Monday, August 31, 2009

Plastic Surgeon Offers Body-Jet® Liposuction for San Jose and Palo Alto

Plastic Surgeon Offers Body-Jet® Liposuction for San Jose and Palo Alto

Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Daryl K. Hoffman was recently featured by American Health and Beauty to discuss the addition of Body-Jet® contouring at his cosmetic surgery practice.

Palo Alto, CA (PRWEB) September 4, 2010

Dr. Daryl K. Hoffman (http://www. dkhoffmanmd. com (http://www. dkhoffmanmd. com)), a board-certified plastic surgeon in Palo Alto, has added a new and innovative procedure to his practice: Body-Jet® liposuction for San Jose and Silicon Valley women and men. As recently featured by American Health and Beauty, Dr. Hoffman can use this form of liposuction to harvest fat for fat transfer procedures such as a Brazilian butt lift or natural breast augmentation.

"I am excited about the addition of Body-Jet liposuction to my practice," states Dr. Hoffman. "This liposuction technique is innovative and effective, allowing me to remove fat with less trauma and increased patient comfort."

To improve their body shape, Dr. Hoffman offers various cosmetic surgery procedures for San Jose and Palo Alto women and men including abdominoplasty, liposuction, body contouring after weight loss, and fat transfer. Body-Jet is a helpful addition to his procedure menu.

"Many of my patients are looking for natural ways to enhance certain areas of the body, including the buttocks, face and breasts," notes Dr. Hoffman. "Much of the fat that gets removed from the body during a Body-Jet procedure is not ruptured; therefore, it can be harvested to use for fat transfer procedures."

Body-Jet liposuction works by spraying fluid into the targeted area in order to break up the fat for easier removal. This procedure does not damage or break up the actual fat cells. If these cells are to be used as part of a fat transfer procedure, they are purified and prepared for re-injection into areas such as the buttocks, breasts, forehead, chin, cheekbones and lips.

"I've found that this procedure is less invasive than other forms of liposuction, and tends to cause less trauma and damage to the surrounding tissue and skin. Because the cells stay intact, it enables procedures such as buttock enhancement and natural breast augmentation. Natural enlargement using the patient's own fat tissue is popular for women who are considering breast augmentation in San Jose but would rather not have implants," states Dr. Hoffman.

Fat transfer with Body-Jet liposuction has the added benefit of longevity over injectable fillers, which need to be repeated every few months to maintain results. Transferred fat can survive for many years in its new location.

"In addition to the Body-Jet technique, I also perform Smartlipo™. These are both excellent treatments for reducing fat in difficult areas, such as the bra line," says Dr. Hoffman. "So many women come to my office wanting to remove bra rolls in the mid-back area, and I am able to shape and slim the back successfully with these procedures. Body-Jet is a multipurpose treatment that is delivering satisfying results for a wide range of my patients."

Dr. Daryl Hoffman (http://www. dkhoffmanmd. com (http://www. dkhoffmanmd. com)) is a board-certified plastic surgeon serving the San Jose area. In private practice since 1991, Dr. Hoffman completed his medical education at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, his residency at Stanford University, his fellowship in cosmetic surgery at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, and his fellowship in hand and microsurgery at San Jose Medical Center. He performs surgical and non-surgical procedures for the face, breasts, and body. Men and women choose his practice because of his warm and understanding bedside manner, his knowledge and experience, his commitment to safety, and the beautiful results he can achieve.

###

Sunday, August 30, 2009

MessageSolution Email & File Archive Enterprise Suite Named Best of TechEd 2009 Awards Finalist by Windows IT Pro & SQL Server Magazine

MessageSolution Email & File Archive Enterprise Suite Named Best of TechEd 2009 Awards Finalist by Windows IT Pro & SQL Server Magazine

MessageSolution, Inc., the global technology leader in email and file archiving solutions, today announces that MessageSolution Email & File Archive Enterprise Suite has been named one of three finalists in the Best of TechEd 2009 Awards in the Business Intelligence category. The Best of TechEd Awards are conducted by Windows IT Pro and SQL Server Magazine. MessageSolution was selected as a finalist from among almost 200 individual product entries by Windows IT Pro and SQL Server Magazine's panel of judges. MessageSolution Email & File Archive Enterprise Suite is a comprehensive on site software solution for managing enterprise intelligence and preparing for audits, electronic discovery, and litigation requests.

Milpitas, CA (PRWEB) May 6, 2009

MessageSolution, Inc., the global technology leader in email and file archiving solutions for electronic discovery, litigation support, compliance, and storage management, today announces that MessageSolution Email & File Archive Enterprise Suite has been named one of three finalists in the Best of TechEd 2009 Awards in the Business Intelligence category. The Best of TechEd Awards are conducted by Windows IT Pro and SQL Server Magazine.

MessageSolution Email & File Archive Enterprise Suite (http://www. messagesolution. com/email_archiving. htm) is a comprehensive on site software solution for managing enterprise intelligence and preparing for audits, electronic discovery, and litigation requests.

MessageSolution was selected as a finalist from among almost 200 individual product entries by Windows IT Pro and SQL Server Magazine's panel of judges. Other distinguished finalists include global technology leaders such as Cisco, HP, NetApp, and more.

"We are very excited that our newest solution, MessageSolution Email & File Archive Enterprise Suite, has been named a finalist in the Business Intelligence category," said MessageSolution Chief Technology Officer Jeff Liang. "MessageSolution's unified email and file archive contains powerful business intelligence tools that allows businesses to mine for business-critical data in both corporate email and file archives in one search interface."

MessageSolution is among the first in the archiving industry to provide an enterprise-level archiving suite that allows both email and file archives (http://www. messagesolution. com/File%20Archive. htm) to be installed on one server, thus reducing enterprise hardware requirements. Both email and file archives can also be accessed from one central user interface, thereby streamlining corporate intelligence management and increasing productivity by making enterprise search infinitely more thorough.

MessageSolution Email & File Archive Enterprise Suite support Microsoft Exchange Server, IBM Notes Domino, Novell GroupWise, major Linux-based email servers, and file servers. Integration with Outlook Web Access/Domino Web Access and Outlook/Lotus Notes client assures that data is always transparently available at employees' fingertips, just a double click away.

Versioning allows businesses to analyze the development of corporate data. Employee email and file usage and behaviors can be monitored, as can the contents of messages and files.

MessageSolution Email & File Archive Enterprise Suite provide a variety of built-in reports and reporting functions that allow businesses to analyze how emails, attachments, and files are being used, who is sending what data to whom, and discover what intelligence is contained in the corporate email and file database.

Supervisors, administrators, and legal review teams are able to comb the full corporate knowledge database, automate data classification application, manually tag/flag archived data, add review notes, and analyze message and file pathways.

"The winners will be selected by a judging panel of editors from Windows IT Pro and SQL Server Magazine, and are evaluated based on each finalist's strategic importance, competitive advantage, and value to customers," wrote Jeff James, Editor-in-Chief, Web Content Strategist for Penton Media's IT Publishing Group.

Best of TechEd Award winners will be announced onsite at TechEd at the Windows IT Pro and SQL Server Magazine booth during lunch on Thursday, May 14, 2009. For more information visit www. windowsitpro. com/awards (http://www. windowsitpro. com/awards).

About The Windows IT Pro Group:
The Windows IT Pro community is the heartbeat of the Windows IT world--a gathering of people, content and resources focused on Microsoft Windows technologies and applications. It's a "community" in every sense, bringing an independent, uncensored voice to IT managers, network and systems administrators, developers, systems analysts, CIOs, CTOs, and other technologists at companies worldwide.

Knowledge is shared throughout the community on a daily, weekly and monthly basis via Windows IT Pro magazine, SQL Server Magazine, OfficeSharePointPro Web site, WindowsDev Pro Web site, and a variety of other channels including blogs, forums, podcasts, white papers, newsletters, videocasts and more. Visit www. windowsITpro. com today to learn more.

About MessageSolution, Inc.:
MessageSolution is a technology leader in email and file archiving for electronic discovery, compliance, and content storage management. MessageSolution's products enable organizations to mitigate risk, reduce costs and storage requirements, optimize server performance, and comply with industry and federal regulations. Based in Silicon Valley, California, MessageSolution maintains operations in North America, Europe, and Mainland China, along with distribution channels in Europe, Africa, Australia, and Asia Pacific.

MessageSolution's award-winning products, Enterprise Email Archive and Enterprise File Archive, are cross-server onsite archiving software applications. Both products serve organizations across all industries, including finance, health care, education, manufacturing, government agencies and non-profit organizations worldwide. MessageSolution's products free IT administrators from daily maintenance and increase overall employee productivity. For more information, visit http://www. messagesolution. com (http://www. messagesolution. com).

MessageSolution is actively working with partners around the world to expand its worldwide business presence. Please visit our web site for more information on the Global Partner Network Program.

What Differentiates MessageSolution Products:
Customers continually emphasize MessageSolution products' excellent overall performance, support of all major email servers, and ease of use. MessageSolution provides sub-second data retrieval, an intuitive interface, and ease of deployment and maintenance. MessageSolution's intelligent back-end design significantly reduces installation requirements, backup time, and the need for technical support.

MessageSolution Enterprise Email Archive™ deftly manages petabytes of data daily, a powerful enterprise archiving solution. Electronic discovery and litigation support are empowered by the archive's built-in search engine, which searches through millions of emails within seconds across global locations and data centers. Users can access their archive through their email client, browser, or BlackBerry.

MessageSolution delivers the industry's highest enterprise-level scalability and holds the industry record of archiving 11,000 users on one single MessageSolution archive server. Competitive vendors archive on average 3,000-5,000 users on a single archive server, much less than MessageSolution archiving system's scalability and flexibility.

A high in-process compression rate combined with single instance message and attachment archiving slows archive storage growth. Enterprise Email Archive™ further reduces organizations' storage costs by using only 30% of the original mail server storage space for live content archiving. MessageSolution's products support all Latin-based languages, as well as all character-based languages, such as Japanese and Chinese.

###

Jeffrey I. Golden, Honorable Peter M. Elliott’s Last Law Clerk To Be Awarded Judge Elliott Award

Jeffrey I. Golden, Honorable Peter M. Elliott’s Last Law Clerk To Be Awarded Judge Elliott Award

Jeffrey I. Golden will be bestowed with the Peter M. Elliott award on Tuesday, February 26, 2008.

