BACnet International Opens Award Nominations: Members Encouraged to Recognize Outstanding Members of the BACnet Community

BACnet International Opens Award Nominations: Members Encouraged to Recognize Outstanding Members of the BACnet Community

BACnet International today announced that submissions for its annual awards to recognize the achievements of individuals and companies involved in BACnet International are now being accepted. The award process is intended to allow BACnet International members to recognize and celebrate the hard work, commitment, and accomplishments of its members. The on-line award submission page will remain open until September 22nd at 10pm EST. The Award Committee will meet the week of September 27th to determine the winners. The Award Ceremony will take place during the 2010 Facility Decisions Conference & Expo taking place October 5-6, 2010 in Las Vegas, NV.

Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) September 12, 2010

BACnet International today announced that submissions for its annual awards to recognize the achievements of individuals and companies involved in BACnet International are now being accepted. The award process is intended to allow BACnet International members to recognize and celebrate the hard work, commitment, and accomplishments of its members. The on-line award submission page will remain open until September 22nd at 10pm EST. The Award Committee will meet the week of September 27th to determine the winners. The Award Ceremony will take place during the 2010 Facility Decisions Conference & Expo taking place October 5-6, 2010 in Las Vegas, NV.

In order to submit a nomination, BACnet International members should visit the official nomination page at http://www. bacnetinternational. org/displayemailforms. cfm? emailformnbr=146945 (http://www. bacnetinternational. org/displayemailforms. cfm? emailformnbr=146945)
The award categories for individuals, companies, and projects along with award explanations are listed in the table below.

Alpha Dog Award - For outstanding leadership  - Individual Award

St. Bernard Award - For always coming to the rescue - Individual OR Company Award

German Shepherd Award - For keeping the group in line and upholding BACnet Standards - Individual OR Company Award

Labrador Award - For unquestioning loyalty to BACnet International & BACnet Standards - Individual OR Company Award

Rottweiler Award - Fierce protector of BACnet International & BACnet Standards - Individual OR Company Award

Jack Russell Award - For always doing something for the betterment of BACnet International & BACnet Standards - Individual OR Company Award

Howler Award - Making a lot of noise about BACnet International & BACnet Standards - Individual OR Company Award

Fox Hound Award - For quickly and stealthily coming up from behind (i. e., a newer BACnet International member making a splash - Company Award

Best in Show Award - A project (posted in the BACnet Success Stories) worthy of merit - Project Award

Andy McMillan, President of BACnet International and General Manager of Philips Teletrol, encouraged BACnet International members to participate in the awards process, “As an organization whose success depends on the hard work if its members, I strongly encourage the BACnet community to take a moment to recognize individuals, companies, and projects that they think deserve special recognition.” McMillan continued, “We have had an exceptional year in terms of new members, numerous success stories, and technological advances in building automation. A great many members have contributed to this success, so my thanks go out to all of them.”

All award submissions must be completed by Wednesday, September 22nd to be considered for this year’s award process. More information can be found here: http://www. bacnetinternational. org/displayemailforms. cfm? emailformnbr=146945 (http://www. bacnetinternational. org/displayemailforms. cfm? emailformnbr=146945)

Companies interested in enjoying the benefits of BACnet International membership can get more information here.

About BACnet® International
BACnet International is an industry association that facilitates the successful use of the BACnet protocol in building automation and control systems through interoperability testing, educational programs, and promotional activities. The BACnet standard was developed by ASHRAE and has been made publicly available so that manufacturers can create interoperable systems of products. BACnet International complements the work of the ASHRAE standards committee and BACnet-related interest groups around the world. BACnet International members include building owners, consulting engineers and facility managers, as well as companies involved in the design, manufacturing installation, commissioning, and maintenance of control equipment that uses BACnet for communication. For more information, please visit www. bacnetinternational. org.

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ADVANCED ACCESS Announces Agreement With Real Estate Business Resources, Inc. (REBR)

ADVANCED ACCESS Announces Agreement With Real Estate Business Resources, Inc. (REBR)

(Anaheim, CA – Sept. 9, 2003) – ADVANCED ACCESS and the Real Estate Business Resource, Inc., (REBR), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Kansas Association of REALTORS® (KAR), today announced an agreement that establishes ADVANCED ACCESS as the preferred provider of Website services including its popular Classic Package™ Website and its IntelliC@rds Internet marketing program to over 8,000 members of KAR.

(PRWEB) September 11, 2003 -

Owned subsidiary of the Kansas Association of REALTORS® (KAR), today announced an agreement that establishes ADVANCED ACCESS as the preferred provider of Website services including its popular Classic Package™ Website and its IntelliC@rds Internet marketing program to over 8,000 members of KAR.

ADVANCED ACCESS is an industry leader in Web design, hosting and Internet marketing for real estate professionals, and currently serves over 20,000 clients nationwide including real estate salespeople, brokerages, MLS associations, and mortgage brokers.

REBR was formed in January 2000, and provides a focused edge for KAR to be a player in the new real estate industry. REBR provides an identifiable, credible and branded partner for real estate professionals to interact with, and also provides them valuable resources to meet todayÂ’s new challenges in the industry and changing marketplace. Simply stated, REBR is about identifying and providing solutions that address the challenges faced by todayÂ’s real estate community that are cost-effective, easily employed and empower the professional.

“We are very excited about working with a quality partner such as ADVANCED ACCESS. We chose ADVANCED ACCESS after performing extensive market research for Website services for our customers. ADVANCED ACCESS brings the perfect combination of cutting edge professional tools that deliver leads to real estate professionals,” stated Karen France, Vice President of Broker Services for REBR.

“This marks quite a milestone for ADVANCED ACCESS, and this agreement with Real Estate Business Resources, provides us with a wonderful and exciting opportunity to form a partnership with a group of REALTORS® who truly understand the importance of providing innovative business solutions to its members,” stated Kristina Morrison, CEO of ADVANCED ACCESS. Morrison continued, “…we are pleased to be chosen for this program, and we look forward to a long and mutually prosperous relationships with this group of real estate professionals.”

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ADVANCED ACCESS Announces Partnership With REBR

ABOUT Real Estate Business Resources, Inc. (REBR)

Real Estate Business Resources, Inc. (REBR) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Kansas Association of REALTORS®. REBR provides a focused edge for the Association to be a player in the new real estate industry. REBR provides an identifiable, credible and branded partner for real estate professionals to interact with as they navigate the REALTOR® road ahead.

When the Kansas Association of REALTORS® Board of Directors created REBR, a new door opened for the Association and the real estate community it serves. In the wake of internal and external forces that influence and change marketplace traditions, consumer expectations and ongoing profitability, the vision for a business-centric entity focused on customized and specialized industry applications became a reality.

ABOUT Kansas Association of Realtors® (KAR)

The Kansas Association of Realtors® has been the voice of Kansas real estate for the past 82-years, and provides programs, services, continuing education, research and legislative representation to its members of approximately 8,000 real estate professionals.

ABOUT ADVANCED ACCESS

ADVANCED ACCESS is an industry leader in Web site development; Web hosting, email marketing and Internet marketing for real estate professionals. Serving the real estate industry since 1985, the firm currently works with more than 20,000 clients nationwide including real estate salespeople, brokerages, MLS associations, and mortgage brokers. The company is well known for its popular Classic Package™ Website, a comprehensive resource with more than 900 pages of information for the consumer. Another unique feature is its IntelliC@rds™ program, a powerful and systematic email marketing program with professionally written messages including high impact graphics and state-of-the-art designs. An innovative, constantly evolving product line and a solid commitment to customer satisfaction sets ADVANCED ACCESS apart from its competition.

Family owned and operated and internally funded, ADVANCED ACCESS is a profitable organization with rapid and steady growth over the past five years. Headquartered in Anaheim, California, ADVANCED ACCESS is located at 8101 E. Kaiser Boulevard, Suite #300. The firm occupies the top floor of a commercial building with approximately 140 employees servicing over 20,000 clients nationwide, and can be reached by calling (714) 685-5120 (Toll-Free at 1-888-902-4653) or by visiting their Web site at www. advancedaccess. com

-ADVANCED ACCESS-

Effective Student Marketing to Give Away Customized Email Marketing Campaign at AACS Conference

Effective Student Marketing to Give Away Customized Email Marketing Campaign at AACS Conference

Effective Student Marketing will be exhibiting at the Annual American Association of Cosmetology School's Spring Management Conference from March 20 to 22, 2010. ESM will provide schools with information on how to turn their old leads into new enrollments, as well as offer attendees a chance to win a free, personalized e-newsletter.

Andover, MA (PRWEB) March 16, 2010

Effective Student Marketing, Inc. will be exhibiting at the Annual American Association of Cosmetology School's Spring Management Conference from March 20 to 22, 2010. Effective Student Marketing will be highlighting their Education Alerts e-newsletter services at this conference. During the show, ESM will even be running a raffle to give attendees the chance to win a free, customized e-newsletter for their school.

Effective Student Marketing has a staff of in-house writers, copy editors, and designers that create customized email marketing campaigns for vocational schools across the United States. This Education Alerts system keeps old leads interested in the school, and results in a much higher lead conversion and enrollment rate. In addition, ESM provides the school with in-depth analysis and reports of each email's effectiveness, to ensure that future e-newsletters are even more successful in providing the school with new enrollments.

"95 percent of your leads don't enroll in the first 30 to 60 days, and most admissions representatives stop contacting leads after 30 days. That's a lot of leads that are being wasted, just sitting in your database," explains Andy Kelley, President of ESM. "Our Education Alerts product helps keep your school in the mind and inbox of your prospect. Some of the highest converting leads you'll find are old prospects who have already expressed an interest in your school. We help you reconnect with those old leads and turn them into new enrollments, with a very small cost per acquisition."

ESM can work with schools to integrate a consistent and effective email marketing campaign into their current marketing efforts, with little time or resources needed from the school. If a school did a similar email campaign in-house, it would use up a team of resources and several days worth of labor to complete. Whether it's sending out a class schedule, an open house alert, or writing an industry-related article, ESM designs the email, writes the content, and manages the email lists. ESM has even developed their own reporting tool, where school managers can log-in, view the details of each new lead, and filter and download the data for further analysis.

All of the AACS conference attendees who stop by the Effective Student Marketing booth will have the opportunity to enter a raffle for a free e-newsletter. The winning school will be announced before the end of the day on Sunday, March 21st. Effective Student Marketing will be located at booth number 301 in the exhibit area.

ESM will also be showcasing their social media knowledge by posting photos and tweeting throughout the AACS Conference to the company's Facebook and Twitter pages.

