SARPC job fair

Hundreds of job-seekers at pictured at the South Alabama Regional Planning Commission's job fair. This year's event is set for April 20. (File photo)

Business Before Breakfast

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MOBILE, Alabama – So much to cover on this glorious first day of spring, including a very pointed question at the close of this very column.

Later this afternoon I'll have an inside look at some of coastal Alabama's most lavish spring break rentals, complete with pictures to make you question why in the world you're waiting to make vacation plans.

Let’s start, though, by talking jobs.

The South Alabama Regional Planning Commission’s 16th Annual Business Expo & Jobs Fair will engulf the Mobile Civic Center Expo Hall May 1 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the bar has been set fairly high.

The 2013 event attracted more than 90 companies and more than 3,500 job seekers from seven states. That’s right, seven states.

In addition to highlighting employment and training opportunities with some of the region’s top companies, the annual event also gives employers the chance to network with community leaders while marketing products and services. The job fair portion will also feature a series of free workshops for job seekers covering everything from resume development and networking techniques to interviewing skills and one-on-one consultations.

For more information, click here, or contact the commission's Terri Pringle to reserve a booth or learn more about sponsorship opportunities. Pringle can be reached by phone at 251-706-4614 or via email at tpringle@sarpc.org.

What’s in a name?

NAI Global has earned the top five spot in the 2014 Lipsey Survey of the top 25 commercial real estate brands.

"We are proud that the strength of the NAI Global network is reflected in the results of this year's Lipsey survey," said Tommy Gleason, partner with NAI Mobile.

“Our firm is bullish on the Mobile economy and we are excited to be associated with one of the country’s top Commercial Real Estate Brands,” Gleason said.

The survey was conducted among 100,000 commercial real estate professionals using a combination of ballot voting, phone interviews and focus groups to identify the top global brands. NAI Global is the only commercial real estate network represented in the top five.

CBRE ranked first, followed by a three-way tie for second between JLL, Colliers International and Cushman & Wakfield. Newmark Grubb Knight Frank and Cassidy Turley ranked third and fourth respectively.

Money on the table?

The Internal Revenue Service estimates some 15,700 Alabamians who – for whatever reason, no judgment here – failed to file a federal income tax return for 2010, could be passing up their individual shares of about $12.5 million left unclaimed.

The window to file the belated returns, however, is April 15, 2014, or 26 days from today.

“This money has to be claimed by April 15, and the only way to claim it is to file a 2010 tax return,” IRS spokesman Dan Boone said.

But just so you know, if you’re seeking a 2010 refund and have not yet managed to file returns for 2011 and 2012, expect to have that check held. Said refund will also first be applied to any amounts still owed the IRS, Alabama income tax debts or to offset any unpaid child support or past due federal debts such as student loans.

Current and prior year tax forms and instructions are available on the Forms and Publications page of the IRS website or by calling toll-free 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676). Taxpayers who are missing Forms W-2, 1098, 1099 or 5498 for 2010, 2011 or 2012 should request copies from their employer, bank or other payer.

Taking stock

I'm guessing some, if not all, of you have heard by now about Walter G. Bruhl Jr. and the self-penned obituary read round the world since his March 15 passing.

Here’s a little taste of his valediction gone viral:

“There will be no viewing since his wife refuses to honor his request to have him standing in the corner of the room with a glass of Jack Daniels in his hand so that he would appear natural to visitors.”

Obviously, Bruhl left this world without taking it - or himself - too seriously but why, you ask, are we talking about a Delaware man with no ties to the Mobile area?

Plain and simple curiosity.

Being the nerdy business reporter I am, I found the career portion of his obit particularly delightful and wanted to share the snippet where he talks about his time with the “late great DuPont Co.” from 1962 through 1993.

“In 1973 he was promoted to Manufacturing Engineering Technologist and was employed in that capacity until, after 31 years with The Co., he was given a fine anniversary dinner and a token gift and then 'downsized' in Dec. of 1993. He was rehired as a contract employee in June of 1994, doing the same job that he had been 'downsized' from, and stayed until July of 1995.”

How many of you chuckled when you read those succinct little jabs and thought to yourself, “You think that went viral? Wait until it’s my turn!”

I say, why wait?

If you stopped right now – in this moment – and summed up your professional career for posterity, could you do it with Bruhl’s good humor and finesse? If not, could you at least summarize your life’s work in language you wouldn’t mind your grandkids reading?

Give it a shot and share your attempts in the comments section below, and then take a cue from Bruhl’s obit and “do an unexpected and unsolicited act of kindness for some poor unfortunate soul in his name.”

(For Bruhl's complete obituary, click here.)

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