(Vocus) January 22, 2008

As attorneys who have been in practice for years, we often reflect back to earlier times when we started our career.

We began our law school years with the expectation that we would leave law school with the skills and training that we needed to start our legal careers. In truth, most of us received knowledge in law school but truly were guided by mentors and advisors along the way. From the campus where we attended law school to the legal community in which we were a part of, legal professionals influenced the future of our careers.

Jeffrey I. Golden will be bestowed with the Peter M. Elliott award on Tuesday, February 26, 2008. The award is given by the Orange County Bankruptcy Forum to a bar member who embodies the principals Judge Elliott demonstrated throughout his career: legal scholarship, mentorship, education, honesty, integrity, commitment to ethics, efficiency and compassion.

Last Law Clerk for Judge Elliott

For Jeff Golden the honor carries great weight since he clerked for Judge Elliott during his final year, and final months at the bench. Golden considers him to be one of his foremost mentors.

Passion for Bankruptcy Law

A passion for bankruptcy law that began during his internship 20 years ago continues today. Over the years Jeffrey Golden has amassed a vast volume of bankruptcy law. He is like a legal treatise of information, with the uncanny ability to cite cases 20 years old, even from other jurisdictions. His colleagues often call on him to discuss legal issues pertaining to bankruptcy and other areas of law. He has been an expert witness for the US Attorney’s Office in some of the most high profile white collar bankruptcy criminal cases on record.

Today he is a Bankruptcy Trustee of the Central District of California, Los Angeles Division, as well as a State Court Receiver. Since 1988, he has represented all the various parties-in-interest in bankruptcy cases. He has represented appellants and appellees to the district court, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He is also admitted to appear in front of the United States Supreme Court.

The Time Has Come for Jeffrey Golden to be the Focus

Jeffrey Golden has not been profiled in a publication such as The Los Angeles Daily Journal. With the interesting sideline story of his clerking for Peter M. Elliott in his final months at the bench, the time is perfect for a feature story.

Judge Elliott knew that death was imminent. He had already sent a letter of resignation to the appellate panel, which they refused. His health was ailing, but he continued his duty on the bench. Golden became more than a clerk. Without his assistance, it would have been virtually impossible for Elliott to get through many of his final days. One of Elliott’s conclusive acts on the bench was to write a letter of recommendation for Golden.

When Jeff began to work with Theodor Albert, he became his other mentor. Today, Theodor Albert sits as a bankruptcy judge. Jeff was a founding member of Weiland, Golden, Smiley, Wang, Ekvall & Strok, LLP. (Formerly, Albert, Weiland, Golden, et al.) As a senior partner at the firm, he is now in the mentor role. He mentors young lawyers both at the firm and throughout the legal community.

He is a past president and former Secretary and Director of the Orange County Bankruptcy Forum. He is a frequent speaker on bankruptcy law, and has presented programs for the Federal Bar Association, the OCBA and the OCBF. He is currently the co-editor-in chief for the California Bankruptcy Journal.

Today Jeff is one of the most well-respected panel trustees in Los Angeles. He has been instrumental in the resolution of so many high profile bankruptcy cases, that it is difficult to name only a few.

His time has come to tell his story. Please consider an interview with this knowledgeable and colorful legal professional.

In order to schedule an interview with Jeffrey Golden, please contact Marla McCutcheon at (949) 861-8260.

###

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Infectious Microorganism Linked to Kidney Stones and Other Diseases - Astronauts at Highest Risk During Space Missions

Infectious Microorganism Linked to Kidney Stones and Other Diseases - Astronauts at Highest Risk During Space Missions

NASA researchers announce a potential cause of rapid kidney stone formation in astronauts on space travels. The authors of a study published in Kidney International call for a "Major Initiative" to investigate nanobacteria.

(PRWEB) February 26, 2005

NASA researchers announce a potential cause of rapid kidney stone formation in astronauts on space travels. The authors of a study published in Kidney International call for a "Major Initiative" to investigate nanobacteria.

Nanobacteria (NB), a novel self-replicating, mineralizing agent, has been identified by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) scientists as a potential culprit in kidney stone formation among astronauts. With the potential for future exploratory space missions to the moon and Mars, longer missions, and exposure to the elements of outer space, health is a major concern for astronauts.

To further comprehend the implications of NB, trials were conducted at NASA to examine NB, in a bioreactor chamber which simulates conditions of space travel. In this microgravity environment, NB was found to multiply five times faster compared to normal gravity on Earth, supporting earlier discoveries that microbes have radically different behavior in weightless environments. NB is also shown to possibly be an infectious risk for crew members living in close quarters.

“The concept that nanobacteria are living organisms is still controversial because the research on their putative nucleic acid has not been completed yet,” states lead researcher Neva Ciftcioglu, Ph. D. However, the group’s research provides additional clues to understanding NB and its link to pathologic calcification-related diseases.

“Hopefully, eradication or treatment of these diseases will be possible in the near future. We need more research and support to solve this puzzle, but we feel that we are close,” adds Ciftcioglu.

NB was discovered in the 1990s and has been found in the calcium phosphate centers of kidney stones. This novel agent has also been detected in related conditions, including AlzheimerÂ’s disease, heart disease, prostatitis, and some cancers. Further testing for the presence of NB in human bodies can help reduce the risk for kidney stone formation in astronauts and would also be of benefit to the nearly one million Americans who are treated for kidney stones each year.

This study is published in Kidney International. Media wishing to receive a PDF of the article please contact medicalnews@bos. blackwellpublishing. net.

About the Author

Neva Ciftcioglu, PhD is Director of Science at Nanobac Life Sciences, Inc.,NASA Johnson Space Center. Dr. Ciftcioglu is the co-discoverer of nanobacteria along with Dr. E. Olavi Kajander. As a medical microbiologist, she has been working solely on nanobacteria and molecular research on pathologic calcification-related diseases since 1991. She is available for questions and interviews at nciftcio@ems. jsc. nasa. gov. Fellow researcher Dr. David S. McKay can also be reached for further information at David. S.Mckay@nasa. gov.

About Kidney International

Kidney International, published on behalf of the International Society of Nephrology, is one of the most cited journals in nephrology. Kidney International delivers current laboratory and clinical research on renal medicine. This peer-reviewed, leading international journal is the most authoritative forum for renal science and medicine. Kidney International continues to be a vital source of information for researchers around the world. For additional information on the journal, please visit www. blackwellpublishing. com/kid (http://www. blackwellpublishing. com/kid).

About the International Society of Nephrology

The International Society of Nephrology (ISN), a not-for-profit association founded in 1960, is committed to the worldwide advancement of education, science and patient care in nephrology. This goal is achieved by means of the SocietyÂ’s journals, the organization of international congresses and symposia, and various outreach programs around the world. The ISN acts as an international forum on nephrology for leading nephrologists as well as young investigators, from both developed and emerging countries. Further information is available at www. isn-online. org.

About Blackwell Publishing

Blackwell Publishing is the worldÂ’s leading society publisher, partnering with more than 600 academic and professional societies. Blackwell publishes over 750 journals and 600 text and reference books annually, across a wide range of academic, medical, and professional subjects.

###

Accept God’s Invitation to Party in New Xulon Press Book

Accept God’s Invitation to Party in New Xulon Press Book

Author teaches how to receive His gift of faith in order to claim joy

Longwood, FL (Vocus) May 1, 2010

Regardless of a person’s past, God wants His best for their life, and He has planned an awesome party to celebrate it! In Karen C. Isbell’s new title, Party! God’s Invitation: Faith! Our Acceptance ($10.99, paperback, 978-1-61579-843-8), the author invites readers to join her in accepting His invitation to party along with His gift of faith to endure challenges and claim joy. He does not promise a perfect life, but He does promise to walk with believers and guide them on every step of their earthly journey.

“The book is a pure example of God’s grace and His desire for us to be His regardless of our sins and mistakes. I want readers to know with certainty that God loves us unconditionally and wants us for His own,” the author says. “We are His creation, we are His chosen—He is not done with us yet!”

Isbell, who holds a degree in marketing and adult education, along with life coach certification, has spent much of her adult life coaching, facilitating, motivating, and teaching others to welcome God into their hearts. With this book, she hopes to further her work of ministering to others who are in need of His love. “The book offers encouragement and confirms His unconditional love and promise that He will never leave us nor forsake us,” she explains.

Karen C. Isbell and her husband live in Gadsden, Alabama.

Xulon Press, a division of Salem Communications, is the world’s largest Christian publisher, with more than 7,000 titles published to date. Retailers may order Party! God’s Invitation: Faith! Our Acceptance through Ingram Book Company and/or Spring Arbor Book Distributors. Party! God’s Invitation: Faith! Our Acceptance is available online through xulonpress. com/bookstore, amazon. com, and barnesandnoble. com.

###

Experience the Most Advanced Simulation Development Tool

Experience the Most Advanced Simulation Development Tool

July is SimWriter Online Demonstration Month.

Wichita, KS (PRWEB) June 30, 2006

See why e-Learning developers are calling NexLearn SimWriter the industry’s must-have breakthrough technology.

July Online Demonstration Schedule:

•July 6 10:00AM and 2:00PM (CST)

•July 11 10:00AM and 2:00PM (CST)

•July 13 10:00AM and 2:00PM (CST)

•July 18 10:00AM and 2:00PM (CST)

•July 20 10:00AM and 2:00PM (CST)

•July 25 10:00AM and 2:00PM (CST)

•July 27 10:00AM and 2:00PM (CST)

•One-on-one demonstrations are also available. Call to schedule.

Space is limited for these no cost, 1 hour sessions. To receive passcode information for a particular session, contact Patrick Mileham.

SimWriter gives one person the power to create robust, media-rich branching or role play social simulations that before required an entire team of instructional designers, graphic artists, and engineers to develop. Imagine all the development processes necessary to create a decision-making simulation combined into a single tool. Instructional designers, writers, trainers, human resources personnel, or subject matter experts can map, write, design, build, and test custom simulations.

SimWriter develops many types of simulations, including those most commonly used in corporate and academic environments: Social simulations, which emulate human interaction; Software simulations, which replicate software applications; Physical simulations, which include physical systems or machines; and Calculation simulations, which involve manipulating data and testing the results.

Simulation-based learning combines cutting-edge technology with the social aspect of human interaction to create interesting and engaging learning experiences. Simulations are quite simply the most powerful approach to training today because they target multiple learning styles and are based in risk-free, learn-by-doing environments that can reproduce events or processes specific to a particular organization. SimWriter makes developing training programs—and updating the learning content -- fast, easy, and affordable.

