Friday, November 30, 2012

Luxury Travel Ltd has Launched a New website to Promote Halal tours and Holidays to Indochina

Luxury Travel Ltd has launched a new website to promote halal tours and holidays to Indochina.

Hanoi, Vietnam, November 30, 2012 -Luxury Travel Ltd (www.vietnamhalalholidays.com) Seeks Growth From Niche Markets and Targets Intra-ASEAN and Muslim Holiday Markets with a state-of-the-art information website

 Luxury Travel Ltd. has a high end halal holiday concept and has just launched www.vietnamhalalholidays.com. This is a unique online brand, offering truly great holiday experiences with an Islamic ethos. The company’s aim is to provide a holiday experience that is in harmony with Islam. The featured hotels and resorts do not serve alcohol in rooms upon request, and have segregated swimming pools, leisure areas and spa facilities for men and women. Further, on some chartered cruises on Halong Bay, all food on board is sea food.

VietnamHalalHolidays.com is a brand with a state-of-the-art information website, which provides you with full unbiased information and allows booking of your dream halal holidays, which are fully tailored to your individual needs.” said Pham Ha, founder and CEO of Luxury Travel Ltd. “The Muslim population within Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia shows immense potential. Demand from this segment is picking up and is expected to increase, thanks to direct flights between Southeast Asian countries, including the newest flight to HCM City from Jakarta four times per week. Also, no visa is needed for most citizens traveling between ASEAN countries. And with nearly 1.6 billion Muslims in the world, the potential market is huge. We expect to receive 600-800 Muslim holiday-makers in 2013 with a new concept”

According to Luxury Travel, about 23% of the world population is Muslim. Of these, around 62% live in Asia – Pacific, 20% in the Middle East- North Africa,15% in Sub Saharan Africa, around 3% in Europe and 0.3% in the Americas.

Ha stressed that the number of tourist arrivals increased thanks to direct flights to Hanoi, Danang and Ho Chi Minh City from Kuala Lumpur. The company enjoyed 30% percent growth in Central Vietnam, where Luxury Travel opened a new office a few month ago. The company will attend Selangor Matta Islamic Travel Fair in Malaysia from 7-9 Dec 2012. According to VNAT, during the first nine months of 2012, the number of visitors from Malaysia to Vietnam was 210,805, an increase of 125.4 per cent from the previous period.

Vietnam-based Luxury Travel Ltd (www.luxurytravelvietnam.com) is a long established Asian specialist in the art of travel and serves today’s most sophisticated travelers with luxury privately guided and fully bespoke holidays in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Thailand. Luxury Travel excels in designing tailor-made tours and providing unique travel experiences to fulfill the most sophisticated traveler’s expectations. Luxury Travel Ltd. has won numerous travel awards for excellent performance, including the most recent award: “Best Luxury Tour Operator”. www.facebook.com/luxurytravelcompany

Contact:
Linh Doan
Luxury Travel Ltd
05 Nguyen Truong To Str.,
Ba Dinh Dist, Hanoi 84444
Vietnam
84439274120
marketing12@luxurytravelvietnam.com
http://www.LuxuryTravelVietnam.com

Greater Good Academy Joins with Strings Restaurant to Annouce First Recipient of The Cunningham Award, So Named for The Generous Legacy of Noel and Tammy Cunningham

Award Honors the Works and Memory of Noel Cunningham; Given to Beverly Grant, Triple Bottom Line Business Owner and Food Educator in Five Points Community

Denver, CO, November 30, 2012 - At the fall 2012 graduation and public showcase of the Greater Good Academy (GGA), Richard Eidlin, executive director, and Tammy Cunningham, owner of Strings Restaurant, announced the first recipient of the Cunningham Award. Awarded to a graduate of the GGA for a food-related, community-minded business exemplifying the ideals of Noel and Tammy Cunningham, the winner of the Cunningham Award is Beverly Grant, founder of Mo’ Betta Green Marketplace.

“Receiving the Cunningham Award is a distinct honor for me,” said Grant, after the presentation at Mi Casa Resource Center. “It motivates me to continue to support the mission of providing fresh, locally grown food and to educate and serve the Five Points Community. The Cunningham Award embodies commitment and vision for a better community.”

Cunningham notes, "I am, and know Noel would be, honored to have a connection with the Greater Good Academy. It helps folks with a hand up rather than a hand out and empowers, encourages, and promotes entrepreneurial skills, while caring about the community. All of which Noel was about.”

The GGA began in 2010 with the goal of supporting early-stage low- and moderate-income entrepreneurs build triple bottom line (people, profit and planet) businesses. During the eight-week business planning program, the GGA trains civic-minded entrepreneurs to create companies and social enterprises that make money, while positively impacting the environment and communities within which they operate. The goal is to create economic self-sufficiency, create jobs and improve the quality of life in Denver.

Eidlin adds, “We have always seen food as a means of building community. A good number of students have started food-related businesses and many restaurants have contributed dinners, including: Strings, Watercourse, SAME Café, Chipotle, Stueben’s, Avenue Grill, Mercury Café and The Saucy Noodle.

