Saturday, August 31, 2002

SMC to Enhance Wireless Network Security With Wi-Fi Protected Access™

SMC to Enhance Wireless Network Security With Wi-Fi Protected Access™

CompanyÂ’s wireless networking products to support WPA

IRVINE, CA (PRWEB) May 4, 2003 - performance, easy-to-

Use connectivity products for business and home, today announced that its portfolio of wireless networking products will include support for the new Wi-Fi Protected Access™ (WPA) by the end of this quarter.

An extension of the Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) technology that is already supported in SMCÂ’s wireless networking products, WPA increases data protection levels as well as strengthening access control.

“Wireless networking is being adopted for use in homes, businesses, hotspots and educational facilities at an amazingly high rate, but users demand the highest possible security,” said Betty Chan, SMC’s product manager for wireless networking products. “The Wi-Fi Alliance, of which SMC is a member, has continued to work to strengthen wireless security—WPA is the result of that work. We look forward to offering this standards-based interoperable security to our wireless customers.”

“We're pleased to see so many networking industry leaders like SMC supporting Wi-Fi Protected Access as an industry-wide security solution," said Dennis Eaton, Wi-Fi Alliance Chairman. "The company's commitment to seeking Wi-Fi Protected Access certification for their products underscores their position of leadership. Companies that support interoperable solutions, particularly in critical areas like security, tend to be the ones that are also committed to serving the broad and evolving needs of their customers.”

The new WPA security will be built-in to all of SMCÂ’s wireless networking products by the end of June, 2003.

About SMC Networks

SMC takes the work out of networks, with high-performance, easy-to-use connectivity products for businesses and homes. Leveraging its more than 30 yearsÂ’ market and technology experience with strong attention to end-user and reseller feedback, SMC Networks has set the standards for quality, reliability, ease-of-use, and affordability in network solutions and components. The company continues to bring to market a host of affordable, high-performance products that benefit from the combination of its strong internal R&D resources, global manufacturing resources and strategic relationships with technology innovators. From basic to leading-edge, SMC NetworksÂ’ portfolio of products provides solutions for small-to-medium sized businesses, corporate workgroups, branch offices, and home and small office environments.

The companyÂ’s commitment to providing unsurpassed service with a personal touch is backed-up by limited lifetime warranties and 24/7 technical support for all of SMCÂ’s products. Headquartered in Irvine, California, U. S.A, SMC Networks supports its worldwide market through regional offices located throughout the United States and 20 other countries. For more information about SMC Networks or its products, visit www. smc. com, or call 800-SMC-4You (800-762-4968).

Friday, August 30, 2002

When Tom Challan Heard His Four Year Old Daughter Ask, "Daddy, Where are They Taking our Car?" He had what Many would Call a 'Defining' Moment

When Tom Challan Heard His Four Year Old Daughter Ask, "Daddy, Where are They Taking our Car?" He had what Many would Call a 'Defining' Moment

Involved with a life long desire for financial independence, Tom had tried for 10 years to create a home based business that he could find success in. He had heard the stories of success before but when he heard his car being towed away he knew something had to give.

(PRWEB) March 2, 2005

Ironically, when Tom Challan heard his daughter ask that question, his first response was not one of quitting. With the determination of a bull and the wisdom of a king he turned to his wife and told her that they needed prayer for Christmas more than anything. Six days before Christmas Tom and Kim Challan watched as their 2 vehicles were repossessed. They had 4 daughters under the age of 4 years old, they were over $300,000 in debt and 'defining moment' took on a whole new meaning for the Challan family.

Seeking training, tips and frankly anything that could help, Tom once again turned to the home based business arena. This time however, he stopped being so analytical and became a student with open ears. Mentor, Dani Johnson, once homeless and desperate herself told him that the one of the big differences between those who go far and those who do not in this industry were those who were trained and those who were not.

Johnson teaches, "Repetition is the mother of skill. Invest into yourself with education and make a commitment to get good at it. Master this business like you did your job." Hard core and all fluff removed was what this woman specialized in. With thousands of members to her website each month, Dani Johnson of http://www. danijohnson. com (http://www. danijohnson. com) taught him a simple system that when repeated, could be duplicated by anyone who was coachable and trainable. She often commented that when one's 'ego' was larger than their bank account they would not learn from such situations. Laying his ego down, Challan became a full-time student of her system. With a business of over 34,000 in his organization and growing daily, Tom is living proof that this system works.

Now in 2005 with a purpose greater than himself, Tom works daily helping families create wealth and financial independence while focused on their priorities. Says Challan, "Too many times in our past while we were building our business, we were so focused on making money and becoming wealthy that our priorities were compromised. We spent less time with the things in our life that were most important."

With students of his own who are earning far more than most Corporate Executives, Tom Challan has a legacy worth leaving for his 4 daughters they will never forget. To see some of his accomplished business partners visit http://www. priorityteam. com (http://www. priorityteam. com).

For any press coverage or further information on this incredible story of overcoming odds that would cause most to buckle, contact Tom and Kim Challan below.

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Thursday, August 29, 2002

The WomenÂ’s CenterÂ’s 19th Annual Leadership Conference Celebrating 30 Years of Service To The Metropolitan DC Area

The WomenÂ’s CenterÂ’s 19th Annual Leadership Conference Celebrating 30 Years of Service To The Metropolitan DC Area

The Women’s Center’s 19th Annual Leadership Conference will take place on Saturday, March 20, 2004 at the Hilton McLean. The theme, “Women Leaders: Creating a New Dynamic," will celebrate the leadership of some of America's most outstanding women who have opened doors for the next generation.

(PRWEB) March 21, 2004

The Women’s Center’s 19th Annual Leadership Conference will take place on Saturday, March 20, 2004 at the Hilton McLean. The theme, “Women Leaders: Creating a New Dynamic," will celebrate the leadership of some of America's most outstanding women who have opened doors for the next generation.

Speakers include: political consultant and the first African-American presidential campaign manager, Donna Brazile; female boxing manager and subject of the motion picture movie Against the Ropes, featuring Meg Ryan, Jackie Kallen; pioneering journalist and White House correspondent, Helen Thomas; former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, Torie Clarke; author, In the Eye of the Storm -- The True Meaning of Domestics, Home and Family, Bonnie W. McDaniel; and author of What Our Mothers DidnÂ’t Tell Us, Danielle Crittenden, to name a few.

“We are proud to once again showcase an impressive line-up of speakers at this year’s Conference. Throughout the day women will share their stories of hard work, determination, and an unwavering belief in their ability to succeed,” says The Women’s Center’s executive director, Cynthia Huheey. “The 30 years since The Women’s Center opened its doors in 1974 have been an era of remarkable change for women. The Leadership Conference allows women to celebrate their accomplishments, network and inspire one another, during the course of the day. We are especially delighted in this anniversary year to be joined by the two women who founded the Center and others who nurtured and grew the Center over the years.”

Now in its 30th year, The WomenÂ’s Center continues to help women, men and their families through lifeÂ’s challenges. The CenterÂ’s enhanced psychological assessment program is equipped to provide comprehensive testing for AD/HD and learning disabilities, social-emotional assessments as well as intellectual assessments -- all on a sliding scale. The Center also recently launched career services to assist individuals in professional transition. And a grant provided by the Department of Justice has allowed The WomenÂ’s Center to expand its legal and referral services to victims of domestic violence.

The WomenÂ’s Center is a counseling, education and information resource that provides psychological, career, financial and legal services to women, men and their families regardless of ability to pay. A comprehensive list of speakers and Conference rates can be found on our website, www. thewomenscenter. org or by calling at 703-281-2657.

###

Contact: Suzanne Wheeler Klein 

703-281-2657, ext 240

New Product Placement Firm Specializes in Sports

New Product Placement Firm Specializes in Sports

Sportsbrandedmedia specializes the product placement of sports properties, sporting goods, and sports apparel and more in mass media outlets. The new company is pleased to represent McGraw-Hill Education in mass media product placement.

Rockville Centre, NY (PRWEB) November 6, 2005

John Meindl, president of Sport Consulting Group Inc., created a new division of the sports marketing firm: sportsbrandedmedia, dedicated to the product placement of sports properties, sporting goods, sports apparel and more in mass media outlets.

"The advent of TiVo, content on demand and 1,000 TV channels is eating into the traditional stronghold of TV ad spending," he said. "Where we once tolerated only three network channels with limited content selectivity, today the well-informed and sophisticated American viewer, drawing from hundreds of networks and channels, can almost single-handedly avoid advertising in its traditional form. Product placement is the answer with implied endorsement, low cost, high profile and a less obtrusive far reach. Sports saturate our culture and it is the role of sportsbrandedmedia to foster America’s love of sport, through product placement in entertainment properties."

In addition, SportsBrandedMedia is now representing McGraw-Hill Education in mass media product placement. Although not a sports property, the relationship was created by SportsBrandedMedia’s president prior to the launch of the new division. Mr. Meindl, who moonlights as an adjunct professor of sport marketing, is quite familiar with the work of McGraw-Hill Education, a leading global provider of educational materials, information and solutions. McGraw-Hill Education’s mission is to be the premier worldwide provider of products and services that improve and shape teaching and learning in the digital age.

The company has been recently successful product placement in several major productions - starring some of today’s hottest stars. SportsBrandedMedia is presently working on a number of projects in feature film, television and sponsorship.

SCG inc. is a sport marketing/sport coordination firm located in New York. Mr. Meindl has worked as a consultant in the sport and film industries for several years, having recently coordinated all non-theatrical elements, including product, placement in a multi-million dollar sport scene in “Failure to Launch,” a Paramount Production, starring Matthew McConaughey and Sarah Jessica Parker.

John Meindl is a retired athlete/college head coach, and the former owner of a large sporting goods company in the Northeast. Having worn many different hats in sports and entertainment, he brings a unique perspective and sports business acumen to both industries. Accompanied by several sports industry heavy weights, John was a recent speaker at “The Next Big Idea” double play: the convergence of sports and entertainment.