Follow ESM on Twitter (www. twitter. com/EffectiveSM (http://www. twitter. com/EffectiveSM))

Become a fan of ESM on Facebook (http://www. facebook. com/pages/Effective-Student-Marketing/35051601890?ref=ts (http://www. facebook. com/pages/Effective-Student-Marketing/35051601890?ref=ts))

About Effective Student Marketing
Effective Student Marketing, Inc. is a strategic marketing organization that specializes in generating student leads and enrollments for career, technical, and vocational schools across the country through the use of Internet marketing tools and techniques.

The team at ESM combines experience working on the school-side with skills in the latest technology to create programs that can meet any school's needs. Marketing and recruitment programs can include online reputation management, social media marketing, cost per lead vendor management, search engine advertising, search engine optimization, and e-newsletter production and distribution.

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Get 10% off Your First Online Order as Material Possessions Celebrates 30 Years of Gift Ideas, Fine Jewelry and Decorating Ideas for Your Home Decor

Get 10% off Your First Online Order as Material Possessions Celebrates 30 Years of Gift Ideas, Fine Jewelry and Decorating Ideas for Your Home Decor

Renowned in the home décor industry for its custom one-of-a-kind treasures for your home, Material Possessions, one of the nation's leading specialty retailers, is kicking off its 30th Anniversary Celebrations by extending 10% off your first order at www. materialpossessions. com through the holidays. As they continue to lead at the forefront in tableware, linens, furniture, accessories even an exquisite fine jewelry department, this is a great opportunity to obtain unique collections and gift ideas during the 30th Anniversary Celebration.

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) November 6, 2007

Material Possessions, highlighted as 'one of the best retailers on the planet for tabletop' in a recent issue of Traditional Home magazine, and a destination where contemporary décor meets old-world designs, celebrates its 30th year in business. Launching the celebrations is the opportunity to receive 10% off your first online order at Material Possessions (http://www. materialpossessions. com/giftidea/dept. asp?&dept. asp? s%5Fid=0&dept%5Fid=30&ad_id=PRW&mail_id=20071101&key_id=10off&), the web showroom of Material Possessions that compliments its famous locations in and near Chicago. Renowned in the home décor industry for its custom one-of-a-kind treasures, Material Possessions, one of the nation's leading specialty retailers, continues to lead at the forefront in tableware, linens, furniture, bath, decorating ideas (http://www. materialpossessions. com/giftidea/dept. asp? s_id=0&dept_id=3103&ad_id=PRW&mail_id=20071101&key_id=Decorating&) and accessories for the home. It even has an exquisite fine jewelry store (http://www. materialpossessions. com/giftidea/dept. asp? s_id=0&dept_id=3007&ad_id=PRW&mail_id=20071101&key_id=Jewelry&) centered within the midst of the entire ambiance offering some of the most unique jewelry pieces created by artists from all over the world. And, as many of their selections are one of a kind items, this is a great opportunity to obtain these unique collections during the 30th Anniversary celebrations.

The 30th anniversary celebrations will continue with Material Possessions hosting many events throughout the next several months. Two very special private evening charity benefits are being hosted with special guest appearances by famed artists Michael Aram (Decorating Ideas with Metal), Jill Alberts (Fine Jewelry Artisan) and Robert Stewart (Glass Box Gift Ideas). One benefit will be held at the Chicago location with twenty percent of the evening's sales from the event to benefit the Chicago Children's Museum; a non-profit organization committed to creating a community where play and learning connect. The other event will be held at the Winnetka Illinois location with 20 percent of the evening's sales to benefit the Cancer Wellness Center; an organization that helps people to live better while living with cancer. These are wonderful opportunities to acquire some exquisite gift ideas (http://www. materialpossessions. com/giftidea/dept. asp? s_id=0&dept_id=3046&dept_name=Extraordinary&ad_id=PRW&mail_id=20071101&key_id=gift_ideas&) while supporting two very deserving charities.

Material Possessions 30th Anniversary Celebrations include:
Material Possessions 30th Anniversary Chicago, IL - A private after-hours shopping extravaganza on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 from 6:00 p. m. to 8:00 p. m. Guests will enjoy hors d'oeuvres by famed Chicago owner Joe King of Le Colonial, Chicago's noted up-scale French-Vietnamese restaurant and wine from Remy Cointreau USA. Twenty percent of the evening's sales will benefit Chicago Children's Museum, a great place for children to combine fun and education, providing an innovative learning experience for children and their caregivers, also investing in underserved neighborhoods throughout Chicagoland. Material Possessions 30th Anniversary Winnetka, IL - The celebration heads to the North Shore on Thursday, November 15, 2007 from 6:00 p. m. to 8:00 p. m. Friends and loyal patrons will enjoy hors d'oeuvres from Sarah Stegner's famous Prairie Grass Cafe in Northbrook, IL and wine from Remy Cointreau USA. Twenty percent of the evening's sales will benefit the Cancer Wellness Center, a non profit organization where cancer survivors and their families can find support, education and community.

About Material Possessions
A journey with beginnings as an inspiration back in 1977 has grown into a passion which now reaches a milestone that evokes both reflection and celebration. "Material Possessions continues to introduce the community to ever evolving styles and comforts." It has turned into a customer centric environment of warmth and charm; a place where the customers truly feel good about what they discover for their home decor (http://www. materialpossessions. com/giftidea/dept. asp? s_id=0&dept_id=3002&ad_id=PRW&mail_id=20071101&key_id=Home_Decor&).

Beginning as an accessories shop in Winnetka, IL featuring original, one-of-a-kind treasures for your home, Material Possessions opened a second location in 1983 in the Gold Coast neighborhood of Chicago, expanding its category of merchandise, including brilliantly constructed collections of tableware, linens, jewelry, furniture, bath and accessories for the home. Products sold at Material Possessions are made by artists using the highest quality materials including porcelain, hand-blown glass, Italian pewter, 22kt gold, and fine silks and textiles from around the globe. Material Possessions services include a custom bridal registry and an at-home accessorizing service. For more information on Material Possessions, visit Material Possessions (http://www. materialpossessions. com/giftidea/default. asp? s_id=0&ad_id=PRW&mail_id=20071101&key_id=url&) or visit the store at 954 Green Bay Road in Winnetka, IL 60093 or 704 N. Wabash in Chicago, IL 60611.

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Earnshaw's Forms Children's Apparel Retail Association

Earnshaw's Forms Children's Apparel Retail Association

The leading children's magazine establishes a cost-saving and educational opportunity for retailers nationwide.

New York, NY (PRWEB) July 23, 2008

Earnshaw's, the leading trade publication serving the children's apparel, gift and juvenile product industries, announces the formation of the Children's Apparel Retail Association (C. A.R. A.). The new trade association provides cost-saving service benefits, educational programs and networking opportunities to member retailers.

Joni Percoski has been named executive director of C. A.R. A. and joins Earnshaw's parent company, Symphony Publishing, with experience managing other national trade associations, most recently for footwear retailers.

"We discovered that children's retailers did not have an association and that we could help them save on services that are most essential to run their businesses, including shipping, credit card processing, and office supplies," Percoski stated. "In today's economic climate, there's power in numbers and by working together to qualify for volume discounts, everyone saves on operating costs."

"C. A.R. A. is an obvious fit for the Earnshaw's brand," stated Caletha Crawford, Earnshaw's associate publisher. "For more than 92 years, Earnshaw's has been a trusted leader in guiding and encouraging children's apparel retailers. As the brand has expanded to include online resources, consumer panels, industry roundtables and retail seminars, Earnshaw's has exhibited the expertise to bring this business opportunity to the industry."

C. A.R. A. benefits include discounted shipping rates through PartnerShip with FedEx, UPS Freight and Yellow Freight, office supply discounts from Staples stores, reduced-rate credit car processing from Chase and consumer gift card programs. Continuing education and retailer networking programs are also planned, including online webinars, an association newsletter, seminars and conferences.

Earnshaw's will host buyers' lounges to introduce C. A.R. A. at the ENK Children's Club held August 3-5, 2008 at Pier 94, New York City and KidShow August 25 - 27, 2008 at Bally's, Las Vegas.

For additional information on C. A.R. A. membership, contact executive director Joni Percoski at (949) 355-2559 or visit www. caratoday. com.

About Earnshaw's
For more than 90 years, Earnshaw's has been the leading trade publication in the children's wear market. Earnshaw's provides retailers, manufacturers, sales representatives and industry insiders with the vital information they need to stay current on fashion trends and business practices. The magazine is owned by Symphony Publishing, a multimedia company that publishes B2B magazines, Web sites and directories that span the music and fashion industries.

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2006 Scala EMEA Partner Award Winners

2006 Scala EMEA Partner Award Winners

The next generation of Scala InfoChannel®, the most widely deployed digital signage software platform in the world, has been launched during the annual Scala EMEA Partner Conference between September 27th and 28th in Amsterdam. During the Scala hosted gala dinner, three Scala Partners were recognized with the coveted annual Scala Partner Award for outstanding performance.

Amsterdam, the Netherlands (PRWEB) October 20, 2006

The next generation of Scala InfoChannel® (http://www. scala. com (http://www. scala. com)), the most widely deployed digital signage software platform in the world, has been launched during the annual Scala EMEA Partner Conference between September 27 and 28 in Amsterdam.

This annual event is designed to bring together Scala Partners and selected clients to network and witness presentations on project success stories, business initiatives and new product plans. This year, over 160 delegates from 29 countries across Europe, the Middle East and Africa attended the event.

During the Scala hosted gala dinner, three Scala Partners were recognized with the coveted annual Scala Partner Award for outstanding performance.

The categories for eligibility to the Scala Award are:

· Most Scala InfoChannel Players deployed

· Best Performing New Partner

· Most Deployed Projects

Monopoly Media, Romania -- Most Deployed Players

Monopoly Media earned the Scala Partner Award in recognition for its activities leading to the deployment of over five hundred InfoChannel Players in different projects throughout Romania.

Monopoly Media is one of the largest advertising agencies in Romania, with clients throughout the country, with focus on developing Digital Signage Networks for large commercial centers.

Monopoly Media’s advertising strategy is build around the concept of broadcasting audio/visual commercials using digital displays in high retail traffic areas. To date, Monopoly Media manages over 2000 screens in 48 cities throughout Romania including:

· Advertising in shelf areas in Billa, Cora, Carrefour and Metro networks

· Advertising at the cashiers in Carrefour, Billa, Cora, Sensi blu networks

· Advertising in large commercial galleries & food courts in Carrefour, Cora networks, Plaza Mall and City Mall

· Other projects are: BRD – Groupe Societe Generale, different Bars and Pubs in Bucharest, Bucharest’s international airport, McDonald’s.

