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[email protected] / December 5, 2025

Recommendation for Winkler Tree and Lawn Care

To whom it may concern,

I am pleased to recommend Winkler Tree & Lawn Care, based in Bellwood, Illinois. As a well-established tree care provider with decades of experience, it offers a comprehensive suite of services to maintain and enhance outdoor spaces.

Winkler Tree & Lawn Care provides an extensive range of tree and lawn care services including tree trimming and pruning, safe tree removal and stump grinding, emergency tree removal after storm damage, and ongoing plant-health care treatments. It also offers lawn care services such as fertilization, weed and pest control, core aeration, and overseeding to support healthy landscapes.

The team at Winkler Tree & Lawn Care is composed of certified arborists and skilled professionals who demonstrate deep knowledge, professionalism, and a client-focused approach. Their commitment to clear communication, precise work, and thoughtful follow-through ensures that even complex or urgent jobs are handled safely and efficiently.

Given its broad capabilities, experienced staff, and dedication to high-quality tree and lawn care, I confidently endorse Winkler Tree & Lawn Care as a reliable and trustworthy partner for maintaining and improving residential or municipal landscapes.

Sincerely,

Neil Schwan
Strategic-Partner
Schooley Mitchell

Visit the website
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[email protected] / December 4, 2025

Expense reduction should be a priority for every fractional CFO – but where do you start?

We all know the old moniker, a dollar saved is a dollar earned. While that’s certainly true, it can be easier said than done. For many fractional CFOs, working as an outsourced expert, you don’t necessarily have the authority to cut costs in every area of the business. Likewise, cutting services and staff isn’t always a long-term solution to help your client. Many fractional CFOs focus on revenue growth for this reason.

There’s nothing wrong with focusing on growth; most businesses want to grow. However, the longstanding knowledge many cost reduction experts know is that as little as a 5% decrease in costs can represent as much as a 45% sales increase.

Why is this the case? Simply, the effort in growing sales makes it less profitable than cutting costs. The human resource hours, marketing spend, production costs, all of that adds up and eats into the profit of a sales increase. Decreasing costs, on the other hand, when done correctly, shouldn’t have consequences.

So how do you implement effective cost reduction strategies for your clients without cutting staff or services?

Schooley Mitchell is your trusted resource for all things cost reduction.

As North America’s largest independent cost reduction firm, we know how to assist businesses of all sizes reduce costs on operational expenses, without causing any service disruption. It’s what we do, all day every day.

Schooley Mitchell delivers objective business optimization advice, offering a broad range of services including analysis of existing and future needs across over a dozen cost categories, assessment of best alternatives, and implementation of cost-effective solutions. Consultants receive no kickbacks from providers, and services are risk free – there is no cost unless savings are found. On average, Schooley Mitchell reduces expenses by 28%, producing over $1 billion in savings to date.

If your clients use services such as telecommunications, merchant processing, waste disposal, shipping and courier, facilities or office supplies, among many others, to operate, then chances are, they might be overspending on their invoices without even realizing. Schooley Mitchell’s unique baselining process and ongoing monitoring ensures that those dollars saved – and therefore, earned – keep building for years to come.

Michelle Soper / December 2, 2025

A New Chapter of Independence

Shannon Mischler was featured in Franchise Dictionary Magazine’s October 2025 issue where she discussed her “new chapter of independence. To read the full article, click here.

Michelle Soper / December 2, 2025

University of Pittsburgh’s Power to Prosper Program

In December 2025, Shannon Mischler graduated from the University of Pittsburgh’s six month Community Power to Prosper Program for small business owners. She was also invited to join (with a full scholarship) the 2026 Entrepreneurial Fellows Class, a 1-year certificate program preparing business leaders for enhanced company success.

John Rumasuglia / December 1, 2025

Unlocking Hidden Value in the Wood River Valley Economy

Businesses across the Wood River Valley continue to face rising costs, tighter margins, and increasing pressure to operate efficiently. A recent analysis of indirect business expenses across key local industries highlights a significant opportunity: many organizations are spending more than they need to on everyday services.

Across six sectors — hospitality, professional services, healthcare, manufacturing, retail, and nonprofits — Wood River Valley organizations collectively spend just over $300 million each year on indirect services. These include telecom and internet, freight and parcel, software, merchant processing, waste and recycling, fleet fuel, and facilities-related costs.

Using conservative savings rates tailored to each industry and category, the analysis indicates that local organizations are overspending by an estimated: ≈ $73 million every year.

These dollars represent avoidable costs — often caused by outdated contracts, billing errors, rate drift, unused services, or fees that no longer match business activity.

The Chamber recently emphasized:

“When you shop local, 68% of money spent stays in the local economy.”

