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Brad Schneider, 36, Berkley

Brad Schneider is the warehouse manager of
Madison Electric in Warren.

Brad Schneider is one of four brothers, three of which, comprise the fourth generation of Madison
Electric, which was founded by their great-grandfather, Morris Blumberg, in 1914. With nine locations
throughout Southeast Michigan, Madison Electric is a supplier of electrical materials, HVAC, automation
components and network communication systems. Madison Electric is a leading distributor in the state
of Michigan and among the best in the industry.

Brad remembers a childhood spent in and around the fam-
ily business. "I remember going to work with my dad and my
brothers a few Saturdays every year to our old main store on
Woodward. We didn't really do too much work though. Our
time was spent sliding down the package chute from the third
floor down to the first floor. Additionally, starting at about age 9,
every December I would spend some weekends helping with the
annual inventory count."
A graduate of Eastern Michigan University with a degree in
economics, Brad joined the family business full time in 1998 after
spending several summers working his way up through the ranks
at Madison, first as a warehouse associate and then assistant
warehouse manager. Currently, he oversees Madison's warehouse
team, where he is responsible for shipping and receiving, and the
warehouse management computer system.
Clearly, his early experience as a 9-year-old inventory clerk
has paid off: "It has been my job over several years to make our
warehouse a 21st-century operation. When I started, much of
what we did was done with pen and paper, now almost every-

thing we do in our warehouse is with barcodes and laser scan-
ners. It has been my job to make this transition as seamless as
possible."
While each of the siblings and their father play an active role
in the family business, the Schneider family doesn't just work
together. They are an incredibly closeknit clan. The brothers and
their families spend vacations and holidays together with their
parents, Joe and Judi; and each summer, their children — the
fifth generation of Schneiders — look forward to their annual
summertime trip to "Bubbie/Zayde Camp."
When he's not at work or spending time with family, Brad is
an avid football and hockey fan and coaches high school football
at Birmingham Seaholm, where he is in charge of computer
scouting. While he and his wife, Molly, occasionally attend
services at Temple Emanu-El in Oak Park, they are currently
unaffiliated and instead put their energy into creating a loving,
engaged Jewish home for their children, D.J. and Anna.
"My favorite thing to do," says Brad, "is spend time with my
wife and kids."

How to Maximize Your Time Between Jobs

Taking Advantage of a Lull Can Pay Dividends

Because a watched pot never boils, it is an imperative that you remain
active between jobs in order to enhance your skill set — as well as
maintain your sanity — while waiting to be called into that next
interview.
With more than a half-dozen "qualified" candidates vying for every
open position, the ability to display activity — and why you are "rel-
evant" — could be the difference between receiving an invite to meet,
or your CV being tossed in the proverbial circular file.
While the nation's unemployment figure continues to hover
around 10 percent and an anemic recovery is threatening to slide into
neutral, Southeast Michigan is still behind the curve in job creation.
So, demonstrating to prospective employers that you are not sitting at
home just waiting for Congress to extend unemployment benefits is
essential.
The two most sure-fire ways to improve your chances of standing
out from the pack and using this downtime to invest in yourself are:
1) networking; and 2) increasing your knowledge through formal
education. Here are a few tips:

Networking

Attending job fairs and other traditional "networking" events can be
as time consuming as going back to school — without the benefit of
a certificate or degree — but a great way to combine networking with
showing tangible efforts at keeping busy is ... volunteering.
At first blush, you may not see a direct connection; but think about
all the charitable and religious organizations located throughout the
Detroit area — and, more important, who sits on those boards. Then
consider the "insider" access you'll gain by participating.

By Bryan Gottlieb

MSAE MEET, GREET AND EAT

Monday, Sept. 9, 3:30-6 p.m.
Rock Financial Showplace, Novi
The Michigan Society of Association Executives
invites you to join MSAE members in making
a connection with 2010 candidates for attor-
ney general, secretary of state and Michigan
Supreme Court Justice. Learn about their pri-
orities. Cost: $60. www.msae.org .

SEPTEMBER DETROITNET.ORG
SOCIAL HAPPY HOUR

Thursday, Sept. 16, 5-8 p.m.
Slackfinn, Royal Oak
Detroitnet.org was started by IT professionals
for IT professionals. At our events, you might
meet recruiters, some out-of-work develop-
ers, sales guys, network admins, web guys
or senior-level management. Bring business
cards. www.detroitnet.org .

IS THERE A ROTH IRA IN YOUR
FUTURE?

Thursday, Sept. 16, 7-9 p.m.
Farmington Hills Public Library,
Farmington Hills
Robin Waldman, a financial adviser and char-
tered retirement planning counselor at UBS
Financial Services, is hosting an investor edu-
cation series. Learn about tax-free benefits of
a Roth IRA. Do you think taxes will be higher
when you retire? Learn about this opportunity
to complement your tax-deferred and taxable
assets with tax-free income for retirement.
For more information, contact Robin Waldman,
(248) 737-5492 or robin.waldman@ubs.com .

And, of course, think about how your efforts can help the noble
objectives of many great charitable institutions in our area: JARC,
Federation (and its myriad network of beneficiaries), your child's
school (Parent Teacher Organizations, etc.), civic organizations and so
on. The members of its boards are stacked high with local luminar-
ies who may be able to point you in the right direction — or make a
phone call on your behalf

Take a Class, Get Certified, Finish a Degree

Whether it's brushing up on computer skills or enrolling in a formal
certification program, nothing makes a prospective employer salivate
more than a well-educated candidate. Because Southeast Michigan is
home to numerous colleges offering a panoply of graduate and post-
graduate offerings, finding programs to distinguish yourself from the
competition are easy, plentiful and cost-effective.
For instance, there is an increasing demand for certified project
managers — and the certification process usually takes no more than
18 months. With the average job search lasting nearly that long, by
the time you obtain your certification, you very well may be gainfully
employed, too.
Keeping yourself "out there" is near the equivalent of working 40
hours a week. It's tough both practically and emotionally. And while
it's common knowledge that the best way to land a job is by having a
job, that luxury is not available for many.
By working for a cause that is interesting to you — whether a
charity or enhancing your education — prospective employers will
know you have been doing what you can to better yourself.

MICHIGAN RESIDENT
I'M YOUR NEXT EMPLOYEE!

Are you either a current resident or
looking to move back to Michigan?
Here is your opportunity to post your
mini-resume for the professional
Detroit community to see.
• Name, Age (Optional)
• Current City
• Degree
• Desired Field of Employment
• Skills
• Contact information
E-mail all submissions to
Rachel Lachover,
rlachover@thejewishnews.com .

The Southeastern Michigan Jewish Alliance. is not pre-
screening, recommending or endorsing any persons. This
tool should be used as a method of networking and sharing
opportunities.

If you would like to submit any events, information or would like to be featured in our section, please contact Rachel Lachover at (248) 351-5156 or
rlachover@thejewishnews.com . JOIN US ON FACEBOOK; search our group name and fan page "SE MICHIGAN JEWISH ALLIANCE"

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September 2 0 2010