About NexLearn

NexLearn, LLC, a leading provider of custom academic and business education software specializing in social simulations, develops engaging multimedia courses that apply proven interface design, advanced instructional strategies, and innovative technology platforms. The comprehensive NexStep Process supports the company's commitment to—and strength in—developing multimedia training and education solutions to provide partners with the next step in learning. NexLearn is the choice for advancing excellence in business and academic education.

# # #

BetterPhoto. com Announces ProCritiques

BetterPhoto. com Announces ProCritiques

”Professional Photographers Review Your Photographs”

Redmond, Washington (PRWEB) September 25, 2006

BetterPhoto. com, the worldwide leader in online photography education, today announced a new and exciting feature - ProCritiques! For $79 members can upload up to 8 photographs for one of our team of professional photographers to critique! When the critiques are complete participants are notified by email, and they may contact the instructor if they need further clarification of the review of their photos. Along with this, participants will receive a $20 coupon for one of BetterPhoto’s excellent online photography courses.

“The ProCritiques are a fantastic opportunity for newcomers and members alike to experience the expertise and accessibility of our photography instructors,” said Jim Miotke. “We are thrilled to be able to now offer this feature which has been a goal of ours for some time.”

BetterPhoto brings together over 150,000 members from around the world for learning, fun, and community. The site offers over 80 courses on photography and Photoshop, taught by scores of published, professional photographers including Tony Sweet, Brenda Tharp, Jim Zuckerman, Outdoor Photographer editor Rob Sheppard, and Shutterbug editor George Schaub. Courses are offered every month. Sign up today to get your photos thoughtfully and promptly reviewed by professionals. The monthly BetterPhoto. com contest, considered the best on the web, brings in over 25,000 entries monthly, and awards winners in 10 categories.

About BetterPhoto. com

BetterPhoto. com is the worldwide leader in online photography education, offering an approachable resource for photographers who want to improve their skills, share their photos, and learn more about the art and technique of photography. Headquartered in Redmond, WA, BetterPhoto. com is a fun, approachable community, offering online photography courses led by highly respected and published professional photographers, who act as mentors. BetterPhoto also offers a range of gallery and web hosting options that are easy to use and powerfully customizable, and offers a rich community experience and the best photo contests on the web.

For more information, visit the BetterPhoto website at http://www. betterphoto. com (http://www. betterphoto. com).

###

Friday, August 28, 2009

Primerus Experiences Unprecedented Growth in 2009

Primerus Experiences Unprecedented Growth in 2009

The International Society of Primerus Law Firms received 46 new applications for membership in 2009.

Grand Rapids, MI (PRWEB) January 5, 2010

Despite the struggling economic climate, the International Society of Primerus Law Firms (http://www. primerus. com/about. htm) (Primerus) is pleased to announce unprecedented growth for 2009. Primerus received 46 new applications for membership during the calendar year of 2009.

Primerus is an international alliance of small and medium sized, top-rated, independent firms. With approximately 140 member law firms located in the U. S., Canada, Mexico and the U. K., Primerus firms (http://www. primerus. com/find_law_firm. htm) provide clients with responsive, high quality, partner-level service at reasonable fees, much less than what large law firms charge their clients. All Primerus law firms are: AV - rated using the Martindale-Hubbell peer review service; screened for excellence; audited annually for continued quality; and committed to excellence in six key areas--integrity, reasonable fees, continuing education, civility, community service and excellent work product.

According to an article which appeared in the October 2009 issue of Corporate INTL entitled, Primerus: Trusted Legal Advisors, “With over 1,700 lawyers, Primerus is the size of some of the world’s largest law firms. Every year, more and more law firms are attracted to the brand we offer – high quality legal services at reasonable fees.” Founder and President John C. "Jack" Buchanan (http://www. primerus. com/presidents_message. htm) adds, “Given the economic changes of recent years, it has never been more important for corporations around the world to develop trusted relationships with law firms that offer significant value through high quality legal services at reasonable fees … companies in need of legal services can call upon any Primerus lawyer with complete confidence that he or she is reasonably priced, highly competent and most importantly, worthy of your implicit trust.”

For more information about Primerus or to find a Primerus firm, please contact Ruth Martin (rmartin(at)primerus(dot)com), Senior Vice President and General Counsel, at 800-968-2211 or visit the International Society of Primerus Law Firms (http://www. primerus. com).

###

Thursday, August 27, 2009

A Modern Log Raising Hosted by Honest Abe Log Homes

A Modern Log Raising Hosted by Honest Abe Log Homes

Years ago, a log or barn raising was a common event throughout our country. Neighbors would come from all around to help a friend in need build their home or barn. A whole community would gather, making a big event of it, and erect a structure in a day or so. Honest Abe Log Homes, a leading manufacturer of log homes based in Moss, Tennessee, has taken this age-old tradition and added a modern touch.

Moss, TN (Vocus) July 13, 2010

Years ago, a log or barn raising was a common event throughout our country. Neighbors would come from all around to help a friend in need build their home or barn. A whole community would gather, making a big event of it, and erect a structure in a day or so. Honest Abe Log Homes, a leading manufacturer of log homes based in Moss, Tennessee, has taken this age-old tradition and added a modern touch.

In an effort to better educate log home enthusiasts, Honest Abe Log Homes hosts a number of log raising events each year. However, to attend there is no need to bring your ladder and hammer. Instead, the event is hosted indoors so the climate is controlled, and the event may be held rain or shine. The company constructs a small structure, using the same logs and products as with a full-scale home. Attendees have the ability to ask questions and even interact.

Those dreaming of building a log home can gain first hand knowledge of how an Honest Abe Log Home is constructed. Rachel Meadows, Sales Manager for Honest Abe Log Homes noted, “All of our Log Home Specialists and management attend. They are directly involved with the log raising and available for questions throughout. We also have our builders involved, which many find comforting and helpful.”

As the event progresses, logs are stacked to form a small structure. Soon, ceiling beams and a second floor are built. A small roof section is then added featuring exposed interior rafters. Porches, decks, windows, doors and all the other components of a modern log home are previewed and discussed throughout the morning. After the structure is built, everyone is treated to lunch, and immediately following is a tour of the manufacturing facility.

Randy Fudge, President of Honest Abe Log Homes and host of the event had this to say, “We have never wanted our log raising to just be an advertisement for our homes. It’s supposed to be educational, and we hope it helps the log home industry as a whole. We try to keep the mood light and the atmosphere casual.” Randy also commented that the event is open to the public and there is no fee involved.

Honest Abe Log Homes will only host three more log raising events in 2010 that are open to the public. The next will be held on July 24th, with the remaining two dates on September 25th and November 13th. Since the event is held indoors, space is limited, so the company requests that seating reservations are made prior to the date. The log raising starts at 9 AM, CST at their National Headquarters in Moss, Tennessee, and typically ends just after noon.

About Honest Abe Log Homes:
Founded in 1979, Honest Abe Log Homes, Inc. is located in the rural community of Moss, Tennessee. Honest Abe is a privately held, family owned and operated company. From its modest beginnings, the company saw steady and consistent growth, and is recognized as a leading manufacturer of log homes throughout the United States. Honest Abe sells and delivers log homes nation-wide through four company owned models in Tennessee, and through a network of Independent Dealerships throughout the country.

###

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

“Today’s Family” Show to Feature Pigeon Forge, TN

“Today’s Family” Show to Feature Pigeon Forge, TN

The original home of Dolly Parton has come a long way from a two-stoplight farming community in the 1960s to the current thriving tourism destination that welcomes more than 11 million visitors a year.

Deerfield Beach, FL (PRWEB) November 5, 2004

Platinum Television Group is pleased to announce the selection of Pigeon Forge, TN, for its highly acclaimed television series, Today’s Family. The area will be featured in a segment on “Family Vacation Destinations.”

It may sound like a small quaint town, but the original home of Dolly Parton has come a long way from a two-stoplight farming community in the 1960s to the current thriving tourism destination that welcomes more than 11 million visitors a year. With something for everyone, Pigeon Forge could be your next affordable family vacation destination, the perfect place for groups or individuals of all ages and sizes. The area is filled with theaters, restaurants, shopping and Dollywood, Tennessee's number one attraction, all surrounded by the majestic Smoky Mountains.

At this fun family vacation spot, you can check out the more than 40 attractions located along Pigeon ForgeÂ’s Parkway. Between miniature golf, go-carts, bumper boats, water rides, laser games and even an indoor skydiving simulator, no one can be bored.

Even history becomes fun on a Pigeon Forge vacation because of the entertaining and educational exhibits on display at these museums: Carbo's Police, Dinosaur Walk, Elvis, Veterans Memorial and the Smoky Mountain Car.

In addition to these attractions, Pigeon Forge is home to music, magic and variety. The theaters present all styles of music, high-energy dancing and magical illusions—as well as amazing horsemanship, racing ostriches, mind-reading pigs, fire-eaters, jugglers and the best Elvis impersonator this side of Graceland! The theaters are dedicated to presenting wholesome family entertainment.

One must also visit Dollywood Entertainment Park, one of the South's favorite family vacation spots founded by Dolly Parton, filled with music, rides, mountain craft demonstrations and other attractions that showcase life in the Smokies. Summertime visitors can experience the added attraction of DollywoodÂ’s Splash Country, a 25-acre water park with waterfalls, winding streams and whitewater adventure.

Pigeon Forge cabins, hotels, inns, condominiums, and campgrounds with full hook-ups, bathhouses and tent sites are available. You're also never far from the beauty of the Smoky Mountains, as Pigeon Forge is right at the base of the national park. For more information, see http://www. mypigeonforge. com/ (http://www. mypigeonforge. com/).

###

Sunday, August 23, 2009

PG and CVS Asset Holder FDFAX Included in 10 Best Mutual Funds for Today : Free MutualsAdvisor. com Report Focuses on 10 Diverse Mutual Funds to Invest in during Today's Market Volatility

PG and CVS Asset Holder FDFAX Included in 10 Best Mutual Funds for Today : Free MutualsAdvisor. com Report Focuses on 10 Diverse Mutual Funds to Invest in during Today's Market Volatility

The "Top 10 Mutual Funds for Today" Special Report was released today by MutualsAdvisor. com, a leading investment advisory website from Business Financial Publishing. The just-released report features 10 diverse mutual funds including Fidelity Select Consumer Staples (FDFAX), which holds assets in three top performing consumer staples companies: Procter & Gamble (PG), PepsiCo (PEP) and CVS Caremark (CVS).