The same principle applies to recovered dollars.
When local businesses reduce unnecessary spending, those funds don’t disappear — they stay here, supporting jobs, wages, equipment upgrades, technology adoption, inventory growth, and nonprofit programming.

Where the Overspend Occurs

The largest modeled opportunities are in:

  • Waste & Recycling: ~$21M
  • Freight & Parcel: ~$14.7M
  • Telecom & Internet: ~$14.0M
  • Merchant Processing: ~$10.7M
  • Facilities & Uniforms: ~$6.2M
  • SaaS & IT: ~$4.3M
  • Fuel & Fleet Cards: ~$2.1M

These are ordinary operational costs that often drift over time without regular review. Even modest improvements can create meaningful impact because these services bill monthly and compound year after year.

Why This Matters to the Community

Every dollar that stays in the Wood River Valley strengthens the local economy.
Because many organizations operate without procurement teams or category specialists, managing these expenses can be challenging. Over time, this leads to unintended overspending — and lost opportunity.

By improving visibility into common service categories, local businesses can free up resources to:

  • Hire seasonal and full-time staff
  • Strengthen wages
  • Reinvest in automation and technology
  • Expand inventory during peak periods
  • Enhance non-profit mission delivery
  • Weather seasonal fluctuations with more stability

This isn’t cost-cutting for its own sake.

If you’d like to set up a snapshot or ask questions, I’d be happy to help.

John Rumasuglia works with Schooley Mitchell to help Idaho businesses improve margins and free up resources for growth. From Hailey, he supports manufacturers, nonprofits, and service providers across the Wood River Valley. More information is available at www.schooleymitchell.com/jrumasuglia

 

Bria Murray / December 1, 2025

Why Businesses Are Embracing the Rise of Contactless Payments

Have you ever gone to a store to grab something quickly and realized you forgot your wallet? That’s where contactless payments come in. Contactless payments let customers tap their card or mobile device on the terminal to pay instantly, without inserting a card or entering a PIN. This payment method gained rapid popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic due to its health and hygiene benefits. On top of that, it offers speed, convenience, and strong security, making it easy to see why so many people continue to use it. This trend is only growing, and as a business owner, here’s what you need to know and how it can help your business stay ahead.

Customers now expect contactless payments

Customers now expect contactless payment options more than ever. In fact, a study found that 63% of consumers find it irritating to enter a PIN, and 42% don’t even remember their PIN because they’re so used to contactless payments. If your business isn’t offering this option, you could be losing sales to competitors who do. Providing a fast, frictionless payment experience not only keeps customers happy but also encourages repeat purchases.

Speeding up your checkout process

Contactless payments can help speed up your checkout times. In fact, contactless transactions are up to two times faster than traditional chip card payments. That extra speed means that your team spends less time handling cash or manually entering payment information, creating a smoother experience for everyone. Overall, the faster flow helps your business run more smoothly, serve more people, and make the most of your staff.

Making loyalty programs easier to use

Contactless payments can also boost engagement with loyalty programs. When customers already have their devices out, it only takes one extra click to open your loyalty app. Some loyalty programs can even link directly to contactless payments, automatically applying rewards at checkout. This convenience makes it easy for customers to participate more often, driving repeat business and increased customer loyalty.

No additional fees for accepting contactless payments

A common concern for businesses is whether contactless payments come with higher fees. The good news is that services like Apple Pay treat contactless transactions the same as the traditional card-present (CP) payments you’re already accepting. The only exception is online purchases, which are considered card-not-present (CNP) due to higher fraud risk. However, that is the same standard applied to all online payments.

Strong security built into each transaction

While no payment method is perfect, contactless payments are highly secure. They use Near Field Communication (NFC) to transmit encrypted data between the customer’s device and the terminal, so no actual card information is sent; only a one-time, encrypted code. On top of that, these transactions are protected by the same fraud prevention systems banks use, helping protect your business from fraudulent charges. This means fewer disputes and less time spent resolving payment issues.

In conclusion…

Contactless payments are more than a convenience for customers; they can help your business run more efficiently behind the scenes. From faster checkout times to strong security features, this payment option can make a real difference to your business. Offering contactless payments can help you stay ahead of customer expectations while keeping your business competitive.

Cal Wilson / December 1, 2025

Why Businesses Are Embracing the Rise of Contactless Payments

Have you ever gone to a store to grab something quickly and realized you forgot your wallet? That’s where contactless payments come in. Contactless payments let customers tap their card or mobile device on the terminal to pay instantly, without inserting a card or entering a PIN. This payment method gained rapid popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic due to its health and hygiene benefits. On top of that, it offers speed, convenience, and strong security, making it easy to see why so many people continue to use it. This trend is only growing, and as a business owner, here’s what you need to know and how it can help your business stay ahead.

