Saturday, September 8, 2012

Universal Companies Expands Operations to Milwaukee & announces Appointment of Ronn Johnson to Executive vice President of Education for Midwest Region

Universal Companies (Universal), founded by music mogul Kenneth Gamble, is a national non-profit community and housing development and education management organization which is headquartered in the city of Philadelphia, expands its operations to the city of Milwaukee and Midwest region.

Philadelphia, PA, Septemeber 08, 2012 - Universal Companies (Universal), founded by music mogul Kenneth Gamble, is a national non-profit community and housing development and education management organization which is headquartered in the city of Philadelphia, expands its operations to the city of Milwaukee and Midwest region.

In July 2012, Universal’s President/CEO, Rahim Islam, appointed Ronn Johnson to the position of Executive Vice President of Education for the Midwest Region. In this role, Johnson will provide the necessary leadership to expand Universal Family of Schools’ educational footprint in the cities of Milwaukee, Chicago, St. Louis, and Detroit. Working with the Milwaukee Public School District, Universal has begun the approval process and hopes to open its first charter school in Milwaukee in September 2013.

“We chose Milwaukee because it feels like home. It is similar in many ways to the neighborhoods where we currently achieve promising results in Philadelphia – neighborhoods characterized by disinvestment, unacceptably high rates of crime and poverty. Ronn’s track record of achievement, educational prowess and exemplary leadership is exactly what we need to expand our community services throughout urban centers in the Midwest,” stated Rahim Islam.

Johnson was formerly the Vice President of Education for the YMCA and founder of the YMCA Young Leaders Academy Charter School for the College Bound, one of the highest achieving Milwaukee area schools. Johnson is currently completing his dissertation for a doctoral degree in Urban Education from Columbia University’s Teacher’s College in New York City. Ronn Johnson brings over 25 years of experience to Universal Companies.

Universal Expands to Milwaukee & Midwest
“I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to lead a cutting edge educational program within the YMCA. The experience was priceless! As I look forward to the final 20 years ahead of me in education, I am honored to have a new opportunity to expand quality education opportunities for more young people in urban areas. This is really not an ending or a beginning for me – it’s merely a continuation of shaping the lives of our future”, said Johnson.

To learn more about Universal Companies and its expansion to the city of Milwaukee and Midwest region, feel free to visit the official website www.universalcompanies.org or call (215) 732-6518 or 414-233-8173.

Contact:
Devon M Allen, 267-258-6861, Devon.Allen@verizon.net

About Universal:
Universal Companies is a not-for-profit community and housing development and education management corporation formed under the direction of one of the city of Philadelphia’s greatest talents, world-renowned lyricist, composer, producer, and philanthropist, Mr. Kenneth Gamble – who continues to serve as Chairman. Since 1993, under the leadership of its President and CEO Rahim Islam, Universal has been building the organizational capacity to challenge and reverse the effects of urban decline and has become one of the largest and most successful community revitalization movements in the history of the city of Philadelphia.

Working in several Philadelphia neighborhoods and neighborhood in several other cities, Universal has built more than 1,500 units of affordable and market rate housing and currently manages six K-12 charter schools, with nearly 4,000 students enrolled. Universal operates five school based Family and Student Resource Centers and has begun its launch of a "comprehensive" wellness initiative that will not only deliver quality health services, but also addresses the inferior health infrastructure (i.e. proper health education, access to healthy foods, etc.) that exists in our community. Since its inception, Universal has been a conduit for over $1.3 billion of urban investment and employs nearly 500 professionals with expertise in education, real estate, urban planning, finance, social services and preventative health.

Contact:
Devon M Allen
Universal Companies
800 South 15th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19146
215-732-6518
Devon.Allen@verizon.net
http://www.universalcompanies.org

Luxury Thailand Holiday on Sales for Christmas and New Year

Luxury Travel Ltd Promotes 10 day Essentials Highlights of Thailand for luxury travelers to experience the wonders of Thailand: Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket or Koh Samui.

Hanoi, Vietnam, Septemeber 08, 2012 - Luxury Travel Ltd (www.luxurytravelvietnam.com) Promotes 10 day Essentials Highlights of Thailand for luxury travelers to experience the wonders of Thailand: Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket or Koh Samui.

This tour features the best of Thailand's cities, rural countryside, and beautiful beaches, with an emphasis on regional culture, history, arts and cuisine.


Begin with comprehensive touring in Bangkok. With your own private guide, enjoy a fascinating, private long-tail boat tour through Bangkok's canals.

Spend several days in rural Chiang Mai in northern Thailand at one of Asia's most luxurious and atmospheric resorts, surrounded by mountains and lush fields of terraced rice paddies.

Next, fly to one of the islands of the south (Phuket or Koh Samui) and enjoy several days at one of Thailand's leading luxury resorts.

Return to Bangkok for some last minute shopping or touring before departing Thailand.

"This tour features the best of Thailand's cities, rural countryside, and beautiful beaches, with an emphasis on regional culture, history, arts and cuisine. Accommodation is at Thailand's most highly regarded luxury resorts and hotels, and private touring is with expert local guides who provide exceptional insight and connection to the local people and culture. You'll have a once in a life time experience in Thailand." says Pham Ha, Founder and CEO of Luxury Travel Ltd.

Vietnam's first luxury tour operator/DMC (www.luxurytravelvietnam.com) based in Hanoi with offices throughout Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand, Luxury Travel is exceptional in designing tailor-made tours and providing unique travel experiences. Opened in 2004, the Luxury Travel Company Limited has its own offices, luxury vehicles, luxury travel advisors, and reprentative offices in California, London, Paris, and Sydney. The company's depth of experience and large infrastructure enable it to create unique itineraries with the operational confidence to fulfill client expectations.

Luxury Travel Ltd won numerous travel awards for excellent performance including the most recent Guide Award 2012: "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."

Contact:
David Nguyen
Sales and Marketing Manager
Luxury Travel Group Ltd
05 Nguyen Truong To Str.,
Ba Dinh Dist, Hanoi 84444
Vietnam
84439274120