As a company on the move, Drake & Associates is constantly making news!
Check below to view highlights of happenings at Drake...

         
February 2011
 

On February 13, DRAKE & Associates, Ltd., represented by Mary Lou and Bob Drake, again will participate in the Cornucopia House Cancer Support Center's A Chocolate Affaire. Named "Community Supporters," the Drakes are proud to participate in this yearly event that supports the Center's continuing mission to be a nurturing environment where patients, families, and others can gather to share and receive support, resources, and education to cope with cancer.

For more information on the Cornucopia House Cancer Support Center or to find out how your company can contribute, visit their website at www.cancersupport4u.org .

 
         
December 2010
 

 

DRAKE & Associates, Ltd. graduates its 18th class of the popular Certificate in Leadership program. For more information, please visit Certificate in Leadership.

 
                   

 

February 2010

 

On February 14, DRAKE & Associates, Ltd., represented by Mary Lou and Bob Drake, again participates in the Cornucopia House Cancer Support Center's A Chocolate Affaire. Named "Community Supporters," the Drakes are proud to participate in this yearly event that supports the Center's continuing mission to be a nurturing environment where patients, families, and others can gather to share and receive support, resources, and education to cope with cancer.

For more information on the Cornucopia House Cancer Support Center or to find out how your company can contribute, visit their website at www.cornucopiahouse.org .

 
         
April 2009
  Mary Lou Drake selected by the Business Leader Magazine as one of the Triangle area's leading HR Impact Leaders. Under Drake's leadership, the Drake Team practices a comprehensive approach to people management - combining sound human capital management practices with appropriate mentoring/training/coaching for business leaders so they know how to attract, excite, engage, retain and grow their people to accomplish group, team and organizational goals.  
         
April 2009
  Drake presents at the Southern Textile Association's Spring meeting in South Carolina. With legislative changes coming so fast and furiously out of Washington, every company needs to be prepared for the impact. Our focus centers on federally legislated changes that are in the pipeline or have recently been passed and their impact on the textile industry.    
         
December 2008
  DRAKE & Associates, Ltd. graduates its 14th class of the popular Certificate in Leadership program. DRAKE also announced dates for its Spring and Fall 2009 classes. For more information, please visit Certificate in Leadership.    
         
October 2008
 

Mary Lou Drake presents the topic "Developing HR Competencies - at CUPA in St. Louis, MO . The topic focuses on defining a competency-based strategy; gaining stakeholder support; engaging high-performing employees and managers in competency definitions; implementing the competencies and determining appropriate salary structures and placement of staff.

 
         
August 2008
  Business Leader Magazine Raleigh-Durham does a story on DRAKE & Associates, Ltd. that covers the 14th semester of their CIL Program. Past participants tell Drake that the CIL program has positioned them for success by exposing them to new ideas and new ways of thinking about old ideas.    
         
February 2008
 

Mary Lou Drake and Diane Kiel presented the topic: “How to Handle Changes in Our Careers”, at the NAPMW meeting at the Carolina Country Club. The topic focused on the benefits, clarity and growth that the discovery process can provide whether you're facing an involuntary career change, or contemplating a change on your own.

Excerpt from the Agenda: Anticipating, preparing for, and actually making a change can be daunting tasks. At the same time, the process can provide opportunity, challenge, clarity and growth, whether or not an actual job change is made. We all need to be curious about what lies beyond our field of vision (experience) and willing to embrace the discovery process lest we be left behind. The presentation will focus on the future and on moving from where we are to where we want to be.  

   
         
February 2008
 

On February 10, DRAKE & Associates, Ltd., represented by Mary Lou and Bob Drake, again participates in the Cornucopia House Cancer Support Center's A Chocolate Affaire. Named "Community Supporters," the Drakes are proud to participate in this yearly event that supports the Center's continuing mission to be a nurturing environment where patients, families, and others can gather to share and receive support, resources, and education to cope with cancer.

For more information on the Cornucopia House Cancer Support Center or to find out how your company can contribute, visit their website at www.cornucopiahouse.org.

 
 
June 2007
 

Mary Lou Drake was invited to present the Career Session at the Society of Toxicologic Pathology's 26th Annual Symposium in Puerto Rico. Her topic entitled, “Handling Changes in Our Careers”, focused on the benefits, clarity and growth that the discovery process can provide whether an actual job change is made or not.

Excerpt from the Symposium's Agenda: Handling Changes in Our Careers. Anticipating, preparing for, and actually making a change can be daunting tasks. At the same time, the process can provide opportunity, challenge, clarity and growth, whether an actual job change is made or not. We all need to be curious about what lies beyond our field of vision (experience) and willing to embrace the discovery process lest we be left behind. Using real life stories of transition, Mary Lou Drake will be our guide as we focus on the future and on moving from where we are to where we want to be. Ms. Drake is President of DRAKE & Associates, a North Carolina - based Human Capital Management consulting company with over 30 Associates.