Customers now expect contactless payments

Customers now expect contactless payment options more than ever. In fact, a study found that 63% of consumers find it irritating to enter a PIN, and 42% don’t even remember their PIN because they’re so used to contactless payments. If your business isn’t offering this option, you could be losing sales to competitors who do. Providing a fast, frictionless payment experience not only keeps customers happy but also encourages repeat purchases.

Speeding up your checkout process

Contactless payments can help speed up your checkout times. In fact, contactless transactions are up to two times faster than traditional chip card payments. That extra speed means that your team spends less time handling cash or manually entering payment information, creating a smoother experience for everyone. Overall, the faster flow helps your business run more smoothly, serve more people, and make the most of your staff.

Making loyalty programs easier to use

Contactless payments can also boost engagement with loyalty programs. When customers already have their devices out, it only takes one extra click to open your loyalty app. Some loyalty programs can even link directly to contactless payments, automatically applying rewards at checkout. This convenience makes it easy for customers to participate more often, driving repeat business and increased customer loyalty.

No additional fees for accepting contactless payments

A common concern for businesses is whether contactless payments come with higher fees. The good news is that services like Apple Pay treat contactless transactions the same as the traditional card-present (CP) payments you’re already accepting. The only exception is online purchases, which are considered card-not-present (CNP) due to higher fraud risk. However, that is the same standard applied to all online payments.

Strong security built into each transaction

While no payment method is perfect, contactless payments are highly secure. They use Near Field Communication (NFC) to transmit encrypted data between the customer’s device and the terminal, so no actual card information is sent; only a one-time, encrypted code. On top of that, these transactions are protected by the same fraud prevention systems banks use, helping protect your business from fraudulent charges. This means fewer disputes and less time spent resolving payment issues.

In conclusion…

Contactless payments are more than a convenience for customers; they can help your business run more efficiently behind the scenes. From faster checkout times to strong security features, this payment option can make a real difference to your business. Offering contactless payments can help you stay ahead of customer expectations while keeping your business competitive.

/ December 1, 2025

Why Businesses Are Embracing the Rise of Contactless Payments

Have you ever gone to a store to grab something quickly and realized you forgot your wallet? That’s where contactless payments come in. Contactless payments let customers tap their card or mobile device on the terminal to pay instantly, without inserting a card or entering a PIN. This payment method gained rapid popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic due to its health and hygiene benefits. On top of that, it offers speed, convenience, and strong security, making it easy to see why so many people continue to use it. This trend is only growing, and as a business owner, here’s what you need to know and how it can help your business stay ahead.

Customers now expect contactless payments

Customers now expect contactless payment options more than ever. In fact, a study found that 63% of consumers find it irritating to enter a PIN, and 42% don’t even remember their PIN because they’re so used to contactless payments. If your business isn’t offering this option, you could be losing sales to competitors who do. Providing a fast, frictionless payment experience not only keeps customers happy but also encourages repeat purchases.

Speeding up your checkout process

Contactless payments can help speed up your checkout times. In fact, contactless transactions are up to two times faster than traditional chip card payments. That extra speed means that your team spends less time handling cash or manually entering payment information, creating a smoother experience for everyone. Overall, the faster flow helps your business run more smoothly, serve more people, and make the most of your staff.

Making loyalty programs easier to use

Contactless payments can also boost engagement with loyalty programs. When customers already have their devices out, it only takes one extra click to open your loyalty app. Some loyalty programs can even link directly to contactless payments, automatically applying rewards at checkout. This convenience makes it easy for customers to participate more often, driving repeat business and increased customer loyalty.

No additional fees for accepting contactless payments

A common concern for businesses is whether contactless payments come with higher fees. The good news is that services like Apple Pay treat contactless transactions the same as the traditional card-present (CP) payments you’re already accepting. The only exception is online purchases, which are considered card-not-present (CNP) due to higher fraud risk. However, that is the same standard applied to all online payments.

Strong security built into each transaction

While no payment method is perfect, contactless payments are highly secure. They use Near Field Communication (NFC) to transmit encrypted data between the customer’s device and the terminal, so no actual card information is sent; only a one-time, encrypted code. On top of that, these transactions are protected by the same fraud prevention systems banks use, helping protect your business from fraudulent charges. This means fewer disputes and less time spent resolving payment issues.

In conclusion…

Contactless payments are more than a convenience for customers; they can help your business run more efficiently behind the scenes. From faster checkout times to strong security features, this payment option can make a real difference to your business. Offering contactless payments can help you stay ahead of customer expectations while keeping your business competitive.