Contact Info:

SportsBrandedMedia

516.705.4366

Www. sportsbrandedmedia. com

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Wednesday, August 28, 2002

"The Corporate Circus" Adult-Animation Television Project Signs U. S.-China Co-Production Cooperation First with Top Chinese Animation Partners

"The Corporate Circus" Adult-Animation Television Project Signs U. S.-China Co-Production Cooperation First with Top Chinese Animation Partners

The Corporate Circus has signed a co-production animation project deal with Beijing China Cartoon Media Co., LTD (BCCM), a premier animation entity in Beijing China.

Henderson, NV (PRWEB) April 7, 2005

The Corporate Circus, the original and innovatively creative fantasy style corporate satire book-based property, written and created by Adela JP (pen name of Adela Josue Polin, MBA), has signed a co-production animation project deal with a premier animation entity in Beijing China, Beijing China Cartoon Media Co., LTD (BCCM) http://www. ccif. com. cn/eng/ (http://www. ccif. com. cn/eng/)

This original first of its kind “cross-cultural” animation cooperation deal was negotiated through the International Law Firm of Michael R. Polin (www. polinlawfirm. com) and with International Television for Asia (ITA), a U. S. entertainment company. Both companies are actively involved in the burgeoning China entertainment industry with an emphasis on television, animation, merchandising, publishing and digital content for mobile phones and the Internet. Michael R. Polin, an international business, entertainment and trial attorney, is a highly sought after keynote speaker on China media entertainment(cultural)industry.

The terms of this multi-faceted co-production deal include the creation of new original animated content shorts for ChinaÂ’s mobile phone subscribers (350 million) and Internet users (120 million), as well as creation of new animated adult television shows for both the United States and China television audiences.

As reported frequently in the press, China entertainment and media is about to skyrocket with original product (referencing BBC News article “China 'ripe' for media explosion” March 13, 2005 - www. bbcnews. com). "China is the world’s largest cell phone subscriber market (China Mobile www. chinamobile. com/english/ (http://www. chinamobile. com/english/) and China Unicom www. unicom. com/english/ (http://www. unicom. com/english/)) and is now actively seeking content to launch in 2005. Thus, the timing of this animation project deal could not be better for The Corporate Circus," said Attorney Polin.

The parties intend to use this unique cooperation project to exemplify globally the superior partnership and strategic working relationship between American and Chinese animation companies in producing original media programming and content. The parties intend further cooperation in 2005 and will make announcements in the coming months.

Adela Josue Polin, President of The Corporate Circus, Inc. is an MBA whose corporate experience led to the writing of “The Corporate Circus” as an entertainingly satiric look at corporate life. She founded the company to market and license the animated characters she developed in her book. The Corporate Circus properties consist of 15 unique office humor characters in the form of collectible plush dolls satirizing the workplace, and an original tongue-in-cheek corporate satire book title “The Corporate Circus – a fairy tale soap opera on office life.” The Corporate Circus has received a 5 Star rave review from Midwest Book Review as “humorous, witty and engagingly presented…a highly recommended reading!”

“This first of its kind cross-cultural production effort between BCCM and The Corporate Circus, which involves taking an original American intellectual property and co-developing/animating it in China, is truly exciting. I am very enthusiastic to have this unique and immense opportunity to reach the worlds largest and fastest growing media entertainment market space,” said Adela.

Adela also added, “I am looking forward to working with creative Chinese artists to animate The Corporate Circus and bring its story and characters, with universal appeal, to life. I thank Attorney Michael Polin, ITA and their stellar and prestigious Chinese partners for this great opportunity.” 

“We have been in China for many years and have cultivated significant business relationships and friendship with our Chinese strategic partners and associates, both private and Government. The animation and business partners on this project, BCCM, are top tier people and experienced animation developers. We are very enthusiastic about launching The Corporate Circus through multiple mediums,” said Attorney Polin.

The Corporate Circus multi-media licensing opportunities ranges from TV shows, publishing, computer games, greeting cards, corporate gifts, stationery products, apparel, toys, corporate training seminars and entertainment, and other media presentation and merchandising opportunities. The Corporate Circus has premiered at the New York Licensing International Show, London Brand Show, PPAI/ASI Shows in Las Vegas, including the 2004 NATPE boot camp and received favorable responses from industries professionals.

About Beijing China Cartoon Media Co., LTD (BCCM) see www. ccif. com. cn/english/ (http://www. ccif. com. cn/english/):

Beijing China Cartoon Media Co., LTD is engaged in the development of the Chinese cartoon culture industry. The company has strong government resources, a clear business model, a team with strong professional experience and the support of industrial capital. With the cartoon industry as its basis of business operation, it aims to build a new type of cultural enterprise that integrates film and television, entertainment, the internet, the media, education, publishing and commercial promotion. For many years, the company has worked to promote the development of the cartoon and the digital entertainment industries, undertaken three award giving events for short animation films commissioned by China Television Association, and successfully conducted three sessions of China Cartoon Industry Forum with far-reaching influence at home and abroad. The company has cooperative relations and business transactions with the organizing committees of the five large international animation festivals and the international animation market. Together with the Chinese Copyright Association and the Chinese Copyright Protection Center, the company has established the Chinese Animation Property Right Protection Alliance. Beijing China Cartoon Media Co., LTD is the long-term strategic partner and the commercial platform of the Cartoon Commission of China Television Artists Association.

About The Corporate Circus: (“TCC”) see www. thecorporatecircus. com.:

The Corporate Circus Inc., an American Company, headquartered in Henderson, Nevada, USA, owns all intellectual property rights, including copyrights, patents, and trademarks, artworks, illustrations, designs and books involving The Corporate Circus.

About the International Law Firm of Michael R. Polin see www. polinlawfirm. com:

The firmÂ’s founder, Michael R. Polin, is an International Business, Entertainment and Trial Attorney with over 17 years of International Business dealings, both as an attorney and CEO of companies engaged in Euro-Sino business ventures. The firm has been involved with many international matters including, technology, entertainment, childrenÂ’s education, animation, motion picture features, television, publishing, and content development to name but a few. The firm has extensive government relations, strategic partners, and a long history of important and influential strategic alliances in Europe and The PeopleÂ’s Republic of China.

About International Television for Asia: (“ITA”):

ITA is an American Entertainment Company with a distinct focus on entertainment, education, and animation for the children of China. The ITA corporate and international strategy is threefold: one, to co-produce with its Chinese partners, indigenous animation for the Chinese market and deliver these programs directly into the ChildrenÂ’s school system, retail markets of China, and to the international markets; two, to co-produce additional episodes of existing first class family entertainment animation from America and Canada also for the Chinese and international markets; three, to export to the international markets the best of the 21st century Chinese animation and pursue distribution and co-production for these shows outside of China.

# # #

ZapThink Announces Major Update to Popular SOA Implementation Roadmap Poster

ZapThink Announces Major Update to Popular SOA Implementation Roadmap Poster

ZapThink, the industry's foremost experts, advisers, and educators in the field of Service-Oriented Architecture, is responding to customer demand with today's publication of the third version of its popular "ZapThink SOA Implementation Roadmap" poster. The company distributed over 100,000 copies of its first two versions of the poster, the first in 2003 and then updated in 2005. The latest version adds cutting-edge thought leadership in SOA, includes detail on architectural artifacts, and expands coverage of SOA Quality, Enterprise Mashups, and more.

New York, NY (PRWEB) September 15, 2008

ZapThink, the industry's foremost experts, advisers, and educators in the field of Service-Oriented Architecture, is responding to customer demand with today's publication of the third version of its popular "ZapThink SOA Implementation Roadmap" poster. The company distributed over 100,000 copies of its first two versions of the poster, the first in 2003 and then updated in 2005. The latest version adds cutting-edge thought leadership in SOA, includes detail on architectural artifacts, and expands coverage of SOA Quality, Enterprise Mashups, and more.

Gold Sponsors of the ZapThink SOA Implementation Roadmap poster include Hewlett Packard (NYSE: HPQ), IBM (NYSE: IBM), Layer 7 Technologies, Progress Software (NASDAQ: PRGS), and Software AG, while Silver Sponsors include alfabet, Amazon. com (NASDAQ: AMZN), ComActivity, ICEsoft, iTKO, JustSystems, Mindreef product unit of Progress Software, MphasiS an EDS company, and Qubit Consulting.

The ZapThink SOA Implementation Roadmap poster is also an integral part of ZapThink's Licensed ZapThink Architect (LZA) Boot Camp course, which ZapThink currently offers as a four-day, in-person training. ZapThink training sessions and events are run throughout the world, with the latest events in Washington, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, London, Australia, India, South Africa, Denmark, Israel, and Dubai. With the SOA Implementation Roadmap Poster as a core part of the curriculum, the LZA program offers the following benefits:
Participation in the industry's most comprehensive, technology-neutral SOA credentialing and training course providing the latest SOA practices and providing a means to enhance architecture skills and knowledge in the SOA space An annual credential that allows ZapThink to endorse individual enterprise architects as having specific SOA skills Posting onto an LZA Directory that enables companies to research and locate architects to assist with their SOA-specific needs Participation in an exclusive online community and annual LZA-only conferences, events and activities.

"SOA projects can appear daunting, but following a detailed roadmap can lower the risks of such initiatives," said Jason Bloomberg, Managing Partner with ZapThink. "The ZapThink SOA Implementation Roadmap helps architects and others define their own SOA roadmaps, thus forming a critical artifact for their SOA efforts." For more information on ZapThink events and to register for an LZA Boot Camp, visit http://www. zapthink. com/lza. html (http://www. zapthink. com/lza. html).

Printed copies of the poster are available today at the InfoWorld SOA Executive Forum at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City at the ZapThink table and Progress Software booths, as well as for purchase on the ZapThink site, and are distributed at events run or sponsored by ZapThink and the poster sponsors. Electronic copies of the ZapThink SOA Implementation Roadmap are available for download at ZapThink's Web site at http://www. zapthink. com (http://www. zapthink. com).

