function validateContactUs(){
 	var is_err = false;
 	//capture the values
 	var name = document.getElementById('contact_name').value;
 	var company = document.getElementById('contact_company').value;
 	var email = document.getElementById('contact_email').value;
 	var phone = document.getElementById('contact_phone').value;
 	var message = document.getElementById('message').value;
 	
 	//verify a name or company was specified
 	if(name == '' && company == ''){
		alert('Please specify either your name or your company.');
		is_err = true; 	 
 	}

	//verify an email or phone number was specified
	if(email == '' && phone == ''){
	 	alert('Please specify either an email address or phone number so we may get in contact with you.');
	 	is_err = true;
	}
	
	//verify that the specified email address is valid
	var reg = new RegExp(/^[0-9a-zA-Z\.]+@[0-9a-zA-Z]+[\.]{1}[0-9a-zA-Z]+[\.]?[0-9a-zA-Z]+$/);
	if(!reg.test(email)){
     	alert('The email address provided is invalid.');
     	is_err = true;
    }
	
	//verify that a message was submitted
 	if(message == ''){
 	 	alert('You left the message field blank.');
 	 	is_err = true;
 	}
 	return (!is_err);
}