Over the past two years, more than 90 entrepreneurs have completed the program. Support for the GGA comes from the City of Denver’s Office of Economic Development, the Colorado Lending Source, UMB Bank, Colorado Enterprise Fund, Accion and Mi Casa Resource Center.

Two Academies are planned for 2013. For more information, contact: Richard Eidlin, 303-478-0131.

Contact:
Richard Eidlin
The Greater Good Academy
Denver, CO
(303) 478-0131
Richard@greatergoodacademy.org
http://www.greatergoodacademy.org

On Workplace Learning and Competitive Advantages: a World Future Society Teleseminar

Bill Ringle will lead a panel discussion on the Future of Workplace Learning on December 5, 2012, with guest experts Joe DiDonato, Patricia Franklin, Kathleen Brush, and Lawrence Lerner.

Springfield, PA, November 30, 2012 - Bill Ringle, popular business growth strategist, CEO of LearnWell, and president of the Philadelphia chapter of the World Future Society, will lead an online panel discussion on the Future of Workplace Learning on December 5, 2012. Guest experts include Joe DiDonato, editor-at-large of eLearning and Government eLearning magazines; Patricia Franklin, former Chief Learning Officer for Vistage International; Kathleen Brush, global management consultant and author; and Lawrence Lerner, founder of Revolutionary Innovator.


The complexity of work in the coming decades will continue to grow, either being supported and driven by technology. In order to keep up, managers and their teams will need to process, understand, and apply new knowledge, skillfully wield new tools, collaborate effectively across more diverse geographic regions and time zones. New and better ways of learning are necessary to enable this inevitable future.

What is the direction of learning in the workplace 10 years from now? Bill Ringle is posing that question to a hand-picked panel of experts from a variety of fields. The group will forecast based on business, technology, finance, communications, and global commerce trends.

“Technology has shifted the playing field in business. Current smartphone capabilities were pure science fiction just ten years ago. We are now able to communicate and share information faster and more cost-effectively with more people than at any other time in history. During this discussion,” Ringle promises, “I’ll be challenging our guest experts to detail their visions of what trends they see in workplace learning so you can gain insights into the risks and potentials ahead.”

During this online panel forum, the group will discuss the specific trends in evidence today that point the way to dramatic changes in workplace learning ten years from now. They’ll also cover which companies and countries are current models of advanced workplace learning, possible characteristics of workplace learning in the future, the dangers of which we should be wary, and much more.

The guest expert panelists are Joe DiDonato, Kathleen Brush, Patricia Franklin, and Lawrence Lerner. Joe DiDonato, Editor-at-Large for Elearning! Magazine, is a "roll-up the sleeves" senior executive whose background spans both the for-profit and non-profit worlds and whose experience ranges from staff and management functions to CEO and board positions. Kathleen Brush, Ph.D., is a global business consultant. Her Ph.D. is in management and international studies, and she has more than 20 years of experience as a senior executive (CEO, GM and CMO) for companies of all sizes, public and private, foreign and domestic. Patricia Franklin is a strategically-minded learning executive and author recognized for implementing award-winning innovative solutions validated by business results with a proven record of executing best-in-class instructional design and e-learning initiatives. Lawrence Lerner has a gift for communicating technology to business executives and business vi sion to technologists. He has a passion for corporate entrepreneurship and has created “game changing” services for the world’s top brands.

The panel discussion will be led by Bill Ringle, a nationally known business growth strategist and president of the World Future Society of Greater Philadelphia. Bill Ringle works with CEOs and their direct reports to accelerate business growth through specialized coaching and mentoring programs. His client roster includes well-known organizations such as DuPont, General Electric, Apple Inc, and the Wharton School, as well as many outstanding, yet lesser-known organizations from many diverse industries. His work has taken him across the United States and Canada, and to Japan, Australia, and Western Europe. He is a frequent radio and television commentator on technology trends in business, and has written over 420 articles for publication in magazines, newspapers, corporate newsletters, and web sites. His weekly interviews with experts, "My Quest for the Best" is listened to by business leaders globally.

For more information on this online panel discussion and to register, visit futureshaping.com/world-future-society/upcoming-teleseminar.html

Contact:
Meredith Hegg
LearnWell
491 Baltimore Pike, Suite 209
Springfield, PA 19064
610-626-0175
pr@learnwell.com
http://futureshaping.com

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Bryant & Stratton College Responds to Demand from Employers by Adding Bachelor’s in Nursing Degree

Parma campus now offers Bachelor of Science Nurse Generalist degree program; prospective students can enroll starting today

Parma, OH, November 29, 2012 - Bryant & Stratton College today announced that its Parma campus now offers a Bachelor of Science Nurse Generalist degree program. The nursing degree will prepare students to work in a variety of healthcare settings and to address particular needs in community health, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases, illnesses and conditions. Classes will begin January 16, 2013. Interested students can enroll now.