About ZapThink, LLC:
Founded in October 2000, ZapThink, LLC (http://www. zapthink. com (http://www. zapthink. com)) is an Enterprise Architecture, Service-Oriented Architecture, and Enterprise 2.0 strategic advisory, analysis, and influence firm. As a recognized authority and master SOA and EA, ZapThink provides its audience of IT practitioners, consultants, and technology vendors with practical advice, guidance, education, and mentorship solutions that assist companies in leveraging SOA to meet their business needs and presenting viable SOA solutions to the market, as well as provides this audience a clear roadmap for standards-based, loosely coupled distributed computing - a vision of IT meeting the needs of the agile business. ZapThink is headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland. Its customers include Global 1000 firms and emerging businesses.

ZAPTHINK CONTACT:
Ronald Schmelzer
ZapThink, LLC
108 Woodlawn Rd
Baltimore, MD 21210
Phone: +1 (781) 207-0203
Info @ zapthink. com

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Tuesday, August 27, 2002

IDG Breaks Ground on First Phase of The Club at Briarcliff Manor

IDG Breaks Ground on First Phase of The Club at Briarcliff Manor

One of the largest residential developments in Westchester County in recent years got under way as ground was broken on January 13 for the first phase of The Club at Briarcliff Manor, a new $350 million senior housing community in the Village of Briarcliff Manor.

Briarcliff Manor, New York (PRWEB) January 15, 2010 -

One of the largest residential developments in Westchester County in recent years got under way as ground was broken on January 13 for the first phase of The Club at Briarcliff Manor, a new $350 million senior housing community in the Village of Briarcliff Manor.

The Club at Briarcliff Manor is a fee-for-service Continuing Care Retirement Community, The Club at Briarcliff Manor] (CCRC) that will feature 325 Independent Living residences, world-class amenities and services and a 60-unit Supportive Living Center where a licensed and professional staff will provide assisted living, memory support and skilled nursing care on-site 24 hours a day.

"Today is a milestone event for our development team and for the Village of Briarcliff Manor. The Club at Briarcliff Manor will redefine the concept of retirement living and set a new standard of excellence for amenities and design. This will be the finest senior living community of its kind in the Northeast," said Matthew K. Phillips, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Integrated Development Group (IDG), which is developing The Club at Briarcliff Manor in joint venture with the National Electrical Benefit Fund(NEBF), a Washington D. C. based pension fund with over $10 billion in assets.

IDG is moving forward with The Club at Briarcliff Manor at a time when many of the region's largest developers have put their development plans on hold. "Our many years of experience in developing senior living communities combined with the financial strength and stability of the National Electrical Benefit Fund gives us a unique advantage in today's challenging real estate market," said Mr. Phillips. IDG, in partnership with NEBF, is also developing 850 Lake Shore Drive, a $150 million senior retirement community in Chicago's distinguished Streeterville neighborhood. Among NEBF's other current projects is the Beekman Tower, a 76-story residential high rise in Manhattan designed by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry.

Mr. Phillips said The Club at Briarcliff Manor is well positioned for success as it nears planned occupancy in 2013. "The aging of the Baby Boomer generation has created a growing demand for high quality, full service senior living communities such as The Club at Briarcliff Manor," said Mr. Phillips. High occupancy at competitive CCRC's in the local market and significant barriers to entry for new CCRC's bode well for The Club at Briarcliff Manor. 

"We are one of the very few new continuing care retirement communities in the New York metropolitan area that is scheduled to come on line in the next few years. Due to the large capital investment and lengthy licensure process for CCRC's in New York State, any new projects in the planning stages will be many years away from completion," Mr. Phillips said. The Club at Briarcliff Manor received state approval last summer after a nearly two-year intensive licensure application process. It is only the 14th CCRC in New York State to have received state approval. 

The first phase of development of The Club at Briarcliff Manor includes site infrastructure improvements, construction of an 8-acre ballfield and parking lot for the Village of Briarcliff Manor and construction of on-site model units and Sales Center. The model units and Sales Center are scheduled to open this fall.

IDG has already made significant investments in the project. In mid 2009, IDG purchased the property, which was formerly the site of the King's College, for approximately $32 million.

"The Club at Briarcliff Manor will be an outstanding asset for our community and region, providing high quality senior housing in a beautiful setting with world-class architectural design. This magnificent property, which has played an important role in our Village's history, will once again become a vibrant part of our community," said Mayor William Vescio. "We are particularly pleased with the donation of a new village ballfield which will further enhance the Village's recreational programs and have an intergenerational appeal for community residents," he added.

Located on a 59-acre wooded site overlooking the Hudson River where once stood the famed Briarcliff Lodge resort hotel, The Club at Briarcliff Manor is comprised of two residential "villages" complemented by a Clubhouse; Aquatics, Spa and Fitness Center; tennis courts; walking paths; beautifully landscaped grounds and a pond.

The Upper Village will feature 288 unfurnished one - and two-bedroom independent living apartments and a Clubhouse in Tudor-style buildings. The Clubhouse will be connected to the Aquatics, Spa and Fitness Center and Supportive Living Center that features wellness care, assisted living, memory support and skilled nursing services. The Lower Village will consist of 24 townhomes and 13 free-standing villas designed for today's active adult lifestyle with first-floor master suites and attached two-car garages. The townhomes and villas will enjoy views of the pond and large meadows. Perkins Eastman and John Sullivan Architecture are the architects for the project.

Amenities at The Club at Briarcliff Manor will include a full-service spa and salon; multiple dining venues; a state-of-the-art fitness center; Aquatics Center with heated indoor pool and whirlpool; Lodge Room with social space; outdoor tennis courts; private library; multi-media business center with wireless Internet; surround sound theater; 24-hour security; and extensive walking trails.

Among the services included in the monthly service fee are: concierge; interior and exterior maintenance, utilities, real estate taxes, one meal per day; weekly housekeeping and flat linen services; valet parking; regularly scheduled transportation to shopping and medical appointments, and educational, social and cultural events. Lunch and dinner will be available in multiple dining venues.

Entrance fees for residences, which are 90% refundable, will start at $750,000. Monthly fees for amenities and services are projected to start at approximately $3,400. A Founders Club program is available for those who would like to join the waiting list. Founders Club members are guaranteed the lowest entrance fees, the best selection of residences and $10,000 in upgrade credits.

The Club at Briarcliff Manor is conveniently located a short 45-minute ride from Manhattan by Metro North Railroad. Nearby there is a wide array of entertainment, cultural and recreational venues including the Jacob Burns Film Center, Caramoor Center for Music and Rockefeller State Park Preserve.

For more information about The Club at Briarcliff Manor, call (914) 923-4050 or visit www. TheClubBCM. com

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Sunday, August 25, 2002

FreedomVOICE Certified Polycom Reseller for VoIP

FreedomVOICE Certified Polycom Reseller for VoIP

FreedomVOICE Systems, a leading provider of virtual office solutions, announced today that it has been certified as a Polycom reseller for VoIP. For its FreedomIQ VoIP Hosted PBX service, FreedomVOICE offers an extensive line of Polycom telephones, including the SoundPoint® IP 330, 550, and 650 desktop phones and the SoundStation® IP 4000 conference phone.

ENCINITAS, Calif. (PRWEB) August 5, 2008

"Polycom certification is part of our commitment to total customer support," explains Eric Thomas, founder and CEO of FreedomVOICE. "When you call us with a problem, you never get referred out to a third party. We back up everything we sell, whether it's hardware or software."

FreedomVOICE personnel receive a well-rounded education that includes the tools necessary to become certified Polycom resellers. Customer service professionals are thoroughly trained in many areas, including virtual office systems, hosted PBX services, teleconferencing, VoIP quality assurance, customizations and installation troubleshooting.

Customer service is a priority at FreedomVOICE. Calls to Customer service:

Are answered over 99% of the time by a live representative. Have average hold time of waiting to speak to a live representative of approximately 10 seconds. Are not outsourced, but are handled directly from FreedomVOICE corporate headquarters in Encinitas, California. Customer service so permeates the culture at FreedomVOICE, that many division heads at FreedomVOICE got their start in providing client support.

FreedomVOICE has always had a high level of customer service for its programmed services, which are designed in-house, an anomaly in the telephone service industry. With this Polycom certification, FreedomVOICE has improved its ability to assist customers with their telephone hardware technology.

"Polycom is our preferred vendor for our FreedomIQ VoIP Hosted PBX service," states Mr. Thomas. "We feel that their technology fits best with our aggressive VoIP quality initiative to deliver substantial savings to small-to-middle size businesses while ensuring top quality sound."

"FreedomVOICE shares our enthusiasm for helping businesses of any size deploy world-class communications solutions," says Tim Yankey, director of product marketing for Polycom's Voice Communications Solutions group. "Polycom's HD Voice technology helps businesses communicate more productively with crystal-clear audio quality, which is an important aspect of FreedomVOICE's solutions."

To learn how our commitment to high-quality VoIP and total customer service can help your business, contact FreedomVOICE Systems at 1-800-477-1477.

About FreedomVOICE Systems:

Founded in 1996, FreedomVOICE Systems develops and markets FreedomIQ, a VoIP Hosted PBX service allowing businesses and professional offices to interact more effectively with their customers, clients, patients and associates. FreedomVOICE Systems also offers a comprehensive slate of integrated virtual office solutions, enabling business owners to enhance company image, communicate seamlessly with customers, track marketing effectiveness, and increase profitability.

Saturday, August 24, 2002

Inspiration 9 and Kidspiration 3 Honored With Prestigious Recognition From Consumer Parenting Organization

Inspiration 9 and Kidspiration 3 Honored With Prestigious Recognition From Consumer Parenting Organization

Inspiration Software's Visual Learning Software Tools Win 2010 iParenting Excellent Products Awards

Portland, OR (PRWEB) June 8, 2010

Inspiration® 9 and Kidspiration® 3, Inspiration® Software, Inc.'s (http://www. inspiration. com) premier visual learning software tools for learners from kindergarten through adulthood, are both winners of 2010 iParenting Excellent Products Awards. Inspiration and Kidspiration were selected for recognition from iParenting Media from hundreds of products that were submitted for judging in 17 categories. All products submitted for the iParenting 2010 Excellent Products Awards undergo a thorough evaluation process by a variety of reviewers, including experts and families.