WASHINGTON (PRWEB) June 3, 2008

This third edition report from MutualsAdvisor. com, "Top 10 Mutual Funds for Today" provides investors detailed and comprehensive research on 10 funds set to outperform during the current market volatility. The mutual funds represent a wide spectrum of funds, ranging from small cap blends to world allocation funds. They have all been carefully selected according to their fund managers, turnover, fund size, performance, expenses, investment objectives, and more.

Business Financial Publishing's Chief Investment Strategist Ian Wyatt said, "Given current market conditions, we initiated research and analysis on economic downturns in history to find those mutual funds and sectors that tended to outperform the market and preserve investor capital. Fidelity Select Consumer Staples is an example of the type of fund whose holdings will remain consistent during this market volatility. FDFAX's primary driver is that its holdings provide consumer staples and consistent, in-demand products that people will continue to buy everyday, regardless of economic conditions."

Investors can request a free copy of "The Top 10 Mutual Funds for Today" to find out more about the Fidelity fund and discover nine more winners by visiting http://www. mutualsadvisor. com (http://www. mutualsadvisor. com).

Fidelity Select Consumer Staples' holding with Procter & Gamble (PG) is looking very promising for investors seeking defensive funds. Net sales for Procter & Gamble rose 9% to $20.5 billion, despite economic woes felt across many other companies. Though Procter & Gamble did have to increase prices across various consumer sectors, there appears to be no negative impact on sales.

In addition to Fidelity Select Consumer Staples, Dodge and Cox Stock (DODGX), a large-value fund is included in this report. Over the past 20 years, Dodge and Cox Stock has delivered an average annual return of 14.18% and holds assets in Wal-Mart, Hewlett-Packard and Comcast. Wal-Mart has posted consistent, upward swings in business sales.

More information on Fidelity Select Consumers Staples and Dodge and Cox Stock can be found along with eight other mutual funds on the MutualsAdvisor. com website, http://www. mutualsadvisor. com (http://www. mutualsadvisor. com).

About MutualsAdvisor. com and Business Financial Publishing

MutualsAdvisor. com is an investment advisory website from Washington, DC-based Business Financial Publishing, an independent publisher of paid subscription newsletters, free investment reports, and investment advisory websites.

Business Financial Publishing is led by founder Ian Wyatt who takes a leading role in the selection of investments and research as the Chief Investment Strategist. Ian has a passion for finding high quality investments and educating investors. He is assisted by a team of dedicated professionals who strive to provide the highest quality research and ongoing education of everything investment related in an easy to understand format for individual investors.

Fake Diploma Production on the Rise

Fake Diploma Production on the Rise

USIS offers the DipScan database, a product designed to help employers determine whether a prospective employee's academic degree and credentials are legitimate.

Tulsa, OK (PRWEB) April 4, 2005

Colby Nolan, a six-year-old black cat, was recently awarded an MBA degree by Trinity Southern University. For a mere $299, Colby first received a bachelorÂ’s degree based on past babysitting and retail management experience. Colby was then able to earn a master of business administration degree on the basis of past course work and a 3.5 grade-point average.

Trinity Southern University, based in Texas and operated by two brothers, is currently being sued for manufacturing and selling fake academic degrees. The situation, however, is not unusual, as illegitimate diploma mills are awarding thousands of fraudulent degrees each year. These diploma mills are skilled in creating false documentation, resulting in a number of educational institutions listed on applicant resumes viewed by human resource professionals on a daily basis. It is often difficult for HR professionals to be sure an applicantÂ’s college or university degree is legitimate.

The cost of hiring unqualified applicants includes an increase in an employerÂ’s training and turnover costs, as well as a decrease in employee productivity. Applicants who misrepresent information to get a job may never be trustworthy employees. Educational credentials can speak volumes about an individualÂ’s motivation, initiative, qualifications, leadership abilities or lack thereof.

USIS, a nationwide leader in employment background screening, offers DipScan, a product that compares the educational institution listed by the applicant or employee against a database of non-GAAP (Generally Accepted Accrediting Principles) establishments. A “hit” from DipScan indicates the need to research the legitimacy of the school and whether any degree claimed meets the requirements for employment. USIS will then research the facility to determine whether it should be considered a degree mill, a legitimate school or something in between.

DipScan is the first and only product of its kind that contains a comprehensive list of diploma mills that will continue to be updated on a regular basis.

USIS, the largest investigative services company on the North American continent, offers a wide array of services for security and employment screening decisions which include employment background screening, workplace substance abuse programs, criminal history records, employment, education and license verifications, reference checking, driving records, credit reports, and more.

USIS is headquartered in Annandale, Penn. and maintains regional business centers in New York, Philadelphia, Washington, D. C., Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Albuquerque, Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle. Additionally, USIS maintains 7,000 dedicated and highly trained full-time employees who operate from more than 185 locations through out the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U. S. Virgin Islands.

For more information about USIS, please visit www. usis. com.

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

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Music Career Mini-Conference Hollywood

Music Career Mini-Conference Hollywood

Long-time songwriter and music producer, Janet Fisher will host two separate "Music Career Mini-Conferences" on November 16th and 23rd, 2002, at the Songwriters Guild in Hollwyood, CA.

(PRWEB) October 29, 2002

October 29, 2002, Hollywood, CA -- Two separate Saturday music mini-conferences are being hosted by Janet Fisher, Goodnight Kiss Music Publishing, for any songwriter or musician who is interested in pitching songs or music business education.

The meetings will be held at the Songwriters Guild on Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood, California, on November 16 and 23, from 11:00am-4:00pm. The five hour schedule includes mentoring, three song pitch sessions and evaluations, and extensive Q&A from the audience.

The cost for either Saturday is $50.00. Class size is limited to 50. Information is online at:

Http://www. goodnightkiss. com/event. html (http://www. goodnightkiss. com/event. html)
Fisher is a long-time songwriter and music publisher for Film and TV, as well as a producer of products and live shows.

Out-of-area writers may also enroll online, and send a one or two song package, with typed lyric sheet, and a list of up to 5 specific music-career-related questions.

"So many people have songs that are really worthy, but just don't know if it's possible to turn them into income sources for the future -- there are lots of ways to look for creative uses," Fisher states "Each case is different -- each writer/artists' needs are individual -- we are trying to improve the traditional class situation that only addresses the generic."

Fisher also believes her classes are unique because she only hosts a class when she or another person is actually LOOKING for songs to sign, AND she counsels each attendee about their personal stumbling blocks and questions.

Information about the class may be obtained by sending an SASE to:

Goodnight Kiss Music NOVEMBER

10153 1/2 Riverside Drive, Ste # 239

Toluca Lake, CA 91602

Inquiries may also be made to the Songwriters Guild in Hollywood (323) 462-1108 or Goodnight Kiss Music (323) 969-9993.

# # # #

Friday, August 21, 2009

Plateau to Sponsor Human Capital Institute’s Developing and Optimizing Talent Initiatives

Plateau to Sponsor Human Capital Institute’s Developing and Optimizing Talent Initiatives

The Human Capital Institute (HCI), a global professional association and educator in talent management strategies, and Plateau, a leading provider of software for developing, managing, and optimizing organizational skills and talent, announced today that Plateau will sponsor HCI’s Developing and Optimizing Talent learning and research track. The track is one of several topics addressed in HCI’s Talent Leadership community of interest, a community HCI considers critical to organizations working to build competitive advantage.

Washington, D. C. (PRWEB) August 10, 2006

The Human Capital Institute (HCI), a global professional association and educator in talent management strategies, and Plateau, a leading provider of software for developing, managing, and optimizing organizational skills and talent, announced today that Plateau will sponsor HCI’s Developing and Optimizing Talent learning and research track. The track is one of several topics addressed in HCI’s Talent Leadership community of interest, a community HCI considers critical to organizations working to build competitive advantage.

Both Plateau and HCI realize that when leaders ensure that planning and developing talent are aligned with corporate priorities, employee productivity and passion for work increases, resulting in reduced turnover and recruitment costs and greater competitive advantage.

“A major complaint among employees today is that their skills and talents are underutilized. As they experience barriers to mobility and opportunities within their companies, they believe they have no choice but to look elsewhere,” said Allan Schweyer, HCI’s Executive Director. “The problem isn’t that their current employers don’t have opportunities for them, however; it’s that few companies understand their talent well enough to effectively deploy individuals into the right jobs at the right time.”

The Developing and Optimizing Talent track focuses on maximizing human capital potential and motivation by aligning work with talents, ambitions, and passions. A panel of expert advisors explores next practices and initiatives in talent development, management, and optimization in market-leading companies, and examines how these actions affect competitive success. Webcasts, white papers, education, and other resources provide human capital professionals with information they need to optimize their organizations’ talent.

“For a company to succeed in today’s highly competitive business environment, developing and optimizing employee talent must be a priority,” said Paul Sparta, Chairman & CEO of Plateau. “Plateau is committed to helping organizations actualize and maximize their talent by ensuring that learning and training are linked with performance and career and succession planning. By supporting the Human Capital Institute’s efforts in this area, we hope to expand awareness around the benefits of adopting a holistic approach to talent management.”

About Plateau

Plateau is a leading provider of adaptable Web-based software for developing, managing, and optimizing organizational skills and talent to increase workforce productivity and business operations performance. Plateau’s software is used by some of the world’s largest, most successful enterprises, including the American Red Cross, General Electric, Internal Revenue Service, and Wendy’s International. The company is headquartered in Arlington, Va. For more information, please visit www. Plateau. com

About the Human The Human Capital Institute

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

Www. humancapitalinstitute. org

Plateau

Wendy Werve

703-292-0381

Human Capital Institute

Andrea Miller

866-538-1909

###

"Why Are Christians Living Just Like the Rest of the World?" Asks Evangelical Author and Activist Ron Sider

"Why Are Christians Living Just Like the Rest of the World?" Asks Evangelical Author and Activist Ron Sider

Despite polls showing that 86 percent of Americans believe in God, surveys reveal that Christians are not living what they preach, says Ron Sider, author of The Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience (Baker Books, February 2005). Sider examines the broken links between belief and practice for Christians—including sexual promiscuity, hedonism, materialism, racism, divorce, egotism, and physical abuse in marriage. Divorce rates and sexual promiscuity among evangelicals contradict a political pro-family stand, while a general moral failure contradicts evangelicals commitment to “moral values” compared to the rest of “corrupt culture.” Publishers Weekly calls Sider’s criticisms “incisive and prophetic.”

