Thursday, January 31, 2008

Virtual Ad Agency Tapped to Help Brand the Gulf Coast Regional Center of Innovation and Commercialization for $200M Texas Fund

Virtual Ad Agency Tapped to Help Brand the Gulf Coast Regional Center of Innovation and Commercialization for $200M Texas Fund

Dax Marketing + Creative, a virtual creative agency based in Houston, Texas, has been asked to help brand the Gulf Coast Regional Center of Commercialization and Innovation (GCRCIC) for the Texas Emerging Technology Fund.

D (PRWEB) December 21, 2005

Dax Marketing + Creative, a virtual creative agency based in Houston, Texas, has been asked to help brand the Gulf Coast Regional Center of Commercialization and Innovation (GCRCIC) for the Texas Emerging Technology Fund.

In June 2005, Governor Rick Perry signed House Bill 1765, creating a $200 million Texas Emerging Technology Fund (TETF). The goals of this new fund are to expedite innovation and commercialization of research, attract, create or expand private sector entities that will promote a substantial increase in high-quality jobs, and increase higher education applied research capabilities.

A portion of the fund ($100M) has been set a side as incentives for commercialization for Regional Centers of Innovation and Commercialization (RCICs). Eight RCICs have been assigned by the State, with each being responsible for receiving applications from individuals and companies, researching each application, submitting recommendations to the Emerging Technology Fund Advisory Committee, assisting with commercialization of the funded technologies, and providing private support to the companies and workforce.

DM+C will be responsible for creating the GCRCIC logo and trade dress, designing the look and feel of its web site, and providing ongoing creative services as needed. "Our high-creativity, low-overhead business model makes projects like this really appeal to us," says agency Principal, Duane "Dax" Alexander. "We were able to deliver 10 logo and 4 web site designs in less than 3 days using our network of over 30 professional freelance designers. Additionally, our web application routes artwork and feedback between clients and designers in real-time, so there’s no waiting on phone calls, or trying to track down an account executive."

The Houston Technology Center (HTC), in collaboration with the Greater Houston Partnership, and Economic Development Organizations throughout its 32-county region, will administer the Gulf Coast RCIC. The counties in the GCRCICs region are Angelina, Austin, Brazoria, Brazos, Burleson, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Galveston, Grimes, Hardin, Harris, Houston, Jasper, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Matagorda, Montgomery, Nacogdoches, Newton, Orange, Polk, Robertson, San Jacinto, Trinity, Tyler, Walker, Waller, Washington, and Wharton.

To contact Dax Marketing + Creative

Dax Marketing + Creative

5380 W. 34th St., Suite 354

Houston, TX 77092

Toll Free 1-866-435-4DAX

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

To contact the Gulf Coast Regional Center of Commercialization and Innovation

Bob Prochnow

GCRCIC Coordinator

Houston Technology Center

410 Pierce St.

Houston, TX 77002

Phone: (713) 658-1750

Http://www. gulfcoastrcic. org (http://www. gulfcoastrcic. org)
Www. houstontech. org

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MortgageRefinance. com is Nation's Fastest Growing Mortgage and Financial News Portal

MortgageRefinance. com is Nation's Fastest Growing Mortgage and Financial News Portal

MortgageRefinance. com just added newest sections for intelligent Credit Card Search and Comparing Certificates of Deposit Rates and Money Market Account Rates.

Los Angeles, CA (Vocus) September 22, 2010

Due to the mortgage rates (http://www. MortgageRefinance. com/Mortgage-Basics/Mortgage-Rates/128) dropping to record low levels and the need to find quality information and guidance in the constantly changing mortgage industry, MortgageRefinance. com has experienced a recent surge in the number of visitors to its website. These developments have resulted in homeowners rushing to mortgage refinance (http://www. MortgageRefinance. com).

MortgageRefinance. com is a professional website dedicated to providing information about the mortgage and financial industry and helping consumers make the best possible choices in regards to wealth building. The site is maintained by financial professionals with decades of experience in the mortgage industry. MortgageRefinance. com can be used as a guide for protecting assets with insurance, reducing debts, improving credit score, and managing home equity. The site’s contributors are constantly adding fresh tips, advice and techniques to help individuals make the most of their home’s equity and strengthen their financial position. 

The following are some of the topics covered in MortgageRefinance. com.

Credit Cards
MortgageRefinance. com helps consumers find the most suitable credit card to fit their needs. The website has professionally written credit card articles that explain the benefits and terms of various cards. These include zero percent credit cards (http://www. mortgagerefinance. com/Credit-Cards/All/Zero-Percent-Credit-Cards), balance transfer credit cards, business credit cards, low interest credit cards, rewards credit cards, secured credit cards, cash back credit cards and student credit cards.

Credit Report and Credit Score
Monitoring one’s credit report is an important part of financial planning, especially when it comes to obtaining a mortgage or applying for a loan in the near future. A credit report (http://www. mortgagerefinance. com/Mortgage-Basics/Credit-Scores-and-Reports/42) is contains the record of an individual’s borrowing history that creditors, lenders and banks use to determine the possibility that a loan will be repaid on time. The credit report also has information that employers and insurance companies sometimes use to confirm authenticate personal information and establish how responsible an individual is. MortgageRefinance. com explains how individuals can rebuild credit, as well as improve their credit score.

Debt Relief
Debt is a common problem which seems to be getting worse everyday. The solution for debt is usually referred to as debt relief (http://www. mortgagerefinance. com/Debt-Relief/Debt-Relief-Programs-and-Benefits/166). This is where a lender offers the borrower some relief in paying off money owed to them. The objective of debt relief programs is to reduce the amount of debt owed to the lender. MortgageRefinance. com discusses the most common debt relief programs, as well as their benefits.

FHA loans
MortgageRefinance. com explains how FHA loans (http://www. mortgagerefinance. com/Mortgage-Basics/FHA-Loans/117) can help individuals purchase a home, make home repairs, remodel a home and make energy-efficient improvements. FHA loans are guaranteed loans by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), meaning that lenders offer consumers reduced, more affordable rates. Even for first time home buyers or those with a less than perfect credit score, an FHA loan can save money on the purchase of a home.

Home Equity Loans
A home equity loan (http://www. mortgagerefinance. com/Mortgage-Basics/Home-Equity-Loans/47) enables consumers to borrow depending on the equity accrued in their home. These loans are a popular choice for financing major purchases like college education, home improvements, or other real estate purchases. MortgageRefinance. com explains in detail how home equity loans work.

Debt Consolidation
For those who have high credit card bills and are in debt, many credit counselors recommend debt consolidation (http://www. mortgagerefinance. com/Mortgage-Basics/Debt-Consolidation/98). Consolidating debt by refinancing a home and using the cash to pay off credit card and other bills is a prudent way of lowering debt payments and saving money. MortgageRefinance. com shows how much one can save by consolidating debt with a refinance.

Student Loans
Higher education is an investment in the future. It is therefore important to be adequately informed before choosing a student loan. MortgageRefinance. com has detailed articles about student loans such as Perkins loans, Stafford loans, private student loans and PLUS loans. The site also offers advice on student loan refinancing, as well as student consolidation loans.

Veteran’s Affair Loan
Over 29 million service personnel and veterans are eligible to get benefits, including VA Loans. Veterans can receive advice on VA refinances and VA loans from MortgageRefinance. com. The site answers a wide range of questions, such as questions about interest rates and the decision to refinance.

Reverse Mortgages
Homeowners who are either retired or are contemplating retirement may wish to boost their monthly income. Senior citizens living on a fixed income might be concerned that that their social security income and retirement savings may not be sufficient to keep up with the inflation rate. In such cases, one’s home may be their biggest investment. MortgageRefinance. com explains how the home can be used to generate income after retirement by taking a reverse mortgage on the home.

Mortgage Rate Calculators
A house is the biggest purchase many people will ever make so it’s crucial that one calculates what the payment will be and how much they can afford. MortgageRefinance. com offers a wide range of mortgage calculators which function in different ways. The mortgage calculator shows how much the monthly payment will be. In addition, it can show the consequence of adding extra payment. The decision about refinancing a mortgage is all about numbers shown in refinance calculator (http://www. mortgagerefinance. com/Mortgage-Calculators/Refinance-Payment-Calculator). Whether one wants to shorten the duration of a mortgage or lower monthly payment, refinancing makes sense when the costs of the loan can be reduced. The refinance calculator guides borrowers in making their decision. Other calculators available on the site include comparison calculator, loan repayment calculator, home equity calculator, loan consolidation calculator, HELOC calculator, adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) calculator, and mortgage affordability calculator.

Mortgage Refinancing
Many people are seeking to lower their monthly mortgage payments, access some equity in their home or pay off outstanding debt. A solution for these would be to refinance the current mortgage. Mortgage Refinancing (http://www. mortgagerefinance. com), which means paying off a current mortgage and taking a new one, also enables borrowers to capitalize on the current flexible mortgage options or change from an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) to a fixed-rate loan. MortgageRefinance. com explains how mortgage refinancing works and its potential benefits.

Home Buying Advice
There is more to purchasing a home than the mortgage loan. It is a fact that financing is a large part of it. However, there is also the house hunting process, the negotiations, the offer, the inspection, and the closing process. MortgageRefinance. com offers plenty of information on these home buying (http://www. mortgagerefinance. com/Mortgage-Basics/Buying-a-Home/1) topics.

When purchasing a home, a buyer would want to qualify for the most favorable rates that a lender has to offer. To achieve this, one will most likely need a credit score of 750 or more. The credit score requirement varies from one lender to another. The buyer will also need a good debt-to-income ratio. If one is carrying too much debt compared to monthly income, they may not be eligible for the lowest mortgage rates.