"From the youngest age, learners can build the critical-thinking and communication skills necessary for 21st century success with our visual learning software tools, Inspiration and Kidspiration," said Mona Westhaver, president and co-founder, Inspiration Software. "Recognition for our visual learning tools from parenting organizations, such as this honor from iParenting Media, is a testament to the fact that parents around the country understand how effective Inspiration and Kidspiration are at helping children develop strong thinking and learning skills."

Inspiration 9 (http://www. inspiration. com/inspiration) is the ultimate thinking and learning tool to comprehend, create, communicate and achieve more. This is the second honor from a parenting organization for Inspiration 9, the newest version of the company's visual learning software for learners grade six to adult, which debuted less than six months ago. The visual learning software was also recently honored with the prestigious 2010 Software & Information Industry Association CODiE award.  

Inspiration 9 is designed to offer an essential framework for thinking - helping students use 21st century skills to achieve more in all subject areas. Learners use Inspiration to build graphic organizers, including concept maps, webs and idea maps; to visualize and develop ideas; understand and retain concepts; plan and organize work; and communicate and present knowledge. Research shows that visual learning is one of the best methods for teaching thinking skills. Visual learning techniques - graphical ways of working with ideas and presenting information - teach students to clarify their thinking and to process, organize and prioritize information.

When students learn with Inspiration, they build strong critical-thinking, writing and organization skills, as well as good communication skills to effectively share their knowledge and understanding. Used by millions around the world, the software is considered the gold standard of visual learning tools.

Kidspiration 3 (http://www. inspiration. com/kidspiration) , the visual learning software for students in kindergarten through grade 5, supports young learners as they strengthen reading and writing skills, build conceptual understanding in math, and develop thinking skills across the curriculum. Launched in January 2008, Kidspiration 3 now boasts more than 20 awards and accolades from top parenting, education and technology industry organizations. 

In reading and writing, Kidspiration builds children's word recognition, vocabulary, comprehension and written expression using visual tools that combine pictures, text and spoken words.  With the visual math tools in Kidspiration, children build a strong mathematical foundation for reasoning and problem-solving by using visual representations to understand math concepts.

Using the software's library of more than 3,000 symbols, children can create graphic organizers including webs, concept maps and Venn diagrams to express their ideas, explore ideas and relationships, and develop understanding. The symbol search capabilities allow them to find the right symbols to express their thoughts and ideas. Students can also use Symbol Maker to create their own symbols, or they can import their own images.

For more information about Inspiration 9 or Kidspiration 3, go to http://www. inspiration. com (http://www. inspiration. com).

About Inspiration Software, Inc.
Recognized as the leader in visual thinking and learning, Inspiration Software, Inc.'s award-winning software tools, Inspiration, Kidspiration and InspireData®, are based on proven visual learning methodologies that help students think, learn and achieve. With the powerful combination of visual learning and technology, students in grades K-12 learn to clarify thoughts, organize and analyze information, integrate new knowledge, and think critically. Founded more than 25 years ago by Donald Helfgott and Mona Westhaver, the company's visual learning software tools are used today by more than 25 million students and teachers worldwide.

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Buying Pharmaceutical Quality Health Supplements Just Got Easier and Safer

Buying Pharmaceutical Quality Health Supplements Just Got Easier and Safer.

Supplement users dogged by questions of product quality and frustrated with maze-like web site navigation have reason to celebrate. RelentlessImprovement. com sets a new standard in product quality and ease of navigation.

(PRWEB) March 21, 2005

By some recent estimates, over 150 million Americans use supplements on a regular basis. Well, they might be on to something!

It seems like every day new research discovers anti-cancer, cognition enhancing and bone health supporting properties for non-prescription substances.

Green Tea for example, or more specifically the active extract EGCG, is receiving huge publicity regarding its anti-cancer properties.

Strontium is a substance recently embraced as critical for bone health. Human clinical trials support StrontiumÂ’s ability to both support new bone formation and prevent excessive resorption.

Acetyl-L-Carnitine and nootropic L-Pyroglutamic Acid when combined with R(+)-lipoic acid and other synergistic ingredients in an Ortho-Mind formulation have fascinating cognitive enhancement potential.

In recent animal experiments, Drs. Bruce Ames and Tory Hagen demonstrated that the ALCAR/ R(+)-Lipoic Acid “stack” reverses much age-associated memory loss, and the underlying brain mitochondrial decay and RNA/DNA oxidation.

Up to this point, the challenge to the consumer has been to locate a trusted supplier of pharmaceutical quality products in effective dosages. Because the FDA does not regulate these products, a consumer must depend on a suppliers independent testing for purity.

RelentlessImprovement. com has addressed this critical need by partnering in distribution with two of the most reputable suppliers in the world, Advanced Orthomolecular Research and Life Extension Foundation. Both have rigorous programs in place to insure the highest quality and bioavailability of their products.

Ever been to a web site that felt like a confusing maze? Relentless Improvement designed their web site for simple, intuitive navigation allowing shoppers to easily find and purchase the products they seek. Offering the option to view products by Health Concern, Ingredient or Supplier makes navigation a snap.

Relentless Improvement is a leading web-based retail distributor of discount nutritional supplements. Our focus is on consumer education and substances with research indicating efficacy in humans. Our mission is to be the trusted supplier of pharmaceutical quality products to discriminating supplement users.

Supplementation to support Anti-Aging, Cognitive Enhancement, Cardio/Heart, Immunity, Mens/Womans issues, Memory, Eye, Emotional and Bone health are the foundation of our product line-up.

Visit us at http://www. RelentlessImprovement. com (http://www. RelentlessImprovement. com) or call 925-236-2255

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Thursday, August 22, 2002

Help Desk Certification & Professional Development Event - Denver, CO

Help Desk Certification & Professional Development Event - Denver, CO

Denver, CO - A dynamic event offering the internationally recognized help desk certifications and professional training! Meet leading industry speakers on November 19 - 21, 2003 in Denver, CO.

(PRWEB) October 22, 2003

Gain expert knowledge and discover new and effective ways to provide superior help desk and customer service support. This event will catapult your support center toward the vision of service excellence by delivering valuable insight on strategies that impact customer retention, revenue generation, and operational efficiencies. Understanding industry standard best practices--such as higher customer satisfaction, higher one call resolution rate and more--will help inspire the full excellence support centers can achieve. The certification and professional development seminars are recongized internationally by the support industry and were developed by SCInc. for Help Desk Institute, the world's largest association for help desk and support professionals. These seminars will aid the support team by enhancing their credibility in the organization, improving their customer ratings, elevating employee morale, and understanding industry tools and technologies.

"I have taken several [Help Desk Certification] courses with SCInc," says Janet Carner, Help Desk Training Coordinator for IBM. "The courses are interactive, fun and exciting, and each learning point is transformed into something that can be used immediately. The instructor has a depth of knowledge on the subject matter that intrigues the most technical student, and it is delviered in a way that involves each student right from the start. Timely, relevant, informative and fun, SCInc. classes are not to be missed!"

For further details contact:

Mechelle Haflich

Education Resources

719-473-7621 or 877-916-1510x216 (toll-free)

Mhaflich@scinc. net

Www. scinc. net

About SCInc.

SCInc. is a worldwide leader of support professional development for computer-support professionals, as well as a provider of technical and professional documentation services. They have provided solutions to a number of Fortune 500 companies and were designated by Help Desk Institute as the seminar/curriculum developer for all U. S. taught HDI certification classes, as well as an Authorized Training Partner for these classes. Eric Svendsen, CEO of SCInc., is a recognized leader int he support industry and serves as Chairman of Help Desk Institute's eUniversity.

Wednesday, August 21, 2002

Talk Money With Jean Chatzky on LivePerson. com: Free One Hour Event

Talk Money With Jean Chatzky on LivePerson. com: Free One Hour Event

LivePerson. com (www. LivePerson. com), a community of experts providing advice in real-time, will host a free, live online event with New York Times bestselling author Jean Chatzky, who will answer questions regarding debt reduction and personal finance this Thursday, January 29, 2009 from 3:00 p. m. to 4:00 p. m. E. T.

New York, NY (PRWEB) January 29, 2009

With jobless claims up and consumer confidence down, many people are exiting the already stressful holiday season with empty wallets and a big question mark over their heads regarding their finances. LivePerson. com (http://www. LivePerson. com), a community of experts providing advice in real-time, will host a free, live online event with bestselling author Jean Chatzky, who will answer questions regarding debt reduction and personal finance this Thursday, January 29, 2009 from 3:00 p. m. to 4:00 p. m. E. T.

Jean Chatzky is the financial editor for NBC's Today, a contributing editor for More Magazine, a columnist for The New York Daily News, host of a daily show on the Oprah & Friends channel, exclusively on Sirius XM Radio, New York Times best-selling author of Pay it Down and Make Money, Not Excuses, and author of the upcoming book The Difference: How Anyone Can Prosper in Even the Toughest Times (Crown, March 10, 2009).

In addition to business and finance, LivePerson has experts signed up in more than 600 different categories including health, online tutoring, spirituality, computer programming and counseling, and is the premier online destination for real-time, expert advice.

To participate in the chat, log on to liveperson. com/lp/jean_chatzky (http://www. liveperson. com/lp/jean_chatzky/) on Thursday, January 29, 2009 from 3:00pm - 4:00pm ET. Due to time constraints, Jean will not be able to answer all questions submitted.

About Jean Chatzky:
Jean Chatzky is an award-winning journalist, best-selling author and motivational speaker. Jean is the author of five books, including the New York Times bestsellers, Pay It Down: From Debt to Wealth on $10 A Day and Make Money, Not Excuses: Wake Up, Take Charge, and Overcome Your Financial Fears Forever. Her upcoming book The Difference: How Anyone Can Prosper in Even the Toughest Times (Crown) will be available in March 2009. For more information on Jean please visit JeanChatzky. com (http://www. JeanChatzky. com)

About LivePerson:
Founded in 1995, LivePerson is headquartered in New York City and is a leading provider of online communication platforms that facilitate real-time engagement and live expert advice. Intelligently connecting businesses and individual experts with consumers seeking help on the Web, LivePerson's platform creates more relevant, compelling and personalized online experiences. Every month, millions of people across the world turn to LivePerson to get the information and advice they need to succeed online. More than 7,000 companies, including EarthLink, Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, Qwest, and Verizon, and 30,000 individual experts rely on LivePerson to maximize the impact of the online channel.