Grand Rapids, MI (PRWEB) January 28, 2005

Despite polls showing that 86 percent of Americans believe in God, surveys reveal that Christians are not living what they preach, says Ron Sider, author of The Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience (Baker Books, February 2005).

Sider, a best-selling author and evangelical social activist, asserts that “by their daily activity, most 'Christians' regularly commit treason. With their mouths they claim that Jesus is their Lord, but with their actions they demonstrate their allegiance to money, sex and personal self-fulfillment.”

This blistering critique isn’t easy medicine to take, but it will offer rays of hope and a prophetic call to transformed living. Sider examines the broken links between belief and practice—including sexual promiscuity, hedonism, materialism, racism, divorce, egotism, and physical abuse in marriage—the list goes on. “Unless we face these questions with ruthless honesty, we can never hope to correct things,” Sider says. He urges a vision for transformed living.

Divorce and Sexual Promiscuity

Divorce rates and sexual promiscuity among Christians contradict a political pro-family stand, Sider reports. Studies reveal that 90 percent of all divorced born-again Christians divorced after they had accepted Christ. Nationally, 33 percent of all adults have lived with a member of the opposite sex without being married, compared to 25 percent for born-again Christians. Research shows that cohabitation, premarital sex, extramarital sex, and pornography are rampant problems among evangelicals.

On Racism

Polling data shows that 17 percent of evangelicals and 20 percent of Southern Baptists were among the most likely groups to object to black neighbors. Sider is sick of the racism and economic injustices among Christians, pointing not only to individual conversions, but also to social restructuring to drive change. “Christian congregations today should be far ahead instead of lagging behind the rest of society in the struggle against racism,” Sider says.

Economic Justice

On sharing and financial accountability, Sider calls Christians to show compassion for the poor all the time, not just reactions to natural disasters. American Christians live in the richest nation on earth and enjoy an average household income of $42,409—while 1.2 billion of the world’s poorest people try to survive on just one dollar a day. “If American Christians simply gave a tithe rather than the current one-quarter of a tithe, there would be enough private Christian dollars to provide basic health care and education to all the poor of the earth. And we would still have an extra $60–70 billion left over for evangelism around the world,” Sider says.

Hope for the Future

Statistics reveal a spiritually hungry nation, with 80 percent of all born-again Christians saying a deep commitment to faith in their future is important. Sider calls for accountability and community for all Christians—including dethroning materialism, joining small groups, increasing giving, mission trips, prayer, and obedience. “If vital Christian faith is to survive, we must understand the depth of the crisis, discover why it has happened, and develop obedient, faithful correctives … This book will renew evangelical resolve to live what they preach,” Sider says. Ronald J. Sider is president of Evangelicals for Social Action (ESA) and professor of theology, holistic ministry, and public policy at Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Sider is the best-selling author of over twenty-five books, including Just Generosity and Churches That Make a Difference.

Baker Books has a vision for building up the body of Christ at every level with books that are relevant, intelligent, and engaging. Visit us online at www. bakerbooks. com.

Title: The Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience

Subtitle: Why Are Christians Living Just Like the Rest of the World?

Release: February 2005

Publisher: Baker Books

Category: Christian Living

Price: $12.99

ISBN: 0-8010-6541-0

Pages: 144

*All statistics from sources cited in The Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience by Ron Sider.

###

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Acumen Announces Investment in Medicine Shoppe India; Will Bring Critical Health Care Services To Rural Areas

Acumen Announces Investment in Medicine Shoppe India; Will Bring Critical Health Care Services To Rural Areas

Investment Provides Financing for Medicine Shoppe India’s New Rural Health Centers Offering Quality Medicine and Affordable Care; Acumen Fund, a leading catalyst for sustainable, scalable solutions addressing poverty in the developing world, has made a $1.1 million (~Rs.50 million) investment in Medicine Shoppe India, the second largest pharmacy chain in India.

New York, NY (PRWEB) September 27, 2006

Acumen Fund, a leading catalyst for sustainable, scalable solutions addressing poverty in the developing world, today announced that it has made a $1.1 million (~Rs.50 million) investment in Medicine Shoppe India, the second largest pharmacy chain in India. Medicine Shoppe India operates 100 stores in six Indian states and is the only international pharmaceutical retailer with a presence in India. Acumen Fund’s investment gives it an equity stake in Medicine Shoppe India and is being used to develop and launch health centers at the district level that will serve rural customers.

“Acumen Fund serves as a venture capital source for entrepreneurial models that are intent on bringing affordable, accessible goods and services to the billions of people excluded from today’s global markets,” said Acumen Fund CEO Jacqueline Novogratz. “Medicine Shoppe India offers Acumen Fund the opportunity to invest in the expansion of an existing, well-managed business that is entering India’s rural markets to meet the needs of millions who lack access to critical health care services.”

Medicine Shoppe India is using the financing it has received from Acumen Fund’s investment to launch its rural business plan, which the company intends to pilot with four stores and scale to 130 locations over five years. Medicine Shoppe has already conducted a preliminary analysis of rural health needs and developed an initial rural health center model that will include an in-house physician, pharmacy, vision center and outsourced pathology. The health centers will offer free check-ups with the doctor and optometrist, while charging for medicines and glasses. Local doctors and technicians will be recruited to work in the new health centers, and pharmaceutical formularies will be regulated to assure health center level profitability without compromising quality of treatment.

In order to drive traffic to the health centers, locations will coincide with major traffic centers. Medicine Shoppe also intends to partner with rural Information and Communications Technology (ICT) operators to publicize Medicine Shoppe services and products and to educate rural populations on particular health concerns.

More than any other factor, lack of quality healthcare has the unique distinction of making the maximum number of rural villagers slip below the poverty line. A recent Disha survey found that close to 12 percent of rural income is spent on healthcare and nearly 60 percent of this population takes loans at annual interest rates of 60 percent to 120 percent in order to pay for prolonged treatment or hospitalization. At the same time, nearly 70 percent of medicines sold in rural India are either of substandard quality or counterfeit. Acumen Fund’s investment is enabling Medicine Shoppe India to develop health services including accessible, quality medicine, preventative check-ups and health information.

“Acumen Fund shares our vision of creating a health care model that can scale while achieving the goal of reaching India’s rural poor,” said Medicine Shoppe India CEO Viraj Gandhi. “With the tremendous demand for professional healthcare in India, the success of Medicine Shoppe’s efforts to bring quality health services to rural India is inevitable.”

In addition to the commitment of financial resources, Acumen Fund is advising Medicine Shoppe India on managerial and operational issues. Acumen Fund and Medicine Shoppe India are working together to use financial, social, and operational metrics to measure the investment’s sustainability, potential for scale and social impact – in line with the Acumen Fund philosophy that these factors are the key to creating long-lasting, widespread benefit. The financial metrics being used to determine the investment’s success include gross and net revenues generated by the new Medicine Shoppe health centers and the job creation and increased incomes resulting both directly and indirectly from the centers; operational metrics include the strength of the health center management teams, the ability to expand into new states within India, greater understanding of the health needs of rural customers, and the increased availability of health services and products in rural areas; and social metrics being analyzed include increase in focus on rural markets by the private sector, increased health awareness through education programs, and improved quality of health among due to services available through Medicine Shoppe India’s health centers.

“India’s non-urban low-income population is the largest in the world, and more than two-thirds of rural India lacks access to critical medicines,” said Varun Sahni, Acumen Fund’s India Country Manager. “Acumen Fund’s experience in developing distribution networks that provide critical, affordable goods and services, combined with Medicine Shoppe’s health care expertise and eagerness to enter rural markets, will change millions of lives in rural India.”

About Acumen Fund

Acumen Fund is a global venture philanthropy fund fostering the creation of blueprints for building financially sustainable and scalable organizations that deliver affordable, critical goods and services that improve the lives of the poor. Acumen Fund adheres to a disciplined process in selecting and managing its philanthropic investments as well as in measuring the social and economic returns of the enterprises it supports. For more information on Acumen Fund’s activities and investments, visit www. acumenfund. org.

About Medicine Shoppe India

Medicine Shoppe India started operations in February 1999 with shops operational in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and in several other cities in Maharashtra, Gujarat, West Bengal, Goa, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Delhi. Medicine Shoppe India, the master franchisee of Medicine Shoppe® International (based in St. Louis, MO USA), is already India's largest community pharmacy retail chain and aims to open its 700th franchise by 2010.

###

Houston Alpha Phi Alpha Chapter to Host 3rd Annual Golf Classic

Houston Alpha Phi Alpha Chapter to Host 3rd Annual Golf Classic

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. 3rd Annual Golf Classic to raise money for scholarships.

Pearland, TX (PRWEB) June 22, 2006

On Monday, July 10, the men of the Alpha Eta Lambda (Houston) graduate chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., will host the 2006 3rd annual ALPHA GOLF CLASSIC at the Southwyck Golf Course. The event is open to the public and to all greek letter organizations. Proceeds from the golf tournament will benefit the Alpha Merit Educational Foundation. At-Large Houston city council member Ronald C. Green is the honorary chair for the event and the tournament chair is L. Andre Humphery.

WHO: Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.- Alpha Eta Lambda Chapter

Tournament Chair: L. Andre Humphery

WHAT: 3rd Annual Alpha Golf Classic to benefit the Alpha Merit Educational Foundation (501c3)

WHEN: 

Monday, July 10, 2006

8 a. m. Registration, Range Balls, Bid on Auction Items

9 a. m. Shotgun Start

2 p. m. Lunch (19th hole) Cost: $100 until 6/30; $125 after

WHERE: 

Southwyck Golf Course

2901 Clubhouse Dr.

Pearland, TX 77584

(713) 436-9999

For Registration Contact Tournament Chairman:

L. Andre Humphery 

M: 713.416.6192 

Please make checks payable to Alpha Merit Educational Foundation

Mail checks to: Attn: Alpha Golf Classic, P. O. Box 88318, Houston, TX 77288

About Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.:

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., is an intercollegiate Greek letter fraternity that was established for men in 1906 on the campus of Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Alpha is the oldest Black fraternity in the U. S. and was founded by seven founders known as the JEWELS. The fraternity maintains a national agenda of service in all areas. In 1927, the Alpha Eta Lambda graduate chapter of the fraternity was established. In 1972 it created the Alpha Merit Educational Foundation (AMEF), which provides scholarships to Houston area students. Additional programs sponsored by Alpha Eta Lambda include: “Go to High School, Go to College”, “Toy Dance” (Christmas Black Tie fundraiser), “MLK Memorial Project”, “March of Dimes Walk for America” and “Brother’s Keeper” (Program that assists elderly Alphas and their widows).