“From hospitals to private care facilities, the professional role of nurses is evolving and many healthcare employers are requiring a bachelor’s in nursing in order to be considered for the job,” said Dr. James Ploskonka, Director of Ohio Colleges at Bryant & Stratton College. “The BSN degree will prepare students for the new challenges of healthcare. At Bryant & Stratton College, our skills-focused instruction gives students the opportunity to combine classroom and hands-on learning so they are prepared to enter the workforce after graduation.”

The BSN Degree program also permits an RN to BSN option that is designed for RN graduates who have passed the RN-N.C.L.E.X. exam. Upon completion of the nursing degree, students enrolled in the degree program will have a sound understanding of nursing processes in order to implement comprehensive, safe, diverse and culturally effective care to patients in all health care settings.

The BSN program is available to students residing in Ohio only. Students interested in enrolling can visit the Bryant & Stratton College website at www.bryantstratton.edu or contact the campus directly:

Parma Campus
12955 Snow Road
Parma, OH 44130
216-265-3151

About Bryant & Stratton College
Bryant & Stratton College is a private career college delivering outcomes-based education and training through a flexible, contemporary curriculum in a personalized environment. The College is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, which is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, and has locations in New York, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin, as well as an Online Education division, and a Professional Skill Center.  For over 155 years, Bryant & Stratton College has been providing real world education leading to bachelor’s degrees, associate’s degrees and professional certificates in the fields of healthcare, technology, legal, business, & graphic design.  For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program, and other important information, please visit www.bryantstratton.edu/disclosures.  General information can also be found on the College’s website at www.bryantstratton.edu.

Contact:
Lisa Mason
Director
Parma Campus
12955 Snow Road
Parma, OH 44130
216-265-3151
aschoultz@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com

Incite Creative to Host “Marketing Today for Small Businesses” Radio Show

Incite Creative has been selected to host “Marketing Today for Small Businesses”

Baltimore, MD, November 29, 2012 - Incite Creative has been selected to host “Marketing Today for Small Businesses”, a nationwide radio show that is part of the Your15Minutes Radio Network™ and intended to provide business owners the information they need to take their business to the next level.

The monthly show will kick off on Thursday, January 10, 2013. The 30-minute broadcast will include discussions around timely topics, marketing trends and strategies that help small businesses succeed in a competitive marketplace. From brand positioning through creative implementation, including the pros and cons of both offline and online tools, as well as tips of the trade to help businesses grow without breaking the bank.

Each show will also include a guest. These guests will intentionally vary and include perspectives from other business owners who will share case study examples of what’s worked for them and what hasn’t, as well as industry experts who have products, services or tools that have proven useful to the small business market.

“We’re excited by this opportunity to engage with small business owners and decision makers across the country,” says Dina Wasmer, President of Incite Creative. “Although geography and other demographics certainly play a large part in strategic marketing, the pains business owners feel and the issues that keep them up at night have no boundaries. With so many marketing “temptations” out there, distracting some small businesses and throwing them off course, we’re looking forward to helping our listeners get (re)focused on what will work best for their unique needs, and what will help them stay on track all year long.”

Starting in January, you can listen to “Marketing Today for Small Businesses” live on www.your15minutesradio.com, blogtalkradio, Broadcast Live 365 or Roku, or download an audio podcast at your convenience by logging into itunes from your desktop computer or favorite mobile device.

About Incite Creative (www.incitecreativeinc.com):
Approaching its 13th year in business, Incite Creative is a marketing and graphic design firm that specializes in strategic positioning, brand development and creative implementation services for Mid-Atlantic, small-to-mid-sized companies and organizations that have regional, national and international reach. For more information, log onto http://www.incitecreativeinc.com or contact Dina Wasmer at 410-366-9479 ext. 101 or dina@incitecreativeinc.com.

Contact:
Dina Wasmer
Incite Creative, Inc
1501 St. Paul Street, Suite 113
Baltimore, MD 21202
410-366-9479
dina@incitecreativeinc.com
http://www.incitecreativeinc.com

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

As Holidays Bring Heightened Risk for Eating Disorders Relapse, Eating Recovery Center Promotes Strategies for Protecting Recovery

Leading eating disorders treatment center offers suggestions for managing holiday stress for those in recovery from an eating disorder

Denver, CO, November 27, 2012 - Americans who regularly have high levels of overall stress are most likely to feel stress specific to the holidays, according to a recent survey conducted by Mental Health America. For individuals in recovery from eating disorders, who are typically predisposed to higher levels of anxiety, this is particularly true. The frenetic pace of the holiday hustle and bustle and increased emphasis on food-centric gatherings can lead to heightened stress, and in severe cases, eating disorders relapse. To help individuals in recovery from an eating disorder maximize the chances for a healthy, happy holiday season, Eating Recovery Center recommends patients and their loved ones take proactive steps to plan for recovery-focused holiday celebrations.