LivePerson's online expert marketplace connects people seeking personalized, one-on-one information and advice with knowledgeable experts in real time. People from around the world can chat live with registered experts who sell their knowledge and advice in more than 600 categories including business, finance, personal coaching & counseling, education, health, and technology. For more information please visit LivePerson. com (http://www. LivePerson. com)

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Center for Talent Retention Continues Sponsorship of Human Capital Institute's 'Engaging and Retaining Talent' Initiatives

Center for Talent Retention Continues Sponsorship of Human Capital Institute's 'Engaging and Retaining Talent' Initiatives

The Human Capital Institute (HCI), a global professional association and educator in talent management strategies, and the Center for Talent Retention, the leading experts at taking action to engage and retain employee talent, announced today that the Center for Talent Retention has renewed its sponsor of HCI's Engaging and Retaining Talent learning and research track. The track is one of several topics addressed in HCI's Talent Leadership community of interest, a community HCI considers critical to organizations working to leverage human capital.

Washington, D. C. (PRWEB) December 22, 2006

Human Capital Institute (http://www. humancapitalinstitute. org/hci/home. guid) (HCI), a global professional association and educator in talent management strategies, and the Center for Talent Retention, the leading experts at taking action to engage and retain employee talent, announced today that the Center for Talent Retention has renewed its sponsor of HCI's Engaging and Retaining Talent (http://www. humancapitalinstitute. org/hci/tracks_engaging_retaining_talent. guid) learning and research track. The track is one of several topics addressed in HCI's Talent Leadership (http://www. humancapitalinstitute. org/hci/track_community_talent_management. guid) community of interest, a community HCI considers critical to organizations working to leverage human capital.

"The war for talent isn't only about talent acquisition; organizations also struggle with talent retention," said Allan Schweyer, HCI's President & Executive Director. "Organizations need to clearly understand what makes their employees tick in terms of job satisfaction and engagement. The Center for Talent Retention is at the cutting edge of strategies and practices (http://www. humancapitalinstitute. org/hci/track_communities_overview. guid) for engaging and retaining talent. We're pleased that this global leader will continue to support HCI." Derrick Barton, Chief Talent Officier/CEO of Center for Talent Retention adds, "This is a topic that concerns all organizations, because in the war of which Allan spoke there will be many losers and few winners for the employees and talent needed to be successful. We are very pleased to have the opportunity to continue our support."

HCI and the Center for Talent Retention recognize that as the economy continues to expand and the labor market tightens, there is concern that as many as 50 to 60 percent of American employees will seize the opportunity to jump ship. Like customer retention, employee engagement and retention can be the single biggest factor affecting an organization's bottom line. The total cost of replacing a single senior manager or professional easily approaches two or three times that person's salary. Organizations have the potential to save significant money-and retain knowledge-by reducing their turnover even slightly.

HCI's Engaging and Retaining Talent learning and research track focuses on determining Employee Engagement and Retention one employee at a time by focusing on best practices, tools and solutions. what mix of tools, policies, benefits, and technologies have the highest positive effect on retaining an organization's talent.

A panel of expert advisors examines methods, trends, and best practices in employee engagement and retention. These advisors are Derrick Barton, Chief Talent Officer of the Center for Talent Retention; Jerry Burke, Manager of HR Strategic Planning for John Deere Credit; Clem Cheng, Human Resources Leader for Cigna Corporation; Row Henson, HCM Fellow for Oracle; Larry Mohl, Vice President and Chief Learning Officer for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta; and Deborah Wijnberg, Global HR Leader for BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company).

Webcasts, white papers, education, and other resources help human capital professionals understand the correlation between engagement and retention, and retention and organization success-and, perhaps more importantly, provide a framework for implementing positive change.

More information about HCI's education and research tracks is available at: www. humancapitalinstitute. org

ABOUT THE CENTER FOR TALENT RETENTION

The Center for Talent Solutions operating divisions - Center for Talent Retention, Center for Talent Management, and Center for Knowledge Management are the leading experts on "taking action" to increase human capital results. They offer a full range of talent solutions guaranteed to equip your organization, managers, HR professionals, and work groups to make a real impact on talent results. Bringing together the best talent practices needed to attract, engage, build, leverage, and retain talent. They are known in the industry as an elite partner equipping companies like: General Electric, Becton Dickinson, Ball Corporation, ADP, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, BMC Software, John Deere, The Home Depot, and McDonalds to increase business performance through people. For more information, please visit: www. keeppeople. com

ABOUT THE HUMAN CAPITAL INSTITUTE

The Human Capital Institute is a think tank, educator, and global professional association dedicated to the advancement of talent management practices with individuals and organizations. HCI serves as a catalyst for innovative thinking in integrated talent strategy, acquisition, development, engagement, management, and measurement. Through research and collaboration, HCI programs collect original, creative ideas from a field of the brightest thought leaders in talent management. Those ideas are then transformed into measurable, real-world strategies that help its members attract and retain high-performing people, build a diverse, inclusive workplace, and leverage individual and team performance throughout the enterprise. HCI members represent a broad coalition of educators, talent managers and executives. For more information, please visit: www. humancapitalinstitute. org

PRESS CONTACTS

Center for Talent Retention

Cindy Mustful

952-545-6698

Human Capital Institute

Andrea Miller

866-538-1909

This press release was distributed through eMediawire by Human Resources Marketer (HR Marketer: www. HRmarketer. com) on behalf of the company listed above.

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Exciting New eBook Teaches Kids How To Be Money Magnets - 7 Money Habits For Kids

Exciting New eBook Teaches Kids How To Be Money Magnets - 7 Money Habits For Kids

A revolutionary new eBook, available free at http://www.7moneyhabits. com that enables every parent to teach their kids about money so that they can become financial savvy and carry those money smart habits throughout their whole life.

Toronto, Ontario (PRWEB) May 8, 2009

Lillian Li has created a unique system for teaching children about money, using special techniques that she developed over several years.

Ms. Li has detailed this system in her free eBook called "The 7 Habits for Money Smart Kids". "I discovered these seven habits when I started teaching my own kids about money," she said.

In her book, Ms. Li describes how her eldest son, Max, has developed financial skills far beyond his current age of nine years. "My son is already managing and investing money for his future," she said. "He will be able to self-finance his university education." She went on to say: "The economic crisis has underlined the need for everyone to be more financially savvy. I believe the best time to start is in childhood. If we teach kids at an early age to earn, save, invest and spend money wisely, they will develop lifelong habits that will help them avoid financial catastrophe as adults".

SCHOOL SYSTEM DOESN'T TEACH KIDS ABOUT MONEY

Recent news reports have headlined the public's growing concern about the school system's limited curriculum on financial matters. Schools prepare students for the world of work, but it is left up to the parents to teach kids how to manage the money they will earn.

"Unfortunately, many parents are unschooled in money management, or they just don't have the proper techniques to teach their kids about money," Ms. Li continued. "I have written this book to be a resource for parents, and give them the knowledge and techniques they can use to teach their kids about money," she said. "My system is not complicated at all. You don't need financial expertise to teach it. Any parent can do it. It works"

Ms. Li has made "The 7 Habits for Money Smart Kids" available free of charge on her website: http://www.7moneyhabits. com (http://www.7moneyhabits. com) to encourage parents to start training their children early about money. "I am so convinced that money management is a critical life skill for living a quality life, and it has to be taught at an early age. I want every parent to do what I've been doing -- teaching your kids about money at their early age from home, so everyone can have a chance to develop money smart habits and become a money magnet!" she concluded.

About Lillian Li:
Lillian Li is an entrepreneur and real estate investor. Along with her husband who is an accountant, she started her children's financial education at age of five. Inspired by the progress of her own children, Ms. Li is passionate about promoting "early financial education" for all children.

For more information contact:
Lillian Li
Tel: +1 647 436 5936 (Toronto, Canada)
Email: lillian AT momnkidstravelbiz. com

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Monday, August 19, 2002

Elite Interior Designers Offer Talent and Business Skills

Elite Interior Designers Offer Talent and Business Skills

The Best Practices Network (BPN), an exclusive membership organization for interior design professionals, announces a new Web site designed to help interior design clients make responsible decisions about new projects.

Austin, TX (PRWEB) October 12, 2009

The Best Practices Network (BPN), an exclusive membership organization for interior design professionals, announces a new Web site designed to help interior design clients make responsible decisions about new projects.

The Web site, http://www. thebpn. org (http://www. thebpn. org), explains to prospective design clients why the complexity and investment of an interior design project make it imperative that they choose a designer who is not only talented, but who has acquired the business skills necessary to bring complex projects to completion on time and on budget.

Announcing the new Web site, BPN Executive Director, David Shepherd, noted that, "Few interior designers receive sufficient business education in their coursework, yet their business models are extremely complex. Through the BPN, our members are exposed to 40-hours of advanced, university-level business training each year, and have a rich library to call on, as well as the expertise of their fellow members."

The Best Practices Network (BPN) was formed by Shepherd, a former University of Texas at Austin business school faculty member. While teaching the nation's largest course in small business finance and strategy, Shepherd fell in love with the complexity and potential of the interior design industry after several consulting engagements in the field.

"The irony is," Shepherd continued," that by developing more sophisticated processes, systems, and workflows, designers find that running their business is actually easier than before, yet the client is kept informed and projects are kept on time and on budget. No wonder so many BPN members have continued to thrive, even during the recession."

BPN members represent some of the nation's top interior designers, ranging from sole practitioners to mid-sized firms. Members have been featured in the New York Times, Architectural Digest, dozens of regional shelter magazines, and have also held executive positions in the largest interior design associations.

Through the Business of Design Conference each September, and a Winter Conference in February, BPN members are taught business skills ranging from cash flow management, to the time value of money, to project management and direct marketing. They also study new software technologies and share the "best practices" of their own firms in terms of operational procedures, human resource issues, and client satisfaction. Members further share resources through a members-only library and online forums. To stay current in between conferences, they receive a monthly audio newsletter produced by David Shepherd and filled with up-to-the-minute business strategies and provocative personal challenges to improve their skills, thus enabling them to better serve their clients.