Mutual Funds
Over the past few years, many investors have increasingly looked to mutual funds in order to save for retirement, among other financial goals. Mutual funds offer the advantage of professional management and retirement. However, just like other investment alternatives, investing in mutual funds has some risks. It is important to understand both the advantages and disadvantages of mutual fund investments and how to select products that match one’s tolerance for risk and goals. MortgageRefinance. com explains the basics about mutual funds investing; how mutual funds work, how to avoid common pitfalls, and factors to consider before investing.

Cash-in Refinancing
Cash-in refinancing means putting money into a transaction by paying off the balance, as compared to cash-out refinance where cash is taken out by raising the balance. Cash-in refinance is currently a hot topic since it enables mortgage borrowers to reap a very favorable rate of return on money invested. This is at a time when returns available from other low risk investments such as CDs, money market funds and government securities are at their lowest since the 1930s. MortgageRefinance. com explains how cash-in refinancing works and the benefits it offers to investors.

Certificates of Deposit (CDs) and Money Market Accounts
CDs are debt instruments issued to investors by banks and other financial institutions and are the newest addition to MortgageRefinance. com. Maturities on Certificates of Deposit (http://www. mortgagerefinance. com/Certificates-Of-Deposit) can range from a few weeks to several years, with the interest rate being earned by the investor rising in proportion to the period his capital is held in the investment. A money market account (http://www. mortgagerefinance. com/Money-Market-Accounts) is a kind of savings account offered by credit unions and banks just like ordinary savings accounts. However, they are different in that, they have higher minimum balance requirements, pay higher interest and only allow limited withdrawals per month. MortgageRefinance. com discusses CD Rates (http://www. mortgagerefinance. com/Certificates-Of-Deposit) and money market accounts in detail and outlines what factors investors should consider when choosing between the two.

Mortgage Brokers and Lenders Directory
For first-time home buyers as well as seasoned veterans, finding the right mortgage is usually time consuming and stressful. Many people spend a lot of time searching for a home, but neglect to take time researching options for a home loan. Finding an ideal home loan is just as vital as finding the ideal home because establishing the home loan that is best can save one a whole lot of money. MortgageRefinance. com has a comprehensive directory of mortgage brokers and lenders (http://www. mortgagerefinance. com/Mortgage-Brokers/Mortgage-Lenders/55) who offer loans to fit most credit profiles, lifestyles and budgets.

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MDWholesale. com Gives Tips on Why Rear Facing Child Safety Seats are Safest

MDWholesale. com Gives Tips on Why Rear Facing Child Safety Seats are Safest

As concerns revert back to education and preparing children for back to school this week, the focus must not be lost on the safety of children, especially the smaller infants and toddlers. David Maillie, CEO of MDWholesale. com, wants to educate consumers and further increase driving safety with this added look into the rear facing child safety seat.

Charlotte, NC (PRWEB) August 22, 2006

A very established automotive safety website, MDWholesale. com, as a part of a long standing effort to further educate the consumer and increase driving safety wants to educate consumers on the importance of using rear facing child safety seats, why they are safest, and how they reduce the risk of an accident or its severity.

What is the safest, a forward or rear facing child safety seat? Everyone has a different answer on this and many states have different laws governing the age, weight or size of the child or infant in question. By looking at and interpreting car accident reports and data it is an obvious finding that the severity of accidents were reportedly lower when a rear facing child safety seat was used properly.

Even though any child safety seat is better than none, a rear facing seat is especially important for babies and toddlers as they can face the highest risks of serious injury and death. Babies and small children are at a much higher risk for more severe spinal cord, neck and brain injuries as their heads are larger in proportion to the rest of their body and they have weaker and developing neck muscles. This greatly increases the severity of most car accident injuries for small children. According to the National Institute for Highway Safety, “Rear-facing car seats spread frontal crash forces over the whole area of the baby’s back, head and neck; they also prevent the head from snapping relative to the body in a frontal crash.”

So, it is obvious that we should use a rear facing child safety seat for as long as feasible and as required by our state and federal driving laws. It is important to note that regardless of the child safety seat used, not all injuries can be prevented. Still, we can do much to increase our chances of survival for our children by properly installing the child safety seats and using a rear facing child safety seat for as long as possible. It is a good idea to stop by your local fire department and have them look at your child safety seats. They are trained to know exactly what is and is not safe in these safety seats and it is free. Besides, kids love firemen and the firemen love kids, they will have fun and you will feel better about their safety.

In addition to these tips, MDWholesale. com provides a great source of information on a variety of topics all dealing with driving safety and saving money on your car. There are multiple articles on everything from night and winter driving tips to headlight glare, restoration and cleaning. www. mdwholesale. com.

About MDWholesale. com

MDWholesale. com strives to offer only the very best in automotive safety information, tips and products. “Bottom line, our tips and products will make you and those around you safer, and if we can just save one life or prevent one unnecessary accident it will have all been worth it,” states David Maillie. For more information please visit http://www. mdwholesale. com (http://www. mdwholesale. com).

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Wednesday, January 30, 2008

QA Graphics Develops Energy Efficiency Education Dashboard Module for Niagara AX

QA Graphics Develops Energy Efficiency Education Dashboard Module for Niagara AX

QA Graphics has developed a module for their Energy Efficiency Education Dashboard that is compatible with Niagara AX. The new module reduces costs and simplifies the process of integrating the application with the AX platform.

Ankeny, IA (Vocus) June 9, 2010

QA Graphics, an industry leader in providing energy education dashboards and interactive displays for sustainable buildings has developed a module for their Energy Efficiency Education Dashboard solution that is compatible with the Tridium Niagara AX platform.

The Energy Efficiency Education Dashboard is an interactive solution used to provide education about the importance of a building’s efficiencies and sustainable features. The educational display can show a building’s resource use in real-time, providing a series of screens with live and historical building data, such as electric use or water use. The data is presented in an easy to understand format for building occupants and the public. Any building data pulled from the control system can be displayed on graphs for a daily, weekly, monthly or yearly time period. Showing a building’s resource use is important; it allows viewers to see if the building is performing as it should be and motivates them to be more aware of their resource use. The solution also helps facility managers and building owners manage their building’s resource use, as the data is readily accessible and the metrics are easier to understand.

Typically, to display a building's real-time data, the Energy Efficiency Education Dashboard requires certain hardware components to integrate the application with a building’s control system. With QA Graphics’ development of the new EEED Module for Niagara AX, users of the Niagara AX platform can purchase the Energy Efficiency Education Dashboard at a significantly lower price, because the module allows customers to utilize the control system’s existing hardware. The module also simplifies the process and reduces the set-up time needed to integrate the application with the AX platform.

In addition to displaying a building’s performance data, the Energy Efficiency Education Dashboard is also used to educate building occupants and the public about the building’s sustainable practices. A variety of educational information can be displayed, like calculators that compute the resources saved, educational demos that show how a solar hot water panel system collects solar energy to provide a facility with hot water, and environmental tips that everyone can follow to help sustain the environment. Interactive features like quizzes, games and LEED checklists make the display fun and encourage viewers to learn more. Energy education dashboards are increasingly being used by schools, universities, libraries, retail facilities, hotels, restaurants, and governmental buildings, and when combined with supporting educational efforts, may help achieve the U. S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Innovation in Design LEED credit.

The Energy Efficiency Education Dashboard can be displayed on the internet, intranet, and/or hardware devices located throughout the building, such as touch screens or kiosks. The application is also editable, giving the end-user the ability to change much of the content and images as the sustainable initiatives evolve. To learn more, visit http://www. qagraphics. com/energy-efficiency-education-dashboard. html or contact QA Graphics at 515.965.3403.

The Energy Efficiency Education Dashboard Module for Niagara AX is the second module compatible with the Niagara AX system that QA Graphics has recently released to help simplify the use of their products with the AX platform. QA Graphics has also developed a BAS Image Module which users can rely on to build better graphics within their BAS software. The BAS Image Module is offered in conjunction with QA Graphics’ 3D Symbol Library, which provides both static and pre-built animated images that are more realistic than provided by default with the Niagara AX platform. The library and module function smoothly within Niagara AX, allowing the user to build graphics, pull in the pre-built animations, and bind the points and animations. The module can be opened though Niagara AX’s palette sidebar, where the user can drag and drop the symbols onto their canvas, making the process of assembling high-end graphics simpler and faster.

About QA Graphics
QA Graphics is an innovative computer graphic development company specializing in the building automation and green building industries. The company is an industry leader in the design of graphical user interfaces (GUI) and energy education dashboards used to showcase a building’s performance and sustainable initiatives. The company also provides a variety of design services including graphic outsourcing, 3D design/animation, drafting, interactive content and website development. Visit http://www. qagraphics. com to learn more.

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Penguin Relion Servers Support Latest Intel CPU Technology

Penguin Relion Servers Support Latest Intel CPU Technology

New Penguin Relion servers deliver high performance and efficiency for HPC and the enterprise.

Reno, Nevada (PRWEB) November 13, 2007

Penguin Computing, an Intel Premier Partner, today announced support for the Dual Core Intel® Xeon® Processor 5200 (Wolfdale) series and Quad-Core Intel® Xeon® Processor 5400 (Harpertown) series in its Linux-based Penguin Relion servers. The new Penguin Relion models, which deliver significantly enhanced performance and efficiency, will be available for delivery in December 2007.

Penguin made this announcement today at the Supercomputing 07 conference (SC'07), where they will be exhibiting at booth #3252.

Penguin Relionservers are designed primarily for high performance computing (HPC) and enterprise customers. The new Relion model lineup based on Dual-Core Intel Xeon Processor 5200 series and Quad-Core Intel Xeon Processor 5400 series and Intel core logic chipset includes high density one-rack unit (Relion 1650) and highly expandable two-rack unit models (Relion 2650).

The Penguin Relion 1650 and 2650 servers provide management and serviceability features to support large HPC clusters and mission critical enterprise applications. Penguin Relion and all other Penguin Computing servers support free and commercial versions of the Linux operating system.