“Treatment professionals frequently see increases in eating disordered thoughts and behaviors in patients during the holiday season. Often, these lapses in recovery are a response to the anxiety that can accompany gatherings of friends and family, as well as more emphasis on and exposure to food,” explains Ovidio Bermudez, MD, FAAP, FSAHM, FAED, CEDS, chief medical officer and medical director of child and adolescent services at Eating Recovery Center. “To minimize the effects of these stressors and protect recovery during the holiday season, it is important to plan activities that emphasize recovery, commit to a manageable schedule and prepare for the ‘what-ifs’ that may arise.”

Eating Recovery Center offers the following strategies to help individuals in recovery, as well as their support systems, healthfully navigate the holiday season and minimize chances for eating disorders relapse.

If you are in recovery from an eating disorder:

1. Turn the focus from food. Make togetherness, rather than food, the central theme of your holiday season and seek opportunities to plan and attend events that do not center around a meal.

2. Avoid “overbooking” your schedule. Prioritize your health and wellbeing over attending every holiday party, and be realistic about what you can manage.

3. Surround yourself with people who have healthy relationships with their bodies and food. If possible, bring a trusted family member or friend with you to holiday gatherings for support.

If you are supporting someone in recovery from an eating disorder:

1. Include your loved one in holiday activity planning. With the help of his or her treatment team, your loved one can guide you as you plan new recovery-focused holiday traditions.

2. Give your loved one “the 411.” Provide information about holiday activities in advance, including what types of food will be available and if alcohol will be served. Preparation can help those in recovery avoid situations that might trigger a relapse.

3. Make your loved one’s recovery a priority. Consider altering holiday traditions in the short-term to protect your friend or family member’s wellbeing in the long-term.

“Additionally, staying connected to an outpatient treatment team, including dietitians, therapists and physicians or psychiatrists, can be extremely helpful during the holiday season,” explains Dr. Bermudez. “Whether from eating disorders treatment professionals, friends or family, it is important that individuals in recovery from an eating disorder seek out the support they need to successfully navigate this complex time of year.”

To learn more about Eating Recovery Center as a treatment resource for addressing escalating eating disordered thoughts and behaviors this holiday season, visit www.EatingRecoveryCenter.com.

About Eating Recovery Center
Eating Recovery Center is an international center providing comprehensive treatment for anorexia, bulimia, EDNOS and binge eating disorder. Under the personal guidance and care of Drs. Kenneth Weiner, Craig Johnson, Emmett Bishop and Ovidio Bermudez, programs provide a full spectrum of services for children, adolescents and adults that includes Inpatient, Residential, Partial Hospitalization, Intensive Outpatient and Outpatient Services. Our compassionate team of professionals collaborates with treating professionals and loved ones to cultivate lasting behavioral change. Denver-based facilities include the Behavioral Hospital for Adults, the Behavioral Hospital for Children and Adolescents, the Partial Hospitalization Program and Outpatient Services for Adults, and the Partial Hospitalization Program for Children and Adolescents. In an effort to increase patient access to care throughout the United States, Eating Recovery Center partners with Summit Eating Disorders and Outreach Program in Sacramento, Cali., and The Moore Center for Eating Disorders in Bellevue, Wash. Summit offers Partial Hospitalization and Outpatient Services as well as Intensive Outpatient and Outpatient Services in Fresno and Roseville. The Moore Center offers Partial Hospitalization, Intensive Outpatient and Outpatient Services. For more information, please contact us at 877-218-1344 or info@EatingRecoveryCenter.com or confidentially chat live on our website at www.EatingRecoveryCenter.com.

Contact:
Shannon Fern
Communications Strategy Group
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
303-433-7020
sfern@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com

A Guide to a Surviving the Holiday Season in Style (and Sanity)

Heinz Compagnie tells you how to survive the shopping hustle, the screaming kids, and maybe even the in-laws (no promises)

Denver, CO, November 27, 2012 - Heinz Compagnie, a leading Denver salon in the historic Washington Park neighborhood, brings Denver residents some very basic pointers to surviving the holidays. This survival guide is sure to be a gift that keeps on giving.

“We surveyed our clients and noticed a pattern, everyone seems to be worried about the same basic things during the holidays.” Says Jen Bird, top colorist and avid Griswold enthusiast. “Pointer number three is my favorite, and can be helpful year round!” Continues Mrs. Bird, emphatically.

Heinz Compagnie 2012 Holiday Survival Guide:

Pointer One:
When you are out shopping and the barrage of angry shoppers and cart traffic-jams is too much to handle, do the following:
Take a sharp right, right out of the store, and into Heinz Compagnie. When you purchase any three products, Heinz will give you 10% off AND wrap them for you, all while you are being pampered. Unfortunately we may not have easy-bake-ovens or new golf clubs, but if those are on your shopping list, we can still help you out! We have free WiFi, so just bring in your laptop or tablet and shop without the wondering eyes. All this, without going into a mall!

Pointer Two:
When your in-laws are in town. Do the following:
Bring them into Heinz and give them the gift of beautiful hair. They will be awestruck at your sense of style and spirit of giving. So much so, that they will completely forget that you didn’t wear the sweater they bought you. In fact they will likely even forget to critique your cooking!!!