The debut of the Web site at http://www. thebpn. org (http://www. thebpn. org) is the first initiative to educate the general public as to why it is essential to evaluate the business skills of an interior designer--and not just his or her portfolio--before making an investment.

Design clients may find a BPN member in their area through the Web site at http://www. thebpn. org (http://www. thebpn. org).

Interior designers interested in learning whether a BPN membership is available in their area may also submit their contact information through that Web site. Membership is restricted in number and by competitive markets and thus is not available in all areas.

# # #

University of Maryland University College Selects iCIMS' iRecruiter to Automate Worldwide Faculty Recruitment Program

University of Maryland University College Selects iCIMS' iRecruiter to Automate Worldwide Faculty Recruitment Program

ICIMS, a leading provider of web-based Hiring Management Solutions, announced today that University of Maryland University College (UMUC) has selected iRecruiter to streamline the University's growing Worldwide Faculty Recruitment program. Under the terms of the agreement, iRecruiter will be implemented across the University and will manage the UMUC worldwide faculty recruitment initiative.

Hazlet, NJ (PRWEB) May 26, 2005 - iCIMS, a leading provider of web-

Based Hiring Management Solutions, announced today that University of Maryland University College (UMUC) has selected iRecruiter to streamline the University's growing Worldwide Faculty Recruitment program. Under the terms of the agreement, iRecruiter will be implemented across the University and will manage the UMUC worldwide faculty recruitment initiative.

UMUC, the largest public university in the United States offering online programs and one of the fastest growing universities nationwide, has, since its inception in 1947, been highly regarded for being on the forefront of providing education for nontraditional students and working adults. It is a large and diverse university, currently serving more than 90,000 students worldwide in both traditional classrooms and online.

To support its phenomenal expected enrollment growth, UMUC has selected iCIMS' iRecruiter Applicant Tracking Solution to improve the sourcing, review, and hiring of faculty members across the globe. iRecruiter will also allow UMUC to more effectively leverage both external and internal employment advertising tools to increase the exposure of job opportunities at the University to a broader target audience.

“As a university that offers more than 500 online courses, we recognize the value of web-based offerings,” says Iris Harvey, UMUC's Director of Worldwide Faculty Recruitment. “Our rapidly growing student enrollments increased our demand for faculty, a recruiting need we knew could be handled more efficiently through the installation of a web-based Applicant Tracking and Candidate Management System. After taking a careful survey of the technologies available to organizations like UMUC, it was clear that the flexibility of the iRecruiter platform, as well as inherent ease-of-use of the application and interoperability with other HR management tools, would best suit the University’s goal to make UMUC faculty recruitment a more effective and strategic business function throughout the recruiting lifecycle.”

ICIMS' suite of iRecruiter Hiring Management Solutions are currently in use by nearly 250 organizations worldwide and have been recognized as the IndustryÂ’s #1 applicant tracking offerings in each of the past two years. While iCIMS has provided recruitment technologies to departments within colleges and universities in the past, UMUC will be the first university to leverage the iRecruiter platform across all academic departments.

“iCIMS looks forward to continuing our work with UMUC and is eager to take our place within the foundation of University of Maryland University College's strategic recruitment vision,” says Adam Feigenbaum, Director of Marketing & Sales with iCIMS. “iRecruiter provides organizations the tools they need to streamline their hiring efforts and reduce their bottom-line, helping them realize a significant return-on-investment from day one. UMUC has presented iCIMS with a very clear path to follow for their recruitment management program and we are excited to play a leading role in making that vision a reality for the University.”

About iCIMS:

ICIMS, Inc. is a provider of web-based recruitment management solutions for HR and recruiting professionals. iCIMS iRecruiter(TM) is a state-of-the-art Applicant Tracking Solution that creates a one-stop recruiting resource to streamline internal recruiting operations, saving corporations time and money through integration, automation and collaboration. iRecruiter is ranked as the #1 ATS for 2003 for mid-to-large sized corporations by the ERExchange and is consistently recognized by industry analysts as one of the most intuitive and easy-to-use solutions available today. Learn more about how iRecruiter will help your organization by visiting: http://www. icims. com (http://www. icims. com).

About University of Maryland University College:

University of Maryland University College (UMUC) is a visionary institution, on the forefront of education for the 21st-century workforce. We are an entrepreneurial and creative institution, committed to the exploration of knowledge, the construction of partnerships, and innovative academic delivery. We are a large and diverse institution, serving over 87,000 students around the world. It is a substantive institution, committed to lifelong learning and education of adults in the workforce. Learn more about educational opportunities at UMUC by visiting http://www. umuc. edu (http://www. umuc. edu).

This press release was distributed through eMediawire by Human Resources Marketer (HR Marketer: www. HRmarketer. com) on behalf of the company listed above.

Contact:

Adam Feigenbaum

ICIMS

800-889-4422

Adam@icims. com

# # #

Saturday, August 17, 2002

Muttville Senior Dog Rescue Chosen as Recipient for Pedigree Foundation Grant

Muttville Senior Dog Rescue Chosen as Recipient for Pedigree Foundation Grant

Pedigree Foundation honors Muttville Senior Dog Rescue with its Innovation Grant for iMuttville's Seniors for Seniors Adoption Program

San Francisco, CA (Vocus) October 21, 2010

Muttville Senior Dog Rescue announces a huge honor in recognition of its signature “Senior for Seniors” adoption program that matches senior dogs with senior citizens. 2010 is the first year of the Pedigree Foundation “Innovation” Grants, recognizing innovative new ideas in dog rescue. Out of 230 applicants, ten were chosen. Muttville’s “Seniors for Seniors” program was selected and awarded a $12,000 grant. This grant supports Muttville’s efforts to facilitate senior dog adoptions by senior citizens by underwriting adoption fees and providing free dog care kits. Additionally, this grant will fund “Seniors for Seniors” education and outreach events at Bay Area senior citizen communities.

Muttville Founder and Executive Director Sherri Franklin said, “Muttville is thrilled to have this support and recognition for the work we do to bring resecued senior dogs to senior citizens. Our “Seniors for Seniors” program has grown tremendously over the last year and we’d like to see that growth continue with this help from the Pedigree Foundation. We have seen the joy that a new canine companion can bring to light up a senior’s life and we hope to save many more senior dogs and place them in the loving lap of a senior citizen. We have much gratitude for this gift from The Pedigree Adoption Drive Foundation.”

Why adopt an older dog? Here are the top ten reasons to adopt a senior dog: (with thanks to srdogs. com)
1. Housetrained
Older dogs are housetrained. You won’t have to go through the difficult stage(s) of teaching a puppy house manners and mopping/cleaning up after accidents.

2.Won't Chew Inappropriate Items
Older dogs are not teething puppies, and won’t chew your shoes and furniture while growing up.

3. Focus To Learn
Older dogs can focus well because they’ve mellowed. Therefore, they learn quickly.

4. Know What "NO" Means
Older dogs have learned what “no” means. If they hadn’t learned it, they wouldn’t have gotten to be “older” dogs.

5. Settle in with the "Pack"
Older dogs settle in easily, because they’ve learned what it takes to get along with others and become part of a pack.

6. Good At Giving Love
Older dogs are good at giving love, once they get into their new, loving home. They are grateful for the second chance they’ve been given.

7. WYSIWYG
What You See Is What You Get: Unlike puppies, older dogs have grown into their shape and personality. Puppies can grow up to be quite different from what they seemed at first.

8. Instant Companions
Older dogs are instant companions – ready for hiking, car trips, and other things you like to do.

9. Time for Yourself
Older dogs leave you time for yourself, because they don’t make the kinds of demands on your time and attention that puppies and young dogs do.

10. A Good Night's Sleep
Older dogs let you get a good night’s sleep because they’re accustomed to human schedules and don’t generally need nighttime feedings, comforting, or bathroom breaks.

About Muttville Senior Dog Rescue: Muttville is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization dedicated to improving the lives of senior dogs. Muttville’s mission is to change the way the world thinks about and treats older dogs and to create better lives for them through rescue, foster, adoption and hospice. Locally, Muttville rescues senior dogs and finds them new homes or gives them hospice. On a global level, Muttville provides information about caring for older dogs and support for people who do. Through associations with shelters and other animal organizations, Muttville finds senior dogs that have been given up and are not likely to find adopted homes.

If you’d like more information or to schedule an interview with Executive Director and Founder Sherri Franklin, please call Patty Stanton at 415 871 8844 or email Patty at patty(at)muttville(dot)org

Contact: Patty Stanton
Phone: 415 871 8844
Email: patty(at)muttville(dot)org

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Friday, August 16, 2002

HealthyKidsCatalog. com Announces Launch of 'Susan Says' Column in its ‘WEIGHT-WISE KIDS®’ Newsletter Offering 'Information That Fosters Healthy Children'

HealthyKidsCatalog. com Announces Launch of 'Susan Says' Column in its ‘WEIGHT-WISE KIDS®’ Newsletter Offering 'Information That Fosters Healthy Children'

Starting September 2006 registered and licensed dietitian and certified diabetes educator Susan Burke, MS to pen a recurring feature advice column in free monthly electronic newsletter dedicated to childhood obesity prevention and intervention

San Diego, CA (PRWEB) August 25, 2006

Healthy Kids’ Catalog® (www. HealthyKidsCatalog. com), a first and one-of-a-kind online catalog company exclusively offering a breadth of “Solutions That Foster Healthy Children™” to help kids of all ages achieve and maintain a healthy body weight, today announced the advent of its feature advice column coined “Susan Says” to be penned by registered and licensed dietitian and certified diabetes educator Susan Burke, MS that, starting in September 2006, will run in every issue of “WEIGHT-WISE KIDS®” -- the company’s free monthly electronic newsletter that “serves up” youth-specific healthy living advice, information, news, and resources.