The Dual-Core Intel Xeon Processor 5200 series and Quad-Core Intel Xeon Processor 5400 series are the first x86 architecture quad core processors utilizing the latest 45 nanometer semiconductor technology. Intel's pioneering process technology enables processor execution engines to operate at higher clock frequency. Combined with Intel core logic chipsets new processors provide also higher I/O bandwidth.

"At Penguin Computing our goal is to always bring the very latest technology to our HPC and enterprise customers. Penguin customers typically need all computational capacity available, and latest Dual-Core Intel Xeon Processor 5200 series and Quad-Core Intel Xeon Processor 5400 series deliver substantially more performance than other Intel/Linux platforms previously available," said Charles Wuischpard, president of Field Operations at Penguin Computing.

Note to editors: Please see related news from Penguin Computing announced today titled "Penguin Computing Updates Altus Product Line with Latest AMD Quad Core Processor Technology" and "Penguin Computing's Scyld ClusterWare Receives Intel Cluster Ready Certification."

About Penguin Computing

Penguin Computing is a privately held firm headquartered in San Francisco, California. Penguin Computing has been specializing on Linux since 1998, delivering a powerful combination of Linux software, systems and services. In 2003 Penguin Computing acquired Scyld Software, developer of the industry leading HPC Linux clustering software Scyld Beowulf. Focused on the high performance computing, enterprise consolidation and web hosting markets, the company has an extensive customer base including Fortune 100 companies, government agencies and educational institutions. For more information about Penguin Computing and Penguin products, please go to http://www. penguincomputing. com.

Penguin Computing is a registered trademark and Altus is a trademark of Penguin Computing, Inc. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. Intel and Xeon are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries. Other names are for informational purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners.

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Content Management Professionals Featured in 2005 Prestigious EContent 100 List

Content Management Professionals Featured in 2005 Prestigious EContent 100 List

EContent Magazine (www. econtentmag. com) has selected Content Management Professionals (CM Pros), the international content management community of practice, for inclusion in the EContent 100, the list of the 100 organizations that matter most in the digital content industry.

Silver Spring, MD (PRWEB) November 28, 2005

EContent Magazine (www. econtentmag. com) has selected Content Management Professionals (CM Pros), the international content management community of practice, for inclusion in the EContent 100, the list of the 100 organizations that matter most in the digital content industry.

“Making the EContent 100 is quite an honor,” said Ann Rockley, president of CM Pros and president of The Rockley Group (www. rockley. com). “CM Pros’ inclusion in the EContent 100 reinforces that content management is not only a technology but a multi-dimensional discipline. This recognition underscores the value that we content management professionals contribute to successful content management projects.”

“This achievement is impressive, especially for an organization that is just over one year old,” said Seth Gottlieb, treasurer of CM Pros and Director of the Content Management practice at Optaros (www. optaros. com). “But then – currently over 600 members strong – we’ve experienced greater than 400% growth in our first year, and that’s proof enough of CM Pros’ relevance to the industry.”

Opening today in Boston, the Fall 2005 CM Pros Summit – an exclusive members-only event co-located with the well-respected Gilbane Conference on Content Management Technologies – will offer more than seven intensive sessions on content personalization and customization.

“Through its well-rounded conference programs and scope of work, the success of CM Pros – including being featured in the EContent 100 – testifies to the increasing significance of this organization,” said Frank Gilbane, director of CM Pros and publisher of The Gilbane Report (www. gilbane. com), a newsletter reporting on content management technologies.

About CM Professionals

Founded in 2004, CM Pros—which has grown from a founding group of 30 content management experts to more than 600 members—provides information, expertise and support to content management professionals and the organizations they serve. Through peer-to-peer interchange, the collaborative development of best practices, a series of educational events and definitive knowledge resources such as a content management glossary and resource library, the organization fosters a better public understanding of this critically important discipline.

Join CM Pros on the Web at www. cmprofessionals. org.

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Over 12,000,000 A. C.T. energy drinks served in the first 20 months

Over 12,000,000 A. C.T. energy drinks served in the first 20 months.

ACT Energy Drink - The Healthy $1 Energy Drink that Works Faster, Lasts Longer & Costs LESS.

Canton, MI (PRWEB) November 15, 2006

Superdrinkact. com
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A. C.T. was designed by our chemists in our laboratories to work at the cellular level. That means it works fast! A. C.T.'s unique blend is a result of nine months of research ∓ development in our laboratories.

And it's formulated to last long, too. The effects of A. C.T. typically last from three to five hours, and it's gentle when it wears off with no excessive fatigue or crashing. A. C.T. is packaged in individual, single-serving drink pouches, and 30 day drink canisters. Just mix with water or fruit juice and enjoy!

A. C.T. uses natural ingredients to deliver energy, and helps your cells perform at their very best. A. C.T. contains no caffeine anhydrous and only 22 calories, 5 net carbs and 4 grams of sweetener (natural Stevia) per serving. With A. C.T., you won't have that jittery buzz! You'll feel great and ready to take on the world.

A. C.T. targets metabolic pathways to create optimal balance and performance at the cellular level. Every cell in your body depends on energy to perform the function of that cell. Most people eat foods high in calories and low in nutrients, the very nutrients that your cells need to perform their functions.
Get Healthy, Get in the ACT

Why Drink Advanced Cell Therapy(ACT)

A. C.T. is a doctor-developed, scientific breakthrough. This is no
Ordinary product.

A. C.T. is a different kind of energy drink that is healthy, acts faster, lasts longer than most energy products. With A. C.T. you FEEL THE DIFFERENCE! Enjoy the energy and the health!
Energy ingredients selected by a top scientific team and synergistically  combined to produce outstanding results like no other beverage.

BLOCKBUSTER formula that is stronger, works better, acts faster, and cost 25% to 50% less than leading competitors.

Reputable $400 million manufacturing company that created over 2,000  products for major brands in the last 13 years.

Healthy Energy You Feel In 10 Minutes.
Lasts 6 to 8 Hours.
No Jitters.
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Mental Focus and Alertness
Mood Control
Appetite Control
Immune Efficiency
No "Bad For You" Ingredients.
Healthy ingredients with Substantial Medical Studies
Better and Healthier Results For ½ The Price of Most Energy Products Like Red Bull and Others.
Safe for the entire Family, kids too!!

Advanced Cell Therapy Product Ingridients

Research indicates that most of the ingredients in A. C.T. have substantial medical studies from dozens of Universities from all over the world. Some are even from Harvard, Stanford and the Dr. Linus Pauling Institute (Nobel Laureate).
There are hundreds of pages on the Web that cover much information on these ingredients. To save you time, we provide a summary of the ingredients and shed light on their functions and benefits as there are described by mainstream research.
NOTE:No medical claims can be made that A. C.T. itself can diagnose cure, treat or prevent any disease. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. The following is for information and education purposes only and is not meant to give medical advice or to substitute the advice of a medical professional.

Amino Acids
L - Carnitine - Helps convert fatty acids into energy for muscular activities throughout the body. This amino acid is long recognized as crucial to heart health. Carnitine deficiencies are linked to high triglycerides and cholesterol, weakening of the heart muscle, overall weakness, chronic fatigue, muscle pain, confusion anemia, diabetes, and male infertility.
L - Arginine - One of most studied nutrients by medical science.

Precursor of Nitric Oxide, which importance was validated by the 1998 Nobel Price awarded to a group of doctors from Harvard University. This substance controls a limitless range of functions in the body. Each revelation adds to Nitric Oxide's already lengthy resume in controlling the circulation of the blood, restoring vascular function, arterial elasticity and regulating activities of the brain, lungs, liver, kidneys, stomach, gut, genitals and other organs.

Growth Hormone (HGH) precursor - This is one of the most important anti-aging hormones in our body. It is known to increase muscular metabolism, energy, health and repair. It helps in reducing body fat. Beneficial in energy production, immune function, sexual function, increases insulin sensitivity, improves metabolism and overall anti-aging functions.

Taurine - It's best known for empowering bile acids to clear cholesterol from the body and fight cellular troublemakers that can damage the heart. Taurine also produces a neurotransmitter responsible for brain energy, alertness, happy feeling, fighting depression and insomnia. It is also involved in releasing beneficial immune substances and improve fat metabolism.

Tyrosine - It is needed to make neurotransmitters like epinephrine, norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine, all of which work to regulate mood. Deficiencies in tyrosine, therefore, have been associated with depression. Tyrosine also aids in the function of organs in the body responsible for making and regulating hormones, including the adrenal, thryroid, and pituitary glands.
Vitamins
Vitamin C - Championed by Nobel laureate Linus Pauling, Ph. D., vitamin C is indeed a fascinating and important nutrient necessary for human life. Vitamin C is highly effective antioxidant and is also required for the productio of collagen. Vitamin C also plays an important role in the production of the neurotransmitter, norepinephrine, which is critical to brain function and known to affect mood.

B Vitamins - They are responsible for providing energy to the body during the conversion of glucose, from carbohydrates. They are also critically required for the metabolism of both fats and proteins, as well as the health and maintenance of the body's nervous system.
B3 - Required for the synthesis of sex hormones, as well as being vital to the nervous system. It also aids circulation, helps in reducing toxins and serum cholesterol. Because niacin dilates the blood vessels, many people taking this vitamin may feel heat sensation commonly occurring in the area of the face.
B6 - Required by many amino acids for their metabolism, also involved in the metabolism of fats and aids in the production of hydrochloric acid. This vitamin must be present for the production of both red blood cells, and also antibodies. It plays an important role in the body's immune system.
B12 - It is essential for the correct functioning of all cells, especially bone marrow and nervous tissue, it is also required for red blood cell formation. It is necessary for normal digestion, absorption of foods, fat metabolism and the conversion of proteins and carbohydrate into energy.
Herbs
Green Tea - Powerful antioxidant and immune system booster. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), an antioxidant found in green tea, is at least 100 more times more effective than vitamin C and 25 times more effective than vitamin E at protecting cells and DNA from free radical damage linked to many diseases. This antioxidant has twice the benefits of Resveratrol found in red wine. Green tea also boosts the immune system because of its high concentrations of polyphenols and flavenoids.