United Yousef Naghi, Saudi Arabia -- Best Performing New Partner

Yousef M. A. Naghi & Sons Group has activities in the following major market sectors:

· Automotive

· Consumer Goods and Foodstuffs (FMCG)

· Electronic and Electrical Goods

· Operation and Maintenance Services

· Catering and Restaurant Operations

· Retail Outlets

· Perfumes, Cosmetics and Personal Care products

· Pharmaceuticals, Medical Technologies and Services

· Transportation

· Foodstuff Production and Packing

· Insurance & Risk Management Services

PRO-AV, a subsidiary of United Yousef Naghi, became a Scala Certified Partner during March 2006 and has achieved exceptional growth in InfoChannel-based digital signage projects throughout this past year.

Hulskamp Audiovisueel, The Netherlands -- Most Deployed Projects

Hulskamp Audiovisueel has been the Dutch industry leader on image and sound for more than 35 years, on a solid foundation of innovation, quality and service. Well-trained service specialists support Hulskamp Audiovisueel’s success with extensive expertise in various areas.

In addition to the equipment sales and rental divisions, Hulskamp also has an exceptional advanced division for content creation, dedicated to the production of videos, DVDs/CDs and other multimedia applications.

Aggregating software, hardware and a dedicated network management platform, Hulskamp manages one of the largest digital signage networks in the Netherlands for Rabobank, with over 360 locations throughout the country.

Hulskamp Audiovisueel was granted the Scala Partner Award for its success in deploying over twenty projects this year, including Rabobank, Oplaadpunt, Catharina Hospital, IKEA, Jaarbeurs Utrecht.

About Scala, Inc.

Scala, Inc. (http://www. scala. com (http://www. scala. com)) is the world’s leading provider of software for digital signage software used in retail, education, entertainment, government and other industries. The company’s cutting-edge multimedia software platform powers thousands of digital signs around the world including the digital signage networks of Tesco, Best Buy, T-Mobile, ShopRite, Virgin MegaStore, Bloomberg, Burger King, Kiwi, Azizia-Panda Supermarket, McKee Foods, Muvico, Santiago Airport, RaboBank and Warner Brothers Movie World. Since InfoChannel is proven, scalable, and easy to manage, it is the platform of choice for many digital display networks ranging in size from one screen to thousands of screens with uses including advertising displays, touch screens, retail TV, LED billboards, lobby signage, digital menu boards, interactive kiosks, and more. Scala, Inc. pioneered the industry of digital signage in 1987, and is today headquartered near Philadelphia, PA with operations in California, the UK, Norway, The Netherlands, France, China and Japan.

Scala, InfoChannel, and the Exclamation Point Logo are registered trademarks of Scala, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective organizations.

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Powering up with Pearson's Mastering, Students Successfully Master Challenging Courses

Powering up with Pearson's Mastering, Students Successfully Master Challenging Courses

Programs personalize science and engineering learning.

Boston, MA (PRWEB) February 15, 2010

Professor Scott Hildreth has spent years teaching engineering students about physics and astronomy. He says America's colleges and universities should do more to prepare students for science-related careers.

"We need to be teaching with 21st Century tools," says Professor Hildreth. "We need to be able to create the world first for our students in our classrooms that matches their real world--that's online, that's instantaneous, that's tailored to their needs, that's flexible, that's relevant."

Professor Hildreth, who teaches at Chabot College near San Francisco, prepares his students using a unique online homework and tutorial program from Pearson called Mastering. The Mastering programs personalize science and engineering learning with tutorials that provide immediate feedback and targeted help where and when students need it the most. Students learn at their own pace, in their own style, while educators are able to monitor student progress and communicate with their students online to keep them engaged and accountable for their work.

A video preview of Mastering is available at http://www. youtube. com/watch? v=1u2P47LUHD0 (http://www. youtube. com/watch? v=1u2P47LUHD0).

"To try to describe the earth going around the sun with words alone, or try to describe the tilt of the earth to account for seasons, or to describe how galaxies are racing away from one another … does not necessarily capture student learning," Professor Hildreth says. "An online tool taking full advantage of web capabilities really gives students a very powerful learning environment."

The Mastering programs free faculty to spend more time working with their students, notes Professor Troy Wood, who teaches chemistry at the State University of New York at Buffalo.

"I have the information from Mastering that tells me where students' strengths are, where students' weaknesses are. And I can tailor my lectures accordingly," says Professor Wood.

"A lot of people are intimidated by courses like chemistry and bio, the big sciences. This has helped a lot," adds Magdalena Bax, a student at SUNY-Buffalo.

Colleges and universities have seen increases in student performance using the Mastering programs. For example, after using MasteringPhysics, students make 15 percent fewer errors and solve problems 15 percent faster. And with MasteringChemistry, students have increased their exam scores by 12 percent. 

"My test scores have been higher because I understand the material a lot better," says Angelo Threats, a student at SUNY-Buffalo.

"It's a tremendously empowering tool," says Professor Hildreth. "It helps me teach better and it helps the students learn better."

Mastering is available in a range of subjects, including biology, chemistry, engineering, physics, microbiology and astronomy. For more information, visit www. pearsonhighered. com/mastering (http://www. pearsonhighered. com/mastering).

About Pearson
Pearson has global-reach and market leading businesses in education, business information, and consumer publishing (NYSE: PSO).

Media Contact: Susan Aspey, (800) 745-8489

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Newark’s Project Grad Receives Two Promise Prize Awards from SBLI USA President and CEO, Vikki L. Pryor

Newark’s Project Grad Receives Two Promise Prize Awards from SBLI USA President and CEO, Vikki L. Pryor

As president and CEO of SBLI USA Mutual Life Insurance Company, Inc., Pryor is fulfilling her personal and professional mission to support underserved communities.

Newark, NJ (Vocus) July 1, 2008

Project Grad (http://www. projectgrad. org/site/pp. asp? c=fuLTJeMUKrH&b=365959) students, Jarea Bivens and Noelle Green were each awarded the Marie Nesbitt Promise Prize early this month by benefactor Vikki L. Pryor, president and CEO of SBLI USA (http://www. sbliusa. com/) headquartered in New York City. As Pryor recently said in her commencement speech to the graduating class of Bronx Community College, “You have a purpose and a mission and you must fulfill it!” Further, Pryor believes that with the privilege of success comes the responsibility of giving back.”

In walking her own talk, Pryor is determined to fulfill her own purpose and mission, both personally and professionally. A driving force in defining SBLI USA’s corporate mission to help financially empower all Americans, Pryor is a strong advocate of higher education. In the name of education and empowerment, and in the name of her grandmother, Pryor has established the Marie Nesbitt Promise Prize. To-date she has personally awarded 14 financial awards to students who have proven exceptional academic achievement.

Of Bivens and Green, Pryor said, “I am proud to add Jarea and Noelle to the growing list of Marie Nesbitt Promise Prize scholars. These two young adults have made an indelible impression on me. They are our future.”

Bivens, is no stranger to challenge or to achievement, and despite his challenges, he has a deep personal resolve to live well and contribute to the well-being of others. For his achievements and values he credits the tireless efforts of his mother and grandmother. He will attend Rider University in Lawrenceville, N. J. in the fall and plans to major in biology.

Green, a hard worker with a humble approach, will attend Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N. J. this fall to study psychology and philosophy, and hopes to go on to law school. In addition to the Promise Prize Green is the recipient of the GRAD scholarship, the Project Pride Scholarship, and the Edward J. Blaustein Scholarship. Of these she says, “Without these gifts, there was no money for college. I will use the scholarships wisely and one day I hope to be in the position to be able to give back to others in need of educational support.”

About SBLI USA:
SBLI USA and its subsidiaries are licensed in 49 states, the District of Columbia, the U. S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. With more than $15.9 billion of insurance in force, $1.5 billion in assets, $129 million in surplus capital, 200 associates and over 300,000 policyholders, the company is committed to offering affordable, flexible and easy-to-access products through a variety of integrated channels, including direct mail, telemarketing, a bilingual Web site, licensed agents, and walk-in Customer Centers.

SBLI USA Mutual Life Insurance Company, Inc. is the parent company to SBLI USA Holdings, Inc., which owns subsidiary companies S. USA Life Insurance Company, Inc., and SBLI USA Diversified Services Company, Inc. To learn more please visit www. sbliusa. com

About the Marie Nesbitt Promise Prize:
Marie Nesbitt was born on August 16, 1917 in Clearwater, Fla., and was raised in Kingstree, S. C. A great-granddaughter of slaves, Nesbitt’s formal education stopped at the third grade. An inspiration to her family and friends, she believed and taught everyone she touched to reach for the stars by doing their best, to trust in God, to stand up for what they believed in, and most of all, to never give up. Nesbitt spent most of her adult life living on the west side of Chicago.

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NES Goes for Gold

NES Goes for Gold

NEServices Attains Gold Certified Partner Status by Microsoft and Premier Partner with CISCO Systems Networking services provider further distinguishes itself by earning competencies in four distinct areas.

Londonderry, NH (PRWEB) August 28, 2006

NE Services. net, (NES) a leading provider of complete IT management services today announced it has attained Gold Certified status in the Microsoft Partner Program with competencies in advanced infrastructure, networking infrastructure solutions, and information worker solutions and was also recognized as a Premier Certified Partner by Cisco Systems (Nasdaq: CSCO). These certifications acknowledge NEServices’ expertise in the technology marketplace by completing a comprehensive review of the organization’s infrastructure, hardware system, IT management practices, networking, customer satisfaction levels and software applications.

As a Gold Certified partner, NEServices joins the ranks of a select group of companies who have demonstrated expertise with both Microsoft and Cisco Systems technologies further validating its ability to deliver high quality services.

NES brings external deployment services to the business desktop, PDA and mobile phone for small to medium size businesses (SMBs). From PC to local area network (LAN), voice over internet provider (VOIP), wide area networking (WAN) and wireless solutions, NES manages all aspects of a businesses network and provides new freedom for business owners to refocus on their core offerings.

“These certifications are a substantial achievement for NEServices,” says Mark Braun, president of NEServices. “Both the Gold Certified status from Microsoft and the Cisco Premier Certified Partner qualifications clearly establish NEServices as a leader in networking technologies and providing world-class customer service for our clients. The benefits provided through our Gold Certified status will allow us to continually enhance our customer offerings and assure them that we are highly qualified to design, implement and maintain one of their most precious assets, their networking and data.”