   
         
July 2006
 

DRAKE announces that its President, Mary Lou Drake, has received her recertification designation as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR). The recertification attests that Ms. Drake has superior knowledge in all aspects of Human Resources and is committed to continuing her education and advancement in the HR field.

Initially certified as a SPHR by the Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI) in 2000, Ms. Drake has repeatedly demonstrated expertise in creating results-oriented solutions to complex people-management situations.   Her drive for excellence and innovation has lead to the development of multiple highly praised products, such as the Human Capital Management Tool for Pay Equity and the Employment Kit for North Carolina Small Businesses.

Ms. Drake shares her passion for quality people management with both clients and the public through employee development programs such as DRAKE’s Certificate in Leadership program and through public speaking engagements at local and regional HR conferences.
 
SPHR
        
June 2006
 
As a business ally of Lowell Hoffman's Global Sourcing Solutions, DRAKE worked to design and create a new and fresh website presence at www.sourcing-solutions.com. The new site features photos from Hoffman's archives, a new logo, color scheme and site organization.
 
GSS
         
March 2006
 
DRAKE cosponsored a Wage and Hour Seminar with the Morrisville Chamber of Commerce. Presented by the North Carolina and US Departments of Labor, this one-day seminar offers the community a chance to learn from and ask questions of the experts. Click here for information...

   
        
June 2005
 
On June 7, 2005, Mary Lou Drake, SPHR and Margaret Porter, MS presented "On Best Practices: Hiring. Retention. Termination." at the Southern Region, Greensboro and Wake AHEC conference "Moving Leadership Concepts into Management." Click here to view their presentation.
   
        
April 2005
 

DRAKE & Associates, Ltd. is featured on April 26, 2005 in the Durham Chamber of Commerce's ACTION Magazine in an article entitled "Your Company’s Most Important Resource: Its People." Click here to view the article.

Mary Lou Drake and Justin Fansler speak at the Southern Region IPMA Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina on April 25, 2005. In a presentation entitled, "The Search for Human Capital Management Tools: What fits your organization?," Mary Lou and Justin focused on using technology to help align people resources with the organization's strategic objectives and goals. Click here for more information.

Mary Lou Drake is quoted in the April 15, 2005 Triangle Business Journal article, "Slepian: Managing Human Capital Necessary for Success." Click here to view the article.

Mary Lou Drake presents "Human Resources: How to structure your company to become an Employer of Choice?" at the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce's Small Business Council "Lunch & Learn" meeting on April 13, 2005 at 12:00 pm. Click here to view the handout from this session.

 
       
March 2005
 

Mary Lou Drake is quoted in the Raleigh New and Observer's article, "Measuring Worth," about determining worth and salary expectations. Click here to read the entire article.

Mary Lou Drake, in partnership with Andee Treinis, presented a Compensation & Benefits Forum on Job Documentation & Benchmark Jobs - "Why do it, what should be included and how to use in market analysis" on March 2, 2005. Hosted by the Raleigh-Wake Human Resources Management Association, a division of the Society for Human Resource Management, discussion included what should be incorporated in job descriptions and why it matters in the big scheme of compensation management; the basic steps in building a job worth hierarchy using market data for benchmark jobs; and slotting jobs when market data is not available. With standing room only, the presentation was a tremendous success. The RWHRMA has asked Mary Lou and Andee to return to present more information on this and other HR topics in the near future.

The 7th semester of our Certificate in Leadership classes began on March 3, 2005 in association with Duke University. Two new members joined our team of veteran CIL facilitators to present an exciting Spring program. To learn more, please click here, or please contact us for Fall dates.

 
       
October 2004

Mary Lou Drake participates as a panelist in the Center for Entrepreneurial Development's "Entrepreneur 04Conference" at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business on October 30, 2004 at 10:00 am. As a panelist with other successful entrepreneurs in the session "Growing Your Company's Infrastructure," Mary Lou presents participants with a human resources talk entitled, "Even Entrepreneurs Need an HR Partner" - 10 things that every new business owner should know about HR, including information on creating shared vision and values, a productive workplace and best employment practices. For more information about this conference, please click here.
 