Panax Ginseng - Ginseng is a medicinal herb used primarily for increased stamina and for boosting the immune system. It is used to help relieve fatigue, declining capacity to work and concentration. It has also been considered very helpful as a supplement supporting anti - inflammation, anti - diabetes, and anti-depressant.

Guarana Seed - Guarana seed grows in the Amazons and contains Guaranine (methylxanthine - similar to caffeine) - Unlike caffeine is not water soluble and releases slowly over many hours to provide a prolonged feeling of energy and alertness.

Maca Root - It grows in the high mountains of Peru and is a natural hormonal balancer. Due to its high nutritional value, Maca is not only popular as a sexual libido enhancer and menopause symptoms savior, but also greatly affects energy, stamina, depression, memory, and more.

Fruit Extracts
Cherry, raspberry, mandarin, pineapple, orange - These provide flavoring, energy and also play a role as antioxidants.

Healthy Sweeteners - There is no refined sugar in A. C.T.
Stevia - A natural plant from Paraguay and Brazil that recently became very popular as a sweetener. It's a natural alternative to artificial sweeteners and it's estimated to be 150 to 400 times sweeter that sugar. Unlike sugar, it does not trigger a rise in blood sugar. It has neither calories nor carbohydrates, is suitable for diabetics, and doesn't cause tooth decay.
Fructose - Natural fruit sugar.
Maltodextrin - A natural corn syrup derivative.

Total sugar listed on the label is only 4 grams. This may be diabetic friendly. However, diabetics should consult their physician before consuming A. C.T.

Http://superdrinkact. com (http://superdrinkact. com)

Monday, January 28, 2008

Bullhorn CEO Named Finalist in Mass Technology Leadership Awards

Bullhorn CEO Named Finalist in Mass Technology Leadership Awards

2006 Mass Technology Leadership Council Awards recognize outstanding technology development, implementation and leadership.

Boston (PRWEB) July 31, 2006

Bullhorn, the global leader in On Demand, front office staffing and recruiting software, today announced that its CEO and co-founder, Art Papas, has been named as a CEO of the Year category-finalist for the Mass Technology Leadership Council’s 2006 Mass Technology Leadership Awards. Bullhorn is one of the leading Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) providers in Massachusetts, with over 6,000 users making more than 5 million page requests every day of its Bullhorn staffing and recruiting front office software. Papas and other finalists were named at an event held July 19 at the British Consulate.

The only awards program to recognize outstanding achievement in both the development and implementation of information technology, the Mass Technology Leadership Awards honor Massachusetts companies and individuals who best exemplify leadership and excellence in business and technology. The awards program builds on the traditions of the Massachusetts Software Council and the New England Business and Technology Association (NEBATA), the two organizations that merged last year to form the Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council.

Bullhorn is the staffing and recruiting industry’s only On Demand, integrated front office solution. With more than 400 customers and 6,000 users, Bullhorn has exceeded growth expectations for 16 straight quarters and increased the number of its employees by 108% over the past year. Bullhorn was named the 10th fastest-growing private company in Massachusetts (Boston Business Journal, March 2006) and one of the state’s Best Places to Work (Boston Business Journal, April 2006).

As co-founder and CEO, Art Papas is responsible for leading Bullhorn’s operation and strategic initiatives. He is also Bullhorn’s technical leader and the principal architect of the Bullhorn Development Platform (BDP).

“The Mass Technology Leadership Council is committed to fostering entrepreneurship and promoting the success of companies that develop and deploy technology across industry sectors. These awards are an important part of this effort,” said Joyce Plotkin, president of the Mass Technology Leadership Council. “The finalists for this year’s honors represent the spirit of innovation, the history of accomplishment and the future promise that define the Massachusetts technology community.”

Winners of the awards will be announced at an Awards Banquet to be held at the Boston Marriott Copley Place Hotel on Wednesday, October 11. The Banquet will also feature a keynote address by Bruce Chizen, CEO of Adobe.

About the Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council

The Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council is the only association that addresses the critical leadership issues of innovative software and technology-enabled companies. Formed by the combination of Massachusetts Software Council and New England Business and Technology Association, Inc., the organization is dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship and promoting the success of companies that develop and deploy technology across industry sectors. The Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council conducts educational programs, hosts industry events, facilitates networking, sponsors research, advocates in favor of technology policies that promote innovation, entrepreneurship and competition, and recognizes industry-leading companies and people.

About Bullhorn, Inc.

Bullhorn is the global leader in On Demand, front office staffing and recruiting software, providing the only completely integrated front office solution for staffing and recruiting firms. Bullhorn enables its customers to synchronize sales and recruiting to generate, source and fill job orders in real-time, at anytime and from anyplace, at the highest rates in the industry. Delivered through software as a service, Bullhorn continually meets the evolving business needs of its customers. More than 400 firms and 6,000 users worldwide, including two of the top 10 U. S. staffing firms, partner with Bullhorn to meet the employment demands of the global economy. Privately owned, Bullhorn is backed by GE Asset Management and others. For more information, visit www. bullhorn. com or call +1(866)538-7795

Media inquiries please contact:

Alison Kenney

(781) 842-0801

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Mineral Make-up Distributor Announces Website and New Organic Product Line

Mineral Make-up Distributor Announces Website and New Organic Product Line

Global Healing Center, a premier health products and mineral make-up distributor, announces a make-up and cosmetics website which will feature an organic mineral make-up product line.

(PRWEB) June 6, 2005

Global Healing Center, a premier health products and organic mineral make-up (http://www. ghchealth. com) distributor, announces their make-up and cosmetics website, which will begin offering the organic mineral make-up (http://www. ghchealth. com) product line from The Organic Make-up Company on June 1, 2005. The Global Healing Center has had unprecedented success with their mineral make-up (http://www. ghchealth. com) website and believes adding the new organic make-up will strengthen their customer satisfaction.

The Global Healing Center’s mineral make-up (http://www. ghchealth. com) website, Make-Up-Cosmetics. com (http://www. Make-Up-Cosmetics. com) has experienced explosive growth and currently ranks number two for the keyword “make-up” on Yahoo’s search engine and number four on Google. This growth can be attributed to GHC’s commitment to providing high quality natural products and educational resources such as articles, newsletters, and mineral make-up (http://www. ghchealth. com) e-courses.

Including organic mineral make-up products from The Organic Make-up Company is one way for The Global Healing Center to continue its success. As they currently provide only natural skin care products, offering mineral make-up as well, will allow GHC to service a broader user base and strengthen their reputation in the natural health marketplace. GHC is currently educating and helping over 19 million website visitors per year.

“Providing mineral make-up (http://www. ghchealth. com) from The Organic Make-up Company is an exciting opportunity for us,” said Dr. Edward F. Group III, Chief Executive Officer of The Global Healing Center. “Now we will have the chance to offer organic make-up products and to educate our consumers even more on the importance of a natural skin care and make-up regimen.”

Visit www. Make-Up-Cosmetics. com to:

Find more information on mineral make-up (http://www. ghchealth. com) from The Organic Make-up Company Find make-up and beauty tips Learn about The Make-up and Cosmetics Resource CenterÂ’s recommended products

Sign up for the free Monthly Cosmetics Tips Newsletter Take the free cosmetics e-course

About The Global Healing Center

The Global Healing Center, a premier natural health products and mineral make-up distributor, strives to deliver unmatched customer service and superior health products. GHC offers a wide variety of products such as organic mineral make-up (http://www. ghchealth. com) and skin care, air and water purifiers, health supplements, constipation remedies, books and educational material, health programs, and more. GHC is based out of Houston, Texas.

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Xeal Inc. Professional Press Release Marketing (http://www. xeal. com/)

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Conversations With Bod

Conversations With Bod

Entitled “Conversations With Bod—Decoding Symbolic, Archetypal and Spiritual Messages.” Workshop/Research Project

(PRWEB) March 12, 2005

Food cravings, body language and weight will be explored in an upcoming eight-week workshop and research project for women entitled “Conversations With Bod—Decoding Symbolic, Archetypal and Spiritual Messages.” The free workshop will be held 6:30-8:30 Monday evenings April 4-May 23 at The Integrative Medical Clinic of Santa Rosa, 175 Concourse Blvd., Santa Rosa (off of Airport Blvd).

An introductory lecture on the topic will be presented 6:30 pm, March 16 at the Integrative Medical Clinic of Santa Rosa.

The workshop presenter is Barbara Birsinger, a Registered Dietician and Masters of Public Health) and Sonoma County Chiropractor and Religious Science Practitioner, Josephine Smith.

Birsinger, a resident of Petaluma is also a PhD candidate at Holos University Graduate Seminary in Missouri which offers doctorate degrees in transpersonal psychology, integrative health care, and medical intuition.

Her cutting edge research “Effects of an Integral Spiritual Approach to Restoring Balance to Eating, Weight and Care of the Self” explores the relationship between healthy eating and healthy attitudes about food and body.

“My goal is to offer an eight-week education and training course with six and twelve months of follow-up,” said Birsinger. The workshop will offer a variety of methods to experience the energetics of eating, including intuition training, expressive art, journal writing, guided imagery, and somatic movement activities.

She also noted that this research is also being replicated as a spring semester college course at Brigham Young University in Utah.

Participants will have an opportunity to learn what, when and how much to eat as well as how to develop healthy responses to mind-body-spirit needs.

Screening is required prior to workshop attendance. For information, call Birsinger at (888) 243-9582 or visit www. BarbaraBirsinger. com.