Microsoft Gold Certified Partners receive a rich set of benefits, including access, training and support, giving them a competitive advantage in the marketplace. NES has also achieved an additional partner competency in Information Worker Solutions specializing in Messaging and Collaboration and continues to train and stay on the cutting edged with the knowledge to support business throughout New England.

“Customers are looking for partner companies that can bridge the gap between their business demands and technology capabilities,” says Allison Watson, vice president of the Worldwide Partner Sales and Marketing Group at Microsoft Corp. “They need to trust in someone that can act as an expert adviser for their long-term strategic technology plans. Today, Microsoft recognizes NEServices as a new Microsoft Gold Certified Partner for demonstrating its expertise in providing customer satisfaction with Microsoft products and technology.”

As one of the requirements for attaining Gold Certified status, NEServices had to declare a Microsoft Competency. Microsoft Competencies are designed to help differentiate a partner’s capabilities with specific Microsoft technologies to customers looking for a particular type of solution. Each competency has a unique set of requirements and benefits, formulated to accurately represent the specific skills and services that partners bring to the technology industry. “The fact that NE Services has met the rigorous requirements for not just one but three Microsoft competencies speaks volumes about our commitment to ongoing education. Each step we take to gain another certification ensures our clients that we stand ready to deliver the best possible solutions and latest technologies available,” continues Braun.

The Advanced Infrastructure and Networking Solutions Competencies are designed for partners with proven expertise in designing and/or implementing complex infrastructure solutions such as Active Directory®-based and Microsoft Integration Server design and deployment solutions, or Microsoft Exchange Server migration or deployment solutions. Because customers are increasingly asking to do more with less, partners with the Advanced Infrastructure Solutions Competency can identify their unique skill in helping customers access management solutions, improving operational efficiency and reducing security risks

Along with its Microsoft certification, NEServices has also achieved the Cisco Premier Certified Partner designation for Internet Protocol (IP) Communications Express Specialization further recognizing its excellence in sales and marketing information, tools, and support. Attainment of this certification level requires completion of sales and technical training in addition to other base requirements by Cisco Systems.

“All Premier Certified Cisco Partners must meet strict standards for product knowledge, technical ability and customer support,” continues Braun. “This level of certification requires a consistent level of product knowledge and technical expertise, along with Cisco's industry-leading network solutions. Specifically, NEServices was recognized for its standards of installation, Cisco product sales, and configuration.”

To learn more about NES call 866-NESERVICES or visit the web site at www. neservices. net.

About NES

NEServices. net, located in Londonderry, New Hampshire, provides businesses with complete IT management services including networking solutions, disaster recovery, information security, Enterprise routing & switching, remote access and monitoring, support & maintenance, HIPPA/SOX compliance and converged network services. A Microsoft-certified partner and retailer, NES technicians carry the latest certifications and experience. For information on NES, contact Mark Florio, Marketing Director at 603/622-3924 x 109 or visit the web site at www. neservices. net.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software—any time, any place and on any device.

For more information, press only:

Renee Fellows, ClearPoint Marketing Communications, (603) 434-9433,

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Design Essentials Celebrates Healthy Hair with Girls Nite Out: "Back to School Pamper Parties"

Design Essentials Celebrates Healthy Hair with Girls Nite Out: "Back to School Pamper Parties"

Hair care leader partners with hair stylists to educate women and girls about maintaining healthy hair

Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) August 6, 2008

Design Essentials Salon System, a line of premium hair care products designed to infuse hair with a natural balance of the finest ingredients, recently announced that it will host Girls Nite Out: "Back to School Pamper Parties" at hair salons in five cities. These free events will give hundreds of young girls, teens, college students and women the opportunity to be empowered by learning about Design Essentials products and techniques to use for "fresh from the salon hair" at home.

"Design Essentials is all about the community and this is another way to serve those who support us," says Cyntelia Abrams, Marketing Associate of McBride Research Laboratories (MRL), the family-owned & operated company which launched Design Essentials. "We also feel it is important for females of all ages to embrace their natural beauty, bond with other women and to learn how to care for their hair. Design Essentials is also excited to support the professional hair salon, for which our company has its roots."

The Girls Nite Out "Back to School" Pamper Parties feature nothing short of a great time in the lives of young girls, teenagers, young adults, and mothers! Mothers will learn how to properly care for their daughter's hair...and their hair too. Teens and young adults will learn the basics of healthy hair, the do's and don'ts. Design Essentials professional stylists will provide hair consultations, makeovers, and the techniques needed to create and maintain healthy hair at home. Food, beverages, music, and fun will also be provided.

Each attendee will be eligible to win a complimentary Design Essentials gift set and a complete makeover, which contains the entire line of home maintenance products. The goal of the Girls Nite Out: "Back to School Pamper Parties" is to not only provide education on better hair care, but to also provide women and girls with an opportunity to bond with each other. Each event will feature food, beverages, music, giveaways and contests hosted by a local radio personality.

Girls Nite Out "Back to School" Pamper Parties will be held:
 August 12 - Eatonville, FL  August 13 - Lanham, MD  August 19 - St. Petersburg, FL  August 20 - Odenton, MD  August 26 - Chesapeake, VA

For more information on Design Essentials Salon System and Girls Nite Out: "Back to School Pamper Parties" schedule, visit www. designessentials. com. To request interviews, press passes and/or post event photos, please contact Nneka Egwuatu at 678-884-4008 ext.714.

About Design Essentials: Design Essentials Salon System was launched in 1990 by McBride Research Laboratories, which provides direct distribution of premium, quality hair care solutions engineered to infuse hair with a natural balance of organic ingredients, vitamins and proteins that promote healthy and manageable hair. Today, MRL offers more than 40 premium beautification products through e-commerce and direct-to-hair salons network of independent, exclusive distributors in the United States, Caribbean and the United Kingdom.

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Accounting Career Resource Guide Launches on All Business Schools

Accounting Career Resource Guide Launches on All Business Schools

All Business Schools launched a comprehensive accounting career guide complete with career tips, professional advice, differences between accounting degree types and job opportunities.

Seattle, Washington (PRWEB) April 18, 2007

In response to the accounting industry's tremendous growth, All Business Schools (www. allbusinessschools. com), the leading Internet resource for business degrees and careers, has launched a comprehensive Accounting Career Resource Guide. Comprised of accounting career advice articles and information, including easily comparable career path charts, the guide provides the information necessary to decide what type of accounting career to pursue and what kind of education is necessary to succeed in the field. The resource center can be found at: http://www. allbusinessschools. com/faqs/accounting-career-resource-guide. php (http://www. allbusinessschools. com/faqs/accounting-career-resource-guide. php)

"The demand for accountants has never been higher, and accountants' job opportunities have never been more diverse," says Doug Rosenberg, product manager for All Business Schools. "With public, management and forensic accounting specialties available, a modern career in accounting entails far more than the antiquated 'bean counter' stereotype. The Accounting Career Resource Guide is designed to lead people through this newly diversified and exciting field."

Indeed, over the past several years the accounting industry has expanded rapidly, in terms of both jobs and prestige. Widely-publicized accounting scandals like Enron raised awareness about the need for reliable, ethical, and strong accounting practices. Companies reacted accordingly, hiring more accountants, raising salaries, and boosting accountants' job status.

The Accounting Career Resource Center is organized into sections about accounting careers and accounting degrees. The career section breaks down the three main accounting specialties -- public accounting, management accounting, and forensic accounting -- into detailed career paths, listing what kind of education and experience is needed in each to climb the ladder. The degrees section provides a look at the different accounting degrees, using a "by the numbers" format to detail what each degree type entails and explaining what kind of knowledge and skills the degree will provide.

Additionally, the Accounting Career Resource Center takes a lighthearted approach to the field, incorporating fun facts and trivia about celebrity accountants, accountants in sports, and accountants readers may recognize from popular TV shows.

About All Business Schools
All Business Schools is a comprehensive online publisher of accredited business degree programs and business career resources. Since 2002, All Business Schools has been helping match millions of highly qualified prospective students with the schools that best meet their education needs.

About All Star Directories
All Star Directories, Inc. is the Internet's fastest growing publisher of online and career school directories. From leading research institutions to fast-growing online and for-profit schools, more than 5,500 featured schools trust All Star Directories as the authority in online student recruitment. The All Star Directories network of sites focus on a wide range of fields including health care, art, business, teacher education, psychology, criminal justice, computer training and nursing.

Press Contact
Jay Goldstein
Director of Marketing
(888) 404-8043 x592
Jayg @ allstardirectories. com

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Parature Named Software & Information Industry Association CODiE Award Finalist

Parature Named Software & Information Industry Association CODiE Award Finalist

Parature Recognized for Product Excellence in Two Categories by SIIA

Vienna, VA (Vocus) February 26, 2009

Vienna, Va February 26, 2009 -- Parature, the global leader in on-demand customer service software (http://www. parature. com/customer-service-software. aspx), announced today its inclusion in the 24th Annual CODiE Awards. Parature Customer Service™ software (http://www. parature. com/customer-service-software. aspx) is a finalist in the "Best Relationship Management Solution" and "Best Postsecondary Enterprise Solution" categories. The CODiE Awards celebrate outstanding achievement and vision in the software, digital information and education technology industries. The 2009 CODiE Awards will be presented at a gala event on May 5, 2009 at the historic Palace Hotel in San Francisco, CA.

The CODiE Awards recognize 71 categories of outstanding products and services through a unique combination of journalist and expert peer review. The 345 finalists were selected from more than 850 nominations submitted by 600 companies. All of the products submitted were reviewed by nearly 190 judges encompassing tech trade journalists, consultants, educators, IT and product specialists and other knowledgeable, yet neutral experts.

According to SIIA President Ken Wasch, "The competition is particularly steep this year during the 24th Annual SIIA CODiE Awards, making selection as a CODiE Finalist a real achievement." Wasch further added that "All the companies on this year's list of CODiE Finalists should feel justifiably proud of their accomplishment in making it to this stage, and have much excitement to look forward to regarding the upcoming CODiE Awards voting!"

Parature (http://www. parature. com/default. aspx) enables any organization to fundamentally change the way they support their customers through its Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) delivery and integrated, intuitive design that empowers organizations to better and more efficiently serve, support, engage with and retain customers in today's Web world. The seamlessly integrated suite of Parature Customer Service™ software modules allows organizations to effectively manage all of their support needs without additional hardware, software and IT expenses. Parature integrates everything in one dynamic, unified system to increase efficiency across entire organizations, improving processes among customer support, operations, development and sales.