Having earned a Childhood and Adolescent Weight Management Certificate in Training from the Commission on Dietetic Registration, among other notable certifications, degrees and posts that includes serving as a media spokesperson for the Florida Dietetic Association and as the director of nutrition support for an industry leading online diet, fitness and healthy living destination, Susan brings a breadth of experience and expertise to this editorial endeavor. Her question and answer-driven “Susan Says” column will impart practical, common sense, “real world” advice to parents, teachers and other youth caregivers intended to help kids live a healthy, fit and happy lifestyle.

Susan notes, “Given the ominous upward trend of childhood obesity throughout America, Healthy Kids’ Catalog and its ‘WEIGHT-WISE KIDS’ newsletter are desperately needed and long overdue resources. I advocate their approach of providing convenient one-stop access to an array of kid-friendly lifestyle tools and information resources that serve help our children get -- and stay -- healthy. I’m extremely gratified for the opportunity this column affords to offer my expertise, advice and perspective on this all-important topic to caregivers nationwide.”

Questions for Susan focused around child wellness can be sent to her via email at SusanSays@earthlink. net, or postal mailed to her at 10755 Scripps Poway Parkway, Suite 508, San Diego, CA 92131. Free subscriptions to “WEIGHT-WISE KIDS” are offered online at

Http://www. healthykidscatalog. com/newsletter. html (http://www. healthykidscatalog. com/newsletter. html). Healthy Kids’ Catalog is also currently conducting a childhood obesity survey intended to gauge the current state of consumer attitudes on the topic. Interested participants can access the survey online at http://www. healthykidscatalog. com/polls. html (http://www. healthykidscatalog. com/polls. html) and, upon completion, will receive a 15 percent off coupon code.

Healthy Kids’ Catalog offers an array of resources intended to help children become weight-wise. The large assortment of kid-friendly healthy living products offered by Healthy Kids’ Catalog run the gamut; categories include Nutrition, Fitness, Exercise Tools/Equipment, Sports Gear, Health-Promoting Toys/Games, Videos, Kitchen Appliances, Books/Literature for Children, Books/Literature for Care givers, Instructional/Educational Materials, and Healthy Living. The San Diego-based company is co-founded by Merilee A. Kern, weight-loss industry veteran, child health advocate and author of the award-winning, healthy living-themed fictional children’s book, “It’s Not Your Fault That You’re Overweight - A Story of Enlightenment, Empowerment and Accomplishment for Overweight and Obese Kids,” who serves as CEO.

About Healthy Kids’ Catalog

Established in 2006 and with corporate headquarters in San Diego, California, first and one-of-its-kind Healthy Kids’ Catalog® (www. HealthyKidsCatalog. com) is dedicated to improving the state of kids’ health by offering a comprehensive line of top-quality “Solutions That Foster Healthy Children™” from one convenient online destination. With Healthy Kids’ Catalog, parents, teachers, physicians and other youth caregivers benefit from single-point access to a broad selection of kid-friendly healthy living resources. The company also publishes WEIGHT-WISE KIDS®, a free monthly electronic newsletter that “serves up” youth-specific healthy living advice, information, news, and resources. Healthy Kids’ Catalog was co-founded by child health advocate Merilee A. Kern, CEO and author of the fictional children’s book entitled "It's Not Your Fault That You're Overweight - A Story of Enlightenment, Empowerment and Accomplishment for Overweight and Obese Kids,” which was named among iParenting Media’s “Excellent Products of 2006.”

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Announcing the Official Launch of the World Green Institute (WGI)

Announcing the Official Launch of the World Green Institute (WGI)

After twenty-four months of comprehensive market analysis and content development, the World Green Institute (http://www. worldgreeninstitute. com) has been formally launched to the general public with the release of its first three online courses focused on green and sustainable practices.

Denver, CO (PRWEB) September 16, 2010

An education-based website with a growing portfolio of “green” courses downloadable through a robust learning management system, the World Green Institute (WGI) (http://www. worldgreeninstitute. com) was developed with the intent of becoming the internet’s primary source of online curriculum for commercial and residential energy conservation, building practices and sustainable lifestyles.

”With the recent barrage of global events that have dramatically heightened environmental awareness around the world, there has never been a better time to offer education to those who wish to learn more about how they can contribute to implementing sustainable practices,” says Randy Brodsky, WGI’s CEO and one of three North American-based partners. “Whether that education is designed to further one’s professional credentials or to simply outline the steps we all can take to embark on a greener lifestyle, this is a service that the entire team at WGI is passionate about providing.”

In developing its curriculum, WGI partners with a diverse team of content and topic experts from around the world. Through online courses with a consistent user interface, these experts provide insight and instruction across a wide variety of disciplines that WGI ultimately classifies into distinct “libraries”, such as the Library of Green Lifestyles, Library of Energy Alternatives, Library of Water Conservation, etc. As the WGI portfolio continues to grow, WGI intends to offer its courses through Continuing Education and Certification programs across North America.

NOTE: Coinciding with the launch, WGI is offering a 50% discount on the first three courses made available on its website; “Simple Ways to Green Your Home”, “Simple Ways to Green Your Transportation” and “Simple Ways to Green Your Yard”. A visitor to the website must simply register through the WGI Virtual Campus to capitalize on this limited time offer.

About World Green Institute (WGI)
The World Green Institute (WGI) (http://www. worldgreeninstitute. com) is the world’s first online learning institution dedicated to the creation and delivery of educational material focused on commercial and residential energy conservation, sustainable practices and green lifestyles.

WGI’s mandate is to provide cost-effective online "green" education to the general public and to distinct professional constituencies (i. e. architects, engineers, builders, realtors, etc.). Through general interest, continuing education and certification courses, WGI is looking to ensure that the conversion and construction of homes and commercial buildings are done with a focus on green philosophies and sustainable building practices.

For more information, please contact:

World Green Institute (WGI) 
Tom Mawhinney, Chief Marketing Officer 
+1-403-689-1840 
Tom(dot)mawhinney(at)worldgreeninstitute(dot)com 
Http://www. worldgreeninstitute. com (http://www. worldgreeninstitute. com)

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Thursday, August 15, 2002

Herzing College Is Now Herzing University

Herzing College Is Now Herzing University

Herzing students across the U. S. can now receive a Herzing education under the prestige of a university seal.

Milwaukee, Wis. (PRWEB) March 4, 2009

On March 1, 2009, Herzing College officially became Herzing University (http://www. herzinguniversity. org/) . The name change was a natural progression of the institution after adding the School of Graduate Studies last year. Sign-changing ceremonies celebrated the event at Herzing University campuses across the country, with prominent local officials presiding. Each campus sold commemorative T-shirts and donated the proceeds to local charities.

The university title will not alter the school's mission of providing relevant, hands-on education. "Herzing is known for providing students a career-focused, convenient, and caring education, and that's not going to change," stated Renée Herzing (http://choose. herzing. edu/Producer. aspx? sid=560&sky=UWFY36GU&pgi=8035&pgk=CGPZ7WXA&rid=591426&rky=HB8Q4TLR&tky=128804405714926446), who took over the title of President/CEO on March 1, 2009 when her father, school founder Henry Herzing, relinquished the title to become chancellor.

Chancellor Herzing agreed. "I know that some people may be concerned that we've gone from the name college to university, but we have done that just to reflect the educational opportunity at Herzing, not a change in our inherent mission of helping students, whatever their level of need and desire is in terms of education," he said.

Under Chancellor Herzing's leadership, Herzing has grown from a class of 12 students in a 7-month computer course into 13 campuses in the U. S. and Canada. The 9 campuses in the U. S. are regionally accredited and offer diploma, associate degree, and bachelor's degree programs in the fields of technology, business, health care, design and public safety, in addition to four MBA degrees (http://www. herzingonline. edu/graduate) offered by the graduate school. A master's in nursing is expected to be added this summer.

"When I started the first Herzing campus 44 years ago with my wife, Suzanne, our vision of building a career school that centered on student service was clear," said Chancellor Herzing. "Our goal was to create hands-on academic programs (http://www. herzing. edu/programs/), taught by caring instructors who prepared graduates to immediately find work in their field."

And that's what Herzing has continued to do. Despite a tough economy, 94% of available 2008 Herzing U. S. graduates found work in their field of study.

Herzing University's long-standing tradition of emphasizing student service, ethical behavior, and respect and fair treatment of students, faculty and staff will continue through President Renée Herzing's leadership. "Renée Herzing has been an integral part of the institution for over a decade, and there's no doubt she shares her father's vision," said Madison Campus President Donald Madelung. "She's just as passionate about helping students as he is, and her first thoughts are always about the best interest of our students."

"Career-focused - Convenient - Caring" education (http://www. herzinguniversity. org/) is the motto of the University. The caring is an integral part of the culture, and faculty and staff are hired as much for that characteristic as for their credentials and experience. The convenience is illustrated by not only the student choice of resident, hybrid, or online options, but also by the scheduling of classes in a morning, afternoon, or evening block so there is no wasted time between classes. All the programs are career-focused with hands-on labs and the University has, as one of its important goals, a high percentage of its available graduates working in their career field within 90 days of graduation -- typically more than 90%.

Herzing Universities are located in Akron (Akron Institute), Atlanta, Birmingham, Madison, Minneapolis, New Orleans, Orlando, and Toledo. The Online campus (http://www. herzingonline. edu/) is headquartered in Milwaukee.

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Wednesday, August 14, 2002

Schipul - The Web Marketing Company Helps Clear Channel Exhibitions Bring the Power of Museum Exhibits to the Web

Schipul - The Web Marketing Company Helps Clear Channel Exhibitions Bring the Power of Museum Exhibits to the Web

Clear Channel Exhibitions, one of the world's premier providers of traveling museum exhibits, has turned to Schipul – The Web Marketing Company to bring the excitement and force of its exhibits to the Internet.

Houston, TX (PRWEB) November 8, 2004

Clear Channel Exhibitions, one of the world's premier providers of traveling museum exhibits, has turned to Schipul – The Web Marketing Company (http://www. schipul. com) to bring the excitement and force of its exhibits to the Internet. The result is www. clearchannelexhibitions. com, an enhanced Web site running on Schipul’s proprietary Tendenci® software backbone.