Media contact only:

Karen Pierce Gonzalez Public Relations

707-792-4376

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Student Funding Group Adds Private Loan Product

Student Funding Group Adds Private Loan Product

Student Funding Group, LLC (StuFund) announced that it has added a private student loan product to its current suite of student loans to help students finance their education beyond scholarships, grants and federal student loans. This school-certified loan will feature no fees and is designed for students looking to finance their college education.

Liberty Corner, NJ (PRWEB) February 2, 2009

Student Funding Group, LLC (StuFund) announced that it has added a private student loan product to its current suite of student loans to help students finance their education beyond scholarships, grants and federal student loans. This school-certified loan will feature no fees and is designed for students looking to finance their college education.

The StuFund Solutions Loan will have zero fees and offer competitive rates. "Our loans are made to fit the needs of the student after they have exhausted scholarship, grant and federal loan monies" stated Sergio Sotolongo, Chairman and CEO of StuFund. "StuFund is pleased to be able to add this private loan product at a time when students are looking for this funding" continued Sotolongo.

In addition to the StuFund Solutions school-certified private loan, StuFund currently offers Federal Stafford and PLUS loans.

About StuFund
StuFund is a minority business enterprise in the educational loan space. It is built on the philosophy that each and every student can and should have access to funding for quality higher education. The company's mission is to provide loans, particularly for students who could not afford college without such financing, and to support and guide families through the financial aid process. In addition to offering educational loans for undergraduate and graduate schools and college loan consolidation, StuFund's Knowledge Center provides expert advisement on college admissions and financial aid. It hopes to address the fact that many students do not have sufficient access to college advisement in their schools. Through partnerships with Universities, Corporations, and Non Profit Organizations, StuFund hopes to educate the public about the college application process and financing options. More information is available at www. stufund. com

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Podcasting Puts the Three R's in Sex Education -- Raw, Real and Right on Target

Podcasting Puts the Three R's in Sex Education -- Raw, Real and Right on Target

Sex Education goes back to school to reach the iPod generation.

Los Angeles (PRWEB) September 29, 2005

Today, Jackstreet Media and Aldagon Resources launched a weekly sex education radio program called "Casual Sex 18-27." The program aims to address ineffective sex education initiatives by 'getting real' with teens and college students heading back to school this fall.

The series features raw interviews with young and very young adults talking about their sexual practices, attitudes and experiences with safe sex and not so safe sex. Guests are between the ages of 18 and 27 and include sexually active college students, young men and women dating people with HIV, youth practicing abstinence and peer to peer sex education activists.

Guests discuss the forces shaping their sexual attitudes, the sexual behavior they are seeing among their peers, their thoughts and feelings about the sexual risks they face, the sexual risks they take and their perception of conventional safe sex campaigns. By delivering the program through podcasting, the series is able to break new ground in style and content.

"This is not your father's sex education program," said Errol Smith, Emmy winning founder of Jackstreet media and producer of the series. "There are no lectures, no admonitions and no moralizations. This program is designed to let youth talk to other youth about a very important aspect of their lives. Using iPods to enable these conversations opens up some very exciting new possibilities," said Smith.

The goal of the series is to promote a direct, meaningful dialogue about safe sex among young people that is relevant to their real life experiences and situations. "As you listen to these young people talking about sexuality, on their terms, it becomes clear that somewhere there is a huge disconnect between conventional sex education and today's youth," said Kozby Kritzer, program host and co-creator. "Mixed cultural messages, inadequate or sanitized sex education has left our young people more at risk of getting HIV and AIDS than ever before," said Kritzer.

The program is part of the KHIV Radio program at www. hivradio. com, which was developed based on the Nanocasting model and is syndicated using RTS (Really Targeted Syndication). KHIV Radio is part of the Affiliate Nanocasting Network (ANN) and the International Nanocasting Alliance.

For more information contact: Jeannette Bernstein 818-344-4322.

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The Learning Bridge - Helps You Keep Those New Year's Resolutions

The Learning Bridge - Helps You Keep Those New Year's Resolutions

Leisure Learning School Grand Opening January 7

(PRWEB) January 3, 2005

Remember the old Fun Ed where you could go and take a class in just about anything? Well forget about it. They went out of business butÂ…there is a new kid in town.

The Learning Bridge, a new education venture launching in January 2005, will be the metroplexÂ’s premier continuing education venture. The Learning Bridge will fill the void in the leisure/lifelong learning arena by offering recreational classes for all segments of the community. Classes offered will range from the active lifestyle, exercise classes, art, music, business, fashion, writing, defensive driving, language and much more. At The Learning Bridge you can take a class in a day or over the course of several weeks. There is something for everyone - classes for adults and kids.

The Grand Opening Ceremony for The Learning Bridge will be Friday, January 7, 2005 from 5:00-8:00 pm and will include an art show, free self defense demonstrations, free body fat analysis, health screenings, a cover model search, business networking and even pony rides for the kids.

Classes begin January 3. Course catalogs hit the stands Monday, December 6 and may be picked up at neighborhood KrogerÂ’s, AlbertsonÂ’s and Tom Thumbs. Prospective students may also register online at www. thelearningbridge. net. The Learning Bridge will be located at 4288 Spring Valley Rd. between the Tollway and Midway Rd. Over 200 classes are scheduled.

About Laura Cobb

Laura Cobb, the founder of The Learning Bridge, is a 25-year veteran educator having served as a high school teacher and dean of instruction, an elementary principal, a director for a state department of education reform initiative, an urban city district central administrator, and a college professor. Most recently Laura has served as a senior executive in the education management industry, a freelance writer for over 14 magazines and periodicals, education editor for Family Digest Magazine and a sought after speaker on parenting and womenÂ’s issues. Visit LauraÂ’s website at www. mostlikelytosucceedbook. com

Laura Cobb 

(972) 701-9391 

Lcobb@thelearningbridge. net

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Friday, January 25, 2008

Quality Education Services Offers Rapid Transition Program for ISO 9000:2000

Quality Education Services Offers Rapid Transition Program for ISO 9000:2000

ISO Registered companies needing to transition to the ISO 9000:2000 standard by year end can take advantage of this program offered by Dallas-based Quality Education Servies. The program is designed to prepare a small company for the transition in 5 days or less.

(PRWEB) June 29, 2003

DALLAS, TX. - June 29, 2003 - Quality Education Services (QES) today announced plans to offer a Rapid Transition program for companies to transition to the ISO 9001:2000 quality management system standard. The deadline for ISO 9000 registered companies to migrate to the ISO 9001:2000 version is December 15, 2003. The QES program is designed to prepare a small company for the transition in 5 days or less. The program is intended for companies already registered to one of the ISO 9000 1994 standards that need to make the transition by the end of the year.

“Less than 25% of ISO 9000 registered companies have made the transition to the 2000 version of the standard,” said Marion Bize, president of QES. “Many companies have delayed making the transition, and some are hoping that the deadline will be revised. What started as a three-year time frame for the transition is now less than six months. We are offering this program to assist companies in a rapid transition process in order for them to meet the deadline.”

About Quality Education Services

Based in Dallas Texas, Quality Education Services has been providing consulting and training in all aspects of quality management systems since 1989. For more information, visit www. qesinc. com.

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Innovative Business and Technology Advisors Robert Frances Group Announces "Reducing Risk, Restoring Trust: A Leadership Role for IT"

Innovative Business and Technology Advisors Robert Frances Group Announces "Reducing Risk, Restoring Trust: A Leadership Role for IT"

Robert Frances Group (RFG; rfgonline. com), trusted advisors about the IT marketplace to Global 2000 executives, enterprises, government agencies, and educational institutions, announces its Second Annual Thought Leadership Summit Series – "Reducing Risk, Restoring Trust: A Leadership Role for IT." The first of the 2005 Summits will be held June 15-16, 2005 at the Puck Building in New York City. 2005 Summit sessions are being scheduled for Chicago and San Francisco as well.

WESTPORT, CT (PRWEB) February 9, 2005

Robert Frances Group (RFG; http://www. rfgonline. com (http://www. rfgonline. com)), trusted advisors about the IT marketplace to Global 2000 executives, enterprises, government agencies, and educational institutions, announces its Second Annual Thought Leadership Summit Series – "Reducing Risk, Restoring Trust: A Leadership Role for IT." The first of the 2005 Summits will be held June 15-16, 2005 at the Puck Building in New York City. 2005 Summit sessions are being scheduled for Chicago and San Francisco as well.

Each Summit will showcase high-level technology and business risk mitigation practitioners, as well as senior RFG business analysts and innovative Risk Management vendor executives. At each Summit, a series of panels and workshops will address the latest risk issues and solutions for Business Continuity, Compliance, Data Privacy, Information Security, IT Process Improvement, and Outsourcing.

The Summit agenda will investigate various forms of technology risk, examine methods for aggregating and evaluating hidden and known risks, discuss a creation of best practices for enterprise risk management, and help participants prioritize risk components. As a supplement, each Summit will also feature an exhibit area containing leading technology risk vendor solutions, allowing the participants an opportunity to examine the latest technology solutions in the marketplace.

"We are thrilled with the positive reviews from the 2004 Summit series, and look forward to continuing the agenda forward into 2005 with an updated discussion of the latest process and procedures executives are implementing to address technology risk," said Cal Braunstein, Robert Frances GroupÂ’s CEO and Director of Reasearch. "These conferences respond to a growing need among enterprise executives for high-level discussions focused on the emerging areas of technology risk management and proactive, IT-enabled solutions for addressing the latest threats and risks in the enterprise," Braunstein states.

Last year's Summit Series attracted more than 250 participants. The 2004 Summits featured presentations from senior-level technology risk management executives representing such top-tier organizations as AIG, Bank of America, Blue Cross Blue Shield, BNP Paribas, Countrywide Financial, Charles Schwab, Delta Dental of California, JP Morgan Chase, JW Thompson, ManuLife, Pfizer, Prudential Financial, Thompson Corporation, Wachovia, Wells Fargo, and Yale University.