Pointer Three:
When you are at your wits end because the kids are screaming and fighting about who gets to put the soy frosting on the gluten-free vegan Holiday Cookies (this is Denver, after all), do the following:
Leave them with their father or their grandparents and head into Heinz Compagnie for a relaxing Nioxin Scalp Treatment. As the top-notch stylist rub the stress from your scalp, you will feel the sanity come back to you and you will be ready to take on the day.

Pointer Four (most important among surveyors):
You are preparing for your New Years Eve date, have no clue what to do with your hair and your anxiety is high because you are afraid that your date will think you time-warped here in a DeLorean from 1985. Furthermore, you know he will probably be wondering the entire time, if you have a closet full of fanny-packs, stirrup pants and leg warmers. You should, most definitely, do the following:
Call Heinz Compagnie at 303-777-7447 and make your appointment today for a custom style. A bonus to this is the free 15-minute makeup consultation and application you will receive during your appointment. You can go out on New Years knowing that your date only has one thing in mind, and it isn’t Christopher Lloyd.

Heinz Compagnie has been a community staple for over 20 years. Mention any of these specials during your next visit to Heinz and have a Happy Holiday Season!

Contact:
Crystal Swan
Splendid Fruition
Denver, CO
303-847-3174
crystal@splendidfruition.com
http://www.splendidfruition.com

McKissock Offers Timely Land Surveyor Courses, Including Two Webinars in Early December

The Countdown is on for Continuing Education Credits before 2013

Warren, PA, November 27, 2012 - McKissock, a leader in continuing education for state-licensed professionals, offers a wide variety of online courses and live webinars for land surveyors in need of continuing education credits for license renewal before the end of the year. McKissock is a trusted resource for state-specific, state-approved land surveying, engineering and home inspection courses, regulation information and compliance.

Here are three timely and informative courses available from McKissock:

LIVE WEBINAR: Tracking the Railroads
Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012
1 – 5 p.m. EST
Surveyors involved with the original location and layout of the railroads had a much easier time than we do today, as we try to recreate not only original configuration of rails and parcels, but also what kinds of rights the railroad companies may have had in the land beneath their tracks. This land surveying course will discuss historical, legal, and practical aspects of the problems we face today as we unravel the railroad puzzle.

LIVE WEBINAR: Elevation Certificates
Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012
10 a.m. – 2 p.m. EST
For land surveyors who are already familiar with the Elevation Certificate, this class will keep them up to date with details of each section of the form and any new changes resulting from the newest revisions – the most recent being November 2012. For those new to Elevation Certificates, the class will provide enough information to get started in completing them. We will point out how the form is to be completed while tying it back to its roots in the National Flood Insurance Program, including discussion of Base Flood Elevations and several sample problems to practice completion of the form under a variety of circumstances.

POPULAR ONLINE COURSE: “Disputes Between Adjoining Land Owners” Surveyors often find there is more than one opinion as to the location of interests and boundary lines between adjoiners. This course addresses such disagreements and some of their legally prescribed resolutions, including adverse possession, quiet title actions, estoppel, boundary line commissions and boundary line agreements. Learn more about this land surveying course.

“All three of these courses can play a pivotal role in a land surveyor’s career, while also meeting continuing education requirements,” says Wendy Lathrop, president and owner of Cadastral Consulting, professional land surveyor and McKissock course developer/instructor. “Even the most seasoned professionals can use assistance in understanding the nuances of legal terms and concepts, and other complicated and changing elements of their profession.”

Visit www.mckissock.com and select a state for a list of approved continuing education (CE) for land surveying, engineering and home inspection courses. McKissock offers customizable packages, individual courses and affordable webinars.

About McKissock;
McKissock is an education company that educates, empowers and enriches professionals in real estate, appraisal, home inspection, land surveying and engineering. McKissock gives specialists a place to go to access relevant, easy-to-use and high-quality courses that provide the hours and information necessary to meet state compliance and regulation requirements. Founded in 1990, McKissock offers more than 100 courses and serves thousands of professionals daily. The company is focused on providing a superior customer experience that will help professionals move their career forward. To learn more, visit www.mckissock.com.

Contact:
Alicia Hassinger
Communications Strategy Group
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
720-933-8119
ahassinger@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com

Kickboard Announces it is Making Free Starter Accounts Available to Teachers

Kickboard helps schools and districts establish a performance-based, collaborative culture

New Orleans, Louisiana, November 27, 2012 - Kickboard, a school analytics platform that goes beyond the gradebook and enables educators to create comprehensive student performance profiles, announced today that it is making free “Starter Accounts” available to teachers. Any K-12 educator or teams of up to three teachers at a school can now start using Kickboard in and across their classrooms at no charge.

Teachers in nearly 200 schools across 20 states are already using Kickboard to collect, analyze and share mission-critical data, including multiple assessments, standards mastery, reading growth, 21st century skills, parent communication and, most uniquely, student behavior and character strengths. Kickboard keeps track of performance through one-click behavior data capture, easy-to-read charts and graphs and immediate student performance reporting via customizable progress reports. The starter accounts provide much of the same features and functionality as Kickboard’s school-wide platform.