###

Physicians Converge on San Francisco to Explore Adding Aesthetic Procedures to Their Medical Practices

Physicians Converge on San Francisco to Explore Adding Aesthetic Procedures to Their Medical Practices

Physicians will gather at the Westin St. Francis in San Francisco on April 21-22 for a free Two-Day Aesthetic Laser Workshop. Physicians will receive 16.5 CME credits for the workshop.

Dallas (PRWEB) April 4, 2007

This month, physicians will gather at the Westin St. Francis in San Francisco on April 21-22, 2007 for a free, intensive Two-Day Aesthetic Laser Workshop designed to provide doctors with tools and training necessary to integrate aesthetic procedures, such as light and laser therapies, into their practices. MedSurge Advances is the corporate grantor for the workshop, conducted by Oakstone Medical Publishing.

The Aesthetic Laser Workshop -- which earns attendees 16.5 CME credits -- combines educational lectures with hands-on clinical training. The workshop covers a full range of clinical procedures, as well as the business aspects of an aesthetic practice.

Topics covered include:
 Principles of laser and light therapy  Skin rejuvenation options  Cellulite treatments  Hair reduction  Vascular and pigmented lesions  Acne treatments  BOTOX and other injectables  Safety guidelines and ANSI requirements  Pricing, packaging and marketing of services  Keys to a successful aesthetic medicine practice Physicians who are interested in attending the workshops can register by contacting Rob Huckels with MedSurge Advances at 214.540.3807.
About MedSurge Advances

Based in Dallas, MedSurge Advances helps physicians across the United States build and manage their practices in aesthetic medicine, one of the fastest-growing healthcare segments. Since its founding in 2002, MedSurge Advances has provided technology and business resources for more than 330 physicians in 42 states who have started stand-alone businesses or added aesthetic procedures to their existing practices. For more information, contact MedSurge Advances at 972.720.0425, or visit www. medsurgeadvances. com.

###

Sunday, August 16, 2009

I. M.C. E. Global Internet Management for Commercial Enterprise–Appears on the Scene with Promise of “Professional Internet Management” for Small to Medium Business

I. M.C. E. Global…Internet Management for Commercial Enterprise–Appears on the Scene with Promise of “Professional Internet Management” for Small to Medium Business.

I. M.C. E. – Internet Management for Commercial Enterprise is poised to capture the Small to Medium business market with their polished Full Service Internet Consulting firm specializing in Online Image consulting, SEO services, Storefront/eCommerce, Web Design, and Professional Hosting. Their goal is not just to create websites. They aim to Empower, Educate, and Enhance small to medium business owners and through collaboration show them how Execute their success online.

(PRWEB) April 28, 2004

I. M.C. E. – Internet Management for Commercial Enterprise is poised to capture the Small to Medium business market with their polished Full Service Internet Consulting firm specializing in Online Image consulting, SEO services, Storefront/eCommerce, Web Design, and Professional Hosting. Their goal is not just to create websites – (after all, there are a plethora of web builders out there, right?) They aim to Empower, Educate, and Enhance small to medium business owners and show them how to Execute their success online, using tools, customized solutions, information, training, tips, and collaboration... Check out their CYBER BLUE Business Portal, devoted exclusively to the exchange of ideas for online professionals who mean to do serious business on the Web.

Chrystalle Hester, President and CEO of IMCE Global states “It is said 'knowledge is power'. But, how do you sort through the barrage of media and information on the World Wide Web? If you run a business you want the right tools, at the right time, from a reputable source, at a fair price. And you do NOT have all day to locate what you need. At I. M.C. E. Education is an important part of our service to our clients. We understand there is a lot of information out there. Our goal is to keep you informed about subjects and issues that affect your business and keep you ahead of the curve, AFTER your website is up and running. We know the obstacles to doing business online, and we will help you avoid them, particularly in area of marketing and web commerce.

According to "new Ventures" although, most people believe that fortunes are to be made online, few actually think a land based strorefront should make the transition. Small to Medium business see a move to the net as something only large or well established companies, with a limitless budget, use as an extra measure. Chrystalle thinks this is a common and costly misconception. She states. “Unfortunately what they may fail to realize is there are only two reasons to be on the web as a business. One is to generate income and increase profitability and the other is to disseminate information. Accomplishing either or both of these goals can be easily done with a well planned, executed, and maintained website. It is what happens after the site it up that causes the damage. Almost no consideration is given to how you actually generate revenue or leads or encourage customers to even come to your site. As a result, what usually happens after the website is hosted is “absolutely nothing”. Thisis why your web presence requires meticulous planning and should be budgeted for. If you want the 'template'look, we are probably not for you. Compared to traditional brick and mortar forms of advertising (which all have their place), a website is one of the least expensive methods of advertising. An online presences can locate new customers, service existing ones, open up multiple income streams, share valuable information, convey your corporate image, keep your employees, customers, and clients well informed, introduce new product lines, gauge customer satisfaction through feedback, and the list goes on”. Small to medium business and women owned and minority businesses, in particular, need to leverage all the tools out there to their advantage. We help them do just that.

Individually the I. M.C. E. team has been designing, servicing, and marketing corporate sites, portals, and intranets for over 9 years. At the encouragement of respected business associates and trusted friends, we decided to team up and go it on our own. As a team, we offer a combined inventory of Web Design, Hosting, SEO services, Corporate Image consulting, Training, Programming, and Online Marketing savvy.

I. M.C. E. looks forward to orchestrating your online business experience.

Chrystalle Hester President, CEO

I. M.C. E. GlobalÂ… the KEY to success on the Internet

Fax: 508-861-1067

Http://www. IMCE-global. net (http://www. IMCE-global. net)

British Medical Association Prescribes Imprivata for Painful Password Problems

British Medical Association Prescribes Imprivata for Painful Password Problems

Single sign-on appliance increases security while helping to meet use needs in clinical setting.

Watford, U. K. (PRWEB) August 18, 2006 -–

Imprivata®, Inc., the enterprise authentication and access management appliance company, today announced that The British Medical Association (BMA), the professional association for doctors across the UK, is implementing OneSign enterprise single sign-on (ESSO) to increase password security and make IT systems easier to access for its 800 member staff. The implementation is also part of an ongoing drive to reduce the workload that password resets place on the organisation’s IT department.

Shortly prior to the installation of the OneSign ESSO appliance, the BMA had moved to an Active Directory. The organisation wanted to find a way to manage user credentials while securing network access and allowing easier access for users to sensitive applications such as Lotus Notes. The Imprivata appliance was initially piloted within the BMA’s IT department and, after a successful trial, OneSign ESSO is now being rolled out to users in key departments across its four main locations.

“Our staff have access to very sensitive information on a daily basis, and making sure that this data is kept secure is one of the key goals for the IT team. As result of our security policy, workers had to remember an increasing amount of passwords. We felt there was a genuine need for single sign-on. We really wanted to find a solution that was simple to implement and that would cause little or no disruption to end-users,” said Frank Edwards, Infrastructure Services Manager at the BMA. “We looked at software-based approaches, but the appliance from Imprivata was a better fit with our requirements. It was far easier to install, supported our applications almost immediately and requires very little training for end-users, who now no longer have the headache of trying to remember a variety of passwords.”

Currently four key applications are enabled for single sign-on, with more to be added as and when demand dictates. The BMA is now looking at widening the scope of the project to include more of the organisation’s most frequently used applications, including those specifically used by its large publishing division.

“The BMA wanted to make it easier for users to access their everyday applications and to increase the security of sensitive documents and information,” said Wayne Parslow, VP European Operations, Imprivata. “By using OneSign ESSO, the BMA is seeing an increase in security across the organisation, along with a significant decrease in the volume of calls to the helpdesk. Most of all, user satisfaction is higher as they don’t have the frustration caused by forgotten passwords.”

About the BMA

The British Medical Association represents doctors from all branches of medicine all over the UK. It has a total membership of over 138,000, rising steadily, including more than 3,000 members overseas and over 19,000 medical student members.

The BMA is a voluntary professional association of doctors that speaks for doctors at home and abroad and provides services for its members. It is an independent trade union, a scientific and educational body and is a limited company, funded largely by its members. For more information, visit http://www. bma. org. uk/ (http://www. bma. org. uk/)

About Imprivata, Inc.

Based in Lexington, Mass., Imprivata develops enterprise authentication and access management solutions. The company is privately held with venture funding from Polaris Venture Partners, Highland Capital Partners and General Catalyst Partners. Imprivata OneSign is an authentication and access management platform that is changing the way organizations secure their networks and applications. Imprivata’s OneSign solutions are packaged in an affordable, easy-to-implement and maintain appliance and are distributed through an established worldwide network of channel, ISV and technology partners. For more information, visit http://www. imprivata. com (http://www. imprivata. com).

# # #

Saturday, August 15, 2009

HealthForumOnline Announces Updates to CE Courses on Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes

HealthForumOnline Announces Updates to CE Courses on Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes

HealthForumOnline (HFO), a nationally-approved provider of continuing education (CE) courses, has recently updated two courses pertaining to caring for the diabetic patient; Adolescents with Diabetes: What are the Challenges? and The Psychological Impact of Diabetes: What Every Clinician Should Know. These theory - and evidence-based CE courses address how diabetes impacts psychological functioning and how related psychological symptoms influence medical outcomes in diabetic patients. In addition, the courses present theory - and evidence-based clinical strategies to improve psychological and medical outcomes within each diabetes population; adolescents with type 1 diabetes and adults with type 2 diabetes. HFO has a large library of online CE/CEU courses for mental health professionals, nurses and allied healthcare workers that focuses on understanding and treating the psychological component of medical illness. HFO's online CE courses are fast, convenient and especially cost-effective as health professionals have free ongoing access to course updates beyond completion of the CE activity.