RFG analyst presentations at these Summits are based upon the latest RFG research, which is driven by the "hot-button" concerns of the company's IT executive clients. In its Feb. 4, 2005 Research Note, "Strategies for Risk Management," RFG highlighted the equally critical roles IT and non-IT executives play in reducing risk at their enterprises. "Effective risk management requires input from all aspects of the business and top-down, proactive support from executives," the Note said. "While not all areas of risk are IT-related, IT executives can either serve as change agents for risk assessment, mitigation, process management, and tracking, or act in important supporting roles," the Note added.

The first 2005 RFG Thought Leadership Summit on "Reducing Risk, Restoring Trust: A Leadership Role for IT" will be held June 15-16 in New York City. For further information about the Summits, including sponsorship opportunities, please visit http://www. rfgonline. com (http://www. rfgonline. com) or contact Ken Bauco of RFG at +203/291-6900, ext. 112 or at kbauco@rfgonline. com.

About Robert Frances Group (RFG)

Every business day, information technology (IT) executives and their colleagues at leading enterprises, government agencies, and educational institutions look to Robert Frances Group (RFG) for timely, business-centric answers to their most pressing IT questions. Those clients enjoy direct, on-demand access to a team of industry analysts with decades of deep experience in enterprise IT management. RFG research and counsel helps IT executives architect, implement, and manage more successful initiatives. RFG clients achieve better communication with business decision-makers, greater business success, enterprise elasticity, and risk management, increased IT-business alignment, and more demonstrable business value for IT. More information is available from RFG at http://www. rfgonline. com (http://www. rfgonline. com), (US) +203/291-6900, and/or info@rfgonline. com.

Contact:

Kenneth Bauco

Event Marketing and Development

Robert Frances Group (RFG)

+203/291-6900, ext. 112

Kbauco@rfgonline. com

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Wednesday, January 23, 2008

The Edcomm Group's Dr. Linda Eagle Featured Speaker at Compliance-Risk Meeting Addressing Elder Financial Abuse in Reno, NV

The Edcomm Group's Dr. Linda Eagle Featured Speaker at Compliance-Risk Meeting Addressing Elder Financial Abuse in Reno, NV

Dr. Linda Eagle, President of The Edcomm Group, was the featured speaker at the Western States ITI User Group (WSUG) Compliance Risk meeting held on September 13th in Reno, NV.

NEW YORK, NY (PRWEB) October 1, 2006

Dr. Linda Eagle, President of The Edcomm Group, was the featured speaker at the Western States ITI User Group (WSUG) Compliance Risk meeting held on September 13th in Reno, NV.

The event, held at the Silver Legacy, was sponsored by the WSUG Board. Attendees included compliance and operations officers from state and nationally-chartered community banks ranging in size from de novo to the billion-dollar asset range located throughout California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, Utah and Arizona.

Dr. Eagle talked about the Elder Justice Act of 2003, which has been revised and is expected to pass this year, as well as Edcomm’s BSA/AML Compliance training programs. According to Eagle, “The best way for banks to approach the new legislation is with the attitude that this is an opportunity to provide a new level of service to their customers.”

“It was great to see the common interest that this diverse group of bankers has in elder financial abuse and BSA training,” Dr. Eagle said. “They understood what I meant when I said that good training, executed properly, can protect the bank, the employee and the customer. Also, they agreed that the right attitude leads to the successful accomplishment of compliance and business goals.”

With more than 5 million cases per year, financial abuse of elders is the number one crime committed against persons age 65 and older. Currently, 17 states and Washington, D. C. have passed laws that require bank personnel to report suspected cases of elder financial abuse. Another 33 states recommend it.

The Edcomm Group has been a driving force in the campaign to educate bank personnel about elder financial abuse. Edcomm's course, Focus on Elder Financial Abuse, is designed to help banks cope with the new laws targeting elder financial abuse by teaching front line staff about how to best serve their elderly customers while reducing risk to the bank.

Focus on Elder Financial Abuse is a comprehensive eLearning program providing training on issues related to elder financial abuse. The course covers: defining elder financial abuse and the laws governing it, detecting the red flags of elder financial abuse, and reporting elder financial abuse properly. Focus on Elder Financial Abuse is geared towards teaching participants how to identify elder abuse and how to protect both their customers and the bank, with accurate, compliant reporting.

Edcomm’s Focus on Compliance course, a computer-based, distance-learning program that can be delivered via Internet, intranet or CD-ROM. The program teaches banking compliance using easy-to-understand language in an interactive, self-paced format. Participants learn from their own perspective, with a curriculum customized to their position. Focus on Compliance covers: Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), Anti-Money Laundering (AML), USA PATRIOT Act, OFAC, Privacy, Reg P, Gramm-Leach Bliley Act, Right to Financial Privacy, Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX), Reg CC & Check 21, Reg D, Reg E, Reg Z, Truth in Lending, FCRA, FACT Act, HMDA, CRA, and Bank Bribery, among others. The program also includes a quick reference guide to all banking regulations, as well as a glossary of terms and a library of reference materials.

Dr. Eagle is frequently invited to speak on a range of topics including distance learning, adult education, compliance training, teller training, ethics training, technological advances in training and education, and business solutions. Her educational background in psychology and communications and her experience in organizational consulting give her unique insight into the practical application of training and communication programs. Dr. Eagle has provided consulting and training services to hundreds of organizations in a variety of industries. Published in many national publications including USA Today, American Banker, Forbes, MSNBC and the Washington Post, Dr. Eagle has also appeared on several local and national radio and television news programs.

The Western States ITI User Group is comprised of representatives from financial institutions using Information Technology, Inc. (ITI) software. The WSUG was formed to further the exchange of information, discuss matters of mutual concern and interest, and to provide a forum where colleagues could come together and share ideas.

The Edcomm Group has had the privilege of assisting many distinguished clients with business solutions in the form of eLearning programs, classroom instruction, multimedia production and online and print based documentation. In addition to the development of customized programs, The Edcomm Group offers many banking specific off-the-shelf products such as Teller Training and Compliance Training that have proven themselves effective in organizations around the world.

The Edcomm Group is a 19-year-old multimedia education and communication consulting firm specializing in the development of creative business solutions that improve productivity, customer service and market share — providing bottom-line results. The Edcomm Group (www. edcomm. com) (www. bankersacademy. com) is headquartered in New York City with an Advanced Design Center located in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania.

For more information, please contact:

Linda Eagle

President, The Edcomm Group

1-888-4EDCOMM

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Capterra's Michael Ortner Named to DC Area's Smart100

Capterra's Michael Ortner Named to DC Area's Smart100

CEO recognized for Strategic Vision

Arlington, VA (Vocus) February 24, 2009

Capterra announced today that CEO, Michael Ortner, is one of Washington SmartCEO magazine's Smart100. An independent selection committee chose this exclusive group of CEOs based on their Leadership, Strategic Vision and Character. Ortner hopes this honor will bring more eyes on Capterra, a website that helps businesses find the best software solutions for their needs.

"Capterra has helped millions of companies find just the right software for their needs and thousands of software vendors to reach these customers. I'm proud to be recognized, but everyone knows that building a great company is a team effort. I love coming to work every day because I truly believe in our mission and I really enjoy working with my team. Work is supposed to be fun and I think it is at Capterra."

A former technology consultant, Ortner founded Capterra in 1999 after experiencing the difficulty in finding and implementing software and realizing the problems software companies have marketing their products.

Ortner and the other Smart100 honorees will serve as a source of inspiration and education for the 34,000 business owners in Baltimore and Washington that read SmartCEO. Smart100 companies represent a variety of industries including government contracting, information technology and financial services. The average Smart100 company employs between 10 and 100 employees and generates $10-$50 million in revenue.

"The Smart100 embodies 100 CEO's with incredible business minds who have successfully grown their companies to be the best in Washington," says Group Associate Publisher of SmartCEO, Jaime Park.

About Capterra
Capterra (http://www. capterra. com/) is the leading online destination for business software buyers. Capterra has helped millions of people select the right software solution for their organizations, while providing an easy way for software vendors to reach active buyers. For more information, call (703) 994-4151 or visit www. capterra. com.

Contact:
Besa Pinchotti
Capterra, Inc.
(703) 994-4151
Besa(at)capterra. com

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Monday, January 21, 2008

One Language – Many Cultures: Marking the 25th Anniversary of Children Franchise Helen Doron Early English

One Language – Many Cultures: Marking the 25th Anniversary of Children Franchise Helen Doron Early English

Using the English language as an international bridge between cultures is a very lofty goal, yet it is only part of the successful outcome and continued development of the international children franchise phenomena known across the globe as Helen Doron Early English.

London, UK (PRWEB) July 13, 2010

Where did the inspiration for the unique Helen Doron Early English language learning system come from, and why 25 years ago was it considered so revolutionary by conventional education? Helen Doron based her learning method on special materials and a creative approach to language acquisition in young children that stimulates a child's natural ability for language through repeated hearing at home, and play activities in the class - creating a positive, fun-filled environment that stimulates children to learn English as if it was their native tongue.

Because of her groundbreaking efforts, these learning principles in early English education (accepted in the pedagogic world today) overcame the opposition and prejudices of many parents and educators in the 1980’s who considered it very unusual indeed to teach babies and children a second language, in some cases even before they’ve learned their first one. Through her methodology, Helen Doron has promoted the understanding that children are built to be multi-lingual, and that stimulating this ability not only promotes a better grasp of language for the child, but enhances their world in general; broadening their culture development and mental and personal development.

