contact is…

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