Melinda Snover is a teacher and data coach who has been implementing Kickboard across Stella Worley Middle School in New Orleans this year. She says Kickboard helps her teachers share information across classrooms, pinpoint how to individualize their instruction, and identify success. “We’re celebrating the fact that we are changing. We are collaborating, our classrooms are totally different, our teaching is so targeted and focused, and our mastery is higher.”

A vision of this kind of cross-classroom collaboration inspired CEO and founder Jennifer Medbery to create Kickboard. A former teacher, Medbery saw the need to share both academic achievement and student behavior data and also easily analyze that information and make it actionable.

Kickboard seeks to eliminate common barriers to creating a data-driven culture, for example the feeling of being swamped with data without a single platform to compile and share it. Kickboard is that single, secure solution that can help teacher-leaders and district administrators simply and quickly establish and maintain a performance-based culture across a school. The platform can be deployed in a single classroom or across an entire district and is a flexible tool that fosters a transparent, collaborative, growth-minded environment. Teachers have found that it creates a school culture where expectations are clearly set, measured and maintained through collaboration between teachers, administrators and parents.

“After hearing about the experience of their friends and colleagues at Kickboard schools, teachers have been requesting a way to use the platform without having to wait for school-wide adoption,” said Medbery. “We’re launching the Starter Accounts in an effort to give these teachers and other innovative, results-driven educators grounds-up, immediate access to Kickboard so now they too can support data-driven teaching, facilitate collaboration and advance a culture of performance at their school. Teachers need every available tool at their disposal to increase student success and improve outcomes.”

Starter Account sign-up is a quick and simple process. Individual teachers can begin to use Kickboard immediately with up to 150 students across their classroom or in teams of up to three teachers (total participation per school is limited to three teachers). The platform is designed to support a performance-based culture across an entire school or district, and premium, customized features are available with a software upgrade. To claim their free Kickboard starter account, teachers should visit: http://www.kickboardforteachers.com/signup

For educators who want to learn more, Medbery will be hosting two live tutorials on Thursday, November 29 at 2:30 EST and 4:30 EST. This is an opportunity for teachers who have already signed up for the Starter Accounts to learn how to optimize its use. The sessions will also help those unfamiliar with Kickboard get a tour of the platform and develop a better understanding of how it can help establish a performance-based culture. To register for one of the tutorials, visit: http://kickboardforteachers.com//webinar

About Kickboard;
Kickboard is a school analytics platform that goes beyond the gradebook and enables teachers to collect, analyze and share critical data, including multiple assessments, standards mastery, reading growth and, most uniquely, student behavior and character strengths. The platform is built by educators for educators and offers a simple yet powerful web-based dashboard to increase the real-time visibility of student performance across classrooms. Unlike traditional gradebooks, Kickboard tracks whole student performance and features traditional and standards-based grading, one-click behavior data capture, easy to read charts and graphs and immediate student performance reporting, including customizable, painless report cards. The platform advances a school’s performance-driven culture by setting and measuring school expectations and norms and facilitating collaboration between teachers, administrators and parents. Delivered as an on-demand solution, Kickboard can easily be integrated with a school’s SIS, and deployed in a single classroom or across an entire district. For more information, visit kickboardforteachers.com.

Contact:
Kristina Saccone
Communications Strategy Group
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, Colo., 80206
303-433-7020
ksaccone@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Oxford Expression Technologies Launch Innovative Virus Like Particle Expression Vector

Oxford Expression Technologies (OET), the award-winning specialist provider of baculovirus-based protein expression solutions, announce the launch of flashBACPRIME, the newest edition to the flashBAC range.

Oxford, UK, November 27, 2012 - Oxford Expression Technologies (OET), the award-winning specialist provider of baculovirus-based protein expression solutions, announce the launch of flashBACPRIME, the newest edition to the flashBAC range. The new vector is specifically designed to provide increased virus like particle yield and recovery, and also benefits from the traditional ease of use associated with the renowned flashBAC one step baculovirus expression system.

The new vector offers an innovative solution to one of the challenges of VLP production by providing scientists with enhanced recovery and yield. The performance improvement is achieved by inducing cell lysis at a very late stage of infection in Trichoplusia ni (T.ni) derived cell lines. The flashBACPRIME expression vector also offers flexibility for users, although designed for use in virus like particle production, it can also be used for cytoplasmic protein expression and production.

Passing comment, James Bernard, the CEO at Oxford Expression Technologies said, “We are pleased to announce the launch of flashBACPRIME, it represents a significant improvement in performance and we are delighted to offer these benefits to our customers” he continued, “Yield and recovery are an inherent concern with VLP production and our new technology provides scientists with a solution that addresses these concerns, we are also pleased to add another innovation to our highly successful flashBAC range.”