"It is an honor to be selected as a finalist in two categories for this premier industry recognition," stated Duke Chung, Parature CEO and President (http://www. parature. com/team_DukeChung. aspx). "Parature is committed to setting the standard for service and support teams worldwide by bringing the most innovative software to market and providing the smartest, most efficient way for organizations to support their customers.

Parature, Inc.
Parature, the leader in on-demand customer service software, makes it possible for any business to leverage the Internet to provide outstanding customer service. The company's software-as-a-service (SaaS) delivery and integrated, intuitive design enables organizations to better and more efficiently serve, support, engage with and retain customers in today's Web world. Founded in 2000, Parature received the 2007 and 2008 Product of the Year Award from Customer Interaction Solutions magazine and has been named to the Inc. 5000 list of Fastest Growing Private Companies in America. For the past three consecutive years Parature has been on the Washington Business Journal's list of Best Places to Work. Headquartered in Vienna, Virginia, Parature is at work in organizations of all types and sizes, and helps support more than 13 million end users worldwide. For more information, visit www. parature. com.

Parature is hiring talented people, please visit http://www. parature. com/careers. aspx (http://www. parature. com/careers. aspx) for more information on joining this winning team.

About SIIA
The Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) is the principal trade association for the software and digital
Content industries. SIIA provides global services in government relations, business development, corporate education
And intellectual property protection to more than 500 leading software and information companies. For further
Information, visit www. siia. net.

Media Contact:
Dayna Tenorio
571.730.6241

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Avant Launches, Awareness Company Now in Pre-Launch

Avant Launches, Awareness Company Now in Pre-Launch

Avant is an awareness company committed to providing practical and inspiring educational programs as well as a fulfilling income opportunity.

Scottsdale, AZ (PRWEB) May 19, 2010

Brent Payne and team revealed Avant today, an awareness company dedicated to making life better. Lead by Payne, Avant looks to provide practical and inspiring educational programs as well as fulfilling income opportunity.

Avant marks Payne's return to the public eye after nearly a year off, spent preparing this new venture. The market has changed dramatically over that time, and Payne is eager to get back.

"I learned a lot this past year," Payne said. "Now, I'm looking to share that knowledge with anyone who wants to learn. Who wants to have a better life."

Avant offers life-improvement products designed to accentuate member's natural talents, as well as encourage personal growth both in the member and those around them. Products will be available online and at various seminars, which Payne plans to hold around the world.

About Avant

Avant is a conscious business committed to providing practical and inspiring educational programs as well as a fulfilling income opportunity. Together, our learning programs and financial systems empower people to raise personal awareness and take control of their lives while creating a more sustainable and peaceful world.

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SBLI USA Mutual Life Insurance Company Empowers Female Community

SBLI USA Mutual Life Insurance Company Empowers Female Community

Third Annual Women’s Financial Empowerment Seminar Held in New York.

New York (Vocus) November 5, 2007

SBLI USA Mutual Life Insurance Company is consistently working to help educate and inform women about the importance of financial planning and security. SBLI USA’s Annual Women’s Financial Empowerment Seminar is part of this effort. President and CEO Vikki Pryor hosted the third annual seminar on Thursday, October 25 at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers in New York, NY.

A leading financial services provider for low-to-moderate income families, the 68 year-old company has made a concerted effort to help advance the number of women taking control of their financial destinies. Women make up over 50% of the company’s customer base, and have access to a variety of products designed to help protect them and their families, including simple issue term products, juvenile term products and children’s riders. SBLI USA and its subsidiary, S. USA Life Insurance Company, Inc., will continue to reach out to women in support of their financial futures through seminars and community involvement.

In addition to encouraging this mission externally through events like the Women’s Financial Empowerment Seminar, SBLI USA practices it internally as well. The company is currently 57% female, with women making up 48% of management, 33% of senior management, and 33% of officer roles. Such a breadth of diversity in both gender and culture lends to greater progress at each successive event of this kind.

The event featured a panel of three female financial experts, well versed in the arena of financial empowerment for women. Margaret O’Meara, President of O’Meara Financial Group, stressed the importance of having a diversified financial plan and taking advantage of every possibility when investing and planning for retirement. O’Meara’s emphasis on planning was reinforced by Attorney Marianne Calabrese, an Associate at Windels Marx Lane and Mittendorf, who touched on the sensitive topic of women distributing their wealth and possessions after death. Calabrese noted the necessity of a will and the mistake that many women make in neglecting to write one early on. Maureen Douglas, Vice President at Apple Bank, provided the perfect cap to the panel in discussing the benefits of relationship banking. She focused on the advantages of being able to complete many of the financial transactions referenced by O’Meara and Calabrese with the consistency and support offered by a one-on-one relationship with your banker.

“These women have had a truly great impact in ensuring the financial success and empowerment of others,” Pryor said of the panelists after the event. “It is my hope that, as women, we can all pool our knowledge to better educate and inform future generations of women.” SBLI USA will continue its efforts to reach out to women, among other communities, regarding their financial futures. Additional information about SBLI USA can be found at www. sbliusa. com.

About SBLI USA/S. USA
SBLI USA markets a wide range of life insurance products to value-conscious consumers and diverse markets. The Company is dedicated to building lifelong relationships with customers and empowering them with the education and tools they need to take control of their financial destinies.

SBLI USA and its subsidiaries are licensed in 49 states, the District of Columbia, the U. S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. With more than $16.7 billion of insurance in force, $1.5 billion in assets, $124 million in surplus capital, 200 associates and over 322,000 policyholders, the company is committed to offering affordable, flexible and easy-to-access products through a variety of integrated channels, including direct mail, telemarketing, a bilingual Web site, licensed agents, and new Customer Centers, as it expands nationally.

SBLI USA Mutual Life Insurance Company, Inc. is the parent company to SBLI USA Holdings, Inc., which owns subsidiary companies S. USA Life Insurance Company, Inc., and SBLI USA Diversified Services Company, Inc.

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Peace Over Violence 38th Annual Humanitarian Awards

Peace Over Violence 38th Annual Humanitarian Awards

Actresses Debra Messing and Mariska Hargitay joined POV Spokesperson Calista Flockhart and Pierce and Keely Brosnan at the 38th Annual Peace Over Violence Humanitarian Awards Dinner and Silent Auction on Friday, November 6th at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Also in attendance were LAPD Chief-Elect Charlie Beck and actors Josh Radnor and Doris Roberts.

Beverly Hills, CA (PRWEB) November 17, 2009

Peace Over Violence is a social service non-profit agency dedicated to the elimination of sexual and domestic violence and all forms of interpersonal violence. Established in 1971 as the “Los Angeles Commission on Assaults Against Women” (LACAAW) the agency provides crisis intervention services, violence prevention education to area youth, and case management and counseling services to survivors of violence.

The evening honored the following individuals and corporations who have made a difference in the struggle to eliminate violence against women, men, youth and children:

Union Bank: Verizon Wirless Hopeline Corporate Award
Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti: Public Service Award
Human Rights Watch & U. S. Program Researcher Sarah Tofte: Justice Award
Keely & Pierce Brosnan: Activism Award
Joyful Heart Foundation & Mariska Hargitay: Empowerment Award

The evening, which also celebrated the organization’s move to a new location which offers an opportunity to house a larger community and education and meeting room, raised over $300,000 for the non-profit agency. Since its inception in 1971 as the Los Angeles Commission on Assaults Against Women, Peace Over Violence has grown from a volunteer crisis hotline to an agency with a sizeable staff and an excellent reputation. It is widely recognized as a social partner in issues of violence prevention, health, education, human rights, and civil society. The organization, offers a wide range of programs which encompass ‘one on one’ intervention services and ‘one on one’ violence prevention services.

More information about Peace Over Violence is available at www. peaceoverviolence. org.

Photos and captions from the event are attached. More photos are available by request; please contact Amy Praw at amy(at)guttmanpr(dot)com.

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It's "Snot" Your Typical Children's Book - Nose Pickin' Offers Twisted, Hilarious Fun

It's "Snot" Your Typical Children's Book - Nose Pickin' Offers Twisted, Hilarious Fun

No Child Left Behind and other educational reform acts are putting more and more pressure on students to gain ground in reading. However, in today's fast-paced society, it can be hard to get students to appreciate reading...especially poetry...unless you happen to mention the words Harry Potter or Lemony Snickket. With the release of Nose Pickin' (And 50 Other Ways TO Tickle Your Brain!) [ISBN 1-4137-5358-2], Kentucky Colonel and National Board Certified Teacher, Alonzo Fugate hopes to make reading poetry fun and enjoyable for both kids and adults.

Jackson, KY (PRWEB) February 14, 2005

Nose Pickin’ Gives Kids and Adults the Opportunity to “Dig In” to Reading. It happens in America everyday. Parents and teachers fight a battle to gain some of the seemingly limited attention span of their children and students. In today’s information age of 24-hour internet access, video games, and other types of fast-paced electronic distractions, it is sometimes difficult to get children to learn about the joys that a good book can bring…unless it is accompanied with the words Harry Potter or Lemony Snickket. These same adults often wonder how to even go about introducing the subject of poetry without the usual protest. So how can this be done in a way that is both educational and fun? National Board Certified Teacher and Kentucky Colonel, Alonzo Fugate has what he thinks may be one answer to this question with the release of his book of fabulously twisted poetry, Nose Pickin' (And 50 Other Ways TO Tickle Your Brain!) [ISBN 1-4137-5358-2, PublishAmerica, $14.95].

Drawing on his professional knowledge as a National Board certified teacher (the highest achievement in teaching today), Colonel Fugate realized that today’s youth often miss out on the fun of reading poetry because they may have a misconception about it and about how much fun that it can be. He saw the results of this in his own third-grade classroom. “It was just sad,” he stated about the attitude he often saw toward poetry in the classroom, “My students would often get this look of ‘oh no’ whenever I would mention that we were going to work on a unit over poetry. They just hadn’t been exposed to how much fun poetry can be.”

By incorporating such “fun” poets as Shel Silverstein and Paul Fleischman, Colonel Fugate often saw a big change in the attitude of his students. “It was such a joy to see,” he continued, “We would have so much fun just reading these poems that were just…well, they were just fun! By the end of the unit, the students were reading poetry and writing poetry of their own. It was just a natural way to learn and to develop a love for the language. I guess that I just took that one step further when I decided to publish my own book of poetry…fun poetry.”