In 1984, Helen took her 4-year-old daughter, Ella, to Suzuki violin classes. The Suzuki Method teaches children to first make music, and learn to read music later. “Notes aren’t music”, Suzuki insisted. “It’s like forcing a child to read a book before it was allowed to speak!” For Helen, this was a revelation, and being a linguist she thought, “If there is a mother-tongue way to teach music, why not have a mother-tongue way to teach language? Teaching babies and children spoken English – and indeed, any oral language was so obvious to me that I didn’t realize at the time no-one else was doing it.”

Helen began to dig deeper - researching the subject thoroughly and examining the work of others in related fields, such as Dr. Suzuki and the esteemed Glenn Doman (Institutes for Achievement in Human Potential). His focus on infants and very young children was in line with the premise that a child’s brain grows (both in size and in the number of neural connections) until the age of six. Helen then started working with small groups of children aged 1 – 6 years old. “Research indicated that we were increasing the child’s overall abilities for life by learning the extra language at the age where the brain neurological connections were being made”, explains Helen, “And this excited me.”

Helen then dedicated her efforts to teaching children English as a second language using this special understanding, and creating her exclusive methodology. The rewards for giving children the gift of language and watching them boom was in every way was such a powerful experience that the parent’s took notice – and so did other teachers. Soon, many people with an interest in the betterment of young children were clamoring for copies of Helens leaning materials and specially produced songs. Helen recalls, “My husband, David, and I came to the conclusion – it was time for me to duplicate myself – allowing others to teach my methodology with professional materials and receiving expert teacher training.”

Many years of hard work was required to build up a thriving business based on the Helen Doron Early English approach - learning materials based on high standards of pedagogic excellence, a dedication to the joy of teaching, and a true desire to improve children’s lives everywhere. “In 1997 it was time to let the world know about us, and our worldwide franchising operation was born”, exclaims Helen. The success built steadily - as few Learning Centres in Europe grew into the many hundreds of Learning Centres today located on 4 continents. It seems very evident that parents, teachers and franchisees the world over can see for themselves how beautifully the Helen Doron English learning system works.

Helen is proud to say “we are touching the lives of children and their families across the globe.” She further explains that this benefit to children consists of the ‘Individual Influence’: Self-confidence, Self-esteem, knowing another language as a mother tongue, greater brain capacity, greater tolerance and better job prospects, and the ‘Wider Influence’: Bilingual = bicultural, multilingual = multicultural (especially if the child starts early enough).

Helen continues to ask important questions related to language development. “Does language colour our world view, or does our world view colour our language? How many of you grew up seeing those tall leafy things as ‘trees’ and only later grew to appreciate them and their qualities when you learnt their individual names? Is it the language that created your view of the trees or the trees that created the language?” Helen firmly believes that just as the only age in which a language can be learnt as a mother tongue is by immersion up to the age of 7 and again a certain window of opportunity remaining open until the age of 10, that this is also true of learning about a culture too. Indeed, language and culture are inextricably interwoven.

Experience shows that learning languages from a very early age is an important factor in better performance at school. Contact with another language is not only compatible with becoming proficient in one's mother tongue, it also makes it easier. It opens the mind, stimulates intellectual agility and, of course, expands people's cultural horizon. Multilingualism is part and parcel of both European identity/ citizenship and the learning society. The European Union is launching the Piccolingo campaign in all Member States; seeking to raise awareness about the fact that young children who start learning languages at a very early age will, as they grow older, more confidently approach foreign languages and cultures. Helen Doron learning was a forerunner of initiatives like the Piccolingo campaign. www. helendoron. com

About the Helen Doron Educational Group
The Helen Doron Educational Group stands at the forefront of innovative educational systems since 1985, providing exclusive learning programs and quality educational materials for babies, children and adolescents the world over. Our quality educational programs include Helen Doron Early English and MathRiders for inspired learning in small groups; Polly the Collie, Didi the Dragon, Super-Nature and Ready Steady Move! designed for larger groups (kindergartens and schools). The Helen Doron children franchise model invites entrepreneurs to join a successful business operation that benefits children around the world. For more information www. helendorongroup. com

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CareFlash and Blausen Medical Communications Announce Alliance to Deliver World Class Healthcare Animations to People in the Focused Circumstances Surrounding their Healthcare Situations

CareFlash and Blausen Medical Communications Announce Alliance to Deliver World Class Healthcare Animations to People in the Focused Circumstances Surrounding their Healthcare Situations

Powered by Blausen Medical, CareFlash is the first company to deliver 3-D healthcare animations to people in private and secure online communities, where the information is targeted toward the specific circumstances at hand.

HOUSTON (PRWEB) October 23, 2007

 According to Jay Drayer, CEO, CareFlash: "This cutting edge alliance empowers patients, and their families and friends to create rich yet private online communities that facilitate secure communication of updates and well-wishes, while allowing people to benefit from animations on the specific circumstances at hand. Regardless of whether the associated disorder involves Heart or Lung disease, Glaucoma, Alzheimer's, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Cancer, Kidney disease, Diabetes, Lupus, Cystic Fibrosis, Tennis Elbow, Varicose Veins, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), or numerous others, not only does CareFlash deliver these animations, but also associated animations - all served-up in the rich, focused circumstances at hand.

Blausen's animations are produced with world-class 3-D quality and accuracy, and range from a wide expanse of disorders, conditions, surgeries, therapies and anatomy, all of which are narrated in plain, understandable language. Topics range from hundreds of animations surrounding: cardiovascular, ears, eyes, neurological, genetic, pregnancy and reproductive, bladder and kidney, digestive and mouth, endocrine, blood and immune, ligaments and tendons, respiratory, orthopedic, skin and cosmetic.

According to Bruce Blausen, CEO, Blausen Medical: "In connection with this alliance, CareFlash is the first company to deliver our animations to people in the rich, focused circumstances that they are dealing with at that minute of their life, or the lives of their loved ones. For over fifteen years, Blausen Medical has been diligently amassing the most comprehensive library of healthcare graphics and animations anywhere in the world. It's through this effort that we have developed the premier reputation in the industry for unparalleled quality and accuracy."

Although just available in English at the current time, CareFlash will be delivering Blausen's animations narrated in Spanish and Arabic by the end of 2007, and in ten languages in 2008.

According to Jay Drayer, CEO, CareFlash: "CareFlash develops alliances with healthcare institutions and advocacy groups. We collaborate with them in order to expand all of the wonderfully beneficial and uplifting services that they provide, in delivering the unprecedented advocacy and education for which CareFlash is known. And it's entirely free to everyone!"

About CareFlash:

CareFlash http://www. careflash. com (http://www. careflash. com) assists in addressing fear and anxiety surrounding healthcare circumstances by delivering unprecedented, world-class, advocacy and education. CareFlash provides a common place on the Internet, to and from which people may submit, retrieve and share information and well-wishes surrounding a loved one's health circumstances. In the context of each CareFlash community, we serve-up 3-D healthcare animations on hundreds of disorders, procedures and anatomical functions, all produced with world-class quality and accuracy, and narrated in plain English. The animations will be expanded to include 10 different languages by mid-2008. CareFlash also allows the caretaker to reach-out to their community, unobtrusively facilitating the communication of needs and preferences, allowing loved ones to donate time, meals or services during a dire time. All of these features are intuitively organized in a private, invitation-only website, unique to each given patient. CareFlash is completely free to our users because select industries value having their advertisements tastefully and unobtrusively displayed in the circumstances on which each unique community is based.

About Blausen Medical Communications:

Blausen Medical Communications http://www. blausen. com (http://www. blausen. com) is a world-class medical and scientific animation and illustration company. Based in Houston, Texas, with offices around the country and the globe, our studio is composed of dedicated artists, medical researchers, strategists, and project managers whose unwavering eyes are focused on product detail and client satisfaction. Our work offers both visual drama and scientific accuracy. The content is reviewed continuously by a team of industry experts and a medical advisory board. Blausen Medical's library has grown into the largest in the world... with more than 7,000 animations and 12,000 illustrations to date. The list of work continues to grow, as do the numbers of letters we receive from clients, and their audiences, who have benefited from our unique communication and education tools.

Henley Business School Launches New Programme of Executive Development Courses

Henley Business School Launches New Programme of Executive Development Courses

Henley Business School has launched a new programme of executive education courses designed to help organisations develop the right calibre of managers to survive and thrive.

(PRWEB) February 23, 2009

Henley Business School has launched its new programme of executive development courses aimed at helping organisations to develop effective leadership and the right calibre of managers to survive and thrive in today's turbulent economic times.

Henley's executive development courses (http://www. henley. reading. ac. uk/executiveeducation/cl-openedp/cl-ourprogrammes. asp (http://www. henley. reading. ac. uk/executiveeducation/cl-openedp/cl-ourprogrammes. asp)) are focused on building and enhancing leadership quality and management capability.

Evidence suggests that organisations which invest in management training and leadership development are able to operate more effectively both in the current difficult economic times as well as being better placed to take advantage when the economy returns to a period of growth.

Informed by the latest business research and ongoing feedback from clients, Henley's programmes have been strengthened and extended to provide even more relevance and applicability to those charged with delivering effective leadership. New programmes being offered include 'Profiting with Sustainability' and 'The Advanced HR Business Partner Programme'.

As part of an extensive executive education (http://www. henley. reading. ac. uk/executiveeducation/cl-home. asp (http://www. henley. reading. ac. uk/executiveeducation/cl-home. asp)) offering, which also includes both customised and tailored qualification programmes, these management courses and leadership courses are designed to create immediate impact back in the working environment and make a real difference to an organisation.

