Financial Crisis
Attorney
Ken Gross
about...

Your
Financial
Problems

Metro

Prime Time!

JVS Expo provides tools for workers
50 and older to reshape their lives.

Dorie Shwedel
Special to the Jewish News

M

Can Credit Card
Debt Really Be
Eliminated?

Yes – but you need
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representing our clients for
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are seeking a solution outside
of bankruptcy – if they are
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flow from not paying the cards
to settle the debt over lime. You
need careful planning, however,
because there can be tax
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– it can be great in the right
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The law firm of Than; Grass,
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0 THAV GROSS

888.235.4357 (HELP) or
248.645A 700

For information, visit us online at

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30150 Telegraph, Suite 444,
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1616760

22

October 7 • 2010

ike Cohen had reached a
point where he needed to
make his career happen
for himself
In his early 50s and a recent
victim of a corporate bankruptcy
caused, in large part, by the global
financial meltdown, he and his wife
had some money put away, but by
no means was he ready to retire.
And yet Cohen wasn't quite
happy with his career as a corporate
executive either. It didn't motivate
Mike Cohen in his basement
him. At times, it was difficult for
workshop
him to be motivated enough to go to
work during the more than 20 years
Development Services. "This
he was in the corporate world. This never
included identifying his pas-
affected his performance, but it did nega-
sion, his skills and his needs
tively impact his job satisfaction.
and translating them into the
"My career had been determined by
world of work."
factors that were largely out of my control',"
"At JVS, he learned he had
said Cohen of Huntington Woods."It was
more in common with entre-
time for me to take control and responsi-
preneurs than large company
bility for my own professional life."
corporate executives," said Paul
This is the theme of JVS' Prime Time!
Blatt, JVS director of Business
Expo being held from 12:30-5 p.m.
and Career Services.
Sunday, Oct. 17, at the Jewish Community
Fortunately, Cohen had
Mike Cohen's designs include this intricate
Center in West Bloomfield. PrimeTime!
something to fall back on. He
china hutch.
Expo is designed to help people age
had apprenticed under a profes-
50-plus who want to reshape their lives.
sional furniture maker in the
Workshops topics include starting your
1990s and had shown a real interest and
"There are times I get up in the middle
own business, social media for the techno- talent. However, "life happened." He and
of the night because a furniture design
phobis, tips to improve memory, one-on-
his wife, Nancy, had two daughters and
pops into my head and I need to get it
one career consultations, estate planning,
Cohen had to take a job that paid well and down on the computer',' Cohen said. "It's
dream interpretation, skin care and
had benefits.
exciting. You have to make your own
healthy eating.
"Making furniture was always an inter-
breaks these days."
The featured speaker is Nancy
est or a hobby of mine, but I just never
Said JVS Vice President and COO Leah
Anderson, author of Work with Passion in
had time to do it',' Cohen said.
Rosenbaum, "Mike Cohen's story is a per-
Midlife and Beyond, a book designed to
A few years ago, the Cohens were pric-
fect example of how JVS programs help
help older adults reach their full potential
ing custom-build kitchen cabinets and
people uncover their hidden talents and
and make the money they need to retire.
were floored by the costs. So they did
put them to practical use. He shows what
the cabinet work themselves and saved
professionals age 50 and older can accom-
Making The Change
money. They also dug an expanded base-
plish as entrepreneurs with a great idea
Cohen is just one many professionals age
ment for a furniture-making shop.
and passion — even in this challenging
50 and older who have received counseling
"Making furniture and such products
economy."
from JVS and have decided to start a busi- — that's what I am passionate about','
JVS career counselors will be available
ness or change their career path. Cohen
Cohen said.
during the EXPO for individual brief
admits it was difficult to find a job in the
In the past year, Cohen has redefined
counseling on re-careering. Free. CEU's for
corporate world following his firm's bank-
himself. He is the owner of Ecosmart
social workers who attend each session are
ruptcy. He looked for nearly eight months
Furniture, a firm that designs and manu- available. Pre-registration is appreciated.
before finding a job and, once he found
factures finished furniture products
For information, contact (248) 233-4213
one, it took him only a few months to real- from reclaimed lumber. He already has
or visit www.jvsdet.org .
ize it wasn't going to work out.
achieved success, selling both designs
"Mike was assisted by the various
and products to designers with retail
Dorie Shwedel is vice president of marketing
programs available at JVS," said Zipora
stores in the area, and providing other
and communication at Southfield-based JVS.
Golenberg, JVS supervisor of Career
pieces for commission.

