Douglass & Runger - March 2022

Douglass & Runger - March 2022

March 2022

Support Local CELEBRATING AND PROTECTING SMALL BUSINESSES

I’ve always had a passion for entrepreneurship. I mean, it’s the American dream! It takes a lot of courage to go out on your own and become self- sufficient, and as a business owner myself, I want to help entrepreneurs and small-business owners protect the legacy they are also building. Both Mr. Douglass and I represented small-business owners for years, but we recently made the commitment as a firm to focus a major part of our practice towards assisting more small-business owners in their legal endeavors. Along those lines, it’s only fitting as part of this transition that we will celebrate Mom & Pop Business Owners Day on March 29. This holiday is really a celebration of the businesses that make up our country. JP Morgan Chase & Co. reports that 88% of America’s businesses have fewer than 20 employees, and 48% of employees work for these small operations. It’s also important to remember that many of the large corporations that are headquartered in our region, like FedEx, AutoZone, and International Paper, started out as smaller operations, too. When you support your local small business, you do so much more than help that business. You support your economy by keeping your money local, you help business leaders create jobs, you support families (both of employees and employers) across the region, and you contribute to the vibrancy of a community. There is a sense of pride that comes from creating a community that’s built around small businesses and mom-and-pop shops. When tourists come to

that can come from owning and operating a business. Legal protections are necessary for online businesses, too.

I’m completely fascinated by this area of law, but I’ve also found that when I represent or work with business leaders, I not only become a better business owner, but also a better attorney. This arena of law presents complex and sometimes convoluted issues, which require significant thought, contract knowledge, and negotiation. Those skills are not easily transferable from the classroom into the real world, and over the course of the past 18 years providing

our region, they seek out those local spots, looking for the pride and uniqueness that make our city great.

counsel to numerous businesses ranging from Papa John franchises to multimillion-dollar medi-clinics, I acquired valuable legal knowledge and practical knowledge too. Simply put, working with entrepreneurs makes me a better attorney. If you’re a business owner, I encourage you to seek legal representation to properly protect your company and avoid vulnerable situations. As they say, an ounce of protection is worth a pound of cure. If we can offer you protection, call our team today.

“THERE IS A SENSE OF PRIDE THAT COMES FROM CREATING A COMMUNITY THAT’S BUILT AROUND SMALL BUSINESSES AND MOM-AND-POP SHOPS.”

I want Douglass & Runger to help protect those local businesses. Our business law services are designed to protect entrepreneurs, visionaries, inventors, and other innovators who help move the world forward. You would be amazed at how many successful business owners still rely on handshake deals or neglect ensuring their governing documents, such as corporate by-laws or operating agreements, remain updated.

These oversights present major liabilities, and it’s not just a hazard for the CEO or owner. Employees, vendors, and the other parties are vulnerable when proper legal protections are not put in place. And these issues expand beyond the brick-and-mortar businesses, too. These days, particularly in our post-COVID-19 world, it’s not uncommon to have a completely online business, but this does not limit legal concerns

And if you’re a community member, I encourage you to support local businesses. Your purchase has a great impact on our community, and that can never be stated enough.

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DO ALL ATHLETES HAVE BAD TEETH?

DITCH THE SPORTS DRINKS, GET A MOUTHGUARD

Sports drink commercials would have us believe that the secret to an athlete’s success can be found at the bottom of their drinks. And in theory, they are not wrong! The right nutrition and proper hydration can help an athlete outpace even the stiffest competition, but sports drinks are not healthy — for many reasons. Sports drinks often contain high levels of sugar, which is great for short bursts of energy but not so much for your teeth. Over time, the excessive use of these sugary drinks can cause decay, which can be painful and detrimental to the integrity of an athlete’s teeth. In 2015, a European study found that of 352 athletes training for the 2016 Rio Olympics, nearly 50% had some form of tooth decay. While most maintained a healthy oral care routine, including brushing, flossing, and not smoking, many of these athletes were consuming sports drinks, energy gels, and nutrition bars — all loaded with sugar. Furthermore, it may also impact an athlete’s performance. A recent study found that 40% of athletes surveyed were bothered by their oral health, and 18% said it had an impact on their athletic skill. After all, it’s difficult to move gracefully down the track when your gums are throbbing in pain!

However, sports drinks are not the only culprits in bad oral hygiene habits among athletes. Dental professionals encourage many athletes — of all ages and sport preferences — to wear mouthguards. These devices are fitted to an athlete’s teeth and can protect their lips, tongue, face, and jaw. So, when your second-base player tries to field a bad-hop ground ball off their face or your power forward makes a move and takes an elbow to the jaw, their oral health is better protected. This spring, as new youth sports seasons begin, protect your athlete from poor oral health in three easy steps. (These are great for our weekend warriors, too!) 1. Fuel up with water instead of sugary sports drinks. 2. Get fitted for a mouthguard and wear it regularly. 3. Brush twice each day, and floss once each day. You can learn more about oral health for athletes at your next dental appointment or by visiting the American Dental Association’s website at MouthHealthy.org.

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