Is the Recession Over Yet? with James Coyle

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Show Summary

Today we talk with Jim Coyle on: “is the recession over yet?” Jim’s response may be a bit hard to hear, yet eyeopening. Discover some insights about what’s going on in our economy and how to stay ahead as a small business owner. Welcome to Episode 107 of the Profit First Podcast!

Our Guest

James R. Coyle is the President of the Gateway Regional Chamber of Commerce, one of the largest and most active business associations in New Jersey. With nearly 1,200 members, Mr. Coyle’s primary responsibility has been to develop and implement a strategic plan to revitalize the organization and make it more politically effective by taking full advantage of the grassroot capabilities of its membership. This, combined with effective targeted marketing programs, has led to a tripling in the size of the organization. Mr. Coyle has also cut management costs and increased revenues, resulting in a substantial improvement in the financial position of the Chamber.

Mr. Coyle is also the publisher of and a columnist for the monthly business newspaper, Inside Business. The paper is an initiative of the Gateway Regional Chamber of Commerce, and has a readership estimated at 70,000. Mr. Coyle’s columns are considered a highlight of the paper and forcefully expound on issues of importance to the business community.

Within New Jersey political circles, Mr. Coyle has become well known. He played a major role in Governor Whitman’s 1993 election campaign, and has managed or advised numerous legislative, county and local campaigns on issues management and communications strategy. In 1994, he managed the 10th Congressional District campaign.

In 1995, Mr. Coyle was tapped by Governor Whitman to manage the day-to-day operations of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. At the Board, Mr. Coyle implemented a sweeping reorganization designed to move the Board away from a strictly regulatory function, to one that promotes open competitive markets. This involved developing and implementing a new communications strategy to inform the public, the industry and political decision makers of the new policy direction.

Prior to his work with the New Jersey State Government, Mr. Coyle was Managing Director of Coyle & Associates, his own public affairs and communications consulting firm. He has worked with clients such as AT&T, the Governments of Indonesia and Egypt and the Washington public affairs firm of Cassidy and Associates. His primary focus was to help his clients develop public affairs strategies and policy agendas for their dealings with the U.S. Government and foreign governments.

Before coming to New Jersey, Mr. Coyle managed a trading and consulting firm based in Singapore. His clients included the U.S. Department of State, the World Bank and the Indonesian Government. Mr. Coyle provided these clients advice on strategies to pursue in trade policy negotiations and investment promotion. In one case, he helped the Indonesian Government design new fertilizer marketing policies which proposed savings of over $100 million.

Prior to Mr. Coyle’s time in Southeast Asia, he was a U.S. Foreign Service Officer, and served as the Agricultural Attaché to Egypt. There, Mr. Coyle was responsible for administering one of the largest and most significant U.S. agricultural assistance programs in the world. He was also chief negotiator for the 1987 PL-480 agreement with Egypt. His negotiations resulted in Egyptian concessions saving the U.S. Government nearly $20 million.

Before going abroad, Mr. Coyle worked as an international economist and agricultural trade development specialist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He also was responsible for coordinating the budgeting process for USDA credit guarantee programs, and for developing marketing strategies for selling U.S. products in the Middle East.

Mr. Coyle holds a BA degree from the University of Colorado and a MS degree from Cornell University. He makes his home with his wife, Ellen, and his sons, Matthew and Philip, in Maplewood, New Jersey.appy (110 Lessons for my daughters).

Corporate Partners

Receipt-Bank – Software and service to make the gathering, storage & processing of bills, receipts and invoices as easy and as cost effective as possible for businesses.

Nextiva – VOIP phone providers for small businesses.

Fundera – Single source online funding for entrepreneurs. Also offers an adviser program for CPAs, bookkeepers and business coaches.

Fundbox – The simplest and fastest way to fix your cash flow by advancing payments for your outstanding invoices.

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