News & EventsPresident of Al Betz & Associates, Inc. court reporting and litigation support firm joins a multidisciplinary roster of professionals and entrepreneurs advising business owners through a subscription-based Web organization
(Baltimore, Md. – July 6, 2009) Robert J. Sherwood, president of SmartText Corporation and founder of MyVirtualBoardRoom.com (MVB), announced that Al Betz, president of Al Betz & Associates, a court reporting and litigation support firm, has been named to the MVB board of directors. MVB is a confidential social networking site for business owners. An entrepreneur, author, and professional speaker, Mr. Betz joins a roster of distinguished board members who provide on-demand, multidisciplinary advice and guidance to business owners through the subscription-based online service.
MVB provides affordable 24/7 access to a level of professional expertise typically out of financial and practical reach for small businesses and entrepreneurs. MVB subscribers may seek advice from board members on-line, while other subscribers may view questions and answers presented, in confidence, and also may contribute to the virtual discussion.
Al Betz & Associates serves court reporting and litigation support clients in the mid-Atlantic region through offices and conference centers in Baltimore and Washington, D.C. Al Betz was a pioneer on a national scale in the development and implementation of Computer-Assisted Transcription (CAT), which led to a transformation of the pre-trial and trial systems in the United States through automation of courtroom procedures. The verbatim records of some of many important commercial litigation cases during the last 25 years have been entrusted to Al and his company, including Enron, WorldCom, as well as criminal cases involving John Hinckley, Jr., Oliver North, and the grand jury investigations of former President Clinton.
Al is also the author of two books—Polishing the Pearl: The Art of ProfessionalPerformance (a guide for court reporters and other service professionals seeking inspiration and knowledge), and Outfluence™: The Better Way to Influence. He is a principal in Outfluence, LLC (www.outfluence.com), a personal and professional development organization with a mission to teach people and organizations the application of the concepts of silent communication and Constant Messaging™ to initiate and foster mutually profitable business and other relationships. The “Outfluence lifestyle” offers a roadmap, implementable in varied learning environments, for happy, productive, and successful living, for adults, teens, and professionals. Outfluence, LLC has developed an affiliate license program for individuals or organizations that wish to offer Outfluence seminars in other cities.
About Robert J. Sherwood
Robert J. Sherwood, is president of SmartText Corporation (www.smartagreements.com), which provides individuals, institutions and businesses with specialized management consulting services, litigation support activities and legal forms software. A former recipient of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award, Bob is the host of the radio and Internet program, “Web Talk With Bob” (AM 1510; http://www.1510.com). A Silicon Valley technology entrepreneur, he was president of the Center for Business Innovation, an organization that provided business services and capital for early stage high technology entrepreneurial companies. He was also president of Capital for Entrepreneurs, Inc., an early- stage seed capital venture fund.
Al Betz has been a driving force in the court reporting field for over 39 years. In his book Polishing the Pearl, the Art of Professional Performance, Al reveals the secrets to his success, including his acclaimed “Silent Marketing” techniques. These techniques are focused on his work as a court reporter, but persons from the wider business community have also acknowledged their value.
"I found the information that Al provided, which was so specific to the court reporting profession, to be exceptionally valuable, useful, and easy to implement. His tips will not only help us in the business of court reporting, but also in the business of living life! Thank you, Al."
Pat Barkley, CSR, MBA
Founder/CEO
Barkley Court Reporters
Barkley Trial Technologies