Oxford Expression Technologies invites anyone with an interest in baculovirus protein expression and virus like particle production to visit their website - http://oetltd.com/

Oxford Expression Technologies is a biotechnology company specializing in the use of baculovirus vectors, a eukaryotic expression system that can express a large variety of recombinant proteins. Oxford Expression Technologies provides recombinant protein expression products, services and consultancy to many global pharmaceutical companies. The Company’s proprietary flashBAC technology enables large amounts of a given protein to be produced in culture. Its internationally renowned expertise and products enable proteins to be produced faster, more easily and cost-effectively using automated and high-throughput methods compared with other baculovirus expression systems. This contributes to the development of new drugs and research targeted towards understanding how proteins work in health and disease.

The company was founded in 2007 as a result of collaboration between Oxford Brookes University and the Natural Environment Research Council to provide researchers with custom proteins for research purposes.

For Further information or an illustrative image:
Media contact - Mathew Taylor, Director, Algorythm Solutions Ltd, mobile: +44 (0)773 403 2112, email: mtaylor@algorythmsolutions.com, website: www.algorythmsolutions.com

Contact:
Mathew Taylor
Director
Algorythm Solutions Ltd
10 Torkington St
Stamford, Lincolnshire PE9 2UY
+44 (0)773 403 2112
mtaylor@algorythmsolutions.com
http://www.algorythmsolutions.com

Monday, November 26, 2012

Front Range Airport Receives Full Funding for Spaceport License

Front Range Airport is ready to launch its bid for spaceport licensing with full funding commitments from strategic partners.

Denver (Watkins), CO, November 26, 2012 - Front Range Airport is ready to launch its bid for spaceport licensing with full funding commitments from strategic partners.

“The  Colorado  Department  of  Transportation’s  Division  of  Aeronautics  approved  a  grant  request  for $275,000, which is the last commitment needed to match a $200,000 grant received Sept. 25, 2012, from the  Federal  Aviation  Administration’s  Office  of  Commercial  Space  Transportation,” said Dennis Heap, executive director for Front Range Airport.

Aeronautics funding comes on the heels of commitments from Denver International Airport (DIA) for $50,000, the city of Aurora for $25,000, I-70 Regional Economic Advancement Partnership for $5,000, the Town of Bennett for $5,000 and Adams County for $300,000. “The commitments are more than just money,”  said Heap. “They are an expression of partnership for the concept of Spaceport Colorado.”

Studies  show  that  tomorrow’s  leaders in commercial space transportation will be facilities that are part of a world-wide network of suborbital flight transportation. Front  Range  Airport’s  unique  position  as  a  spaceport location is due to its rural location and excess capacity, while being convenient to DIA and easily accessible by the greater Denver metro area. Key to the success of Spaceport Colorado is DIA, the 10th busiest airport in the world, which will be the feed and distribution system for future cargo and passenger space flight.

“The city of Aurora has supported Front Range Airportt since its inception,”  said  Mayor  Steve  Hogan. “We  have  partnered with the airport to construct the existing water system and transferred approval to the airport for its waste water system. We maintain the primary roads to and from the airport and funded completion of 56th Avenue between DIA and Front Range Airport in collaboration with Adams County and TransPort developers.”

“Funding  assistance  from  the  local  economic  development  organization,  I-70 REAP, and the Town of Bennett is  very  meaningful,” said Heap.  “The organization has been a long-time supporter and views the airport as the economic engine for the I-70  Corridor.”

Adams County Commissioner Alice J. Nichol, chairman of the Front Range Airport Authority is pleased with the support for Spaceport Colorado. “Adams County has invested over $21 million in infrastructure and assistance for Front Range, making it the 3rd largest contributor after the FAA and the private  sector,”  said Nichol. “I believe Spaceport Colorado will become a major economic generator for Adams County and the state of Colorado.

Next steps are the issuance of an RFP for spaceport consultants and final selection before the end of the year. The spaceport consultants and Front Range Airport will then begin the six-month process of conducting technical, financial and feasibility studies; developing a detailed business plan; identifying the market and facilities analysis for Spaceport Colorado; as well as conducting an environmental assessment and risk analysis for the spaceport and flight corridors. This data will be used to prepare the spaceport license application. The goal is to receive a license for a horizontal launch and recovery for spaceport before the end of 2013.

“Front Range is the last general aviation (GA) airport constructed in Colorado and is one of the largest land mass GA airports in the United States with just under 4,000 acres of land, surrounded by a 6,000- acre, non-residential, master planned industrial complex,” said Heap.  “Tens of thousands of acres of dry land farming extend in all directions from the airport.”

Front Range Airport constructed the tallest general aviation air traffic control tower in the United States, and has 20 acres of shovel-ready sites with sufficient utilities to support a 10-15 year build out for aerospace facilities.

Contact:
Dan Mahoney
Communications Strategy Group
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
(970) 405-8060
dmahoney@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Christmas Lighting Service Now Available in Rockford IL area

Ryan Stonestreet of Stonestreet Home Improvements is now offering exterior holiday lighting installation in Rockford IL, Beloit Wi, Janesville Wi, Madison Wi, Roscoe IL, Rockton IL, Belvidere IL.

