J ruSEEN EWISH VISIT OUR WEBSITE: WWW.SEMJALLIANCE.ORG ALLIANCE" events 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" 52 September 2 0 2010