Philadelphia, PA (PRWEB) February 10, 2009

HealthForumOnline (HFO) (http://www. healthforumonline. com/), a nationally-approved (APA, ASWB, NBCC, PSNA, CA-BBS) (http://www. healthforumonline. com/Accreditations/44/) online provider of continuing education (CE) for psychologists, social workers, counselors, nurses and other allied healthcare professionals announces updates to 2 of their online courses related to diabetes; Adolescents with Diabetes: What are the Challenges? (http://www. healthforumonline. com/Our-Courses/Courses/47/categoryId__3/productId__52/) and The Psychological Impact of Diabetes:What Every Clinician Should Know. (http://www. healthforumonline. com/Our-Courses/Courses/47/categoryId__3/productId__34/)

More than 18% of people over age 60, or 6.3 million Americans, have diabetes Indeed, CDC estimates show diabetes now affects 24 million people in the U. S. -- an increase of 3 million people in the last two years. As alarming is the fact that 17% of youths in the U. S. have a Body Mass Index greater than or equal to the 95th percentile, substantially contributing to the increasing number of young people being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Moreover, 0.2% of youth (186,300) under age 20 have type 1 diabetes with over 13,000 new cases of type 1 diabetes diagnosed annually.

"Today, diabetes has reached epidemic proportions. It is now one of the most common diseases in school-age children" notes Dr. Michelle Rodoletz, Clinical Psychologist and Director of HealthForumOnline's Continuing Education Program. "In a disease in which blood glucose control makes or breaks the road to a healthy future, diabetics encounter numerous emotional and behavioral challenges that directly affect this control. The objective of HFO's online CE/CEU courses is to provide mental health professionals, nurses and other allied health professionals with the tools necessary to understand the biopsychosocial complexities presented for adults and/or teenagers with diabetes and to facilitate disease management."

These online CE courses address specific clinical aspects of diabetes that may be affected by inadequate psychological adjustment to the condition; accounting for the fact that the picture may look different for an adolescent with type 1 diabetes than it does for an adult with type 2 diabetes. For example, addressing this turbulent time in development along with its age-appropriate invincibility and issues related to independence/family dynamics may be key in working with type 1 adolescents. On the other hand, understanding the association between diabetes and several common mental health and medical conditions may be more relevant when working with adult type 2 diabetics. In either case, each course identifies practical theory - and evidence-based psychological interventions and strategies that can be easily adopted into clinical practice to improve mental health, disease management, and medical outcomes for people with diabetes.

HFO's resource library has 18 categories of topics related to health psychology and behavioral medicine (i. e., ethics, cancer adaptation, women's health, cultural diversity, eating disorders, reproduction/sexuality, aging/gerontology, pediatric behavioral medicine, assessment, chemical dependency, chronic/acute illness, clinical intervention, group therapy, infectious disease, long-term care, neuropsychology, pain management, spirituality) from which psychologists, social workers, counselors, nurses and other allied health professionals can choose from. Over 55 courses are currently available online or as downloadable, transportable PDFs. Health professionals complete CE courses at their own pace, on their own schedule, anywhere they have Internet access. Customers generate their own CE certificates that can be reprinted at any time to meet licensure renewal needs. Lastly, we notify customers when their purchased CE course has been updated and enable customers to review these updates for free online even after they have completed the CE activity and generated their CE certificate - making our courses extremely cost-effective and a true investment in one's continuing education.

For more information on these or other courses in the Chronic/Acute Illness category or a complete listing of titles in our CE resource library, visit HealthForumOnline. com.

About HealthForumOnline:
HealthForumOnline (HFO) is approved as a provider of CE courses by the American Psychological Association, the National Board of Certified Counselors, the Association of Social Work Boards, and several state professional organizations, including the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation, and the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. HFO's CE Program's Advisory Committee and authors are comprised of over 50 nationally-recognized experts in behavioral medicine.

###

Rutgers University Creates "Year-at-a-Glance" Planner to Assist Training Managers and Human Resource Managers In Mapping Out Employee Education Needs

Rutgers University Creates "Year-at-a-Glance" Planner to Assist Training Managers and Human Resource Managers In Mapping Out Employee Education Needs

Rutgers University has created a “Year-at-a-Glance” planning document aimed at assisting employees training managers and directors, and human resource managers in mapping out training programs for the year.

(PRWEB) April 20, 2010

Training managers, HR professionals, and employees seeking to coordinate training programs throughout the year now have a new resource. The Rutgers Institute for Management and Executive Development (IMED) offers a “Year-at-a-Glance” planning brochure that can be downloaded at http://imed. rutgers. edu/year-at-a-glance/ (http://imed. rutgers. edu/year-at-a-glance/).

The brochure offers a schedule of open enrollment Rutgers IMED programs, such as Leading Bold Change, a popular program focused on change management, and such courses as Financial Management, Lean & Six Sigma, and Project Management.

“We created the planner brochure because our clients wanted to plan strategically for programs over the year and not necessarily ad-hoc or on the spot. Training managers and human resource directors can now connect their internal programs with the entire year of Rutgers courses,” says Ray Compari, associate dean at the Rutgers School of Business–Camden and director of the Rutgers IMED. “Individual employees can also use the document to create their own professional development plans,” adds Compari.

The planning brochure features a new program called Leading Bold Change, which will be held at the aLoft Hotel (http://www. starwoodhotels. com/alofthotels/property/overview/index. html? propertyID=3082&EM=VTY_AL_3082_MOUNTLAUREL_PROP_OVERVIEW) in Mount Laurel on Tuesday, May 25. More information on the program, as well as individual or group enrollments can be found at change. rutgers. edu (http://change. rutgers. edu). Kotter-certified and Rutgers program faculty member Jim Pantall will teach the course. “This program helps individuals and organizations work through the change process by helping folks to lead, understand the vision and create a sustainable plan for change,” says Pantall.

Core and successful programs include Lean & Six Sigma and a dual certificate in project management. "Green Belts trained in the Lean Six Sigma process as part of the Rutgers-Lockheed alliance hit the ground running here and have contributed many significant process improvements. This investment continues to pay dividends by maximizing the efficiency of our operations, which enhances the services we provide to our patients," states John Muka, director of the Lean Six Sigma Initiatives at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital.

About the Rutgers IMED

The Rutgers Institute for Management and Executive Development (Rutgers IMED) is a leading provider of business training and professional development across the nation. Through the Rutgers IMED, the Rutgers School of Business–Camden seeks to strengthen the leadership and management capabilities of individuals and organizations. For more information, visit imed. rutgers. edu (http://imed. rutgers. edu).

# # #

Bump in California Small Business Sales Mirrors U. S. Economic Picture

Bump in California Small Business Sales Mirrors U. S. Economic Picture

Increase in closed small business for sale transactions in California last month, compared to June, depicts a scene similar to the U. S. Economy with positive news shadowed by lingering problems. BizBen. com reported that 1,075 businesses sold in July, up 9% from the prior month.

Dublin, CA (Vocus) August 6, 2009

July figures for the sale of the state’s small and mid-sized businesses, released today by BizBen. com Businesses For Sale In California (http://www. bizben. com/) suggest a pattern similar to performance of the nation’s economy: There’s positive news--last month’s volume of completed California deals was 9% ahead of those the prior month--but it’s shadowed by continuing problems.

While the 1,075 business opportunities escrows that closed in the just-completed month represent improvement over June’s total of 986 deals, activity in July still lagged behind the 1,779 transactions completed in July 08.

“I’d characterize the most recent results as promising, but the healthy market we’re waiting for has yet to fully materialize,” according to Peter Siegel, MBA (http://www. bizben. com/resources/28-peter-siegel. php), Founder and CEO of BizBen. com

He noted that one reason for depressed recent activity has been the “usual summer doldrums. More people than we expected took vacations in the last several weeks.”

Siegel also observed that there’s a growing logjam of transactions in escrow unable to be completed on schedule.

“Many buyers are waiting to get their homes appraised so they can satisfy requests from sellers who are willing to help finance--as more are agreeing to do. That slows everything down.

Also holding up deals, according to the BizBen CEO, is “more stringent application of rules by the State Board of Education and by other government agencies.

“California is looking harder for cash, so state examiners aren’t issuing releases and letting any deals close ‘till they’re sure there’s no money they can wring out of a transaction in the way of unpaid taxes or fees.”

Siegel said it will take “more movement by SBA-backed lenders, getting additional money into the system” to increase the volume of small business sales (http://www. bizben. com/bizben-search-category. php) in the state.

“I’m optimistic that we’ll see things improve in the fall. The demand is there. As people adjust to current circumstances and figure out how to address some of the challenges we face--such as tight money and depressed business values because of lower revenues--there should be a substantial increase in the volume of completed deals in the market for small businesses.”

BizBen. com, the state's leading online marketplace for buyers and sellers of small and mid-market companies, has been California’s exclusive source of small business sales statistics for more than 10 years. In addition to offering thousands of business opportunities for sale, the BizBen site features a number of resources, articles, news items, practical tips and a small business blog (http://www. bizben. com/blog/) --all providing information, ideas and opportunities for business sellers, buyers, business brokers, agents, and other professionals serving the market. Three books that Siegel authored on buying and selling small businesses are widely used by people involved in this market.

County-by-County sales stats of small and mid-sized businesses (http://www. bizben. com/stats/stats-total. php) in California for July were:

Alameda: 51, Butte: 8, Contra Costa: 16, El Dorado: 4, Fresno: 30, Imperial: 2, Kern: 29, Lassen: 1, Los Angeles: 284, Madera: 1, Marin: 8, Mariposa: 1, Mendocino: 1, Merced: 4, Monterey: 21, Napa: 4, Nevada: 3, Orange: 126, Placer: 10, Plumas: 1, Riverside: 30, Sacramento: 34, San Bernardino: 54, San Diego: 96, San Francisco: 46, San Joaquin: 15, San Luis Obispo: 14, San Mateo: 23, Santa Barbara: 16, Santa Clara: 43, Santa Cruz: 3, Shasta: 11, Siskiyou: 1, Solano: 4, Sonoma: 27, Stanislaus: 14, Tehama: 2, Tulare: 9, Tuolumne: 1, Ventura: 25, Yolo 2.

# # #

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Zayo Group Secures Additional Equity Financing

Zayo Group Secures Additional Equity Financing

Funding for prospective Mergers and Acquisitions and customer-driven expansion projects.