 
August 2004
DRAKE & Associates, Ltd. launches its fresh new website, www.drakehr.com. In addition to a cosmetic makeover, users on the new website also enjoy easier access to information about DRAKE's many products and services through a reorganization of the presented material. The website is now divided into three primary sections, including, "Human Resources Solutions," "Organizational Development Solutions," and "Our Company." In addition, users can now find the latest company information on the home page under the "Latest News" column. Should you have any recommendations for further improvements or would like to offer feedback on the new website, please contact media@drakehr.com.

Extending our partnership with Duke University, DRAKE and Duke announce a fall Certificate in Leadership Alumni Program entitled, "Enhancing Your Ability to Lead: Identifying, Understanding and Applying Your Five Core Strengths." This program, facilitated by Paul Hilt, is specifically designed for CIL Alumni, extending and building on previous course material.
 
 
July 2004
DRAKE & Associates, Ltd., in partnership with other local and national leaders, chartered the Triangle ESOP Alliance to help private business owners learn and create employee stock ownership plans (ESOP). DRAKE provides culture consulting to help companies successfully communicate the implications, benefits and responsibilities of employees during an ESOP.

In addition, US Representative Cass Ballenger (Rep-NC) recently introduced a bill to promote employee stock ownership plans (ESOP)s by removing barriers in the US tax code. Representative Ballenger stated, "They are broad-based stock ownership plans that, over the past 30 years, have created significant wealth for employees. In many instances, ESOP companies have been the innovators in participatory management practices that respect the individual while maximizing the performance of the company."
 
 
June 2004

DRAKE & Associates, Ltd. announces a new Certificate in Leadership program entitled, "Partnering for High Impact Teams." This innovative new program is designed to build leadership and project management skills around a specific workplace project, issue, or goal for working teams. Using the Action Learning Model, this program provides deliverable project outcomes for the team and their company within a 90 day period. This program will be offered in 2005 in Denver, Colorado and RTP, North Carolina.

Since beginning the highly successfully Certificate in Leadership program in 2001, DRAKE has partnered with nationally recognized universities, such as Duke University, to bring quality leadership development programs to leading businesses.

 

 
 
January 2004
 
DRAKE & Associates, Ltd. announces a computerized pay equity program, the Human Capital Management Tool (HCMT), designed for companies seeking to ensure proper pay equity among employees. Already implemented at companies with +500 employees, DRAKE's HCMT is a proven technology that helps companies manage their recruitment and retention needs.
 
September 2003
 
After more than 10 years in Durham, North Carolina, DRAKE & Associates, Ltd. moved its headquarters to Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Our new location on Lake Morehead allows us to offer a convenient and tranquil setting for our local clients in a location conveniently near interstate I-40. Please feel free to stop by for a visit!
     
August 2003
 
Extending our partnership with Duke University, DRAKE and Duke announce a fall Certificate in Leadership Alumni Program entitled, "Managing Conflict Effectively: Negotiation and Mediation for Leaders." This program, facilitated by DRAKE & Associates, is specifically designed for CIL Alumni, extending and building on previous course material.

 
       
May 2003
 
DRAKE introduces a Human Resources “Employment Kit for North Carolina Small Businesses” which is designed for new and growing companies. Mary Lou Drake, President, advises that the new tool is for those companies looking for a template to help structure their Human Resource function in accordance with local, state and national guidelines. The kit, along with the DRAKE Team expertise, assists users in making sure that their current employment practices are clearly communicated and consistently applied. The client customized Human Resources Start-up Kit contains tools to help with: 1) hiring, motivating and retaining new employees and 2) establishing fair and legally compliant employment policies.
 
       
April 2003
 
Mary Lou Drake, of Drake & Associates, Ltd. is invited to serve as Panel Moderator for the Mayor’s “Working With Youth – Bringing Out the Best” initiative at the Herald Sun.
     
January 2003
 
DRAKE releases a one page graphic that outlines legal compliance rules for a growing organization. Since the new product is free to its clients and friends, all one needs to do to receive their copy is to make a request via the DRAKE website “Contact” page. Initial responses are most gratifying (i.e., “This is Great; I cannot believe no one has ever done this before.”)
       
October 2002
 
DRAKE and Duke University schedule "Certificate In Leadership" sessions for Spring and Fall of 2003 and contract for multiple additional training sessions during 2004 (see C.I.L. for dates).
       
August 2002
  DRAKE is profiled in the August edition of "Action" in an article "On Becoming an Employer of Choice." Click here to view the article.
         
May 2002
  Bob Drake is elected to the Central North Carolina Red Cross Board of Directors.
         
February 2002
 
DRAKE releases its new PC-based Pay Equity ToolTM (PET), a management tool for determining equitable staff salaries.
         
January 2002
 
Bob Drake begins a second year as chairman of the Durham Chamber of Commerce Small Business Council and is re-appointed to the Durham Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.