Clear Channel Exhibitions conceptualizes, designs, produces, markets and tours its exhibits, which primarily target science, art, natural history and children's museums. The company is currently touring twenty different exhibits, including “Space: A Journey to Our Future (http://www. spaceevent. com/),” “Saint Peter and the Vatican: The Legacy of the Popes” and “Genome: The Secret of How Life Works.” The exhibits use educational concepts to create high quality, immersing, multi-sensory, entertaining and educational experiences for family audiences.

The challenge was how to adequately translate those immersing qualities through the Web for Clear Channel ExhibitionsÂ’ distinct trade and educational audiences: potential corporate sponsors, museum exhibition managers and educators in search of an entertaining and educational experience. With the help of SchipulÂ’s proprietary Tendenci membership management software (http://www. tendenci. com/), the site succeeds in engaging all three.

“The common interests among sponsors, museums and science centers, and educators is the subject matter and quality of the experience our exhibits create for families and students; the new site really showcases the strengths of each of our exhibits,” said Mike Kempf, Clear Channel Exhibitions’ vice president, national marketing. “With Tendenci, we can observe the actions of visitors to our Web site to see what’s hot and what could use improvement, which helps us establish a more meaningful relationship with each audience.”

The new site features significantly enhanced navigation, which will help optimize its performance with major search engines, such as Yahoo! and Google. Additionally, Tendenci makes it easy for Clear Channel Exhibitions to keep the site up-to-the-minute by managing their own site content and posting articles and news releases without going through a middle man.

“More than 60 million people worldwide have enjoyed a Clear Channel Exhibitions experience, so we worked to emphasize the core equity of their brand, which is the exhibits themselves,” said Ed Schipul, founder and CEO of Schipul – The Web Marketing Company. “By featuring vibrant photography and enabling visitors to drill down into the specifics of the catalogue of exhibit opportunities, we expect the Web to help build demand for the exhibits and generate interest in the corporate community for sponsorships.”

With growing consumer skepticism and scrutiny of corporate credibility, exhibits and museum-based events offer sponsors a high degree of acceptance and direct consumer interaction. In fact, according to Clear Channel ExhibitionsÂ’ research, 81 percent of exhibit visitors say the public image of a sponsor was enhanced by its involvement.

About Clear Channel Exhibitions

Clear Channel Exhibitions is a division of Clear Channel Entertainment. Based in San Antonio, Texas, Clear Channel Exhibitions provides high quality, state-of-the-art, educational family experiences, and serves as a major development partner with more than 200 leading museums and research institutions. The company is proud to work with corporations such as Pfizer Inc, Target Stores, GM, HP, TIME, John Hancock Financial Services, Cadillac, OnStar, Lockheed Martin and others to bring blockbuster exhibits and events to people around the globe.

About Schipul – The Web Marketing Company

Schipul – The Web Marketing Company developed and builds on the Tendenci™ relationship marketing application software. Schipul is based in Houston, and provides marketing services on the Internet to a variety of service industries in local, national and international markets. Schipul’s clients include Clear Channel Exhibits, National Pharmacy Technician Association, The Children’s Fund, Wolff Companies and DPK Public Relations. Additional information about Schipul is available at www. schipul. com.

For a screenshot relating to this release, please contact Schipul Communications Director Kelly Papinchak at kpapinchak@schipul. com or 281-497-6567 Ext. 508.

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Tuesday, August 13, 2002

Private Companies Rely on Short-Term Incentives to Reward Employees, WorldatWork Finds

Private Companies Rely on Short-Term Incentives to Reward Employees, WorldatWork Finds

Private companies rely more heavily on short-term incentives, such as bonuses, than long-term incentives to reward and motivate employees, according to a new study by WorldatWork and Vivient Consulting.

Scottsdale, AZ (PRWEB) October 18, 2007

Private companies rely more heavily on short-term incentives, such as bonuses, than long-term incentives to reward and motivate employees, according to a new study by WorldatWork (http://www. worldatwork. org/waw/home/html/home. jsp) and Vivient Consulting (http://www. vivient. com). Where long-term incentives are used, they are reserved for the upper levels of the organization. Both short-term and long-term incentives are a form of ‘variable pay’, also known as pay for performance.

Private companies use short-term incentives (STIs) extensively, with nearly 80 percent reporting an STI plan. In contrast, only about one-third of respondents report having a long-term incentive (LTI) plan in place, primarily due to the cost and complexity of implementing such a plan. By far, the most popular type of STI plan is a bonus plan. Nine out of 10 private companies in the survey with an STI plan have a bonus plan. See graph.

"Variable pay is playing an increasingly prominent role for all organizations striving to link employee rewards with bottom line results," said Jim Stoeckmann (http://www. worldatwork. org/waw/pressroom/html/pressroom-bio-stoeckmann. html), compensation practice leader for WorldatWork. "We can expect to see pay practices focus more heavily on linking pay to performance in the near future."

Private companies face unique challenges when designing both short - and long-term incentive programs. Challenges include a lack of liquidity for equity, costly or difficult equity valuation, complexities arising from the ownership structure and competitive data that are geared to public companies.

The WorldatWork and Vivient Consulting study on private company pay practices found that companies’ approximate budgets for STIs range from two percent to 12 percent of operating income, with six percent being the median. The budgets were fairly consistent across companies of different revenue sizes.

Source: WorldatWork and Vivient Consulting research report titled "Private Company Pay Practices" (October 2007)

The survey of 300 private companies represented business and professional services; manufacturing; financial services and insurance; retail, wholesale and distribution; health services and high technology. The size of responding organizations ranged from $100 million to more than $5 billion in revenue. The corporate status of responding organizations was primarily C Corp. (37 percent), LLC (26 percent) and S Corp. (20 percent), with a small number of subsidiaries (4 percent) and partnerships (3 percent) also participating.

Media may request a complimentary copy of the research report by contacting mrhodes(at)worldatwork. org.

About WorldatWork®
The Total Rewards Association

WorldatWork (worldatwork. org (http://www. worldatwork. org/waw/home/html/home. jsp)) is an association of human resource professionals from FORTUNE 500 and other leading organizations worldwide focused on attracting, motivating and retaining employees.

Founded in 1955, WorldatWork provides practitioners with training and education to effectively design and implement strategies and practices in total rewards, including compensation, benefits, work-life, recognition, and career development. With offices in Scottsdale, Arizona and Washington, D. C., WorldatWork supports its 30,000 members and professionals in 75 countries with thought leadership, publications, research and community. WorldatWork administers certification through the WorldatWork Society of Certified Professionals.

The WorldatWork group of registered marks includes: WorldatWork®, workspan®, Certified Compensation Professional or CCP®, Certified Benefits Professional® or CBP, Global Remuneration Professional or GRP®, Work-Life Certified Professional or WLCP®, WorldatWork Society of Certified Professionals®, and Alliance for Work-Life Progress® or AWLP®.

WorldatWork Journal, WorldatWork Press and Telework Advisory Group are part of the WorldatWork family.

Press Contact:
Marcia Rhodes, APR
Media Relations
WorldatWork
Phone: 480/348-7285
E-mail: mrhodes(at)worldatwork. org
Www. worldatwork. org

This press release was distributed through eMediawire by Human Resources Marketer (HR Marketer: www. HRmarketer. com) on behalf of the company listed above.

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National Concierge Association-Chicago Chapter Elects 2007 Board Of Directors

National Concierge Association-Chicago Chapter Elects 2007 Board Of Directors

CHICAGO (Jan. 25, 2007) Chicago chapter members of the National Concierge Association cast their vote earlier this month and elected the following individuals to serve as the Chapter's 2007 Board of Directors:

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) January 30, 2007

Chicago chapter members of the National Concierge Association (http://www. nationalconciergeassociation. com/?source=pr) cast their vote earlier this month and elected the following individuals to serve as the Chapter's 2007 Board of Directors:

Sheryl Novak, President

Novak is president of Concierge & Event Services World Wide, Inc. A member of the hospitality community since 1989, and an NCA member since 2003, she has served as Chapter President since 2006. sheryl@cesww. com

Polly Pancoe (CMP), Vice President

Pancoe is owner of Hotel Reservation Management, Inc., and has served as Vice President since 2005. Previously, she served the Chapter as Director of Marketing from 1999 to 2000. In addition to Vice President, she has also held the Board position of Finance from 2003 to 2004. polly@hrmchicago. com

Nancy Caldwell, Director of Administration

Caldwell is a Concierge for the City of Chicago with the Department of Cultural Affairs/Office of Tourism. She has held the position of Administration Director for the past six years. caldwell60640@yahoo. com

Joyce Fong, Director of Membership

Fong is Director of Concierge Relations & Services for Concierge Preferred magazine (http://www. conciergepreferred. com/?source=pr). Fong has served as Membership Director since 2003. jfong@conciergepreferred. com

Penelope Hughes, Director of Finance

Hughes, a Concierge at the 100 East Bellevue Condominium Association for the past 12 years and with the NCA - Chicago Chapter since its inception, has served the Chapter as Director of Finance in 2006. hughesp@draperandkramer. com

Susannah Flanner, Director of Marketintg

Flanner is Manager of Circulation & Special Events/Concierge for Where Magazine in Chicago. She has served as Marketing Director since 2006. susannah. flanner@wheremagazine. com

Kelly Ladesic, Affiliate Liaison

Ladesic is Business Development Manager for Giordano's Enterprises and has served in that position the past 2 1/2 years. She has served as Affiliate Liaison since 2005. kelly@giordanos. com

Dave Irvin (CMP), Parliamentarian

Irvin is Director of Concierge Services for the River East Art Center. He has been active in the hospitality field for over 25 years. Irvin and Flanner served as Co-Directors of Marketing in 2006. dirvin@rivereastartcenter. com

The National Concierge Association-Chicago Chapter (http://www. nationalconciergeassociation. com/index. cfm? fuseaction=members. chapter&chap_id=8), is an award winning, nonprofit organization, dedicated to the education, quality networking and promotion of the professional concierge encouraging educational and friendship opportunities through professional and social interaction with other concierges, vendors, and informational resources. Membership enriches and strengthens the NCA-Chicago Chapter and the National Concierge Association locally, nationally, and internationally, both organizationally and individually. nationalconciergeassociation. com (http://www. nationalconciergeassociation. com/?source=pr)

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