Louisville, CO (PRWEB) February 12, 2009

Zayo Group, a regional provider of fiber based bandwidth, telecom and wholesale voice solutions, announced today it has closed a new round of equity financing. The investment was led by Charlesbank Capital Partners, a private equity firm that is new to the Zayo Group investor syndicate. Zayo Group's existing equity investors--Battery Ventures, Centennial Ventures, Columbia Capital, M/C Venture Partners, and Oak Investment Partners--participated in the round.

The new round of financing will be drawn down over multiple closings. Additional details will be forthcoming upon the second closing.

"This equity round provides funds to support mergers and acquisitions as well as major customer-driven expansions such as Fiber to the Tower and educational networks," said Ken desGarennes, CFO of Zayo Group. "Fortunately, our day-to-day business does not require additional financing."

Dan Caruso, CEO of Zayo Group, added, "Raising Series B Equity in this environment is difficult. On behalf of the entire Zayo team and our customers, I want to thank Charlesbank, our existing equity syndicate, and our debt sponsors for the support they are providing to Zayo Group." Zayo's bank debt is led by CIT and the bank group includes CoBank, Hercules Technology Growth Capital, Royal Bank of Canada, and SunTrust Bank.

About Battery Ventures:
Since 1983, Battery has been investing in technology and innovation worldwide. The firm partners with entrepreneurs and management teams across technology sectors, geographies and stages of a company's life, from start-up and expansion financing, to growth equity and buyouts. Battery has supported many breakthrough companies around the world. From offices in Boston, Silicon Valley, Israel and India, Battery currently manages more than $3B in committed capital. For more information, visit www. battery. com.

About Centennial:
Centennial Ventures is a venture capital firm investing in network companies and related enabling software and technology enterprises, with the potential to be market leaders. Our investment focus is on early and later-stage opportunities. Centennial Ventures VII, a $341 million partnership, is our most recent fund being invested. For more information, visit www. centennial. com.

About Charlesbank:
Charlesbank Capital Partners is a middle-market private equity investment firm managing approximately $1.8 billion of capital. Charlesbank focuses on management-led buyouts and growth capital financings, typically investing $25 million to $100 million per transaction in companies with enterprise values of $50 million to $750 million. The firm seeks to partner with strong management teams to build companies with sustainable competitive advantages and excellent prospects for growth. For more information, visit www. charlesbank. com.

About Columbia:
Columbia Capital is a premier venture capital franchise in wireless, broadband, media, and enterprise information technology investing. Formed in 1989, Columbia Capital takes a sector-focused approach to investing, having funded over 120 companies in its core markets. A sector focus allows Columbia Capital to regularly identify disruptive emerging companies and to recognize and build value throughout a company's lifecycle - from early stage investments, to large growth stage financings and special situations. Columbia Capital manages more than $2 billion in capital. For more information, visit Columbia Capital at www. colcap. com.

About M/C Venture Partners:
M/C Venture Partners is a venture capital firm focused exclusively on the communications, media, and information technology sectors. The firm has invested over $1.8 billion into nearly 100 companies in those sectors. The firm has strong institutional backing from leading pension funds and endowments as well as a long track record of success. M/C Venture Partners has offices in Boston, London and San Francisco. For more information, visit www. mcventurepartners. com.

About Oak Investment Partners:
Oak Investment Partners is a multi-stage venture capital firm with a total of $8.4 billion in committed capital. The primary investment focus is on high growth opportunities in Broadband Internet and Wireless Communications, Information Technology and Software Outsourced Services, Consumer Internet/New Media, Financial Services Technology, Healthcare Information and Services, Clean Energy, and Retail. Over a 30-year history, Oak has achieved a strong track record as a stage-independent investor funding more than 481 companies at key points in their lifecycle. Oak has been involved in the formation of companies, funded spinouts of operating divisions and technology assets, and provided growth equity to mid - and late-stage private businesses and to public companies through PIPE investments. For more information, visit Oak Investment Partners at www. oakinv. com.

About CIT:
CIT (NYSE: CIT) is a global commercial finance company that provides financial products and advisory services to more than one million customers in over 50 countries across 30 industries. A leader in middle market financing, CIT has more than $80 billion in managed assets and provides financial solutions for more than half of the Fortune 1000. A member of the S&P 500 and Fortune 500, it maintains leading positions in asset-based, cash flow and Small Business Administration lending, equipment leasing, vendor financing and factoring. The CIT brand platform, Capital Redefined, articulates its value proposition of providing its customers with the relationship, intellectual and financial capital to yield infinite possibilities. Founded in 1908, CIT is celebrating its Centennial throughout 2008. www. cit. com.

About CoBank:
CoBank, a $58 billion Denver-based cooperative bank, provides financing to rural cooperatives and vital businesses - food, water, electricity and communications - across the United States. Part of the $208 billion U. S. Farm Credit System, the bank also finances agricultural exports. In addition to the national office in Denver, CoBank has offices across the United States and one international representative office. www. cobank. com

About Hercules Technology Growth Capital, Inc.:
Hercules Technology Growth Capital, Inc. (HTGC) is a NASDAQ traded specialty finance company providing debt and equity growth capital to technology and life science companies at all stages of development. Founded in December 2003, the company primarily finances privately held companies backed by leading venture capital and private equity firms. Hercules invests in a broad range of ventures active in technology and life science industries and offers a full suite of growth capital products at all levels of the capital structure. The company is headquartered in Palo Alto, Calif. and has additional offices in the Boston, Boulder, San Diego and Chicago areas. Providing capital to publicly-traded or privately-held companies backed by leading venture capital and private equity firms involves a high degree of credit risk and may result in potential losses of capital. For more information, please visit www. HTGC. com.

About Zayo Group:
Based in Louisville, Colo., Zayo Group (www. zayo. com) is a regional provider of telecom services - including bandwidth, voice and managed services - to carrier, enterprise, SME and government customers. Zayo Group provides its service over a fiber network that spans 128 markets in 23 states. Zayo Group consists of three complimentary business units: Zayo Bandwidth, Zayo Managed Services and Onvoy Voice Services.

For more information contact:

Katie McCoy
Zayo Group
Kmccoy @ zayo. com
(303) 381-3273

Maura Turner
Charlesbank Capital Partners
Mturner @ charlesbank. com
(617) 619-5457

###

Monday, August 10, 2009

Combine Fun And Learning With Bilingual Language Littles And Talking Teach-A-Tot Dolls

Combine Fun And Learning With Bilingual Language Littles And Talking Teach-A-Tot Dolls

Language Littles, the foremost creator of bilingual and language development dolls for toddlers and preschoolers turn your childrens’ fantasy friends from the opposite side of the world into a reality. Parents can now constantly keep their children engaged with a culturally distinct family of 12, while also encouraging social interaction, language development and cognitive skills at the best age to absorb and incorporate them. The newly expanded Teach-A-Tot dolls for youngsters aged 18 months and up, offer positive phrases to challenging activities, e. g. “I can button my shirt!,” “I can brush my teeth!” and “I can brush my hair!”

New York, NY (PRWEB) June 8, 2005

Parents continually searching for the best and brightest educational toys that encourage social interaction, language development, cognitive skills, and responsibility can look no further. Language Littles, the foremost creator of bilingual and language development dolls for toddlers and preschoolers, is introducing its newest friend, Korean Young-Hee, as well as launching a new line of Teach-A-Tot dolls that encourage toddlers to get dressed by themselves and instill an “I can do it” attitude.

Early childhood development experts have long known that most of a personÂ’s brain development occurs before age 5. This is also the best time to introduce a child to a foreign language, as they are learning and mastering syntax. Preschools are even incorporating more foreign languages into their curriculum but repetition and encouragement at home is also key for any child learning a new skill.

The family of 12 Language Littles speak English as well as a multitude of languages including Hebrew, French, Spanish, Italian, Greek, Russian, German, Chinese, Japanese, and now Korean. The dolls are each 16” tall, making them ideally portable for continual learning and role-playing in the car, grocery store and even for show and tell. With just a squeeze of the right hand the doll will courteously introduce themselves, and with a squeeze of the left hand the doll will begin a series of kid-friendly words and phrases. The affectionate and caring dolls express “I love you” in English and their native language with a touch to the tiny heart on their right knee. Real children fluent to the language have recorded all of the Language Littles voices designing each doll to speak 25 words and phrases in both English and their first language. They are also available as 8” Mini dolls.

Young-Hee, the newest addition to the Language Littles family of dolls, speaks both Korean and English. Exchanging language lessons or common greetings and her favorite activities such as singing, dancing, swimming, and skating, Young-Hee is eager to chat and ready to join any occasion. At 16” tall, the trendy Young-Hee is dressed to impress. Irresistible to touch, her soft, fuzzy vest and crinkly, iridescent skirt show off numerous shades of pink. Never leaving home without her purse, Young-Hee comes accessorized with a magenta bag to match her shoes. Her black, coiffed hair is pulled into thick pigtails to not disrupt her daily playtime.

Also new to the Language Littles family are the instructional Teach-A-Tot dolls. These friendly dolls guide toddlers as young as 18 months and striving for independence to declare, “I can do it myself!” with how-to explanations for accomplishing new activities like getting dressed and brushing their teeth. These dolls make the transition from toddler to big kid a constant amusement.

The huggable, plush Teach-A-Tot dolls help children learn how to brush their hair, blow their nose, button their shirt, and tie their shoelaces with constant interaction and recognition. The adorable girl and boy dolls speak in a childÂ’s voice and wear bright, removable clothes that feature a button, zipper and shoelaces accessorized with a tissue, toothbrush and hairbrush.

About Language Littles

Language Littles is a New York based company whose mission is to create toys that combine fun with learning. Since its inception in 2000, the company has launched a series of cuddly companions that introduce foreign language to kids three and up. Beginning with French Jolie, Spanish Lizzie, Italian Sophie and Chinese Ling, the Language Little line has grown to include Spanish Ricky, Japanese Yumi, Hebrew Sarah and David, German Emma, Russian Anna, Greek Alexa, and Korean Young-Hee. In Spring 2005, the company introduced its newest line of Teach-A-Tot dolls that help toddlers learn how to get themselves dressed and will leave them proclaiming “I can do it.” All dolls help youngsters grasp language fundamentals at an age when they are most receptive. Language Littles and Teach-A-Tot dolls are available at select specialty retailers nationwide for $11.99 - $34.99 (MSRP). For more information please call Language Littles at 212-535-8122 or visit their Web site at www. LanguageLittles. com or www. TeachATot. com.

# # #