Colonel Fugate had been working on writing his own collection of children’s poetry for years before he finally decided to take a chance at having them published. “I have always dreamed of becoming a published author,” Colonel Fugate said with a sparkle in his eyes, “I don’t have any fantasies of becoming rich and famous…that’s not what this is all about for me. What I want is to get these poems into the hands of as many kids as possible. I want to accomplish what I was able to do in my own classroom on a much larger scale. I don’t want the kids of today growing up and not being able to appreciate poetry. You can imagine how thrilled I was when my work was accepted at my publisher, PublishAmerica”

Nose Pickin' (And 50 Other Ways TO Tickle Your Brain!) provides the reader with a selection of 51 poems that are, as the author describes them, “twisted, zany, and wild!” In this 80 page book, readers will also find 15 original black and white illustrations that help to bring these poems to life. It is easy to tell from the title, Nose Pickin’, that this is not going to be your usual type of poetry book. The poems deal with such topics as mean teachers, school bullies, zombies, unicorns, pimples, farting, and…yes…even nose picking! “Kids should love these,” Colonel Fugate stated, “Parents and teachers will appreciate them as well. This is a good book for parents to share with their children. I also hope that teachers will share this book with their students. There is a great power in the ability to read. It can unlock the world! It is amazing to be able to pass this power along to others. I love to teach, and I love to write. I have the best job in the world because I get to do both!”

Nose Pickin' (And 50 Other Ways TO Tickle Your Brain!) will be officially released on March 7, 2005. More information about the book and the author can be found at the official website (http://www. alonzofugate. com (http://www. alonzofugate. com)). It will be available from the publisher, PublishAmerica, or at online bookstores such as Amazon or Barnes and Noble. It will also be available worldwide wherever books are sold. To reserve your copy of Nose PickinÂ’ today, just check with your local bookseller.

Contact: 

PublishAmerica

Public Relations Department

P. O. Box 151

Frederick, MD 21705

Www. publishamerica. com

Phone: 1-240-529-1031

Fax: 1-301-631-9073

Support@publishamerica. com

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Concern Over Inhuman Practices and Satanic Worship in Nigeria and other African Countries

Concern Over Inhuman Practices and Satanic Worship in Nigeria and other African Countries

Our organization is concerned over the recent developments in Anambra State, particularly, the gruesome discovery of over 70 openly displayed human dead bodies at various levels of decomposition by the Nigerian police at a local deity shrine in Okija, Ihiala Local Government Area, Anambra State, Nigeria, the same shrine visited by the State Governor to perform rituals, in order to gain support and political position.

(PRWEB) November 2, 2004

It is a pleasure writing on behalf of Africans In America, Inc. (AIA) a human rights, advocacy and non-profit organization dedicated to end the abuse of survivors of human trafficking, especially women and girl children from Africa living in the United States.

Our organization is concerned over the recent developments in Anambra State, particularly, the gruesome discovery of over 70 openly displayed human dead bodies at various levels of decomposition by the Nigerian police at a local deity shrine in Okija, Ihiala Local Government Area, Anambra State, Nigeria, the same shrine visited by the State Governor Dr. Chris N. Ngige to perform rituals, in order to gain support and political position.

We are particularly concerned that the governor - a Medical Doctor by training, while seeking governorship post allegedly went with some individuals to the deity where you reportedly striped, swore oath of obedience to the secret cult and performed other rituals.

We are particularly concerned that he admitted visiting the shrine and the nature of the ritual(s) you allegedly performed at the Okija deity. We are deeply concerned about the rumors that human being(s) may have been sacrifice as part of the rituals.

In view of the fact that, in majority of the cases, victims of ritual sacrifice are normally children and poor individuals and may also be victims of human trafficking, we are deeply concerned.

Some of human trafficking cases here in New York originated from Anambra State, Nigeria.

In view of the fact that many deaths in institutions of higher education in Anambra State, and other states in Nigeria are blamed on cult activities, we are concerned at the implication of high-level public office holderÂ’s involvement in this nefarious and satanic practice.

In view of the fact that State Governors are the Chief Security Officers, and hence responsible for safety of lives and properties in the states, we are very deeply concerned.

We want to note that when the news of Governor Dr. Chris N. Ngige's alleged kidnapping on July 10, 2003 broke out, our partner organization Freedom and Justice International, Inc. wrote him to show sympathy and support, contacted various world leaders to raise awareness on his ordeals and injustices going on in Anambra State. We publicly admonished his alleged ‘oppressors’ (including President Obasanjo) and also awarded the governor a plague during a visit to New York in November 2003.

Little did we know of what was in stock.

Therefore, we are calling on the African leadership to rid the continent of such evil and satanic practices and embrace modern science and technology to move the society forward.

For further information regarding our organization, please visit our website: www. aiainc. org.

Bonaventure N. Ezekwenna

Executive Director

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Survey Reveals Injectable Procedures are Mainstream and Accepted Medical Aesthetic Treatment Options

Survey Reveals Injectable Procedures are Mainstream and Accepted Medical Aesthetic Treatment Options

Survey Shows Majority of Respondents Openly Discuss Use of BOTOX® Cosmetic and Hyaluronic Acid Dermal Fillers

New York, NY (Vocus) June 2, 2009

Despite what some may think, people aren’t hiding their use of BOTOX® Cosmetic and hyaluronic acid dermal fillers. In fact, according to survey statistics released today by The Aesthetic Surgery Education & Research Foundation (ASERF), the research arm of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), nearly nine out of 10 respondents (87 percent) openly discuss their BOTOX® Cosmetic and hyaluronic acid dermal filler treatments with others, with seven out of ten (70 percent) receiving support from the people they told.

“In a similar survey issued four years ago, we dispelled the myth that Hollywood and corporate wives were the typical BOTOX® Cosmetic patient,” says ASERF President Laurie Casas, MD, a plastic surgeon practicing in suburban Chicago. “Now, demographic and perception data trends show us that aesthetic injectable treatments have continued to evolve into mainstream and accepted options for the everyday woman.”

Survey results found that the typical aesthetic injectable patient is a married, working mother between 41-55 years of age with a household income of under $100,000. The survey also found that women receiving aesthetic injectable treatments are health-conscious and philanthropy minded, with the majority incorporating exercise (95 percent) and healthy eating habits (78 percent) into their lives, and many volunteering with charitable organizations that matter to them (32 percent). In addition, nearly seven out of 10 respondents believe that BOTOX® Cosmetic (72 percent) and hyaluronic acid dermal fillers (65 percent) are important parts of their aesthetic routine.

“Interestingly, among BOTOX® Cosmetic patients, nearly seven out of 10 respondents also received treatment with hyaluronic acid fillers,” says Dr. Casas. “Most people have great success with BOTOX® Cosmetic and dermal fillers; however, we need to make patients aware that even though injectables are not ‘surgery,’ their administration is a medical procedure with risks that depend on the training and experience of the clinician, the clinical setting and the technique used.”

Additional findings of the survey found that 72 percent of respondents received BOTOX® Cosmetic injections to treat their glabellar lines – also referred to the “11” – the frown lines in between the brows, while 63 percent of those surveyed received hyaluronic acid dermal filler injections to treat their nasolabial folds – also known as the “parentheses” – the lines around the nose and mouth. A few of the most frequently cited reasons to receive treatment with BOTOX® Cosmetic was “to look more relaxed, less stressed” while patients reported choosing treatment with hyaluronic acid dermal fillers to “look more rejuvenated.”

Based on its annual survey of U. S. physicians performing cosmetic procedures, ASAPS recently reported that BOTOX® Cosmetic injections have remained the most frequently performed procedure since FDA approval of the product in 2002. Hyaluronic acid dermal fillers ranked as the third most popular procedure performed last year. ASERF conducted this follow-up survey to quantify the characteristics and opinions of the patients who receive the treatment to help its members and the public obtain a better understanding of these important modalities.

Survey Methodology

To conduct this survey, ASERF, the charitable, not-for-profit research arm of American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), retained the services of Industry Insights, Inc. an independent research and consulting firm headquartered in Columbus, Ohio.

In March 2009, a two-page questionnaire, designed by ASERF in conjunction with Industry Insights, was distributed to 1,818 ASAPS members to distribute to their BOTOX® Cosmetic and/or hyaluronic acid dermal filler patients. A total of 687 completed and useable forms were received in time for processing and analysis. Based on 687 presumably random responses, this study has a +/- 3.7% margin of error at a 95% level of confidence. A margin of error of +/- 5% is typically accepted as the “standard” in association research, so this study’s +/-3.7% figure indicates a stronger than typical level of statistical integrity.

The survey was sponsored, in part, by a market research grant from Allergan, Inc.

To find additional survey data results, please access the survey results fact sheet (http://www. surgery. org/private/download/ASERFSurveyFactSheet_28May2009.doc) and Executive Report (http://www. surgery. org/private/download/ASERFBotoxSurvey2009-Report-4-23-09.pdf).

ABOUT ASERF
The Aesthetic Surgery Education and Research Foundation (ASERF) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit foundation whose mission is to demonstrate the effectiveness and safety of plastic surgery procedures, devices and techniques through directed research, physician-initiated research and as an independent third party resource for corporations interested in having their products tested through the newly formed ASERF Research Alliance. ASERF is supported exclusively by private donations and research revenues, 100% of which go to its research activities: all non-research administrative expenses are donated by The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery as an expression of its mission of physician and patient education. For more information, visit http://www. aserf. org (http://www. aserf. org) or contact Tom Purcell at 800-362-2147 or tom(at)surgery. org.

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Faction Media Continues to Support the Business Marketing Association as Trustee for 2010

Faction Media Continues to Support the Business Marketing Association as Trustee for 2010

Faction Media behind local Business-to-Business Marketing Community

Denver, CO (PRWEB) February 1, 2010

Faction Media L. L.P. has announced it will continue to support the Business Marketing Association’s Colorado chapter by renewing its Trustee status for 2010. BMA’s focus on serving the Denver Business to Business marketing (http://www. FactionMedia. com) community based on four core principles: Education, Networking, Resources and Professional Recognition. Faction Media continues to be committed to supporting the community in which it serves.

“Faction Media’s long standing association with a quality organization is something we’re very proud of. BMA has been instrumental to the growth of our agency as well as the development of our staff” said Dave Greves Co-Founder and Partner.

Faction Media leadership has been members of the Business Marketing Association (http://www. bmacolorado. org) for the last decade with its members serving on several committees and executive leadership.