As well as a comprehensive range of leadership programmes, Henley is able to offer an innovative and cost-effective way for organisations to share ideas on business leadership through its Thought Leadership (http://www. henley. reading. ac. uk/executiveeducation/thought-leadership/cl-thoughtleadership. asp (http://www. henley. reading. ac. uk/executiveeducation/thought-leadership/cl-thoughtleadership. asp)) Groups. These forums allow clients to explore their key issues in a confidential and pragmatic manner to develop and understand good practices with real business benefits. Linda Irwin, Executive Director, Corporate Development at Henley Business School, said: "Our agenda is driven bottom-up from clients who tell us what's keeping them awake at night. In today's environment this client intimacy allows us to provide a unique offering with significant tangible benefits to them."

In addition to their executive education and leadership development courses, Henley Business School also holds a series of invitation-only keynote addresses by top business leaders throughout the year.

About Henley Business School
Henley Business School (http://www. henley. reading. ac. uk/ (http://www. henley. reading. ac. uk/)) was formed on 01 August 2008 from the merger of Henley Management College, itself founded in 1945, and the Business School at the University of Reading. It is one of the longest established and the world's third largest supplier of MBA education, delivering business management training to managers in more than 112 countries worldwide with in excess of 5,400 people studying at any one time.

Henley Business School is one of Europe's largest full service business schools and offers a comprehensive range of management programmes from undergraduate to board level. Encompassing the world-ranked Henley MBA, executive and distance learning MBAs, DBAs, PhDs, MScs, BScs, BAs and its internationally renowned open and tailored executive education, it provides learning and development opportunities from the start of a career through to senior executive levels, from developing strategy to managing change and achieving sustainable, responsible success. With expertise in the development and delivery of solutions to the management and leadership challenges of our times, it is also one of the very few international business schools to hold triple accredited status (AMBA, EQUIS, AACSB).

PR Contact Details
Judith Hunt
Communications Management
Calverton House
2 Harpenden Road
St Albans
AL3 5AB
+44 1727 737989
Www. henley. reading. ac. uk

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Sunday, January 20, 2008

An Overview of the Industry Trends and Developments in the US Waste Management Industry

An Overview of the Industry Trends and Developments in the US Waste Management Industry

Research and Markets (researchandmarkets. com/reports/c36313) has announced the addition of Waste Management - Industry Profile to their offering.

Dublin (PRWEB) May 3, 2006

Research and Markets (http://www. researchandmarkets. com/reports/c36313 (http://www. researchandmarkets. com/reports/c36313)) has announced the addition of Waste Management - Industry Profile to their offering.

Brief Excerpt from Industry Overview Chapter:

The private waste management industry in the US includes over 10,000 companies with combined annual revenue of $50 billion. Three national companies, Waste Management, Allied Waste, and Republic Services together handle more than half the solid waste generated in the US. Beyond the top three companies, the industry is highly fragmented. A moderate-sized company has $10 million in annual revenue.

Competitive Landscape

Demand depends on the volume of waste generated, which depends on the level of economic activity and consumer spending. The profitability of individual companies depends on efficient operations, because the service is a commodity sold based on price. Big companies have large efficiencies of scale in operations. Small companies can compete successfully by offering specialized services or serving local markets. Annual revenue per employee is $200,000 at large companies, $125,000 at smaller ones.

Products, Operations & Technology

Major services are waste collection, waste treatment and disposal, remediation, and recycling. Waste collection accounts for about 55 percent of industry revenue, treatment and disposal for 20 percent, and remediation for 15 percent. Small companies usually operate in only one of these segments. Larger companies often have vertically integrated operations that include all of these components.

Our easy-to-use, quarterly industry profiles provide you with the industry analysis you need to better understand any particular business. We synthesize information from hundreds of sources into an easy to digest format, giving you invaluable information about your target market, highlighting critical industry statistics and issues, changes that have taken place since the last quarterly update and key concerns that can have negative or positive impacts on investments. Utilizing the financial and forecasting data while simultaneously learning from educational business overviews can help you and your customers plan more effectively and invest wisely.

Our industry reports will educate your sales team on critical industry trends in target markets, empowering them to create more strategic proposals. These industry reports are also essential for professional organizations that want make savvy, educated business decisions. We provide industry reports that are simple to use and help you understand the most important facets of industry trends and developments.

For more information visit http://www. researchandmarkets. com/reports/c36313 (http://www. researchandmarkets. com/reports/c36313)

Laura Wood

Senior Manager

Research and Markets

Fax: +353 1 4100 980

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Who Wouldn't Want a Licensed Broker-Dealer?

Who Wouldn't Want a Licensed Broker-Dealer?

NASD and SEC registered investment broker-dealers protect both investors and entrepreneurs (and the broker-dealers themselves) in five important ways before, during and after a deal that unlicensed "financial advisors" do not.

(PRWEB) March 1, 2005

Who Wouldn’t Want a Licensed Broker-dealer?©

Unlicensed investment brokers across the country are scurrying to Dearborn review courses and Sylvan Learning Centers in order to pass required license exams and become registered with the NASD. Those who, for years, have said that they didnÂ’t need the license in order to get clients, fund deals, and collect commissions have concluded that now, they do. Why? Certainly, in the wake of financial scandals and investor mistrust, both public and private companies are undergoing more rigorous scrutiny.

In addition, both investors and entrepreneurs have become much more savvy about the protection that policing organizations like the NASD and SEC afford them, and those organizations are vigorously pursuing complaints, perhaps in part to rebuild public trust. The resulting penalties for offending investment bankers include fines, jail time, and bans from working with any other broker-dealers. (See www. nasd. org and www. sec. gov for details of recent judgments).

What is the value of a license? Perhaps a better question is, what are the dangers for any or all parties (the investor, entrepreneur, and investment banker) if the latter is not licensed?

Danger #1: Right of rescission: Melinda LeGaye, President of MGL Consulting Corporation in The Woodlands, TX, provides NASD required compliance auditing services for broker-dealers. She recommends that "entrepreneurs seeking equity capital in the form of a private placement “…”utilize the services of a broker-dealer firm that is registered with the NASD, the SEC, and with the states where the offers will be made. Otherwise," she warns, "There are potential rescission issues associated with sales by non-registered dealers.” In other words, a deal can be revoked and funds returned, even after it has closed.

Danger #2: No back end fees: According to the SEC and NASD, unlicensed fundraisers (who have not agreed to be bound by the code of ethical conduct) are not allowed to be paid a percentage of funds raised from accredited investors. They can be paid a retainer or a consulting fee, but not a “back end fee” or commission. In the past, many entrepreneurs did not know this, so they paid the successful, unlicensed fundraisers anyway, pleased to have the capital. Now, however, the word is out. An unlicensed money raiser could walk away from a closing with no commission at all. 

Danger #3: Tricky Deal Terms: Licensed broker-dealers and their representatives swear to interact with clients according to a code of ethics outlined for the public on www. nasd. org. These rules pertain to both internal and external conduct. For example, the list addresses what can/cannot be promised verbally or in writing, reasonable fees, what services can and cannot be rendered, and full disclosure of deal terms, personal involvement, and timely introduction to “promised” investors. At the office, all records must be accessible and audited, and even a complaint book must be kept available for any clients who request it. Unlicensed money raisers may determine their own higher or lower standards of ethics. Warning: If a fundraiser sounds too good to be true, s/he probably is (unlicensed)!

Danger #4: No Public records: Unlike unlicensed broker-dealers, the public can check for free the professional background of any NASD licensed representatives or broker-dealers (www. nasdbrokercheck. com). This resource includes such information as prior employers, number of licenses, and any sanctions or complaints. All entrepreneurs and investors should check out all investment bankers they consider. If the names are not on “Broker Check,” the people are not licensed. Why hire them?

Danger #5: Expensive Recourse: If disgruntled investors or entrepreneurs seek recourse against an unlicensed investment banker, they have access to the court system of course, but that process is often expensive and time consuming. Sometimes the legal fees alone are larger than the amount disputed. In increasing numbers (almost 9,000 in 2003), clients (and investors) are turning to NASD arbitration. (See www. nasdadr. com for statistics and information.) Clients have access to 1-3 arbitrators in a binding process that is very reasonably priced from the very agency authorized to punish, ban, and publicize the offenses of the broker-dealer – a powerful ally. 

How much does it cost to become a licensed broker or registered representative? Are financial considerations alone prohibitive enough to discourage ethical fundraisers from becoming NASD licensed? Consider the following prices to become a registered representative in Texas: $150: each licensing exam (#63 – state, #7 – national); $150 – 500: each study guide or class; $235: to register with the state: annual continued education courses ($100 – 500), and $20 to be fingerprinted. Cost: about $655- 2000.00. Why wouldn’t someone do this to protect himself, his clients, and the deal!

Now, just as in the real estate profession, a newly registered representative cannot work alone, but must affiliate with a supervising broker. This is a firm which assumes liability for supervision of the representatives by experienced professionals with more licenses (at least a Series 24). This supervision includes the representativeÂ’s correspondence, accounts, sales, and fees.

A broker-dealer firm must conform to additional requirements designed to protect clients which cost money that unlicensed fund-raisers do not incur. For example, registered broker-dealers must have independent audits ($5,000+), an internal or external compliance officer ($10,000+), NASD fees ($3-5,000), fidelity bond ($250+), SIPC fees ($150+), and a net capital requirement ( $5,000 - $250,000). Additional fees for firms that want to dot every I and cross every T include those for e-mail supervision and background checks of employees, potential investors, and entrepreneurs. The range of fees reflects the number and types of investment banking services and transactions. To open a minimal service, two person broker-dealer requires an initial cost of $30,000 the first year (not including normal office expenses) and three months to a year for processing.

These costs and delays might provide a disincentive for many fundraisers to embark on this path mid-career. But as an investor or an entrepreneur, why on earth wouldnÂ’t you find one who has already done so, and thereby secure deal transparency, public records, arbitration services, and a published code of ethics? 

Laura Emerson is a Houston based business writer (www. greatc. net) with Series 63 and 7 licenses, who works with both entrepreneurs and investment bankers throughout the US and in four other countries.

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