Rockford, IL, November 25, 2012 - Christmas Lighting Service now available in Rockford IL area. Ryan Stonestreet of Stonestreet Home Improvements is now offering exterior holiday lighting installation in Rockford IL, Beloit Wi, Janesville Wi, Madison Wi, Roscoe IL, Rockton IL, Belvidere IL. Ryan Stonestreet says,” I am not afraid of heights because I have had several years experience working on cell towers so hanging Christmas lights on 2 story homes is NO problem at all!. Ryan Stonestreet will hang lights on roof lines of 1 to 3 story homes, trees and shrubs on businesses or homes in the Northern IL area and Southern Wisconsin area. Ryan Stonestreet is offering a $50 discount on the service of holiday light installation if you mention this press release. Lights that Ryan Stonestreet installs will be removed in the spring at no additional cost to the customer.

For a Free estimate on hanging your holiday lights call Ryan Stonestreet at 815-988-6370.

Ryan Stonestreet of Stonestreet home improvements can be reached at 815-988-6370 & stonestreethomeimprovement@gmail.com .

Contact:
Ryan Stonestreet
Stonestreet Home Improvements
Rockford, IL
815-988-6370
stonestreethomeimprovement@gmail.com
http://www.siselreviews.com

Thursday, November 22, 2012

AAA welcomes Allianz move towards Alternative Investments

The news that Europe’s largest insurer is increasing its investment in alternatives has been welcomed by AAA.

Boston, MA, November 23, 2012 - The news that Europe’s largest insurer is increasing its investment in alternatives has been welcomed by Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA).

Allianz claims that its traditional investments are delivering very low yields at the moment, and it is hoping that doubling its exposure to alternatives will help to offset the effects of this.

Currently, Allianz’s investment portfolio totals some $400.8 billion, which, according to AAA, are invested almost entirely in fixed income securities, which have suffered as a result of the financial crisis, with yields falling significantly. “This has happened to a large number of traditional asset classes since the economic crisis,” explained Anthony Johnson, AAA’s analysis partner.

He added, “It’s no longer just individuals that are looking to invest more in alternatives, but institutional investors are also increasing their exposure to alternatives to try to reduce the risk in their portfolios.”

Maximilian Zimmerer, a board member at Allianz spoke to the Financial Times about the issue. He said that Allianz will continue to invest in private equity but will also aim to increase its exposure to infrastructure and real estate property loans, for example.

The move from investing in real estate directly, to investing in property loans is the result of some predictions from Allianz that this area will see the most growth in the coming years. An article on the investment strategy from Invezz.com, explained, ‘A lengthy period of low returns has affected insurers’ ability to generate profits on their conventional investment portfolios while meeting promises to owners of products such as life assurance policies, which often guarantee fixed returns.’

AAA is an alternatives investment advocacy group that supports ethical and non-traditional asset classes, such as forestry and impact investing. “Investing in sustainable plantations though firms like Greenwood Management can produce better returns that most traditional investment," claimed Mr Johnson.

Contact:
Anthony Johnson
Alternative Asset Analysis
71 Commercial St
Boston, MA 02109-1320
617-939-9596
info@alternativeassetanalysis.com
http://www.alternativeassetanalysis.com

Worldwide Release of The Album/First Single: “We are Love” by IL Volo Written By Mark Portmann and Edgar Cortazar

Universal Music/Interscrope/Geffen & Rentor Records Release Opera Pop Superstars IL Volo and their Follow up Album

Los Angeles, CA, November 21, 2012 - IL VOLO, the musical group featuring Gianluca Ginoble, Piero Barone & Ignazio Boschetto, release their sophomore album and single titled “We Are Love.” This single is a first time ever English speaking song that has a multi-language chorus in French, Italian, Spanish and English languages.

Mark Portmann & Edgar Cortazar also have a second original song included on this album produced by Humberto Gatica and Tony Renisand with executive producers Ron Fair and Michele Torpedine. It's title is: BIENVENIDO NUESTRO AMOR (Welcome Our Love) and is fully in Spanish.

Both songs are part of Mark's and Edgar's Independent Publisher Catalogs.

We Are Love includes IL Volo’s soaring version of the Aerosmith/ Diane Warren hit:  “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” (“Questo Amore”). IL Volo also performs a cover version of the U2 Hit:  “Beautiful Day” and also feature duets with superstars Placido Domingo and Eros Ramazzotti and features the title cut: “We Are Love” by Mark Portmann & Edgar Cortazar. 

IL Volo just finished touring as special guests on the Barbra Streisand Tour and also completed a series of US dates that followed appearances on American Idol, Good Morning America, The Today Show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Ellen, The Talk, Rachel Ray  and the final episode of the HBO hit “Entourage.”

For more information and to listen to “We Are Love”, check out IL VOLO at:
www.ilvolomusic.com

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/we-are-love/id573991984

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/we-are-love-deluxe/id574064284

Contact:
Chip Schutzman
Miles High Productions
P.O. Box 93157
Hollywood, CA 90093
323 806-0400
chip@mileshighproductions.com
http://www.mileshighproductions.com/