“B2B marketing (http://www. FactionMedia. com) presents unique challenges, Faction Media’s goal is to providing B2B clients with ingenious, strategic solutions and innovative executions in the rapidly evolving and complex marketing landscape, through analysis, effective storytelling and analytical performance tracking. The Business Marketing Association has been a continued resource in developing relationships, providing resources and creating an environment to support our objectives” said Aaron Batte Co-Founder and Partner at Faction.

With a roster of corporate members such as Gates Corporation, Sun Microsystems, Teletech, Prologis and tw telecom as well as a host of vendor/supplier companies BMA is a diverse group united by the common goals of improving the quality of B2B marketing.

“Our perspective on marketing is not just about putting a message out there and waiting to see if it resonates. We can measure and analyze campaign data to find out what people are saying and thinking and how they are interacting with what we’re selling”, said Steve Riegel Co-Founder and Partner. “It’s about a conversation, about learning and discovering and growing with your audience. BMA Colorado (http://www. bmacolorado. org) provides us with a cadre of speakers and workshops that educate and empower our employee base” he added.

About Faction Media:
Faction Media (http://www. FactionMedia. com) is a full-service digitally led communications agency that helps clients compete, evolve and grow in an increasingly complex and fragmented marketplace. Faction provides digital strategy, audience insight, creative services, interactive development, search marketing, performance analytics and marketing optimization to Fortune 1000 companies including some of the largest and most innovative businesses in the world.

Faction Media’s Unified Marketing™ approach combines new and evolving interactive tools with traditional channels to identify, build and execute the most effective and successful brand and demand generation campaigns. A commitment to performance accountability, technology, and creative innovation has defined Faction’s place as a leader in business-to-business communications and marketing.
For more information on Faction Media visit factionmedia. com

About the Business Marketing Association:
Started in 1922, today’s Business Marketing Association (BMA) works to increase the importance, impact and value of marketing in businesses worldwide. BMA is the only professional organization with an exclusive focus on business-to-business marketing and its key drivers: Customer engagement and relationships, product and service innovation, value pricing, channels, online/offline marcom, and analytics. BMA’s members represent state-of-the art expertise in business-to-business marketing and communications, and share best practices for the benefit of the global business community.

For more information visit bmacolorado. org.

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IHRIM Workforce Analytics Webcast Scheduled for June 13

IHRIM Workforce Analytics Webcast Scheduled for June 13

Talent measurement solutions are now available to help organizations identify and monitor their critical measures and easily deliver critical talent information to HR practitioners, line managers and even C-suite executives. IHRIM's June 13 webcast will provide ideas, best-practices and the approach required to take the first step in making workforce analytics a reality for any organization.

Burlington, MA (PRWEB) April 30, 2007

"Making Workforce Analytics a Reality in Your Organization: A Roadmap to Success," an IHRIM webcast, will be presented by Joanne Bintliff-Ritchie, chief strategist for DoubleStar, Inc. on Wednesday, June 13 at 11:00 a. m. CST. Your registration fee includes one internet connection, one phone connection and one set of handout materials PLUS unlimited participant attendance at your site. For more information or to register, log on to http://www. ihrim. org/events/Webinars/webinarJune07.asp (http://www. ihrim. org/events/Webinars/webinarJune07.asp).

Experts agree that companies who better manage their workforce have greater long-term business success; and, measuring workforce impact is key to a successful talent management strategy. C-suite executives and boards of directors are demanding that HR lead the effort to establish measures and targets that reflect the impact of workforce performance on business results, allowing them to better understand their ROI in human "capital."

Talent measurement solutions are now available to help organizations identify and monitor their critical measures and easily deliver critical talent information to HR practitioners, line managers and even C-suite executives. This webcast will provide you with ideas, best-practices and the approach you need to take the first step in deploying workforce analytics.

Participants will learn how to:
demonstrate the impact of workforce practices and performance on business results, support decisions relative to workforce strategy, investments and practices, drive HR functional excellence, deliver role-specific measures to executives, HR staff and line managers, and assimilate talent measurement into their organization's overall management framework.

Human resource managers, HRIT practitioners, and HR practitioners will gain the most by attending - and this program has been approved for 1.50 recertification credit hours toward PHR and SPHR recertification through the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI).

The session will include the defining of workforce analytics, establishing goals, the value of early adoption, how to begin with an end in mind, how to leverage your workforce data, choosing tools - dashboards, scorecards and benchmarks, choosing the right platform, and successful deployment including the challenges and change management issues.

Ms. Bintliff-Ritchie has a 25-year career as an HR executive in HR management, technology transformation, organizational effectiveness, change management, team dynamics, staffing, employee relations, and leadership development.

IHRIM has served the professionals of the HR systems and technology community for more than 25 years. Its mission is to be the leading professional association for knowledge, education and solutions supporting human capital management. More information about IHRIM can be found at www. ihrim. org. For information about HRMStrategies 2007, IHRIM's Annual Conference and Technology Expo, please visit www. ihrim. org/events/2007spring/registration (http://www. ihrim. org/events/2007spring/registration).

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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VFA Recognized by CoreNet Global as Corporate Real Estate Innovator

VFA Recognized by CoreNet Global as Corporate Real Estate Innovator

VFA, Inc., the leading provider of solutions for facilities capital planning and asset management, was named a finalist for CoreNet Global's H. Bruce Russell Innovator's Awards, one of the top honors in the corporate real estate industry.

Boston, MA (PRWEB) November 23, 2008

VFA, Inc., the leading provider of solutions for facilities capital planning and asset management, was named a finalist for CoreNet Global's H. Bruce Russell Innovator's Awards, one of the top honors in the corporate real estate industry.

VFA was recognized for working with a global financial institution to create a centralized corporate real estate function and develop a five-year capital plan targeting areas for cost-savings, increased efficiency and scalability to support growth. The organization now has a long-range view of capital planning, enabling a consistent approach to evaluating its facility portfolio across multiple geographies and support for the aggressive growth plans of the core business. VFA was among 10 finalists chosen from more than 70 nominations.

"Corporate real estate teams are taking an increasingly sophisticated approach to their long-term capital planning and strategic asset management initiatives. Successful capital plans enable organizations to reduce both risk and cost, provide facilities that are less expensive to operate, promote a better working environment and better serve the overall organizational goals and objectives," said Jerry Kokos, president and CEO at VFA. "We are pleased to be recognized in elite company by CoreNet Global for this prestigious award."

"We salute the award finalists of this prestigious award for continuing to evolve the workplace," said Prentice Knight, CEO for CoreNet Global.

CoreNet Global is the world's leading professional association for corporate real estate and workplace executives. The H. Bruce Russell Innovator's Awards program, now in its ninth consecutive year, showcases solutions, best practices and innovations in corporate real estate and workplace management. The award was presented at the CoreNet Global Summit in Orlando, Fla., on November 10.

About VFA
Headquartered in Boston, VFA, Inc. is the leading provider of end-to-end solutions for facilities capital planning and asset management. VFA solutions uniquely combine facility assessment services, Web-based software and business consulting services to enable customers to manage every stage of the capital asset lifecycle -- from requirements gathering and long-term planning to capital budget creation and spend management. Over 400 organizations in corporate, education, government and healthcare markets have relied on VFA solutions to strategically manage their capital assets. VFA's flagship software product, VFA. facility®, is currently used to manage more than 2 billion square feet of real estate. For more information, please call 800-693-3132 or visit http://www. vfa. com (http://www. vfa. com).

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The Khanna Institute Supports the Firefighters of Los Angeles City

The Khanna Institute Supports the Firefighters of Los Angeles City

The Khanna Institute gives back to the Fire Department of Los Angeles city and recognizes their efforts in serving our community's daily.

Westlake Village, CA (Vocus) April 27, 2009

The Los Angeles City fire department serves and protects more than 4 million people in Los Angeles, the second largest city in America.

"Last year alone LAFD responded 753,428 times to come to the aid of their neighbors in need. The LAFD's 3,586 uniformed personnel protect life, property and the environment through their direct involvement in fire prevention, firefighting, emergency medical care, technical rescue, hazardous materials mitigation, disaster response, public education and community service."

For a strenuous and physical job on the fire service good vision is a necessity. The Khanna Institute (http://www. khannainstitute. com) has previously donated and supported numerous other organizations and foundations, and is thrilled to add the fire department, to those that they have supported over the years. The Khanna Institute feels passionate towards helping our communities and assisting all individuals in need of vision care. Fire fighters risk their lives everyday to help those in need. The Khanna Institute greatly thanks them for their admirable efforts and diligent dedication and wants to offer them the latest in vision technology. The Khanna Institute wants to support the efforts of Los Angeles city by offering half off all LASIK and PRELEX procedures, to all men and women on the fire service including their families and those that have lost their lives in the line of duty. PRELEX is an advanced vision procedure which replaces the natural lens with a crystal lens HD or presbyopic 3D lens. This restores your sight to youthful age and offers optimum vision in both eyes. LASIK is safe and comfortable procedure which provides for flawless vision without the use of glasses. We greatly respect the Fire Department of Los Angeles city and will continue to support them in their labors of protecting our city everyday.

About Khanna Institute of Lasik Surgery:
The Khanna Institute of Lasik Surgery provides the latest technology in vision correction, tailored to each individual depending on their level of astigmatism, nearsightedness, farsightedness and presbyopia. Dr. Khanna has been selected as the best Lasik surgeon in both Ventura county and Westlake Village by readers of the Ventura County Star. The Khanna Institute of LASIK and Refractive Surgery has multiple offices conveniently located in Valencia, Westlake Village, Costa Mesa, and Corona. Rajesh Khanna, MD is the Medical Director of the Institute. Dr. Khanna is a Board Certified Ophthalmologist, and has been fellowship trained in LASIK, Cataract and Corneal Surgery. He is in the forefront of Wavefront LASIK surgery, Presbyopic Implants such as RESTOR Aspheric Multifocal and Crystalens HD. Dr. Khanna has performed over 10,000 vision correction surgeries. The Khanna Institute provides vision care to people from all over the world.

Http://www. khannainstitute. com (http://www. khannainstitute. com)

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CBE Group Presents at Minnesota Collection Network Conference

CBE Group Presents at Minnesota Collection Network Conference

Session Focuses on Employee Engagement

Waterloo, IA (PRWEB) October 22, 2010

The CBE Group, Inc. (CBE), a leader in the debt collection industry, announced that its Vice President of Organizational Development, Samantha Deines, LMHC, LMSW, NCC, will present at the 2010 Minnesota Collection Network Mega Conference XVIII in Bloomington. Deines will present “Diamonds are Forever – The Latest on Engagement” immediately following the keynote speaker on Monday, October 25.

College and university professionals attending the conference will learn about the personal and professional impacts of employee engagement. Deines will discuss the “Invisible Difference,” as well as four key skills of great management. The session will also introduce participants to specific methods used in identifying the strengths of prospective and current employees.

“An engaged workforce is a difference maker for an organization,” Deines said. “Employees who are connected to their work feel a sense of belonging and purpose and will serve customers and perform at the highest levels day in and day out,” she continued.

Deines has been sharing her unique brand of interactive learning for more than a decade and joined CBE in 2007 to help form its Organizational Development Department. She earned a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Iowa and a Master's degree in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Northern Iowa.

The Minnesota Collection Network Mega Conference XVIII is scheduled for October 24 – October 27, 2010 at the Sheraton Conference Center in Bloomington, MN. The Network was formed in 1988 to increase the level of communication between educational institutions.

CBE will continue to announce additional proactive, corporate debt collection initiatives that support the company’s mission of Defining the future of debt collection™ in the months ahead.

About CBE Group
CBE has been in the accounts receivable management business since 1933 and currently employs nearly 1,000 people in five locations nationwide. Its corporate headquarters is located in Waterloo, Iowa, with additional facilities in West Des Moines, Iowa; Overland Park, Kansas; and Atlanta, Georgia. CBE was named one of the best places to work in the Waterloo/Cedar Falls metropolitan area the last seven years. CBE represents many of the nation’s most renowned and respected organizations. CBE serves a variety of industries including healthcare, utilities, satellite, telecommunications, financial services, education and government.

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Study Island Brings CEO On-Board

Study Island Brings CEO On-Board

Tim McEwen, previously the President and CEO of Harcourt Achieve, has joined Study Island to help the company continue its tremendous success.

Dallas, TX (PRWEB) April 1, 2007

Due to its tremendous growth in recent years and expected high growth over the next several years, Study Island (www. studyisland. com) has added a new CEO position to its ever-growing ranks. Tim McEwen, previously the President and CEO of Harcourt Achieve, has joined Study Island to help the company continue its success.

Tim began his education career as an elementary school teacher in Atlanta, GA and Houston, TX. He holds a Master's degree in Education from University of Georgia and a Bachelor's degree from East Stroudsburg University, PA. His corporate experiences also includes COO of Haights Cross Communications and a number of positions at Thomson Learning including: President and CEO, Higher Education Group; President and CEO, South-Western College Publishing; and SVP, Publisher at Delmar.

"I am delighted to join Study Island." said McEwen. "The founders, Cameron Chalmers and David Muzzo, have built an innovative, fast-growing company with an exceptional team of passionate educational professionals. What impressed me the most about Study Island is that the benchmark assessments, instruction, practice, and test prep products are built from the ground-up for each state based on their unique standards as opposed to aligning or correlating existing content to a state's standards." McEwen went on to say that the customized content and simplicity of the program has resulted in "customer loyalty and rapid growth based on teacher word-of-mouth endorsements."

"Cam, Dave and I believe that Study Island is uniquely positioned to expand its online connected learning solutions to make an even greater contribution to the lives of educators and the students they serve" stated McEwen.

About Study Island

Named in Inc500 as one of the top small businesses of 2006, Study Island is used by over 3.5 million elementary and secondary students in over 8,500 schools. Founded in 2000, Study Island provides K-12 schools with the most practical and effective web-based learning programs available. All of the products are built from state standards. Currently, the company's reach is in 24 states and has plans for continued expansion in 2007.

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"Happy Birthday NHS" - And So Say All Of Us!

"Happy Birthday NHS" - And So Say All Of Us!

Tuesday 5th July marks 57th anniversary of the introduction of the National Health Service in the UK.

(PRWEB) July 1, 2005

Tuesday 5th July marks the 57th anniversary of the introduction of the NHS. NHS Careers is taking this opportunity to celebrate the often pioneering, and always dedicated, work of NHS staff over the course of over half a century.

It's hard to believe that free access to healthcare came about so recently. The arrival of the NHS made a huge difference to people's lives at a difficult time in the history of the UK - post-war Britain was still experiencing food rationing and there were enormous differences in the healthcare available to different sectors of the population, among a plethora of other economic problems.

In its fifty-seven year history, the NHS has undergone dramatic change. The modernisation of the NHS has been rapid, and our expectations of healthcare delivery are high. The NHS now employs around 1.3 million people in England, taking care of patients, clients and their families and careers in hospitals and out in the community.

As Steve Barnett, Director of NHS Employers, explains, "Tuesday 5th July is, more than anything, a celebration of one of the most varied and multi-talented teams of people in the world.

"While a healthy NHS relies on many factors, the greatest benefit to patient care comes from those who work within the NHS - doctors, nurses, midwives, the healthcare scientists and therapists, those who look after the maintenance of the buildings, the administrative staff, those involved in research, and the people who are involved in the technology are essential to the running of such an organisation. The NHS Careers response line (0845 60 60 655) and website is busier than ever and recently received its one millionth contact.

"As a result, recruitment and retention of staff are key priorities for the NHS - locally and nationally. Today, the NHS is a modern employer offering important benefits such as flexible and family-friendly working practices, childcare facilities, housing initiatives, the NHS Pension, as well as on-going life long learning for staff. "

A recent poll of graduates by totaljobs. com to find the top ten most popular graduate employers, put the NHS as the third most popular, while the NHS is the largest employer in Europe and the third largest employer in the world. Recruitment initiatives are clearly paying dividends!

So Tuesday 5th July is a great opportunity for everyone to thank all the1.3 million people who work within the NHS, and to celebrate the contributions made by NHS employees past and present to the healthcare we all now have access to.

INTERVIEWS

Steve Barnett, Director of NHS Employers

Alan Simmons, Senior Careers Advisor, NHS Careers

Bobbie Lawrence, Frieda Bonner, or Tina and Claire Thompson (see case studies below)

A member of staff from your local NHS. For example: long service, recently appointed/qualified, or currently training/apprentice/cadet

FOR FURTHER MEDIA INFORMATION, CALL THE NHS CAREERS PRESS OFFICE ON 01386 700 068 OR EMAIL mac. amanda@virgin. net

Example case studies:

Bobbie Lawrence, Manager, Telecommunications, Guys and St Thomas's NHS Trust, London

""I have been here for 23 years which is a long time and I have done most of the jobs - days, nights, major incidents and so on.

"I left school at 15 and was desperate to be a telephonist. I started work here when I was 17 and was thrilled to be offered the job. I thought they employed me because of my communication skills but found out after starting that I was chosen because I lived across the road!

"I left after a year to get married and have children but came back in 1983 when I had two young children - I was working as a night telephonist, which suited me well but I went back to days when they got older.

"In 1992 I took over as manager and a year later St Thomas' merged with Guy's to become one trust. Combining the two switchboard systems of two large hospitals was complicated and became a bit of a nightmare but we managed it and the system now is extremely efficient.

"Before we became one trust we had a microphone tannoy system so we could make announcements and contact individual doctors but technology has moved on so quickly. The whole Trust has also got a lot bigger. When I started we only had 4 telephonists and no computers but we now have 25 and an extremely high-tech computerised switchboard.

"The whole telecommunications department is also much busier now. We do a lot more and we are not just a call centre but a recruitment centre too. In 1987 we had 800 extensions but now we have 8,500!

"We do get some odd calls particularly at night - there are a lot of lonely people out there who just want to ring for a chat.

"One of my busiest days was the day of the hurricane in 1987 when only two of us managed to get in. We were bombarded by staff and patients trying to get through to tell us that they couldn't' get to work or appointments. It was chaos all morning but we coped.

"The NHS is a fantastic employer and helps people progress. There are a lot of other employers where I would not have been able to become a senior manager because I didn't go to university."

Mother and daughter, Tina (43) and Claire (18) Thompson

Sunderland Teaching Primary Care Trust

Tina started working for Sunderland Teaching Primary Care Trust in 1989 as an auxiliary nurse in the community. She then moved to the NHS Hospice. Then offered chance to be seconded to do nurse training while Trust continue to pay wages. She's doing a three year course on a new scheme - the Accreditation of Work Based Learning where the Trust and the University work together. She did her first year of training at the Hospice while studying part time, and is now full time at Northumbria University for the next two years. She has a contract with the Trust to return to work for them for two years after she qualifies. She found the first year hard work - full time auxiliary, part time student, mother and housewife! Very excited about the opportunities and she's guaranteed a job at the end.

Claire left school with GCSEs, but without sufficient grades to study for nursing, so she applied to be a Nurse Cadet. She has a five year contract with the Trust - 2 years working for the Trust, then 2 years at university, then one year as a qualified nurse at the Trust. She will also study at Northumbria University.

Tina says it's a fight for the computer at home as her son is also studying to be a civil engineer. She's delighted that both her children will have good careers, and is really excited to be furthering her own career at this stage in her life.

Frieda Bonner, Call Centre Operator, Guys' and St Thomas's NHS Trust, London

In the 1970's, the switchboard was situated in the East Wing Basement, just along from the mortuary. There was a ghost, 'the Grey Lady', that at least one of the ladies had seen walking along the corridor.

The Pater Nosta lift with no doors just went constantly up and over and back down the other side, which we always meant to try, but never did in case we got squashed at the top!

At that time, we had no computers so all our information was kept in small flip files on each switchboard that we updated ourselves. For emergencies or crash calls, we had a large free-standing chrome microphone with a red button to put out the calls to emergency staff.

The Thames Barrier had not been built at that time and one Spring, the Thames was expected to flood. We asked the Duty Officer what we should do as we were in the basement. He said, "Bring your Wellington boots with you and stay at the switchboard. Don't leave your posts"!

NOTES TO MEDIA

NHS CAREERS

Website and phone service: NHS Careers was launched in 1999 to provide information to people of all ages and qualifications looking for a career in the health service. It is also a useful resource for education providers at all levels. NHS Careers recently received its one millionth contact (not including user sessions and hits to the website)!

Workforce figures

To meet today's demands on the NHS, the number of NHS hospital staff has increased dramatically. In 1951 there were 15,000 NHS hospital doctors; by 2000 this figure had grown to 73,000. The number of NHS hospital nurses has more than doubled from 189,000 in 1951 to 432,000 in 2000, and the number of paramedics and technical hospital staff has grown from 14,000 to a 137,000 in the same period. In general practice the changes have been less dramatic, but the number of GPs increased by 2/3rds between 1951 and 2001, and the population per GP declined from 2,500 to 1,700.

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